How the Epstein Scandal Is Cracking the MAGA Base

Let’s keep talking about it.

On this week's episode of Assembly Required, a listener asked about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and Donald Trump’s connection to all of it. The focus of my answer wasn’t on the specific details of the scandal itself, but rather on what it has revealed about the character of an administration that promised revelations and fostered a damning narrative that is now consuming it. Irrespective of what's in the Epstein files, the frenzied and fumbled responses reflect a lack of candor and transparency, catnip for conspiracy theorists. More importantly, it spotlights a contempt for the MAGA base they can’t ignore.

It's crucial to understand that this situation will not destroy the Trump fealty or the march to autocracy. These are distinct, if interdependent movements. Anyone who believes otherwise is misinterpreting the moment. However, the blatant misdirection has fractured what was previously an impenetrable allegiance built on lies and misconduct. This moment has compelled the public to more closely scrutinize Trump and his allies. Like any Rorschach test, the faithful will see what they want—but the uncommitted are watching too.

Trump’s own supporters are rightly outraged by the administration’s lack of transparency. The loyalists and media figures who fueled Trump’s political rise are the same ones now demanding answers. We see Trump attempting every possible distraction, hoping to divert attention; but even his supporters are starting to question. Because when you build an entire movement on invective and sensational information, you cannot expect people not to become mistrustful and cynical.

This crisis has also temporarily hobbled Republicans’ plans to destroy our democracy from the inside. Just this week, House Speaker Mike Johnson was forced to send all members home for more than a month in order to try to quell the Epstein conversation. Again, we should see this as only a temporary reprieve from some truly horrible legislative action, but even a brief respite has its benefits. In the midst of their self-inflicted chaos, we are witnessing shrewd maneuvers to capitalize on the attention and sow doubt. Not among those who cannot be dissuaded—no. But among those still deciding where they stand. For the millions who were MAGA-curious, this is an opening for us to highlight hypocrisy. Trust, once eroded, is hard to rebuild. And in a Congress dominated by Republicans, they will—for now—shoulder the consequences. 

So here’s what I want us to understand: as long as people continue to demand the truth about Donald Trump's connection to Jeffrey Epstein’s scandal, it will become harder for them to ignore our voices. Over the coming weeks, we will see how much of a weakness this becomes for the Republican machine and for how long they can continue to bow to him at the expense of their own survival. And while we watch, we work.

I hope you’ll check out this week’s episode below, and that you’ll let me know what you think in the comments.