The Tim & April Show | Podcast Summary

Episode 85: "MAGA Hypocrisy: Outrage Over Bad Bunny but Silence on Epstein Files"
Date: February 6, 2026
Hosts: Tim Whitaker & April Ajoy
Produced by: The New Evangelicals

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tim and April unravel the hypocrisy in MAGA and white evangelical circles, focusing on the exploding outrage over “immoral” pop culture moments—like Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl halftime show—while remaining eerily silent in the wake of explosive revelations about sexual abuse, trafficking, and cover-ups in the just-released Jeffrey Epstein DOJ files. They expose the deep contradictions in how American Christian conservative culture responds to power, justice, and scandal, and draw direct connections between faith, politics, and justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Repentance & Corrections (01:21–03:09)

• Tim apologizes for previously mischaracterizing Mike Winger’s theology, emphasizing the importance of public accountability as faith leaders.
  • “I want to confess my sin. Mike, I know you’re not watching this because you don’t like me, but if you ever were, I am sorry for mischaracterizing your theology. I repent for my sin of non research.” (02:46, Tim)
• Brief update on The New Evangelicals’ Black Liberation Theology focus for Black History Month.

2. Epstein Files: What’s In Them & What MAGA Is Ignoring (04:38–15:12)

• DOJ releases over 3 million heavily redacted pages, exposing deep, disturbing ties between Epstein and global elites—especially Donald Trump.
• The files include over 5,000 direct references to Trump and related terms, totaling 38,000 mentions (07:06–07:36).
  • “That’s a lot of times for Trump.” (07:33, Tim)
• Redactions protect the powerful more than the victims. Even unredacted photos of minors were initially released, raising questions about DOJ competency and motives (12:13–12:49).
• Contrast in accountability: Other countries (e.g., the UK) have acted on names in the files (Prince Andrew), but US leadership—left or right—has largely avoided consequences.
  • “At the end of the day, Trump at best knew about what was happening and did nothing. That’s the best case scenario.” (10:13, April)
• MAGA’s refusal to believe evidence against Trump, despite his long record of similar abuse allegations, is called out as dangerous denialism.

3. MAGA & Christian Right Hypocrisy on Sexual Abuse (15:13–22:37)

• MAGA and white evangelical circles have “selective outrage”: Outraged about pop culture or immigration, but silent or defensive about abuse by their own.
  • “They are allowed about Bad Bunny, Bad Bunny or defending ICE. These are the same people...saying ICE is doing great work...Yeah, we are not in the same reality, guys.” (21:55, Tim)
• Tim and April highlight the parallel with evangelical churches: notorious for protecting abusive leaders and prioritizing forgiveness for powerful men while targeting the marginalized.
• The concept of “disreality” (citing Jared Stacy): Many Christians live in a world untethered to facts, convinced by God they are right no matter the evidence.

4. Direct Responses from Trump & MAGA Figures (16:18–26:32)

• Trump’s Reaction: When asked about survivors, Trump attacks the reporter personally, dodges accountability, and tells America to “move on” since “nothing came out about me.” (16:42–19:21)
  • “You are the worst reporter...I’ve never seen a smile on your face. You know why? Because you’re not telling the truth.” (16:48, Trump)
  • “Even if that were true, what the f do you mean it’s time to move on because nothing came out about you?” (18:38, April)
• JD Vance & Megyn Kelly on Fox: Vance defends Trump telling CNN’s Kaitlan Collins to smile more, and Kelly approvingly quotes Roger Ailes (her own harasser) as a role model—ironically praising misogyny while referencing their own victimization (23:32–26:26).
  • “Roger Ailes, who is a known misogynist and predator, used to say the same thing.” (25:23, April)

5. Legal & Political Deflections (26:33–42:44)

• Kash Patel (former FBI director, noted “Release the files!” advocate) celebrates “transparency” but dodges responsibility for redactions and delays—contradicts himself about legal roadblocks (27:21–28:57).
• DOJ’s Todd Blanche insists, “It isn’t a crime to party with Mr. Epstein,” and claims there's no actionable evidence, despite unredacted photos and clear survivor testimonies (41:09–42:19).
  • “This is the kind of stuff...that makes me hope that there is a hell after all. Really.” (42:20, Tim)

6. How Evangelicals Excuse “Their” Abusers (44:54–52:49)

• Case study: Pastor Landon Schott & Robert Morris
  • Schott posts a loving prison visit with Morris (convicted of abusing a 12-year-old), lavishly spiritualizing forgiveness for abusers while ignoring suffering of victims.
  • “I do not believe we can preach mercy at the altars...if that same mercy is not available for the ones who stood behind them.” (49:11, Schott, read by April)
  • Tim and April call out the hypocrisy: zero such mercy for immigrants, women, or queer people, only corrupt, powerful men.

7. Elon Musk, Other Elites, and Uncomfortable Receipts (32:30–37:40)

• Coffeezilla’s deep-dive: Elon Musk repeatedly asked Epstein to party at his island, contradicting years of firm public denials (33:08–36:16).
  • “The world’s richest man is asking the world’s most [notorious] man for the wildest party on his island.” (35:22, Coffeezilla)
• Other notable findings: Epstein recommending evangelical “family values” influencer James Dobson to some correspondents.

8. "Weird Christian" Segment – Culture Wars & Selective Morality (55:43–67:05)

• Classic “Satanic Panic” footage (TBN, 1980s) dissecting Led Zeppelin backwards for “secret devil messages.”
• Compare and contrast: Turning Point USA’s “alternative” halftime show to counter Bad Bunny’s mainstream set, featuring Kid Rock (notorious for lyrics about underage girls, extreme misogyny).
  • “From, if you play Led Zeppelin backwards, you hear 'we love Satan,' to...this guy on our networks to celebrate faith, family, and freedom.” (63:27, Tim)
• Outrage at Bad Bunny is coded racism/xenophobia, given his status as the first Spanish-language Grammy Album of the Year winner and as a Puerto Rican American.
• TBN, once crusaders against “immorality in music,” will air Kid Rock’s concert—glaringly hypocritical.
  • “TBN does care about secular music...now TBN [airs Kid Rock].” (65:48, April)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump in the Files:
  “At the end of the day, Trump at best knew about what was happening and did nothing. That’s the best case scenario.” (10:14, April)

• On Evangelical Selective Outrage:
  “They are loud about Bad Bunny… but when it comes to child abuse… crickets. Just crickets.” (20:51, April)

• On Megyn Kelly’s Hypocrisy:
  “She’s literally like, 'Roger Ailes… used to say the same thing.'” (25:23, April)

• On DOJ’s Lethargy:
  “This is the kind of stuff… that makes me hope there is a hell after all.” (42:20, Tim)

• On Spiritualizing Abuse:
  “Mercy at the altar, but not for the person who's an immigrant or gay or needs healthcare. But for the man who assaulted a 12-year-old? God's mercy is good, brother.” (51:49, Tim)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:21 – Tim’s public repentance and correction on Mike Winger
• 04:38–15:12 – Epstein files overview & Trump’s hyper-involvement
• 16:42 – Trump berates reporter instead of addressing survivor concerns
• 23:32–26:26 – JD Vance and Megyn Kelly justify Trump’s sexism
• 27:21–28:57 – Kash Patel dodges questions on redactions and legal delays
• 32:30–37:40 – Coffeezilla exposes Elon Musk’s secret Epstein emails
• 41:09–42:19 – DOJ’s dismissive public position (“not a crime to party with Epstein”)
• 44:54–52:49 – Landon Schott’s public support of Robert Morris, evangelical patterns of forgiving powerful abusers
• 55:43–57:35 – TBN’s classic “Satanic Panic” footage
• 61:29–67:05 – Turning Point, Kid Rock's halftime, and TBN’s performative morality

Takeaways for Listeners

• Hypocrisy at the Crossroads of Faith & Politics: Elite evangelical cultural warriors and MAGA leaders rage at the “immorality” of pop stars like Bad Bunny while excusing, minimizing, or ignoring actual crimes and moral catastrophe within their own circles.
• Selective Outrage is a Feature, Not a Bug: Both church and state leaders create systems that excuse and spiritually spin the horrific when it’s “their guy”—and then stoke moral panic about outsiders.
• Redemption for the Powerful, Condemnation for the Marginalized: Evangelical institutions and MAGA media are eager to offer “mercy” and spiritual language for their own abusers, but rarely (if ever) for victims or marginalized groups.
• Truth Is Not Enough: Even mountains of evidence—emails, photos, survivor testimony—aren’t enough to break through the denial and alternate reality of entrenched Christian nationalism.

In sum:
Tim and April’s episode is a scathing, often darkly humorous takedown of American Christian conservatism’s moral double standards—from the church pulpit to the Super Bowl. It’s a must-listen for anyone tracking the intersections of faith, politics, justice, and power in 21st-century America.

Supporting Quotes, Context, and Segments are timestamped throughout for ease of reference.