The Epstein Files Book Club

Elise Hu and Jena Friedman
  • 4.8 (260)
  • Comedy
  • Updated Semiweekly

A show where comedian Jena Friedman and journalist Elise Hu break down the latest revelations from the trove of documents released about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his sprawling network of powerful people. We're trying to understand what’s real, what’s not and what we can do about it.

  1. 57m ago

    Everyone's Named, Now What? Conspiracy, She Wrote Cross-Post

    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's testimony at House Oversight Bill Gates at House Oversight 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

    48 min

  2. Jun 19

    Epstein's Fixer, Michael Wolff

    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: Inside the White House Freakout Over the Epstein Files Regime Change, by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan Bloomberg: Epstein Weighed Buying a Plane from Apollo’s Mark Rowan Front Page Detectives: Jay Clayton nomination and his ties to Epstein EFBC: William Cohan episode on Leon Black CNN: Survivors meet with James Comer, push for investigating leads The Nerve: Curious Connection between Michael Wolff and Jeffrey Epstein (Ellie Leonard's piece) ship-filthy-rich The Epstein Files by Julie K Brown, on Substack Blue Amp Media 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

    39 min

  3. Jun 12

    FSB Femmes? With Scott Stedman

    What do the files show about Jeffrey Epstein's ties to The Kremlin? Investigative journalist Scott Stedman of The Newsground joins the show to share what he's found after following the records and the money. We 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. Mentioned in this episode The Newsground Politico: Leslie Groff testifies People: Bill Gates says Epstein tried to blackmail him over affairs Washington Post: This agent sent models to meet Epstein Reuters: Epstein abused them, the Justice Department exposed them Newsground: Epstein Insider Revealed as Daughter of FSB Translator Newsground: Russian Model Procured Dozens of Young Women for Epstein 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

    46 min

  4. Jun 5

    A Little Less Devastated with Molly Jong-Fast

    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 responsibility to Todd Blanche Video: Robert Garcia on Pam Bondi’s interview at House Oversight NYT: Epstein banked his sperm years before his death NBC News: Lawmakers in New Mexico to subpoena DOJ, FBI CNN: Justice Department launches investigation into E. Jean Carroll Daily Beast: Melania named in bombshell new Epstein claims 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

    32 min

  5. May 29

    Systematic Abuse At Scale with Lucia Osborne-Crowley

    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 unknown abusers The Lasting Harm: Witnessing the Trial of Ghislane Maxwell, by Lucia Osborne-Crowley Snopes: DJT Jr’s new wife was Epstein’s banker NBC News: Thomas Massie on Meet the Press NBC News: Police urge victims to come forward in Andrew Windsor investigation Santa Fe New Mexican: 911 Logs from Zorro Ranch Up North Live: Interlochen Demolishes Epstein Lodge 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

    46 min

  6. May 22

    Prison Pals and The Final Hours

    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 introduces amendment for Epstein bank records The Institute for Primary Facts WLNS: Michigan lawmakers demand Interlochen resolution NPR: How Epstein and Maxwell used a Midwest arts school to prey on girls DW: New Epstein Victims Turn Up in French Probe NY Post: Prison guard googled him minutes before body found ⁠Miami Herald⁠: Prison guards discussed cover-up of Epstein’s death, inmate tells FBI CNN⁠: Jeffrey Epstein's Final Hours, A Detailed Timeline Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com To sponsor or run ads on the show, email amanda@multitudeshows.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min

  7. May 15

    Eight Tons of Epstein Files

    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 Florida  NPR: Howard Lutnick is Questioned  The Guardian: Virginia Giuffre wins British book prize with Sarah Wynn-Williams The New Republic: Epstein Friend Who Had “Great Time With Girls” At Trump Event Time: The Pentagon just released the UFO files The Institute for Primary Facts 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

    31 min

  8. May 8

    Secrets Near Santa Fe with Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

    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: Howard Lutnick is Questioned  The Hill: Pam Bondi to Testify Miami Herald: Pulitzer Prizes Honor Julie K. Brown  Pulitzer Citation of Julie K Brown CNN: Ghislane Maxwell’s guilty convictions Politico: House Oversight interview of Ted Waitt IBT: Bard College President Steps Down The Pugilist with Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, on Substack New Mexico DOJ: Zorro Ranch and Jeffrey Epstein investigation Reuters: Local survivors come forward in New Mexico 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

    39 min
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4.8
out of 5
260 Ratings

About

A show where comedian Jena Friedman and journalist Elise Hu break down the latest revelations from the trove of documents released about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his sprawling network of powerful people. We're trying to understand what’s real, what’s not and what we can do about it.

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