The Epstein Files Book Club

This week, Congress makes some moves on accountability for those involved in Epstein's network. Editor and columnist Wajahat Ali joins us from Washington to offer what happens next after the GOP's generational wipeout, the latest in investigating the Trump-Epstein cover-up, and his take on how accountability and affordability are inextricably linked. Mentioned in this episode House Oversight Committee Report Axios: Outgoing Trump foe Massie forces new Epstein files showdown Inside Higher Ed: Ohio State Keeps Wexner Names on Buildings House Oversight: Ranking Member Robert Garcia Statement on Incomplete and Misleading Epstein Report from Oversight Republicans The Left Hook with Wajahat Ali Wajahat Ali Epstein Files Book Club on Instagram Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After voters routed the Republicans in Congress and rebuked President Trump at the polls, Epstein survivor and women’s rights advocate Stacey Williams joins us to thank Americans for making their voices heard and discuss what still needs to happen to bring justice to those harmed by Epstein’s network, how to follow the money to stop the Epstein crime syndicate and what a safer world would look like. Mentioned in the episode NYT: Former Model Accuses Trump of Groping Her in 1993 The Guardian: Faith Kates at NEXT Model Management Introduced Models to Epstein Ms Magazine: Survivors Detail How Epstein Used Modeling Agency to Abuse BBC: Jean Luc Brunel Found Dead in Paris Le Monde: Gerald Marie in the Epstein Files House Judiciary Committee Report on Trump and Epstein Broken: Jeffrey Epstein podcast (from Adam McKay and Adam Davidson) WSJ: Trump Signs Birthday Book for Epstein CBS News: Models allege they were sexually assaulted by French fashion titan Gerald Marie: "He tried to rape me" France 24: Broken children: France confronts crisis of sexual violence against minors Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Epstein-affiliated cover-ups at the highest level of power are playing a major role as US midterm election day draws near. And this week, a 50-page report from House Judiciary Committee Democrats details Trump and Epstein’s friendship in the 1990s and the president’s serial sexual abuse — “the bad things and the cover up of the bad things.” Dr. Katie Chenoweth, a longtime investigative researcher on the Epstein scandal, joins Elise and Jena to break down what’s in the report, the damning allegations against Trump, and a hidden bombshell in the report’s footnote that she believes deserves more attention. Mentioned in this episode Mentioned in this episode Jena Friedman's Motherf*cker show at Soho Playhouse Popular Information: The Rape Allegations Against President Trump House Judiciary Dems Staff Report  ABC News:Judge rules Trump DOJ 'unlawfully' fired Maurene Comey NBC News: More than 500 ads about Jeffrey Epstein have run this election cycle Time: New Details of Rape Allegation Against Trump Revealed The Guardian:Why did an Epstein-linked billionaire step down from one of America’s most famous hospitals? EFBC episode on the Dubins Courier Newsroom Katie Chenoweth on Substack Ellie Leonard, friend of the pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Betches founder and Morning Announcements host Sami Sage returns as America barrels toward midterm elections and the potential for wider oversight investigations should Democrats retake the House. She shares why she thinks Americans need to be more angry about how corrupt American leadership is right now, what a Democratic House should actually do for oversight and accountability over the administration, and how the delusions of American society can help explain this moment. Mentioned in this episode Jena Friedman's Motherf*cker show at Soho Playhouse Betches founder Sami Sage  YouTube: JD Vance heckled Puck: Hegseth Impeachment Chatter The Guardian: US Lawmakers Unveil Bill to Hold Epstein’s Wall Street-Connected Bosses to Account CNN: New Mexico attorney general files civil lawsuit against two Epstein advisers Julia Molchonova vs First Bank Substack: Sami Sage Says  Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do institutions continue to excuse and protect male violence? Elise and Jena sit down with gender and politics writer Andrea Gonzalez-Ramirez, of New York Magazine’s The Cut, to discuss institutional power and why systems continue failing to hold sexual aggressors and abusers accountable. She explains the reason why it feels like #metoo never happened, and the research-backed steps to make societies safer for everyone. Mentioned in this episode Congress.gov: Epstein Files Transparency Act II Telegraph: Democrats Begin Leaking Names from Epstein Files CNN on Instagram: Ossoff and Rogers clash over Epstein files NBC News: Trump Protester Attacked in ‘Senseless’ Political Violence The Guardian: Leon Botstein Forced to Resign InStyle: Sarah Ferguson Stripped of Charitable Honor People: Carole Radziwill addresses Maxwell friendship Vulture: Carole Radziwill has more to say on the Epstein files The Cut: Andrea Gonzalez-Ramirez The Cut: The Student Journalists Who Broke the Cornell Rape Case EFBC: Trumpworld’s Other Sex Trafficking Scandal (Andrew Tate episode) Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of the uproar over Cornell University’s response to allegations of gang rape by fraternity members on its campus, feminist philosopher and Cornell professor Dr. Kate Manne returns to discuss what it’s like on the Ivy League university's campus now, whether the #metoo movement made any progress, and why she believes abolishing fraternities is a responsible, legitimate way to address to the campus rape epidemic. Mentioned in this episode More to Hate, the Kate Manne Substack Ban the Fucking Frats by Kate Manne NYMag: Kate Manne on Cornell 7 NYMag: How Student Journalists Broke the Cornell 7 Case Cornell University: Cynthia Miller-Idriss on Violent Male Extremism Kate Manne on EFBC in March 2026 Substack: Seven Good Boys by Bess Kalb Thick by Tressie McMillan Cottom Man Up: The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Male Extremism by Cynthia Miller-Idriss Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In light of the latest Jane Doe to bravely step forward with accusations of heinous rape and violence, this time against seven undergraduate fraternity members at Cornell University, we are bringing back an episode with Cornell professor and feminist philosopher Kate Manne, who painstakingly reviewed the interviews of Jane Doe 4, the woman who, says that at 13, was trafficked to Donald Trump by Jeffrey Epstein. A system that excuses sexual assault allows sexual predators into positions atop businesses, society, and governments. The Epstein network is the clearest example of the rape culture in which we live. Mentioned in this episode More to Hate, the Kate Manne Substack NYMag The Cut: What it feels like at Cornell right now Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the final part of our two-parter with independent journalist and attorney Katie Phang, who brought a historic lawsuit against the DOJ to release of all Epstein files , Phang explains why the original Epstein Files Transparency Act needs to be bolstered with the new bill — EFTA 2 — and the oversight and accountability that can come with a new Congress in January, if voters swing the balance of power back to the Democrats. Mentioned in this episode Katie Phang on YouTube Katie Phang on Substack Congress.gov: Epstein Files Transparency Act II ⁠CNN:⁠ Democrats eye a new tool to hold Trump accountable if they win the House Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Independent journalist and attorney Katie Phang brought a historic lawsuit to stand up for survivors and for the release of all Epstein files as the Epstein Files Transparency Act requires. Phang joins the show this week in part one of a two part interview, about how there must not be two tiers of justice. The self-described “gunner” gives us the state of play on her transparency push, explains why accountability and affordability are interdependent, and shares her expectations for oversight under a Democratic Congress, should Democrats take control next session. Mentioned in this episode Katie Phang on YouTube Katie Phang on Substack Congress.gov: Epstein Files Transparency Act II Washington Post: Europeans investigating Epstein say DOJ has not agreed to requests for help Julie K Brown Substack: The Empty Promise of the Epstein Files CNN: Democrats eye a new tool to hold Trump accountable if they win the House Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Sponsor Thanks to Stamped Bills for sponsoring our podcast! Visit them at https://stampedbills.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Epstein’s most generous client, Leon Black, is suing the House Oversight committee just as lawmakers press him for nondisclosure agreements that the billionaire is refusing to share. So this week, Julie Roginsky, who helped pass two federal laws to limit the threat and power of NDAs for victims of sexual assault or harassment, joins the show to discuss the chilling effect of these agreements, why Leon Black is loathe to give them up, and how newer legislation like the Speak Out Act is intended to give victims and witnesses a voice. Mentioned in this episode Thomas Massie on X, on EFTA II WSJ: Epstein “Assistant” Julia Stepanova Speaks Out Politico: Leon Black Defies House Oversight, Sues Congress WWLP: GOP Convention Site Redirects to Epstein Files EFBC: Flings of Leon with William Cohan (our previous Leon Black episode) Salty Politics (Julie Roginsky on Substack) Congress.gov: The Speak Out Act Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices