The Tim & April Show – Episode 87: Pam Bondi Loses it at Congressional Hearing
Podcast: The Tim & April Show
Host: The New Evangelicals
Date: February 13, 2026
Theme: Unraveling Faith, Politics, and Culture—The Congressional Hearing on the Epstein Files and Pam Bondi’s Combative Testimony
Episode Overview
Tim Whitaker and April Ajoy explore the explosive Congressional hearing featuring Attorney General Pam Bondi, focusing on her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and her combative performance before Congress. The discussion centers on themes of accountability, political gaslighting, Christian nationalism’s role in current American politics, and the disconnect between proclaimed values and real-world actions—especially in light of the growing Epstein scandal. The episode also weaves in cultural commentary, a look at evangelical reactions, and moments of comic relief, all from a perspective rooted in love, justice, and inclusivity.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Setting the Stage: Super Bowl Cultural Commentary
- Super Bowl Halftime Show: Tim and April discuss Bad Bunny's halftime performance, celebrating its representation of American diversity and critiquing reactions from the MAGA world that equate “American” with “white, English-speaking, apple pie” culture.
- Turning Point Alternative Show: The hosts note the underwhelming and poorly produced alternative show by Turning Point USA, using it to highlight the performative nature of much MAGA/Christian nationalist activism.
- Memorable Quote (06:07):
"What we saw was an all-American halftime performance. The problem is that MAGA people think that to be American is to be white and only English speaking... But the fact of the matter is that Puerto Rico is an American territory. Bad Bunny is American." — Tim (05:31)
2. Pam Bondi and the Epstein Files: Timeline & Contradictions
- Bondi’s Original Claim (11:11): Early in the Trump administration’s second term, Pam Bondi publicly stated that the Epstein client list was on her desk, under directive from President Trump.
- Backtracking Before Congress (12:12): Months later, Bondi claims "there is no client list," contradicting earlier statements.
- Cash Patel’s Testimony (13:20): Cash Patel, head of the FBI, denies any credible evidence that Epstein trafficked minors to anyone but himself, which directly contradicts Ghislaine Maxwell’s trafficking conviction.
- Tim’s Frustration (14:00):
"We are just being blatantly lied to over and over and over again, even in the face of reality. Like, I don't even know if… we should call this a cover up..."
3. Pam Bondi’s Congressional Hearing: Highlights & Outbursts
- Survivors Confront Bondi (14:58–18:13):
- Every Epstein survivor present stands and raises their hands to indicate they have not met with the DOJ. Bondi refuses to directly apologize for their treatment.
- Memorable Exchange (15:25):
"Please know for the record that every single survivor has raised their hand." "Will you turn to the survivors...and apologize for what your Department of Justice has put them through...?"
- Congressional Frustration with Bondi:
- Rep. Ted Lieu accuses Bondi of lying under oath about evidence against Trump (22:11–24:21).
- Rep. Nadler repeatedly asks how many of Epstein’s co-conspirators have been indicted; Bondi filibusters and redirects, invoking Trump’s impeachments and stock market performance (28:55–33:39).
- Bondi’s Evasion (33:18):
"We should be talking about making Americans safe. We should be talking about what does a Dow have to do with anything?" — April (33:46)
- Unhinged Remarks—‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ (42:26): Bondi lashes out at Rep. Massie for pressing her on redactions, calling him a "failed politician" with “Trump derangement syndrome.”
4. MAGA & Christian Nationalism's Response
- Deflection and Gaslighting: The pattern of blaming “theatrics,” filibustering, diverting to unrelated topics (e.g., stock market), and accusing opponents of “derangement syndrome.”
- White Evangelical Support for MAGA (41:50):
- Despite widespread evidence of misconduct, 69% of white evangelicals still support Trump, which Tim and April attribute to a prioritization of power over principles.
- "You have this 30 point gap where people will say, I approve of the job he's doing, even if I think what he's doing is unethical..." — Tim (41:56)
- Notable MAGA Pundit Response:
- Ally Beth Stuckey’s takeaways on the Epstein files focus on “sin making you stupid” and claim Western revulsion at child abuse is solely due to Christianity—a position the hosts vigorously refute (51:20–56:15).
5. Additional Revelations and Omissions
- Department of Justice Hires January 6th Insurrectionist:
- Shocking revelation: A DOJ hire yelled “kill him” at police on Jan. 6, was pardoned, and now works in law enforcement.
- "That is crazy. I didn’t know that."
- Selective Law & Order:
- Discussion on the hypocrisy of “back the blue” rhetoric while pardoning January 6th participants.
- Redactions, Continued Cover-Up, and Lack of Accountability:
- Key files remain redacted even from Congress.
- Trump only agreed to partial file release under MAGA pressure, and even then, survivor information was exposed with predator identities protected.
6. Undercurrents of Outrage and Hope
- Personal Frustrations: Tim and April voice feeling powerless but urge listeners to demand accountability, contact representatives, and vote.
- Role of Faith and Activism:
- Highlighting Christians actively standing up for justice.
- Not all Christians support the current administration; there are “millions…who are doing everything they can with other people of different faiths and beliefs to work together because of their shared values for all of their neighbors.” — Tim (67:23)
- Comic Relief/Content Debrief:
- April’s viral comedic sketch lampooning Bondi’s evasiveness as a waitress.
- Humorous “Christian culture” segment—blessing a car at a dealership.
Notable Quotes & Moments (w/Timestamps)
-
On Gaslighting and the MAGA Information Bubble:
"We're just documenting what's happening in 2026 America for future historians to look back and have all the evidence that this actually happened in American history." — Tim (43:47) -
On Christian Hypocrisy:
"The handshake between, in particular white evangelicals and Trump is that, if you give us the political and cultural power that we want access to, we will defend you at every turn." — Tim (40:12) -
On the Importance of Centering Survivors:
"At a minimum, they released unredacted survivor names and info and then...they released naked photos in many cases that were not redacted initially. How do you not at a minimum apologize for that...?" — April (20:11) -
Highlighting Disinformation Strategies:
"Jared Stacy calls it dis-reality. They live in a world of dis-reality where what's in front of them is not real." — Tim (20:41) -
On The Role of Christian Teaching in Abuse:
"It is absolutely self-evident and universal to not abuse children. And the way that Islam is constantly...I have Muslim friends who also are inherently against child abuse." — April (55:36) -
On the ‘Blessing Industry’:
"May the Lord bless this car, please don’t...Plus anything of mine. Just keep me far away." — Tim (75:39)
Important Timestamps/Segments
- Setup & Super Bowl Recap: 01:22–07:32
- Epstein Files Timeline: 09:26–14:00
- Pam Bondi’s Congressional Clips (Survivor Segment): 14:58–18:13
- Ted Lieu Grilling Bondi: 21:35–24:21
- Nadler vs. Bondi Madness: 28:55–33:18
- Community & Faith Dialogue: 41:50–42:02
- Bondi Unhinged at Massie: 42:26–43:29
- Comic Relief Sketch (If Pam Bondi Was a Waitress): 72:10–73:59
- Cringey Christian Car Blessing: 74:20–76:17
Tone & Style
- Candid, Outraged, Often Satirical: The hosts express anger, disbelief, and weariness at political gaslighting and lack of accountability, leavened by dark humor and moments of self-aware comic relief.
- Empathetic and Centered on Justice: Survivors, activism, and the quest for actual Christian values of justice and inclusion are recurring themes.
- Conversational and Accessible: Tim and April keep the language direct, using personal stories, cultural references, and relatable analogies.
For Listeners Who Haven't Heard the Episode
This episode is a deep dive into one of the most consequential, scandal-ridden Congressional hearings in recent memory. It’s a blend of gravity and irreverence, laying bare not only the political circus but the moral bankruptcy exposed within both MAGA and segments of white evangelical culture. If you care about government accountability, survivor justice, or the intersection of faith and politics—and you want to cut through the spin with smart but passionate commentary—this episode is essential listening.
Takeaway:
The call is clear: Stay awake, challenge the gaslighting, center the survivors, and demand better—especially when those in power and those who claim virtue are eager to look away.