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The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle

FCC a pattern here? Colbert bashes CBS for pulling candidate interview

The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle

MS NOW, Stephanie Ruhle

Politics, Washington, Congress, News, Ms Now, President, Versant Media, Policy, Msnbc, Versant, Government, Senate

4.43.6K Ratings

🗓️ 18 February 2026

⏱️ 43 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Stephen Colbert called out CBS for bowing to FCC pressure and pulling an interview with a Democratic lawmaker. Meanwhile, Congress is set to depose the former CEO of Victoria's Secret over his ties to Epstein. Then, major price hikes are on the way, as companies big and small blame high tariffs. Plus, Meta’s Zuckerberg is set to take the stand in a landmark trial looking to hold big tech accountable for harming kids. Jeff Mason, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Sam Stein, Brendan Greeley, Jeff Horwitz, Natasha Sarin, and Jon Meacham join The 11th Hour this Tuesday night.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Tonight, Congress is set to depose the former CEO of Victoria's Secret over his close ties to Jeffrey Epstein as New Mexico's lawmakers launch a full investigation into what happened at Epstein's notorious rant.

0:15.0

Then, major price hikes are on the way, and companies big and small say it's because of high tariffs.

0:31.6

Plus, Meadows Mark Zuckerberg is set to take the stand in a landmark trial that looks to hold big tech accountable for harming kids as the 11th hour gets underway on this Tuesday night.

0:44.0

Good evening once again. I am Stephanie Ruhl and check your calendar because we are now 258 days away from the midterms. And while that might sound like a ways off, early voting for

0:50.9

primaries is now open in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas.

0:54.7

And those primaries are just two weeks from today.

0:57.5

But we begin this evening with Jeffrey Epstein and the consequences facing people connected with him.

1:02.5

Tomorrow lawmakers will depose billionaire Les Wexner, Epstein's former very close confidant and client.

1:09.4

Wexner's massive company operated chains like Express,

1:12.6

limited, Victoria's Secret, and Bath & Body Works. An FBI document named Wexter as co-conspirator,

1:18.7

but his attorneys say they weren't told he was one and he has never been charged with a crime.

1:24.4

Wexner is just one of the very wealthy and powerful people tangled up in the

1:28.2

aftermath of the newly released Epstein files. We have already seen foreign politicians resign

1:33.2

or face criminal charges, and powerful attorneys and business people here in the states have been

1:38.4

forced to step down or sell their companies. And they are not even accused of being involved with

1:43.4

Epstein's heinous crimes.

1:45.0

Just this week, Thomas Pritzker retired as executive chairman at Hyatt Hotels. Files showed Pritzker

1:50.7

was regularly in touch with Epstein after his 2008 plea deal on sex crime charges.

1:56.8

And the search for more answers in the Epstein case could soon have a new front line, New Mexico.

2:02.5

Lawmakers there have approved what they call the first full investigation into Zorro Ranch.

2:08.2

That's the 7600-acre property where Epstein is accused of trafficking and sexually assaulting girls and women.

2:15.1

That committee, which has subpoena power, started its work today.

...

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