The Epstein Files Book Club

Over the final decade of Epstein’s life, former A-list Hollywood publicist Peggy Siegal helped him reintegrate into high society. She worked for studios with Oscar aspirations, throwing lavish parties and being an ultimate connector. But she was also working for Epstein, in a way, as he was funding her travel and keeping her close for information. Journalist Jessica Bennett, who recently profiled and spoke with Siegal, chats with Elise and Jena about what the files reveal about this relationship. Mentioned in this Episode Jessica Bennett, Journalist and Author NYMag: The Grand Dame of the Epstein Files NPR: Richard Kahn testifies he was “not aware” of Epstein crimes LAT: Andersen Auditor Details Shredding of Enron Papers Fortune: Epstein Bankrolled Epstein Mistresses Email us at eliseandjena [at] gmail [dot] com Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we get to the heart of the story. Philosopher Kate Manne recounts the harrowing stories of the women pseudonymed Katie Johnson and Jane Doe 4. Both say President Donald Trump sexually assaulted them when they were 13 years old. “It is plausible, though not certain, that our President is a rapist of children,” Kate Manne says. “And that is devastating.” Stick around as Kate explains the logic of misogyny at work among the Epstein network, and how all of society is hurt when male entitlement is a norm. Mentioned in this Episode NYT: ⁠Zorro Ranch investigation begins⁠ ⁠Post and Courier reporting on Jane Doe 4⁠ NPR: ⁠Justice Dept posts some of the missing documents⁠ ⁠Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women⁠, by Kate Manne ⁠Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny⁠, by Kate Manne Inside Higher Ed: ⁠More Prominent Professors Resign⁠ Japan Today: ⁠Joi Ito out at Global Startup Campus⁠ The Daily Beast: ⁠David Copperfield To End Vegas Show⁠ ⁠Kate Manne’s Substack, More To Hate⁠ Join our Patreon community at ⁠Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub⁠ Email us anytime at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lauren Sherman, who wrote the book on Les Wexner, sits down with Elise and Jena to explain why the retail billionaire from New Albany, Ohio, is such an important figure in the Epstein network. They also discuss the fashion people in the Epstein files, the unanswered questions that deserve more attention, and what it means to follow the money in this story. Mentioned in this episode: Lauren Sherman at Puck House Oversight to seek seven more transcribed interviews The Hill: Bill O'Reilly on no need to depose Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton deposition before House Oversight Committee  WSJ: More than 40,000 Withheld Files Selling Sexy by Lauren Sherman and Chantal Fernandez Full Les Wexner deposition Former Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries Spectrum News: Wexner and New Albany Ohio The Cut: Which Fashion People Are In the Epstein Files?  NYMagazine: Peggy Siegal, the grande dame of the Epstein files Puck: Questions about Wexner ex-girlfriend Sharon Cohen  Join our Patreon community for bonus content Email us at eliseandjena [at] gmail.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Records show Jeffrey Epstein was aided by a network of doctors and dentists who treated women he employed and trafficked. After the latest headlines and fallout, we explore Karyna Shuliak, Epstein’s girlfriend and former assistant, and Dr. Harry Fisch, a celebrity urologist who liked to joke around with Epstein, Woody Allen, and who, according to the files, tried to write and shop a comedy pilot. Mentioned in this episode Bill Clinton’s testimony before House Oversight Poophole Loophole song Netflix: Jeffrey Epstein Filthy Rich Chauntae Davis on Bill Clinton NYT: Elite Doctors Served Jeffrey Epstein While Treating His ‘Girls’ People: Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie banned from royal events BBC: Paleontologist Jack Horner out at Chapman University NYT: Columbia University Dental School resignations SCMP: Karyna Shuliak married a woman WPIX: Missing dental student pulled from Hudson River Seth Herzog NYT archive on Dr. Harry Fisch Cornell Daily Sun on Weil doctors and Epstein Join our Patreon community for bonus content Email us at eliseandjena [at] gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist Vicky Ward first profiled Jeffrey Epstein for Vanity Fair in 2003 and has continued following the case since. Ward joins Elise and Jena to talk about all the unanswered questions in this ongoing scandal, how Jeffrey Epstein became wealthy in the first place, and why, after all these years, the Epstein saga won’t slow down. Mentioned in this Episode NPR: Justice Department withheld and removed some Epstein files related to Trump Roger Sollenberger Substack WSJ: DOJ To Review Whether Epstein Files Were Improperly Withheld Hillary Clinton opening statement  Mother Jones: State Department guts office combating human trafficking PBS: Clinton deposition paused over leaked photo Bill Gates admits to affairs with two Russians NYT: World Economic Forum’s Borge Brende resigns over Epstein Ties Harvard Crimson: Larry Summers leaves Harvard NYT’s running list of Epstein-related resignations or removals  Journalist Vicky Ward Ward’s 2003 Vanity Fair profile, “The Talented Mr. Epstein” Fresh Air: Excavating the Epstein Files, with Vicky Ward NYT on Leon Black and Epstein WaPo: Steven Hoffenberg, Epstein mentor, dies  Bloomberg: ‘Eva Dubin gave me your email” NBC: Epstein’s named and unnamed co-conspirators Join our Patreon community at Patreon.com/EpsteinFilesBookclub Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Long before the Epstein scandal broke, Donald Barr, former headmaster of The Dalton School (where Jeffrey Epstein taught math), wrote a 257-page novel called Space Relations. Jena is joined by writer Laura Moran for a book report on Space Relations by Donald Barr (who is also the father of former Attorney General William Barr). Moran calls it “a catastrophe of a book” and “deeply, deeply, unfortunate.”  Mentioned in this episode: BBC: What happens after Andrew’s arrest? Was This Victoria’s Secret? (Episode 4) See clips of the Les Wexner testimony  Space Relations by Donald Barr Variety: Wasserman’s earlier scandal Writer Laura Moran  NPR: The relationship between Donald Barr and William Barr Support the show and join the community at our Patreon Rate, subscribe and follow wherever you listen Write us at eliseandjena [at] gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retail magnate Les Wexner testified before the House Oversight Committee, New Mexico approved a probe of the former Epstein ranch in New Mexico, we track more fallout at home and abroad in the expanding Epstein scandal, and attorney Anne P. Mitchell joins the show to talk about legal pathways for justice after the Department of Justice indicates its Epstein cases are ... closed. Mentioned in this episode Anne P. Mitchell’s Notes from the Front Substack BBC: Les Wexner’s testimony before the House subcommittee Thomas Pritzker retires as Hyatt’s chairman Kimbal Musk off the Burning Man board Lawrence Summers resigns from Open AI board Larry Summers columns at The New York Times Ghislane Maxwell hints at ties to Trump administration  Jmail.world  State AGs lead opposition to Trump in 2026 Call your reps with 5Calls.org Contact the Florida bar Our Patreon to join the Book Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Updates on the latest fallout from the release of the most recent trove of Epstein documents. Those affected include Kathy Ruemmler, the top lawyer at the major investment bank Goldman Sachs, and the CEO of Dubai’s largest port. Plus, a deeper dive into retail magnate Les Wexner, the man responsible for much of Epstein’s money, his New York mansion, and his jet. Mentioned in this episode: DOJ’s letter naming 300+ prominent people Kathy Ruemmler steps down from Goldman Sachs Wasserman to sell his agency Head of Dubai ports giant quits Forrner Norweigan Prime Minister charged with corruption Rho Khanna on seeking justice Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon by Lauren Sherman and Chantal Fernandez Jean Luc Brunel dies by suicide Faith Kates leaves her agency, NEXT Models The New Yorker’s David Remnick interviews Julie K Brown Julie K. Brown’s reporting on Alex Acosta and the non-prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein Anne P Mitchell’s Substackeliseandjena [at] gmail.com is our email, Patreon.com/epsteinfilesbookclub is our Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Betches Media Co-Founder Sami Sage joins Elise and Jena this week to discuss the systemic flaws to bear in mind as we continue our reading, and why Steve Bannon is a fulcrum in, well, all of this. Plus, context on AG Pam Bondi’s combative testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, the latest fallout from the files, and Jena makes a provocative bet. Mentioned in this episode: Ghislane Maxwell wants to cut a deal ​​Howard Lutnick faces calls to resign Chappell Roan and other artists leave Casey Wasserman Lawmakers react to unredacted files Massie and Khanna release a list of six co-conspirators Four Takeaways from Pam Bondi’s testimony before House Judiciary Watch exchange between Ted Lieu and AG Pam Bondi  Sami Sage on Threads Betches Media Steve Bannon and Epstein and a global populist movement Bannon and Epstein on Justice Brett Kavanaugh  The implications of the SCOTUS Chevron decision Dr. Mark Landon received payments from Jeffrey Epstein Democracy in Retrograde by Sami Sage and Emily Amick Jeffrey Epstein and Leon Black Les Wexner of Victoria’s Secret and Jeffrey Epstein Morning Announcements podcast Find Jena @jenafriedman on Instagram, or on her YouTube or Substack Find Elise @elisewho on Instagram, @whoelise on TikTok, or on Substack Join our Patreon at patreon.com/epsteinfilesbookclub where we have a running chat with the community and will start putting up video episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve got a rundown of the latest headlines in the Epstein fallout, including the Epstein friends both domestic and abroad who are resigning from their posts — as ambassadors and protein bar advisors. Then, Jena reviews Virginia Giuffre’s memoir and why it’s so important, and Elise digs into Lawrence Summers and his anxiety over “Yellow Peril.” Mentioned in this episode: Ghislane Maxwell testifying before a Congressional subcommittee Survivors’ Superbowl spot A Threads post about the way the files were released  Valeria Chomsky’s apology saying they were ‘careless’ about Epstein Brad Karp at Paul Weiss "60 Minutes"pulling the Peter Attia segment  Dave McPhillips CEO of Chuck E Cheese Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Giuffre The Larry Summers-Jeff Epstein chat about “Yellow Peril” Join our Patreon at patreon.com/epsteinfilesbookclub where we have a running chat with the community and video episodes.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we decided to start podcasting to talk about the files. Jena and Elise riff on why the Epstein story is so important, as it's tied into wealth and power in this moment, and how they'd love a community to come together to process the sheer volume of information we're learning from the Epstein investigations. To support the show, spread the word. And you can join our live chat and community at patreon.com/epsteinfilesbookclub, where we will post exclusive video episodes each week and other member extras. Profits will go to RAINN, to support and advocate for victims of sexual violence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Epstein Files Book Club is a show where comedian Jena Friedman and journalist Elise Hu break down the latest revelations from the trove of documents released about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his sprawling network of powerful people to try to understand what’s real, what’s not and what we can do about it. Join us as we try to get to the bottom of one of the craziest and widest reaching scandals of our time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices