The Mark Thompson Show

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.

First, there were Epstein files waiting to be reviewed by Attorney General Pam Bondi. Then, Bondi said there were no files and no Epstein client list. Then, the clients were well known Democrats, according to Trump & Co. Now, there are Epstein files and they are being sent to Congress as part of House Oversight Committee chair James Comer's ridiculous effort to keep the attention off the Trump-Epstein connection. The Justice Department will reportedly start to turn over Epstein-related materials this Friday. After the roller coaster ride of disinformation regarding the files, does anyone believe that Trump allies haven't sanitized all related documents where Trump is concerned? We are so fortunate to have two Pulitzer Prize wnning athors and journalists the show. David Cay Johnston joins to talk politics. Michael Hiltzik with the LA Times will drop by to talk Russia, Ukraine and the economy. The Mark Thompson Show 8/19/25Patreon 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

It's another day with the war between Russia and Ukraine front and center as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives at the White House to meet with Trump.  He will be joined by other European leaders in a show of support.  Trump is already putting pressure on Zelensky to reach a peace deal, though after meeting with Vladimir Putin, of Russia, Trump is insisting Ukraine not be allowed to join NATO and that Russia keep the Crimean territory that it illegally took in 2014.  iHeart television and radio political analyst Gary Dietrich will join to talk about the latest developments with war, redistricting and much more. The Mark Thompson Show 8/18/25Patreon 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.themarkthompsonshow.come

California's Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom, is standing up to Trump with his Election Rigging Response Act. It's an effort to counter Texas, which at Trump's demand, drew up new congressional districts where voters would likely elect Republican representatives. The new Texas maps could also mean incumbent Democratic representatives could face each other in some districts. It's an effort to keep the House under GOP control in the 2026 midterm elections. Governor Newsom is asking California voters to allow redrawn maps in to keep Republicans from unethically stealing Democratic seats. Newsom wants state lawmakers to allow a November ballot measure where voters would weigh in on his plan to temporarily change districts. We'll talk redistricting and politics with Philip Bump. He is known for his work as a national columnist for The Washington Post and his coverage of politics for The Atlantic Wire. Bump's book “The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America” looks at the upheaval in American politics and the U.S. economy. Find him at pbump.com Our segment “This Week in Politics” brings former ABC White House correspondent Jim Avila to the show to talk about current events. We'll sprinkle in some Friday Fabulous Florida and add a dash of Culture Blaster Michael Snyder with movie and streaming reviews and it's a perfect Friday.

Trump has a 30 day emergency time period to maintain control of policing Washongton, D.C. but he wants more time. To do that, he needs the approval of Congress. Now, he's saying he will be moving forward with or without approval from lawmakers. During his Kennedy Center honoree speech yesterday, Trump alluded to circumventing Congress multiple times, saying that if they failed to approve an extension, he would just declare a national emergency. We will ask our legal expert to weigh in on the legality of all of it. Former federal prosecutor, now defense attorney, David Katz will be in to discuss.

This may only be the start of Trump using the National Guard. According to the Washington Post, there is a Pentagon plan that would create a military ‘reaction force' for civil unrest. In the case of massive protests, documents suggest a plan to have hundreds of National Guard troops ready at any given time. We'll share the details.We welcome Everett Kelley to the show. He is the president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) - the largest union representing federal and D.C. government employees.The Mark Thompson Show8/13/25Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:   / themarkthompsonshow   Maybe you're more into PayPal. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted... And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com#Trump #Epstein #TrumpEpstein #NationalGuard #DC #immigration #samesexmarriage #SCOTUS #VotingRights #politics #political #EverettKelley #FederalWorkersTranscriptFollow along using the transcript.

There are 800 National Guard troops on duty now to carry out President Trump's order to address crime in the Washington, D.C. But is there a big emergency? Local leaders say crime rates are the lowest they've been in 30 years. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser says "This year, crime isn't just down from 2023, it's also down from 2019 before the pandemic, and we're at a 30-year violent crime low," Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi is in control of the police in D.C. We welcome Pulitzer Prize winning author David Cay Johnston to talk about the Trump-Epstein connection, the latest National Guard deployment and much more. Tech Tuesday brings Jefferson Graham to the show. The Mark Thompson Show 8/12/25 Today's Guests Links 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/@PhotowalksTV 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 wand to force homeless people out of Washington, D.C. with a use of force. Once again, Trump plans to use the National Guard against civilians. Hundreds of troops are preparing to be activated. The person that plans to hold a press conference later this morning, but did post a message on social media reading:“The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don't have to move out. We're going to put you in jail where you belong.”We welcome Elex Michaelson to the show to talk politics. He is the host of California's political discussion show “The Issue Is…” and a news anchor on Fox LA. The Mark Thompson Show 8/11/25Patreon 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

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem comes off as a villain in real life and on TV. South Park features the normally heavily made-up Noem with her mask of cosmetics melting off as she shoots puppies. Did they take it too far or get it just right? We welcome journalists Michael Shure and Jim Avila to talk about the issues of the day. From the Trump-Epstein mess to tariffs, they'll hit the highlights with “This Week in Politics.” Come along for a peek at some wild southern living with Friday Fabulous Florida. The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, is bringing you all the entertainment info you need to get your movie going and streaming sessions just right.

According to a CNN report, a group of top Trump administration officials were set to meet last night at Vice President JD Vance's residence to discuss whether to publish details of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's meetings with Ghislaine Maxwell. Both Trump and Vance called the report fake news, but CNN says the meeting was to include Vance, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and Todd Blanche. Trump is also saying, and expects us to believe, that he hasn't been briefed on what Maxwell told Blanche during their two meetings and that he wasn't aware of the decision to move Maxwell to a prison camp in Texas. We welcome former U.S. Pardon attorney Liz Oyer to The Mark Thompson Show. We'll ask her about a potential Maxwell pardon and how that might play out.

The fight over maps is getting uglier in Texas. There are threats to get the FBI involved in tracking down Democrats from the Texas State House who left rather than see Republicans hijack the midterm elections. Can they do that? We will ask former federal prosecutor and now defense attorney David Katz to weigh in. Spooked By mRNA technology, RFK Jr. is trying to turn back the clock on medical advancements. He is terminating 22 contracts meant to boost developing mRNA vaccines. He's also closing out other federal investments in mRNA technology, As the Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is supposed to be looking ahead toward future health emergencies, but is putting the brakes on the very same science that was crucial to moving us forward after Covid closed down the world. Save the planet? Yes, please. Eco-journalist Belinda Waymouth join for “It's the Planet, Stupid!”

Texas House Democrats, who thwarted Republican plans to vote on redrawing Congressional district maps by leaving the state, are being threatened with civil arrest. Their colleagues across the aisle voted to approve civil arrest warrants for those lawmakers who bailed before a vote could be taken. Republican Governor Greg Abbott says he will kick the Democratic lawmakers out of office for abandonment and he is threatening to send law enforcement to force them to return to Texas. Is it all bravado and bluster?We'll ask Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston for his take. Plus, we'll dig into the latest on the Trump-Epstein connection and why Epstein's co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell is suddenly in a lower security prison camp. Trump's approval ratings may be dropping, but hardcore MAGA faithful are still holding on tight. From disasterous tariffs, to lies about Jeffrey Epstein to undermining the Constitution and slicing the safety net for America's poor, it seems Trump has given MAGA ample reason to wake up. So why haven't they? We welcome Dr. Steven Hassan. He is a world-renowned cult expert and the author of The Cult of Trump.Plus, Tech Tuesday brings Jefferson Graham to the show for gadgets and good times. The Mark Thompson Show 8/5/25Patreon 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

More than 50 Texas Democrats walked off their jobs serving constituents in the legislature and left the state Sunday. The move was an effort to stop any forward movement by Texas Republicans who planned to vote in the state House on a new congressional district map that will add five GOP seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.. Democrats brought legislative business to a halt, leaving their body without a quorum (the necessary number of legislators needed present to conduct business.) We'll talk about this situation with iHeart Radio and television political analyst Gary Dietrich. From vaccines to research to medicaid policy, we'll get the latest with our emergency room Dr. Michael Daignault.Then, it's “A Word About Animals” with Karen Dawn of Dawn Watch. Let's give some love to all the creatures.The Mark Thompson Show 8/4/25Patreon 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

It's a big Friday show! We'll look at Trump's latest back and forth tariff ultimatums and extensions as he scrambles to make more trade deals.We'll get details on whether Trump's new tax policy will make it easier to slide control of social security to private companies. Alex Lawson with Social Security Works will lay it all out. Oscar nominated writer and director Billy Ray will stop in to talk movies, Hollywood and politics. This Week in Politics brings our beloved Jim Avila and Michael Shure to the show. These heavy hitting journalists will help us highlight the biggest stories of the week. The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, brings it home with his thoughts on your theater and streaming options this weekend.The Mark Thompson Show 8/1/25Patreon 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.com

The Mark Thompson Show 7/31/25Patreon 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 man who helped Trump out of jam after jam and, according to whistleblowers, told Trump administration officials to ignore judicial rulings is now himself a federal judge. It's a lifetime appointment for Emil Bove. Loyalty pays off. Political analyst and presidential historian John Rothmann joins to talk politics. Eco-journalist Belinda Waymouth helps us save the planet. Oh, and Mark is back!The Mark Thompson Show 7/30/25Patreon 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.come

Here comes the “flying palace.”  It turns out that “free” jet from Qatar will cost US taxpayers nearly one billion dollars to renovate. That money is coming frm a fund meant to upgrade aging U.S. nuclear weapons. Reports indicate that at the end of Trump's term, the plane will go to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. That's a big gift from both Qatar and the Amercan people. Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative reporter David Cay Johnston joins to discuss.The Mark Thompson Show 7/29/25Patreon 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 her information on Iran's nuclear capabilities brushed aside by Trump, National Security Director Tulsi Gabbard found a new way into the spotlight and Trump's good graces. With allegations that former President Obama lied about Russia's election interference in 2016, Congressman Jason Crow says Tulsi Gabbard has made herself a “weapon of mass distraction.” Michael Shure will be in the Captain's chair to talk about it with iHeart TV & radio political analyst Gary Dietrich. The Mark Thompson Show 7/28/25Patreon 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

It is shaping up to be a difficult September for Attorney General Pam Bondi. Republican leaders in the House are going after information in the Epstein files. Files Bondi reportedly told Trump his name was featured in multiple times, but told the public there were no files to release. MAGA is losing confidence in Bondi and some GOP House members seem to be feeling the same way. Subpoenas are flying and the Epstein case and its bungling will likely carry past the House recess in August and continue to follow Bondi into the fall. We welcome former ABC White House correspondent and award-winning journalist Jim Avila to talk about the Epstein case and more. Friday Fabulous Florida is upon us again. We'll take a look at our fun, Southern friends and their summer shenanigans. The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder joins us with his take on the latest movies in theaters and streaming options. Let the weekend begin!

In May, Trump was briefed and knew his name is all over the Epstein files. Since that briefing, the DOJ's move has been to seal the evidence and keep the public in the dark. Attorney General Pam Bondi's deputy, Todd Blanche (Trump's former defense attorney) are visiting with Ghislaine Maxwell — Epstein's longtime co-conspirator — in prison. It would seem a deal is in the offing. Meanwhile, Trump distracts by raging at Obama, and Tulsi Gabbard happily tosses more gasoline on the conspiracy bonfires about Obama. Award-winning journalist Gil Gross and former federal prosecutor David Katz join us to expose the cover-up, examine the legal risks, and track the growing panic among Trump's GOP allies

CNN is out with old video footage and pictures that further illustrate the tight bond between Donald Trump and the late convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Pictures show Epstein at Trump's second wedding, video shows the pair joking around at a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and a more ominous picture shows Epstein looking at Trump's two young children. Trump is furious about old images being published and reportedly screamed at and then hung up on a CNN reporter over the release. Meanwhile, the wild rumpus of Trump's outlandish behavior continues as he tries to fire off distractions in all directions. Presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann joins to talk about this and the politics of the day. We highlight the planet and our changing environment with “It's the Planet, Stupid!” Eco-journalist Belinda Waymouth always finds hope for future.

The Trump administration has the will, the plans and now the resources to ramp up immigration enforcement. Trump's Border officials say Americans will soon see ICE agents flood sanctuary cities run by Democrats. At Trump's request, the Republican led Congress earmarked more than $170 billion over the next four years for increased immigration enforcement, detention and deportation. It seems the immigration arrests happening across the country will only become more severe and widespread. We will talk about all of it and so much more with Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist and author David Cay Johnston. The Trump administration now has the go ahead from the Supreme Court to dismantle the US Department of Education. We welcome the Education workers union president, Brittany Coleman. She's the AFGE Local 252 Chief Steward and an attorney for the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in Dallas. It is Tech Tuesday once again on The Mark Thompson Show and that means Jefferson Graham will join us to talk about the latest gadgetry. The Mark Thompson Show 7/22/25Patreon 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

A secret meeting at Rupert Murdoch's Montana ranch? Reports indicate Vice President JD Vance and his wife flew into Butte aboard Air Force Two on June 11th. The plane stayed on the ground from around 2:30pm to nightfall. The Associated Press reports Vice President Vance spoke with 94-year-old Murdoch (owner of the Wall Street Journal), his son Lachlan Murdoch and other Fox News executives, though the nature of the conversation wasn't shared. After the meeting, the vice president and his wife enjoyed on a short hike. Just a few weeks later, the Wall Street Journal published a salacious birthday note said to have been written by Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, with a drawing of a naked lady and wishes for daily secrets. Now, Trump is suing the Wall Street Journal and those associated with the story for $10 billion. So what was VP Vance doing at Murdoch's Montana Ranch and what went down at that meeting?We'll talk about it with iHeartRadio and TV political analyst Gary Dietrich. We are excited to welcome Dr. Vincent Racaniello to the show. He is a researcher in virology at Columbia and has done groundbreaking work. He is bringing his knowledge to the public with a series of podcasts helping educate people about viruses and vaccines.The Mark Thompson Show 7/21/25Patreon 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

Donald Trump is already backing away from an exposé in the Wall Street Journal detailing his bestie relationship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The WSJ report includes a birthday note Trump reportedly wrote for Epstein that includes a drawing of a naked lady and ominous words about them having so much in common and wishes for ongoing secrets. Trump says it's not his letter, but after slamming closed the Epstein investigation and releasing none of the promised files, that's a pretty tough claim to believe. CBS appears to still be running scared of Trump and his threats of lawsuits and FCC retaliation. The cancellation of Stephen Colbert‘s late night show, which was highly critical of Trump, seems like the latest capitulation to the President. It's a fail for the network of Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather. We'll talk about all of it with journalist Anthony Davis. The political conversation continuous with This Week in Politics featuring Jim Avila and possibly Michael Shure, who might be outside the studio picketing instead due to lack of a Mark Thompson Show coffee mug.

Suddenly, Trump and friends don't want to talk about Jeffrey Epstein or what happened to files and client lists that Trump and his conspiracy theorist supporters spent so much time demanding the release of. As MAGA turns on itself, calling for information from Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI leaders Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, Trump is now blaming Democrats. The President, who was very good friends with Jeffrey Epstein and who many have suspected would have his name all over those files, is blaming Presidents Obama and Biden and accusing them of altering whatever's in the files (the files he likely ordered Bondi not to release.) Trump now says Democrats must've tampered with them. It would appear like a preemptive strike from someone who knows his name will come up. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice just fired former FBI director James Comey's daughter Maureen, who served as the prosecutor in the case against Epstein. From an administration that prides itself on “transparency“ why does it look like a big old cover-up? Former federal prosecutor, now defense attorney, David Katz will swing by the show to talk about the termination of Maureen Comey and recent Supreme Court decisions.

Once again, a Senate vote came down to a tiebreaker cast by vice president JD Vance. This time, the White House was behind a move to “claw back” billions in international aid and public broadcasting funding. The effects of Trump's tariffs and questionable economic policies is finally catching up with him. New data shows the policy is are bad for jobs and inflation. We welcome presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann to the show to talk politics. Belinda Waymouth returns with “It's the Planet Stupid!”

There is a new fear that the Trump administration intends to keep immigrants detained by ICE locked in detention centers indefinitely. A new report by the Washington Post indicates ICE policy is changing to make undocumented immigrants ineligible for a bond hearing. That means that the months and sometimes years it takes to fight removal proceedings would be spent in lockup. We will discuss this and more with Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston.Emergency Physician, Dr. Rob Davidson will stop by. He's the Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Heath Care. He'll share his ideas on healthcare policy and how to keep our healthcare system from collapsing under the weight of Trump's new spending plan.Jefferson Graham swings by on this Tech Tuesday with details about the most expensive mobile phone to date.The Mark Thompson Show 7/15/25Patreon 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 

The Mark Thompson Show 7/14/25Patreon 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

Who has leaked information? Who has betrayed Trump and his cabinet? Who is disloyal? It's like the plot of a political thriller at the FBI where director Kash Patel is forcing dozens of senior officials to take polygraph tests. According to the New York Times, Patel wants to know.whether they have ever said anything bad about him. ICE raids at farms in Southern and Central California targeted workers in the fields. Governor Gavin Newsom posted video of kids being exposed to chemical agents and some crying because their parents were arrested. Is this the America voters wanted? We welcome former ABC White House political correspondent Jim Avila to talk about this week in politics. A lighter moment as we head south for Friday Fabulous Florida… let's see what trouble people are cooking up with hot weather, meth, and gators. The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, is back and better than ever. Why, it's almost like he's Superman! Michael will be giving us all the details on new movie releases in the theaters and streaming on your TV.

It's unthinkable. At a time when Americans are dealing with a staggering loss of life and were in need of immediate help from the federal government, they got put on hold. Why were search and rescue teams not allowed to set up near the flooding until days after it started? Because Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem decided she needs to personally authorize all costly contracts. Her policy slowed down FEMAs response during a critical time. Meanwhile, good people are out of a job for nothing. DOGE eliminated National Weather Service jobs, but now Trump's nominee to lead NOAA says he wants to hire people to fill those jobs again. Does it seem like a leadership failure? We'll discuss. We'll also look at the latest legal cases with former federal prosecutor, now defense attorney, David Katz.