A dramatic vote on the House floor brought an ending to this chapter in the long-running Epstein Files Saga. But the Elitist Media continued to cover for Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett getting coached by Epstein in the middle of a congressional hearing. Most emblematic of the coverage, David Muir’s lengthy and overwrought opening which could have well served as a brief: DAVID MUIR: Good evening, we begin tonight here with the breaking news, Congress passing a bill demanding the release of all the Jeffrey Epstein files, the House vote nearly unanimous, 427-1. Republicans joining Democrats and tonight, just moments ago, we learned the Senate has now agreed to quickly clear the bill as soon as the House sends it to the Senate, meaning it then goes to President Trump's desk. In the House today, after months of roadblocks, that rare moment in today’s politics- a vote that was nearly unanimous. Just one Republican voting no. And in that chamber the moment, as the vote unfolded the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse watching from the House gallery above, marking the victory they have long fought for. President Trump,when pressed in the last 24 hours will he sign the bill, he's said yes. The networks led with the Epstein vote- it was the consensus top story across the dial. Coverage across the board was similar, with few variations. Of note and in keeping with their history of hyperpartisanship, ABC World News Tonight was the only network nightly newscast to omit coverage of Clinton Treasury Secretary Larry Summers’ revealed relationship with Epstein. As a result, Summers apologized and vowed to scale back his public activities. Not good enough for ABC, one supposes. There were varying times of coverage of the Epstein survivors. CBS’s Nikole Killion interviewed a survivor, whereas ABC and NBC did not. Runtimes were about the same, and the reports were about the same. The progression was: the vote, reaction to the vote, Trump’s reaction to the vote, Trump will sign the bill. Wash, rinse, repeat. Nowhere was Plaskett mentioned. The real-time coaching by a Member of Congress by a convicted sex offender (and accused child trafficker) is significantly newsworthy if the networks insist on leading off every night with Epstein slop. As was the case with the Sunday shows, there was a collective omertá when it came to Plaskett. As the documents go public, how much longer will the media insist on covering for Plaskett? Time will tell. Click “expand” to view the full transcripts of the aforementioned reports as aired on their respective newscasts on Tuesday, November 18th, 2025: ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT 11/18/25 6:33 PM DAVID MUIR: Good evening, we begin tonight here with the breaking news, Congress passing a bill demanding the release of all the Jeffrey Epstein files, the House vote nearly unanimous, 427-1. Republicans joining Democrats and tonight, just moments ago, we learned the Senate has now agreed to quickly clear the bill as soon as the House sends it to the Senate, meaning it then goes President Trump's desk. In the House today, after months of roadblocks, that rare moment in today’s politics- a vote that was nearly unanimous. Just one Republican voting no. And in that chamber the moment, as the vote unfolded the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse watching from the House gallery above, marking the victory they have long fought for. President Trump,when pressed in the last 24 hours will he sign the bill, he's said yes. ABC’s Rachel Scott leading us off from The Hill tonight. RACHEL SCOTT: Tonight, a nearly unanimous vote in the House. HOUSE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: Yeas are 427, the nays are 1. SCOTT: An extraordinary moment as dozens of Jeffrey Epstein's victims watched and cheered in the gallery. Republicans and Democrats demanding the Justice Department release the FBI files into the sex offender. HOUSE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: The bill is passed, and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. SCOTT: It was a vote President Trump tried to prevent for weeks assisted by House speaker Mike Johnson, who kept the House out of session for 54 days, stalling it. When it became clear the Republicans were going to defy the president,Trump reversed course and told them to vote yes. MIKE JOHNSON: He’s been very clear and he has nothing to hide, and that's why he endorsed the vote today. SCOTT: For survivors of Epstein’s abuse, a moment of victory. SURVIVOR: We're ready for the next step and we’re ready to finally release the files. SURVIVOR: All the files. SCOTT: The Senate wasting no time, pledging to pass the bill and send it to the president's desk. JOHN CURTIS: Without objection. So ordered. SCOTT: Individual survivors getting word of the news. SURVIVOR: The Senate has passed the bill. SCOTT: President Trump has pledged to sign that bill into law, but tonight even some Republicans sounding skeptical that the files will be released.  Do you take the president at his word when he says he's going to sign the bill and do you have confidence these files will actually be released? MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE: I only take people's actions seriously. No longer words. JACKSON: The fact is the president doesn't need Congress to release the Epstein files. He can do it on his own. Our Mary Bruce asking, why wait for Congress? Why not just do it now? DONALD TRUMP: I had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. I threw him out of my club many years ago because I thought he was a sick pervert. SCOTT: The president has been asked again and again why he doesn’t just release these files. What do you think is stopping him? THOMAS MASSIE: He could release them. He should release them today. SCOTT: But the President has not ordered the Justice Department to release the files. Instead, he demanded that they investigate Epstein's ties to Democrats. Critics say it’s to get the spotlight off himself.  Epstein victims, including Jenna Lisa Jones, who says Epstein molested her, influriated. JENNA LISA JONES: I beg you, President Trump, please stop making this political. Show some class. Show some real leadership and show that you care about people other than yourself. I voted for you but your behavior on this issue has been a national embarrassment. It is time to take the honest, moral ground and support the release of these files. SCOTT: A senior White House official tells us tonight the president will sign the bill as soon as it reaches his desk. But there are still big questions about how or when the Justice Department would release these files, and just how transparent they will be. That is what the victims are waiting for, David,. MUIR: Rachel Scott leading us off from The Hill tonight. Rachel, thank you. CBS EVENING NEWS 11/18/25 6:31 PM JOHN DICKERSON: We are closer to seeing what’s in the Justice Department’s files on Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender and alleged sex trafficker of minors. The House voted 427-1 today to force the Department to release them. MAURICE DuBOIS: That one no vote was from Louisiana Republican Clay Higgins, a staunch supporter of President Trump. The Senate then passed the bill unanimously before sending it to the present for his signature. DICKERSON: Nikole Killion is on Capitol Hill for us. Nikole? NIKOLE KILLION: Good evening. The Senate moved to pass this bill as soon it’s received from the House, putting it one step closer to the president's signature. One Epstein survivor told me this is the most hope she has had in a long time.  A mix of emotions on the House floor. PRAMILA JAYAPAL: We will vote to release all the Epstein files. CHIP ROY: We should be motivated by truth and justice for all, not politics. KILLION: Lawmakers applauded the survivors looking on from the gallery as they overwhelmingly approved the bill compelling the Justice Department to fully release the Jeffrey Epstein files.  What does this vote mean to you? JENA-LISA JONES: Well, this vote means so much. I mean, we have been waiting for so long for the release of these files and for the government to actually listen to us. KILLION: Jena-Lisa Jones was one of several women who shared her story on Capitol Hill. JONES: This was me at 14 years old. I was a child. KILLION: Recounting when she was introduced to Epstein at his Palm Beach home more than two decades ago. JONES: I was abused. Horrifically. Like, it was my first encounter with a man, and... in that manner. And it set the tone for the rest of my life. KILLION: The vote breaks a months-long stalemate in Congress. MIKE JOHNSON: We stated our opposition as long as possible, but we are also for maximum transparency. KILLION: And it marks a reversal from President Trump, who tried to dissuade some GOP lawmakers from supporting the measure, including conservative ally Marjorie Taylor Greene. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE: He called me a traitor for standing with these women. KILLION: He ultimately agreed to sign the bill when it comes to his desk. DONALD TRUMP: I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. KILLION: Thousands of pages of documents have already been released, including email exchanges mentioning the president. There were also separate conversations between Epstein and former Democratic Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, who announced he would step back from public activities. RO KHANNA: It was just jarring to see him in those files and to having a conversation and friendship with Jeffrey Epstein long after it was known that Epstein was a convicted sex offender. So he should have that accountability. KILLION: The bill gives the Justice Department 30 days to make the Epstein files public once it becomes law. The president recently ordered the DoJ to investigate Democrats' ties to Epstein, but some legal experts warn that could limit any potential release.  DICKERSON: Nikole Killion on Capitol Hill. Thank you. NBC NIGHTLY NEWS 11/18/25 6:32 PM TOM LLAMAS: And good evening. As we come on the air tonight, the Epstein files are on the verge of release after a dramatic day on Capitol Hill. Just moments ago, the Senate unanimously passed a bill that would force the Justice Department to release unclassified files related to the convicted sex offender. Many of Epstein's victims emotional- you see them right here, gathering on Capitol Hill and hugging as the bill passed. It comes after the bill cleared the House overwhelmingly this afternoon. The final tally in the lower chamber 427-1. The bill could head to President Trump's desk as soon as this week. And he said yesterday that he would sign it into law. The big question tonight, what's inside the files and how soon could they be public? Hallie Jackson has been tracking it all and starts us off tonight. SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: The bill is passed. HALLIE JACKSON: What hooked like a long shot, tonight just one step from becoming law. The House nearly unanimously passing a bill to force the release of Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein with only one Republican voting.  RO KHANNA: It's time for the Epstein class to go, to be held accountable. JACKSON: Then the Senate passing it quickly, too. House lawmakers acknowledging some Epstein abuse survivors in Washington to witness the moment, including the family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of the most prominent Epstein accusers who died by suicide earlier this year.  SKY ROBERTS: She did it. She did it. She paved the way for the survivors to continue to come forward and to continue to fight. JACKSON: At the Capitol a candlelight vigil for survivors. President Trump resisted backing the bill for months before a surprising political pivot, now saying he will sign it into law. In an oval office meeting with the Saudi crown prince the president bristling at a series of questions, including about Epstein. MARY BRUCE: Mr. President, why wait for Congress to release the Epstein files? Why not just do it now? DONALD TRUMP: You know, it's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude. As far as the Epstein files is, I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. I threw him out of my club many years ago because I thought he was a sick pervert. But I guess I turned out to be right. He gave me none, zero, no money to me, but he gave money to Democrats. JACKSON: That coming just days after the president snapped at a Bloomberg reporter attempting to ask a question about Epstein REPORTER: (UNINT). TRUMP: Quiet, quiet, piggy. JACKSON: The White House saying the reporter last week behaved in an inappropriate and unprofessional way, but Bloomberg saying they ask questions without fear or favor. President Trump directed the DoJ to investigate Democrats connected to Epstein after the Justice Department suggested it closed the case this summer. Any active investigation could let the Justice Department withhold certain documents.  JACKSON: What makes you think you would actually, if this bill passes, see these files, that the public would see them? THOMAS MASSIE: There are a thousand survivors. They can't open enough investigations to cover up everything that's in these files. JACKSON: President Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein. His allies in Congress blasting Democrats. JAMES COMER: They don't care about the victims. They only care about one thing, and that's trying to embarrass Donald Trump. They hope and pray there is something in the documents that will embarrass Trump. JACKSON: Now fallout growing from the Epstein scandal with Larry Summers, the Treasury Secretary under former president Bill Clinton saying he is stepping back from public commitments after emails showed extensive correspondence between Summers and the sex offender, saying he is deeply ashamed of his actions. LLAMAS: Hallie joins us now live. Hallie, these documents could be released as early as this week. Do we know what is in these Epstein files? JACKSON: Tom, the bill directs the DoJ to release things like travel records, internal DoJ communications. But remember, victims' privacy and active investigations will be a factor. A senior White House official says the bill will be signed once it gets to the President, and that will start the 30-day clock got the Justice Department. Tom. LLAMAS: All right. Halle, thank you.  

Tr There is only ONE sentence in Monday's Jeffrey Epstein Politico story by Dasha Burns, "Congress wants to release all Epstein files. Trump worries that won’t be enough," that is really relevant: "No evidence has suggested that Trump took part in Epstein’s crimes." The rest of the story is nothing but Epstein Slop i.e. utter nonsense and useless speculation whose sole purpose is to bury a highly inconvenient truth for Politico. Therefore let's dig deep down into the middle of the article and observe that one gem that Burns seems to want to hide. Trump has denied wrongdoing in relation to the Epstein allegations, and no evidence has suggested that Trump took part in Epstein’s crimes. The president also has said he and Epstein had a falling out years ago. And now we can amuse ourselves by looking at Burns' pathetic attempt to bury that barely seen truth in a wall of Epstein Slop background noise starting with the subtitle: "Trump is also frustrated because he thinks Democrats outmaneuvered the GOP on the debate." This is a common Epstein Slop technique. Bury the fact that nothing in the Epstein files has implicated Trump in any wrongdoing with a lot of fuss over procedural maneuvers. White House officials are concerned that even with Congress voting to release the entirety of the Epstein files, the controversy around the late convicted sex offender will continue to swirl. ...The House could advance the bill forcing the disclosure of Justice Department records related to Epstein as soon as Tuesday. The White House official expects the Senate to pass the bill as well, and the president has said he would sign it. The fast-track movement comes after months of stalling by Republican leaders and immense pressure from the White House to keep a vote from happening. But Trump, over the last week, realized his vice-like grip over the GOP was not enough to forestall the vote and relented to the “inevitable reality,” the official said. The president changed course Sunday after speaking with many Republicans and concluding dozens of House members planned to cross him. “The strategy now is give Republicans a perceived win,” the official said. “So they can go back to their districts and say, ‘I voted to release the Epstein files.’” And all this Epstein Slop comes BEFORE Burns reveals the embarrassing truth of no there there as far as Trump being implicated in any Epstein crime. After the only significant reveal the burial continues with yet more Epstein Slop until it concludes with, you guessed it, overused procedural microanalysis rather than what is actually central to the case which was buried in the middle of the story. House Republican leaders could put the disclosure bill up for a vote as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday under so-called suspension of the rules, a fast-track procedure requiring a two-thirds majority vote for passage. Senate Majority Leader John Thune isn’t expected to announce whether he will bring up the Epstein measure until it passes the House. Yada, yada, yada. Perhaps Dasha Burns and her Politico colleagues could spare themselves from continuing their Epstein Slop embarrassment in the future by tattooing on their arms the one overriding truth unveiled thus far as a reminder to avoid writing diversionary nonsense: "No evidence has suggested that Trump took part in Epstein’s crimes."

After years of playing the role of lead Biden regime apple polisher and undoubtedly being one of the most biased White House reporters, ABC chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce was excoriated Tuesday by President Trump over her questions about Trump family financials and the Epstein files as well as missives to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman about the country’s roles in both 9/11 and the murder of a pro-Qatar columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump not only blasted Bruce as “a terrible person and terrible reporter” and “not credible,” but said ABC is “fake news” and “one of the worst in the business” that should lose their FCC license. Bruce started with questions about the Trump Organization, Khashoggi, and 9/11: Is it appropriate, Mr. President, for your family to be doing business in Saudi Arabia while you’re President? Is that a conflict of interest? And Your Royal Highness, the U.S. intelligence concluded that you orchestrated the brutal murder of a journalist. 9/11 families are furious that you are here in the Oval Office. Trump proceeded to demand Bruce tell him which outlet she works for and, after four tries, she told him ABC News. Of course the reporter here is ABC's Mary Bruce, one of the most virulently anti-Trump reporter in the White House press and was the Biden regime's lead apple polisher pic.twitter.com/XEy8xOuFxj — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 18, 2025   “Fake news, ABC fake news. One of the worst. One of the worst in the business. But I’ll answer your question,” Trump replied. Trump spent the next minute insisting he’s had “nothing to do with the family business,” “[t]hey’ve done very little with Saudi Arabia,” and he’s more worried about “mak[ing] American very successful,” but concluded by blasting Bruce for “embarrass[ing] our guest by asking a question like that.” While such press freedoms don’t exist in Saudi Arabia if Bruce had tried to pull it there (and likely behind a veil), bin Salman interjected to give an answer to both (click “expand”): If it’s okay, just since she asked, Mr. President, please allow me to answer. You know, I feel painful about, you know, the families of 9/11 in America. But, you know, we have to focus on reality. Reality based on CIA documents and based on a lot of documents that Osama bin Laden, he used Saudi people in that event for one main purpose is to destroy this relation, to destroy the American-Saudi relation. That’s the purpose of 9/11. So, whoever buying that, that means they are helping Osama bin Laden’s purpose of destroying this relation. He know [sic] that strong relation between America and Saudi Arabia is bad for extremism. It’s bad for terrorism. And we have to prove him wrong and to build our relation, to continue developing our relations. It’s critical in the safety of the world. It’s critical against extremism and terrorism. About the journalist, It’s really painful to hear, you know, anyone that been losing his life for, you know, no real purpose or nothing illegal way. And it’s been painful for us in Saudi Arabia. We did all the right steps of investigation, etc. in Saudi Arabia and we’ve improved our system to be sure that nothing happened like that. And it’s painful and it’s a huge mistake. And we are doing our best that this doesn’t happen again. Just over 20 minutes later, Bruce came back with the story she and her colleagues are using as a cudgel against Trump, hoping it ends his presidency: the Epstein files: “Mr. President, why wait for Congress to release the Epstein files? Why not just do it now?” Trump fired back that while he didn’t mind “the question” itself, what he disliked was Bruce’s “attitude” and “the way you ask these questions.” It was about time a Republican -- anyone, didn't even have to be President Trump -- tore ABC's Mary Bruce a new one. She truly is the female Jim Acosta (aside from April Ryan, but when was the last time you heard from her) pic.twitter.com/DHikUuirsM — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 18, 2025   Trashing Bruce as both “a terrible person and a terrible reporter,” Trump rewound to her earlier questions to bin Salman: You start off with a man who is highly respected, asking him a horrible, insubordinate, and just a terrible question. And you could even ask that same exact question nicely. You’re all psyched....You’re a terrible person and a terrible reporter. Trump then addressed Bruce’s question about Epstein with what’s become a standard but important answer that “I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein” and “threw him out of my club many years ago because I thought he was a sick pervert.” Citing Democrats like Bill Clinton and Larry Summers having had deep ties with Epstein, Trump said Bruce and her cabal “don’t even talk about those people” because it would go against this “Democrat hoax.” Trump really lowered the boom when he argued ABC should lose its FCC broadcast license and alluded to studies conducted here at the Media Research Center into positive-negative coverage on the broadcast networks: [P]eople are wise to your hoax and ABC, your company, your crappy company is one of the the perpetrators. And I’ll tell you something. I’ll tell you something. I think the license should be taken away from ABC because your news is so fake and it’s so wrong. And we have a great commissioner, the chairman, who should look at that, because I think when you come in and when you’re 97 percent negative to Trump, and then Trump wins the election in a landslide, that means obviously your news is not credible and you’re not credible as a reporter. Trump even recalled another liberal political figure the press should look into is far-left megadonor Reid Hoffman, who even went to Epstein Island: “I know he spends a lot of money on the radical left...He’s a sleazebag, and those are the people — but they don’t get any press. They don’t get any news.” Trump closed with another few zingers for Bruce and her “meanness” that are proof she needs “to go back and learn how to be a reporter”: “You’re not after the radical left because you’re a radical left network. But I think the way you ask a question with the anger and the meanness is terrible. You ought to go back and learn how to be a reporter. No more questions from you.” To see the relevant transcript from the White House media availability on November 18, click here.

Is there a good personal injury lawyer in the house? Because anyone listening to Maria Cardona this morning might have suffered a bad case of whiplash. In a neck-straining nanosecond on CNN This Morning, Cardona, a Democrat strategist who doubles as a CNN commentator, went from piously proclaiming that the Epstein matter "should be about the survivors, this shouldn't be political," and then straight to trying to pin all the blame on the Republicans. After saying that "the problem has become political not because of Democrats," Cardona proceeded to parrot the Democrat talking point that President Trump could have already released the files without the need for congressional action. Host Audie Cornish pitched in to second Cardona's notion: "Right: it's within his power." But Cornish and Cardona conveniently ignored the PSA put out by Epstein victims that the show aired just moments before. In addition to statements by several Epstein victims, the PSA displayed a screen with the stark message: "Five Administrations and We're Still in the Dark."    In other words, the entirety of the files has not been released over the course of five presidential administrations. The Trump administration has, in fact, already released tens of thousands of pages of Epstein files. That's tens of thousands more than President Biden released -- he didn't release any files. No one in the pro-Biden media expressed any alarm. It was within Biden's power too, Audie! Note: Although presidents have the ability to declassify as necessary and release files from federal agencies, they don't have the power to release grand jury testimony or files from criminal investigations. Here's the transcript. CNN This Morning 11/18/25 6:08 am ET AUDIE CORNISH: The vote in the House today caps four months of political fighting on Capitol hill. But Epstein's accusers say their fight for justice has been going on for years. They just aired this PSA calling for the full release of the files. VICTIM #1: I was 14 years old. VICTIM #2: I was 16 years old.  VICTIM #3: 16. VICTIM #4: 17 VICTIM #5: 14 years old.  VARIOUS VICTIMS HOLDING UP PHOTOS: This is me. This was me. This is me. VICTIM: When I met Jeffrey Epstein. VOICEOVER: It's time to bring the secrets out of the shadows. It's time to shine a light into the darkness. [Screen displays "Five Administrations] CORNISH: You know, one person who's been leading the charge on this in the House, of course, Thomas Massie, Republican. And here was his reaction to this shift by the president, who went from actively lobbying against this discharge petition to saying, OK, fine, I'd sign it if it came to my desk.  THOMAS MASSIE: The Speaker, the Attorney General, the FBI director, the President and the Vice President could have saved us all this time and embarrassment, frankly, for our own party if they'd just done the right thing four months ago.  CORNISH: Rob, I wanted to ask you about this, because as much as Democrats have gleefully jumped onto it, he has held firm. And the four Republicans who looked Trump's folks in the eye and says, we don't care, we want this vote, it seemed like a sign of weakness on this particular topic. What's your response to his  idea that he's like, look, it didn't even have to go down this way.  ROB BLUEY: Yeah, I agree. And I think President Trump also realized what a huge distraction it was becoming to the other issues that he wants to focus on right now, namely the fact that he has this massive piece of legislation that passed over the summer, and they haven't really done an effective job of communicating that well to the American people, as you can see in the results of the recent elections.  And so President Trump, I think, recognizes that he was going to lose this vote. There was pressure building in the Senate for the Senate to take action on it. They obviously need 60 votes there. And so why stand in the way?  Now, I think it's a move that, yes, I agree with Massie. He should have made months ago. He talked about this administration being the most transparent in history. Having the release of the Epstein files would go help him make that claim.  CORNISH: Maria, is this a Pyrrhic victory? I mean, Democrats have the Epstein files, but no health care subsidies, and they're infighting about the government shutdown.  MARIA CARDONA: I mean, look, I think the bottom line is that this should be about the survivors. This shouldn't be political. I completely agree with Garrett and everyone who's been talking about how we can't lose sight of that. But the problem, it has become political not because of Democrats. This is not a Democrat hoax. This has become political because Republicans made it an issue during their campaign. During the 2024 campaign, they ran on it. And they said, let's remember, Pam Bondi said, it's on my desk. I'm about to release it, right?  Now, the reason why I think that Donald Trump's kind of faking is the fact that he wants this out is because he could put it out now if he wanted to. Why wait for this vote that will be incredibly embarrassing to him, when massive numbers of Republicans are going to vote for it, when we know that this is not something that he wants out there?  If he really wanted it out there, he could have done it four months ago -- CORNISH: Right. It's within his power. CARDONA: -- and he could do it right now.  CORNISH: Well, there's still going to be a vote, so let's look forward to the many speeches to come. 

Former MSNBC host Chris Matthews appeared on CNN News Central on Tuesday afternoon to hawk his latest book worshiping the Kennedys, but the appearance turned into an embarrassing outing as two of his broad proclamations about contemporary politics turned out to be wildly false. Between claiming the Senate was going to stymie the release of the Epstein files and suggesting the Washington Post never criticized the Saudi crown price visiting the White House, Matthews’ assertions were blown up in his face by CNN journalists. On the congressional momentum to release the Epstein files, Matthews bloviated about how “This presidency is as close to a monarchy as we've had in 250 years” and condemned how “these people [Republicans] are obeying him” and voting to release the files. Further, he predicted that “the Senate is going to do what it can to logjam this whole effort to get the truth out.” He added that his predicted Senate opposition would be part of an effort by President Trump at “hiding something. I don't know if its illegality or his pal of his; who knows what it is.” That claim spurred CNN co-host Boris Sanchez to interject and note: “To be clear, the President has not been directly accused of any wrongdoing by Virginia Giuffre or other Epstein survivors.” Apparently, the Senate doing everything they could to “logjam this whole effort” would only be for a handful of hours. Less than 10 minutes and a commercial break later, CNN chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju was live on the steps to the Capitol with breaking news: This is huge news. The Senate majority leader, John Thune, indicating that this bill just passed the United States House by a 427 to 1 vote, now could pass the Senate as soon as tonight. In fact, that is what he just told reporters just moments ago. He said that it could move fairly quickly in the United States Senate, and that there would not be any changes because of the fact that it was approved by such a large margin.     Elsewhere in his comments, Matthews lashed out at The Washington Post with wild claims that the paper didn’t offer any criticism or coverage of Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman visiting the White House despite allegedly ordering the murder of Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Matthews ridiculously added that the paper’s alleged silence was because owner Jeff Bezos was supposedly a Republican, which he wasn’t: Excuse me, the guy murdered somebody, a Washington Post reporter. And the Washington Post never mentioned today any problem with that. They never editorialized against it. 'The murderer of our reporter is meeting in the White House today, but we're not going to mention it today because it's owned by a Republican Trump guy.’ Later in the show, Sanchez called out Matthews by name as he gave Post columnist Jason Rezaian “the opportunity to correct the record” muddied by Matthew’s false claims: SANCHEZ: But, Jason, I actually wanted to give you the opportunity to correct the record on something that a previous guest said, Chris Matthews, when he was talking about the Washington Post that the paper didn't address the murder of Khashoggi today, with this visit of MBS to the White House. REZAIAN: We actually addressed it beginning yesterday when I wrote a column about the visit in advance of this. Obviously, this is something that I've been aware of for several weeks that the crown prince was coming. “But for the past seven-plus years that the Washington Post has been not only covering closely, but trying to get accountability around,” he added. “This is something that I take very personally. So, thank you for the opportunity to clear the record.” The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: CNN News Central November 18, 2025 3:16:14 p.m. Eastern (…) CHRIS MATTHEWS: I think the idea – And the idea of MBS. Excuse me, the guy murdered somebody, a Washington Post reporter. And the Washington Post never mentioned today any problem with that. They never editorialized against it. 'The murderer of our reporter is meeting in the White House today, but we're not going to mention it today because it's owned by a Republican Trump guy.’ BORIS SANCHEZ: What did you make – MATTHEWS: The idea that you let a murderer into the White House? Then you say there was some controversy about him. What? You don't say controversy about a murderer? (…) 3:17:15 p.m. Eastern MATTHEWS: What did – Michael Johnson’s never been accused of being insubordinate. He's an obedient servant. This presidency is as close to a monarchy as we've had in 250 years. And now we're coming around to our Independence Day. I think it's awful that these people are obeying him. I don't – The Senate is going to do what it can to logjam this whole effort to get the truth out. And I think politicians – I don't know what Trump is hiding. He's hiding something. I don't know if its illegality or his pal of his; who knows what it is. I think the press shouldn't make the mistake it did during the Russian investigation last time around of assuming they know the bottom line. We don't know the bottom line. SANCHEZ: To be clear, the President has not been directly accused of any wrongdoing by Virginia Giuffre or other Epstein survivors. (…) 3:25:24 p.m. Eastern MANU RAJU: Yeah. This is huge news. The Senate majority leader, John Thune, indicating that this bill just passed the United States House by a 427 to 1 vote, now could pass the Senate as soon as tonight. In fact, that is what he just told reporters just moments ago. He said that it could move fairly quickly in the United States Senate, and that there would not be any changes because of the fact that it was approved by such a large margin. And remember, the Speaker of the House wanted changes to this bill. He resisted a vote in the House to begin with. The White House also resisted a vote for many months here. This president ultimately coming to the side of where his party was going to support this bill, and say that it should pass the United States House. And now, for the first time, we are getting a clear indication from John Thune himself that they indeed will try to quickly pass this bill. So, here are some of the mechanics in order to pass this bill tonight, he needs to have all 100 senators on board and essentially greenlight this process from advancing one. One senator, Republican or Democrat, if they were to object, he or she could go to the floor and say, ‘I object.’ And this bill would not pass. It seems unlikely that would happen, given the way the momentum has totally shifted here on this issue. (…) 3:35:23 p.m. Eastern SANCHEZ: But, Jason, I actually wanted to give you the opportunity to correct the record on something that a previous guest said, Chris Matthews, when he was talking about the Washington Post that the paper didn't address the murder of Khashoggi today, with this visit of MBS to the White House. JASON REZAIAN: We actually addressed it beginning yesterday when I wrote a column about the visit in advance of this. Obviously, this is something that I've been aware of for several weeks that the crown prince was coming. But for the past seven-plus years that the Washington Post has been not only covering closely, but trying to get accountability around. Josh and I worked very closely in the same section with Jamal Khashoggi. This is something that I take very personally. So, thank you for the opportunity to clear the record. SANCHEZ: Of course. (…)