Episodes

The full transcript of House Oversight's interview of Lesley Groff, the woman Epstein called his "right-hand," is now available. Jena offers a recap. Then, in a cross-post from the Conspiracy She Wrote podcast, Elise and Jena share the backstory of bringing this podcast to life, what keeps them going, and what to make of all the women who explicitly and implicitly aided in Epstein's decades of abuse and trafficking. Mentioned in this Episode Conspiracy, She Wrote with Cristen Conger Lesley Groff...

Nearly 2,000 emails between writer Michael Wolff and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein reveal the inner dynamics of their close relationship, and the way that Wolff managed Epstein's public reputation all while maintaining a reputation as a "journalist." Also, researcher Ellie Leonard scrutinizes the giant block of time that's missing from the DOJ's public files, and the curious relationship between Epstein and the Saudis. Mentioned in this episode NYT : The Untold Story of Epstein’s Death NYT : In...

Scott Stedman of The Newsground joins the show to explore the stories of two Russian women who appear thousands of times in the files, but have escaped heavy media scrutiny. One, Svetlana Pozhidaeva, a longtime Epstein gatekeeper , and the other, Kira Dikhtyar, who's linked to Vladmir Putin’s longtime mistress.

Political commentator Molly Jong-Fast joins Elise and Jena to talk through the recent interview of former Attorney General Pam Bondi by House Oversight, new claims about Melania Trump’s backstory, and what she’d like to see happen now that Epstein Files Transparency Act co-author Rep. Thomas Massie is a lame duck in Congress. Plus, this week’s headlines offer some more proof that we’re living in a simulation. Mentioned in the Episode Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast POLITICO : Bondi shifts res...

How should we think about the women who helped Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking network expand? Survivors of his abuse say Epstein's executive assistants Leslie Groff and Sarah Kellen worked alongside convicted sex offender Ghislane Maxwell to make it possible to victimize some 1,200 girls and women. Journalist Lucia Osborne-Crowley, who wrote the book on the Maxwell trial, joins Elise and Jena to discuss. Mentioned in this episode CNN: Epstein’s longtime assistant accused three previously unkn...

This week, lawmakers questioned one of the last people to see Jeffrey Epstein alive, correctional officer Tova Noel. Elise and Jena explore the final weeks of Epstein's life and the unanswered questions about his death by doing the reading on Noel and Efrain Reyes, Epstein's final cellmate, who was removed from the cell fewer than 24 hours before Epstein was found dead. Mentioned in this episode: Thomas Massie’s concession speech The Hill : Greene on Massie defeat Forbes : Elizabeth Warren intro...

For a limited time only, all 3.5 million law enforcement documents related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein are on display at a pop-up reading room in New York. David Garrett, one of the exhibition’s organizers, joins Elise and Jena to explain the Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room, the motivation behind the exhibition, and the scale that can be conveyed by printing and binding eight tons of files. Mentioned in the episode YouTube : House Oversight Dems hearing in F...

We had more questions about Zorro Ranch, so New Mexico-based journalist Alisa Valdes Rodriguez joins the show to give us the lowdown on why investigators never seemed to look too closely at Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislane Maxwell’s Western outpost. Also, a lot of Epstein-related headlines this week as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faced Congressional questioning, and the House Oversight Chair didn’t rule out a pardon for convicted child sex trafficker Maxwell. Mentioned in this Episode NPR: How...

Elise and Jena will be sharing their Epstein reading as usual this Friday, but while you wait, we have a feed drop of another show you might like: NO SUCH THING is a show where three best friends and journalists settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research. In today's edition, they ask: Are dentists scamming us? It happens to be an interest of EFBC's, as well, given Epstein's girlfriend at the time of his death, Karyna Shuliak, is a certified dentist in the U.S. Virgin Islands. And New ...

This week, Jena and Elise each select a part of the sprawling Epstein network to do a little further reading. Jena explains what we know about Epstein’s former property in New Mexico, Zorro Ranch. Elise breaks down the connections between Bill Gates and Epstein, as well as The Gates Foundation and Epstein. Mentioned in this episode: CBS: 60 Minutes interview with Donald Trump Click on Detroit: Ford worker calls Trump a pedophile protector The Independent : Abuse of boys on Zorro Ranch Mitch the ...

House Oversight Committee member Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-FL, joins the show to explain why (and who is responsible for) the holdup in getting former Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about her handling of the Epstein files, what the public could do to help the investigations move forward, and the vision he has for justice when it comes to this sprawling scandal. The Daily Beast : Warren Grills Trump’s Fed Pick The CoverUp : Amanda Ungaro interview Scripps News : High profile figures set to tes...

After multi-billionaire Les Wexner cut him off, multi-billionaire Leon Black became pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s primary source of income from 2012 and on. In this episode, William Cohan — who is writing the book on Leon Black and his firm, Apollo Global Management — explains what Black was keeping Epstein around for, and all the fallout that ensued. Mentioned in this Episode Puck: ⁠ Leon Black Discusses Jeffrey Epstein ⁠ The New York Times: ⁠ How Epstein Helped Solve a Billionaire’s Problems wit...

The US first lady’s unexpected White House statement denying substantive ties to Jeffrey Epstein took everybody – including Trump – by surprise. What was behind it? The timing coincides with a series of posts from her friend and former Brazilian model Amanda Ungaro, who was deported during a bitter custody fight last year and now vowing to “take down” Melania and her “pedophile husband.” This one’s a doozy, we'll explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pam Bondi is out as attorney general — and her 14-month tenure makes her the shortest timer as the nation's top lawyer since Watergate. To put it all into context, NPR’s Justice Correspondent Carrie Johnson joins Elise and Jena to discuss what’s next for the so-called “Justice” Department when it comes to the Epstein-related investigations under acting AG Todd Blanche. They discuss Bondi’s biggest missteps with the Epstein files, what’s next for DOJ, and what avenues might exist for the growing ...

How do conspiracy theories take hold, and what makes them endure? The myths around The Rothschild banking family have been around (and used as anti-semitic tropes) for hundreds of years, and the theories are still very much alive. Jeffrey Epstein claimed to work for the family, so Jena dives into the Rothschild family history before journalist Mike Rothschild (no relation) helps us understand fringe beliefs and sort out the actual conspiracy – from conspiracy theories . Learn more about your ad ...

What the files actually tell us about the Elon-Epstein relationship

Over the final decade of Epstein’s life, former A-list Hollywood publicist Peggy Siegal helped him reintegrate into high society. She worked for studios with Oscar aspirations, throwing lavish parties and being an ultimate connector. But she was also working for Epstein, in a way, as he was funding her travel and keeping her close for information. Journalist Jessica Bennett, who recently profiled and spoke with Siegal, chats with Elise and Jena about what the files reveal about this relationship...

This week, we get to the heart of the story. Philosopher Kate Manne recounts the harrowing stories of the women pseudonymed Katie Johnson and Jane Doe 4. Both say President Donald Trump sexually assaulted them when they were 13 years old. “It is plausible, though not certain, that our President is a rapist of children,” Kate Manne says. “And that is devastating.” Stick around as Kate explains the logic of misogyny at work among the Epstein network, and how all of society is hurt when male entitl...

Lauren Sherman, who wrote the book on Les Wexner, sits down with Elise and Jena to explain why the retail billionaire from New Albany, Ohio, is such an important figure in the Epstein network. They also discuss the fashion people in the Epstein files, the unanswered questions that deserve more attention, and what it means to follow the money in this story. Mentioned in this episode: Lauren Sherman at Puck House Oversight to seek seven more transcribed interviews The Hill: Bill O'Reilly on no nee...

Records show Jeffrey Epstein was aided by a network of doctors and dentists who treated women he employed and trafficked. After the latest headlines and fallout, we explore Karyna Shuliak, Epstein’s girlfriend and former assistant, and Dr. Harry Fisch, a celebrity urologist who liked to joke around with Epstein, Woody Allen, and who, according to the files, tried to write and shop a comedy pilot. Mentioned in this episode Bill Clinton’s testimony before House Oversight Poophole Loophole song Net...

Journalist Vicky Ward first profiled Jeffrey Epstein for Vanity Fair in 2003 and has continued following the case since. Ward joins Elise and Jena to talk about all the unanswered questions in this ongoing scandal, how Jeffrey Epstein became wealthy in the first place, and why, after all these years, the Epstein saga won’t slow down. Mentioned in this Episode NPR: Justice Department withheld and removed some Epstein files related to Trump Roger Sollenberger Substack WSJ: DOJ To Review Whether Ep...

Long before the Epstein scandal broke, Donald Barr, former headmaster of The Dalton School (where Jeffrey Epstein taught math), wrote a 257-page novel called Space Relations. Jena is joined by writer Laura Moran for a book report on Space Relations by Donald Barr (who is also the father of former Attorney General William Barr). Moran calls it “a catastrophe of a book” and “deeply, deeply, unfortunate.” Mentioned in this episode: BBC: What happens after Andrew’s arrest? Was This Victoria’s Secret...

Retail magnate Les Wexner testified before the House Oversight Committee, New Mexico approved a probe of the former Epstein ranch in New Mexico, we track more fallout at home and abroad in the expanding Epstein scandal, and attorney Anne P. Mitchell joins the show to talk about legal pathways for justice after the Department of Justice indicates its Epstein cases are ... closed. Mentioned in this episode Anne P. Mitchell’s Notes from the Front Substack BBC : Les Wexner’s testimony before the Hou...

Updates on the latest fallout from the release of the most recent trove of Epstein documents. Those affected include Kathy Ruemmler, the top lawyer at the major investment bank Goldman Sachs, and the CEO of Dubai’s largest port. Plus, a deeper dive into retail magnate Les Wexner, the man responsible for much of Epstein’s money, his New York mansion, and his jet. Mentioned in this episode: DOJ’s letter naming 300+ prominent people Kathy Ruemmler steps down from Goldman Sachs Wasserman to sell his...