What A Day: "The Key to Unlocking the Epstein Files"

Host: Jane Coaston
Date: October 23, 2025
Podcast: Crooked Media
Guest: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the ongoing U.S. government shutdown and a legislative showdown over the release of Department of Justice files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Host Jane Coaston unpacks the intertwined political drama, highlighting the pivotal role of Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva’s stalled House induction, the Republican infighting around transparency, and what’s at stake for survivors and the nation. The episode features an in-depth interview with Rep. Ro Khanna, co-sponsor of the bipartisan bill to force release of the Epstein files.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Political Stalemate and the Epstein Files

• Grijalva’s Unseated Status: Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva won a House seat in September but remains unsworn due to Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) refusal, which Johnson claims is because of the shutdown. However, precedent shows such refusals are discretionary.
  • "[Johnson] did so for two Florida Republican House members earlier this year." (01:07)
• Shutdown Motivations: Democrats allege that the real reason Johnson is blocking Grijalva is to avoid securing the final signature—her vote—for a “discharge petition” that would force the Epstein files legislation to the House floor.
• Legal Pressure: Arizona Attorney General Chris Mays filed a lawsuit to force Grijalva’s swearing-in, heightening the stakes.

2. Rep. Ro Khanna on the Shutdowns and Epstein Files

Interview Segment starts ~03:00

Two Kinds of Shutdown

• Government-wide Shutdown: Khanna points to Republican tax policy, noting that essential votes (like paying the military) are not happening because Johnson is stalling the House.
  • "Johnson has unilaterally shut down the House of Representatives... He doesn’t want to swear in Adelita Grijalva, who will be the 218th vote which will allow for a vote on the release of the Epstein files." (03:18, Ro Khanna)

The Political Risk for Republicans

• Potential GOP Defection: Khanna predicts 50-60 House Republicans will defect to vote for the files’ release—a level of rebellion unprecedented since Trump’s 2016 campaign.
  • "It will be the first sign of Trump being a lame duck." (04:25, Khanna)

Bipartisanship in Demand for Transparency

• Accusations of Political Motive: Johnson claims Democrats want the files public to harm Trump. Coaston counters that Trump once championed transparency—until it threatened allies.
  • "I don’t think Marjorie Taylor Greene is doing this to damage Donald Trump... When Thomas Massie and I first did it, we thought it was bipartisan and Trump would embrace it. He's the one who ran on releasing the Epstein files." (05:06, Khanna)

Who’s Afraid of the Files?

• Wider Scandal: Khanna argues the Epstein case implicates a powerful network.
  • "Speaker Johnson himself has said there are a thousand victims. You know, if there are a thousand victims, one person doesn’t abuse a thousand victims. That means there are other rich and powerful people who are participating in this and there’s a cover-up..." (05:45, Khanna)

3. Broader Legislative Tension: The Filibuster

• Historical Perspective and Change: Coaston and Khanna discuss increasing bipartisan frustration with the Senate filibuster.
  • "Well, first of all, the tool of the filibuster was used to prevent civil rights and voting rights..." (06:39, Khanna)
• Khanna’s Stance: Supports full elimination on principle, even if it reduces short-term Democratic leverage.

4. Rising Healthcare Costs and Grassroots Action

• Impending ACA Expiration: 22 million Americans may see their premiums double as ACA subsidies expire.
  • "Your voice ultimately does matter. And the worst thing we could have is complacency...share your story. If you get a letter in the mail talking about your premiums going up, send them to us...post it online." (07:55, Khanna)

5. Gerrymandering and the Threat to Voting Rights

• GOP Redistricting Maneuvers: Coaston highlights new gerrymanders in North Carolina and Texas; Khanna touts California’s Prop 50, set to rebalance Democratic representation.
  • "They're trying to take that away. They want to go back to a pre-1965 America." (09:10, Khanna)

6. New Trade Tariffs and the (Literal) Price of Coffee

• Bipartisan Pushback: Khanna co-authors a letter with Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) urging Trump to exempt coffee from new tariffs.
  • "One coffee is personal for me. I have three to four cups every day...We don’t make coffee in the United States...We fought a revolution in this country over the tax on tea. So I think we may have an economic revolt on the tax on coffee." (10:43, Khanna)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the true cause of the House shutdown:
  • "The only reason [Johnson] isn’t doing that is he doesn’t want to swear in Adelita Grijalva, who will be the 218th vote which will allow for a vote on the release of the Epstein files."
    — Rep. Ro Khanna (03:30)
• On bipartisan demand for Epstein transparency:
  • "When Thomas Massie and I first did it, we thought it was bipartisan and Trump would embrace it..."
    — Rep. Ro Khanna (05:09)
• On the significance of releasing the files:
  • "If there are a thousand victims, one person doesn't abuse a thousand victims. That means there are other rich and powerful people participating in this and there’s a cover-up."
    — Rep. Ro Khanna (05:45)
• On the filibuster’s history:
  • "It is a horrible, horrible remnant of a racist past and it needs to be removed."
    — Rep. Ro Khanna (06:39)
• On mobilizing against healthcare increases:
  • "If you get a letter in the mail talking about your premiums going up, send them to us…post it online. We need to get real faces behind this abstract debate."
    — Rep. Ro Khanna (08:05)
• On new tariffs hurting everyday Americans:
  • "We fought a revolution in this country over the tax on tea. So I think we may have an economic revolt on the tax on coffee."
    — Rep. Ro Khanna (11:33)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Topic/Quote | Timestamp | |--------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Opening | Jane on AI clones and today’s political focus | 00:02 | | The Grijalva Block | “Johnson says his hands are tied…” | 01:07 | | The Lawsuit | AZ AG Chris Mays sues Johnson | 02:29 | | Rep. Ro Khanna Interview | On House and national shutdowns, Epstein discharge, political motivations | 03:00-05:52| | Filibuster Discussion | The filibuster as a legacy of racism and a legislative roadblock | 06:39 | | Health Care Premiums | Khanna urges Americans to share stories of rising ACA costs | 07:55 | | Gerrymandering | North Carolina, Texas, California, and the state of voting rights | 09:10 | | Coffee Tariffs | “We fought a revolution… [against] the tax on tea… revolt on the tax on coffee.” | 10:43 | | Khanna signs off | Closing the interview | 11:52 |

Additional Headlines (Skip if only interested in main segment)

• Discussion continues with news on Trump seeking $230 million from the DOJ for past investigations, the East Wing teardown for a new White House ballroom, the Pentagon’s new press policy ousting legacy media, and expanded US sanctions on Russia.
• "All I know is that they would owe me a lot of money. But I’m not looking for money. I’d give it to charity or something." — Donald Trump (14:48)
• Pentagon press corps now dominated by hyper-partisan outlets, not legacy media (17:28)

Tone & Style

Jane Coaston’s delivery mixes dry wit with passionate advocacy, while Rep. Khanna is earnest, clear, and willing to take firm stances on both policy and process.

Summary Takeaway

This episode uses the legislative drama surrounding the Epstein files as a window into wider dysfunction in U.S. governance—from partisan gridlock sweeping up individual lawmakers like Grijalva, to the growing appetite for transparency even as both parties eye the end of the filibuster and the political status quo. Along the way, it underscores the human impact of healthcare policy, the dangers of gerrymandering for democracy, international trade’s effect on daily life, and a hunger within Congress and the public for real accountability, even when it threatens the powerful.