The Mark Thompson Show

Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link: https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshow Maybe you're more into PayPal. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24 And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

Blatant theft and an act of piracy. That's what Venezuela is calling the actions of the United States in the seizure of an oil tanker. The ship was leaving Venezuela when US Marines and Special Forces dropped down from a helicopter and took the tanker. It's the latest in a string of actions, including blowing up so called "drug boats", escalating a possible confrontation between the US and Venezuela. We'll discuss whether it was piracy or lawful with former federal prosecutor David Katz.

It appears that GOP leaders in Congress are turning away from extending tax credits that would help more than 20 million Americans pay for Affordable Care Act health insurance. They're following President Donald Trump's lead. He told Politico he would not endorse extending subsidies that are set to expire, despite billing himself as the affordability president. So far, Trump's only plan for healthcare is to give people $2k to pay for it without offering details of how that would work. We welcome presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann to discuss this and more. The Mark Thompson Show 12/10/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

The Mark Thompson Show 12/9/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

Members of Congress from both parties are now supporting the release of the video showing the U.S. carrying out a double-tap strike on a speed boat in the Caribbean. The move reportedly killed two survivors of the initial attack that were in distress. With allegations of war crimes being discussed, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is refusing to say whether the Pentagon will be releasing the video, only that, “We're reviewing the process, and we'll see.”We'll visit with iHeart TV and radio political analyst Gary Dietrich and we'll talk politics with author, journalist and scholar. Sarah Kendzior. The Mark Thompson Show 12/8/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com 

Even Republican senators are growing wary of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. From Signalgate to allegations of war crimes in the killing of two people already in distress on an alleged drug boat, Hegseth is getting harder to support. We run though the latest developments on This Week in Politics with Michael Shure & Mo Kelly. A check in with J-L Cauvin to see how his congressional bid is going brings a big announcement. Comedian Mark Malkoff joins to talk about late night television and his new book Love Johnny Carson. We”ve got Friday Fabulous Florida and a look at movies with The Culture Blaster Michael Snyder.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is taking heat from all sides. A growing number of members of Congress, both Democrat and Republican, are vowing to provide special oversight after his the "Kill Them All" order took out two people dangling from the wreckage of a boat off the coast of Venezuela. Whether the boat was being used by fishermen or to run drugs is at question, as is whether the men posed a clear and present danger to the United States. If allegations of war crimes in that case weren't enough, the result of Pentagon's Signalgate review conclude that Hegseth violated military regulations when he used the unsecure chat platform to discuss details of US strikes in Yemen. What are the legal ramifications, if any? We'll ask former federal prosecutor David Katz to weigh in.

The Mark Thompson Show 12/3/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

According to the White House Press Secretary, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized Admiral Frank Bradley to carry out a second strike on a burning drug boat, already hit by one US mortar, in the Caribbean. Two people were hanging off the boat after it was hit the first time and reportedly did not survive the second strike. Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says there is no question the second strike was a war crime. The matter brings to the forefront the question of what constitutes an illegal order and whether Admiral Bradley and those involved in carrying out such killings, have a duty to refuse.We welcome Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston to the show. We'll talk about this and much more.Today, the White House announced Trump Accounts. The investment accounts are said to be away to help young people prepare for the future. Is this the first indicator of privatizing social security? We'll talk to professor Ray Madoff about what these accounts really mean. We'll also discuss her eye-opening new book “The Second Estate: How the Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy.“The Mark Thompson Show 12/2/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

The Mark Thompson Show 12/1/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comSarah Kendzior - HUGE DEAL! On Kindle   ​​If you've been wanting to read Sarah Kendzior's books, there's a cyber Monday deal today only.     https://substack.com/@sarahkendzior/note/c-182963820

New details are emerging about who made the call to send a plane load full of immigrants to El Salvador, in direct conflict of a judge's order.  The Justice Department says it was Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem who made the choice not to comply with federal Judge James Boasberg's order to hold the deportation. Judge Boasberg is looking to revive criminal contempt proceedings against Trump administration officials who authorized the deportation flights.We'll talk about it with political analyst and presidential historian John Rothmann. Bringing an early look at the Thanksgiving weekend movie releases, it's the Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder. The Mark Thompson Show 11/26/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

FBI Director Kash Patel is being called out for mis-using law enforcement. Patel assigned an FBI SWAT team to protect his girlfriend Alexis Wilkins after she faced online threats. The agents didn't live up to Patel's standards for private security. The agents went to the Georgia World Congress Center where Wilkins was speaking and when they found the venue secured and Wilkins in no danger, they left before the event ended. Patel reportedly tore into the team's commander. It wasn't the only time agents were assigned to watch over Wilkins. Should he have paid for her security himself or should taxpayers assume the cost?We will ask Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston for his thoughts. Does Trump really mean what he says? Linguists Michael Fragomeni and Peter Woods try to make sense of the current political situation.Jefferson Graham joins for Tech Tuesday.The Mark Thompson Show 11/25/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

The Mark Thompson Show 11/24/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

Fresh off finger pointing at Democrats for so called violent political rhetoric, President Trump is calling for the hanging of lawmakers who made a video reminding military troops not follow unlawful orders. When asked about the President calling for the deaths of other lawmakers, House Seaker Mike Johnson dropped the word unlawful from the story and agreed that any lawmaker calling for the military not to follow orders should be punished. We'll discuss. We've got Michael Shure & Mo Kelly for This Week in Politics. A little Florida news is always a Friday bright spot. Plus, The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, is here with movies and streaming options for the chilly weekend ahead. The Mark Thompson Show Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link: https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshow Maybe you're more into PayPal. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24 And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

The Trump Administration has 30 days to release the Epstein Files after Trump signed a bill requiring the information to be made public. There are some concerns that, at the urging of Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi opened investigations into any Democrats connected to Epstein in an effort to keep a lid on many documents. We will ask legal expert David Katz for his take. He is a former federal prosecutor and now a defense attorney in Southern California. He'll talk about the Epstein Files, the Comey Case and much more.

The Mark Thompson Show11/19/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

Trump's new strategy to climb aboard the “Release the Epstein Files” bandwagon is already falling apart. As the ranking member on the House oversight committee, Robert Garcia reminds usTrump “has tried everything to kill our Jeffrey Epstein investigation”… “Now [Trump's] panickingi and has realized he is about to lose this Epstein vote to force the Department of Justice to release the files, Let's be crystal clear: Trump has the power to release all the files today,” ... “But instead, he wants to continue this cover-up and launch bogus new investigations to deflect and slow down our investigation. It won't work. We will get justice for the survivors.”We'll examine this with Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston. There's a big event coming up on November 22nd in Washington, D.C. .Jessica Denson will stop by to share details about the Remove the Regime rally. You can also check details here: removetheregime.comIt's Tech Tuesday and Jefferson Graham will be along  to talk Apple & gadetry. The Mark Thompson Show 11/18/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshoe.com

Trump is coming to grips with the fact that lawmakers trying to release the Epstein Files have enough votes in the House to make it possible. After fighting to keep the information about Epstein away from public scrutiny, Trump is now reversing course, writing on social media:“We have nothing to hide, and it's time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party,” Why would Trump change his mind? Did he remember his campaign promise to release the files? Did his people remove any trace of his name? Is there some kind of trick where they release some but not all of the files? Or is it as he says? We will ask author and journalist Sarah Kendzior for her thoughts. Gary Dietrich, iHeart TV and radio political analyst, will swing by to talk politics. Oh, and Mark is back!

Trump & his White House team were already having a bad week with indications from the Supreme Court that the president‘s tariffs might not pass muster with justices. Trump has to contend with a public increasingly frustrated over the unaffordability of everything from food to housing. Add the Epstein emails to the mix, a mad dash to try to convince Congresswoman Lauren Boebert and other Republicans not to support releasing the Epstein files and you have White House staffers flailing. They have tried the age old tactic of blaming the media, blaming Democrats and calling the Epstein matter a hoax. With a vote to release the files set for the house next week, it doesn't seem like any of this will be dying down. Mo Kelly returns to the mic for Mark. He welcomes journalist Michael Shure to talk about the top political stories of the week. We'll stop in Florida to check in on the wild goings on before turning to the best entertainment the weekend has to offer with The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder.

There's panic at the White House now that Congress is back in session and the likelihood of a vote to release the Epstein files is high. The White House confirmed a meeting in the Situation Room between top Trump administration officials and a GOP lawmaker. Reports indicate Trump's staffers are trying to sway Representative Lauren Boebert not to vote to release the files. She confirmed she had a White House meeting and that the Epstein issue did come up. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the confirmation of the meeting shows the administration is being transparent, but if they're really being transparent, why don't they just release the files? Mo Kelley, who sits in for Mark today, will explore. Former federal prosecutor, now defense attorney, David Katz will swing by to talk about key legal cases including Trump's effort to get the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn his civil verdict in the E. Jean Carroll sex assault/defamation case. And it's a cavalcade of legal experts as Ryan Clarkson enters the conversation to talk about holding big tech accountable when it comes to kids and AI.

The House is set to vote today on a bill that would end the government shutdown. Top House Democrats are promising to stand in opposition saying it's just a partisan spending bill that does nothing to lower healthcare costs. Plus, Senators that broke party lines to make a deal got sneaky with a jaw dropping provision that compensates a few Senators that seem to have concerns that their phones were under government surveillance.We'll explain. Presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann will be in to talk politics with Mo 'Kelly.Wednesday means the push to save the planet is on. Eco-journalist Belinda Waymouth will join for “It's the Planet, Stupid!“The Mark Thompson Show 11/12/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

Healthcare premiums for many Americans are about to shoot through the roof, with little hope of Congressional intervention. For those hoping to get a piece of the American dream, house prices are so high, the only way some buyers will be able to get a loan is to promise to pay well into old age.  Trump is advocating a new 50-Year Mortgage that would have buyers sign their lives away. We'll check in with Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston to get his thoughts. Tech Tuesday brings Jefferson Graham to the show. The Mark Thompson Show 11/11/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

Accused of trying to overturn the U.S. Presidential election in 2020? No worries. Trump is issuing pardons across the board for more than 75 co-defendants charged in connection with an election scheme in Georgia, including Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Boris Epshteyn, John Eastman and Mark Meadows. Cheating Americans out of having a voice appears to be totally forgivable. The Senate is taking action to move a deal forward that would end the longest US government shutdown in history. A small group of Senators from both parties involved in the talks managed to hammer out a compromise bill that rescinds the layoffs of some federal employees, but notably leaves out healthcare subsidies that were the point of the shutdown in the first place. Several House Democrats have already announced their opposition. Mo 'Kelly returns to sit in for Mark. He'll speak with iHeart TV & radio analyst Gary Dietrich about the particulars of this new Senate deal to end the shutdown and more.The Mark Thompson Show 11/10/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

The Supreme Court heard arguments on President Trump's claim of unilateral power to impose tariffs and the justices comments and questions seemed to have an air of skepticism. Justices expressed doubt about Trump's claim that he has tariff powers under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act. We'll talk about it with political journalist Michael Shure on This Week in Politics Mo, in for Mark today, will get a crash course in Friday Fabulous Florida and The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder will bring on the movies!

The Mark Thompson Show 11/6/25

Democrats rose to the top in yesterday's election and Donald Trump is taking it personally. From California voters overwhelming support of Prop 50, meant to directly counteract Trump's gerrymandering actions in red states, to New York's Mayoral race and the Governorships of New Jersey and Virginia, America sent a message to Trump. He responded on social media:  “‘TRUMP WASN'T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,' according to Pollsters,” In just about every victory speech last night, Democrats threw shade at Trump.  We'll roll the video and then discuss. Presidential Historian John Rothmann will stop by. David Sirota, of The Lever, will also swing through to talk politics. We'll follow all that up by saving the planet with our eco- journalist Belinda Waymouth.  The Mark Thompson Show 11/5/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

The U.S. Housing Regulator, scouring records looking for dirt on Trump's enemies, is now being fully unleashed. That's because Joe Allen, FHFA's acting inspector general, the internal watchdog for the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency was fired. We'll discuss it with Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay JohnstonAuthor Ruth Carlson will stop by to talk about SF and her next big event. Jefferson Graham returns from his travels with Tech Tuesday. The Mark Thompson Show 11/4/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

Today, the Trump administration is facing a noon deadline to let a federal judge know what it plans to do to comply with a court order requiring the Agriculture Department to disperse SNAP payments to the nation's poor. The benefit payments dried up November 1st because of the government shutdown. The legal cases over Trump's refusal to use contingency funds to make SNAP payments are mounting. Last week, Democratic leaders from 25 states joined to file a lawsuit against the Agriculture Department. CBS iHeart Television & Radio Political Analyst Gary Dietrich will swing by to discuss this and more.  Michael Hiltzik will stop through to talk politics and crypto. Karen Dawn will bring her love of animals to the show. The Mark Thompson Show 11/3/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

Our favorite Britisher, Anthony Davis, will stop by to talk politics. Will ask him about the man formally known as Prince Andrew being stripped of his title and his house. “This Week in Politics” brings Mo ‘Kelly by the show to talk about the shutdown, the takeovers and word that ICE is keeping people they've detained in secret rooms. We'll take a virtual trip to Florida and check out entertainment options for the Halloween weekend ahead.

The United States hasn't tested nuclear weapons since 1992, but President Trump may be changing that. He is ordering Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his “Department of War” to “immediately” start testing nuclear weapons "on an equal basis" with other nations. He is specifically trying to compete with Russia and China, but it has also been decades since those countries tested nuclear weapons. It's unclear if that means America will wait for any nuclear action before launching tests or not. Trump announced the move on Truth Social ahead of his meeting today with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea in what may have been an attempt to appear powerful. Court decisions on the matter of Trump sending National Guard troops into Portland and Chicago are pending. We will check in with former federal prosecutor and now defense attorney David Katz to get his thoughts.

With the constitutionality of Trump imposing tariffs without the backing of Congress headed to the Supreme Court, legislators finally seem to be taking the matter back into their own hands. Five Senate Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the president's use of emergency powers to impose 50% tariffs on Brazil. Republican Senators Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell, Thom Tillis, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joined Democrats in giving Senate approval but the House will not consider the matter until early next year.We'll talk about it with our political analyst and presidential historian John Rothmann.Dr. Jennifer Conrad stops by to talk about the challenges she faced working to ban cat declawing in California.It's been a pretty big week for the environment. The world missed a major greenhouse gas emission target. Our Eco-journalist, Belinda Waymouth, will explain.The Mark Thompson Show 10/29/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

With the government shutdown in its fourth week and the fight over extending Affordable Care Act subsidies nowhere near over, the federal workers union is now calling for Democrats to abandon the effort. The American Federation of Government Employees wants Congress to pass a “clean” stopgap funding bill now so their workers can get paid, but others in favor of health care subsidies say holding out a little longer is key. That's because next week,  Republicans may also feel pressure as Americans insured via the Affordable Care Act will see wildly higher costs.We'll talk about it with Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston.AI expert and entrepreneur Rahul Powar will stop through to talk about the benefits and the risks of artificial intelligence.Emergency physician, Dr. Michael Daignault, considers Trump's recent admission that he needed both an MRI and a cognitive test. Plus, it's vaccine season and our Dr. Daignault has some great information. The Mark Thompson Show 10/28/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

The Mark Thompson Show 10/27/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

Trump is losing his mind over an advertisement featuring the real voice of Ronald Reagan, not AI, that obliterates Trump's tariff policy. Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario, is among those behind the ad. He says “We're going to repeat that message to every Republican district there is right across the entire country.”  It's a one minute video with excerpts from a radio address by Reagan warning of the long-term economic issues brought on by tariffs on foreign imports sold to Americans. Trump seems to understand that it makes him look incredibly foolish and he's lashing out bigly, blasting Canada in a social media tirade:“They only did this to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts. TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”We'll talk about it with Mo Kelly on This Week in Politics. Albert put together quite the Friday Fabulous Florida offerings and “The Culture Blaster” Michael Snyder will set us straight on good entertainment for the weekend ahead. The Mark Thompson Show 10/24/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

Is America headed for war with Venezuela? On The Mark Thompson Show, we've been following the strikes against what the Trump Administration claims are "narco-boats" carrying drugs to the US and other countries. Though no proof has been offered in support of that, America continues to blast small boats off the coast of Venezuela to smithereens. So far, the US has blown up at least seven such boats, killing dozens of people. Trump is declaring an “armed conflict” with drug trafficking groups he has deemed international terrorists. He is also positioning dozens of warships, planes and thousands of U.S. troops in the Caribbean Sea. He admitted authorizing CIA covert operations in Venezuela. In addition, Trump is escalating tensions with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, saying he was illegitimately elected and is leading a narcotics cartel. Trump says he is ready to go further than blowing up boats: “we're going to stop them by land." All of this is raising concerns that the US could be marching toward war with Venezuela. With Trump poised to send National Guard troops into Portland and Chicago and threatening to do so in San Francisco, we will look at the court decisions preventing him from making such moves, for now. Former federal prosecutor and now defense attorney David Katz will explain. Nathan Taylor from Election Truth Alliance will stop in to update us on his work to shine a light on data he claims indicates possible trouble with the results of the 2024 election of President Trump.

230-Million dollars.  That's how much Trump wants to be compensated from the Department of Justice for criminally investigating him.  Trump says he's owed damages for the alleged Russian interference investigation in the 2016 Presidential election and for the FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago home related to the handling of classified documents. Trump says whatever money he gets he'll give to charity (Ballroom fund perhaps?)  Whatever number he wants, he will probably get because Trump and those in his administration trying to stay in his good graces will be responsible for approving a payout.John Rothmann, our presidential historian and political analyst is traveling but may be able to join us depending on his Internet coverage.  Get ready to save the world because "It's the Planet, Stupid!" with Belinda Waymouth is on the way.  The Mark Thompson Show 10/22/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

More lies from the Trump White House.  Trump said work to add an opulent 90-thousand square foot ballroom would not interfere with the historic East Wing, but video evidence shows backhoes tearing a chunk of the building apart to make way for the entrance to the ballroom.  Initially, Trump said...     “It won't interfere with the current building. It won't be. It'll be near it but not      touching it — and pays total respect to the existing building, which I'm the      biggest fan of“..."It's my favorite. It's my favorite place. I love it."A US appeals court could reconsider the ruling allowing Trump to move forward with Portland National Guard troop deployment.  The panel lifted the hold on the deployment yesterday but now a judge is requesting a vote on whether the case should be reheard.We'll ask the brilliant David Cay Johnston about all if it.  The Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist joins in the second hour. The Mark Thompson Show 10/21/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

The Mark Thompson Show 10/20/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Trump and his administration will be using the IRS to go after the left. The report indicates that Trump is “overhauling the Internal Revenue Service's crime investigation unit to better target left-leaning groups and donors.” It comes on the heels of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threating to go after dissenting political groups, calling the murder of Charlie Kirk a domestic 9/11. He intends to use the Treasury Department to track political opponents like Treasury followed terrorist financial networks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Economics expert Dr. Bill Black will join the show to discuss the weaponization of the IRS and the pending case in front of the US Supreme Court regarding Trump's tariffs. “This Week in Politics” brings political analysts Michael Shure and Mo Kelly to the show to highlight and discuss key stories. We'll drive past Florida and look out the window to see what our southern friends have been up to. The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, will wrap up the show with a look at all the entertainment options you could ever want for the weekend, including sports, art, streaming and movies. Happy Friday!

In a show of what is supposed to be amphibious strength, the military is set to hold an event in California called “From Sea to Shore.“ It includes the possibility of live missiles being fired from Navy ships from toward Southern California. The military had planned to close stretches of Interstate-5 over the weekend between Los Angeles and San Diego, but now says the road will stay open. Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are expected to attend the celebration of the Marine Corps 250th anniversary. Democrats have a new demand when it comes to reopening the federal government. According to Politico, in addition to extending health insurance subsidies set to expire and an end to Trump's efforts to cancel congressionally approved spending, Democrats now want to protect federal workers from being fired during the shutdown. They're looking for a committment from Republicans that workers caught up in Trump's reductions-in-force will be rehired immediately. Author, journalist and scholar Sarah Kendzior will join us. We will look at Trump's efforts to send the National Guard into certain American cities and the long term implications. From the Voting Rights Act to Trump‘s Tariffs, the US Supreme Court is poised to make some critical decisions. Former federal prosecutor and now defense attorney David Katz weighs in. SF Fall Show: https://sffallshow.org/

The Mark Thompson Show 10/15/25 Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link: https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshow Maybe you're more into PayPal. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24 And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

We know that serious discussions are underway in the White House about possibility of Trump invoking the IInsurrection Act. If it happened this weekend, Pulitzer Prize winning author and journalist David Cay Johnston, who joins us today, says it could run up against the “No Kings” protests. Because of the shutdown, federal court are expected to run out of money by Friday. If courts close, demonstrators who get arrested might be stuck with little recourse. We'll explore the possibilities. We will check in with Mo Kelly, talk a little politics and welcome him into the Mark Thompson Show fold as a regular contributor.

Trump is in Egypt for a global summit on the future of Gaza's. It's part of an effort to be present for a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hamas. Of the ceasefire, Trump said: “Everybody said it's not possible to do. And it's going to happen. And it is happening before your very eyes.” We'll talk about it with iHeart tv and radio political analyst Gary Dietrich.

600 National Guard troops from Texas are in Illinois preparing to be sent out into the streets, but they will have to wait. Yesterday, a judge put a two week block on National Guard Deployment In Illinois, finding no substantial evidence of any “danger of rebellion.” The judge called the deployment unconstitutional saying Trump's move violated the 10th Amendment, granting certain powers to states, and the 14th Amendment, assuring due process and equal protection. Trump‘s National Guard deployment to Portland, Oregon is also on hold pending a legal case.  With his hands tied by courts, there is a word Trump is seriously considering invoking the Insurrection Act which would allow him to side step legal efforts to stop him from turning the military against American citizens.It is going to be a great Friday show. We welcome journalist Michael Shure to talk politics. We will hear from Sheriff Grady Judd, in Friday Fabulous Florida and the Culture Blaster Michael Snyder has a great list of movies and streaming options to review. Happy Friday!The Mark Thompson Show 10/10/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com 

Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link: https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshow Maybe you're more into PayPal. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24 And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

Across America, flight cancelations and delays are affecting travel because of Trump's government shutdown. Air Traffic Controllers will not get paid if the shutdown continues much longer. The Department of Transportation reports an increase in air traffic controllers calling in sick since the shutdown started, though their union denies any coordinated work actions. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association says this highlights the ongoing issues of being critically staffed with unreliable equipment. Hundreds of Texas National Guard troops arrived in Illinois yesterday. Their presence heightens the showdown between Donald Trump and Illinois governor JB Pritzker, who says he neither needs nor wants National Guard intervention in his state. We welcome presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann into the show to discuss. Belinda Waymouth is back with “It's the Planet, Stupid!” and this time she's brought a guest. Tom Ford with The Bay Foundation will join to talk about a conservation project to strengthen critical kelp forests that have been shrinking with alarming speed off the California coast.

The Mark Thompson Show 10/7/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

A federal judge is temporarily putting a hold on Trump's plans to deploy any National Guard units, including troops from California and Texas, to Oregon.  U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, appointed during Trump's first term, granted the temporary restraining order. Her first order on Saturday prevented Oregon National Guard troops from descending on Portland.  She was not having any end runs around her order on Sunday either, telling Trump's team, "How could bringing in federalized National Guard from California not be in direct contravention of the TRO I issued yesterday?” Meanwhile, Trump is sending Texas National Guard troops to Illinois.  Governor JB Pritzker issued a statement reading:“We must now start calling this what it is: Trump's Invasion. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state's military troops. ​I call on Governor Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate. There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation. ​ “The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness."We will talk about it with iHeart TV and radio political analyst Gary Dietrich.  Karen Dawn, of Dawn Watch, will stop by to talk about animals.  The Mark Thompson Show 10/6/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com

Trump's right hand shutdown man is Office of Management of Budge Director and Project 2025 orchestrator Russ Vought. He is reportedly delighted by the opportunity to slash and burn more government jobs. It was also Vought's grand plan to use the start of the shutdown to retaliate against Democrats by putting a hold on federal funding for major infrastructure projects in states like New York and Chicago. We will talk about that and more with political journalist Michael Shure. He stops by for 'This Week in Politics.' The Culture Blaster Michael Snyder has watched all the movies and seen all the shows and now he's ready to make his feelings known. Add Friday Fabulous Florida to the mix and it's a perfect start to the weekend.

Sure seems like Qatar just got an offer of US protection in exchange for a $400 million luxury jet. Trump announced the gift of the new Air Force One a few weeks ago and he said there were no strings attached. Now we know he granted the oil-rich country a NATO-like defense guarantee. If Qatar gets attacked, the US will respond. It's like mafia rules on the world stage. Trump's order says: “The United States shall regard any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure of the State of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States.” In other words, Qatar showed respect and paid for protection. It looks like they‘re family now. We'll discuss it with award-winning author, journalist, and scholar Sarah Kendzior. We will check in on the Supreme Court, from birthright citizenship to who Trump can and cannot fire. Former federal prosecutor and now defense attorney, David Katz joins.

Federal workers are getting hit again. After a mass layoff earlier this year as part of Trump's DOGE, now Trump is threatening another mass layoff because of a government shut down. It officially started at midnight after Democrats fought for healthcare funding, refusing to support the Republican plan to extend monies for federal departments. Of course, it's already getting ugly with the Trump administration using the websites for federal agencies to blame Democrats for the closure. We'll talk about all of it with presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann Eco-journalist Belinda Waymouth is out and about seeing the world. She sent us an amazing video with waterfalls and Beaver dam's that we are looking forward to sharing with you.. The Mark Thompson Show 10/1/25