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House Republicans Defy Trump; Plus, When WWII Vets Came Home

On this episode of Start Making Sense, John Nichols comments on the politics around release of the Epstein files, and David Nasaw discusses The Wounded Generation.

Jon Wiener

November 19, 2025

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks during the press conference on the Epstein Files Transparency Act with the Epstein abuse survivors in Washington, DC, on November 18, 2025.(Celal Gunes / Anadolu via Getty Images)

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House Republicans Defy Trump; plus, when WWII Vets Came Home | Start Making Sense
byThe Nation Magazine

After almost a year of Trump stonewalling about the Epstein files, Republicans in the House finally took a stand against him. More than a hundred Republican members were prepared to vote for releasing the files. Facing a dramatic defeat, on Sunday night Trump caved, and Tuesday the vote in the House was nearly unanimous. John Nichols has our analysis.

Also: The Americans who fought in World War II have been called “the greatest generation,” but historian David Nasaw argues that it’s more appropriate to regard them as “the wounded generation.” That’s the title of his new book about vets coming home after WWII

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After almost a year of Trump stonewalling about the Epstein files, Republicans in the House finally took a stand against him. More than a hundred Republican members were prepared to vote for releasing the files. Facing a dramatic defeat, on Sunday night Trump caved, and on Tuesday the vote in the House was nearly unanimous. John Nichols has our analysis.

Also: The Americans who fought in World War II have been called “the greatest generation,” but historian David Nasaw argues that it’s more appropriate to regard them as “the wounded generation.” That’s the title of his new book about vets coming home after WWII.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

State of the Union: Not Good; plus Jackie Robinson v. Paul Robeson / Start Making Sense
byThe Nation Magazine

Trump’s State of the Union speech was predictable, but nevertheless revealing of his state of mind. John Nichols has our analysis.

Also: In 1949 when Jackie Robinson appeared before HUAC, the House Un-American Activities Committee, to discredit Paul Robeson. Howard Bryant talks about why that happened, and what happened afterwards – to each of them. His new book is “Kings and Pawns.”

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Jon WienerTwitterJon Wiener is a contributing editor of The Nation and co-author (with Mike Davis) of Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties.


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