The Mark Thompson Show

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

It cost an awful lot of money to drag every single general and admiral to Quantico, Virginia for a glorified pep rally that probably would have been better as an email. Pete Hegseth opened with, “Welcome to the Department of War.” He talked about training and grooming standards and decried “fat generals.” Trump then took the stage and talked about how successful it's been to have the National Guard in some American cities before going on another strange rambling rant. When Google, which owns YouTube, banned Donald Trump from its platform after the January 6th insurrection of 2021, it did so because Trump was fomenting the very violence he now accuses the left of. YouTube said Trump's ban was “in light of concerns about the ongoing potential for violence.” Trump sued over the ban and now Google is settling. They will pay more than $24 million to a nonprofit set up to build the White House ballroom. The venue, which is set to be bigger than the footprint of the White House, will be opulent and dripping with gold touches and chandeliers. Meanwhile, Trump has cut Meals on Wheels programs for seniors who have trouble getting food, food stamps for the hungry and Medicaid services for the poor. It brings to mind French royalty's complete out of touch failure to help those struggling, “Let them eat cake!” Trump had a major cognitive incident while talking to reporters. When asked if he would be attending a massive upcoming military meeting, he didn't understand the question - despite it being clarified three times. Finally, Vice President JD Vance had to step in to answer. It made Trump look old and incompetent and begs the question …Is Trump even capable of being in charge? Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston will discuss. Mark shares a conversation with Paul Glastris, of the Washington Monthy. In addition to his work as a journalist, Glastris was President Bill Clinton's chief speechwriter from September 1998 to the end of his presidency. It's Tech Tuesday! Jefferson Graham will swing by to wrap up the show. The Mark Thompson Show 9/30/25 Today's Guests Links Paul Glastris - Washington Monthly https://www.youtube.com/@washingtonmonthly9554 https://washingtonmonthly.com/ Prof. David Cay Johnston at RIT, Pulitzer Prize winning Author & Investigative Journalist https://bsky.app/profile/davidcayjohnston.bsky.social Jefferson Graham https://www.youtube.com/@PhotowalksTVPatreon 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

Free Speech is in peril. A terrifying presidential memo linking words to violence seems to be an effort to stamp out any kind of dissent. The memo links the recent “political” violence (only listing GOP related incidents) to “a culmination of sophisticated, organized campaigns of targeted intimidation, radicalization, threats, and violence.” The memo says these “organized campaigns” are “designed to silence opposing speech, limit political activity, change or direct policy outcomes, and prevent the functioning of a democratic society,” and defeating them requires the government to adopt “a national strategy to investigate and disrupt networks, entities, and organizations that foment political violence.”Legal experts say the memo could target people for saying things Trump doesn't like...according to the memo anyone who foments “anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity; support for the overthrow of the United States Government; extremism on migration, race, and gender; and hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality,” is subject to suspicion.We'll talk about it with legal expert Liz Oyer.  She's a former US Pardon attorney with a unique perspective on Trump's approach to the US Constitution. iHeart TV and Radio Political Analyst Gary Dietrich will stop by to talk about the possibility of a government shutdown and what may lie ahead for California Governor Gavin Newsom. The Mark Thompson Show 9/29/25Patreon 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

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

It's a brutal time to be a federal worker. On the heels of mass federal layoffs, another round looms. Project 2025 orchestrator and now leader of the White House budget office, Russel Vought, is telling federal agencies to ready reduction-in-force plans for mass firings in the event of a government shutdown. These would not be furloughs but permanent firings. He is specifically targeting employees attached to programs that are not legally required to continue and don't align with Trump's priorities. We are very excited to welcome our newest, regular guest, author, Sarah Kendzior, to discuss this and more. Former Federal Prosecutor David Katz offers legal analysis on possible action against the U.S. from the maker of Tylenol and AG Pam Bondi being told to investigate Trump's adversaries right now or else.

Jimmy Kimmel came back to raucous applause last night, showing heart, empathy and humor. At some points, his voice cracked with emotion as he talked about political violence never being the answer, about Erika Kirk forgiving her husband's killer and about everyone who offered support over the last few days as he fought to keep his show alive. His strongest moments may have been those talking about freedom of speech in America. Despite everything, Kimmel showed an unwillingness to back down in the face of pressure from Trump and his FCC. Kimmel's grace and strength seemed to bring out the worst in Trump who posted a litany of nasty remarks about Kimmel followed by big legal threats against ABC. We'll talk about this and more with presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann The brilliant Thom Hartmann, author and progressive host, joins Mark for a conversation you won't want to miss. https://ideas.bkconnection.com/en/the-last-american-president-thom-hartmann Plus, eco-journalist, Belinda Waymouth checks in from Colorado. 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

President Trump is doing the very thing he accused President Biden of doing: weaponizing the Department of justice. There is no illusion of pulling strings behind the scenes either. Trump's demands that the DOJ prosecute his political enemies are blatant and public. Over the weekend, Trump posted on social media that he wanted to see justice served up in the form of criminal investigations into people like Senator Adam Schiff from California, New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey, writing that, "We can't delay any longer, it's killing our reputation and credibility." We will run it past our resident Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist, author David Cay JohnstonJacob Ward will swing by the show. He is a former reporter for CNN, NBC and Al Jazeera. Jacob currently hosts The Rip Current. It is Tech Tuesday and Jefferson Graham is in town this week. He'll stop by to tell us what he has learned about the new iPhones and whether it's worth upgrading..The Mark Thompson Show 9/23/25Patreon 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

At the weekend memorial to remember Charlie Kirk, President Trump pointed out their differences saying that while Kirk didn't hate his enemies or want bad things to happen to them, Trump does hate his enemies and wants bad things to happen to them. The eulogy quickly shifted into a Trump rally instead of the somber celebration of life it was intended to be. We'll talk about it with iHeart television and radio political analyst Gary Dietrich.Our favorite Astronomy Professor, Andrew Fraknoi, will drop by to talk about the latest findings on Mars and the possibility of habitable planets.HiThe Mark Thompson Show 9/22/25Patreon 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

It's a wild ride in the United States with cancellations, firings and censorship becoming hallmarks of the Trump administration. On the heels of holding FCC approval hostage unless late night host Jimmy Kimmel was silenced, Trump is threatening to pull licenses for any network that gives him bad publicity. Will major news agencies be able to function without the ability to tell the truth, whether it makes the president look good or bad? We will talk about it with journalists Michael sure and Jim Avila as we look at “This Week in Politics.” A CDC advisory panel is recommending restricting access to the MMRV vaccine. We'll talk about it with Dr. Rob Davidson. He is an emergency physician and Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Healthcare. You can also find him hosting the Paging America podcast. Everyone in the camper, we're headed to Florida for some much-needed levity. For a fabulous Florida never disappoints. Then it's off to the movies with The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder.

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

Trump is in the UK for a state visit and today, he's expected to be at Windsor Castle. Last night, Windsor Castle was really the place to be as activists projected massive images of Trump and his best friend Jeffrey Epstein. The images on a prominent castle tower flashed from Trump and Epstein along with first lady Melania Trump to Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell to the picture of Trump's creepy birthday message to Epstein and more. Four people were arrested for the dramatically effective stunt...but the effort continues today. A truck is cruising the town of Windsor displaying massive screens with pictures of Trump and Epstein and the message "Welcome to the UK, Donald." We welcome presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann to the show to talk politics. "It's the Planet, Stupid!" goes on location! Our eco-journalist, Belinda Waymouth, visits an energy conference and finds and a house with creative environmental solutions under construction.

Officially, there's no clear motive in the murder of Charlie Kirk, but that hasn't stopped conservative leaders from pointing the blame at the left. Yesterday, Trump said leftist organizations are under investigation, though he didn't say exactly why. Today, Trump's Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, put the blame squarely on colleges and universities saying they are places where young people are radicalized to the left. Places of higher learning don't appear to have come in to play in the Kirk killing, as the suspect only attended one semester before moving to a trade school. Is it a case of MAGA trying to keep their base uneducated? We will ask Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston for his thoughts.There is no doubt, given all the jockeying for position and gerrymandering already, that the 2026 midterm elections are going to be hard fought. We check in with Richard Greene the Civics Dean to talk strategy.The Mark Thompson Show 9/16/25Patreon 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 says his administration is opening investigations into leftist groups. Last night, he told reporters that “when you look at the agitator, you look at the scum that speaks so badly of our country, the American flag burning all over the place, that's the left. That's not the right."Trump has ramped up his speech to divide the country following the killing of right wing influencer Charlie Kirk. Despite word from authorities that they are still trying to pin down a motive in the murder, Trump continues to blame what he calls the radical left. Now, he says leftist groups are already under major investigation," though it's unclear what the investigations would be for, exactly, other than openly dissenting Trump's lean into authoritarianism. We welcome iHeart Radio and TV Political Analyst Gary Dietrich to the show to talk politics.The Mark Thompson Show 9/15/25Patreon 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

Donald Trump made an early morning appearance on Fox & Friends. He announced that a suspect in the murder of Charlie Kirk has been apprehended. A family member helped turn 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in to authorities. The president complained about the time it takes to see someone who's found guilty punished and said the suspect ought to be tried tomorrow. We'll bring you all the details and talk about it with journalists Michael Shure and Jim Avila. Friday, also brings a stop to Florida and a check in with The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, for a weekend entertainment preview.

The Mark Thompson Show 9/11/25 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

Donald Trump is doubling down on the "It's not my signature" excuse regarding his troubling birthday message to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The original letter from Trump to Epstein was included in documents released by the House oversight committee. When the Wall Street Journal released details of the letter in July, Vice President JD Vance said it wasn't real. Now that its reality is no longer in dispute, (the original was held by Epstein's estate) the President and his supporters are denying it's his signature, despite multiple examples of his signature at the time that match. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt went so far as to say the White House would support an expert review of the signature. Who would trust a handwriting expert called by the White House? Yesterday, NBC asked Trump about the letter and he replied that he wasn't going to comment on something that's a dead issue...oh but this issue is very much alive and is haunting Trump daily. We welcome presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann to the show. We'll ask him about Russian drones violating Polish airspace and Trump asking the EU to slap high tariffs on Russia to apply more pressure for an end to war with Ukraine. We'll air a conversation Mark had with Gregory Lyakhov. At 17, he's the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the US.

The Hyundai–LG battery plant construction site in Georgia is still closed after a massive ICE Raid ended with the arrests of 475 people, most of them Korean nationals.  The immigrants were placed against walls, sorted and then many were loaded on to buses to be processed 100 miles away. South Korean officials chartered a flight to take their citizens home and said they would improve their visa system for people coming to the US. The raid came after word of a $350 billion investment package that South. Korea planned to sink into the US., though South Korea's attempts to finalize the deal are being held up by foreign exchange issues. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says she doesn't think the detention of the Hyundai /LG workers will deter that investment. We are following the release of materials associated with Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein.  The birthday letter from Trump to Epstein that Vice President JD Vance said didn't exist...exists.  Other letters are also being made public.  We welcome Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston to talk about the immigration raids, the latest Supreme Court Ruling allowing ICE to racially profile people and the Epstein files. The Mark Thompson Show 9/9/25Patreon 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

ICE agents just got a lot more powerful. The Supreme Court ruled today that agents can stop and detain anyone they think may be is in the U.S. illegally, according to the LA Times, “based on little more than working at a car wash, speaking Spanish or having brown skin.” We welcome iHeart TV and radio political analyst Gary Dietrich to talk about this and more.Mark has a conversation with Jamie Mustard. He'll talk about growing up in the church of Scientology and what happened when he tried to leave it.The Mark Thompson Show 9/8/25Patreon 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

A group of survivors from the Jeffrey Epstein human trafficking case met with a congressional committee, held a press conference and warned that if the Trump administration won't release a client list, perhaps they'll release one of their own. Meanwhile, it seems an accurate account of the Trump – Epstein scandal will never truly be released. Case in point: Joseph Schnitt, acting deputy chief of a Justice Department unit, was caught on hidden camera saying that the government will "redact every Republican" from an Epstein client list. He was recorded on a dating app called Hinge by a far right media group. We will break it all down with political reporter Michael Shure and former ABC White House correspondent Jim Avila as we look at This Week in Politics. Some lighthearted Friday fun is on the way with Friday Fabulous Florida, followed by The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder. He brings word of all the fresh entertainment being released ahead of the weekend.

Two county clerks in Missouri say they were contacted by Trump's Department of Justice. The clerks, both serving in Republican leaning counties, say the DOJ official wants access to Dominion voting machines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The Missouri Independent says the DOJ official making the calls is Andrew McCoy “Mac” Warner who, while serving as West Virginia's secretary of state, falsely claimed the CIA and FBI colluded with Facebook' to steal the 2020 presidential election from Trump. We'll dig deeper into this story and see whether states are going to be able to keep the voting machines out of the hands of Trump's Administration or anyone connected to the big lie. Trump is now asking his friends on the Supreme Court to reverse a ruling on tariffs that found he made the moves illegally. We will ask former federal prosecutor, now defense attorney, David Katz for his thoughts.

Just like the hyped up release of previous long awaited documents from cases including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and JFK assassinations, the release of 3k pages of Epstein case documents were a big nothingburger. Everything released had been the subject of record requests before and had been posted on the Florida Attirney Gebersl's website. Will Trump be able to dupe MAGA with documents that were already public? We'll ask Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston to weigh in. More politics with our presidential historian John Rothmann. Then, we're off to save the planet with eco-journalist Belinda Waymouth. She joins us for our weekly Wednesday segment, “It's the Planet, Stupid!”

Concerns started with large dark bruises on President Trump‘s hands. Then comments were made about how large his ankles appeared. He'd been spotted wandering back-and-forth along the red carpet when he met Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Add to that, Trump's nonsensical ramblings, inability to focus or remember things, and there are serious worries about whether Trump is okay. Vice President JD Vance spoke to the media and said he was ready to step in if needed but to him, the president seemed healthy. Over the weekend, some pictures were posted of the President leaving to play golf, but people quickly realized the photos were a year old. Now, the rumors and memes are running wild as the White House announces a statement by Trump today. Tech Tuesday brings Jefferson Graham to the show. The Mark Thompson Show 9/2/25Patreon 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

It looks like Chicago will be the site of President Trump's immigration crackdown. Several reports say ICE is planning expanded operations as soon as next week, much like the ones recently carried out in Los Angeles. The White House is prepping contingency plans to send in the National Guard if any ICE protests get out of hand. Illinois Governor JD Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson both have both said the stepped up enforcement is not welcome in the city. We'll talk about it with journalists Michael Shure and Jim Avila as we wrap up This Week in Politics. A little peek at our wild Floridian brothers and sisters is in order during Friday Fabulous Florida. Culture Blaster Michael Snyder slides into the show to talk movies and streaming options for the long weekend ahead.

The White House fired CDC Director Susan Monarez after about a month on the job. The reason? Her attorney says it's because Monarez refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and would not fire dedicated health experts. A White House spokesperson says it's because she refused to resign and is “not aligned with the President's agenda of Making America Healthy Again.” After her firing yesterday, at least four other CDC officials turned in their resignations too, citing the political weaponizing of science and the spread of misinformation hurting public health, The shake up comes amid new strict CDC Covid vaccine regulations. We'll check in with Emergency Medicine specialist, Dr. Michael Daignault, to see what impact the new CDC Covid vaccine recommendations and the upheaval at a key federal agency might have on public health. We are very excited to welcome author Sarah Kendzior back to The Mark Thompson Show. We've loved talking about her books so much that we invited her back to talk politics. Former Federal Prosecutor David Katz joins. We will ask him about Trump's executive order banning U.S. flag burning and whether that's going to withstand upcoming legal tests.

Trump is finding a handy enforcer in an unexpected place. Instead of focusing on the housing finance system, America's top housing regulator is honing in on Trump's political enemies. Bill Pulte is searching through property records looking for ways to accuse people (Senator Adam Schiff, NY AG Letitia James and Fed. Governor Lisa Cook) of mortgage fraud with the threat of a criminal investigation. How did Pulte's new job as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chair of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac end up morphing into this attack dog position? Presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann is back! We'll ask him about this and more. Trump is stopping key wind turbine projects at a time when spending on renewable energy is on the rise. We turn to eco-journalist Belinda Waymouth for “ It's the Planet, Stupid!” to find out why.

The Mark Thompson Show 8/26/25 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

The Mayor of Chicago says the city does not need an occupation by the military and an attempt by Trump to do so would be a flagrant violation of the Constitution. The Washington Post reports that Trump ‘s Pentagon has been planning a military deployment to Chicago for weeks. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says he has not requested federal help. If Trump is concerned about cleaning up a crime ridden Windy City, Chicago police data shows that overall crime has declined 15 percent since 2023 and incidents like shootings are all down compared to last year.IHeart TV & radio political analyst Gary Dietrich will join us to discuss it all. We welcome Jasmine Burney-Clark to The Mark Thompson Show. She is a social justice activist and the founder of Equal Ground, a community centered civic engagement group. Jasmine will tell us about efforts to protect the vote. The Mark Thompson Show 8/25/25Patreon 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

It was supposed to be Trump joining troops and or police for a patrol last night, but that didn't happen. Instead, it was a but photo opportunity. Trump showed up with food to pass out and took pictures with officers. He also spoke to the officers and guardsmen saying: “We're going to make it safe, and we're going to then go on to other places, but we're going to stay here for a while.” The use of the military in a civilian setting comes as DC officials say their crime rates have dropped and are no the emergency Trump claims as the need for intervention by the National Guard. Nathan Taylor with Election Truth Alliance will be on The Mark Thompson Show today looking at new developments in election abnormalities. This Week in Politics brings out Michael Shure by the show to talk about the week's headlines. Friday Fabulous Florida and the Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, bring some fun and levity as we start the weekend.

All of a sudden, Latin American drug cartels are such a pressing problem that the U.S. must deploy military assets? Trump, who has been using the military a lot lately, is ordering 3 warships to go on patrol along the South American coast. Like the recent use of the U.S. Marines and National Guard in LA and the National Guard in DC, it smacks of bringing out the big guns to distract and divert attention from his ties to the Epstein scandal. It's a double lawyer day on The Mark Thompson Show. Thursday brings former federal prosecutor, now defense attorney, David Katz to the show. Dimitri Lascaris will swing by to talk politics. He is an attorney, journalist and activist. We'll ask him why he is motivated to create his popular Reason2Resist YouTube and Substack content.

Security clearances are being stripped from 37 current and former National Security officials. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard publicly named those affected in a press release saying they had politicized and manipulated intelligence, and in some cases leaked classified intelligence. Some of those who lost clearance credentials worked on the intelligence assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. Is it just another stop on Trump‘s retribution tour? We'll discuss. We welcome Anthony Davis, host of “5 Minute News” to talk politics. The conversation continues with former opinion editor for the San Francisco Chronicle John Diaz. A major doctor's organization is opposing RFK Jr.'s childhood vaccine policies. We welcome Dr. Michael Daignault to explain. And finally… we'll save the planet. It seems like a big job, but when you have eco-journalist Belinda Waymouth leading the way, it's a walk in the park. “It's the Planet, Stupid!” Returns.