Fool me twice, shame on…wait, what?

The David Pakman Show - February 16, 2026

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Renewed claims about Jeffrey Epstein’s death are not new evidence but recycled opinion. Forensic pathologist Michael Baden argued back in 2019 that fractures to Epstein’s hyoid bone were more consistent with strangulation than suicide. That is the same claim being circulated again now. The problem is that peer reviewed research shows hyoid fractures occur in about a quarter of confirmed suicide hangings. That means the injury is not exclusive to homicide.

The controversy around Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein is escalating beyond pundit debate into survivor testimony and a planned field hearing in Palm Beach organized by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee. The focus is on allegations that young women were recruited from Mar-a-Lago in the mid 2000s, including claims by Virginia Giuffre that she was approached there as a teenager. Trump denies knowledge of Epstein’s abuse, but past statements and emails show clear contradictions.

Donald Trump and allies may be laying groundwork to challenge unfavorable results in the upcoming midterms by promoting distrust, tightening voting rules, and increasing federal oversight. The fear is not tanks in the streets but erosion of norms, particularly the expectation that losers accept defeat, combined with pressure on officials if results are close.

A widely shared clip shows Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem saying officials must ensure the right people are voting. Supporters say she means eligible voters, but critics argue the phrase reflects broader efforts like stricter voter ID laws and limits on mail-in voting that disproportionately affect Democratic-leaning groups. The concern is that repeated rhetoric about fraud, despite no evidence of widespread fraud, could normalize restricting ballot access.

Former Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene now claims Trump personally fought hardest to block release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. That contradicts public statements suggesting he supports transparency. If her claim is accurate, it raises questions about why he would resist disclosure while saying he has nothing to hide.

Trump adviser Peter Navarro praised what he called a perfect economy and said the stock market is over $50,000, confusing the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which is measured in points, with dollars. Pam Bondi made a similar mistake during her congressional testimony last week. Such errors raise concerns about economic competence at a time when voters remain worried about inflation and cost of living.

Finally, Dan Koh, Former White House Deputy Cabinet Secretary and former Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs under President Biden, joins us to discuss his candidacy for Congress to represent Massachusetts' 6th district.

On today’s bonus show:

Gallup to stop tracking presidential approval polling, European countries confirm Alexei Navalny was poisoned, Oatly banned from using "milk" in UK marketing, and much more...

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