The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Raging Moderates: Trump’s Sparking Culture War Fights to Bury the Epstein Scandal

February 11, 2026

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  • Donald Trump's recent culture war attacks, including those against an Olympic skier and amplifying a racist video of the Obamas, are perceived by the hosts as increasingly ineffective distractions from the ongoing review of the unredacted Epstein files and scrutiny of his allies. 
  • The Super Bowl halftime show featuring Bad Bunny was viewed as an optimistic, unifying, and economically smart move by the NFL to engage a younger, diverse audience, contrasting sharply with the divisive culture war tactics employed by figures like Donald Trump and Kid Rock. 
  • The skyrocketing cost of elite NYC private schools (now exceeding $70,000 annually) and the resulting stratification of education are seen as a major enforcer of the American caste system, prompting Scott Galloway to suggest that the tax-exempt status of universities with endowments over a billion dollars should be revoked. 

Segments

Culture War vs. Unity Display
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(00:01:39)
  • Key Takeaway: Trump’s culture war focus contrasted with Bad Bunny’s celebration of continental unity over the weekend.
  • Summary: Bad Bunny used a major pop moment to celebrate joy and unity across the Americas, reminding audiences of a broader American identity. Simultaneously, Donald Trump engaged in cultural fights, attacking an Olympic skier and amplifying a racist video of the Obamas. This cultural division is occurring while Congress reviews Epstein files and allies face scrutiny.
Trump’s Culture War Effectiveness
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(00:03:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Trump’s ability to control the narrative through culture wars appears diminished, with some conservatives defending Bad Bunny.
  • Summary: Jessica Tarlov suggests Donald Trump is losing his fastball regarding culture war effectiveness, noting that his base may not be as forgiving of his diversions. Prominent conservatives, including Alexis Wilkins and Chris Ruffo, defended Bad Bunny’s performance, calling the outrage over it ‘fake.’ This suggests a fracturing in how the right reacts to cultural moments.
Super Bowl Ads: AI Dominance
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(00:07:07)
  • Key Takeaway: AI dominated Super Bowl ads, mirroring past tech bubbles in 2000 (dot-com) and 2022 (crypto), suggesting a potential drawdown.
  • Summary: A quarter of the Super Bowl ads featured AI, echoing the 2022 ‘Crypto Bowl’ and the 2000 tech ad saturation. Historical economic patterns suggest that when tech advertising breaches 25% of the Super Bowl ads, a major drawdown in that sector often follows. There is also an observed shift in value from betting sites toward speculation markets.
Epstein Files and Political Fallout
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(00:10:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Trump’s Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, faces scrutiny for alleged perjury regarding his association with Jeffrey Epstein post-2005.
  • Summary: Howard Lutnick is under bipartisan pressure for allegedly lying about his association with Jeffrey Epstein, including visiting his island in 2012 after Epstein was a registered sex offender. The slow, redacted release of the 3 million Epstein documents is eroding trust in institutions like the FBI, which failed to conduct a thorough investigation or issue indictments based on the evidence. Non-partisan Trump supporters are reportedly alarmed by the lack of institutional interest in uncovering the full truth regarding child abuse.
Ghislaine Maxwell Clemency Hopes
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(00:20:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Bipartisan political opposition strongly rejects any possibility of clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell, viewing her as a monster who deserves to ‘rot.’
  • Summary: The DOJ’s reading room setup makes reviewing the files extremely slow, potentially taking seven years to complete under current conditions. Republicans like Lauren Boebert and Paulina Luna, who initially focused on the files, are now vocal against granting Maxwell clemency after reviewing the documents detailing trafficking and rape. Maxwell’s testimony is considered meaningless, as recruiting girls for Epstein may be viewed as an act worse than the abuse itself.
Trump Economy Pitch vs. Reality
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(00:24:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite Trump claiming a booming economy fueled by AI, public sentiment remains low, and data shows tariffs are primarily burdening American consumers.
  • Summary: Trump is campaigning on an economy featuring strong growth and AI-driven productivity, but consumer confidence is at its lowest since 2014, with 59% disapproving of his economic handling. Analysis shows American households paid $1,000 more last year due to tariffs, with the American consumer bearing up to 43% of the burden. The US Gini coefficient for wealth is at 83, a level historically associated with revolutions.
The ‘Epstein Class’ Framing
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(00:30:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Senator John Ossoff’s framing of the ruling elite as the ‘Epstein class’ is politically brilliant because it targets wealthy, powerful individuals without alienating all wealthy Democratic allies.
  • Summary: The term ‘Epstein class’ effectively targets wealthy, white, male elites who believe they are above the law and entitled to depravity, without demonizing all successful people like Howard Schultz. This framing avoids alienating necessary wealthy donors by focusing on behavior rather than just income level. Democrats are advised to stop demonizing wealth and instead focus on implementing more progressive tax structures.
NYC Private School Caste System
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(00:34:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Elite NYC private school tuition exceeding $70,000 reinforces the caste system, and parents might achieve better financial outcomes by investing that money instead.
  • Summary: Elite private school tuition has doubled since Scott Galloway attended, now costing more than many top colleges, creating a massive overinvestment in education for the wealthy. Research suggests the best school for a child is often the closest one, and disciplined investment of $70,000 annually over 12 years could yield $4.5 million by age 35. The withdrawal of the most powerful and talented families into private systems degrades investment in the public system, which already spends significant money per child without achieving commensurate outcomes.