The Young Turks
The Young Turks
February 11, 2026

Massie & Khanna PUSH DOJ To Unredact NEW NAMES In The Epstein Files!!!

Quick Read

Congressmen Massie and Ro Khanna forced the DOJ to unredact more names in the Epstein files, while a Trump-era religious liberty commission sparked a fiery debate over Zionism, and the administration's economic policies face public disapproval.
Congressional pressure forced the DOJ to reveal more redacted names in the Epstein files.
A Trump-era commission saw a fiery debate on Zionism, anti-Semitism, and free speech.
Trump's economic approval is sinking, and climate regulations are being rolled back.

Summary

The host details how Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna successfully pressured the Department of Justice to unredact several names from the Epstein files, including prominent figures like Les Wexner and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, highlighting the DOJ's initial resistance. The episode also covers a contentious meeting of Trump's Religious Liberty Commission, where Catholic activist Carrie Pjan Bowler challenged panelists on the definition of anti-Semitism, leading to a heated debate about Zionism and its conflation with Jewish identity. Economically, Trump's approval ratings have plummeted due to rising layoffs and inflation, with Congress stalling on housing affordability measures. Furthermore, the host criticizes the Trump administration's rollback of Obama-era climate regulations and its push for administrative warrants, framing these actions as dangerous precedents for privacy in the age of AI.
This episode exposes ongoing efforts to uncover truth and accountability in high-profile cases like the Epstein scandal, demonstrating how persistent political pressure can yield results. It also highlights deep ideological divides within American political discourse, particularly concerning definitions of anti-Semitism and the role of Zionism. The discussion on economic policy and housing affordability underscores critical challenges facing American workers, while the debate over privacy rights and climate deregulation reveals fundamental tensions between government power, corporate interests, and citizen welfare.

Takeaways

  • Representatives Massie and Ro Khanna compelled the DOJ to unredact six names from Epstein files after finding 70-80% were still hidden.
  • Unredacted names include Salvatore Nav'ora (ex-NYPD), Nicola Capuda (Italian politician), Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem (CEO of Dubai Ports World), and billionaire Les Wexner.
  • Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem was identified as the sender of a 'torture video' Epstein 'loved'.
  • A Trump Religious Liberty Commission meeting erupted in debate over whether anti-Zionism is anti-Semitic, with Catholic activist Carrie Pjan Bowler challenging the panel.
  • The host argues that conflating Zionism with Jewish identity increases anti-Semitism and is a political ideology, not a religion.
  • Trump's economic net approval has dropped significantly, especially among independents, due to rising layoffs and inflation.
  • Congress is stonewalling Trump's executive order to ban institutional investors from buying residential real estate, influenced by real estate industry lobbying.
  • The Trump administration is repealing the 2009 Obama-era endangerment finding, the basis for all federal greenhouse gas regulations, in the 'largest deregulatory action in American history'.
  • The host criticizes the DHS's use of administrative warrants (issued by the executive branch to itself) for entering private property, arguing it normalizes privacy violations and sets a dangerous precedent for the age of AI.

Insights

1Congressional Pressure Unredacts Epstein Files

Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna visited the Department of Justice and discovered that 70-80% of the Epstein files remained redacted. Their direct intervention led the DOJ to acknowledge a 'mistake' and reveal six previously hidden names, including prominent figures like Salvatore Nav'ora, Nicola Capuda, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, and Les Wexner.

Congressman Massie and I went to the Department of Justice to read the unredacted Epstein files. We spent about two hours there and we learned that 70 to 80% of the files are still redacted. In fact, there were six wealthy, powerful men that the DOJ hid for no apparent reason. When Congressman Massie and I pointed this out to the Department of Justice, they acknowledged their mistake and now they have revealed the identity of these six powerful men.

2DOJ's Alleged Cover-Up and Questionable Redactions

The host asserts that the DOJ's initial redactions were not a mistake but part of an ongoing cover-up, noting that survivor names were not redacted while alleged co-conspirators' names were, and even Donald Trump's name was seemingly targeted for redaction in unrelated contexts (e.g., 'don't'). Les Wexner's name, despite appearing thousands of times, was specifically redacted in one key document, only to be unredacted after Massie's public challenge.

Look, I don't know if it was a mistake. I wouldn't really give this administration the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the Epstein files, especially because of the fact that they've been engaged in this cover up from the very beginning. Trump wanted people to forget about it... In releasing the Epstein files, as we know, the first trunch was heavily redacted and the second trunch was both heavily redacted and had questionable redactions. not just the fact that they were redacting the names of the alleged uh you know co-conspirators but also because of the fact that they did not redact the names of the survivors. They did not redact the names of the survivors. Also, another thing that was very clear to me is they wanted to redact Donald Trump's name anywhere they could find it.

3Debate on Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism at Religious Liberty Commission

During the first meeting of Trump's Religious Liberty Commission, Catholic conservative activist Carrie Pjan Bowler challenged panelists on their broad definition of anti-Semitism, arguing that her Catholic faith does not align with Zionism and questioning if that makes her anti-Semitic. The debate escalated, with one panelist unequivocally stating, 'Undoubtedly anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism.'

As you know, I'm a Catholic. I'm a Catholic and Catholics do not embrace Zionism, just so you know. So, is are all Catholics anti-semites? According to you, as I said, anti anti-ionism by denying the right of the Jews to have their own state while not saying the same for any other peoples. That is a double standard hypocrisy and anti-semitism. So, just to be clear, are Catholics anti-semit? Carrie, excuse me. I'm going to interrupt... Undoubtedly anti-Zionism is anti-semitism.

4Trump's Declining Economic Approval and Housing Policy Contradictions

President Trump's economic net approval has significantly declined, particularly among independents, with 52% of Americans believing his policies have worsened the economy. Despite an initial executive order to ban institutional investors from buying residential real estate to improve affordability, Trump later stated he wanted to drive housing prices up, creating a contradiction that Congress is exploiting to stonewall the investor ban.

Trump's economic net approval one year in among independents. In term one, he was 10 points above water. Look at where he is today. Whoa. 43 points below water. That's a 53 point switcher... President Donald Trump initially had signed an executive order to drive institutional investors like private equity firms, for instance, out of the housing market to make housing more affordable. Right? But as you saw in that video, he later stated that he actually wanted to drive housing prices up.

5Threat to Privacy: Administrative Warrants and AI Implications

Congressional Democrats are demanding that federal law enforcement (Border Patrol, ICE) obtain judicial warrants, not administrative warrants (issued by the executive branch to itself), before entering private property. The host argues that the DHS's defense of administrative warrants, claiming undocumented individuals lack Fourth Amendment protections, is false and normalizes privacy violations, setting a dangerous precedent for data collection and government overreach in the age of AI.

Congressional Democrats are demanding that federal law enforcement, you know, Border Patrol and ICE, obtain a judicial warrant signed by a judge before entering private property... DHS council, general counsel James Persal claims that this is consistent with broad judicial recognition that illegal aliens aren't entitled to the same Fourth Amendment protections as US citizens. That's not true, by the way... I also think it's about normalizing violations of our privacy, including the entrance of federal agents into private property without the appropriate warrants... in the name of AI, in the name of technological advancement, in the name of competing and beating chi competing with and beating China.

6Largest Deregulatory Action: Climate Rollbacks

The Trump administration is formalizing the repeal of the 2009 Obama-era endangerment finding, which concluded that six greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare. This repeal, described as the 'largest deregulatory action in American history,' will erase federal limits on emissions from power plants, cars, and other industries, driven by a secretive campaign by conservative activists funded by the fossil fuel industry.

On Thursday, President Trump will be joined by administrator Lee Zeldon to formalize the recision of the 2009 Obama era endangerment finding. This will be the largest deregulatory action in American history... The reversal targets the 2009 endangerment finding which concluded that six greenhound g greenhouse which concluded that six greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and welfare... EPA administrator Lee Zelden straight up said in an interview, 'This amounts to the largest act of deregulation in the history of the United States.'

Bottom Line

The conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, as seen in the Religious Liberty Commission, is not only a political tactic but, according to the host, actively increases anti-Semitism by linking Jewish identity to controversial political actions.

So What?

This rhetorical strategy stifles legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies and creates a hostile environment for those who disagree with Zionism, potentially alienating a diverse Jewish population and fueling actual anti-Jewish sentiment.

Impact

Advocates for free speech and human rights can leverage this distinction to challenge accusations of anti-Semitism more effectively when criticizing Israeli policies, fostering more nuanced public discourse and protecting diverse viewpoints within the Jewish community.

The DHS's use of administrative warrants for property entry, justified by denying Fourth Amendment rights to undocumented individuals, is viewed by the host as a 'foreshadowing' for broader privacy violations in the AI era, especially given calls from figures like BlackRock CEO Larry Fink for greater data access to compete with China.

So What?

This tactic normalizes government intrusion without judicial oversight, potentially eroding constitutional protections for all citizens under the guise of national security or technological competition, making individual privacy increasingly vulnerable to state and corporate interests.

Impact

Civil liberties advocates and lawmakers can proactively highlight the connection between current administrative warrant practices and future AI-driven surveillance, building a broader coalition to demand stronger judicial oversight and data privacy laws before technological advancements make such protections nearly impossible.

Lessons

  • Support lawmakers who actively push for government transparency and accountability, especially in sensitive cases like the Epstein files, even if it means challenging powerful institutions.
  • Educate yourself on the distinction between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism to engage in more informed discussions and resist attempts to conflate political criticism with religious bigotry.
  • Advocate for robust privacy protections, including judicial warrants for government entry into private property, and be skeptical of policies that erode these rights, particularly when framed in terms of national security or technological competition.

Notable Moments

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert and Senator Cynthia Lummis's reactions after viewing unredacted Epstein files, with Lummis admitting she initially 'didn't care' but now sees 'what the big deal is'.

These reactions from Republican lawmakers, particularly Lummis's candid admission of initial indifference, underscore the shocking nature of the unredacted information and the potential for it to shift political perspectives on the Epstein case.

A Ford autoworker, Thomas Sabula, heckled President Trump by calling him a 'pedophile protector' and was subsequently suspended, but the UAW union ensured his reinstatement with no disciplinary marks.

This incident highlights the power of labor unions in protecting workers' rights to free speech, even against a sitting president, and serves as a powerful example of collective action safeguarding individual livelihoods.

Quotes

"

"When you have Congress members who are willing to fight to make others bend to their will as Roana and Thomas Massie have done... they could actually accomplish something that's really important here. both transparency and potentially in the future, this is what I'm hoping for, justice for the survivors."

Anna Casparian
"

"Undoubtedly anti-Zionism is anti-semitism and undoubtedly... one does not have to support the specific policies of the government of Israel but to not support the right of Israel to exist which is what anti-ionists do while not taking that same stand to the 28 Muslim countries and 13 Christian countries in this world is a double standard is hypocrisy and is absolutely anti-semitism."

Panelist (Shabos Kenbomb)
"

"As long as Israel does not believe Palestinians have the right to exist in their own land, their own country, as long as they deny the Palestinian people their own country and their own agency, I don't care about the existence of Israel. I don't believe Israel has the right to exist."

Anna Casparian
"

"A religious liberty commission prepared to fire a commissioner for her Catholic faith. If that happens, it proves their mission was never religious liberty, but a Zionist agenda. I refuse to resign."

Carrie Pjan Bowler
"

"I unilaterally reject that it's not a genocide. The only genocide ever carried out was on October 7th when Hamas tried killing every man, woman, and child they could possibly find."

Panelist (Shabos Kenbomb)
"

"The jobs reports going to come out tomorrow... all of the jobs that we were creating in Biden years were going to illegals. Americans were going to the unemployment lines. That's totally reversed. And now 50,000 a month is going to be more like what we need."

Peter Navarro
"

"If you ask them what they need, they will say access to data as large as possible. They will say scale in order to really amotize the investment cost of the development of models. Now that would be significantly jeopardized if we have limited access to data because of different privacy laws around the world."

Christine Lagarde
"

"For the western economies, if we don't cooperate, we don't scale, China wins. There's enough population there. privacy laws are obviously quite different there and so the data that they can accumulate which is is giving them an a dramatic advantage."

Larry Fink
"

"This will be the largest deregulatory action in American history. Tomorrow afternoon, the president will hold an event in the East Room to tout clean, beautiful coal as America's most reliable and affordable energy source."

Caroline Levit (White House Press Secretary)

Q&A

Recent Questions

Related Episodes

Sen. Kaine Forces Vote on Iran War Powers Resolution
Bulwark TakesMar 4, 2026

Sen. Kaine Forces Vote on Iran War Powers Resolution

"Senator Tim Kaine details his persistent, decade-long fight to compel Congress to vote on acts of war, specifically highlighting his current War Powers Resolution concerning Iran and the historical reluctance of legislators to take a definitive stance on military engagements."

War Powers ResolutionCongressional OversightUS Foreign Policy+2
Palestinian Evangelical Analyst REACTS To U.S-Israeli War In Iran!
The Young TurksMar 3, 2026

Palestinian Evangelical Analyst REACTS To U.S-Israeli War In Iran!

"The Young Turks dissect the US-Israeli war in Iran, alleging it's driven by Israeli expansionist goals, fueled by US political and media subservience, and resulting in devastating civilian casualties and economic fallout, while a Palestinian Christian analyst details the brutal realities of Israeli occupation and humiliation."

US Foreign PolicyIsrael-Iran ConflictMedia Bias+2
A Whistleblower Running For Congress?!
The Young TurksFeb 14, 2026

A Whistleblower Running For Congress?!

"The Young Turks expose alleged government and media complicity in covering up critical information, from the push for war with Iran and DHS surveillance of activists to shocking revelations from the Epstein files and the suppression of dissent against Israeli influence."

US Foreign PolicyIran WarDHS Surveillance+2
Alex Jones: Epstein Files, Bondi Hearing + El Paso Shutdown | PBD #737
PBD PodcastFeb 12, 2026

Alex Jones: Epstein Files, Bondi Hearing + El Paso Shutdown | PBD #737

"Alex Jones details his conspiratorial view of the Epstein files, alleging deep state involvement and a political cover-up, while also recounting his personal legal battles, including the Sandy Hook lawsuit, which he frames as a weaponized attack on free speech."

Epstein FilesChild TraffickingPolitical Corruption+2