Trump Urges House Vote for Epstein Files Release; Bessent on $2K Tariff Dividend Checks

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Nov 17, 2025

In this discussion, Alexander Pearson, a Bloomberg breaking news editor, dives into Donald Trump's surprising call for House Republicans to support the release of unclassified Jeffrey Epstein files. He explores the political pressure behind Trump's turnaround on this controversial topic. The podcast also covers the lifting of flight restrictions for U.S. airlines after a government shutdown, and reports on proposed $2,000 tariff 'dividend' checks that would require additional legislation. Intriguing insights into politics and economic implications unfold!

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INSIGHT

Trump's Sudden Shift On Epstein Files

President Trump publicly reversed course and urged House Republicans to vote to release DOJ files on Jeffrey Epstein.
The move appears aimed at mollifying parts of his base and controlling the narrative around Epstein.

ANECDOTE

Marjorie Taylor Greene's Reaction

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said Trump called her a "traitor and a disgrace" earlier in the dispute.
She described those words as extremely wrong and dangerous for her safety.

INSIGHT

Airlines Resume Normal Operations

The Transportation Department and FAA allowed airlines to resume normal operations at 40 major airports as staffing rebounded.
Flight reductions imposed during the shutdown were lifted starting 6 a.m. Wall Street time to restore normal schedules.

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On today's podcast:
1) The Justice Department would have to publicly release unclassified records relating to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein under a House proposal set for a vote this week. On Sunday, President Trump said House Republicans should vote to require the DOJ to release the files, effectively reversing a position he’d held for months. Trump has been under increasing pressure from some within his party to release the investigative materials on the disgraced financier, who ran an underage sex ring and died in prison in 2019. A congressional committee last week released some 20,000 pages of emails and other documents, pivoting attention away from the fight over the government shutdown and forcing the White House to respond.
2) US airlines will be able to resume normal operations starting Monday after more than a week of government-mandated flight reductions. The US Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration announced late Sunday they would lift cuts across 40 major US airports that were imposed during the government shutdown, starting from 6 a.m. Monday New York time. On Friday, officials earlier eased up on flight reductions, capping them at 3% from 6%. The cuts first went into effect on November 7th at a rate of 4% and were supposed to slowly increase to 10% by November 14th. However, the government froze the rate at 6% Wednesday, shortly before President Trump signed legislation to end the longest federal closure in US history.
3) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Trump’s proposal to send $2,000 “dividend” payments from tariffs to US citizens would require congressional approval. Trump, who has touted the billions raised in US tariff revenue this year, has talked about the checks as public frustration mounts over the cost of living. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Friday, Trump said the checks would go out sometime next year to “everybody but the rich.”

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