The Daily Show: Ears Edition DOJ Protects Trump From Epstein Accountability as MAGA Attacks "Sanctuary Cities" | Heather Ann Thompson
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Feb 3, 2026 Heather Ann Thompson, historian and Pulitzer Prize–winning author of work on criminal justice, discusses her book Fear and Fury. She recounts the Bernie Goetz subway shootings and how media and 1980s politics lionized vigilante violence. They trace links between that era’s white rage, policy shifts, and the political terrain that helped normalize tough-on-crime politics.
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DOJ Release Acts As Protection
- The DOJ's release of Epstein documents functioned more like damage control than a true accountability effort.
- Jon Stewart argues the release shields powerful people rather than leading to prosecutions.
Epstein Suggested Jon Stewart Narrate
- Jon Stewart reads a 2015 Epstein note pitching him as a narrator for a biographical special.
- The mock audition highlights Epstein's efforts to enlist high-profile media figures.
Elon Musk Emails About Party Plans
- The released emails show Elon Musk coordinating possible visits and party plans with Epstein.
- The exchanges include Musk asking about parties and Epstein replying about attendees 'over 25 and all very cute.'