Political Wire

  • Front Page
  • Members
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
  • Trending
  • Resources
    • Politics Extra
    • Political Job Hunt
    • Political Dictionary
    • Electoral Vote Map
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Members / Trump’s Bid to Release Transcripts Was a Smokescreen
Members should sign in for the full experience.

Trump’s Bid to Release Transcripts Was a Smokescreen

August 11, 2025 at 3:54 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A federal judge rejected a Justice Department request to unseal grand jury transcripts from the Ghislaine Maxwell case, saying they contain virtually nothing new about Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes.

In his ruling, Judge Paul Engelmayer said the Trump administration’s premise — that the Maxwell transcripts would shed meaningful light on Epstein’s network or the government’s investigation — was “demonstrably false.”

Join now to continue reading.

Members get exclusive analysis, bonus features and no advertising. Learn more.

If you’re already a member, sign in to your account.
  • Bluesky
  • X
  • Threads
  • Facebook
  • Email

Filed Under: Members


You're reading the free version of Political Wire

Upgrade to a paid membership to unlock full access. The process is quick and easy. You can even use Apple Pay.

Upgrade Now

  • ✔ Become a member to get many great benefits -- exclusive analysis, a trending news page, a private podcast, no advertising and more!
  • ✔ If you're already a member, log in for the full experience.



Recent Posts

The Meeting

August 15, 2025 at 5:06 pm EDTAugust 15, 2025 at 5:11 pm EDT

Julie Mason and I discussed the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska on her fantastic radio show. You can listen here. Save to Favorites

Russia’s Foreign Minister Wears U.S.S.R. Sweatshirt

August 15, 2025 at 4:00 pm EDTAugust 15, 2025 at 4:01 pm EDT

Foreign Policy: “The Russian government is many things, but subtle is not one of them. Ahead of a highly anticipated summit on the Russia-Ukraine war in Alaska on Friday, Russian…

Consumer Sentiment Weakens

August 15, 2025 at 3:57 pm EDT

“U.S. consumer sentiment softened in August as households anticipated higher goods prices because of import tariffs,” Reuters reports. Save to Favorites

Already a Clear Win for Putin

August 15, 2025 at 3:11 pm EDT

David Graham: “For the Russian autocrat, this is a win in itself. Putin is a global pariah facing an international warrant for his arrest, but the United States is welcoming…

Staff Mutiny Forces Pub to Turn Away JD Vance

August 15, 2025 at 3:05 pm EDT

“A staff mutiny forced the management of a plush British countryside pub to turn away JD Vance, just weeks after the same venue hosted Kamala Harris,” the Daily Beast reports….

White House Turns Up the Heat on Indiana

August 15, 2025 at 3:00 pm EDTAugust 15, 2025 at 2:39 pm EDT

“Pressure is mounting on Republicans in Indiana to take up redistricting ahead of the midterms, with both White House officials privately pressuring lawmakers and a mysterious group urging voters to…

Missouri Is Next in the Redistricting Wars

August 15, 2025 at 2:37 pm EDTAugust 15, 2025 at 2:38 pm EDT

Missouri Republicans appear headed to congressional redistricting special session, St. Louis Public Radio reports. They will likely redraw Missouri’s 5th congressional district to make it more favorable for Republicans. Save…

Federal Grand Jury Indicts New Orleans Mayor

August 15, 2025 at 2:34 pm EDTAugust 15, 2025 at 2:35 pm EDT

“A federal grand jury returned a criminal indictment Friday of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, capping a years-long corruption investigation that had overshadowed the mayor’s second term,” the New Orleans…

RFK Jr. Says He’s Not Running for President in 2028

August 15, 2025 at 2:18 pm EDT

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared he is not running for president in 2028. Said Kennedy: “Let me be clear: I am not running for president…

Schwarzenegger Ready to Oppose a New Map

August 15, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDTAugust 15, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is prepping for the redistricting battle in California, wearing a colorful shirt that includes the phrase: “Terminate Gerrymandering.” Save to Favorites

What If Trump Isn’t an Aberration?

August 15, 2025 at 1:28 pm EDTAugust 15, 2025 at 1:38 pm EDT

Many see Donald Trump as a rupture in the conservative tradition. But perhaps he’s just a return to form. For all the talk of Ronald Reagan as the high point…

Trump Orders NASA to Destroy Two Satellites

August 15, 2025 at 12:32 pm EDTAugust 15, 2025 at 12:32 pm EDT

“NASA is planning to decommission premier satellite missions that gather information on planet-warming pollution and other climate vital signs beginning as soon as October,” CNN reports. “The destruction of the…

Trump’s Job Approval Is Dismal

August 15, 2025 at 12:28 pm EDT

A new Pew Research survey finds 60% of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s job performance, while only 38% approve. Save to Favorites

McCarthy Re-Emerges to Fight California Redistricting

August 15, 2025 at 12:16 pm EDTAugust 15, 2025 at 12:16 pm EDT

“Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has been working behind the scenes to rally his Republican troops against California Democrats’ gerrymandering ballot measure,” Politico reports. “McCarthy recently told his former home-state…

Young Men Face a Crisis

August 15, 2025 at 12:00 pm EDTAugust 15, 2025 at 8:39 am EDT

Robert Putnam and Richard Reeves: “Many boys and men are struggling today… in an America… disrupted by technological change, immigration and growing inequality. Since 2010, suicide rates among young men…

Weekly News Quiz

August 15, 2025 at 11:00 am EDTAugust 15, 2025 at 8:25 am EDT

It was another whirlwind week in politics, with President Trump busting through more democratic guardrails, escalating battles over crime policy, and a redistricting war between blue and red states.

Test how closely you were paying attention with this week’s quiz.

Join now to continue reading.

Members get exclusive analysis, bonus features and no advertising. Learn more.

If you’re already a member, sign in to your account.

Kristi Noem Living for Free in Coast Guard Home

August 15, 2025 at 10:58 am EDTAugust 15, 2025 at 11:01 am EDT

“Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is living for free in a military home typically reserved for the U.S. Coast Guard’s top admiral,” the Washington Post reports. “The highly…

Watch the Trump-Putin Press Conference for Clues

August 15, 2025 at 9:57 am EDTAugust 15, 2025 at 10:03 am EDT

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are set to meet today in one of the most remote corners of American soil — Alaska — and the stakes couldn’t be higher. What…

The Real Collusion Between Trump and Putin

August 15, 2025 at 9:55 am EDTAugust 15, 2025 at 9:58 am EDT

The Economist: “The puzzle of Mr Trump’s admiration for Mr Putin may have been better addressed by psychologists. Certainly Mr Putin, the seasoned KGB operative, has known how to play…

Trump-Putin Summit Will be Hannitized

August 15, 2025 at 9:42 am EDT

Brian Stelter: “No matter what happens at President Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin today, Trump will have Sean Hannity there right afterward to help him spin it positively.”…

« Why the Far-Right Beats the Far-Left
Summit of Stupidity »

Get Smarter About Politics

Members get exclusive analysis, a trending news page, the Trial Balloon podcast, bonus newsletters and no advertising. Learn more.

Subscribe

Your Account

Sign in

Latest for Members

  • What If Trump Isn’t an Aberration?
  • Weekly News Quiz
  • Watch the Trump-Putin Press Conference for Clues
  • Entertainer-in-Chief
  • Parties Engage in Redistricting Arms Race

About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

Praise for Political Wire

“There are a lot of blogs and news sites claiming to understand politics, but only a few actually do. Political Wire is one of them.”

— Chuck Todd, host of “Meet the Press”

“Concise. Relevant. To the point. Political Wire is the first site I check when I’m looking for the latest political nugget. That pretty much says it all.”

— Stuart Rothenberg, editor of the Rothenberg Political Report

“Political Wire is one of only four or five sites that I check every day and sometimes several times a day, for the latest political news and developments.”

— Charlie Cook, editor of the Cook Political Report

“The big news, delicious tidbits, pearls of wisdom — nicely packaged, constantly updated… What political junkie could ask for more?”

— Larry Sabato, Center for Politics, University of Virginia

“Political Wire is a great, great site.”

— Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”

“Taegan Goddard has a knack for digging out political gems that too often get passed over by the mainstream press, and for delivering the latest electoral developments in a sharp, no frills style that makes his Political Wire an addictive blog habit you don’t want to kick.”

— Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post

“Political Wire is one of the absolute must-read sites in the blogosphere.”

— Glenn Reynolds, founder of Instapundit

“I rely on Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire for straight, fair political news, he gets right to the point. It’s an eagerly anticipated part of my news reading.”

— Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist.

Copyright © 2025 · Goddard Media LLC | Privacy Policy | Corrections Policy

Political Wire ® is a registered trademark of Goddard Media LLC