Sidebar With Katie Phang - 5/13/2026

Hey everybody, I'm Katie Fing and welcome to another sidebar live with Katie Fang. If you are joining me from the main Midas Touch channel, I am grateful to my, I call them my brothers, my brothers, my salas that help take care of me. We are a part of a huge independent media network that is making sure that you get the truth. And one of my favorite phrases these days that I have co-opted from a dear friend Norm Eisen is, we are truthful but not neutral. Today on Sidebar Live with Katie Fang, you want to know what convicted felon Donald Trump thinks about your money? Take a listen. When you're negotiating with Iran, Mr. President, to what extent are American financial businesses motivating you to Not even a little bit. The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon. I don't think about American financial situation. I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing. We could not let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That's all. That's the only thing that motivated. Unfortunately for a convicted felon, Donald Trump, whose name appears a minimum of 38,000 times so far in the... partially redacted, illegally redacted, Epstein files that have been produced by the Trump Department of Justice. And as we heard today from Congressman Robert Garcia, the Trump D.J sitting on at least another two and a half million documents. Unfortunately for Trump, we do pay attention to all of the things other than the war in Iran. And that is why I drove to West Palm Beach and spent hours having the privilege of being able to be in a room with some pretty incredible Pretty incredible people. Victims, survivors, lawyers, advocates, and fighters in Congress from House Oversight Democrats. They were there today to conduct a field hearing over the Epstein files, but really to be able to talk about the victims and the survivors and to center their stories. One of the people that was there that was a part of. The team that was testifying today, the witnesses that was there, is the person who is a leader when it comes to victim and survivor advocacy. And that would be Lauren Hirsch from World Without Exploitation. You may recall the very powerful ad that aired during the Super Bowl. And it looked and sounded and it was just so profoundly impactful. And that's the reason why it was important for Americans to hear from Lauren. I have her joining us today, but I believe that we may be having some technical difficulties right now. So if that is the case, we're going to get to Lauren in a second. But we're going to keep on going with sidebar because I think it's important for us to get the program still running along. And so... As I noted, I was there today, and I want to read to you the list of people that were present today. And the witnesses that testified included Danny Guy Benson, who you have seen from when she not only was interviewed here at Katie Fang News, but she also went with me to the Donald J. Trump, Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room in New York, where we previewed it together last week. We also heard from a woman who is known as Rosa.

That is the name that she is using. She was recruited as a model. She's a victim of Jeffrey Epstein, as was Danny Benske. We also heard from Courtney Wilde. She was abused by Epstein beginning at the age of 14. Jenna Lisa Jay Jones, abused by Epstein, also beginning at the age of 14, a mother of four children. who said that she was there to protect everyone's children. Lawyer Spencer Coven, who actually had repped one of the very first people to come forward as a victim of Jeffrey Epstein and a true fighter who's here in South Florida. Lauren Hirsch, who I mentioned you, who will be joining us in a second. And Maria Farmer, she actually provided us with a taped video. And she's under her health is really challenging right now, but she is the very first whistleblower who came forward. And we also heard from Sky and Amanda John Roberts, Virginia Joufrey's little brother and his wife. But we do have our tech difficulties solved now. So we're going to bring in Lauren Hirsch, Lauren. From World Without Exploitation. Can you see us? Can you hear us? I can see you and I can hear you. How are you? I am good. You know, Lauren, I'm even better now that you're joining us and you are being introduced to even more people that are excited to be able to hear from you. Talk about how important it was today to have victims and survivors of Epstein, Maxwell, and others speak publicly in this type of field hearing. Yeah, I thought the day was incredibly powerful. We heard from survivors, some who have spoken publicly before, one who had never spoken publicly before. And they... The hearing itself was really moving. I think, you know, what was, what I was really struck by was that some of the survivors talked about their deeply personal experiences with Epstein. But in other moments, we also heard just how this process has impacted them profoundly in some really powerful ways and in some... devastating ways. You mentioned Maria Farmer. Her health has been really terrible in large part because all that she has had to live with for the last three decades, I'm not only at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein, but just at the hands of the government who just turned a blind eye and so many people who came after her viciously. But in the end, I think what I was most inspired by was just how powerful these survivors are individually and collectively. Yeah, they call each other survivor sisters, which I think is just so unique. It is a very tragic...

of which they are now, you know, a part of, but their support has been relentlessly strong. I want to remind people to Lauren, Maria Farmer was the very first come forward in 1996. And I think that really underscores that it's been decades that this information has been provided and reported to authorities and law enforcement. You yourself, Lauren, like me, a former prosecutor. How frustrating is it to have a... what I call the largest and the strongest and the most powerful law firm in the world, the Department of Justice, looking out and telling not only the victims and survivors, but other people that are victims and survivors, that there's nothing left to investigate and there's nothing left for them to do. Yeah, no, it's absolutely horrific. You know, I'm struck by Maria Farmer for so many reasons. She is not only a whistleblower, but a true hero. But when you really get your brain around what she lived through and the courage it took at that time to come forward and to tell her truth. If the government had believed her, if the government had done something about it, we would not be in the situation that we're in right now with more than 1,200 victims. So it is a total, total travesty and a full-on miscarriage of justice. Yeah, and Lauren, that number, 1,200 is not one that you and I have made up, right? That is coming from documents, excuse me, documented by Department of Justice and other law enforcement. You and I were speaking before we went live about the fact if we are so impacted by each individual story that we heard today. that their experiences, their trauma, I can't imagine having that be 1,200 and counting, by the way. This is just what we know of right now. The continued lack of transparency sends a message. What message is it sending to victims and survivors not only of Epstein, Maxwell, and others, but of other horrific crimes? I mean, it's honestly been such a chilling effect. We're putting our ear to the ground. We're listening to survivors, not just Epstein-Maxwell survivors, but survivors across the country. And there is just an inherent distrust of DOJ. There is a distrust of the system. And survivors are really terrified that if they come forward, maybe they will not be believed, but that they're... private information will be disclosed, just like it was disclosed in this particular situation. And that exposure has caused devastating harm to these survivors and to every survivor that's watching. And I'll also say, Katie, the other part of this, and this is really important, we say the number 1,200, we think we have a handle on this number, but it kind of feels to me we get contacted at World Without Exploitation a lot from other survivors.

And some of them are Epstein survivors who have said, I have stood in silence for all of these years. And I'm watching these powerful women come forward, speak their truth. And it is compelling me to speak my truth. And so I don't think we have a handle on what the numbers actually are. And I don't think we have an idea just how large this scope of a sex trafficking ring this is. Yeah, Lauren, let people know who are tuning in and maybe listening to this later on what World Without Exploitation is and the work that you are doing that is so important. Well, thank you so much. So World Without Exploitation is the largest national anti-trafficking coalition in the country. We started almost a decade ago with about five member organizations. Sorry, that took a lot for me to get out of my mouth. And to date, we have about... 200 member organizations, many of those organizations are survivor-led, and we are working on policy, working on legislation, and making sure that survivor voices are centered in every conversation that we're having. And Lauren, that was really important today, right? Because we've seen some focus from House oversight, which has been, I applaud all of them, including the Republicans that have fought for the subpoenas to go out to people like Pam Bondi, et cetera. But, you know, we should always focus and center and amplify and uplift the stories of the victims and the survivors because they really are being retramatized by having to go through this process where there is an accountability. You said today, and I wanted to just kind of quote you because I thought it was important, you said the burden should not fall on survivors to name names or to drive investigations. The responsibility lies with investigative bodies, prosecutors, the DOJ, and relevant authorities to do. their jobs thoroughly and with integrity. And this part's important, Lauren, because I knew you wanted to make sure this was clear. You said, this is not political. We have been clear that we will and we have worked with anyone who is serious about getting to the truth. The era of silence and in action must end here. I cannot begin to applaud the work you guys are doing at World Without Exploitation, but the fact is you are 100% right. This is not a political thing. Child rape, sex trafficking of children and even adults is not a political thing. The fact that there weren't any Republicans there today troubles me greatly. There is a concern that as we get closer to November, that this topic is going to get drowned out. And yet I believe, Lauren, this must continue to be the most important thing we talk about. Yeah, I totally agree with you. But I will say, so what you're seeing in a visible way with the survivors is yes, they gave testimony. Yes, they've been out front doing press conferences and speaking to media. But what you're not seeing is that every single day they're doing.

They're doing meetings with members of Congress. And they're doing meetings with Democrats and they're doing meetings with Republicans. And so I feel like I am obligated to say that in some of those meetings with Republicans, there has been. deep empathy, a lot of compassion, and actually a real desire to get to the truth. So, you know, I know that today there were no Republicans in that hearing room. The Democrats have made it abundantly clear. They have locked arms with the survivors. They've been there every step of the way. But there are several Republicans and maybe more than several who are really serious about getting to the truth. And so we often, you know, use the line. which is contagious. It is not an easy moment for everybody, but we feel really strongly that this is not political, this is personal. And if we're going to get to the truth, we need people on both sides of the aisle. Yeah, Lauren, when you stepped out of the hearing today, you share with me this great story that there was a woman who was waiting outside for when you guys exited the building. Let the viewers know what that was like to have this chance encounter on the street. So there was a woman who was sitting with a sign. It's somewhere. I'm going to actually give you a little show and tell. I don't know if you can see it. We can. It's basically your courage is contagious. Thank you. And she. hug the survivors, she thanked the survivors, and she actually handed Danny Benski this sign and said, I want you to have this. And so it's now in Danny Benski's hotel room, which is where I'm doing this interview with you. But. That's not an isolated situation. We see that. We hear that. We feel that every single day. We know that for these survivors, yes, they are out there publicly. They're speaking their truth, but there are so many survivors that are listening and that are becoming empowered to speak their truth. And so it's a really powerful moment. A lot of really good stuff is happening. And I believe. that this is a real moment of reckoning, that we need to get right. So, yes, we want to make sure that we're empowering survivors, but we've got to make sure that we're looking at those files. There's clear evidence, clear investigative leads, and we've got to start following those leads and investigating thoroughly. Well, Lauren Hirsch, your work is...

Just so critically important, I am grateful that you took the time to join us to kickstart sidebar today. It was a privilege, as I mentioned at the beginning of today's episode, for me to be there and to be in the room and to listen and to be a part of what I always think is history making. The more that we work together collectively forward, the more that we're going to be able to get closer to justice. And that's what I want to see for all of the victims and survivors. So Lauren Hirsch, thank you for joining me. I really appreciate it. Thanks so much, Katie. Take good care. I will. Thanks. I mean, folks, that is just a snapshot of the type of power that exists. I mean, Lauren is just a true inspiration and the work at World Without Exploitation that is being done is also inspirational. But I wanted to share a couple of some sound bites with you from today's hearing. The entire hearing is living on the Katie Fang News channel. If you go to the live tab, you'll be able to watch it in this entirety. I urge you to do so. There was something. just so humbling always. I use that adjective about being in the presence of these victims and survivors. I don't know if I would have the courage to tell the story over and over again in a room full of strangers, frankly. But I do believe that there was also the shared energy that Lauren spoke about, buying between the survivor sisters that was there. They all cried, and then they were there to be able to hold each other's hands. But I really wanted to share a couple of things with you. Number one. I thought this was very important. One of the most recent kind of speaking out about what happened to her victims is this woman Rosa, who I mentioned, who we only know by her first name. And her story is unique because she actually stepped forward just at the end of last year in 2025. And she is one of the... foreign will put in quotes foreign victims she mentioned actually in her testimony that there aren't a lot of foreign victims that have stepped forward people that struggle with English as a first language, people that maybe don't speak any English at all that don't know and they don't understand how they can come forward. And the reason why this is an important angle that I appreciated that came out in today's hearing was that this was an international sex trafficking ring. This was not just limited to Florida, New Mexico, New York, even the Virgin Islands, right? Like this was an international sex trafficking ring. Rosa testified that she was a young model who was brought to the United States, courtesy of the Jean-Luc Brunel, Jeffrey Epstein modeling agency. And because of that, her visa, her ability to stay, to be employed, to live, to eat, to have a place to sleep was tied to Epstein and her work as a model. She then shared that she ended being abused by Jeffrey Epstein. And I just want to read for you very quickly what she said. She said, I was promised the modeling career beyond my dreams.

I got a visa through MC squared. I didn't even have the documentation to earn that visa. I was in New York City and isolated and controlled. I had no family or friends. MC squared controlled every aspect of my life. I was molested by Jeffrey. For three years, I was subjected to ongoing rape. But then listen to this, folks. This is really important. And this was something that was startling because a lot of people had not heard this before. Jeffrey was under house arrest for the molestation of girls when he was abusing me. Seeing that fact, he could commit acts made justice feel impossible to me, it took away my ability to seek help. I want to say this again, while on house arrest, courtesy of the sweetheart plea deal that he got from Alex Acosta, where he only had to plead to the Palmwich County State Attorney Barry Krishers' charges, while out on house arrest, he was sexually abusing Rosa. A man on house arrest is sexually abusing Rosa and other young girls. And she felt like she had no agency and no ability to speak up. So, Congresswoman Melanie Stansberry, one of the fighters that we know has been fighting for these victims and survivors. She did ask each and every one of them about what justice means to them. And sadly, a lot of them said that they didn't think that they're ever going to see justice. But it's Rosa's response. I wanted to make sure I played for you. I wanted to highlight it for you because I thought it was so gutting but true. Take a listen. So I come from a different country and I have a job. And if you come to me and you ask me, what should I do and ask question about my job? I'll give you an answer. I appreciate you asking that question, but I don't know. That's your job. You guys have to figure out how to make justice, not me. And you can't give me justice.

When I came to this country, I thought something is going to be different. And I am shocked that this is happening here in the United States. You keep on saying this is the worst case in the United States, but it's not. It's the worst case in the world. This never happened to me in other places, and I traveled as a model all over the world. This didn't happen to me there. It happened to me here. You need to figure it out. And I hope you do. And I hope this never happens again to anybody. Keep it in the history books. Don't stop fighting. Don't let it go away. I wish one day we all can sit there and never hear the name. But I also hope that we will forever. So this never happens again. Good luck. Right. This is the reason why I played this for you. She turned that question on its head, and it was a well-intentioned question. This is definitely not me. This is not an indictment of Congresswoman Stansbury at all. I appreciated Stansbury's question. But to hear Rosa say that she has traveled across the world and this has never happened to her but in the United States, a place that promised her opportunity, a place that promised her a chance to be able to become a world famous model. She said she succeeded as a model after she left being in the clutches of Epstein. But think about how terrifying it was for her to come to this country, not be able to speak the English well if at all, and be beholden to somebody who is sexually abusing you. That is what Rosa was saying, and she's also saying that she hopes that now that she has the courage to step forward because of her survivor sisters, that other foreign language speakers that were abused would also step forward. I also want to share with you, actually, some sound from Congresswoman Stansbury. I thought this was really important to hear from her, and the reason why is this. Other people were saying that the system failed. The system failed the victims and the survivors. And yet Congresswoman Stansberry had a very different take on what the system did. Take a listen. The system didn't fail. The system was designed to protect the wealthy. The system was rigged from the beginning when those mansions were built. The system was built on inequality. The system was built on exploiting people. It's written into the landscape here in West Palm Beach. It's written into the landscape in New Mexico. Right? That is why we focus also on Zohran Mamdani Ranch in New Mexico. That is why I am working with Congresswoman Stansberry and State Representative Andrea Romero over in New Mexico to make sure that we keep the focus on Zohran Mamdani Ranch. But she's right.

The system actually didn't fail. The system was built to support exploitation and inequality, and that's the reason why we aren't seeing the accountability and the justice that the victims and survivors deserve. But that is why with all of you that are tuning in, and while we keep on putting this at the top of the public discourse, we know that it is one of the ways that we are able to break through and bring down the Epstein elite. One of the other things I want to share with you is sound from a woman named Jenna Lisa Jay Jones. And Jenna Lisa. She was incredibly powerful as well. She's the one that said she's the mother of four children and that she's there to testify to protect everybody's children for what happened. She said, and she focused in her testimony today about Glenn Maxwell. And she says, Epstein is dead. Maxwell is in prison. Do not pardon her. Hold the other men accountable, but please leave the survivors alone. Respect their trauma. Listen to the survivors. Respect them. Sharing our stories, though, should be a choice, a choice that I was able to make today, but it should never be something we are forced to do. Please learn the victim stories before you force them to testify in a room full of strangers about the worst moment of their lives. Do not blame the survivors for the crimes of the abusers. I mean, that's some heavy stuff, right? But listen to what Jenna Lisa had to say about why she's testifying and why she's coming forward. Education is so very important. Our kids are listening. They're watching this. They're hearing. And for the first time, for a lot of children, this is the first time they are even hearing about something like this. And so education is important. If we can't take these bad guys off the streets, let's teach our kids how to protect themselves and this. That, as the mother of an 11-year-old little girl, was so hard to hear. What do you mean we can't take these bad guys off the streets? And yet each and every witness who testified today, including Spencer Covenant and Lauren Hirsch, said the following. There are people that were co-conspirators, perpetrators. They participated, including Glenn Maxwell. She's the only one who's in prison. Think about all the people that are out there that could potentially still be perpetrating these crimes, regardless of what their ages are. That is why they found like it was so important for them to step forward and to testify publicly in a room full of strangers with all of you tuning in and watching to be able to hear their stories. Because they want to make sure that if we can't take these bad guys off the streets, that at least their children understand what is happening, all of them emphasizing that they are there to protect. our future of our children. That is a tragic, sorry state of affairs for the United States of America and our judicial system. That our system is failing even our children right now. And that's the reason why we cannot put our foot off the gas pedal on this. That's why we have to continue to speak up and speak out about what is going on. And that is why I make it a point to make sure that we.

And Director Kash Patel, these reports about your conduct, including reports you're being so drunk and hung over that your staff had to force entry into your home are extremely alarming. If true, they demonstrate a gross dereliction of your duty and a betrayal of public trust. I cannot imagine ever having to worry about former FBI directors, Ray or Mueller, spending multiple weekends drinking heavily at the poodle room in Las Vegas. I mean, he went there. He channeled the memory of who, Robert Mueller, right? And Chris Wright. We also have another former FBI director named to him, James Comey. James Comey, who got indicted for 8647, 8647, I'll say it again, 8647, James Comey gets indicted, but the DOJ can investigate that with Kash Patel for a year, indict him, but they can't release the Epstein files, right? But Kash Patel got a shalacking today, and I want you to see how he responded, because this response from Kash Patel is pretty damn unhinged. Take a listen. Are you willing to take the test that it's called the audit test that members of our active duty, military and others take to determine whether they have a drinking problem? I'll take any test you're willing to take it. I will take it, Dr. Patelli. I'll take it. You're ready to take it? Let's go. Yes or no? Let's go. Side by side. I'll take it.

Cash Dallas and Kash Patel is willing to take this thing called an audit test. Now, again, Senator Chris Van Hollen bringing it to Kash Patel and saying, are you willing to take this test? I want to remind you guys, Kash Patel under oath in front of Congress, saying he's willing to take this test. This test is going to be the gauge, sorry, of people that may have drinking problems. And I think Kash Patel should take that test. And you know, at the end of questioning, that line of questioning, Senator Chris Van Hollen reminded him that he promised to take that test. Kash Patel really losing his shit today. Really, really losing his shit today. There is something that really is troubling, though. Let's check this out. Look at this PBS headline, right? So we all have seen this. The FBI is reportedly investigating journalists. the journalist at the Atlantic who wrote about Kash Patel's heavy drinking. In fact, she's been sued. Her name is Sarah Fitzpatrick. She's been sued by Kash Patel as has the Atlantic. And then she just recently came out with this new reporting as well that the guardian was talking about how Kash Patel is giving out bottles of bourbon. Oh, I'm sorry, whiskey. I know what, bourbon is whiskey. Custom whiskey bottles that have certain type of insignia on them, whatever. Of course, the FBI saying, yes, this is totally kosher. This doesn't violate any ethics laws whatsoever. Folks, I want to ask you, what type of vote of confidence do you have in an FBI director that's rolling out that has all this reporting about him having drinking and that is giving away whiskey bottles as gifts? I don't think that that instills confidence in the FBI. In fact, so much so. So much so that when asked about whether or not the FBI is targeting and investigating journalists, this is how Cash decided to answer that question. Check this out. So can you commit to this committee today that no agent hours have been pulled from other work like counterterrorism or violent crime investigations to work on matters related to negative press about you or your personal lawsuit? Senator, I greatly appreciate the question, and I continue unequivocally, this FBI is targeting and investigating no journalists. This FBI is targeting no journalists. The Obama and Biden administration targeted dozens of journalists, sent out 1,200 interviews. I didn't ask you about the Biden administration. I asked if you can commit to this committee that no agent hours have been pulled from other work. We have not done so. Okay, well, there are reports that are using FBI resource to investigate journalists. You are saying to this committee today that that is not true. That's correct, ma'am. Do you believe him? Do you believe him? Do you think that he's not weaponizing the FBI and dispatching agents from the FBI to go investigate journalists? How about the reporting that they were investigating journalists that were saying things about his girlfriend? Right? We've heard all of it. We've seen it. This man, I want to remind you, is testifying to Congress. Remember, the Republicans need-jerk reaction is always to do what? They want to go after people for, quote, false statements to Congress. Well, Chris Van Hollen reminded Kash Patel that it's a crime. Watch this exchange. My final question to you, Mr. Director, is do you know that it is a crime to lie to Congress? Do you know that? That's my last question.

I have not lied to Congress. I didn't ask you that. I'm not testifying here, sir, and I don't lie. Maybe the next time you run up a $7,000 bar tab, we can talk about it. Well, see, there you go. Lying again, you suggest. In the FPC report, I'll post it right now. Do you think Kash Patel was going to find the answer to the question posed by Senator Chris Van Hollen in that stupid fucking white binder? Who else did the white binder energy? Oh, yes. Pammy Joe with the bad hair. Don't you remember how she was furiously flipping through those white damn binders in front of her? None of those people were Jack Smith. When I went to Congress and I saw Jack Smith testifying in front of House judiciary, Jack Smith brought a bottle of water and he brought a little notepad about this big that was blank and a pen. That's it. Because Cash and Pammy Joe have to flip through those binders looking for the answers because they're looking for in their burn book. They're looking for a dig. They're looking for some type of alpha research that was done about these members of Congress. And yet it's a pretty straightforward question from Senator Chris Van Hollen to Kash Patel. Do you know it's a crime to lie to Congress? And Cash is looking, I'm going to find that answer. I'm going to find the answer. And he lied. All he did was lie. And now here's the thing. I got to tell you, one of the most spectacular things that I watched today, because I had to catch up on it because I was at the Epstein hearing, though. I watched this exchange between Senator Murray, Patty Murray, and Kash Patel. And I want you to listen to it really carefully. And here's the spoiler alert. So Senator Murray teased this up so deliciously well when she asks cash about a fraudster. And she's applauding. And actually, this is accurate, the hard work of the FBI agents that busted this fraudster, but then take a listen to the end of what she says about this particular fraudster. This is exquisite. You got to listen to this now. Director Kash Patel, I want to start by recognizing important work by the FBI to crack down on fraud. In one case, the FBI helped bring justice multiple former business owners who orchestrated a $205 million Medicare fraud scheme on the American people. And those business owners filed nearly a million. false claims for services that they never provided any patients, literally stealing from American taxpayers and praying on vulnerable people who were suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia and substance abuse. But thanks to the FBI, those crooks were held accountable. So I just wanted to ask you today if you would pass along my gratitude to those FBI agents for their tireless work bringing. those criminals to justice. I will, ma'am. The fraud work is often overlooked, and I greatly appreciate that. And very important, but I do have to say, unfortunately, President Trump, the guy who says he's going after fraud, granted this man Lawrence Duran clemency last June. He was set free and let off the hook for the $87 million he owed in restitution.

And Trump granted clemency to Durant's business partner last February, cutting well short her 35-year prison tomb. He literally undid the important justice work. The FBI served and let frosters off the hook. And I find that deeply disturbing. Crickets. Crickets from Kash Patel. I told you it was exquisite. Patty Murray leading him down the primrope path to his destruction. Kash Patel acknowledging the hard work of the FBI agents that busted this fraudster Duran, but then Patty Murray noting that Donald Trump undid all of that hard work. Look at this Miami-Herald article. I wanted to share this with you because y'all need to understand what the hell is going on with this dipshit in the Oval Office. South Florida man, Lawrence Duran, sentenced to 50 years in prison because he ripped off $87 million from Medicare. was among more than two dozen people that Trump granted clemencing to last year. Duran actually pleaded guilty folks in May of 2011 and was sentenced to the longest prison term in history for Medicare fraud, and Trump commuted his sentence. And then he commuted the sentence of Duran's girlfriend, the co-owner of the company. She also, with him, Duran, filed 866. thousand false claims with medicare and as i noted received more than eighty seven million dollars from that scheme but that work that the fbi did to prosecute to investigate and then hand over to prosecutors who also did good work not under the trump doj obviously that was all undone in one stroke of the auto pen Yes, I'm talking to you, James Comer. And then check out this headline from The New York Times. Trump vowed to crack down on fraudsters, but he's parted in dozens. Trump has granted clemency to more than 70 allies, donors, and others convicted in what kind of cases, ladies and gentlemen of the jury? Fraud cases. We like to say. that if you wanted to be a white-collar criminal, this is the best time to be the white-collar criminal. Because Kash Patel is trying to stake a claim and the hard work of FBI agents to do things that Trump turns around and he pardons. Just goes to show. that this dumbass administration doesn't know shit from Shinola. Okay, so now, because we at Katie Vang News have sponsors, we're going to take a super quick ad break. We're going to hear from our sponsors, but after the break, we're going to come back and we're going to land the plane on sidebar and talk about P. Headstaff. But more importantly, we're going to talk about how this multi-billion dollar scheme to defraud Americans continues with this bullshit war. But take a listen to our sponsors. Y'all know, Keep It Real here at Katie Fang News, and I am here to talk about bras. Yes, bras. Why? Because I have always been on the search for an amazing bra. And then I found it. It's my crossover bra from HoneyLove. Let me tell you something. When it comes to amazing support, shape, colors, design, you've got to look at Honey Love. Now, let's talk about the brand because that's important, right? Honey Love.

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When you're negotiating with Iran, Mr. President, to what extent are American financial situations motivating you to make a deal? Not even a little bit. The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon. I don't think about American financial situation. I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing. We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That's all. That's the only thing that's motivated. Okay, so we heard him clearly, right? It didn't sound too brain-addled, if at all. It was kind of in the middle of the day, so we can't say that he was sundowning yet. It sounded like he had his meds, so he sounded pretty articulate. And what did he say? Wasn't a loaded question. It was a very clear question. He said he doesn't think about Americans when he's thinking about this war. He doesn't think about their finances. He doesn't think about what it takes for us to be able to put food on our table and pay our bills. Okay. So I'm sure a lot of you are not surprised that it comes from felon Trump that he thinks that because the guy's just an asshole. But. You know who's also an asshole? All of the following Republicans that I'm going to play for you. And specifically, it is Senator Susan Collins, who's always concerned, Senator Roger Marshall and Senator Cynthia Loomis. Really quick, I want you guys to listen to these three Republican senators, they were asked by our wonderful Pablo from Midas Touch in D.C. About... Trump's comments about how he doesn't care about Americans and doesn't care about American finances when he's dealing with the war. And I want you to listen to what these three Republicans had to say. Donald Trump saying that he doesn't think about the American people's financial situation. He just said it in the presser about an hour and a half ago. Well, I didn't see that. You haven't seen it yet? Got it. On what Trump just said at his presser? I don't know what he just said. He said he doesn't think much about the finances of the American people. I would have to find out the context of it. I'm sorry. Got it. Consider it. Senator real quick, will you make a Donald Trump saying that? He doesn't think about finances or the financial situation of the American people. Did he say that? Yeah. I don't have a comment about that mostly because I think he actually does care. No, he doesn't. He doesn't care. And I think it's just pathetic that none of them could actually say that that hurts their constituents, right? Susan Collins now lives in a space, which is if I didn't see it and I didn't hear it, then it didn't happen.

well, then a bear in the woods taking a shit would beg to differ. But here's the thing. They should care about what their constituents think and care about, not what Donald Trump thinks and cares about. But Pete Hegseth, man, that guy is going to go down with the ship. He is going to go down, Captain of the Titanic, when this all implodes. And part of the reason why is Pete Hegseth is going to own. own this tragic fiasco where we have lost at a minimum 13 active service members in our United States military in this war in Iran that is a war of choice that is illegal and unconstitutional. Now, once again, Senator Patty Murray doing the Lord's work today for Americans asking Pete Hegseth, let me make sure I understand your ish clearly. You want Americans to forego health care and child care? For your freaking war of choice. And this is what Hecks have had to say. I'm not talking about fraud. I actually asked whether an American family should lose their health care or their child care to pay for this budget. That is literally what the president suggested. The president has proposed a historic $1.5 trillion budget that will defend the nation and confront threats like Iran, which previous presidents allowed to happen, as Senator Graham pointed out. Previous administration said they wanted to take care of this problem, and they did not, and he's doing it. The question in front of this committee, the question in front of the American people is what are they being asked to give up for this $1.5 trillion? That cheeky, arrogant little shit with his really bad geled hair wants Americans not to have health care or child care because his cult leader, Dear Fuhr, wants to have this bullshit war, which, by the way, Pete Hegseth wants to, right? Keg's breath is getting off on this. His bloodlust is so obvious that he must think that we're stupid and blind not being able to see it. And so this is why... Today was a really good day, I think, for Democrats in members of Congress, not only in the Epstein Field hearing that I was at all day, but also in D.C. Why? Because we have seen Chris Van Hollen, Patty Murray. And now, now I want you to listen to this exchange between Senator Jack Reed from Rhode Island, who knows what the hell that, what he's talking about. Okay? Because here, before we do that, let's pull it up. Sidney, pull up this headline from NBC Philadelphia. Folks, check out this headline. $1.5 trillion budget request as cost of a round war climbs to $29 billion. Folks, in the chat, I see you there. Somebody do the math for me. I mean, I don't know if my brain can wrap itself around $29 billion. $29 million sounds like a lot. $29 billion. Sounds like a shitload of money. So Senator Jack Reed, knowing that Pete Hegseth has come and asking for $1.5 trillion, in addition to the $29 billion that's already been spent, Senator Jack Reed asked this guy, this undersecretary dude from the Department of Defense to explain, okay, well, listen, I do this with my 11-year-old. I'm sure you guys do this too. I've given you money.

Can I get the receipt before I give you more money? I mean, I feel like it's a decent ask. I feel like it doesn't make a difference if you're a Republican or Democrat. Don't you want to know how your money's been spent? So listen to Jack Reed questioning the Undersecretary of the Defense, Department of Defense, on how the money's been sent so far. Take a listen. Mr. Secretary, we have been trying to. track down the expenditures in the Operation Epic Fury and Operation Freedom now. And we've sent letters and we've got very few responses. We've been sending the letters since March 10th. We did. understand that was released that in the first six days, $11.3 billion was spent. And then recently, we were told $25 billion was spent. Today, I think the number is $29 billion. Can you provide some details as to what consists of that $29 billion? Have we counted everything?

Yes, Senator Reid. So I testified this morning to Hackty that between the joint staff and the comptroller staff, our operational cost estimate is now $29 billion. A lot of that increase comes from having a refined estimate on repair or replacement costs for equipment. Our munitions costs are fairly fixed. We think they're very accurate, and there's some O&M costs there as well. We're not making an estimate for Milcon at this time. We don't know what our future posture is going to be. We don't know how those bases would be reconstructed, and we don't know what percentage of our allies and partners will pay for that reconstruction. So you do not consider installations that have been damaged in the conflict, correct? We just don't have a good estimate at this time. So it's not in the $29 billion. That's correct. Expended weapons, are they totally included within the estimate? Yes, to the best of my knowledge, we have a full count of the expended weapons. And weapons transferred to other countries in the region? Are they counted in? I would want to double check to make sure we have that accurately. Please. I mean, you're coming up and asking for another significant supplemental, et cetera. And before we can, I think, reasonably appropriate additional money, we have to find out how the existing appropriated dollars have been spent. So that's critically important. Okay, right? Round of applause for Senator Reid. That's the type of question and answer. And listen, by the way, I got to give that undersecretary credit. He admitted, he answered the question. He said $29 billion. He said it did include weapons that have been used. He was honest when asked, does that include weapons that have been given to other entities, countries, or nations to be able to, you know, fight in this war? He said he didn't know, which I suspect means the answer is no, that $29 billion does not include it. You know, the reason why we got a straight honest answer is because it wasn't Kegsbroth, right? And it wasn't Kash Patel. I mean, it wasn't anybody, right? It was somebody who actually understood what his job had to be at that time. And so I want you guys to think about this, too. You know what wasn't admitted to by Keg's Breath or anybody today? The $5,000 drones that are taking out the $300 million worth of the missiles right now. I mean, Ukraine showing that they know how to take out Russian. missiles, and now we also see that Iran is doing that to U.S. military. I am appalled also by this headline from CNN that just came out yesterday. The majority of United States military sites in the Middle East have been damaged by Iran. So the reason why I showed this headline to you all is I want you to think about this. 29 billion, allegedly... allegedly does not include the military installations that have been damaged during this choice of this war of choice against Iran. So that 29 billion figure is just dead ass wrong. And now they want an additional 1.5 trillion, which, by the way, doesn't include...

the Chuck Grassley billion that they want to give, right, to Secret Service for the Ballroom Bunker. It doesn't include the 400 billion that Lindsey Graham, Ladybug Lindsay, wants to give alongside Katie Britt and Eric Schmidt for the Ballroom Bunker. It doesn't include the hundreds of millions of dollars in anonymous private donors and donations that have been given for the Ballroom Bunker. That doesn't even include that amount. It doesn't include the Republicans big bullshit bill from July of 2025. They gave how much to freaking ICE, CBP, DHS? I mean, people, this is the greatest fleecing of Americans in our history. And it's happening in real time. And, you know, we're also paying attention to the fact that we're going back to Jim Crow, right? We're going back to Reconstruction era shit when it comes to voting. But we're also noticing that the reason why they're doing the Jim Crow redistricting bullshit illegal gerrymandering, Putting aside SCOTUS green lighting and blessing that happening is because they don't want members of Congress to represent us because they want them to vote blindly to approve these trillion dollar plus plus plus things like 1.5 trillion for the budget. for this war in Iran that's already cost us more than $29 billion. I want to give a shout out to Blue Swan and to just there in the chat. I see you guys. I also want to say they had a great suggestion here. Blue Swan noting that we should be prepared for shortages, just there noting that we should also be stocking up for mutual aid. Not hoarding, but mutual aid. Yes, that is 100% true folks. Do you remember not only what went down in Minneapolis, St. Paul, with the mutual aid there and other metropolitan cities because of immigration enforcement tactics where people couldn't go to work, they couldn't go to school, they couldn't go to the store? Well, we are going to get to that when we also had shutdown. Remember the food lines? Remember people having to chip in and help each other out? I think it's time that we also have to be preparing for this because we are not going to see. prices go down anytime soon. And not to be too political on this, but I do think it will be the death knell for Republicans going into the midterms and beyond because of the economic impacts of what's happening. Trump pretending like inflation doesn't fucking exist and that it doesn't exist in some fictionalized concept in his world. But he doesn't care. That's the bottom line. Trump doesn't care about what is happening right now when it comes to the budget. And that's really important for us to keep in mind because He's not going to be there to take care of Americans, let alone Lord knows what's going to happen to our Social Security. I want to add, I want to end, though, on a high note. Because y'all know I am not doom and gloom, but I'm honest. What did I say at the beginning? Truthful, not neutral. But I want to end on my hymn. Let's pull up Sydney, this amazing order that just came in from the 11th Circuit. So the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals handing Donald Trump and Alina Habba a big L today. Big loss today. Justices, Judge Pryor, Brasher, and Kid.

from the 11th Circuit telling Donald Trump and Alina Habba, your ask for the entire bench of 11th Circuit appellate court justices is denied. No judge has requested that the court even be polled to rehear your appeal. And your petition for panel rehearing is also denied. It is a thing of beauty that you are looking on your screen right now. What does this have to do with? Y'all remember that sanctions order that was entered in that bullshit lawsuit that Trump brought in the Southern District of Florida against Hillary Clinton, the DNC, and others? And remember how Trump and Alina Habba got sanctioned for a million dollars in attorney's fees. And both Trump and Alina Hama being told that you guys have to carry that burden 50-50. And they appealed that. And the 11th Circuit actually upheld that sanctions order and said, you lose Trump. You lose parking lot, Lori extraordinaire. Well, they asked, they asked the entire bench of 11th Circuit judges to hear this appeal. to overrule what those three judges had decided. And no one on that 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, even with six of those judges having been Trump appointees, no one wanted to give Trump and the parking lot lawyer the time of day on that appeal. Folks, it's darkest before the dawn. There is so much going on right now. We are under assault. Every single one of us, one way or another, is under assault. But we are here and we are strong. And as I said yesterday on the contrarian, and I'll say here with you now, every time, every time I go back and I revisit and I learn either something new or I am reminded of something that occurred in the civil rights movement, I'm not only humbled, but I am inspired. They have awakened the sleeping giant that is us. Because everything that they are doing in Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, we're taking note. Virginia, its Supreme Court, just disenfranchised 1.6 million Virginians of their vote in support of the redistricted maps. Alabama, right now in Milligan, basically saying, we don't care if you are black and brown, you don't get a vote unless you vote for a Republican. That is what is happening in Florida. That is what is happening in Louisiana. we are going to turn out so big that it's too big to rig in November. I am grateful always for the privilege of your time. Your support is invaluable and priceless. If you can, we are coming up on the one-year anniversary of the launch of Katie Fang News. I believe, Sydney, my amazing and intrepid producer reminded me, I think it was May 22nd, is going to be the one-year anniversary of Katie Fang News. We are coming up and kissing up on the 600,000 subscriber mark.

If you can share this and let other people know that they can come and subscribe and support, that would be amazing. Again, as I noted, your support allows me to go and cover this amazing, you know, part of my life to be an independent journalist where I do not have a corporate oligarch breathing down my neck telling me to watch my damn tone because I don't. So, as I say, be mad, be outreach, demand accountability. I'll see you back here tomorrow. But in the meantime, I'm off to rattle some cages. And also, I got to feed Lucky Dog because that's important too. But thanks again for joining me for another Katie Fang live on Sidebar. I'll see you next Tuesday live. But in the meantime, you can catch me here at Katie Fang News. I'll see you on the other side.