The Sage Steele Show | EP 76

James O’Keefe Exposes the TRUTH about Epstein

Release Date: October 8, 2025

Overview

In this gripping and intimate episode, Sage Steele sits down with James O’Keefe—founder of Project Veritas and current head of O’Keefe Media Group (OMG)—for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about journalistic justice, his dramatic ouster from Project Veritas, high-stakes investigations (Pfizer, Planned Parenthood, Epstein), the collapse of public trust, and the spiritual toll of the work. O’Keefe opens up about personal loss, betrayal, and the recent death of Charlie Kirk, offering a rare look at his motivations and vulnerabilities. The discussion explores the intersection of whistleblowing, government secrecy, and the ongoing Epstein files, mixing hard truths with hope and a call to faith, transparency, and action.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. James O’Keefe’s Mission and Beginnings

[00:00–06:52]

• O’Keefe’s “why”: Justice, transparency, and accountability drive his work.
  • “It comes down to like, one word, like justice… Without accountability, there can be no justice… people have to have information.” —O’Keefe [01:42]
• Growing up as a loner, voracious newspaper reader; roots in a sense of injustice with how media distorts the truth.
• Parents were not political, but provided work ethic and deep support in recent times of crisis.
  • “Not everyone can say that… my father’s my best friend.” —O’Keefe [05:01]
• Traumatic impact on family amid FBI raids and his firing; personal pain and loss of innocence.
  • “My mother and father were really there for me… and we just sort of hugged each other and just cried. Just brutal, you know.” [07:32]

2. Betrayal, Ouster, and Lessons from Project Veritas

[06:53–14:32]

• Fired from the very company he founded, in a manner he describes as humiliating and unjust.
  • “It was 10x more difficult to get fired from Project Veritas.” —O’Keefe [06:55]
  • Escorted out, pay cut, credit card destroyed; ongoing lawsuit between himself and PV.
• O’Keefe reflects on naiveté, misplaced trust in colleagues, and the need for discernment when surrounded by power-seekers.
  • “I lost my naivete… I realized, wow, people are really out for themselves and all they care about is money and power.” [09:46]
• On “justice”:
  • “I think justice is people knowing the truth and the darkness about who these people really are… my justice is… accuracy.” [13:59]
• Notable moment:
  • O’Keefe recounts a board member, under oath, saying: “I want to carve James O’Keefe’s heart out of his chest and eat it with the blood ripping down my face.” [16:14]
    • Sage: “So he’s not stable.”
    • O’Keefe: “A lot of people in politics… are not stable human beings… narcissists… greedy… self-interested.” [17:21]

3. Investigative Journalism—Most Proud Moments

[18:30–25:41]

• Proudest story: 2016 Democracy Partners/DNC/Trump rally violence exposé.
  • “The most consequential investigation… was the 2016 story… we exposed these officials… bragging about fomenting violence at… Trump rallies… led to resignation… mentioned by President Trump in the debate.” [20:09]
• Describes the painstaking, lengthy process behind major undercover work.
  • Sage reflects on impact: “With the hidden camera and with Planned Parenthood… you stop ignoring things that are out there.” [23:44]
• Early Planned Parenthood stings: initial angle was exposing coverup of statutory rape and focus on factual deception rather than moral debate.

4. Risks and Costs of the Work—Legal, Emotional, and Social

[25:41–31:12]

• Legal retaliation and financial pressure are the greatest risks.
  • “The greatest threat so far has been the courts. They use the courts to try to hurt me with legal bills…” [30:06]
• Beyond legal, the emotional toll: 100-hour work weeks, isolation, exposure to danger.
• O’Keefe admits he feels more comfortable during confrontations with “bad guys” than at social events.
  • “I am out of my element when I’m at some cocktail party… But when I’m in my element… I feel like I’m in the real arena.” [25:55]

5. Pfizer, COVID, and Public Trust

[31:12–36:53]

• O’Keefe’s viral investigation of Pfizer and COVID vaccine’s development:
  • Recounts exposing director Jordan Tristan Walker, leading to a dramatic confrontation caught on camera.
    • “He physically assaulted the cameraman… smashed [the iPad] violently… called the police… locked me in the pizza restaurant.” [33:11–34:39]
• The broader crisis of public trust in institutions—medical, governmental, media.
  • “There is no consensus now on anything… there can’t be multiple sources of truth. And that’s where we’re headed.” [36:41]
• Role of social media and new media, both positive (Elon Musk’s acquisition of X) and problematic (algorithmic amplification; info silos).

6. The Epstein Files and DOJ Cover-Up

[38:06–43:12]

• Latest OMG exposé: Undercover video of DOJ contractor Glenn Prager admitting to the cover-up of Epstein’s crimes, implications for Trump and Clinton, and the deep involvement of US intelligence.
  • “All the things he observed… in the DOJ… says that Trump was on the plane but not when the rapes occurred, but Bill Clinton was. The reason why the Epstein whole thing has been killed and covered up is primarily because of the Clinton connection.” [39:04]
• O’Keefe stresses the story is not about Trump but about protecting power and secrecy; describes subtle attempts by DOJ to pressure and intimidate his group.
  • “Department of Justice comes out swinging against me… making calls… maybe O’Keefe should not keep focusing on this. It was very subliminal…” [41:16]
  • “That the DOJ responded this way… corroborates my reporting.” [42:30]

7. Barriers to Full Disclosure and the Limits of the System

[43:12–47:32]

• Frustration with bipartisan lack of transparency, including critiques of the Trump administration for not releasing information.
• Sage: “I have been disappointed with the way that it has been handled… That was something he ran on.” [43:43]
• O’Keefe on the “permanent administrative state,” agency self-protection, and the futility of expecting full truth from inside the system.
  • “You can’t elect somebody… through conventional means… Solutions are outside of the electoral and legislative process.” [47:42]

8. Charlie Kirk: Legacy, Loss, and Spiritual Awakening

[47:32–64:28]

• Both Sage and James reflect deeply on the recent loss of Charlie Kirk (“slaughtered… a form of crucifixion” [62:23]), his faith, his leadership, and his private encouragements.
• O’Keefe shares Kirk’s final piece of advice during a conflict over the Epstein story:
  • “Charlie Kirk’s last words for me via text… ‘James, you should be a journalist first.’ That was really kind of surprising… he understood the place that I had, which is to tell the truth, without fear and without favoritism.” [52:52]
• Both hosts describe Kirk’s impact as encouragement to stand up, act from faith, and lead with truth, regardless of politics or personal cost.
  • Sage: “We cannot afford to stay quiet. We… don’t have to be ugly and hateful. But what they want is for us to now retreat because we’re afraid. Because this is what happens if you speak up. Right?” [65:19]
• James credits Kirk’s support during his darkest days and discusses how Charlie’s death prompted him to return to faith and open his Bible.
  • “I’ve read the Bible every night for the last week. I haven’t opened a Bible in a decade.” [58:49]
  • Shares Kirk’s personal question: “James, do you love yourself?” and describes the journey to self-reflection and growth [62:28, 67:35].

9. Reflection on Calling, Vulnerability, and Hope

[64:28–71:52]

• O’Keefe wrestles openly with his own naiveté, failures, regrets, and longing for family.
  • “The real deep work is: what about them made me want to… what about me attracted that to begin with… You see what I’m saying? Take responsibility for the lack of discernment there.” [67:38]
• Contemplates mortality, sacrifice, and meaning.
  • “Let’s die for a righteous cause.” [66:55]
• On legacy and warriorship:
  • “I am definitely a warrior. Warrior poet. Warrior artist, warrior journalist.” [69:55]
  • “If it ends today, you good?” —Sage
    • “That’s a really deep question. Yeah. I have no regrets… I think our mission is going to accelerate… I think I’ve got a lot left to learn…” —O’Keefe [70:13]
• closes with mutual gratitude for seeking, telling, and living truth.
  • “We need to know the truth. And the truth shall set us free.” —O’Keefe [71:47]

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Without accountability, there can be no justice… there needs to be fairness and justice, and there cannot be those things if people are not informed.” —James O’Keefe [01:42]
• “I lost my naivete… people are really out for themselves and all they care about is money and power.” [09:46]
• “My mother made one comment…I remember vividly…she actually said to me, ‘It wasn’t sustainable, James.’” [08:11]
• “I want to carve James O. Keefe’s heart out of his chest and eat it with the blood ripping down my face.” —O’Keefe, quoting board member [16:14]
• “The most consequential investigation…was the 2016 [Clinton/Trump] story… if we didn’t do that story… Trump wouldn’t have been president of the United States.” [20:09]
• “You spend like an hour on something or a day, like nine months on one story. Yeah, it’s very rare.” [21:04]
• “The greatest threat so far has been the courts…a kind of denial of service attack.” [30:06]
• “There is no consensus now on anything… there can’t be multiple sources of truth. And that’s where we’re headed.” [36:41]
• “He physically assaulted the cameraman… smashed [the iPad] violently… called the police…” [33:11–34:39, on the Pfizer investigation]
• “Everything…has been killed and covered up… primarily because of the Clinton connection…if you were actually to unredact these things, it would bring down the entire United States government.” [39:04]
• “We live in a world of angles, not angels.” [50:18]
• “James, you should be a journalist first.” —Charlie Kirk via text to O’Keefe [52:52]
• “We cannot afford to stay quiet…what they want is for us to now retreat because we’re afraid.” —Sage Steele [65:19]
• “Let’s die for a righteous cause.” —O’Keefe [66:55]
• “We need to know the truth. And the truth shall set us free.” —O’Keefe [71:47]

Notable Moments and Emotional Highlights

• O’Keefe breaks down lessons on betrayal, personal growth, and discernment after being “stabbed… in the back like the Roman paintings of Julius Caesar.” [09:45]
• Honest discussion of his emotional rock-bottom post-firing, with family helping him stand up, paralleling Sage’s own cancellation experience. [06:28]
• Memorable account of Project Veritas board member’s unhinged deposition. [16:14]
• The emotional and spiritual impact of Charlie Kirk’s death on O’Keefe; returning to his faith and opening the Bible after years. [58:49, 62:28]
• Closing affirmations of purpose, sacrifice, and courage in journalism—both speakers animated, raw, and hopeful.

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:00–06:52 | James O’Keefe’s origin story, why justice and truth matter, parental influence.
• 06:53–14:32 | Project Veritas betrayal, firing, personal reckoning.
• 18:30–25:41 | Undercover journalism, most significant stories at PV, impact on public discourse.
• 31:12–36:53 | The Pfizer investigation, public trust, breakdown of consensus.
• 38:06–43:12 | Epstein files investigation, DOJ intimidation, institutional secrecy.
• 47:32–64:28 | Charlie Kirk’s legacy, O’Keefe’s spiritual awakening, meaning and hope.
• 64:28–71:52 | Reflections on self-love, sacrifice, mortality, and the need to carry on.

Conclusion

This episode reveals the cost, courage, and conviction behind investigative journalism in America’s most sensitive power struggles. James O’Keefe’s candor about betrayal, loss, and faith offers a rare portrait of a controversial figure whose work—and wounds—have shaped the public debate. Sage Steele steers the conversation with empathy, intelligence, and a call for truth and hope, making the episode both a behind-the-headlines exposé and a meditation on resilience, legacy, and the search for deeper meaning.