15 Hours with a Monster: What's on The Bannon-Epstein Tapes

Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon's secret recordings with the infamous sex trafficker have everyone asking the same thing: What explosive secrets are on them?

Just when you thought the Jeffrey Epstein saga couldn't get any stranger, a new bombshell has dropped. It turns out that Steve Bannon, a key figure in the Trump administration, spent over 15 hours recording interviews with Epstein himself, right before the financier's death in 2019.

Yes, you read that right. Fifteen hours of conversation with one of the most notorious figures of our time.

The story first surfaced in Michael Wolff’s book, "Too Famous," which claimed Bannon was hired to media-train Epstein for a comeback tour. Bannon, for his part, tells a completely different story. He insists he wasn't coaching Epstein, but was actually filming a multi-part documentary to expose his "perversions and depravity."

Documentary or damage control? Either way, these tapes are now a massive deal. They could be a treasure trove of information about Epstein, his twisted world, and the powerful people involved.

What do we know is on the Bannon-Epstein tapes?

As of right now, no one outside of Bannon's immediate circle has actually seen or heard the full 15-hour tapes. So far we only have a short snippet:

However, based on the conflicting accounts from the people involved and reports from insiders, we have a pretty good idea of the topics covered and the two very different ways the information might be presented.

Here’s the bottom line on what we know is likely on those 15 hours of recordings:

The Two Competing Versions

Everything we think we know is colored by why the tapes were made, and there are two polar-opposite stories:

1. Bannon's Version (The "Takedown Documentary"): Steve Bannon claims he was interviewing Epstein for a documentary he was calling "The Monster." If this is true, the tapes would feature Bannon in an adversarial role, grilling Epstein on his crimes, his methods, and his powerful associates. The tone would be confrontational, with Bannon trying to get a confession or expose Epstein's manipulative nature.

2. Michael Wolff's Version (The "Comeback Rehearsal"): Wolff, who broke the story, claims Bannon was hired as a media consultant to help Epstein prepare for a public comeback, starting with a "60 Minutes" interview. If this is true, the tapes are the complete opposite. They would feature a collaborative Epstein workshopping his story, spinning his crimes, and trying to craft a sympathetic narrative with Bannon's help.

Possible Topics Covered on the Tapes

Regardless of which version is true, Epstein was undoubtedly talking. Based on what we know about him and the key players, the interviews almost certainly cover:

• Epstein's Side of the Story: This is the big one. We'd hear Epstein, in his own words, explain his life, his wealth, and his fall from grace. It would be a masterclass in manipulation, narcissism, and a complete lack of remorse.

• The Powerful "Friends": While it's unlikely he read names from his black book, he would have certainly discussed his relationships with figures like Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and others. The real value would be hearing his personal perspective on these connections.

• The Trump Relationship & The Mar-a-Lago Ban: This is a key point of contention. The tapes could contain Epstein's version of why he was kicked out of Mar-a-Lago. Did he feel betrayed by Trump? Did he see it as a misunderstanding? His side of that story could either validate or completely destroy Trump's narrative.

• His Bizarre Philosophies: Epstein was famously obsessed with transhumanism, science, and eugenics. The tapes are said to contain long, rambling monologues about his strange worldview, giving a chilling insight into his mind.

But for now it seems we only have insider accounts, speculation and a short promo.