[Karah Rucker]
The Jeffrey Epstein files.
We’ve heard about them for years.
And now – it’s consuming the news cycle.
Well – not every corner of the media is as engaged.
Some networks on the right are choosing to stay mostly silent over the story.
But they’re facing criticism for it – from within their own ranks – other outlets on the right.
Newsmax host:
“You may have noticed the Epstein story was nowhere to be found on Fox News these last couple of days.”
“A lot of TV hosts are terrified of what to say and how to say it because they don’t want to lose their audience and they don’t want to piss off the White House at the same time.”
ANCHOR:
Fox News dominates cable networks in viewership.
And right now – their audience is hearing very little on Epstein.
And when the story is mentioned – it’s largely downplayed as a Democrat-manufactured distraction.
Right-leaning pundit:
“Yet we’re supposed to focus entirely on Epstein? Sure, if a list of organized child rapists exists, that is huge. But remember, when you were caring about that, the Dems weren’t. But now that it’s a political issue, they do.”
“While I get the urgency of this matter, when it comes to national interests, maybe trust that Trump is doing what you hired him to do. Why help the Dems undermine all these big wins?”
ANCHOR:
Media narratives over the Epstein case —
That’s the focus of today’s Bias Breakdown.
Left-leaning news outlets are focused in on a fracture the Epstein case has created among Republicans – and MAGA – the portion of the party most loyal to President Trump.
Left-leaning outlets:
“They feel angry, they feel gaslit, they feel they have been punched in the gut.”
“For the first time in his political life, Donald Trump is losing control of the message.”
“I don’t even know if it’s fair to describe this as a fissure or a split necessarily. This is a bubbling revolt from the base.”
Anchor:
But right-leaning outlets push back against the idea that disagreements among those in the party equate to a MAGA revolt — suggesting the left-wing media and Democrats are trying to capitalize on the moment.
Conservative media:
“Hank’s a Democrat and like many today, they’re now demanding answers on Epstein. But you got to ask, where were they when we were the only ones demanding answers over the years? Oh yeah, their guy was in power.”
“Now that Trump’s in power, they see an opening exploiting the MAGA rift around Epstein.”
“Before I go any further, let me say point blank to the libs salivating over this — there is no MAGA revolt. There is some MAGA frustration, but it’s not a revolt against Trump. What I love about being a conservative is we’re the party of free thought. So libs, no one is like ‘out’ on Trump. We just want to know the details on the Epstein client list — because that was promised.”
ANCHOR:
The Epstein-heavy news coverage has brought in a renewed interest from left-leaning news media over Trump’s ties to Epstein —
As some speculate Trump may have had deeper involvement… and that’s why he’s not keen on the files’ release anymore.
Left-leaning media):
“We have known they were friends for years — hence the photo you’re looking at. We have exhaustively documented on this program their long relationship, including the footage you’re seeing of the two men dancing and leering at women at Mar-a-Lago.”
“We know that these two men had a relationship and clearly there were conversations in the nature of women.”
“It lends the question, what other details does the DOJ have about Epstein and Donald Trump?”
ANCHOR: But news outlets on the right push back against that narrative — and are defending Trump.
Conservative commentators:
“You might remember last month, Elon Musk tweeted that Trump was on the Epstein client list, which is why it hasn’t been released — and some people believed that. But let me ask you this: if that were true, why didn’t Biden or Biden’s DOJ make that public? It didn’t happen. Because it’s not true.”
“You, me, and every other Democrat knows darn well that if Trump had any compromising association with Epstein, it would’ve come out by now. He’s like the most investigated human ever.”
ANCHOR:
While there are patterns of diverging left and right narratives at play –
There was a notable shift in ranks on the right.
For days, as little bits of Epstein updates would trickle in – Fox News largely kept quiet.
This episode has taken a lot longer than usual to research and prepare for – because there really is such a lack of coverage from the right.
I spent a long time watching Fox News broadcasts scouring for soundbites.
When you have a story garnering so much national attention and public interest – and is soaking up so much of the news cycle elsewhere –
Yet there’s very little mention on the nation’s most-watched network –
This is an example of media bias by omission.
Newsmax – a network on the right – took notice of the silence too.
Newsmax:
“It’s pretty obvious that a lot of people don’t know what to do with this. There’s a lot of people that are very scared because it’s clear the White House didn’t want this to be a subject. But Trump’s base, his supporters, care about it. And so there was a bit of a conflict. And a lot of TV hosts are terrified of what to say and how to say it because they don’t want to lose their audience and they don’t want to piss off the White House at the same time. So it becomes a bit of a catch-22.”
ANCHOR:
Usually at this point in the story we talk about what we do know — what facts we can clearly give you to cut through the partisan noise.
But for this story — it might be transparency over what we don’t know that is more fitting to talk about —
To explain why there is so much justified confusion over the case.
Largely over mixed messaging — and missing footage.
Over the July 4th weekend, the DOJ and FBI released a memo – announcing Epstein died by suicide. There was no client list. And the case was closed.
It’s a case that many across the political aisle felt was suspicious for years.
And even with the DOJ memo release – many still have questions.
And the public is left with few answers.
For years – news circulated of an Epstein client list – speculation that it could potentially incriminate high-profile figures.
But the DOJ says a client list doesn’t exist.
Epstein’s former lawyer also says – there was never a client list.
It’s also unclear how big the Epstein file from the FBI’s investigation actually is.
There seems to have been mixed messaging – over how much information was in these files – including the existence of a client list.
Commentators:
“In Epstein’s case it is incredibly disturbing… we have flight logs, names that come out. Is it going to be shocking? I don’t see how it’s not shocking. There were so many individuals hidden and not been held accountable.”
“The DOJ may be releasing the list of Epstein’s clients — will that really happen?”
“That’s been a directive… Americans have the right to know.”
ANCHOR:
According to the memo – the case also concluded with the DOJ confirming Epstein died by suicide.
But questions surrounding Epstein’s death are also not going away – because of yet another inconsistency in the case.
The DOJ and FBI released prison footage near Epstein’s jail cell – as part of its evidence to support its claim that Epstein committed suicide.
But an investigation from Wired found nearly three minutes of footage appear to be missing.
Wired also reported the video was edited using Adobe Premiere software – assembled from at least two clips and saved four times according to the video file’s metadata.
Yet another inconsistency.
The FBI hasn’t commented on the missing footage.
And now – inconsistent messaging from the top of command adds another layer of confusion.
President Trump was vocal over his interest in the files being released leading up to his second term.
Trump:
“Would you declassify the Epstein files?”
“Yeah, yeah, I would.”
“It’s just very strange for a lot of people — the client list…”
“I’d be inclined to look at Epstein. I’d have no problem with it.”
ANCHOR:
But then – his rhetoric shifted.
Calling it all a hoax – and slamming those still talking about it.
Trump:
“Instead of talking about what we’ve achieved… wasting time with a guy who obviously had serious problems who died three or four years ago.”
“Instead they want to talk about the Epstein hoax, and sad part — it is people that are doing Democrats’ work. They are stupid people.”
“Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy has been talked about for years. We have Texas, we have this. And people are still talking about this guy — this creep. That is unbelievable.”
ANCHOR:
Backlash followed.
While it’s typical to see opposition from the other political party –
This time – the backlash was from within the GOP.
Even those viewed as most loyal to Trump – such as Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene – have called for transparency – and for files to be released.
MTG and others:
“A lot of people in MAGA, they really want to know more information about the people involved with Jeffrey Epstein.”
“There’s nothing wrong with people continuing to ask that.”
“It’s a very delicate subject but we should put everything out there and let the people decide.”
“I think there needs to be more transparency.”
“I think you ought to make it public. Make it all public.”
ANCHOR:
Congressman Thomas Massie – even putting forth a petition with a Democratic colleague to force a House vote on releasing the government’s Epstein files.
It’s not only GOP lawmakers but also popular conservative voices online – who often support Trump’s policies and positions –
Speaking out – in a rarity – against the administration.
Online conservatives:
“We’re all on stage demanding the release… Pam Bondi needs to go at a minimum.”
“Total disaster the way he’s handled it…”
ANCHOR:
The divide among GOP lawmakers, conservative commentators, and right-wing media mirrors the broader split within the Republican base over the issue, according to new CNN polling.
CNN data analyst:
“Look at this, you’ve got 43 percent lean GOP dissatisfied…. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
ANCHOR:
So where do we go from here?
Questions over the Epstein case remain.
And while Trump has recently said the noise over the case isn’t worth it –
He is also responding to some of his party’s dissatisfaction.
Now – calling for a federal judge to release grand jury testimony related to Epstein.
Trump also requested his AG Pam Bondi release what he calls “credible” Epstein files.
But it’s unclear who would decide what’s credible?
And will that be enough to satisfy a base that doesn’t just want some files —
They want them all. And they want to decide for themselves what’s credible and not.
Right now – not much has changed since the story circulated years ago – much about the case itself remains unresolved.
Trump’s base felt they were closer to answers than ever before after Trump’s election win.
But perhaps with his administration’s early responses –
There’s now even more questions and skepticism than before.
What’s new – is the political dynamic shifting –
The left – is eating this up.
While the right – is eating each other alive.
And that same dysfunctional discourse in our current political landscape is playing out in the partisan media.
And that’s your Bias Breakdown.
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ANCHOR:
And a big thank you to our video editor Ian Kennedy for all of his help on this week’s episode.
Thank you for watching!
And I’ll see ya next time!
