Is the Epstein Scandal Trump’s Kryptonite?

The Washington Roundtable discusses the trove of Jeffrey Epstein correspondence released by Congress this week, the fractures it has caused in the Republican Party, and the potential political ramifications for President Trump. Their guest is the investigative reporter Michael Isikoff, who has spent decades reporting on major scandals in American politics, including the affair between President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, and Russian interference in the 2016 election. The panel considers the factors that made other scandals in the past, such as Watergate, break through the public consciousness and change the course of Presidencies. 

This week’s reading:

• “The Epstein Scandal Is Now a Chronic Disease of the Trump Presidency,” by Susan B. Glasser
• “Did Democrats Win the Shutdown After All?,” by Jon Allsop
• “Socialism, But Make It Trump,” by John Cassidy
• “Governments and Billionaires Retreat Ahead of COP30 Climate Talks,” by Elizabeth Kolbert
• “Laura Loomer’s Endless Payback,” by Antonia Hitchens
• “J. B. Pritzker Sounds the Alarm,” by Peter Slevin 

Tune in wherever you get your podcasts. 

The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.