POPULARITY
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.
Trump arrives in the UK for a historic second state visit Plus: Israel opens route for fleeing Gaza City, and messages from Charlie Kirk's alleged killer are released. With: Michael Walker, Will Sommer, Bhargav Srinivasa Desikan, and Mike Bankole
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
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
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
American conservative media figure and activist Charlie Kirk was one of the most prominent young voices of the American right. The founder of Turning Point USA, a close ally of Donald Trump, and a figure who helped shape the culture and pipeline of the MAGA movement.On Wednesday, he was shot at one of his trademark campus debate events at Utah Valley University.Will Sommer, a senior reporter with The Bulwark, joins the show to break down the shooting, how rhetoric around the killing is escalating, and how it all connects to the growing atmosphere of political violence in the United States.For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts
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.
President Trump has a habit of courting unfounded conspiracies. That includes QAnon, the belief that some hidden figure in the government is explaining how Trump is waging a secret battle against dark, nefarious forces. His amplification of QAnon has also fueled speculation about the Jeffrey Epstein case. William Brangham discussed more with Will Sommer, author of “Trust the Plan." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
President Trump has a habit of courting unfounded conspiracies. That includes QAnon, the belief that some hidden figure in the government is explaining how Trump is waging a secret battle against dark, nefarious forces. His amplification of QAnon has also fueled speculation about the Jeffrey Epstein case. William Brangham discussed more with Will Sommer, author of “Trust the Plan." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
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.
In an unprecedented move, Mike Johnson - the Speaker of the House has just shut Congress for the summer and sent legislators home early to stop them passing a bipartisan bill calling for the release of files on Jeffrey Epstein. Mike Johnson is scared of Donald Trump. But what is Donald Trump so scared of? And why can't he make this Epstein story go away? We're joined by the reporter that's followed all the twists and turns of the Epstein saga, scandal and conspiracy - The Bulwark's Will Sommer. And we ask why the late night Steve Colbert show has been cancelled.The News Agents USA is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
USAID has officially closed its doors, but the devastating impact of its loss is echoing around the world. Among those worst hit is Afghanistan, which received over 40 percent of its humanitarian support from the US. One study predicts that, if the cuts continue through 2030, 14 million people could die as a result. It's not hard to find evidence of how this is already materializing, as correspondent Isobel Yeung saw for herself. Also on today's show: Bulwark senior reporter Will Sommer; TechTonic Justice founder Kevin De Liban Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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.
Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick examines the final fallout from the latest Supreme Court rulings.The Bulwark’s Will Sommer details the extreme levels of cope coming from MAGA World as they twist themselves in knots over the Epstein client list.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Will Sommer is a senior reporter at The Bulwark, where he authors the newsletter “False Flag.” A longtime chronicler of right-wing media, Will joins the show to discuss the fallout facing the Trump Administration as it backs off its promise to release the “Epstein Files.” After years of promising to unveil new information about one of the highest profile pedophiles in United States history, the administration has reversed course entirely — leading some MAGA movement figures to call for resignations of key administration figures.Get 50% off your first Magic Mind subscription using the code THROUGHIT50 at https://www.magicmind.com/throughit50. #magicmind #mentalperformanceLinks for Will:* Subscribe to his newsletter: “False Flag” at The Bulwark* Read his book: “Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America” via HarperCollins* Follow him on X and BlueskyThrow a few bucks in our digital tip jar: https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com
The Focus Group Podcast is still on hiatus, but the Trump administration's walkback of the promised "Epstein Files" this week got us curious about how voters were thinking. The Bulwark's own Will Sommer sat down with Sarah to break down a focus group we convened with 2024 Trump voters who disapprove of Trump's job performance, and discuss how Democrats can talk about this Epstein news.
Trump fumbles through a chaotic cabinet meeting, announcing new tariffs and cluelessness to the Ukraine weapons pause. Meanwhile, MAGA world erupts over the Epstein files, Grok turns into a bigoted chatbot, and ICE has transformed into Trump's personal police force. Special guest Sam Stein joins Sarah and JVL to discuss yet another wild week. show notes Will Sommer's False Flag “MAGA World's Mega Meltdown Over Latest Epstein Flop” JVL's Triad “The American Police State Is Here” Go to https://zbiotics.com/NEXTLEVEL and use NEXTLEVEL at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Get 20% off plus free shipping at BollandBranch.com/NextLevel For 15% off your order and a special gift, head to Pacagen.com/THENEXTLEVEL and use code THENEXTLEVEL.
After years of hype and promises to destroy the deep state, the Department of Justice and FBI publicly declared there is no “client list” linking Jeffrey Epstein to prominent figures, this week. They also confirmed Epstein died by suicide and said told all of MAGA basically to drop the issue. Now, MAGA influencers are accusing Trump of a cover up, the right wing internet is in disarray, and it remains unclear what will happen next. The Epstein cover up has been the defining conspiracy on the right linking MAGA factions together. Will Sommer is a reporter at The Bulwark who covers the right wing internet. He joined me to break down what's going on and what's next for the right. ***** Buy a subscription to my Tech and Online Culture newsletter, User Magazine to support my work!!!!
MSNBC's Ari Melber hosts "The Beat" on Tuesday, July 8, and reports on President Trump's budget, growing backlash over Paramount yielding to Trump and renewed scrutiny of the Trump administration's controversial deportation policies. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Will Sommer and Marty Baron join.
In a little-noticed rant, President Donald Trump furiously vowed on Truth Social that he will now carry out something called “remigration.” This idea is widely prevalent among global white nationalists who see it as key to their vile goal of building white ethnostates, so his open endorsement of it is significant. That comes as a U.S. Democratic Senator has been violently tackled and handcuffed, as Trump dispatches troops into Los Angeles, and as his Homeland Security secretary suggests those troops will “liberate” L.A. from its elected Democratic leadership. We talked to Will Sommer, senior reporter at The Bulwark and author of a great piece on the fresh levels of bloodlust all this is inspiring in MAGA media. We discuss the centrality of sadism and violent lawlessness to the MAGA movement—and why this is pushing us toward a watershed moment. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In a little-noticed rant, President Donald Trump furiously vowed on Truth Social that he will now carry out something called “remigration.” This idea is widely prevalent among global white nationalists who see it as key to their vile goal of building white ethnostates, so his open endorsement of it is significant. That comes as a U.S. Democratic Senator has been violently tackled and handcuffed, as Trump dispatches troops into Los Angeles, and as his Homeland Security secretary suggests those troops will “liberate” L.A. from its elected Democratic leadership. We talked to Will Sommer, senior reporter at The Bulwark and author of a great piece on the fresh levels of bloodlust all this is inspiring in MAGA media. We discuss the centrality of sadism and violent lawlessness to the MAGA movement—and why this is pushing us toward a watershed moment. You can listen to this episode—which was recorded before the horrifying shootings of two Minnesota state legislators—right here. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In a little-noticed rant, President Donald Trump furiously vowed on Truth Social that he will now carry out something called “remigration.” This idea is widely prevalent among global white nationalists who see it as key to their vile goal of building white ethnostates, so his open endorsement of it is significant. That comes as a U.S. Democratic Senator has been violently tackled and handcuffed, as Trump dispatches troops into Los Angeles, and as his Homeland Security secretary suggests those troops will “liberate” L.A. from its elected Democratic leadership. We talked to Will Sommer, senior reporter at The Bulwark and author of a great piece on the fresh levels of bloodlust all this is inspiring in MAGA media. We discuss the centrality of sadism and violent lawlessness to the MAGA movement—and why this is pushing us toward a watershed moment. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For four years, fringe right wing voices have accused the Democrats of all sorts of secret crimes, moaning that the truth is being supressed. Now on the inside, some as high as Cabinet positions, they are expected to provide fireworks. What’s happening now that they can’t deliver the goods? (with Will Sommer of the Bulwark)
The Bulwark's Will Sommer talks about the huge fight between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, why some MAGA folks are turning against Scott Pressler, and why MyPillow Guy Mike Lindell is texting him. Support "Matt Lewis & The News" at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewisFollow Matt Lewis & Cut Through the Noise:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattklewis/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 book: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416Copyright © 2024, BBL & BWL, LLC
Before Kash Patel, Dan Bongino and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. were prominent members of the Trump Administration (FBI Director, FBI Deputy Director and Health and Human Services Secretary, respectively), they were conspiracy theorists. But now that these men hold positions of power in the government, the various conspiracies they pushed are coming back to haunt them. Because their longtime supporters want them to act on all the wild claims they made. Will Sommer, a senior writer at The Bulwark and author of the 'False Flag' newsletter, talks about the tension within the online community that propelled these men to power.And in headlines: President Donald Trump issued a bunch of pardons for tax cheats, Elon Musk said the GOP's 'Big Beautiful Bill' undermines the work he did at DOGE, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller reportedly wants more deportations.Show Notes:Check out Will's newsletter – www.thebulwark.com/s/false-flagSubscribe 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
What happens when conspiracists make their dreams come true by taking over the deep state agencies and cracking them open? FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino's recent shift from conservative radio host to federally-employed “Epstein killed himself“ advocate creates chaos among those who hope for new revelations from newly influential insiders. Joined by Will Sommer of the False Flag newsletter, Jake, Liv, and Travis dissect Bongino's controversial flip-flop, the disillusionment of the MAGA faithful, and Glenn Beck's anguish over the situation. Meanwhile, James Comey's cryptic seashell Instagram post sparks a numerological panic and a Secret Service visit, mainstream conservative media cozies up to QAnon figures, and Elon Musk signals a pullback from political spending after a major loss in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Subscribe for $5 a month to get all the premium episodes: https://patreon.com/qaa Will Sommer on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/willsommer.bsky.social // Editing by Corey Klotz. Theme by Nick Sena. Additional music by Pontus Berghe. Theme Vocals by THEY/LIVE (https://instagram.com/theyylivve / https://sptfy.com/QrDm). Cover Art by Pedro Correa: (https://pedrocorrea.com) https://qaapodcast.com /// SOURCES The Real Reason Trump World Just Can't Quit Conspiracy Theories https://www.thebulwark.com/p/real-reason-trump-world-conspiracy-theories-patel-bongino-maga James Comey is under investigation for his '8647' Instagram post. What does it mean? https://www.npr.org/2025/05/16/nx-s1-5400400/comey-trump-8647-investigation-instagram QAnon Conspiracy Theorist Liz Crokin Claims 'The Simpsons' Are Satanic 'Predictive Programming' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36ox1U3uYrY Thanks to DOGE, Gumroad's founder has a second job with the VA https://www.fastcompany.com/91330297/doge-sahil-lavignia-gumroad What DOGE gets wrong about tech and government https://donmoynihan.substack.com/p/what-doge-gets-wrong-about-tech-and
Before they were appointed, the leaders of the F.B.I. boosted misinformation about a ‘deep state.' Now they're in power, they've become the focus of conspiracy theories. On this week's On the Media, how MAGA infighting about Jeffrey Epstein reveals a greater problem for the Republican Party. Plus, the story of one of the world's farthest-reaching radio stations: a haven for extremists based in small-town Maine.[01:00] Host Micah Loewinger talks with Will Sommer, senior reporter at The Bulwark, about why the Trump White House's allegiance with conspiracy theorists is souring, and how Jeffrey Epstein is dividing the MAGA base. [09:04] Episode 3 of The Divided Dial, Season 2: World's Last Chance Radio. In the internet era, much of the shortwaves have been left to the most extreme voices — including a conspiratorial flat earth ministry, and an ultra-conservative cult complete with everything from sexual abuse to dead infants and illegal burials. In the 737-person northern Maine town of Monticello, reporter Katie Thornton explores one of the world's farthest-reaching radio stations that has given them a home, pumping out extremism and conspiracy theories to the world as the voice of American broadcasting.Further reading:“The Real Reason Trump World Just Can't Quit Conspiracy Theories,” Will Sommer On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.
Talking Points Memo’s Josh Marshall examines how Trump is failing to emulate Viktor Orbán’s playbook. Minority Whip Katherine Clark details how Democrats continue to fight back against Trump’s agenda. Plus, we have a special bonus from our YouTube channel with The Bulwark’s Will Sommer examining the MAGA media clown show being invited into the White House press room.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dive into the chaotic world of right-wing media with Matt Lewis and Will Sommer, senior reporter at The Bulwark, author of the 'False Flag' newsletter, and author of the book, 'Trust the Plan.'In this explosive podcast, they unpack:-- Semaphore's exposé on secret right-wing Signal chats, revealing how tech billionaires like Mark Andreessen and media stars like Tucker Carlson shape online narratives.-- Tucker Carlson vs. Megyn Kelly: A heated clash over Pete Hegseth's Pentagon purge and competing MAGA narratives.-- Joe Rogan's controversial guests: From 9/11 truthers to WWII revisionists, why Jordan Peterson and Douglas Murray are calling out Rogan's “reckless” platform.-- Trump's war on the press: The chilling resignation of 60 Minutes' executive producer amid CBS's capitulation to Trump's lawsuits.-- Elon Musk vs. Steve Bannon: Inside the ideological and personal battles defining the MAGA movement's future.-- Dan Bongino's 'Streisand Effect': How the deputy FBI director's tweets backfired, spotlighting his FBI sparring mishap.* Note: During the conversation, Will said Matt Yglesias was in the Marc Andressen group chat, While Matt's name is mentioned in the story, it doesn't say he was in the chats. #RightWingMedia #Maga #TuckerCarlson #MegynKelly #JoeRogan #Trump #WillSommer #MattLewis #TheBulwark #PoliticalPodcastSupport "Matt Lewis & The News" at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewisFollow Matt Lewis & Cut Through the Noise:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattklewis/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 book: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416Copyright © 2024, BBL & BWL, LLC
MSNBC's Ari Melber hosts "The Beat" on Friday, April 25, and reports on the economic turmoil under President Trump and his attacks on free speech. Plus, Rev. Al Sharpton and Nems join for the latest "Fallback" installment. Will Sommer and Margaret Carlson also join.
Donald Trump is facing some headwinds. His staff accidentally leaked war plans to a reporter, and the promised price cuts are nowhere to be found. We check in with Biden-Trump voters on Signal-gate, and talk to Trump's base about whether they want him running for a third term, how they feel about the economy (which may surprise you), and the state of the MAGA media ecosystem. The Bulwark's MAGA-knower Will Sommer joins Sarah to sift through it all. show notes By Will Sommer: When ‘Owning The Libs' > The Constitution A Crack in Ben Shapiro's Daily Wire
When a journalist was accidentally added to a Signal chat that disclosed sensitive war plans, a controversy erupted about our national security. On this week's On the Media, a look at how right-wing media is processing “Signalgate.” Plus, why Donald Trump is calling himself the crypto president.[01:00] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Will Sommer, a senior reporter at the Bulwark, about the controversy surrounding “Signalgate,” or when The Atlantic's Editor-in-Chief got added to a Signal group chat in which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared detailed plans for bombing Houthi militants. They discuss the response from the Trump administration, and how rightwing media have been covering the scandal. [17:24] Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with Jennifer Berkshire, co-author of The Education Wars, to explore President Trump's plan to dismantle the Department of Education. Plus, why MAGA-backed school voucher programs have been met with fierce opposition from conservatives in red states.[33:32] Host Micah Loewinger chats with Jacob Silverman, who covers tech, crypto, politics, and corruption, and co-authored Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud, about President Trump's seismic shift from criticizing crypto to naming himself the “Crypto President” and launching a $TRUMP memecoin. Further reading:“Cruel to Your School,” by Jennifer Berkshire“The Strange Bedfellows Fighting School Vouchers,” by Jennifer Berkshire“In Red States, Rural Voters Are Leading the Resistance to School Vouchers.” by Jennifer Berkshire“The President Took A $75 Million Bribe And We All Saw It,” by Jacob SilvermanEasy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud by Jacob Silverman On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.
On the latest episode of The New Abnormal, an exploration of the way the world's richest man has effectively “canceled himself.” Then, The Bulwark's Will Sommer joins the show to discuss the MAGA podcast sphere—and how the ideas being floated there in recent weeks are veering into dangerous territory. Plus! A conversation with ProPublica reporting fellow Nicole Foy about her recent piece titled, “Some Americans Have Already Been Caught in Trump's Immigration Dragnet. More Will Be.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Abdul (@MarxGasol) and Jeremy (@jeremyappel1025) join from the Kino Lefter vault to discuss the smash hit film of a summer in our memory, Sound of Freedom. Order Jeremy's book "Kennyism: Jason Kenney's Pursuit of Power" here. And subscribe to The Orchard, Jeremy's Substack. Check out the movie Abdul wrote, Peace by Chocolate and check out Allegiance.ReComradations:Evan: Faces (1968) dir. John CassavetesJeremy: [1] Trust the Plan by Will Sommer [2] Watching Blue Jays baseballAbdul: [1] Fantastic Four: Life Story [2] Aberration in the Heartland of the Real: The Secret Lives of Timothy McVeigh by Wendy S. Painting
At a town hall event hosted by Fox, Donald Trump shared a number of falsehoods, and appeared to confuse who he was running against. On this week's On the Media, how mainstream outlets fail to hold the Republican candidate accountable. Plus, meet the right-wing American pundits who've received payouts from the Kremlin.[01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone speaks with Daniel Drezner, professor of International Politics at Tufts University. Drezner discusses how the political press continues to struggle to cover Trump, and his campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris. [12:34] Host Brooke Gladstone interviews Dan Froomkin, editor of presswatchers.org. Froomkin explains why fact checkers at legacy outlets are too often adding to political confusion.[20:49] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Will Sommer, reporter for the Washington Post who writes about conservative media. They discuss a federal investigation into how the Russian-funded media network RT funded and influenced content of a conservative media company in the U.S., which appears to be the Tennessee-based Tenet Media. [35:01 ] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Dan Taberski, the host and creator of the podcast series “Hysterical,” about the ties between a medical mystery in Le Roy, New York in 2011, and the unending Havana Syndrome saga. Further reading:“The Very Weird Media Coverage of the 2024 Presidential Race,” by Daniel Drezner“'Fact-checking' does a (hopefully fatal) face plant,” by Dan Froomkin“Inside Tenet Media, the pro-Trump ‘supergroup' allegedly funded by Russia” by Will Sommer On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.
Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie react to a Goldman Sachs report that suggested the U.S. economy may take a hit if former President Donald Trump retakes the White House. Then, a conversation with The Washington Post media reporter Will Sommer, who joins the program to discuss the indictment of two employees of Russian state-backed media company Russia Today (RT); part of an investigation that exposed a number of American right-wing internet personalities for allegedly taking money from an organization funded by Russian interests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Soon after the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, in which 20 children and six adults were murdered, Infowars' Alex Jones began to push the false idea that the tragedy was a hoax perpetrated by the U.S. government to promote gun restrictions. So a group of parents decided to sue Jones for defamation, and in 2022 they were awarded a $1.5 billion settlement. This month, a bankruptcy judge ordered Jones to liquidate some of his personal assets to help cover the judgment. Jones was allowed to keep his controlling stake in the Infowars conspiracy site for now, but the site could be shut down within a matter of months. Elahe Izadi sits down with media reporter Will Sommer to talk about Jones's fall and what it could mean for the future of the misinformation landscape.Today's show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.
The conflict in the Middle East has already killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. On this week's On the Media, hear how Israeli media outlets are broadcasting a sanitized version of what's happening in Gaza to the Israeli people. Plus, how one billionaire is going after the media for an article about plagiarism. 1. Oren Persico [@OrenPersico], staff writer at The Seventh Eye, an independent investigative magazine focused on freedom of speech in Israel, on how Israeli mainstream media outlets are sanitizing the destruction in Gaza. Listen. 2. Will Sommer [@willsommer], media reporter at The Washington Post, on how fights over plagiarism have become a political tool. Listen. 3. Masha Gessen [@mashagessen], staff writer at The New Yorker, on how the politics of memory around the Holocaust damages our ability to understand the conflict in Gaza and Israel. Listen.
The conflict in the Middle East has already killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. On this week's On the Media, hear how Israeli media outlets are broadcasting a sanitized version of what's happening in Gaza to the Israeli people. Plus, how one billionaire is going after the media for an article about plagiarism. 1. Oren Persico [@OrenPersico], staff writer at The Seventh Eye, an independent investigative magazine focused on freedom of speech in Israel, on how Israeli mainstream media outlets are sanitizing the destruction in Gaza. Listen. 2. Will Sommer [@willsommer], media reporter at The Washington Post, on how fights over plagiarism have become a political tool. Listen. 3. Masha Gessen [@mashagessen], staff writer at The New Yorker, on how the politics of memory around the Holocaust damages our ability to understand the conflict in Gaza and Israel. Listen.