Did they think it would all just go away?
The David Pakman Show - February 11, 2026
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Members of Congress were given limited access to partially unredacted Epstein files and quickly said they found at least six previously concealed men, including a prominent figure and individuals tied to foreign interests. Lawmakers in both parties are questioning whether redactions protected victims or shielded powerful people. References in the files to extremely young victims and disturbing material have only intensified scrutiny.
In the Senate, Chris Van Hollen confronted Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over discrepancies in his past statements. Lutnick had claimed he cut off Epstein in 2005, yet documents show meetings in 2011 and a 2012 visit to Epstein’s island. Lutnick minimized the contact and stressed his family was present. Van Hollen said he was not alleging wrongdoing but questioned whether the public had been misled.
The White House then said it is moving on from the Epstein story. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Lutnick and declined to rule out a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, saying it is not under discussion. The administration does not get to decide when scrutiny ends and concerns about accountability and redactions remain central.
In an interview with Larry Kudlow, Donald Trump praised cutting hundreds of thousands of jobs and framed it as economic strength. He said he raised tariffs on Switzerland because he disliked the tone of a call with its leader. Trump insisted the economy is the greatest ever and that affordability is no longer an issue, while calling Biden-era inflation the worst in history.
Prediction markets are assigning a notable chance that Trump does not complete his full term. Some contracts suggest nearly half of traders see an early exit as possible. These markets reflect sentiment, not certainty, but signal elevated uncertainty around the presidency.
On Fox News, Jessica Tarlov described the Epstein saga as an elite problem that crosses party lines. She argued accountability should apply to everyone. Greg Gutfeld responded by pivoting to attacks on Democrats and the Clintons.
A new Rasmussen poll shows Biden leading Trump 48 to 40 on who did a better job as president. Trump’s approval sits in the low 40s, with disapproval above 50. Only 27 percent say the promised golden age has arrived. Cost of living concerns appear to be driving dissatisfaction.
Finally, Megyn Kelly criticized Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance for being primarily in Spanish, calling it divisive at a national event. The United States has no official language and millions of Americans speak Spanish, including Puerto Ricans.
On today’s bonus show:
More stories from David’s trip to Portugal, updates on the abduction of Savannah Guthrie’s mom, New York officials re-raise the LGBTQ flag at Stonewall after Trump took it down, and much more...
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Remember Roy Cohn told Trump to wait a few weeks and everything would go away. We are supposed to have short memories
The administration does not get to decide when scrutiny ends and concerns about accountability and redactions remain central.
Not. this. time. MOST DEFINITELY!