Impolitic with John Heilemann Leigh Ann Caldwell: 12 Angry Women (& One Addled Man) Hit Capitol Hill
Sep 5, 2025
Leigh Ann Caldwell, Chief Washington correspondent for Puck and an expert in national politics, returns to discuss Congress's high-stakes challenges. She unpacks the emotional testimonies of Jeffrey Epstein survivors calling for justice on Capitol Hill and analyzes the contentious Senate hearing featuring Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Caldwell also shares insights on the fraught atmosphere surrounding a potential government shutdown and the political maneuvers at play as lawmakers navigate these pressing issues.
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Survivors' Emotional Capitol Appearance
- Dozens of Jeffrey Epstein survivors spoke publicly together on the Capitol steps recounting grooming and long-term abuse.
- Leigh Ann Caldwell described the spectacle as heartbreaking and unusually powerful because so many survivors came forward in person.
Mainstream Pick-Up, MAGA Quieted
- The survivors' press conference got broad mainstream pickup but sharply less traction among MAGA online audiences this time.
- Caldwell noted Trump and his team worked to tamp down outrage and Republicans visibly softened their earlier vocal demands.
Release Votes Labeled A 'Hostile Act'
- The White House framed votes to release all Epstein files as a 'hostile act' to the administration.
- That stance reveals how personally sensitive the issue remains for Donald Trump and his team despite attempts to minimize it.