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** OPINION
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** The ugly story that won’t go away for Donald Trump
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President Donald Trump speaks at the White House on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Looks like the Jeffrey Epstein story is really starting to get to President Donald Trump.

His administration has been facing more and more scrutiny and criticism, especially from within the MAGA world, ever since downplaying the so-called “Epstein Files” and saying there was nothing more to see or talk about.

Just this Tuesday, Trump said, “I don’t understand what the interest or what the fascination is.”

That has only encouraged more questions from the right, which has been obsessing over the case for years. Part of that obsession is stoked by many in conservative media, as well Trump and those close to him, who have floated various conspiracy theories about Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died by suicide in prison in 2019.

Last week, the Department of Justice said Epstein did die by suicide, and there was no such thing as a “client list.” Since then, however, many right-leaning media types such as Steve Bannon, Megyn Kelly and Joe Rogan have reacted strongly. Some have called for Attorney General Pam Bondi to be fired or to resign. Some have demanded more transparency and asked that the full Epstein files be released.

Trump has continued to push back against such calls, praising Bondi and saying that no one should be talking anymore about someone who died years ago.

In other words, move along, nothing to see here.

That didn’t stop the criticism. The more Trump tells his base to move on, the less the base wants to.

So on Wednesday, Trump reacted on Truth Social in a lengthy post ([link removed]) . At first, he attacked “Radical Left Democrats” for keeping the Epstein story going. He then criticized Republicans who are asking questions about it as “PAST supporters.” He called the whole thing the “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax” and that those so-called past supporters have “bought into this ‘bull(expletive),’ hook, line, and sinker.”

He added, “Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats’ work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore!”

In a press conference in the Oval Office, Trump again called it ([link removed]) a “big hoax” and said it was "perpetrated by the Democrats.” Then he said, “Some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net.”

After Trump’s Truth Social post, New York Times White House reporter Erica L. Green wrote ([link removed]) , “In doing so, Mr. Trump turned to an old playbook: attempting to reframe politically unfavorable issues as the work of Democrats and his political opponents. He has previously sought to blame Democrats for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, poor economic news during his term and now his administration's decision to withhold some documents in the government's investigation of Mr. Epstein. But the discontent over the Trump administration’s handling of the so-called Epstein files has stemmed from the right, and Democrats merely joined the fray after seeing a splintering of Mr. Trump’s MAGA supporters, many of whom feel betrayed.”

Green added, “The post also highlights Mr. Trump’s longstanding belief that he can convince his followers of nearly anything without losing their support.”

That is solid analysis from Green.

But will his followers stand by him on this? Axios’ ​​Tal Axelrod quoted ([link removed]) a “MAGAworld operative” as saying, “Villainizing your base for caring about the thing you told them to care about is never a good strategy.”

Meanwhile, on his show, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones blasted Trump, starting with his version of paraphrasing Trump: “If you talk about this, I’m going to excommunicate you.” Then Jones added, “Well, you’re not the pope, bro.”

He also said, “And I’m not saying Trumpland is a cult. The Democrats are the cult of hating reason and logic and common sense. But when Trump starts behaving like that … it starts getting into cult territory.”

A MESSAGE FROM POYNTER
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** A new editor's guide to leveling up
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Read more and register now ([link removed]) .


** Speaking of solid analysis …
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I really like it when The New York Times has its beat reporters write “news analysis” pieces. It’s a smart, insightful look into the news, coming from reporters with a deep knowledge and understanding of the topics they cover.

The latest is from Supreme Court reporter Adam Liptak, who writes, “Supreme Court Keeps Ruling in Trump’s Favor, but Doesn’t Say Why” ([link removed])

Liptak wrote, “The question of whether the nation’s highest court owes the public an explanation for its actions has grown along with the rise of the ‘emergency docket,’ which uses truncated procedures to produce terse provisional orders meant to remain in effect only while the courts consider the lawfulness of the challenged actions. In practice, the orders often effectively resolve the case. The court has allowed the administration to fire tens of thousands of government workers, discharge transgender troops, end protections for hundreds of thousands of migrants from war-torn countries and fundamentally shift power from Congress to the president — often with scant or no explanation of how it arrived at those results.”

A perfect example of this? Just this week, the court cleared the way for Trump to dismantle the Department of Education with a four-sentence paragraph.

Liptak noted, “What the order did not include was any explanation of why the court had ruled as it did. It was an exercise of power, not reason. The silence was even more striking in the face of a 19-page dissent by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson.”

Again, this is a great example of a reporter who knows his beat inside and out. Liptak has been covering the Supreme Court since 2008, and he uses that experience and expertise to help readers better understand the court.


** The replacements
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Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, shown here in 2024. (Scott Roth/Invision/AP)

Just a couple of days after blowing up its daytime lineup by canceling three shows, Fox Sports 1 reportedly is turning to a big sports brand for its replacements. That brand? Barstool Sports.

Front Office Sports’ Ryan Glasspiegel reports ([link removed]) that Fox Sports is “nearing an expansive deal” with Barstool founder Dave Portnoy. The deal would include Portnoy appearing on “Big Noon,” Fox’s college football pregame show on Saturday. And it includes Barstool content being featured on FS1. In addition, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reports ([link removed]) that Barstool would have its own college pregame show before “Big Noon.”

To be clear, a deal is not done.

It’s not exactly clear how Barstool content will be incorporated into FS1’s weekday schedule if a deal is worked out, but it could either be taking existing Barstool content and airing it or coming up with new shows or segments featuring Barstool talent.

When FS1 dismantled much of its programming this week, I thought it was a good move because I didn’t think much of the shows they canceled. They were lazy and predictable. And while I was — and still am — intrigued by the possible names being floated as replacements (former “Around the Horn” host Tony Reali, former ESPNers Michelle Beadle and Max Kellerman), I’m also not convinced that will work to increase viewership numbers.

Barstool, however, might actually work because it is hugely popular among the demographic that FS1 really needs: young men. It might be worth taking a big swing if you’re Fox.

As Poynter managing editor Ren LaForme smartly told me: Fox Sports might have looked at the success ESPN has had with Pat McAfee and thought, “Yeah, give us some of that.”

Oh, one more FS1 item. Danny Parkins was on one of the shows (“Breakfast Ball”) that was canceled, but he might be staying with the network. He has been filling in for a vacationing Nick Wright on “First Things First” and there are reports that suggest he will stick around on FS1 in some capacity.


** Media tidbits
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* Poynter’s Jennifer Orsi with “Poynter receives Press Forward funding as part of project to preserve local online news content.” ([link removed])
* Variety’s Todd Spangler with “Defeat the Press: How Donald Trump’s Attacks on News Outlets Undermine the First Amendment.” ([link removed]) Spangler writes that “defenders of free speech have raised alarms about Trump’s recent lawsuits against media companies — which legal analysts have called baseless — and his willingness to use the power of the federal government to punish perceived adversaries. They see the unwillingness of Paramount and Disney to defend their First Amendment rights as a dangerous precedent that will only embolden Trump and his allies to push even harder against a free press.”
* The Associated Press’ David Bauder with “Rough times for broadcast networks illustrate changing media landscape.” ([link removed])
* The New York Times’ Ken Bensinger with “What’s Going on With Trump Media’s Streaming Service?” ([link removed])
* Semafor’s Max Tani with a Washington Post memo ([link removed]) that announces Supreme Court reporter Ann Marimow is leaving. Tani adds that he is being told Marimow is leaving to join The New York Times.


** Hot type
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* The Atlantic’s Stephanie McCrummen writes about the second Trump administration in “The Message Is ‘We Can Take Your Children.’” ([link removed])
* For The New York Times, Anna Peele with “Ari Aster, Hollywood’s Master of Dread, Is Afraid of Everything.” ([link removed])


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* Refine your immigration policy expertise with Poynter's Beat Academy. Enroll now ([link removed]) .
* Last chance for TV producers: Apply by tomorrow to get the tools to create standout content, handle journalism's challenges and lead your newsroom effectively. Apply today ([link removed]) .
* Join a five-day, in-person workshop that gives new managers the skills they need to help forge successful paths to leadership in journalism, media and technology. Apply today ([link removed]) .

Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

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