The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell - Aug. 22 | Audio Only

Legal & Political Analysis - The report highlights potential political retribution by the Trump administration, evidenced by the FBI search of John Bolton's home and office shortly before the release of Epstein files [1][13][14] - The report suggests an attempt to distract from the Epstein files release, with the Justice Department releasing audio transcripts of an interview with Ghislaine Maxwell [1][12][14] - The report raises concerns about the impartiality of Todd Blanch's interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, suggesting it was aimed at exonerating Donald Trump rather than seeking truth [11][12][17] - The report mentions a resolution opposing clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell, indicating a political stance against pardoning her [12] Epstein Case & Maxwell Interview - The report emphasizes Ghislaine Maxwell's conviction as a sex trafficker and her attempts to downplay her involvement and Donald Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein [1][8][10] - The report questions the credibility of Ghislaine Maxwell's statements, highlighting contradictions and potential lies during her interview [2][12][15] - The report points out that Ghislaine Maxwell was transferred to a lower security prison camp after the interview, raising suspicions [11][19] Economic Analysis - The report discusses the Federal Reserve's potential interest rate cut in September, influenced by concerns about the softening labor market and the impact of tariffs [24][27][28] - The report notes that tariffs are causing prices to rise, with Goldman Sachs estimating that 70% of tariffs will be passed on to consumers by October or November [32][33] - The report suggests that the middle class's strained budgets may limit their ability to absorb higher prices, impacting the effectiveness of passing on tariff costs [33] Other - The report mentions the US government taking a 10% stake in chipmaker Intel, indicating government intervention in corporate America [24]