Epstein Podcasts, Books, Documentaries Skyrocket As Trump Connection Scrutinized
FILTHY RICH: (L to R) Chauntae Davies and Jeffrey Epstein in episode 3 of FILTHY RICH. Cr. NETFLIX © ... More 2020 Netflix Courtesy of Netflix
Views of Netflix's 2020 docuseries 'Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich' spiked 268% between the week of July 4-10 and the most recent tracking week, from July 11-17, according to Luminate data.
The docuseries, which has four episodes, was watched for 13.6 million minutes last week, up from 3.7 million minutes the week before.
On Apple's list of top podcasts Monday, seven of the 24 most-listened-to episodes touched on the latest drama surrounding Epstein and the federal government, with a three-day-old Pod Save America episode titled "Trump's Secret Epstein Letter Revealed" in the No. 1 spot.
Other top episodes came from Tucker Carlson, Ezra Klein of The New York Times, Megyn Kelly, Ben Shapiro, Tim Dillon and NPR's "Up First."
Harper Collins, which published reporter Julie Brown's 2021 book 'Perversion of Justice" about Epstein, confirmed to CNN it has ordered a third printing of the book after it sold out in recent weeks online and at brick-and-mortar stores.
YouTube videos on the topic updated in the last week from "The Daily Show," "The Late Show," MSNBC, "Late Night," Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and others have already racked up millions of views.
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Interest in the case of the disgraced financier and his relationship with Trump has skyrocketed in recent weeks. In early July, the Justice Department said it would not be making any more of its investigative files on Epstein available to the public despite promises from Attorney General Pam Bondi, and said there is no "Epstein client list" as touted by the Trump administration. Bondi said earlier this year that a dossier of clients for whom Epstein trafficked underage girls not only existed but was 'sitting on my desk' waiting to be released. Weeks ago, however, the Trump administration walked back the statement, claiming Epstein did not have a client list and Bondi was instead referring to the documents in their entirety. Pressure to release more documents has built both from within Trump's base and from Democrats seizing on their anger. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., last week sponsored an amendment in the House Rules Committee that could have forced Congress to vote on whether to release the documents, but some Republicans blocked the measure. Trump then told Bondi to release grand jury documents related to Epstein, and she said she would ask the court to unseal the filings, but it could take months for any documents to actually be released—if it happens at all. Trump's directive for Bondi to release the grand jury documents came after The Wall Street Journal reported he sent Epstein a suggestive letter for his 50th birthday in 2003. The card allegedly included a drawing of a naked woman and a message telling Epstein, 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump has denied being behind the letter, while Donald Trump Jr. called the report 'insanity' and said it doesn't match his father's 'very specific way of speaking" and right-wing activist Jack Posobiec called the article a "hit piece." Trump has called reports of the letter 'fake news' and has sued media mogul Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal's publisher over the report.
Investigations into Epstein became mainstream pop culture fodder after his 2019 arrest on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. He died in his jail cell one month later, while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide but launched a series of conspiracy theories, including that was murdered to cover up compromising information about his powerful and wealthy friends. Netflix released "Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich" in 2020, and the Lifetime documentary Surviving Jeffrey Epstein premiered months later. There were reports at the time that HBO and Sony Pictures were considering developing shows on Epstein's life and death, but they have not come to fruition. There are several books on the Epstein scandal, most notably Brown's "Perversion of Justice" and a 2016 book from James Patterson's true crime series, 'Filthy Rich,' which CNN reports has moved up Amazon's sales chart in recent days. A half-dozen podcasts have examined the Epstein case, including Brown's "BROKEN: Jeffery Epstein," "Truth & Lies: Jeffrey Epstein" by ABC News and Wondery's "The Mysterious Mr. Epstein." Further Reading Forbes Marjorie Taylor Greene Issues Warning To Trump Over Epstein — Here's What Other Republicans Are Saying By Sara Dorn Forbes Here's What Jeffrey Epstein Was Accused Of, Convicted For—And The New Questions By Zachary Folk Forbes Analysis Of Grok's Epstein Comments Show How This AI Chatbot Is Learning By John Hyatt Forbes Trump Blasts 'Radical Left Lunatics' For Pressure Over Epstein Files — Despite MAGA Figures Pushing For Their Release By Antonio Pequeño IV
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CNBC
11 minutes ago
- CNBC
Trump arrives in Scotland for golf and bilateral talks as EU trade deal nears
U.S. President Donald Trump, dogged by questions about his ties to disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, arrived in Scotland on Friday for some golf and bilateral talks that could yield a trade deal with the European Union. Trump told reporters upon his arrival that he will visit his two golf properties in Scotland and meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whom he called a "highly respected woman." As hundreds of onlookers cheered his arrival, Trump reiterated his earlier comment about a 50-50 chance of securing a deal with the EU, adding that it would be his administration's largest trade agreement thus far, if it came together. However, he said there were still "sticking points" with Brussels on "maybe 20 different things." Trump said his meeting with Starmer would be more of a celebration of the trade deal already reached than continued work on it, adding, "It's a great deal for both." Before he left Washington, Trump stated that his administration was working diligently on a potential trade deal with the EU, and Brussels was eager to finalize a deal. Von der Leyen said later she would meet Trump in Scotland on Sunday. EU diplomats say a deal could result in a 15% tariff on EU goods, mirroring a framework accord with Japan reached this week and half of the 30% Trump is threatening to impose by Aug. 1. Trump has sought to reorder the global economy after imposing a 10% tariff on nearly all trading partners in April and threatening sharply higher rates for many countries to kick in a week from now. Trump says the moves will reduce the U.S. trade deficit and generate additional revenue, but economists warn that the new trade policies could drive up inflation. Trump, facing the biggest domestic political crisis of his second term, expressed frustration about ongoing questions about his administration's handling of investigative files related to Epstein's criminal charges and his 2019 death in prison. "You make it a very big thing over something that's not a big thing," Trump told reporters in Scotland, urging them to focus on other prominent Americans with ties to Epstein, including former President Bill Clinton. "Talk about Clinton. Talk about the former president of Harvard. Talk about all of his friends. Talk about the hedge fund guys that were with him all the time. Don't talk about Trump," he said. "What you should be talking about is the fact that we have the greatest six months in the history of a presidency." The Epstein issue has caused a rare breach with some of Trump's most loyal Make America Great Again supporters, and majorities of Americans and Trump's Republicans say they believe the government is hiding details on the case, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. White House officials are hoping the controversy dies down while Trump is abroad, two people familiar with the matter said. Trump will stay at his Turnberry property on Scotland's west coast this weekend, before traveling on Monday to a golf property in Aberdeen, where he will open a second 18-hole course named in honor of his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod. MacLeod was born and raised on a Scottish island before emigrating to the U.S. As he left the White House, Trump said he looked forward to meeting both Starmer and Scottish leader John Swinney, who had publicly backed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The trip provides Trump and Starmer with an opportunity to strengthen their already warm ties, with key issues on the agenda, including ending Russia's war in Ukraine, according to British and U.S. sources. The deteriorating situation in Gaza is also likely to come up. Starmer on Thursday said he would hold an emergency call with France and Germany over what he called the "unspeakable and indefensible" suffering and starvation being reported there, and called on Israel to allow aid to enter the Palestinian enclave. Gaza health authorities say more than 100 people have died from starvation, most in recent weeks. Human rights groups have said mass starvation is spreading even as tons of food and other supplies sit untouched just outside the territory. Since being elected last year, Starmer has prioritized good relations with Trump, stressing the importance of Britain's defense and security alliance with the U.S., while working to clinch the first tariff-reduction deal with the U.S. in May. The framework agreement reaffirmed quotas and tariff rates on British automobiles and eliminated tariffs on the UK's aerospace sector, but left steel tariffs in place. Starmer is expected to press for lower steel tariffs, but sources close to the matter said it was unclear if any breakthrough was possible during Trump's visit. Trump has described Scotland as a "very special place" and made a similar trip there in 2016 during his earlier presidential run, but he will not necessarily receive a warm welcome. About 70% of Scots hold an unfavorable opinion of Trump, while 18% have a favorable opinion, according to an Ipsos poll conducted in March. Scottish police are gearing up for protests on Saturday in both Aberdeen and Edinburgh, the country's capital. Trump will return to Britain from Sept. 17-19 for a state visit hosted by King Charles. It will make Trump the first world leader in modern times to undertake two state visits to the United Kingdom. The late Queen Elizabeth hosted him at Buckingham Palace for a three-day state visit in June 2019.
Chicago Tribune
40 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
The Tribune's Quotes of the Week quiz for July 26
It was another hot and humid week in Chicago. With dangerous heat engulfing the city, residents again turned to box fans and AC units for relief from the soaring temps — that is despite recent spikes in electric costs. The heat subsided only to welcome thunderstorms that knocked out power for 50,000 ComEd customers. But it wasn't all doom and gloom this week. After years of construction, four North Side Red Line stations reopened Sunday, and in some good news for homeowners, Mayor Brandon Johnson said he won't seek a property tax hike in his upcoming budget proposal. Gov. JB Pritzker, along with 17 other Democratic governors, petitioned the Trump administration to release nearly $7 billion in withheld federal education grants. On Friday, the Department of Education did just that. But local education leaders are still struggling with their own funding problems. At Thursday's Chicago Board of Education meeting, Chief Budget Officer Michael Sitkowski reiterated that Chicago Public Schools has identified $165 million in spending reductions, including cuts to its administrative staff and vendor contracts, but the district is still searching for a solution to its $734 million budget deficit. Two of the four defendants in the 'ComEd Four' case were sentenced this week. Ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and the utility's former lobbyist Michael McClain will spend two years in prison for their part in the elaborate scheme to bribe then-House Speaker Michael Madigan. New Tribune reporting shows arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are up in Chicago since President Donald Trump took office, and local children recently received deportation letters from the Department of Homeland Security. Meanwhile, on Friday, a federal judge in Chicago blocked the Trump administration's challenge over sanctuary policies in the state of Illinois. In global news, the United States cut short ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas on Thursday, while hunger and malnutrition surges in Gaza. France also announced this week that the country will recognize Palestine as a state. Three big names in the world of celebrity and entertainment passed away this week. Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the 54-year-old actor best known for his role as teenage son Theo Huxtable on 'The Cosby Show,' died in an accidental drowning Sunday in Costa Rica. Ozzy Osbourne, lead singer of Black Sabbath and godfather of heavy metal, died at the age of 76, just weeks after his farewell show. And professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan died Thursday after suffering cardiac arrest. He was 71. Plus, the Chicago Cubs and White Sox play each other in this weekend's City Series at Rate Field. It's a matchup with stakes for both teams, as the Sox come off their best roadtrip since September 2022 and the Cubs just dropped from first place in their division. That's it for the headlines! Now here's the Tribune's Quotes of the Week quiz for July 20 to 26. Missed last week? You can find it here or check out our past editions of Quotes of the Week.
The Hill
40 minutes ago
- The Hill
Five unanswered questions around Trump and the Epstein saga
The controversy over Jeffrey Epstein rumbles on, despite President Trump's efforts to put it behind him. It's been almost three weeks since a joint, unsigned memo from the FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) insisted 'no incriminating 'client list'' had been found among material related to Epstein. The memo also contended that there had been 'no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions.' The statement caused a firestorm – including among many Trump supporters, who had been primed to expect big revelations about Epstein, the sexual predator and disgraced financier who died, apparently of suicide, in 2019. Attorney General Pam Bondi had said in a February Fox News interview that an Epstein client list was 'sitting on my desk right now to review.' In previous years, people very close to Trump, including his eldest son Don Jr. and Vice President Vance, had suggested there was a nefarious motive behind the failure to disclose more material about Epstein. But even as the controversy moves on, there are many unanswered questions. Here are five of the biggest. What happens with Ghislaine Maxwell? Developments around Maxwell, the British socialite and Epstein associate, have been among the most intriguing new developments. Todd Blanche, the second highest ranking figure in the DOJ, met with Maxwell in Tallahassee, Fla., on Thursday and Friday. Maxwell received a 20-year prison sentence in 2022 for conspiring with Epstein in his abuse. The unusual move by Blanche, who served as one of Trump's personal attorneys before ascending to his current role at the DOJ, has become a partisan flashpoint. Democrats and other Trump critics are warning of the prospect of some kind of quid-pro-quo deal, in which Maxwell would be offered a pardon, or at least some level of clemency, in return for exculpatory words on Trump. 'The conflict of interest just stares you in the face,' Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a speech on Thursday. Blanche has defended the meetings as a straightforward pursuit of more information. In a statement on Tuesday, he said, 'President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence. If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say.' There are reasons to be skeptical about whether lenient treatment of Maxwell would quel the controversy. It might just as easily ratchet it up. But on Friday, before leaving for a trip to Scotland, Trump notably did not rule out a pardon or clemency of Maxwell. 'I'm allowed to do it but it's something I have not thought about,' he told reporters at the White House. How does Trump's case against the Wall Street Journal go? The Epstein matter has seen Trump go into full legal battle against the Wall Street Journal, its parent company News Corporation and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Trump says he was defamed by a Journal story that alleged a letter bearing his name and a drawing was included in an album put together by Maxwell to mark Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003. The president is seeking $10 billion in damages. The Journal has stood by its story and has continued to report vigorously on Trump and Epstein. On Wednesday, days after Trump filed his suit, the Journal reported that Trump had been told by the DOJ back in May that his name was mentioned in the Epstein files – though the news organization noted that such a mention is not, in itself, evidence of wrongdoing. The fact that neither Trump nor Murdoch are inclined to back down sets up a striking clash, not least because of the Murdoch family's role at Fox News. Is Pam Bondi in trouble? Some Republicans and other Trump allies plainly blame Bondi for at least part of the political mess in which they find themselves. They contend that the attorney general's comments in the February Fox interview were the spark that ignited the flame of controversy that is now burning the president. A former attorney for Trump and Epstein told the BBC this week that the DOJ had 'jumped the gun a bit' in overhyping the information that they had. 'They were in favor, for good reasons, of disclosing and full transparency, but they didn't know what they had yet,' David Schoen told the BBC's 'Newsnight.' Meanwhile, Politico reported this week on GOP disquiet over Bondi's role, quoting one unnamed senior House GOP aide saying, 'I think she, from pillar to post, handled this thing so badly and bizarrely.' But voices close to Trump, including White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, have publicly defended Bondi, stressing her work to advance Trump's broader agenda. The New York Times also reported on Thursday that Bondi 'felt blindsided and annoyed' by demands from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that the DOJ should probe actions taken by the Obama administration in relation to Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Will Republicans rally around Trump? The Epstein controversy has been unusually damaging to Trump because it has cracked the unity of the GOP and his Make America Great Again (MAGA) base. A Wall Street Journal poll released on Thursday evening, found that 69 percent of all registered voters – and a striking 54 percent of Republicans – had either little or no confidence that the DOJ had fully investigated the Epstein matter. Elected Republicans have also made a stand, at least in some cases. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is leading an effort to force the DOJ to release as much documentation as possible on Epstein. In a separate, closely-watched vote on a House panel this week, three Republicans – Reps. Nancy Mace (S.C.), Brian Jack (Ga.) and Scott Perry (Pa.) – voted with Democrats to subpoena the DOJ for Epstein documents. Republicans are also expected to receive plenty of hostile questioning on the Epstein matter from their constituents while the House is on its summer recess. All of that being said, Trump's overall grip on the GOP is tight. He may well be able to bring his party into firmer line. How long does the story keep making headlines? The new lease of life for the Epstein story shows no real signs of dying down – much to Trump's displeasure. Indeed, actions that he or his allies have taken have injected new fuel into the furor. Trump's case against the Journal and Blanche's meetings with Ghislaine Maxwell both fall into that category. Critics allege that some other actions taken by the Trump administration, including the rash of loud allegations against the Obama administration over the 2016 election, are intended as a distraction from the Epstein matter. If that's the case, they haven't really worked. It's always possible that some major domestic or world event could intervene and banish Epstein from the headlines. But Massie, the maverick Kentucky Republican leading the fight for more disclosure, told reporters this week that he expected public demands on the issue to grow stronger over the summer. If that proves true, it's very bad news for Trump.
