The MeidasTouch Podcast — Episode Summary

Episode Title: Trump Rushes to Stop Past from Surfacing after Law Signed
Released: November 24, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

This episode analyzes the Trump administration's efforts to obstruct the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, despite the signing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates the publication of all unclassified DOJ documents regarding Epstein within 30 days. The Meiselas brothers break down the legal maneuvers, political obfuscations, and strategic delays being orchestrated to prevent critical information from coming to light. With their trademark banter, they emphasize the importance of understanding these legal games and staying vigilant against attempts to subvert transparency.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trump & DOJ's Strategy to Block Epstein Files

• Ghislaine Maxwell and Fifth Amendment Invocation
  • Trump is reported to be working with Ghislaine Maxwell's legal team to have her plead the Fifth and avoid testifying before Congress.
  • "[Maxwell] will invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination and no longer testify before Congress. She previously delayed her deposition ... saying she was appealing to the Supreme Court. She lost that appeal. Now she's still going to say she wants to invoke her Fifth Amendment right because she's going to assert what's called a habeas corpus petition ..." (05:10)
  • MAGA Republicans claim it's a waste of taxpayer money to depose her if she pleads the Fifth, but the Meidas brothers counter it's vital to have this on public record regardless.
  • The strategy also leverages a new petition for a trial based on "new information," namely Trump and others calling the case a hoax.

2. The DOJ’s Legal Sleight of Hand

• Grand Jury Transcripts vs. Epstein Files
  • The DOJ, at Trump's direction, has been refiling motions to unseal grand jury transcripts associated with Epstein and Maxwell — documents largely irrelevant to public truth, according to multiple judges.
    • "They're trying to now shift the burden to the Court and basically say this is the Court's fault ... the DOJ has enough files that ... could fill up massive skyscrapers ... audio ... video ... surveillance footage ... emails ..." (10:20)
  • The DOJ's tactic is to use these motions and subsequent judicial denials as a delay mechanism, hoping to muddy public understanding.
  • The brothers stress: What the public wants are the full Epstein files (terabytes of evidence), not the limited, mostly public grand jury transcripts.

3. Judges Reject the DOJ's Arguments

• Federal Judges’ Orders
  • Judge Richard Berman (SDNY) and Judge Paul Engelmayer both denied government motions to unseal grand jury materials, finding them to be diversions with no meaningful new content.
  • Key quote from Judge Engelmayer: "The court's review confirmed that unsealing the grand jury materials would not reveal new information of any consequence." (18:10)
  • Judges emphasized the government already has a massive trove of files ready for release, making the push for grand jury records a red herring and deliberate diversion.

4. Political Maneuvering by Trump Allies

• Pam Bondi Stonewalling
  • Pam Bondi, now involved at DOJ, refuses to answer Senate queries, repeatedly citing "ongoing investigations" as an excuse to withhold files, mirroring past Trump appointee behavior.
  • Notable exchange:
    • Senator Whitehouse: “Did the FBI find those photographs that have been discussed publicly ... photos of President Trump with half naked young women?”
    • Pam Bondi: “... you sit here and make salacious remarks ... trying to slander President Trump ...” (21:19)
  • Bondi and Trump’s SDNY appointee Jay Clayton (who had no prosecutorial experience) are repeatedly delaying or avoiding public document releases.

5. Distraction Tactics by Trump

• Trump uses repeated inflammatory statements and social media posts — including talk of violence against Democrats and overt claims about the economy — to shift the public's focus from the Epstein documents.
• Quote from Rep. Elissa Slotkin:
  • “He’s been trying to distract us from the big stories ... the Epstein files and the economy.” (22:30)

6. The Importance of Public Knowledge and Advocacy

• The brothers urge listeners not to be fooled by legal misdirection or media coverage that accepts official excuses at face value.
• They see the "Pedo Protection Program" (PPP) as a darkly serious accusation that the current regime is covering for child sex traffickers at the highest levels using delay and legal manipulation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On DOJ tactics:
  “Why are you asking the federal judge to turn over grand jury transcripts which involve grand jury secrecy issues, when it’s not even new material? ... They want us to believe that the court has the Epstein file. The grand jury transcript is gonna be like, what, 50 pages, 60 pages ... we want the information and the DOJ is trying to say, no, no, no. We want the grand jury transcripts. We don’t care about the grand jury. ... Give us the Epstein files in your custody and control.”
  (09:32)

• On judicial pushback:
  “The government’s Epstein files are ... investigatory and not subject to the federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6e. ... The government is logical party to make comprehensive disclosure ... the instant grand jury motion appears to be a diversion ...”
  (17:35)

• Judge Engelmayer’s summary:
  “The court’s review confirmed that unsealing the grand jury materials would not reveal new information of any consequence.”
  (18:10)

• On Bondi’s evasiveness:
  “...ongoing investigation. Because she’s going to say Trump ordered an investigation into Democrats … and now Pam Bondi is going to say, oh, well, there’s an ongoing investigation. I can’t comment on anything. And they’re going to not release the Epstein files on that basis.”
  (20:15)

• Senator Whitehouse grilling Bondi:
  “Did the FBI find those photographs that have been discussed publicly … You don’t know anything about that.”
  (21:53)

• On Trump’s diversions:
  “He’s been trying to distract us from the big stories ... the Epstein files and the economy.” (22:30)

• On public vigilance:
  “We’re not going to get confused. We’re not going to be tricked. That’s why we do the Midas Touch network this way … they and the Republicans are covering up for the child sex trafficking ring. … they’re the Pedo Protection program. And it’s sick and disgusting.”
  (26:53)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 05:10: Discussion of Ghislaine Maxwell's strategic use of the Fifth Amendment
• 09:32: DOJ's focus on grand jury transcripts instead of full Epstein files
• 17:35: Reading and analysis of Judge Berman's and Judge Engelmayer’s rulings
• 18:10: Judge Engelmayer's quote on lack of new information in grand jury files
• 20:15: Analysis of Pam Bondi's "ongoing investigation" evasions
• 21:19-21:53: Senate exchange between Whitehouse and Bondi about alleged Trump-Epstein photos
• 22:30: Rep. Slotkin on Trump's distraction tactics
• 24:15-25:11: Press conference clips of Pam Bondi dodging about timeline and extent of disclosures
• 26:53: Summing up the DOJ/Trump strategy and warning listeners about the "Pedo Protection Program"

Tone and Style

The brothers deliver their political and legal analysis with a mix of sharp skepticism, occasional humor, and a sense of urgency about government transparency. They call out evasions and misrepresentations directly, and repeatedly urge listeners to stay aware and active in demanding truth and accountability.

Conclusion

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers expose the Trump DOJ’s deliberate strategy to delay, confuse, and ultimately block the release of the Epstein files mandated by new transparency law. They document the legal obfuscation, political stonewalling, and distraction tactics at play, reinforcing their call for democratic vigilance and the importance of public pressure in fighting for the truth.