Podcast Summary: The Next Level – Episode 1058

Title: They’re Hiding the Epstein Files to Protect Trump
Date: February 25, 2026
Hosts: Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, Jonathan V. Last (JVL)

Overview

In this episode, Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, and Jonathan V. Last deliver their sharp, irreverent political commentary on the week’s major stories. They focus heavily on new revelations regarding the Justice Department's withholding of Epstein files potentially implicating Trump, the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling, political abuse of government power, a spicy Texas Senate primary, and the intersection of sports and culture with the U.S. men's and women's hockey teams.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Epstein Files and the Justice Department Cover-Up

(Begins ~02:40)

• Breaking News: NPR reports the DOJ withheld Epstein files related to Trump, including notes from a survivor who accused Trump of sexual abuse as a minor.
• Uncertainty and Assumptions: The hosts debate the plausibility of Trump’s direct involvement with minors. JVL admits his "tentative assumptions" had been Trump wasn't involved with minors, but this news challenges that.
• Sarah’s “Joe Paterno Theory": Sarah suggests Trump parallels Paterno—not necessarily a perpetrator, but a knowing enabler and facilitator in the Epstein orbit.

  "He knew about it and for a variety of reasons... didn’t tell people when it was happening. Was sort of a facilitator in his own way." —Sarah (04:31)

• Government Transparency & Accountability: The primary issue is the DOJ’s failure to follow laws requiring file releases, particularly when files implicate Trump.

  “Things were put out and then they realized that they were about Trump and they pulled them back off to spare Trump... this still looks like a cover up to me.” —Sarah (06:23)

• Political & Legal Ramifications: Tim draws parallels to the narrow definitions during the Russia collusion saga, noting Trump's known and court-proven misconduct with adult women:

  “He’s a sex criminal. We’ve known it since he was elected the first time.” —Tim (08:02)

• Oversight and the Need for Investigation: Congressman Robert Garcia confirms evidence was withheld. The group laments the lack of an independent counsel and the self-protecting nature of Trump’s DOJ.

  “We live in a world where nobody has even suggested that we have an independent council investigating what’s going on at the DOJ here...everybody knows that it’s preposterous.” —JVL (10:57)

• Democratic Response: The hosts argue Democrats should campaign on promising real accountability.

  “They should campaign on it: we are going to find justice for people, we’re going to get to the bottom of this. Because Trump is using his Department of Justice to cover things up.” —Sarah (13:18)

2. The Supreme Court, Tariffs, and Judicial Partisanship

(14:53)

• Recent Decision: The Supreme Court restricts Trump’s tariff powers, but three justices consistently side with Trump.
• Partisan Breakdown:

  “There is a third of the Supreme Court which are simply partisan operatrics.” —JVL (15:29)
  “Two partisan apparatchiks and one not very smart justice... Roberts was shitting on Kavanaugh for being such a hack...” —Sarah (15:34, 15:47)

• Kavanaugh’s Reputation: Discussion of Kavanaugh’s lack of depth and tendency to be a swing, not a leader.
• Silver Lining: Tim notes things could be worse if Trump hadn’t outsourced picks to the Federalist Society, which was corrupt in its own right but not “in the Trump business.”

  “If Donald Trump was a better authoritarian, we would be in really worse straits right now.” —Tim (17:40)

• Tariff Politics and Electoral Impact:

  “Trump has taken his worst issue and he is doubling and tripling down on it right now... Trump's political instincts are getting worse and worse.” —Sarah (20:56)

• Congressional Abdication: The hosts mock Speaker Mike Johnson's approval of Congress abdicating its tariff power:

  “Mike Johnson is basically saying we render ourselves irrelevant and the President should do this.” —Sarah (22:01)

• Legislative Stakes: Upcoming votes could force Congress to take tough stands right before elections.

3. Judicial Appointments and Senate Control

(24:03)

• Potential Supreme Court Vacancy: The possibility Judge Eileen Cannon could be elevated if Republicans take the Senate is raised.
• Senate’s Role: Even slight Democratic control might block a Cannon nomination. Tim notes the Supreme Court’s outsized influence on electoral outcomes:

  “That Supreme Court seat, we’re going to have to risk it with Trump.” —Tim (26:34)

• Court as Voting Motivator: Both warn activist judicial appointments could energize both Democratic and Republican bases.

4. Trump’s Corporate Interventions and Cronyism

(29:04)

• Trump Targets Netflix: The president, prodded by Laura Loomer, threatens Netflix over Susan Rice’s board seat.
• Authoritarian Tactics:

  “This is not a free market administration... This is a mafia administration where they go around trying to make it so they won’t approve deals because you’ve made the White House mad.” —Sarah (29:49)

• Democratic Toughness: Calls for Democrats to openly pledge accountability and investigations if they take power.
• Impact on Free Speech: Tim warns of chilling effects on corporate speech, even as Netflix leaders hold firm:

  “A lot of times the threats to free speech and the assaults on speech are not like, the government is going to delete the post... It is intimidation. It is threats. It’s silencing.” —Tim (32:04)

• Crony Capitalism vs. Socialism:

  “Trump is using crony capitalism slash socialism, slash mob boss tactics to try to dictate how those businesses thrive going forward.” —Sarah (34:05)

5. Right-Wing Fabrications: The Kristi Noem Cannibal Lie

(38:25)

• The Outlandish Story: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem fabricated a tale about a cannibalistic immigrant, revealed as a complete lie by DHS officials.

  “He was a cannibal who ate other people... he began to eat himself. JVL. They’re eating the dogs. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating their own bodies.” —Sarah (39:40)

• Pattern of Lies: DHS issued similar lies about immigrants’ injuries being self-inflicted, quickly debunked by medical professionals.
• Normalization of Falsehoods: The group laments an era where official statements are not just shaded, but completely fabricated.

  “They are just making things up about everybody eating things... These are lies.” —Sarah (40:52)

6. Texas Senate Primary: Crockett vs. Talarico

(44:24)

• High-Interest Democratic Contest: Early voting is way up. Both Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico energize Democratic partisans.
• Critiques of Both Candidates:
  • Crockett: Tim calls her campaign “the worst Democratic Senate campaign that I’ve seen since Cal Cunningham.” Yet if she wins, Tim believes she’ll be the 2028 Democratic presidential frontrunner due to unprecedented status as a Black woman winning statewide in Texas.

    “If somehow Jasmine Crockett comes out of this primary and wins...she becomes, I think, the front runner in the Democratic campaign for president in 2028.” —Tim (47:39)

  • Talarico: Critiqued for wokeness (“God is non-binary”) and described as a “vibes candidate.” Both are positioning themselves as outsiders, victims of party elites.
• General Election Impact:
  • Crockett thought to motivate MAGA turnout against her more than Talarico would.
  • Both try to claim anti-establishment credentials, showing the current political moment’s allergy to the party “machine.”
• Republican Field: Ken Paxton, mired in scandal but backed by MAGA, is seen as a likely nominee.

7. Sports and Politics: Hockey Teams & Trump Era Culture

(58:56)

• Men’s Hockey Team: Won gold, celebrated in the locker room with controversial FBI director Cash Patel. Discussion focuses on whether the players should be expected to take a political stand.

  “If you’re 24 years old... your whole life has led up to this moment... Some doofus is there. That is the FBI director, and he is jumping up and down and celebrating. And what JVL and the commenters want... is for these guys... to be like, sir, you have not investigated the Nancy Guthrie investigation hard enough. And it’s like, no, leave these guys the fuck alone.” —Tim (60:37)

  • Both Tim and Sarah argue that the focus should be on criticizing government abuse, not 20-something athletes enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime win.
• Women’s Hockey Team: Refused the White House invite—lauded for making a quiet but significant stand.

  “Good on the women’s team, by the way. Great. I appreciate the women’s team.” —Tim (66:22)

• “Stolen Valor”: Hosts agree the administration tried exploiting the athletes’ triumph to project legitimacy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He’s a sex criminal. We’ve known it since he was elected the first time.” —Tim Miller (08:02)
• “This still looks like a cover up to me... The question here is about covering up these files to spare Donald Trump..." —Sarah Longwell (06:23)
• “There is a third of the Supreme Court which are simply partisan operatrics.” —JVL (15:29)
• “If Donald Trump was a better authoritarian, we would be in really worse straits right now.” —Tim Miller (17:40)
• “This is a mafia administration...” —Sarah Longwell (29:49)
• “They are just making things up about everybody eating things... These are lies.” —Sarah Longwell (40:52)
• “If somehow Jasmine Crockett comes out of this primary and wins... she becomes, I think, the front runner in the Democratic campaign for president in 2028.” —Tim Miller (47:39)
• “Let these guys have... Please, my God. Like, Cash Patel and Donald Trump are awful. Why are we getting mad at Jack Hughes? You people have lost your mind.” —Tim Miller (60:37)
• “It is stolen valor.” —Sarah Longwell (64:54)
• “Focusing on the voters when you should be focusing on... the people really doing the bad thing. Just Cash Patel used our taxpayer dollars to be a super dork.” —Sarah Longwell (63:05)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Epstein Files & DOJ Cover-Up: 02:40 – 14:53
• Supreme Court, Tariffs, Judicial Politics: 14:53 – 23:16
• SCOTUS Appointments & Senate Stakes: 24:03 – 28:59
• Trump’s Cronyism (Netflix & Susan Rice): 29:04 – 36:06
• Kristi Noem’s “Cannibal” Lie & Official Disinformation: 38:25 – 43:05
• Texas Senate Democratic Primary (Crockett/Talarico): 44:24 – 55:36
• U.S. Hockey Teams, Locker Room Politics: 58:56 – 66:48

Conclusion

This episode is a tour-de-force of insider analysis and gallows humor, exposing government cover-ups, the limits of Supreme Court independence, the weaponization of policy and law enforcement, and the complicated interplay between culture, sports, and politics in Trump’s America. The trio’s banter keeps the tone lively and accessible, while their insights provide a clear-eyed view of what matters most in a critical election year.