The Monocle Daily

Trump’s U-turn on the Epstein files: Does this help the Maga camp or make things worse?

12 snips
Nov 17, 2025
Patricia Cohen, a global economics correspondent for The New York Times, and Alexander Gerlach, a political philosophy professor at NYU, dive into Trump's surprising U-turn on releasing Epstein files. They discuss the motivations behind Trump's decision, its implications for the MAGA camp, and skepticism about potential redactions. The duo also analyzes the fractures within MAGA and the endurance of Trump's political persona amid scandals. Their conversation touches on the broader themes of accountability and public perception in the current political landscape.
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INSIGHT

Trump's Calculated U-Turn On Epstein Files

  • Donald Trump switched to support releasing Epstein files after realising opposing it looked like a losing battle.
  • Patricia Cohen says his move is driven by political calculation to avoid appearing a loser.
INSIGHT

Senate Roadblocks Could Blunt Release

  • Senate approval for fully releasing the files is uncertain because 60 votes are required.
  • Patricia Cohen notes getting 13 Republican votes is a high hurdle and redactions may limit impact.
INSIGHT

Volume Can Obscure Substance

  • Large volumes of released emails may dilute attention and few MAGA supporters will read them all.
  • Alexander Gerlach suggests celebratory optics could matter more than the documents' substance.
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