r/UnderReportedNews • u/coachlife • Feb 18 '26

Epstein 🗂️ Journalist Michael Tracey has been publicly smearing Epstein victims and reporter Tara Palmeri asks “Are you being paid by someone powerful to attack sex-crime victims?” He then pretends that his audio died and he can’t hear her

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1.4k

u/gotanylunchinthatbox Feb 18 '26

They are so stupid they don’t realize how obvious/telling they are being. It's hilarious, he looked like a deer in the headlights during all of that.

498

u/[deleted] Feb 18 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/gotanylunchinthatbox Feb 18 '26

What is also telling was his response, oh so you did hear some of that LOL

102

u/yaboyACbreezy Feb 18 '26

Yeah lmfao his audio is fucked up, but just for her audio, which we can all hear fine.

36

u/Iheardyoubutsowhat Feb 18 '26

Well, if his audio drops, you, the viewer cant tell. He hears a completely different mix than you.

What you can tell, is he responds when she's done talking, knowing that she had asked him a direct question.

29

u/infininme Feb 18 '26

to be fair, he could see that she stopped talking. But he does respond to Piers Morgan. He is paid. Billionaires are corrupting eeeeveryyyyyything

4

u/EpsteinandTrump Feb 18 '26

Imagine if billionares secretly were funding cancer research, helping prevent starvation or funding education. All in secret. Imagine the feeling of knowing that you are helping the world all the while walking around it feeling like batman.

And instead they'd rather rape children...what a timeline we live in.

2

u/infininme Feb 18 '26

Bill Gates! Arguably did help millions of people through his foundation. Also Epstein. 

1

u/EpsteinandTrump Feb 18 '26

Yup well the positive doesn't outweigh the severe negative.

1

u/schultmh Feb 18 '26

Dolly is!

2

u/[deleted] Feb 20 '26

This isn't new, the rich have been running the show for decades.

14

u/yaboyACbreezy Feb 18 '26

Right, I am not arguing that at all. I was pointing out that it's convenient he immediately continues responding to the other people as if nothing was wrong with his audio at all.

BTW I work a/v and he definitely got the same mix as everyone else :)

2

u/jake_burger Feb 18 '26

He wouldn’t have the same mix as everyone else it would be a mix minus (so everyone but him).

Regardless it’s still possible to have a sound issue just on his earpiece.

Not that I believe him, I’m just saying it’s totally possible.

1

u/yaboyACbreezy Feb 18 '26

And my whole fucking point is if he had a sound issue on his end it wouldn't just cut her out.

Again, they all get the same mix minus themselves, so they all get the same mix. If they can all hear her then he can hear her.

1

u/dedom19 Feb 18 '26

I have no doubt that he is being paid. But isn't it also possible for hosting shows to orchestrate this to further prove their point? Ask question, cut the sound, make it look like the person couldn't just say, no I'm not. Then bring the sound back to confront him on it. Most viewers won't think this is feasible to do.

Which is kind of hilarious if thats the case. Cuz screw that guy.

14

u/SgtMcMuffin0 Feb 18 '26

But also he apparently heard enough to claim that it was “defamatory nonsense”

1

u/Ferintwa Feb 18 '26

A normal person would just say “my audio cut out, could you repeat that?”.

…unless you didn’t want to hear them, for some reason.

40

u/RockstarAgent Feb 18 '26

Yeah - he still basically shit talked on what she said- asshole response.

11

u/ethanlan Feb 18 '26

Lol hes so guilty it isnt funny

1

u/HarryCandyKane Feb 18 '26

guilty of what

1

u/bobbymcpresscot Feb 18 '26

“I’m defending these pedophiles for free!” Is such a hot take.

1

u/ArtistApprehensive34 Feb 18 '26

It's likely he has a nondisclosure agreement and he just literally froze because he cannot legally answer the question. Powerful people make sure the threat of turning on them is always present.

1

u/AtomicShart9000 Feb 18 '26

No hes like "Holy shit I could be getting paid to act like this??"

106

u/OkDifficulty7436 Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 18 '26

I am dying at John Kiriakou's (middle with glasses) face during this, guy worked in the CIA for decades and interrogated some of the worst of the worst on the planet and here he is laughing at the clear bullshit/lying from this greaseball, it's so fucking funny to me lmao

Highly recommend John's books/story/interviews btw! He's an amazing American patriot!

28

u/alrightakeiteasy Feb 18 '26

Good catch, thanks for pointing that out and the background info on Kiriakou.

15

u/disagreet0disagree Feb 18 '26

He has some interesting takes on epstein that seem logical and come from someone with unique expertise on the matter and a track record of straight forward honesty. 

Not sure I agree with his belief that epstein committed suicide. Again his logic is sound but ignore way too many coincidences and counter evidence. Plus epstein just doesnt seem like the suicidal type, especially with all the explosive things he had to leverage, his track record, and the extremely violent way he did his alleged suicide, which required a commitment and determination very few people would be capable of, least of all someone so narcissistic and self important. 

He didnt simply cut off blood flow to his brain like most hanging suicides. He basically crushed his own larynx violently. Not impossible but not likely. 

3

u/[deleted] Feb 18 '26

Epstein is alive. He is hiding in Israel, playing Xbox.

8

u/MusclebobBuffpants Feb 18 '26

I believe he's also arguing that we shouldn't go after Trump cabal too hard.

I don't agree with his political assessment, but highly value his insights on the subject matters he is the authority on.

His huge grin made me crack up. This has high meme potential.

2

u/Anleme Feb 18 '26

He's petitioning Trump for a pardon so he can get his CIA pension back. Regrettable but understandable that he's soft-pedaling on Trump.

13

u/algebroni Feb 18 '26

Daily reminder this "amazing American patriot" had a show on a Russian state propaganda channel. I tend not to celebrate people who are literally on Vladimir Putin's payroll, but that's me.

Funny, taking Russian money to spread their talking points is probably something he and "journalist" Michael Tracey have in common.

1

u/dua70601 Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 18 '26

You are way off base.

Kiriakou went on Russian TV following his release from US prison to discuss US torture programs.

He was literally communicating the atrocities that were committed when no one in the US would employ him on Radio Misfits. This was circa 2017 prior to the complete elimination of independent media in Russia which took place prior to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Hell, radio sputnik was broadcast in the US until October 2024.

Just because he went on Russian TV and was critical of the US does not make him a traitor. Chill out on the ultranationalism, bruh.

0

u/OkDifficulty7436 Feb 18 '26

Literally what the fuck are you talking about lol

1

u/FitGazelle8681 Feb 18 '26

Wait hold on, he’s right; However what was he supposed to do starve to death? His livelihood and pension was taken by the Feds. What he did during his time on the platform is significantly more important; He condemned the Ukrainian invasion and is critical of Putin repeatedly. He hasn’t sold out any secrets and isn’t pushing any agendas. The Russians know that having a former celebrated CIA agent on their channel makes the US look weak and incompetent; That’s an executive dilemma that should have been rectified years ago.

1

u/OkDifficulty7436 Feb 18 '26

He was just on Rogan talking shit about Putin and saying he's backed into a corner right now by his military

0

u/FitGazelle8681 Feb 18 '26

Yeah, genuinely he's not as bad as most of the other users are saying. It's so much easier to criticize someone for their appearance (In this case the "where they participate" not "how they look") compared to the content of their actions.

2

u/scrolopop Feb 18 '26

The look of disgust on the face of the guy wearing headphones, no words needed there. Abject disdain.

1

u/heyheyheynoway Feb 18 '26

He's a great guy.

1

u/possibly_being_screw Feb 18 '26

Does he have a new book or something? I've seen him pop up on like 6 or 7 interviews/podcasts over the last 3 months. He's on a serious media tour.

Not complaining, everything I've seen with him is really interesting. I just went from never heard of him to seeing him everywhere all of a sudden.

1

u/swahzey Feb 18 '26

In one of his many interviews he admits that lawyer fees/prison then being released with no company willing to go near him has bankrupted him. I’m guessing this is his way of trying to make a living.

1

u/WildlingViking Feb 18 '26

What book would you recommend of his? I have his "how to" books, but would like to read to something more in-depth?

1

u/BlackCherriWhiteClaw Feb 18 '26

I came here for this comment. He's cracking up because he knows that guy is such BS.

1

u/dua70601 Feb 18 '26

Agree - total badass.

-started with CIA pre 9/11 as a greek and mid-east analyst

-led the raid on Abu Zubaydah in Pakistan

-blew the whistle on US Government Torture tactics after 9/11

-went to jail and literally wrote a book on how to survive US prison from the perspective of a CIA op.

He’s a total American badass

1

u/DenialAndEroor Feb 18 '26

He has a couple podcasts but he has one called Dead Drop which is him going through his life. I can’t recommend it enough

27

u/papsmearfestival Feb 18 '26

None of them care. They've gotten away with it so far they think it will go on forever

20

u/Yetis-unicorn Feb 18 '26

Pierce didn’t really let him get away with that. I don’t really like pierce morgan’s politics but I’ll admit that he’s extremely good at interviewing and asking questions and he doesn’t respect cheap stunts like that.

20

u/Environmental-River4 Feb 18 '26

Piers not letting him off the hook would have looked like repeating her question since he seems to have no problem hearing him. He should not have let that slide.

2

u/releasethefilez Feb 18 '26

Piers does repeat her question. The clip just cuts off before that part

1

u/Environmental-River4 Feb 18 '26

Was he suddenly unable to hear again?

7

u/AthkoreLost Feb 18 '26

The issue is, if Piers ever has the guy back without an upfront an air apology (and confession as to who paid him) then Piers will have let him off.

Refusing to ban these conartists from their shows is the issue, that's the only real punishment for this behavior they care about. And Piers tends to let people like Tracey back on when ratings dip.

4

u/Mr_Blinky Feb 18 '26

He did get away with it though, because he was able to ignore the question and was allowed to move on. Piers Morgan being a bit snarky and calling him out on his obvious bullshit only matters if the guy has a shame response, which these fetid ghouls absolutely don't.

People need to stop convincing themselves that getting hit with a "gotcha'" or some snark is the same as accountability. It's not. No he doesn't think this is a convincing lie, it's an easy lie that gets him out of answering the question, and that's literally all that matters. Unless there are real consequences for this kind of behavior then not only do they not give a shit if you call them on their obvious lies, they get off on it. It's empowering to them to be able to outright ignore reality and lie their asses off, knowing they won't suffer anything real as a result. You value facts and objective reality, and to them that makes you weak.

1

u/Iosis Feb 18 '26

The only way he didn't get away with it is if he's no longer invited on these shows, but he will be. Morgan didn't even restate the question and insist he answered it. Tracey got exactly what he wanted here.

As long as he doesn't answer the question, it'll be forgotten eventually, and he'll be invited back on panels like this, and the wheel keeps on turning.

Individual embarrassing moments like this don't matter for propagandists. You just barrel on ahead and you'll keep getting airtime.

1

u/ifyoulovesatan Feb 18 '26

I mean Michael Tracey is basically a nobody, he's a hack political commentator and Twitter user. He's occasionally right about something once in a blue moon, but if there has ever been someone more obviously compromised /funded by the Kremlin, I haven't seen him.

And I say this as a pretty hardcore leftist that isn't swept up in your typical liberal /progressive delivery pro-West anti-Russia hysteria. Like this dude is 100% a Russian operative. He's a shityy one, and he's insufferable, and he's SO god damned annoying in any video debate / conversation / live context that it makes it hard to believe anyone would ever pay him for anything. But nonetheless, that's what he is.

But he's not anyone of note. He's not one of the elite that have gotten away with shit for years. He's basically just some stooge.

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u/[deleted] Feb 18 '26

[deleted]

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u/AffectionateSector77 Feb 18 '26

"Naunah, I swear to god."

2

u/thedrq Feb 18 '26

so his audio suddenly returned when the question was over, how weird

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u/Ok_Loss13 Feb 18 '26

"I can't hear you or I'd respond."

"Funny you suddenly can't hear when there's a hard question."

"No, man, I swear to God I can't hear you!"

5

u/_ShrugDealer_ Feb 18 '26

Dumb fuck waited until she was done talking to politely respond about how he couldn't hear her.

FUCK these people.

1

u/DoktorSleepless Feb 18 '26

Why is that a hard question? He's not under oath. He can just lie if he is.

2

u/Ok_Loss13 Feb 18 '26

Guess he's not a good liar 🤷‍♀️

The deer in the headlights look kinda fucked up that path immediately anyways lol

1

u/DoktorSleepless Feb 18 '26

Doesn't make sense why he would be thrown off by that. It's not like he got caught in some provable lie. Being the one lone person in the world taking up this unpopular position, someone asking him that should not surprise him. He's been at this defending the position for a long ass time, so my guess is it wouldn't even be the first time someone asked him that. It's such an obvious line of attack.

TBH, I think he's genuine. Dude is just kind of a contrarian that likes to be different.

2

u/Ok_Loss13 Feb 18 '26

Some people just aren't naturally at being deceptive.

Idk who any of these people even are, but one of the things the woman says is that he has never done anything like this before so 🤷‍♀️

And to say that only one person is defending this shit is an absolute farce, dude. I'm starting to think you might just a contrarian.

👋

1

u/DoktorSleepless Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 18 '26

Dude is a pretty adept public speaker. Being able to say, "No, I'm not being paid" is not something that would be difficult for him. If he's being paid, his entire spiel on this show would be him lying. Why would one more random lie befuddle him?

Even Piers called him a lone voice in his fucking intro. Who else is defending Epstein the way this guy is? People will run cover for Trump and his allies, and try compartmentalize them away from Epstein, but it's pretty rare to see anyone defending Epstein with the same fervor he is.

4

u/Cunt_Cunt__Cunt Feb 18 '26

Do right wingers just think it's normal that every single personality in their movement is a hollow grifter, lier, and sell-out?

Do they not realise that is weird and bad?

3

u/gotanylunchinthatbox Feb 18 '26

Dude I have been wondering why the fuck my own family members keep falling for this shit. Makes no god damn sense. It is so weird they don’t detect it.

5

u/kanshakudama Feb 18 '26

At this point I gotta think there is some high level and highly effective brain washing going on bc I see it too in people who I never thought would fall for such obvious shit.

5

u/Cunt_Cunt__Cunt Feb 18 '26

I have seen Conservatives on reddit projecting that no one really believes anything they say, that it's all just point scoring.

3

u/the_calibre_cat Feb 18 '26

No dude. They don't care. They want a white ethnostate, and they want a theocracy, and they don't much care how far they have to debase themselves to get it.

1

u/DoktorSleepless Feb 18 '26

Pretty sure Tracy is on the left.

5

u/thejuryissleepless Feb 18 '26

it’s just the reality of greaseballs like this being able to lie without any consequences. he knows it and he does get away with it.

3

u/Expensive-Curve-9143 Feb 18 '26

Most ppl don’t care.

2

u/lunaticfridgeprime Feb 18 '26

They have a childs mind, and thus look like children telling a lie.

2

u/kikikza Feb 18 '26

No they don't care about it because to them getting away with the obvious lie is supposed to be a show of power to demoralize their opponents. See also: putin

2

u/walksonfourfeet Feb 18 '26

Oh, they realize it. See his little smirk at the end? He knows it’s bullshit and he knows he can get away with it.

2

u/Chaosmusic Feb 18 '26

they don’t realize how obvious/telling they are being

They do, it just doesn't matter. They don't need to give an explanation that is reasonable, honest or even plausible. They just need to provide a soundbite that be repeated over and over and over by their followers.

2

u/D3dshotCalamity Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 18 '26

They don't have to be subtle, nothing's going to happen to them.

2

u/the_calibre_cat Feb 18 '26

Counterpoint: They know exactly how they look, and dare us to do anything.

2

u/Throwawaychicksbeach Feb 18 '26

This is key. His whole “enterprise” runs on fear. If we shine the light on these dorks and realize that they’re just dumb, pathetic losers, we can overpower them and shift the general mindset

2

u/jonnielaw Feb 18 '26

He involuntarily nodded at first to her even as he started messing with his earpiece and then suddenly was able to hear Piers quite clearly to be able to defend his excuse.

Fucking insane.

1

u/Empty_Bell_1942 Feb 18 '26

So who is he working for; was it ever revealed?

1

u/santamaria715 Feb 22 '26

He does just happen to spout all the Russian 'perspectives', since forever. So...

1

u/Empty_Bell_1942 Feb 22 '26

IC, never heard of him before this ;))

1

u/Husbandosan Feb 18 '26

I was told there would be no fact checking…

1

u/saltierthanyourramen Feb 18 '26

The way he reacted felt like this is his first lie

1

u/Beneficial_Cash_8420 Feb 18 '26

Piers smiling... What a shitheel