I’ve been digging through the Epstein files for weeks now and I’m finding that there are a lot of issues with the coverage in the press. This is an attempt to explain some of them.
Punching Upwards, Episode 25 for 1 March 2026
Topics: Politics / Epstein Files
Credits
Thanks to Michael Mullan-Jensen, Fadi Mansour, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Vlad A Gouf for subscribing to the podcast on Substack and supporting it financially! Additional thanks to Sir Galteran who continues to provide financial backing via Fountain.fm!
Sources
FBI records tied to Trump accuser missing from Epstein files, CNN, 26 February 2026
Epstein files: Drafts expose Bill Gates, Jeffrey Epstein relationship details, CNN, 6 February 2026
Primary Sources:
Distributed Denial of Secrets (Bloomberg emails): public release, limited release
Resources:
Epstein Files Explorer (photos)
Library of Leaks (DDoS release / Bloomberg emails)
Epstein Gate (AI analysis)
Epsteinfilez (searchable archive)
Epstein Docs (searchable archive, source code)
Wikipedia: Epstein files, Jeffrey Epstein, Litigation involving Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Virginia Giuffre
Residences
Apartment at 22 Avenue Foch, Paris
Zorro Ranch, 49 Rancho San Rafael Road / Zorro Ranch Road, Stanley, New Mexico
Background:
True Anon Truth podcast, episode 465 for 28 August 2025: Matthew Petti (fromm Reason) on Epstein, Ehud Barak and spyware (alternative link)
The Big Take podcast, Bloomberg, episode for 11 September 2025: Jason Leopold & Ava Benny-Morrison on the Bloomberg email cache (alternative link)
How Bloomberg News Vetted the Epstein Emails, Jeff Kao et al., Bloomberg, 11 September 2025 (archived copy)
Disclosure podcast, Bloomberg, episode for 4 November 2025: Jason Leopold on Bloomberg’s Epstein money laundering investigation (alternative link)
Off The Hook podcast, 2600 Magazine, episode for 26 November 2025: Emma Best on DDoS document release (alternative link)
Why Epstein emails have so many =’s, The Prime Time, 7 February 2026
Struggling to navigate the Epstein files? Here is a visual guide, Hanna Duggal & Marium Ali, Al Jazeera, 10 February 2026
Legal Proceedings
Katie Johnson v. Donald J. Trump (5:16-cv-00797), District Court, C.D. California
Doe v. Trump (1:16-cv-07673), District Court, S.D. New York
News Coverage:
Bachelor of the Month: Jeffrey Epstein, Cosmopolitan Magazine, July 1980
The Fantasist, Philip Weiss, New York magazine, 7 December 2007
Jeffrey Epstein, Billionaire Pedophile, Goes Free, Conchita Sarnoff, The Daily Beast, 20 July 2010 (archived copy)
Jeffrey and Ghislaine: Notes on New York’s Oddest Alliance, Vicky Ward, Vanity Fair, 8 March 2011 (archived copy)
Jeffrey Epstein scandal: women with new identities run firms from Epstein-linked property, Jon Swaine, The Guardian, 7 January 2015
Video: Woman Claiming Trump Raped Her At Age 13 Tells Story, The David Pakman Show, 1 November 2016
Inside Jeffrey Epstein’s Spy Industry Connections, Matthew Petti, Reason, 27 August 2025
‘Impressive island’: Ex-Israeli prime minister’s hacked emails reveal relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, Mikael Thalen, Straight Arrow News, 27 August 2025
The PM and the sex offender: Emails show Israel’s Barak was alerted of Epstein allegations, Mikael Thalen, Straight Arrow News, 28 August 2025
Prince Andrew ‘stayed in touch with Epstein five years longer than claimed’, Gabriel Pogrund, The Times, 30 August 2025 (archived copy)
Revealed: Peter Mandelson asked Jeffrey Epstein for Israel advice, John McEvoy & Martin Williams, Declassified UK, 1 September 2025
Epstein aide solicited stories for another birthday ‘booklet,’ hacked emails show, Mikael Thalen, Straight Arrow News, 9 September 2025
UK Ambassador Told Epstein ‘I Think the World of You,’ Emails Reveal, Harry Wilson et al., Bloomberg, 10 September 2025 (archive copy)
Key Takeaways From Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s Emails, Jason Leopold et al., Bloomberg, 11 September 2025 (archive copy)
Ghislaine Maxwell and Epstein ‘were planning fertility treatment together’, Gabriella Swerling & Robert Mendick, The Telegraph, 11 September 2025
Epstein’s Inbox: A trove of emails reveals Ghislaine Maxwell’s secrets, Jason Leopold et al., Bloomberg, 11 September 2025 (archived copy)
Jeffrey Epstein’s Inbox Shows New Details of Relationship With Maxwell, David Gura & David Fox, Bloomberg, 11 September 2025 (archived copy)
Starmer Fires Mandelson as Envoy to US After Epstein Emails, Ailbhe Rea et al., Bloomberg, 11 September 2025 (archived copy)
Epstein Ties Dethrone UK’s ‘Prince of Darkness’ Mandelson, Ellen Milligan, Bloomberg, 11 September 2025 (archived copy)
Mandelson Downfall Puts New Scrutiny on Starmer’s Chief of Staff, Ailbhe Rea, Bloomberg, 11 September 2025 (archived copy)
Mandelson’s Firm Global Counsel Cutting Ties With Him After Epstein Emails, Philip Aldrick & Harry Wilson, Bloomberg, 11 September 2025 (archived copy)
Key Takeaways From Peter Mandelson’s Emails With Jeffrey Epstein, Alex Campbell, Bloomberg, 11 September 2025 (archived copy)
The Network, Max Abelson et al., Bloomberg, 25 September 2025 (archived copy)
Key Takeaways From Epstein’s Emails Revealing His Support Network, Max Abelson et al., Bloomberg, 25 September 2025 (archived copy)
Jeffrey Epstein’s Emails and His ‘Hour of Terror’, Jason Leopold, Bloomberg, 26 September 2025
Exclusive: How private intelligence brought the U.S. treasury secretary into contact with Epstein’s corporate web, Jack Poulson & Harrison Berger, All-Source Intelligence, 29 September 2025
The Silence of Power – How Bibi’s Office Helped Shield Barak from an Epstein Sex-Trafficking Story, Rob Waldeck, The (b)(7)(D), 21 October 2025
Following Epstein’s Money, Jason Leopold et al., Bloomberg, 31 October 2025 (archived copy)
House Democrats Urge Bank Subpoenas Over New Epstein Disclosures, Jason Leopold, Bloomberg, 31 October 2025 (archived copy)
Jeffrey Epstein Helped Israel Sell a Surveillance State to Côte d’Ivoire, Murtaza Hussein & Ryan Grim, Drop Site News, 7 November 2025
Epstein’s Library – The disgraced financier purchased books about making money, treating narcissism, negotiating with anyone, achieving ecstasy and understanding life, Surya Mattu et al., Bloomberg, 14 November 2025 (archived copy)
Epstein’s pilot coordinated flights with Trump’s multiple times during first term: emails, Alexander Willis, RawStory, 14 November 2025
A California woman accused both Epstein and Trump. Did she ever exist?, Raheem Hosseini, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 November 2025
The French Account – An HSBC branch in Paris closed Jeffrey Epstein’s account in 2007 after the bank flagged suspicious activity, including transactions tied to a French modeling agent, Jason Leopold et al., Bloomberg, 21 November 2025 (archived copy)
“Modi on board”: Jeffrey Epstein Pressed Steve Bannon to Meet With Indian PM Shortly Before His Death, Meghnad Bose et al., Drop Site News, 21 November 2025
Inside the extended courtship linking Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Thiel, and Israeli officials, Margaux MacColl, The San Francisco Standard, 23 November 2025
Jeffrey Epstein Aided Alan Dershowitz’s Attack on Mearsheimer and Walt’s “Israel Lobby”, Ryan Grim & Murtaza Hussain, Drop Site News, 25 November 2025
Jeffrey Epstein’s Federal Agents for Hire, Daniel Boguslaw & Harrison Berger, The American Conservative, 27 November 2025
Who was Jeffrey Epstein? – Inside the mind of a 21st-century monster, Tanya Gold, The Observer, 27 November 2025 (archived copy)
Jeffrey Epstein Bought Books About Pedophilia, Woody Allen, and Trump, Micah Lee, Zeteo, 29 November 2025
Jeffrey Epstein Was Concerned About Roughly 20 Underage Girls as Feds Closed In: Emails, Saagar Enjeti, Drop Site News, 2 December 2025
“Our Deadline is Noon Tomorrow” – New Emails Reveal Full Barak Allegations and Panic in Epstein Inner Circle, Rob Waldeck, The (b)(7)(D), 4 December 2025
Jeffrey Epstein rekrutierte auch in der Schweiz eine junge Frau, Watson, 6 December 2025
Le réseau du délinquant sexuel s’étendait jusqu’en Suisse, Christian Brönnimann et al., 24 Heures, 7 December 2025 (archived copy)
Le réseau de Jeffrey Epstein s’étendait jusqu’en Suisse, Julie Eigenmann, Le Temps, 7 December 2025
Les pistes genevoises et suisses du prédateur sexuel, Adrien Iseli, 20 Minutes, 7 December 2025
Israel’s ex-PM Ehud Barak and Epstein had close relationship, emails reveal, Erin Hale & John Power, Al Jazeera, 9 December 2025
“Ask Jeffrey”: Epstein Ran Wexner’s Pro-Israel Philanthropy Machine, Emails Reveal, Ryan Grim & Murtaza Hussain, Drop Site News, 10 December 2025
Businessman Asked Epstein For Elon Musk Connection, Leaked Emails Show, Freddy Brewster, The Lever, 10 December 2025 (archived copy)
Epstein’s Investments – Hedge funds. Brokerages. Billionaires. Jeffrey Epstein’s financial ties on and off Wall Street were broader than previously known, a cache of emails reveals, Max Abelson at al., Bloomberg, 10 December 2025 (archived copy)
Trump team email to Epstein: ‘Pedophiles, I want you to know how important you are to me’, Alexander Willis, RawStory, 12 December 2025
New emails suggest Trump made ‘insulting’ bid to fund Epstein-linked modeling ‘project’, Alexander Willis, RawStory, 12 December 2025
New York Times reporter pitched Epstein interview on ‘your terms’, John Power, Al Jazeera, 13 December 2025
Scams, Schemes, Ruthless Cons: The Untold Story of How Jeffrey Epstein Got Rich, David Enrich et al., The New York Times, 16 December 2025 (archived copy)
The Epstein Back Channel – Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak Maintained His Long-Term Ties to Jeffrey Epstein While Defense Minister and Leaked Top Secret Israeli Attack Plans, Rob Waldeck, The (b)(7)(D), 18 December 2025
Epstein and the Clintons: As Hillary Launched Presidential Campaign, Epstein Feared Exposure, Ryan Grim & Murtaza Hussain, Drop Site News, 19 December 2025
Epstein, Israel, and the CIA: How the Iran-Contra Planes Landed at Les Wexner’s Base, Ryan Grim et al., Drop Site News, 19 December 2025
Wie zwei deutsche Schwestern Epsteins Missbrauchsfalle entkamen, Susanne Amann et al., Der Spiegel, 20 December 2025 (archived copy)
Auch deutsche Frauen im Visier von Epstein, Sophia Baumann et al., ZDF, 20 December 2025
Israel’s digital house of cards, Garsha Vazirian, Tehran Times, 24 December 2025
One of Dubai’s Most Powerful Executives Discussed Sex, Business With Epstein, Harry Wilson et al., Bloomberg, 10 February 2026 (archived copy)
A look at former Israeli leader Ehud Barak’s decade-plus friendship with Epstein, Erin Mansfield, USA Today, undated
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