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Will Sommer, author of The Bulwark's "False Flag" newsletter, sits down with Tommy to talk about the MAGA media world — including the right-wing personalities who may be considering a political future (Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens), those whose influence is crumbling (Ben Shapiro), and some of the most troubling — and strangest — rising voices. Tommy and Will then break down the ways some of MAGA's leading voices are abandoning the president, what their world will look like and whether it can even survive in a post-Trump future.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.
Will Sommer joins us to unpack the latest right-wing flame wars.
May 30, 2026, 7 AM; The grown pusback included a judge ordering the removal of his name from the Kennedy Center, a judge's refusal to dimmiss the most serious charges against Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and his fellow supporters who were convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy, a ruling barring his $1.8 billion slush fund, and accusations that the president has committed fraud when he ended his lawsuit against the IRS. Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for NSD Mary McCord and Will Sommer join The Weekend to discuss the onslaught of decisions against the president. For more, follow us on social media: Bluesky: @theweekendmsnow.bsky.social Instagram: @theweekendmsnow TikTok: @theweekendmsnow To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Tennessee is on the front lines of the racialized politics that has resurfaced in the South since SCOTUS gutted the Voting Rights Act. Its Jim Crow legislature stripped the people of Memphis of congressional representation for their majority-black city, and Democratic legislators have been punished for protesting the move. The state is looking less like a democracy by the day. Meanwhile, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Louisiana are also working on dismantling black political power in their states. Plus, Trump is the anti-farmer president, Stephen Miller is still running an immigration crackdown, and Tim sees promising signs in Tom Massie's loss in Kentucky. Tennessee's Rep. Justin Jones joins Tim Miller.show notes Jones on Hannity in January San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and our own MAGA culture expert, Will Sommer, joins the gang on stage at Bulwark Live: San Diego TONIGHT. And on Thursday at Bulwark Live: LA our friends Jane Coaston, Jon Favreau, Erin Ryan from Crooked Media, The Ringer's Van Lathan and progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen will join Sarah, Tim and Sam on stage. Grab your seats at TheBulwark.com/Events Get $35 off your first box of wild-caught, sustainable seafood—delivered right to your door. Go to: https://www.wildalaskan.com/BULWARK.
Donald Trump—as a private citizen—sued our government, which he runs, and then "settled" the lawsuit with $1.8 billion that he stole from the U.S. Treasury. See, he needs a secret fund of taxpayer money so he can pay not only reparations to his band of Jan 6 rioters, but also to incentivize future (election) criming on his behalf. In a special emergency TNL, Tim, Sarah, and JVL break it all down. Plus, Martha explains how Iran's demands for money may be why Trump won't officially end the war. And she discusses Zelensky's resiliency, along with her new book about the 9/11 generation that fought our wars. Martha Raddatz, Jonathan V. Last, and Sarah Longwell join Tim Miller.show notes Pre-order Martha's book, "The Hero Next Door: Stories of Patriotism and Purpose" Monday's "Morning Shots" Sarah's ‘Illegal News' podcast; interview with Andrew Weissmann out Thursday San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and our own MAGA culture expert, Will Sommer, will join the gang on stage at Bulwark Live: San Diego this Wednesday. And on Thursday at Bulwark Live: LA our friends Jane Coaston, Jon Favreau, Erin Ryan from Crooked Media, The Ringer's Van Lathan and progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen will join Sarah, Tim and Sam on stage. Grab your seats today at TheBulwark.com/EventsOne thing to pack, five ways to power! Get up to 40% off @Ridge during their Father's Day Sale at ridge.com/THEBULWARK #Ridgepod
Sadly, it's taken some time, but voters seem to be figuring out that Trump only cares about himself, his ballroom, his blatant corruption, and his unquenchable desire for revenge. 2026, so far, has been bad for his approval ratings. And his continued weakness on the world stage, especially when it comes to Iran and China, will only drive his numbers down more. At the same time, Trump has done permanent damage to our standing among our allies. Plus, Dems need to get serious about AI as well as a stock-trading ban for public officials—including presidents—Trump has far too many unexplained medical conditions, and Tim explains his support for commuting Tina Peters' prison sentence.Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.show notes Monday's "Morning Shots" Lauren on how the Dems should respond to an aging Trump's health issues Bill's "Bulwark on Sunday" with Rob Flaherty, Kamala's deputy campaign manager San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and our own MAGA culture expert, Will Sommer, will join the gang on stage at Bulwark Live: San Diego this Wednesday. And on Thursday at Bulwark Live: LA our friends Jane Coaston, Jon Favreau, Erin Ryan from Crooked Media, The Ringer's Van Lathan and progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen will join Sarah, Tim and Sam on stage. Grab your seats today at TheBulwark.com/EventsStart your new morning ritual & get up to 43% off your @MUDWTR with code THEBULWARK at mudwtr.com/THEBULWARK! #mudwtrpod
If the IRS goes ahead and gives in to Donald Trump's demands for a MAGA slush fund, it would be outright theft of the public's money and corruption on a scale that we've never even contemplated in this country. What would stop him from plundering even more from the American people? Plus, Kash's ghoulish snorkel at Pearl Harbor, the Supreme Court's VRA ruling gave permission to practice discrimination, MAGA loves the racism and sexism of the 1950s, and the penile implant expert managing the Hantavirus outbreak. And in his new book, Weissmann explores whether the lies of politicians and political candidates can be criminalized.Andrew Weissmann joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.show notes Buy Andrew Weissmann's book, "Liar's Kingdom." Use code Liar15 at checkout to receive 15% off and a signed bookplate from Weissmann. Offer expires 5/19/26. Click here. "All Roads Lead to the South" for Saturday's National Day of Action for Voting Rights Sarah's "Illegal News" podcast Tim's interview this week with Comey photo from the summit in China and not one woman at the table Tim's playlist Just announced: San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and our own MAGA culture expert, Will Sommer, will join the gang on stage at Bulwark Live: San Diego on May 20.And on May 21 at Bulwark Live: LA our friends Jane Coaston, Jon Favreau, Erin Ryan from , The Ringer's Van Lathan and progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen will join Sarah, Tim and Sam on stage.Grab your seats today at: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events
The Chinese have long envied America's power, influence, and market share. But after Trump's failed trade war, his attacks on allies, and the embarrassment in Iran, the view from Beijing has shifted: It now sees us as a nation in decline. Plus, inflation is creeping back up, the stock market is out of whack, new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is screwed, and the ag community is feeling the pain of Trump's policies. And for the view from the Democratic resistance, Rep. Garcia tells Tim that Dems are not finished with their own redistricting and that Gavin's greatest strength is his obsession with winning. And he says Dems are going to fight like hell to win the House so they can investigate the Trump family corruption and the Epstein case—the single largest government cover-up in history. Rep. Robert Garcia and Catherine Rampell join Tim Miller show notes Catherine's newsletter, "Receipts" A grimacing, sweaty Trump getting framemogged by Xi Ezra Klein's town hall with Katie Porter's answer to CA's housing crisis Just announced: San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and our own MAGA culture expert, Will Sommer, will join the gang on stage at Bulwark Live: San Diego on May 20. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BULWARK at https://www.oneskin.co/BULWARK #oneskinpod
p's recent insomnia-induced, Obama-obsessed posting spree showed a level of paranoia and delusion that should be raising real concerns about the mental health of our commander-in-chief. The new blotch on his neck to go with the giant bruises on his hands is not helping matters. Is the DOJ mulling a $10 billion IRS settlement with Trump to try to ease his emotional distress over his seeming loss in Iran? Plus, Gorka's half-baked “official” counterterrorism strategy, Tim did ask Comey about the Hillary email investigation in a previous interview, and the poll numbers for POTUS are worse than they were after Jan 6. Tom Nichols joins Tim Miller for a special LIVE pod.show notes Tom on the administration's counterterrorism strategy Tim's interview with Comey last year Just announced: San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and our own MAGA culture expert, Will Sommer, will join the gang on stage at Bulwark Live: San Diego on May 20. And on May 21 at Bulwark Live: LA our friends Jane Coaston, Jon Favreau, Erin Ryan from Crooked Media, The Ringer's Van Lathan and progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen will join Sarah, Tim and Sam on stage. Grab your seats today at TheBulwark.com/Events Join at functionhealth.com/THEBULWARK or use gift code THEBULWARK25 for a $25 credit toward your membership.
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Because Donald Trump has so thoroughly hijacked the Department of Justice, the public can no longer be confident that a criminal investigation or indictment is legitimate. The default assumption is that official DOJ actions are about servicing Trump's needs for validation, power, or retribution—like the latest seashell-related charges against Comey. Acting AG Todd Blanche acts like a mobster, wears his partisanship on his sleeve, and appears to be breaking the law himself. And at the FBI, Kash Patel presides over a smaller and demoralized and distracted staff, which leaves Comey worried for the safety of our country. Plus, the prospects for accountability post-Trump and the stepped-up investigations into journalists reporting news the administration does not like.James Comey joins Tim Miller.show notes Comey's new thriller, "Red Verdict" Just announced: San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and our own MAGA culture expert, Will Sommer, will join the gang on stage at Bulwark Live: San Diego on May 20. And on May 21 at Bulwark Live: LA our friends Jane Coaston, Jon Favreau, Erin Ryan from Crooked Media, The Ringer's Van Lathan and progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen will join Sarah, Tim and Sam on stage. Grab your seats today at TheBulwark.com/Events Post jobs for free at ZipRecruiter.com/BULWARK Go to Dupe.com for their 100% Free Research for Me comparison shopping tool. Finally feel good about what you're buying with Dupe.com.
Acting AG Todd Blanche, who watched Pam Bondi get fired, knows exactly what his assignment is: Go after every political enemy Trump wants targeted, and charge them—even without evidence of a crime. At the FBI, officials under Kash have pursued dubious or phony leads while career agents are seething over what the director has done to the place. Plus, the podcastistan wars may be doing real harm to the MAGA movement, influencers in the Trump echo chamber are looking pretty lame in comparison to key right-wing figures who are breaking ranks with him, and the latest on post-overdose looksmaxxer Clavicular.Will Sommer and Carol Leonnig join Tim Miller. show notes Carol's latest reporting on the case of assassination suspect, Cole Allen Carol's book about the Secret Service, "Zero Fail" and her latest, "Injustice" Will's new "False Flag" on Clavicular Will on a wild and unnecessary FBI raid TNL's live pod from Tuesday Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego on 5/20 and in LA on 5/21: TheBulwark.com/Events Exclusive $25-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARK. Promo Code THEBULWARK
This week we're joined by journalist Will Sommer of The Bulwark to discuss the state of MAGA in 2026. Who is being paid by Iran, who is being paid by Russia - and why won't any pariah state pay US? Just joking, ASIO! ASIO, don't read this: (North Korea, we are *not* joking)
April 22, 2026; 6pm; In a striking admission, longtime Trump loyalist Tucker Carlson is apologizing for helping elect Donald Trump. MS NOW's Ari Melber reports and is joined by Will Sommer, senior reporter at The Bulwark. Plus, President Trump's approval rating plunges to 33%, marking a new low in his second term. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Nation’s Jeet Heer stops by to talk about the very stupid ways Trump is navigating the Iran war.The Bulwark’s Will Sommer joins us to discuss the many strains of antisemitism circulating around MAGA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Will Sommer takes us on a tour of the groypers and other right wing influencers.For a limited time, try OneSkin with 15% off using code MONA at https://oneskin.co/MONA.
Will Sommer returns to the show to talk more about the Iran War, this time through the lens of a rapidly fragmenting Republican elite. We discuss the war between the Israel skeptics like Tucker Carlson and the hawks like Mark Levine, and how this ties into a hijacked shipment of nicotine pouches and the transvestigation of Laura Loomer. We also talk about Candace Owens' docuseries on Erika Kirk, another leaked racist groupchat, and the emerging multiracial coalition of White Supremacy. Follow Will Sommer on Twitter/X: https://x.com/willsommer And check out his newsletter False Flag: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/false-flag
Will Sommer (of The Bulwark) returns to unpack threats to federalize elections to renewed efforts to “prove” 2020 was stolen. We also diagnose the strange incentives and rivalries inside MAGA world — the influencers, grifters, true believers, and opportunists. Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod
Trump has reassembled his 2020 election conspiracy team as Tulsi Gabbard leads an FBI raid in Fulton County, Georgia, seizing 700 boxes of ballots from the 2020 election. The raid represents Trump's strategy to undermine the legitimacy of the 2026 midterm elections before they even happen. With Republicans facing devastating losses in both the House and Senate, Trump knows two years of Democratic investigations and multiple impeachments await him. Will Sommer reports on the batshit conspiracy theories fueling this election attack, from Sydney Powell's Venezuelan voting machine claims to the Hammer and Scorecard supercomputer theory. Tulsi Gabbard, as Director of National Intelligence, has no law enforcement authority yet accompanied FBI agents and called Trump from the scene. The investigation resurrects discredited conspiracy theorists like Dennis Montgomery and references Hugo Chavez, dead for years, supposedly influencing Dominion voting systems. Meanwhile, Dan Bongino returned to podcasting after his brief FBI stint, immediately landing a Trump interview where the president threatened to seize control of elections in 15 states. The connection between the Fulton County raid, Tulsi Gabbard's investigation, and Trump's 2026 midterm strategy reveals a coordinated effort to cast doubt on any Democratic victories. Sydney Powell hints at something big happening, while Trump reposts QAnon theories about Italian satellites and CIA programs flipping votes. The legitimacy of future elections hangs in the balance as Trump deploys every conspiracy theory and charlatan from 2020 to poison the well for 2026. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB
Trump casually posted a racist video and the White House essentially told Americans to calm down. Convicted felons are being treated better than rounded-up immigrants in detention centers. And the evangelicals' favorite president doesn't seem to understand the meaning of the word, prayer. Still, Republicans on The Hill are seeing the broad unpopularity of ICE's behavior in Minnesota and may be starting to distance themselves from the policies they funded. Plus, a simple measure beyond masks that could really rein in ICE, the extensive structural damage at the DOJ, trads keep rationalizing cruelty, and why is SCOTUS taking so long on the tariffs case? Also, Tim puts David in the squirm chair with a Kid Rock v. Bad Bunny lyrics quiz. David French joins Tim Miller for the Super Bowl weekend pod.show notes: David on ending immunity for federal agents Chris Geidner on government lawyer Julie Le David's tweet about "tradlife" Tim, Sam, and Will Sommer on Elijah Schaefer JVL on the Beatitudes in "The Triad" David's recent piece on liberalism The NYT on Katie Britt Tim's playlist Tickets are now on sale for our LIVE shows in Dallas on March 18 and in Austin on March 19. Plus, a small number of seats are still available for our second show in Minneapolis on February 18. https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events
Some strange, under-the-radar things are happening on the right. Marco Rubio is experiencing a strange rehabilitation with the Republican base, and some young men are excited about taxing OnlyFans. Meanwhile, JD Vance is still on the struggle bus with swing voters, especially women. Will Sommer, The Bulwark's right-wing fever swamp correspondent, joins Sarah to break down the growing rift between the MAGA establishment and the America First wing—and what it means for 2028.By Will Sommer:MAGA Influencers Cheered Trump's Venezuela War. Their Audience Said ‘WTF?!'Meet the First Groyper Politician
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.politix.fmGotta hand it to Donald Trump, he got the Epstein Files and the January 6 anniversary off the front page, and all it took was a wee little war, plus a threat to conquer the whole hemisphereIn this episode, Matt and Brian discuss:* WTF?* How has this destabilized the globe?* Can the damage be undone?* What's the right political response, and who in the Democratic Party has risen to the moment?Then, a review of Tim Walz's late career, and the welfare-fraud spree that did him in. How well or poorly does early Democratic enthusiasm for Walz as veep hold up? Did he do the right thing by resigning, or should he have been more defiant? Is it at all sustainable that our political system holds the parties to such wildly different standards of integrity and competence? And what should Democrats do to even the playing field? All that, plus the full Politix archive are available to paid subscribers—just upgrade your subscription and pipe full episodes directly to your favorite podcast app via your own private feed.Further reading:* Will Sommer on right wing divisions over Trump's Venezuela war.* New York Times, 2017: “Before taking office, Mr. Trump told top aides to think of each presidential day as an episode in a television show in which he vanquishes rivals.”* New York Times, 2025, on the scope of the Minnesota fraud. * Brian's 30 thoughts on the Venezuela war. * Matt's early assessment of Walz.
Five years ago today, supporters of President Trump, emboldened by his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, stormed the Capitol. Now, with Trump back in the Oval Office, it feels like the January 6th insurrectionists got everything they could have wanted – but did they? On his first day back in office, Trump pardoned more than 1,500 of the rioters. But dozens of those pardoned went on to commit more crimes – and others are furious that they haven't received restitution for so-called “malicious prosecution.” Many of the groups that helped foment what happened five years ago have never regained the strength they had back then. And in his second term, Trump has disappointed many of the people who backed his insurrection – including some of those willing to go to prison for him. To talk more about January 6th and where the far-right is now, we spoke to Will Sommer, a senior reporter for the Bulwark who focuses on the far right and conservative media.And in headlines, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth escalates his beef with Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz drops his re-election bid after weeks of mounting scrutiny over his handling of the state's welfare fraud scandal, and the CDC announces an alarming overhaul to its childhood vaccine schedule.Show Notes:Check out Will's work – substack.com/@willsommerCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This morning we're breaking down the latest batch of Epstein files, and once again, they contain multiple references to Donald Trump. At this point, the administration's continued denial of Trump's ties to Epstein is beyond implausible. It's absurd. We'll walk through what the newly released documents actually show, why they matter, and whether there's any realistic path to accountability for those named. Then we pivot to the media meltdown inside MAGA world. From the chaos at the Turning Point USA summit to escalating wars within MAGA's so-called “independent media,” the movement is fracturing in public. The infighting, the ego clashes, the contradictions, it's all coming apart in real time. Joining us to break it all down is Will Sommer of The Bulwark, who helps us connect the dots between the Epstein revelations and a MAGA media ecosystem that's clearly not doing well. This episode is sponsored by ZBiotics. Go to https://zbiotics.com/LEMON and use LEMON at checkout for 15% off first time orders. This episode is sponsored by 120Life. For a limited time, try 120Life and get 20% off. Just use the code “DON” at checkout at https://120Life.com. 120Life offers a risk-free trial with a full refund If your blood pressure doesn't come down in 2 weeks. This episode is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation to FFRF before December 31st. Or become a member and support their ongoing fight for reason, equality, and constitutional integrity. Go to https://FFRF.US/Winter25 or text DON to 511511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The people running the Republican grassroots are nativist populists, and it's a space where opposition to Israel thrives, along with a heaping serving of antisemitism. Candace's wild theories about the Charlie Kirk assassination has had a big impact among the young who get their news from TikTok and Instagram. And JD—who is the top-billed speaker at this year's AmericaFest—is sending signals that he's absorbing the nativist and anti-Zionist views among right-wing influencers like Tucker. Plus, Susie Wiles dishes on Trump and other top figures, and Stephen Miller's wife is running a North Korea-style podcast with some of the biggest names in the administration—but with virtually no audience. Will Sommer joins Tim Miller. show notes Will's "False Flag" newsletter The recent Atlantic piece that Tim referenced Vanity Fair's interview with Susie Wiles Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARK. Promo Code BULWARK
It's Casual Friday on the Majority Report On today's program: Indiana GOP refuses to gerrymander despite the onslaught of threats of stripping federal funding coming from the Trump administration. Will Sommer, author of the False Flag newsletter, joins Sam and Emma to talk about the week's news and the Charlie Kirk fallout that is cratering right-wing media In the Fun Half: Rep. Bennie Johnson (D-MS) grills an FBI official at a Homeland Security Committee hearing over his claim that Antifa is the most immediate threat facing the U.S. despite having ZERO information on the alleged organization. Kristi Noem is caught lying about deporting combat wounded veterans and breaking the law over their deporting of lawful asylum seekers. A 20-year-old-man speaks at a press conference about ICE arresting, brutalizing him and leaving him to walk in the snow 7 miles from his home. Glenn Beck interviews Ai George Washington in a nightmare segment. Bari Weiss interviews Erika Kirk and it is as weird as you would expect. All that and more. The Congress switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. You can use this number to connect with either the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase Check out today's sponsors: NUTRAFOL: Get $10 off your first month's subscription + free shipping at Nutrafol.com when you use promo code TMR10 TUSHY: Get 10% off TUSHY with the code TMR at https://hellotushy.com/TMR BLUELAND: To stock up on sustainable cleaning products for yourself, or to give a beautiful, sustainable gift to your friends and family this holiday season, go to Blueland.com/majority and save up to 30% during Blueland's holiday sale! SUNSET LAKE: Use coupon code "Left Is Best" (all one word) for 20% off of your entire order at SunsetLakeCBD.com Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech On Instagram: @MrBryanVokey Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on YouTube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com
Jan. 6 pipe bomber finally arrested — and he's reportedly a 2020 election denier. Dan Bongino, The Blaze, Tulsi Gabbard, and other right-wing figures all pushed wild false-flag theories for 4 years. The Bulwark's Will Sommer (author of “Trust the Plan”) helps Matt break down the massive right-wing meltdown, plus:-- Candace Owens vs TPUSA conspiracy spiral after Charlie Kirk's assassination-- Nick Fuentes clones, Qatar-paid MAGA influencers-- Loomer in the Pentagon press pool, and total collapse of credibility on the right.-- And MUCH more!Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewisFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.Buy Matt's books: FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937Copyright © 2025, BBL & BWL, LLC
Jon Herold unpacks a wide-ranging and often hilarious news day, starting with his newly minted title as the “world's foremost Q promoter” after a New York Times piece took his comments wildly out of context. He breaks down the Epstein-file discourse, clarifies what he actually said, and roasts Will Sommer while embracing the absurdity of becoming media-designated “Q adjacent.” Jon then covers mixed signals surrounding the supposed shutdown and surprise “revival” of DOGE, Trump pardoning a turkey, stock market chatter, and reports that Ukraine has agreed to the core terms of a U.S.-brokered peace deal. He reacts to snowfall at home, Thanksgiving week family time, and the DOJ's election-related narratives before diving into Emerald Robinson's sprawling 2024 “steal prevention” thread, which he finds intriguing but deeply suspicious. From Musk rumors to Smartmatic whistleblowers to cyber ops, Jon raises red flags while analyzing what doesn't add up. Additional topics include Trump's Genesis Mission executive order on AI, the slowing housing market, Fed speculation, terror-designation reviews, Mark Kelly's UCMJ scrutiny, a mysterious new DoD content-blocking directive, Speaker Johnson's Nick Fuentes comments, and the surreal “everyone's alive in Bismarck” running gag.
Donald Trump had to make an about-face on the Epstein Files because some Trump voters were getting…mildly annoyed. Will Sommer joins Sarah to hear them out. Then, Sen. Elissa Slotkin joins the show to discuss her PSA with her colleagues to the military and intelligence community, reminding them they can refuse illegal orders. They also discuss the recent government shutdown fight, and what Sen. Slotkin learned from winning several tough races in Michigan. NOTE: This episode discusses Sen. Slotkin and her colleagues' message to the military and intelligence community that President Trump called “seditious behavior, punishable by death.” This conversation was taped before that Trump post. Take our quick listener survey and help us make The Bulwark even better. https://bit.ly/bulwarkaudio
The New Republic’s Meredith Shiner examines how everyday citizens are fighting back against ICE.Then The Bulwark’s Will Sommer details how MAGA infighting is weakening Trump’s administration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
President Trump is expected to sign a bill forcing the Justice Department to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was friends with rich and powerful men, including President Trump, before he became a politician. The bill sailed through the House and Senate on Tuesday after Trump withdrew his opposition to it. But the battle over the Epstein files has revealed deep divisions between the president and some of his most ardent Make America Great Again supporters. The Bulwark's Will Sommer explains.And, Liz Stein, a survivor of Epstein's abuse and an anti-trafficking advocate, joins us to discuss the vote to release the files.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Late on Sunday, President Trump reversed course and is now backing a vote compelling the DOJ to release more documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein. The issue has led to a split between Trump and one of his biggest supporters, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. The Bulwark’s Will Sommer explains. Pope Leo recently criticized Trump’s immigration policies. Reuters reporter Joshua McElwee joins to discuss how the pontiff’s words led the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to take action. Startups funded by powerful billionaires in Silicon Valley are pushing the boundaries of reproductive genetics. The Wall Street Journal’s Emily Glazer breaks down some of the controversial practices. Plus, the Trump administration began an immigration crackdown in Charlotte, Tehran might be evacuated because of Iran’s water crisis, and why Academy officials are telling members to actually watch Oscar-contending movies this year if they want to vote. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.
This week, Jake and Travis sit down with journalist Will Sommer to unpack his investigation into the New Age wellness empire selling stacks of glowing TV monitors as a cure‑all. Jason Shurka, the brains behind the multi-million dollar operation, used the funds to bankroll a brand new streaming platform, Unifyd TV, whose offerings include documentaries made by QAnon promoters. According to the promoters of this quack cure, their work is approved by a secret society of powerful entities who are dedicated to elevating humankind called “The Light Systems” cabal or “TLS.” One member of The Light Systems, a figure called “Ray,” is regularly filmed while wearing a face-concealing hoodie and gloves in order to preserve his anonymity in interviews with Shurka available on Unifyd TV. It's a lot. Just listen to the episode. Subscribe for $5 a month to get all the premium episodes: www.patreon.com/qaa Will Sommer https://bsky.app/profile/willsommer.bsky.social How a Bizarre Healing-TV-Screen Tycoon Is Funding MAGA Media https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bizarre-healing-tv-screen-tycoon-funding-maga-media-unifyd-eesystem The first two episodes of Annie Kelly's new podcast miniseries “Truly, Tradly, Deeply” will be released on the Cursed Media podcast network on the 29th of October. https://www.cursedmedia.net/ Cursed Media subscribers also get access to every episode of every QAA miniseries we produced, including Manclan by Julian Feeld and Annie Kelly, Trickle Down by Travis View, The Spectral Voyager by Jake Rockatansky and Brad Abrahams, and Perverts by Julian Feeld and Liv Agar. Plus, Cursed Media subscribers will get access to at least three new exclusive podcast miniseries every year. https://www.cursedmedia.net/ Editing by Corey Klotz. Theme by Nick Sena. Additional music by Pontus Berghe. Theme Vocals by THEY/LIVE (instagram.com/theyylivve / sptfy.com/QrDm). Cover Art by Pedro Correa: (pedrocorrea.com) qaapodcast.com QAA was known as the QAnon Anonymous podcast.
Laura Loomer has not-so-quietly emerged as one of the most influential figures in MAGA media, but who the hell is she and where did she come from? This episode seeks to explain how a person who is now known for eating dog food on camera came to wield so much power over one of the most powerful countries in the history of the world.Will Sommer, a reporter for The Bulwark, joined Jared and Mike to dive deep into Laura's prolific history as an attention-seeking influencer and bigoted far-right activist, covering everything from her tumultuous childhood to her notorious relationship to President Trump. They revisited the deep cuts and lost lore from Loomer's career, like the fact a guy lost part of his pinky finger when she handcuffed herself to Twitter's NYC office in 2018.The episode also features a cameo from Nathan Bernard, who found himself at the center of one of Laura's many legal dramas.Links for Will Sommer:Subscribe to his newsletter: “False Flag” at The BulwarkRead his book: “Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America” via HarperCollinsFollow him on X and Bluesky
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.comPete Hegseth calls in the nation's top generals and admirals so he can lecture them about being in shape and ending wokeness and Donald Trump can speak ominously about “the war from within” and using American cities as training grounds for troops. JVL, Sarah Longwell and Tim Miller react to the supremely weird meeting—and then spend some time reflecting on how the first nine months of Trump's second term have stacked up against JVL's worst case scenario from a year ago. Have a question you've been dying to ask the gang? Leave it in the comments on this episode and you may just see them answer it during an upcoming live show. We'll be posting the replays exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Bulwark Live in NYC is sold out but you can still snag tickets for Bulwark Live in DC Oct 8 featuring Rep. Sarah McBride and a super-sized Bulwark panel with Mona Charen, Andrew Egger and Will Sommer at TheBulwark.com/events.Watch, listen, and leave a comment. This ad-free video version of The Next Level is exclusively for Bulwark+ members. You can find The Next Level wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. Add The Next Level to your podcast player of choice, here.
Charlie Kirk was one of the most important figures in conservative media for over a decade, especially for Gen Z. We asked a couple of focus groups of young conservatives what Kirk meant to them, how they're grappling with his passing, and who else they think will take up his mantle on the right. Will Sommer, author of The Bulwark's False Flag newsletter, joins Sarah to discuss the state of young conservatives and his reporting on Kirk's legacy. Get your first three months with Mint Mobile for $15/month at https://MintMobile.com/THEFOCUSGROUP. Get 30% off your first order with Soul at https://GetSoul.com with promo code THEFOCUSGROUP.
Will Sommer of The Bulwark returns to Chapo to talk about the right's reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk as well as his funeral proceedings in Arizona. We recap the Groyper War that preceded the assassination and the pressure it put on Kirk to move right, as well as the conspiracies surrounding his shooting. Was Israel involved? Why was there no exit wound? Did Charlie have a late-in-life conversion to Catholicism? And which faction of the right will be able to define the man's legacy? Follow Will Sommer on Twitter/X: https://x.com/willsommer
The New Republic’s Meredith Shiner examines how to push back against Trump’s increasingly disturbing rule. The Bulwark’s Will Sommer details the chaos in MAGA World following the killing of Charlie Kirk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Charlie Kirk's assassination has rattled people on both sides of the aisle and terrified those whose jobs, like Charlie's, involve talking about politics on the public stage. Jon reflects on the aftermath of the killing, what he finds most alarming, and his disappointment with leaders on the right and followers on the left. Then, the Bulwark's Will Sommer joins the show to break down how important Charlie Kirk was to the MAGA movement, how the right is reacting to new information about his killer, and how Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, and Megyn Kelly are all scrambling for control of his legacy and Turning Point USA. Jon closes out the show by answering Offline producer Austin Fisher's questions on the ripple effects of the assassination.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
FBI director Kash Patel testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing and fails miserably to answer questions. On Fox & Friends Kash Patel fumbles his way through explaining an alleged note left by Tyler Robinson that is now "destroyed". Senior reporter at The Bulwark, Will Sommer joins the show to discuss the right-wing media response to Charlie Kirk's murder. Mexican journalist and staff writer at Venezuelanalysis, Jose Luis Granados Ceja joins us to discuss the Trump administration summarily killing another alleged "Venezuelan drug boat" in the Carribean and what message the strike sends to Latin America. In the Fun Half: Actors Hannah Einbinder, Javier Bardem and Morgan Spector speak out against the genocide in Palestine. Candace Owens comes for Bill Ackman with allegations of threats towards Kirk over Israel. Pam Bondi promises Sean Hannity that she will attack free speech and prosecute people who are 'celebrating' the assassination. All that and more The Congress switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. You can use this number to connect with either the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase Check out today's sponsors: DELTEME: Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/MAJORITY and use promo code MAJORITY at checkout. TUSHY: Get 10% off TUSHY with the code TMR at https://hellotushy.com/TMR SUNSET LAKE: Head to SunsetLakeCBD.com and through September 14th, you can save 30% on all Sunset Lake CBD's Tinctures when you use the coupon code FallTincture Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on YouTube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/
In an appalling move, President Trump went on Fox News and openly suggested that far-right political violence is typically justified as a response to left-wing extremism. This functionally tells Trump supporters that it is now open season on the liberal-left after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Trump also signaled he will use the power of the state to exact retribution on Trump-MAGA's designated scapegoats for Kirk's killing. This comes as eruptions of MAGA fury over Kirk's death, including calls for mass violence, are rising to alarming levels, making Trump's encouragement even more depraved. We talked to Will Sommer, who closely tracks the far right as a staff writer for The Bulwark. He discusses how far-right individuals and groups will take Trump's signals as “sanction,” notes the “all-consuming anger” he's seeing, and suggests we may see more organized violence coming from those precincts going forward. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Say what you will about President Donald Trump's first administration, but at least some of the people given top jobs had a morsel of experience doing those jobs. Now, the Trump administration is chock full of the weirdest people the MAGA world has to offer, united by their personal allegiance to one man – Donald J. Trump. From Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, whose qualifications are “co-hosted the weekend edition of Fox and Friends” to Paul Ingrassia, the former podcaster nominated to run the Office of Special Counsel, who thinks the descendents of slaves should pay the descendants of slave-OWNERS reparations….to Laura Loomer, a Jewish, white nationalist, 9/11 truther, who made headlines in 2018 when she chained herself to the doors of Twitter's office to protest getting banned from the platform.It's a cavalcade of the worst people ever to be given a high-speed internet connection. Especially when they now have real power. So we spoke to Will Sommer, senior reporter at The Bulwark, to help us understand how the craziest people in America rose to the very top of the federal government.And in headlines: Trump goes to the Museum of the Bible to talk about how much he loves religion, Pete Hegseth hypes up the troops in Puerto Rico, and Democrats release a very NSFW birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein, allegedly signed by Trump himself.Show Notes:Check out Will's work – substack.com/@willsommerCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday
The resignations of senior leaders at the CDC is a calamity. People with decades of expertise in infectious disease are leaving the agency because the new director—who Trump just appointed—refused to get on board with RFK's anti-vax crusade, including limiting access to Covid boosters. And Wednesday's violence in Minneapolis may be a sign that the FBI should be keeping its eye on the threats from domestic terror instead of arresting day laborers at Home Depot. Meanwhile, Trump's threat to the Fed's independence could pose a real risk to the stability of the U.S. Plus, more on the shifting attitudes about Israel among Dems, the latest attack on Kyiv is another reminder of how much Putin is mocking Trump, and remembering Katrina 20 years later. Sam Stein and the NYT's Talmon Smith join Tim Miller. show notes Thursday's "Morning Shots" Tim, Sam, and Will Sommer on a MAGA brawl, the “Bulwark Take” Tim mentioned Bulwark Live in DC and NYC at https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events. Toronto is SOLD OUT
As the Trump administration manufactures conspiracies to distract from the president's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, some on the right are blaming the deep state while others are finally calling foul. The Bulwark's Will Sommer has been covering the far right conspiracy beat for years, and he joins the show to break down the Epstein drama, run through the kooks in charge of federal law enforcement, and compare the unhinged agendas of MAGA's two misinformation queens, Laura Loomer and Candace Owens. One thing's for sure: never before have so many online lunatics occupied positions of such power and influence.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
Gerrymandering has always been partisan, but what's happening in Texas is straight-up racial politics. Republicans are targeting and trying to disenfranchise black voters while betting that Latino voters will stick with them. And because Trump hasn't had a lot of luck making the furor over Epstein and Ghislaine go away, JD is stepping in to host a totally 100% aboveboard damage control session at his house—with the top officials at the DOJ. Plus, the U.S. had almost zero job growth in May and June, the economy is slowing, and prices are ticking up. Josh Barro and Zerlina Maxwell join Tim Miller. show notes: Tim, Sam, and Will Sommer on the MAGA girl meltdown Zerlina's book, "The End of White Politics" Go to https://zbiotics.com/THEBULWARK and use THEBULWARK at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.
Guests: Michelle Goldberg, Tara Setmayer, Barbara McQuade, Will Sommer, Jared BernsteinDonald Trump's downplay isn't working. Tonight: new evidence the American people are demanding answers on Epstein. Plus, the supreme gambit of Epstein's accomplice as Ghislaine Maxwell gets a date with the high court. Then, growing questions over what we know and what we don't about the Epstein jail video. And on the eve of another massive round of tariffs, the painful truth that the President doesn't want you to know. Want more of Chris? Download and subscribe to his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.
Guests: Claire McCaskill, Harry Litman, Will Sommer, Sarah Longwell, Chuck Rosenberg, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse Breaking news from the Wall Street Journal: Guess whose name DOJ found in the Epstein files. Tonight: new reporting on Pam Bondi's alert to the president that his name was in the Epstein files. Then, how Democrats plan to follow the money. And the increasing concern over Donald Trump's former defense lawyer and his jailhouse meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell. Want more of Chris? Download and subscribe to his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.
MSNBC's Antonia Hylton hosts "The Beat" on Friday, July 18, and reports on multiple breaking news developments on Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, including Donald Trump filing a libel suit against the Wall Street Journal over its new Epstein reporting, and Trump's DOJ filing a motion to unseal grand jury testimony about Epstein. Kristy Greenberg, Lisa Rubin, Jelani Cobb, Will Sommer, Steve Inskeep and Pastor Darrell Scott join.
MAGA has been infighting over the Jeffrey Epstein files. And that's because the conspiracy theories around Epstein hit at the very core of MAGA's whole worldview.Today's episode looks closer at that worldview. Will Sommer has been tracking conspiracies for years now. He was a reporter at The Washington Post and is now at The Bulwark, and he's the author of “Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America.”In this conversation, we discuss the rise of QAnon, Donald Trump's slippery relationship to the more conspiracy-minded factions of his base and how the intrigue around the Epstein files has challenged his credibility as an outsider taking on the “corrupt elites.”This episode contains strong language.Mentioned:“MAGA Is Tearing Itself Apart Over Jeffrey Epstein” by David FrenchP.R.R.I. SurveyNixonland by Rick PerlsteinBook Recommendations:Buckley by Sam TanenhausAmerican Tabloid by James EllroyLow Life by Lucy SanteThoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.You can find the transcript and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.htmlThis episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Annie Galvin and Jack McCordick. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, Mary Marge Locker, Jack McCordick and Kristin Lin. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Aman Sahota and Isaac Jones. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Marie Cascione, Rollin Hu, Elias Isquith, Marina King and Jan Kobal. Original music by Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Special thanks to Mia Bloom and Sophia Moskalenko. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.