The Bulwark Podcast Alex Wagner: Team Trump Can't Get Its Epstein Story Straight
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Nov 13, 2025 
Journalist Alex Wagner, host of Runaway Country, joins Tim Miller to dissect the tangled web of Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein. They explore the contradictory defenses from the White House and Fox, revealing the chaotic narrative around Epstein's influence and Trump's involvement. Wagner highlights how sexual insecurity among powerful men and political grievances intertwine, while also analyzing the recent Democratic strategies amid a government shutdown. Tune in for sharp insights on politics, masculinity, and the challenges facing both parties.
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Trump's Knowledge Deepens The Scandal
- The Epstein emails show Trump knew about Epstein's girls and spent hours alone with a victim, contradicting White House denials.
- Alex Wagner argues this ties into broader corruption and favors between Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell that demand scrutiny.
Maxwell's Leverage Raises Questions
- Ghislaine Maxwell is jailed but reportedly seeking a pardon or commutation and has correspondence suggesting leverage over Trump.
- Wagner stresses scrutiny of potential insider deals between Maxwell and the administration.
Contradictory White House Defense Fails
- The White House response is incoherent, calling revelations both a "manufactured hoax" and asserting Trump's innocence in multiple contradictory ways.
- Tim Miller and Alex Wagner say the mixed defenses undermine credibility and look like damage control.