Podcast Summary: VINCE – "Dems' Shutdown Is Gone. Now They've Revived Epstein" (Ep. 168)

Host: Vince Coglianese
Podcast: VINCE (Cumulus Podcast Network)
Date: November 13, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Vince Coglianese returns from his South Dakota hunting trip to deliver a lively and unfiltered take on recent Washington news. The main themes are the end of the government shutdown and how, according to Vince, Democrats are using the revival of the Jeffrey Epstein saga as a political distraction—particularly attempting to tie Donald Trump to Epstein's crimes without substantive evidence. Vince walks listeners through the intricacies of both events, the ensuing political infighting, document releases, and the response to the January 6th pipe bomber investigation.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Vince’s Return & South Dakota Hunting Tales

(Start–11:39)

• Vince opens with gratitude to his team and listeners for supporting his short break, recounting his adventures hunting pheasant with notables like John Rich.
  • "It was really, really nice there. This is a preserve, so they have a lot of wild birds there, but they also stock a lot of birds...it’s an out-of-this-world experience..." — Vince (04:33)
• Shares anecdotes about safe hunting practices, camaraderie, getting "meat-missiled" by a falling pheasant, and viewing the Northern Lights.

2. Government Shutdown Ends: "Pointless & Cruel"

(11:40–21:22)

• Analysis of the just-concluded government shutdown, blaming Democrats for its initiation and prolongation, claiming they gained "precisely nothing" while hurting everyday Americans.

  • "Democrats achieved absolutely nothing but inducing more human suffering, which is sort of...their modus operandi." — Vince (00:49)

• Features a quote from Speaker Mike Johnson, asserting Democrats "used the American people as leverage in this political game...the whole exercise was pointless. It was wrong and it was cruel." (13:47)

• Discusses the Senate/House votes, role of dissenting Democrats, and speculation that Northern Virginia turnout was juiced by the shutdown.

• Argues that the government shutdown’s only result is worsened Democratic Party infighting and economic hardship for ordinary people.

  Notable Quote:

  "Democrats shut the government down to achieve precisely. Well, nothing. They achieved literally nothing."
  — Vince (12:06)

3. Epstein Document Dump: Distracting from Failure

(21:23–41:36)

a. Democrats Release Epstein Emails

• Critiques House Democrats for releasing redacted Epstein emails, framing it as an attempt to manufacture a scandal tying Trump to Epstein.

  • "The Democrats blur out the name of the woman who says outright that Donald Trump is not guilty of anything and then implies that he's guilty..." — Vince (25:05)

• Details the controversy over a specific redaction—Democrats hid the name "Virginia Giuffre," who had publicly stated Trump committed no wrongdoing.

  Notable Exchange:

  "So Donald Trump was, in your mind, you believe, a witness to the sexual abuse of minors?"
  "I don't think Donald Trump participated in anything...I never saw or witnessed Donald Trump participate in those acts."
  — Virginia Giuffre, deposition (Referencing 24:47)

b. Republican Response—Full Document Release

• Republicans counter by releasing 23,000 unredacted Epstein documents, which, according to Vince, only expose additional Democratic and media figures communicating with Epstein long after his criminality was known.

  • “Good job, Democrats. You’re doing great. [...] I’m sorry if there’s a scandal here, it is the extent to which elites in our society continued to maintain chummy suck up relationships with a child abuser...” — Vince (39:30)

• Highlights emails involving Michael Wolff and Epstein discussing strategies to attack Trump in coordination with the Clintons and media, and mentions a New York Times journalist warning Epstein about press investigations.

  Notable Quote:

  "Michael Wolff suggested to Epstein that, 'becoming an anti Trump voice gives you a certain political cover which you don't have right now.'"
  — Vince referencing Wolff-Epstein emails (36:39)

c. Political Stunt & the Wrap-Up Smear

• Returns repeatedly to the notion that Democrats are leveraging Epstein as a “wrap up smear,” a term associated with Nancy Pelosi—accusing political enemies then using the media echo chamber.
• Caroline Levitt (Trump campaign) asserts: "This is another distraction campaign by the Democrat and the liberal media..." (41:37)

d. Vince’s Take on Transparency

• Advocates "maximum disclosure" as the best way to preempt smear campaigns, arguing transparency ultimately embarrasses Democrats more than Republicans.

4. Democratic Infighting: Fetterman on the Far Left

(46:35–48:11)

• Plays and discusses a striking admission by Sen. John Fetterman that the “most poisonous, the bitterest is from the far left” who wish him harm online.
  • "That's much different than just calling me a name...that's really been consistent, you know, in that community online." — Sen. Fetterman (47:30)
• Vince adds this demonstrates the left’s appetite for cruelty, even against ideological allies.

5. January 6th Pipe Bomber Controversy: FBI & Political Chatter

(48:12–End)

• Covers fresh speculation about the January 6th pipe bomber: a conservative report claims a former Capitol Police officer is a suspect, based on gait analysis.
• Details Thomas Massie’s concerns about whistleblower reprisals at the FBI.
• Features a lengthy rebuttal from Dan Bongino (now at FBI leadership), who accuses Massie of grandstanding and assures listeners the FBI is pursuing credible leads with vigor.
  • "We brought in new personnel...held countless meetings...We would love to have you...as a partner in this mission rather than a dog barking behind a fence." — Dan Bongino, FBI Deputy Director (approx. 54:30)
• Vince criticizes Massie for ignoring Bongino’s offer of a briefing, summarizing Bongino’s frustration and reaffirming Dan's commitment to finding the bomber.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Democrats’ shutdown tactics:
  “[Democrats] used the government shutdown as a means to try and juice their turnout in the elections…that happened, clearly.” — Vince (15:24)

• On Epstein/Trump connection:
  “Virginia Giuffre straight up says, nope, I was never a victim of abuse [by Trump]… But Democrats blur out the name and then imply that he’s guilty of doing something to her.” — Vince (24:55)

• House Republican document dump:
  “House Republicans yesterday released 23,000 pages of documents, Jeffrey Epstein’s emails. And boy, it’s kind of fascinating actually what it exposes. And it’s not Donald Trump at all, at all.” — Vince (27:14)

• On media complicity:
  “A New York Times reporter tipping off Jeffrey Epstein… If there’s a scandal here, it is the extent to which the elites… continued to maintain chummy, suck-up relationships with a child abuser.” — Vince (39:12)

• Fetterman on toxic far-left:
  "I can confirm that the most poisonous, the bitterest is from the far left...I just can't imagine people are wishing, you know, I wish he dies or I want him to die..." — Sen. John Fetterman (46:35–48:11)

• Bongino on January 6th investigation:
  "I offered you [Massie] an in person brief on our work... But it’s easier to tweet and throw BS bombs." — Dan Bongino (54:30)

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• 00:00–11:39: Vince’s return, hunting stories, and gratitude
• 11:40–21:22: Shutdown discussion, economic fallout, and political spin
• 21:23–26:45: Epstein emails’ release, Democratic framing, Republican pushback
• 26:46–41:36: Deep dive into released documents, media involvement, and political stunts
• 41:37–46:34: Reaction to Democratic “distraction campaign”; Trump’s response
• 46:35–48:11: Sen. Fetterman exposes the toxicity of the far left
• 48:12–End: January 6th pipe bomber discourse; Bongino-Massie spat; FBI’s current efforts

Conclusion / Tone Recap

• Vince’s hallmark style—rapid-fire, sardonic, and hyper-political—pervades the episode.
• He frames both the shutdown and Epstein saga as evidence of Democratic malfeasance, media complicity, and a political class driven more by self-preservation than values.
• The episode ends on themes of transparency, skepticism of established narratives, and camaraderie with his audience.

For listeners:
This episode is a charged breakdown of the latest political drama, focusing squarely on Democratic tactics, media spin, and the importance of transparency. Vince’s style is combative yet anecdotal, painting the day’s headlines as part of a longer war against conservative America.