The Tara Palmeri Show
Tara Palmeri
Welcome to The Tara Palmeri Show! Tara Palmeri is one of the most feared and fearless political journalists. As a deeply-sourced reporter, she brings her audience inside the machinations of the highest level of power. Her quick wit and unvarnished reporting goes beyond the headlines, offering a deeper understanding of the intrigues of the permanent political class. This show is not about platitudes. Rather it's about what’s really happening at the highest levels of power and the inside conversation. Tara has covered national politics and foreign affairs for fifteen years. She was formerly a White House Correspondent for ABC News, where she covered the first Trump administration. She was the Chief National Correspondent for POLITICO during the Biden administration. She has been a political analyst for CNBC, CBS and CNN. She’s also worked for the Washington Examiner, the New York Post, POLITICO Europe and Puck, and she hosted The Ringer's election podcast "Somebody's Gotta Win." Tara also hosted two acclaimed podcasts on Jeffrey Epstein called "Broken: Jeffrey Epstein" and "Power: The Maxwells." Subscribe to her weekly newsletter The Red Letter on Substack Support her independent journalism on GoFundMe Visit her channel on YouTube Follow Tara on Social Media: Instagram X TikTok Got guest ideas or news tips? [email protected]
Recent Episodes
20 episodesThe Epstein Honeytrap: The Women Who Pulled Prince Andrew In
Tara Palmeri sits down with royal biographer Andrew Lownie to expose what may be the most dangerous dimension of the Epstein scandal: the intelligence operation behind it. Lownie, author of "The Rise and Fall of the House of York," reveals an FBI document describing how Russian and Chinese intelligence services targeted Prince Andrew through women, money, and contacts — and how Andrew was a willing participant, driven by hatred for his brother King Charles. Andrew Lownie details honey traps from Libya to Central Asia, Andrew requesting prostitutes on official trips (including 40 in Thailand — charged to taxpayers), a €10,000 payment for a former Miss Slovakia in Prague, and the deeper question of whether Epstein was just a player in a wider intelligence conspiracy involving Robert Maxwell, Mossad, and the Barr family's Dalton School connection. They also break down why Lownie doesn't believe Epstein's recently surfaced suicide note is real — citing forensic pathologist evidence, mysterious guard payments, failed cameras, and Epstein's own insistence days before his death that it would be "crazy" to kill himself. Plus: Bill Barr's unexplained prison visit, why Epstein's key staff have never been subpoenaed, what Andrew's fall means for King Charles's reign, and why William wants this dealt with before he inherits the throne. #politics #epsteinfiles #princeandrew 0:00 – Intro: The intelligence operation behind the Epstein scandal 1:42 – The FBI document: Russian and Chinese intelligence targeting Prince Andrew 5:26 – Honey traps, €10,000 for Miss Slovakia, and 40 prostitutes on taxpayer expenses 10:38 – Robert Maxwell, Ghislaine, and the intelligence origins of the Epstein operation 15:41 – The suicide note Lownie doesn't believe — and the evidence for homicide 20:49 – Bill Barr's prison visit, Mark Epstein, and the witnesses never subpoenaed 25:03 – What Andrew's fall means for King Charles and the future of the monarchy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Men Sarah Kellen Linked to Epstein’s Trafficking Ring
After my exclusive reporting revealed that former Epstein lieutenant Sarah Kellen identified several powerful men to congressional investigators, I’m digging into the longstanding ties these figures had to Jeffrey Epstein — and the elite political, financial, and social networks surrounding him that reached all the way to the top, including Clinton. Join me for new reporting and a deeper look at the power structure behind Epstein’s inner circle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Inside Trump's Secret Plan to Fund His “Loyalty Squad”
Tara Palmeri sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times investigative reporter Russ Buettner to break down what may be the most brazen act of presidential self-dealing in American history: Trump's $1.776 billion IRS "settlement." Buettner explains how two Trump subordinates — acting AG Todd Blanche (Trump's former personal defense attorney) and Treasury officials — quietly cut a deal that creates a massive slush fund with no public reporting requirements, wipes away a 15-year audit over a suspicious $72.9 million tax refund that could have cost Trump well over $100 million, and includes a sweeping addendum that "forever bars" the IRS from auditing Trump, his family, and any "affiliated individuals" — language so broad it could cover Jared Kushner and his crypto partners. They dig into why the IRS thought they could win the case, how Trump declared over $1 billion in losses from his casinos and Chicago Tower (possibly claiming the same losses twice), how January 6th defendants are already lining up for $30 million payouts from the fund, and why a senior Treasury lawyer reportedly quit over what was coming. Plus: why lawyers won't even call it a "settlement," whether a future administration can reverse it, and why this may amount to the president having deputized and funded a militia. 0:00 – Intro: Pulitzer Prize-winning NYT reporter Russ Buettner on Trump's IRS deal 5:57 – The $72.9 million refund, The Apprentice windfall, and a 15-year audit 10:24 – Todd Blanche signed the deal — Trump's former personal defense attorney 15:16 – "Forever barred": the sweeping non-prosecution language no taxpayer has ever received 20:58 – The $1.776 billion slush fund and January 6th defendants demanding $30 million 26:00 – Pandora's box: elected kings, future presidents, and the self-dealing precedent 30:02 – "The most corrupt moment I've ever lived through" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Royal Bombshell: Sarah Ferguson’s Alleged Relationship With Diddy Began Through Ghislaine Maxwell
Royal biographer Andrew Lownie joins me to discuss explosive new allegations that Ghislaine Maxwell introduced Sarah Ferguson to Diddy — and the hidden overlap between the Epstein world and elite royal circles. How deeply did Maxwell penetrate the Royal Family’s orbit? And how did those relationships shape the fallout surrounding Prince Andrew and Ferguson? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EXCLUSIVE: How Michael Wolff Is Trying to Cash In on His Epstein Tapes
Tara Palmeri sits down with reporter Ellie Leonard to expose how journalist Michael Wolff spent two decades as Jeffrey Epstein's fixer — and is now trying to cash in on the 100 hours of tapes he recorded with him. Ellie went through 1,830 emails between Wolff and Epstein and found a paper trail that goes far beyond journalism: Wolff helped Epstein build a PR team (the same one that worked with Harvey Weinstein), drafted public statements to discredit survivors, killed a New York magazine article because Epstein didn't want his sex offender status mentioned, signed an NDA to get advance copies of books about Epstein and passed the information back to him, tried to get ahead of James Patterson's "Filthy Rich," suggested Epstein pay off his doorman for leaking about girls coming in and out, and offered to trade off-the-record White House information with the Saudis through Epstein. Now Wolff is actively shopping a narrative documentary with a major producer while claiming no one wants his tapes — and Tara breaks the news live on air, texting with Wolff in real time as he denies it all. 0:00 – Intro: Ellie Leonard's six-month deep dive into 1,830 Wolff-Epstein emails 5:20 – Wolff as Epstein's fixer: killing articles, discrediting survivors, drafting PR statements 10:50 – Wolff moved his tapes to a "secure location" — and has been shopping them ever since15:46 – Tara breaks news live: Wolff is actively pitching a documentary with a major producer 20:15 – The Daily Beast connection: Joanna Coles, the failed production deal, and "raw tapes" semantics25:57 – The Epstein Files reading room in New York — somber, two stories of binders, mixed feelings 31:43 – "Stop using these girls as props" — politicizing survivors vs. honoring them 36:20 – The $830K GoFundMe, the $13M book deal, and Wolff's financial hypocrisy47:06 – "You couldn't be a pizza delivery boy and not know" — Virginia Giuffre on Epstein's house 54:16 – The shadow hearing in West Palm Beach: Rosa's testimony and Sky Roberts naming Dershowitz 59:07 – Survivors can't afford to fight billionaires' lawyers — "they've sold houses to pay legal bills" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Billion Dollar President: How Trump Profits While In Office
Tara Palmeri sits down with Isaac Saul from Tangle, who spent 15 months reporting on how President Trump has profited from the presidency — a 6,000-word investigation that puts it all in one place for the first time. Isaac breaks down the staggering scale: the Trump sons investing in companies landing Pentagon contracts, the meme coin that netted Trump an estimated $350 million, World Liberty Financial taking hundreds of millions from foreign governments and adversaries, Jared Kushner raising $5 billion for his private equity firm while negotiating the Iran war with Saudi Arabia pouring billions into his companies, Melania's $28 million Bezos movie deal, Trump's $23 million in licensing deals, a pay-for-play pardon economy that includes wiping $676 million in restitution for a fraudster whose defense attorney was Pam Bondi's brother, and Barron Trump launching a beverage company while still in college. They discuss why Republicans who cheered on the Hunter Biden investigations are now silent, why Democrats can't seem to message on corruption, why Trump told the New York Times he's "not even bothering" to separate business from government this time, and what investigations Democrats should launch first if they win the House in 2026. 0:00 – Intro: Isaac Saul's 15-month investigation into Trump profiting from the presidency 4:18 – The cryptocurrency scheme: meme coins, World Liberty Financial, and foreign money pouring in 9:13 – Why no Republicans will act — and why Democrats can't message on corruption 14:09 – The pardon economy: Trevor Milton, George Santos, and pay-for-play justice 19:02 – What Democrats should investigate first if they win the House in 2026 24:16 – Jared Kushner negotiating the Iran war while Saudi Arabia funds his companies 29:18 – Trump's net worth has exploded — crypto alone is worth more than his entire real estate portfolio 34:35 – Barron Trump's beverage company, tariff conflicts, and the Overton window on corruption Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Congressman Ro Khanna Wants John Kerry’s Epstein Testimony
Tara Palmeri joins V on Parasocial to break down her exclusive ten-month investigation into John Kerry's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein — a story mainstream media has entirely missed. Tara walks through the full paper trail: a photo of Kerry in Epstein's home, sworn FBI testimony from Epstein's chef placing Kerry on his plane, Virginia Giuffre's account of encountering Kerry during the height of the sex trafficking operation, Epstein's campaign donations, the "Kerry Scheme" emails fantasizing about Kerry jumping into the 2016 race, and Epstein acting as an unofficial broker while Kerry was secretary of state — trying to connect him with disgraced Norwegian diplomat Rod Larsen, an Emirati shipping tycoon who loved a torture video, and Steve Bannon. They also dig into Epstein's cultivation of William Burns (Kerry's deputy who became Biden's CIA director), the Leon Black–Jay Clayton conflict of interest corrupting the Epstein file investigation, Tara's confrontation with acting AG Todd Blanche at the French embassy, Howard Lutnick's shifting Epstein timeline under oath, the Epstein Files reading room pop-up in New York, Ghislaine Maxwell's pardon push, and why politicizing survivors' pain is unacceptable. Plus: the hantavirus cruise ship quarantine headed to Nebraska, the Canvas hack shutting down college finals, and ABC threatening to sue Trump over his FCC investigation into The View. 0:00 – Intro: Tara's ten-month investigation into John Kerry's ties to Jeffrey Epstein 4:58 – The evidence: sworn FBI testimony, Epstein's plane, the little black book 9:12 – The "Kerry Scheme" emails and Epstein as unofficial broker to the secretary of state 14:20 – Rod Larsen, the Oslo Accords, and Epstein tracking the Iran nuclear deal 19:13 – Why subpoenas are stalled and who still hasn't been called to testify 24:27 – Leon Black, Jay Clayton, and the conflict of interest corrupting the investigation 29:39 – WHCD chaos, Epstein's suicide note, and Ghislaine Maxwell's pardon push 33:47 – The Epstein Files reading room — "Stop using these girls as props" 39:49 – The hantavirus cruise ship headed to Nebraska's biocontainment unit 45:09 – Canvas hack, ABC vs. Trump over The View, and outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EXCLUSIVE: The Epstein Files John Kerry Doesn’t Want You to See
Tara Palmeri lays out her exclusive ten-month investigation into John Kerry's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein — one that mainstream media has entirely missed. Kerry, who served as senator, presidential nominee, secretary of state, and Biden's climate envoy, was photographed in Epstein's home with his housekeeper, appeared in Epstein's little black book, and was seen on Epstein's plane according to sworn FBI testimony from Epstein's former chef. Virginia Giuffre told Tara she encountered Kerry during the height of Epstein's sex trafficking operation. But the paper trail goes deeper: Epstein donated to Kerry's Senate and presidential campaigns, fantasized about a "Kerry Scheme" in which Kerry jumped into the 2016 race, and acted as an unofficial broker while Kerry was secretary of state — trying to connect him with disgraced Norwegian diplomat Terje Rod-Larsen, an Emirati shipping tycoon who loved a torture video, and even Steve Bannon. Epstein was also working Kerry's deputy secretary of state, William Burns, who later became Biden's CIA director — Burns met with Epstein twice after he was a registered sex offender and was invited to his island. Because of Tara's investigation, Congressman Ro Khanna said he will call Kerry to testify before the House Oversight Committee. Kerry's spokesperson — who refused to go on the record by name — issued a tone-deaf denial claiming Kerry had no relationship with Epstein. The documents say otherwise. For the full scoop: https://open.substack.com/pub/tarapalmeri/p/exclusive-john-kerrys-uncomfortable?r=1ili3&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web 1:08 – Tara traveled with Virginia finding witnesses — "She told me about Kerry and three others" 1:42 – Ten months, thousands of documents — "an intricate web between Epstein and Kerry" 2:40 – "This has never been reported by mainstream media — listen to the women" 3:06 – Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Howard Lutnick, Bill Barr also called to testify 3:31 – 2.5 million files still hidden for "national security reasons" — this story may explain why 3:40 – Sourcing: sworn FBI testimony from Epstein's former chef David Richard Mullin — Kerry on the plane 4:03 – Epstein bet on Kerry early — $2,000 to his Senate campaign in 1991 and presidential campaign in 2002 5:50 – Rod Larsen was the architect of the Oslo Accords — many say they favored Israel 6:40 – The Emirati shipping tycoon Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem asked Epstein to connect him to Kerry 8:26 – Epstein planned to have Thiel, Burns, and Ehud Barak at his New York home 8:35 – In 2018, Epstein offered to introduce Steve Bannon to John Kerry in Washington 8:53 – When Kerry wasn't coming to DC, Epstein offered Burns instead 9:31 – The spokesperson refused to give his name on the record 9:48 – Kerry's tone-deaf statement: "We'd need an EEG board to guess why Epstein suggested Bannon meet Kerry" 11:01 – Why was Epstein sending Kerry packages? "He saw Kerry as someone with outsized influence for the next two decades" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Billionaires vs. The People: Inside the Battle for Manhattan
Tara Palmeri interviews Laura Dunn, one of seven candidates running for Congress in New York's 12th district — the Manhattan seat long held by Jerry Nadler and arguably one of the wealthiest districts in the world. Dunn, a civil rights attorney and sexual assault survivor who helped draft the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization and sued Trump in his first term, is running as the only people-powered candidate in a field dominated by establishment money: Jack Schlossberg backed by Pelosi, George Conway the ex-Republican who lived in Trump Tower, Michael Lasher bankrolled by $5 million from Bloomberg, and Alex Flores funded by AI money from Palantir and Anthropic. They discuss why she's calling for impeachment as the top priority, why she broke with the party on Israel aid, the Comey seashells indictment, King Charles's tone-deaf visit while his brother dodges Epstein accountability, and why the Democratic establishment keeps hand-selecting white men in one of the most diverse cities in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Price Tag of War: Tracking the Billions Lost in Modern Conflict
Tara Palmeri sits down with Robert Wolf, former chairman and CEO of UBS and informal economic advisor to President Obama during the 2008 financial crisis, to break down the economic and political chaos gripping the country. They open with Trump's Operation Project Freedom — the failed attempt to guide ships through the mined Strait of Hormuz that Iran immediately threatened to shoot down — and Robert explains why the real story is the 900 million barrels of lost oil supply, the worst energy shock since Carter in the 1970s. Diesel is at an all-time high, gas is heading past $5, Africa is months from famine over fertilizer shortages, and Trump's disapproval just hit 62% — the highest of both terms combined. Robert unpacks the K-shaped economy, why savings rates are at a three-year low, the AI economy that's propping up GDP through CapEx while threatening middle-tier jobs, why he publicly backed Kevin Warsh for Fed chair on Fox, and his fear that stagflation is next. Then they turn to politics: the DNC autopsy report that donors paid for but nobody's seen, why Robert hasn't given a cent to Democrats in 2025 for the first time in 20 years, how Senate flip chances jumped from 10–15% to 40%, the California governor's race becoming a "s**t show," and why the Democratic Party needs a real economic message instead of just being anti-Trump 24/7. 0:45 – Operation Project Freedom: Trump's guided missile destroyer in the Strait of Hormuz 1:43 – Robert: "They're going to guide, not escort — what ships will go through mines on their own?" 4:34 – Trump as marketer-in-chief: "He could declare victory and pivot to a deal" 6:58 – Tara: Africa is months from famine — they need fertilizer to plant crops 9:18 – Trump's 62% disapproval — highest of both terms combined 12:58 – Generic Democrat still only marginally more popular than generic Republican at -21 favorability 15:12 – In this inflationary environment, the Fed probably won't lower rates 16:58 – Tara: Who's paying for the Strait of Hormuz gamble? All of us 17:51 – Gerrymandering and redistricting mean maps are locked — maybe no blue wave 22:38 – The populist wing — Bernie, AOC — has a better message right now 26:47 – Senate flip chances went from 10–15% to 40% — Alaska, Texas, Maine all in play 27:22 – Is that because of weak Republican candidates? "It's both" 30:57 – Trump backing Hilton was a negative Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Abdul El-Sayed is Challenging Democrats — But Can He Actually Govern?
Tara Palmeri sits down with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the former Detroit health director and Michigan Senate candidate running against the Democratic establishment without a dollar of corporate money. Abdul breaks down the crowded Michigan Senate primary — Mallory McMorrow's resurfaced tweets disparaging the state she wants to represent, Haley Stevens' Schumer backing, and why his poll numbers keep climbing despite no PAC support. They go deep on his relationship with Hasan Piker and whether campaigning with a controversial creator costs or gains votes, his willingness to sit down with Trump ("He's a narcissistic a***ole... he's also the president"), the $100 million AIPAC super PAC targeting him, why he thinks Democrats lost in 2024, and what Medicare for All actually looks like in a gridlocked Senate. Plus a rapid-fire round that includes his thoughts on Hamas vs. the IDF, his hatred of Ohio, and why Bernie Sanders is "the OG." 0:00 – Intro: Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan Senate candidate running without corporate money 1:33 – Schumer backed Stevens, now says he's "fine with either" of Abdul's opponents 4:37 – Running without PAC money: "When people understand you're fighting for them, they support you" 6:26 – "Trump is not the disease — he's the worst symptom. The disease is the system" 7:44 – Tara: This sounds like left-wing populism — same playbook as Trump 9:43 – What he's done: free glasses for kids, taking on polluters, eliminating $700M in medical debt 14:15 – Tara: Voters are throwing away purity tests to vote for outsiders 16:52 – Tara: If you could grill RFK Jr., what would you ask? 18:28 – Hasan Piker: are you worried campaigning with him could cost you votes? 28:17 – Tara: Would you sit down with Trump? 30:17 – Michigan vs. Ohio: "Ohio exists to hold up Michigan" 32:47 – Biggest mistake Democrats made in 2024? 33:01 – If you lose, what will it be because of? 33:12 – If you win, what changes on day one? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
King Charles, Trump, and the Epstein Silence in Washington
Tara Palmeri joins Piers Morgan to discuss the elephant in the room during King Charles's state visit to Washington: his brother Prince Andrew's unresolved Epstein allegations. While Charles gave an impassioned speech to Congress about democratic values and humanitarian roots, he never mentioned the word "Epstein" — and no one in the room pressed him on it. Tara breaks down the elite normalization she witnessed all weekend, from the state dinner to the garden party to the White House Correspondents Dinner, and why she chose to attend Virginia Giuffre's memorial instead. They also discuss why the UK is actually investigating Epstein-linked figures while the US has prosecuted zero public officials, why 40 terabytes of FBI video remain hidden, and Lauren Boebert's sharp rebuke that the King's "do's and don'ts" list for Congress sounded more like rules his own family should follow with victims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Inside Blanche’s Power Play: Epstein Lawsuit & Comey Indictment w/ Katie Phang
Tara Palmeri sits down with attorney and journalist Katie Phang, who just filed the first lawsuit against Todd Blanch and the DOJ for violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Katie explains why the law was written without enforcement teeth — Republicans intentionally blocked private causes of action — and why she sued as a journalist: if she can't access the files, she can't report on them or pull on threads. They also break down Todd Blanch's audition for attorney general, the Comey seashells indictment as a distraction, and the Jay Clayton–Leon Black conflict of interest at the heart of the Epstein cover-up. Tara shares what happened when she confronted Blanch at the French ambassador's residence during White House Correspondents Weekend — he denied everything, his wife said she "ruined a beautiful night," and his taxpayer-funded security detail threatened to remove her for trespassing on French soil. 0:46 – The Transparency Act was intentionally written without enforcement teeth 4:43 – Standing as a journalist: videos, photos, FBI interviews — "I can't do my job" 6:15 – The Comey indictment: seashells spelling 8647 9:32 – The timing: WHCD shooting, the ballroom lawsuit, and Comey as distraction 10:20 – Lindsey Graham wants taxpayers to fund Trump's $400 million ballroom 12:20 – The Republican power trifecta vs. the "Epstein elite" who benefit from inaction 13:08 – Trump's approval going down — but Democrats aren't gaining either 16:14 – CNN poll: double haters now favor Democrats by 31 points ahead of midterms 21:34 – Tara confronts Todd Blanche at the French ambassador's residence 24:33 – Tara asks Blanche about the Clayton–Black conflict — "You don't know what you're talking about" 26:41 – Actual vs. perceived conflicts — prosecutors are held to a higher standard 32:01 – Tara: "He's not a dumb guy — he knows exactly what he's saying" 34:25 – Katie: "I'm not suing for money — I want a court injunction and a special master" 35:07 – How soon before a judge? They want to move fast — "delay only helps them" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
99% of the Epstein Files Are Still Hidden — And Trump Just Made It Worse w/ Jim Acosta
Tara Palmeri joins Jim Acosta to unpack Trump's extraordinary 60 Minutes moment — when he volunteered "I am not a rapist, I am not a pedophile" without being asked — and why it echoes Bill Clinton's infamous Monica Lewinsky denial. They break down the ongoing Epstein files cover-up: only 1% of the FBI's 40 terabytes have been released, Todd Blanch is acting as both Trump's former defense attorney and acting AG overseeing the files, and Katie Fang just filed a lawsuit accusing the administration of violating the Epstein Transparency Act. They also discuss the Michael Tracy incident at the Virginia Giuffre memorial and the Substack party, where Tracy harassed Julie K. Brown and was removed by security — and why someone would make a hobby out of targeting Epstein survivors and the reporters who broke the story. 1:00 – Playing the clip: Norah O'Donnell reads the WHCD shooter's manifesto to Trump 1:43 – Trump's response: "I'm not a pedophile... you should be ashamed of yourself" 2:37 – Tara: "She didn't ask him that — he volunteered it, like Clinton and Lewinsky" 4:16 – Tara: The Epstein files have raised more questions — 2.5 million still with the FBI 5:57 – We've seen 1% of the files — 300GB out of 40 terabytes, mostly video 6:16 – The WHCD shooting and Michael Tracy at the Virginia Giuffre memorial 7:16 – Tara: Tracy followed me around Capitol Hill, shoved cameras in survivors' faces 8:03 – "He told survivors they weren't real victims because they were over 18" 11:32 – Survivors were distressed he showed up at Virginia's memorial 12:59 – Tara: Virginia carried so much pain — her suicide is a testament to what survivors endure 14:43 – Jim: Trump said "I'm not a pedophile" on 60 Minutes — we still don't have the files 15:19 – Tara: "That line will go down in history — it will be played forever" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What RFK Jr.’s Secret Diaries Reveal About His Next Run w/Isabel Vincent
Tara Palmeri sits down with New York Post investigative reporter Isabel Vincent to discuss her explosive new book "RFK Jr.: The Fall and Rise." Isabel obtained RFK Jr.'s personal diaries — without his cooperation — and they reveal a man obsessed with the presidency, riddled with sexual compulsion, and shaped by generations of Kennedy entitlement. The diaries include a scoring system for women he slept with (rated 1–10, with "victory" meaning he resisted), passages about failing his dead father's expectations, and entries where he castrates roadkill while his kids wait in the car. They also dig into the unanswered questions around his second wife Mary Richardson Kennedy's suicide — the missing phone, the missing computer, no suicide note, and a half-redacted police report — plus Cheryl Hines' $600K book deal, RFK's meetings with pharma lobbyists his own base hates, and why Isabel believes he is absolutely going to run for president in 2028. 0:57 – Tara: RFK has big ambitions — "this is a stepping stone" 2:13 – How she obtained his diaries: a source left three volumes at dinner 4:39 – The diaries as confessional — he writes about women like he's the victim 6:39 – First time a Kennedy confessed to infidelity in his own writing 8:24 – Mary at home with four kids under ten while he crusades and cheats 9:48 – His father told him he was "most like JFK" — conditioned since childhood 10:49 – Isabel: "I think you're going to see him run for president" in 2028 11:50 – Cheryl Hines: the $600K book advance and a marriage of convenience 13:04 – The Olivia Nuzzi affair and whether it almost ended his marriage 15:06 – The mythmaking: Twinkies, saunas with Kid Rock, cold plunges in jeans 17:05 – Does he really believe what he says? Congressional hearings and stubbornness 20:13 – Kennedy entitlement: his father had the speed limit raised so he wouldn't get a ticket 21:53 – Mary's suicide still weighs on him — but he had her body dug up and reburied 22:25 – The roadkill obsession: seagull skull collection, job at the National Zoo 28:32 – Hardest story to report: Mary's suicide — missing computer, no note, redacted police report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Ghislaine Maxwell Could Be More Valuable Than You Think
Tara Palmeri joins former CIA officers John Sipher and Jerry O'Shea on Mission Implausible to break down the Ghislaine Maxwell VIP prison treatment, Trump's refusal to rule out a pardon, and the DOJ sitting on 99% of the Epstein files. Why was a convicted sex trafficker transferred to the lowest-security federal facility — and given a puppy — after meeting with Todd Blanch, Trump's former personal lawyer? Why has the DOJ only released 1% of the total Epstein package while pulling prosecutors off counterintelligence cases to work on redactions? And why are survivors still living in fear while Ghislaine gets vegan food and haircuts? Tara also explains how Ghislaine wasn't just Epstein's girlfriend — she was the mastermind, the crueler perpetrator, the "Mary Poppins" who lured girls in with her posh accent and then abused them out of jealousy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How Independent Journalists Are Breaking the Stories Legacy Media Won't Touch
Tara joins a panel at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy alongside journalist Julia Angwin, Marissa Kabas of The Hand Basket, and Memo Torres of LA Taco for a conversation on resistance journalism in the Trump era. The panel covers how independent journalists are breaking the biggest stories — from federal funding freezes to the Swalwell scandal to ICE raid coverage — while facing daily legal threats, zero institutional support, and shrinking trust in legacy media. They also dig into objectivity vs. honesty, the symbiotic relationship between indie and legacy media, and why reader-supported journalism may be the only model that can't be captured. #journalism #politics #independent 0:00 – Julia Angwin opens: the climate for US journalism has changed dramatically 2:39 – Capturing the media landscape is a hallmark of authoritarianism 3:32 – Marissa Kabas intro: from one leak to becoming the hub for government whistleblowers 5:46 – Why people trust independent journalists over legacy institutions right now 6:45 – Tara intro: covering the Epstein story solo with daily legal threats 7:28 – "Most days I get a legal threat — I got one yesterday, I'll probably get another today" 8:27 – Victims have told Congress there are other men living free with no consequences 9:19 – Melania's surprise Epstein statement — "we're only at the tip of the iceberg" 9:52 – The Swalwell story was broken by content creators, not legacy media 10:54 – "If that independent journalist hadn't got the story out, he'd be the next governor of California" 12:14 – Memo Torres intro: from covering tacos to covering ICE raids in LA 13:47 – Soccer moms, nurses, and mechanics became grassroots intelligence agents 16:26 – Debunking viral misinformation: the influencer, the old lady, and the eggs 18:44 – Reader-supported journalism: no corporate boss, no advertiser pressure 21:42 – Tara on audience relationship: "my agenda is social justice — is that a bad thing?" 23:08 – The comment section as an investigative community 25:27 – Legacy media's failure: "they started vertical videos and think they're cool now" 28:38 – Memo's Daily Memo: strangers crying on the street because of what he's reported 33:34 – Marissa: "I hold myself to an even higher standard because of the legal burden" 37:34 – Tara on running a 5-person operation and pitching litigious stories to mainstream outlets 40:15 – Memo: LA Taco's ICE death database — past 60 deaths and counting 42:25 – The objectivity debate: Marissa, Tara, and Memo each weigh in 46:40 – Tara: "The muckrakers changed this country with the power of the pen" 47:13 – Memo: "Objectivity is bullshit — honesty is more important" 50:35 – Q&A: How do you keep community connection as your audience scales? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Inside Michael Wolff's uncomfortably close relationship with Epstein
Who is the real Michael Wolff? Tara joins Lev Parnas and investigative journalist Ellie Leonard to pull back the curtain on the man who calls himself the "Epstein whisperer." Wolff raised nearly $1 million through GoFundMe claiming he'd depose Melania Trump — but the anti-SLAPP lawsuit he filed can't actually lead to depositions. They also break down Michael Cohen's shifting story about the Katie Johnson case and why both men are now attacking the independent journalists actually doing the work. 00:00 – Intro: Who is the real Michael Wolff? 0:46 – Michael Cohen and Wolff team up to call Tara and Ellie "conspiracy theorists" 2:02 – Tara: "I've never been called a conspiracy theorist in 18 years of journalism" 2:42 – Wolff, Cohen, and the podcast where they attacked independent journalists 3:10 – The bid to buy New York magazine with Epstein AND Harvey Weinstein — documented 5:07 – Cohen and Wolff playing clip: they call Tara and Ellie "far-left activists" 7:13 – Michael Cohen's collapsing Katie Johnson story — private investigators, contradicting lawyers 10:19 – Wolff is sitting on Epstein tapes and shopping them to the highest bidder 13:57 – The GoFundMe anti-SLAPP lawsuit explained: it can't actually lead to depositions 16:02 – Wolff says he has Epstein on tape — so why not just release it? 18:28 – He's thinking about the perpetrators staying quiet, not the survivors speaking up 23:23 – He made $13 million on his book — why does he need a GoFundMe? 29:31 – Wolff tried to discredit Julie K. Brown, Tina Brown, Ronan Farrow — now it's us 33:07 – "I'm not getting out of the way" — Ellie on continuing the work Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Swalwell’s Donors Want Out—And Are Asking Where the Money Went
Tara calls in from Perugia, Italy and Nomiki Konst joins from Barcelona for a deep dive into the Eric Swalwell fallout. Donors are furious and demanding their money back, a billionaire backer is suing to claw back $1 million, and the former congressman's gubernatorial campaign is dead. Nomiki shares her own story of Swalwell aggressively flirting with her at a DNC meeting in 2018 — in full view of party leadership — raising the question of what Democrats knew and when. They also discuss the modeling industry's trafficking pipeline, how visa control keeps women trapped, Amanda Angara's explosive allegations, and why MeToo didn't go far enough the first time around. Read the full story: https://open.substack.com/pub/tarapalmeri/p/exclusive-swalwell-donors-are-calling?r=1ili3&utm_medium=ios 1:10 – Brave women and citizen journalists broke the story first 2:49 – The rape allegation: hotel, strangulation, and campaign finance receipts that match 3:42 – Donors want their money back — the non-disparagement agreement from Politico 6:58 – Nomiki's own story: Swalwell buying her prosecco and getting touchy at a DNC meeting in 2018 8:39 – Six years later he shows up in her DMs — "I don't think he even remembered me" 10:12 – What did Democratic leadership know? The Washington protection racket 12:23 – The DC culture that enables abuse: dorms, lobbyists, young staffers, no families around 17:16 – Did Pelosi know? She was the first to call for his resignation 19:11 – TMZ enters Washington: more congressmembers will be exposed 20:14 – Amanda Angara update: not backing down, Tara working to verify explosive claims 21:03 – The modeling-trafficking pipeline: visas, dorms, and girls with no power 24:04 – Fashion TV, Paolo's company, and how young these girls looked 25:17 – The Tyra Banks documentary: the full spectrum from Epstein to supermodel 26:07 – Victoria's Secret, Les Wexner, and MC Squared's Einstein visas 29:12 – Closing: Swalwell's campaign is dead, donors are furious, and there are more to come Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Epstein, the Manosphere, and the Erasure of Women w/ Lauren Leader
Lauren Leader — co-founder of All In Together and one of the leading voices on women in politics — joins Tara to talk about the pattern no one in Washington wants to name: every woman in Trump's cabinet is being pushed out. From Pam Bondi to Kristi Noem to Tulsi Gabbard to Linda McMahon, the firings keep coming — and Lauren explains why this is textbook "glass cliff" politics. They go deep on the manosphere's hijacking of the Epstein story, why victim testimony from women is treated as hearsay, the Victoria's Secret–Wexner–Epstein pipeline that sexualized an entire generation of girls, Joe Rogan's 11% female guest rate, Michael Wolff's Epstein ties, and why the U.S. ranks 43rd in the world for gender parity. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code TARA at https://www.oneskin.co/TARA #oneskinpod #ad 0:00 – Intro: Every woman in Trump's cabinet is getting fired 2:13 – The glass cliff: women handed impossible jobs, then blamed when they fail 7:34 – Pam Bondi was a lapdog who still got fired 10:32 – The manosphere hijacks the Epstein narrative — Rogan, Fridman, all-male panels 14:30 – Joe Rogan: only 11% of his guests are women — and it shows 21:49 – "Not one of them has been fired — they all resigned. That's not the same thing" 24:43 – Victoria's Secret, Les Wexner, and how Epstein shaped a body image crisis 30:02 – Ezra Klein and Bill Maher center men in the Epstein conversation 35:50 – Michael Wolff: decades observing Epstein, offering to brief the Saudis through him 40:14 – Anna Paulina Luna's discharge petition — credit where it's due 42:25 – Mike Johnson blocking Republican women from leadership 45:07 – The pay gap got worse, black women's unemployment spiked, maternal health crisis deepens 45:31 – The Florida woman forced into a C-section mid-labor by a Zoom judge 47:29 – Outro and thanks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices