In a bold move that blurred the lines of cable news debate, progressive radio host Stephanie Miller celebrated a recent televised confrontation by popping champagne, detailing the event in a candid Friday interview on The Jim Acosta Show. Miller's appearance on Fox News' Hannity on Wednesday became a masterclass in redirecting political discourse, focusing squarely on the newly released Jeffrey Epstein emails and their connection to former President Donald Trump.
A Champagne Celebration for a Political Victory
Stephanie Miller did not hold back her exhilaration during her conversation with Jim Acosta. "I'm having a little champagne because, you know, it's Friday and, you know, it's not every week that you kick Sean Hannity's ass, Jim," Miller declared. She expressed astonishment that Fox News would invite her on the program amidst the breaking news about the "Epstein bombshell emails," questioning the network's judgement.
Seizing the Narrative on National Television
The confrontation unfolded when Sean Hannity, expecting to discuss President Joe Biden's cognitive state, was immediately met with Miller's strategic pivot. When asked about Biden, Miller swiftly noted that the "great" thing about that line of questioning was "that Trump is all over the Epstein files." She repeatedly emphasized the contents of a explosive 2019 email in which the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein stated that Donald Trump "knew about the girls" he abused.
Jim Acosta expressed both delight and confusion over the incident, pondering why Fox News would invite a progressive pundit and not anticipate her bringing up the network's limited coverage of Trump's connections to Epstein. Miller confirmed that the premise of the interview was even "more ridiculous" than a discussion about Biden, revealing the catalyst was a social media firestorm.
The Photo That Triggered a Conservative Backlash
Miller explained that the entire event was set in motion by a "funny joke photo" she posted the previous Sunday. The image showed her kissing the feet of Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Georgia, after they canvassed together. This image, she told Acosta, caused outlets like the New York Post, Daily Caller, and Fox News to lose their composure. "MAGA lost their shit," Miller stated. "I don't know if you saw. Twitter exploded."
She believes the visceral reaction from some conservatives was due to seeing a "white liberal lady" kissing "Black lady feet." This controversy led to an invitation on Hannity's radio show, which she described as a setup where she was "supposed to be the liberal punching bag." The televised segment was a retread of that dynamic, which Miller ultimately flipped on its head.
During the Fox News interview, Miller spent much of her time laughing off Hannity's questions about the foot-kissing photo. When Hannity admitted he did "not really" plan to discuss the Epstein emails, Miller fired back with a pointed question: "Is this what passes for news on Fox News?" Her ability to control the interview's focus and force a discussion about a topic the network often sidesteps marked a significant and, for her, celebratory moment in political media.
