The Mark Thompson Show

Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers faced off in a heated debate over the Iran war, gas prices, health care and tariffs. The Michigan Senate candidates traded attacks over their political positions in a race that could help decide control of the Senate. Over at the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wants the man who killed 13 people at the Fort Hood military base to be killed by a firing squad and wants it streamed and available to the public. This Week in Politics brings Mo Kelly and David Shuster to the show to weigh in on the current events making the biggest impact. We will lighten it up as we head into the weekend with a swing by Florida and a look at movies, courtesy of The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder.

Trump returns to Texas to rally behind Ken Paxton, whose Senate race is tighter than Republicans expected. With Paxton privately voicing concerns about Trump’s impact on the campaign, the visit could test whether the president can energize voters or deepen the party’s political tension. The rally yesterday in Texas was chaotic and full of protests causing Trump to step away from the podium at one point. Guests today include: Our friend and former federal prosecutor David Katz. He is a legal commentator with the uncanny ability to predict legal outcomes. Marcia Chatelain is the Penn Presidential Compact Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2021, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History for her book Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America. She shares details of her new book: How Bright the Path Grows: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the March on Washington (Pantheon Books; September 29, 2026). Robert Pape returns for another great conversation. Pape is a…

Trump says U.S. poverty is at an historic low—but that doesn’t mean life feels affordable. From rent and groceries to health care and childcare, many Americans still struggle to cover the basics. We look at the gap between poverty statistics and the cost of living ahead of the midterms. Guest today include: John Rothmann. He is a presidential historian and host of the podcast ‘Around the Political World with John Rothmann.’ Allan Lichtman is an historian, author and long-time civil rights advocate. He has testified in more than 110 civil rights and voting rights cases across the US. In his upcoming book, Great American Presidents: The Twelve Who Transformed the Nation, Lichtman introduces his innovative non-partisan framework for gauging presidential performance. He considers Trump the worst president in history for many reasons, including his blatant attacks on civil rights. Jared Yates Sexton is a political analyst and author. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Republic, Politico, The…

Jaw dropping behavior by Trump at a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska yesterday. He brought aide Natalie Harp (nicknamed the “Human Printer”) on stage to hand him an executive order allowing tax-free purchases of red-dyed diesel. He signed it, tossed his pen into the crowd, then compared Harp’s entrance to perfect people on The Price Is Right, joking that they should take the whole thing on television. Perhaps even more shocking…Trump suggested Iran could “take out” Los Angeles or San Diego, indicating he wouldn’t mind losing those American cities. California Governor Gavin Newsom responded by call ing Trump “deranged and dangerous” saying a president’s role is to protect the country, not threaten American cities or encourage attacks on their residents. Guests today include the incredible David Cay Johnston. He is a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist and a best selling author. Find David online at dcreport.org and on Substack at https://substack.com/@davidcayjohnston Legal scholar David F. Walbert…

With just four weeks until Election Day, Republicans are in a bad spot trying to defend states Trump won by huge margins just two years ago. The polling shows Democrats leading in races that should be safe GOP strongholds. Latino voter shifts are catching Republicans offguard. GOP messaging on the economy is not landing with voters. Add to this, high gas prices are becoming a major liability, and voters can see panic in Trump's desperate cash-giveaway pitch. It all points to disaster come November 2nd. Guests today include: Sarah Kendzior. She is a best selling author, scholar and journalist. Find Sarah online at: sarahkendzior.com https://substack.com/@sarahkendzior David Shuster is an Emmy award winning broadcast journalist best known for his work at NBC News and MSNBC and his ongoing YouTube videos on "Rebel HQ." Find David at: https://substack.com/@davidshuster

For an American president who supposedly hates communists so much that he is spending money to advertise against the dangers of such ideology, he sure seems to like pictures of himself with communist leaders. MS NOW’s Jacqueline Alemany is sharing images from the Palm Room at the White House showing gold framed photos of Trump with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin prominently displayed beside a doorway. America’s adversaries, lovingly clad in big ornate golden frames hanging in the White House. So which is it? Does Trump want communist authoritarian leaders in a place of honor or on America’s list of enemies? A picture is worth a thousand words. We welcome Michael Shure and Mo Kelly for This Week in Politics. This lively, engaging discussion on the top stories of the week is one not to miss. Friday shenanigans get underway with Friday Fabulous Florida and The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder

Elon Musk is back in government. The SpaceX CEO has been tapped to co-lead Project Meridian, a new Department of Defense initiative studying the future of warfare. He's joined by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Palmer Luckey of defense tech company Anduril. The project runs 120 days and will deliver a public report with their recommendations on achieving "absolute technological dominance on the next-generation battlefield." Mark has a very interesting conversation with Marcia Chatelain. She is the Penn Presidential Compact Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History for her book Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America. Now, she has a new book called How Bright the Path Grows: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the March on Washington . From the federal government wanting to collect state voter rolls to deporting immigrants to third-party countries, there’s a lot to talk about on the legal front. We welcome former federal…

Bernie Sanders is ramping up his midterm efforts with a major cash injection into races he cares about. After raising $2.8 million for his preferred candidates this cycle, Sanders is now putting hundreds of thousands of dollars directly toward key campaigns, including Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota's Senate race, Angie Nixon in Florida, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's reelection bid. These are his first general election donations from his campaign account, marking a significant escalation in his midterm push. Beyond the money, Sanders is also spending to hire full-time organizers in Michigan, Minnesota, and Florida, while planning get-out-the-vote text campaigns for candidates he's endorsed. In this clip, Guest today include: John Rothmann. Presidential Historian, author & host of the podcast Around the Political World With John Rothmann. Jared Yates Sexton is a political analyst and author. He is the co-host of The Muckrake Podcast and his writings can be found at Dispatches From a…

President Trump just signed off on sweeping import restrictions on Canadian goods, and they're taking effect tonight at midnight ET (September 29, 2026). From whiskey to the whey protein in your favorite supplement to motorcycles,we’ll look at what Canada's saying about retaliation, how Trump’s trade war will raise prices for Americans yet again and why trade talks between the U.S. and Canada are stalling out. We turn to Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston to dig deeper. Find more of David’s writing on his Substack: https://substack.com/@davidcayjohnston Mark sits down with Charles Derber, eminent sociologist and prolific author. Derber says America was wired for authoritarianism long before the emergence of Trump. We dislcuss his latest book ‘Wired for Authoritarianism: American Oligarchies and How to Re-Wire America for the People.’ Find the book at:…

A strange Trump ad caught football fans by surprise. The taxpayer-funded advertisement aired during NFL games this past Sunday, appearing in commercial breaks of the Seahawks versus Commanders and Browns versus Panthers matchups. The spot shows Trump walking through a hallway declaring "this is the final battle" while his voiceover states he'll "cast out the communists, Marxists, and fascists" and "liberate America from these villains once and for all." The ad drew criticism from both Democrats and Republicans for using federal funds for what many argue is political campaigning. We welcome guests: Sarah Kendzior. She is a best-selling author, scholar and journalist. Find Sara at both: https://substack.com/@sarahkendzior Sarahkendzior.com David Shuster is an Emmy award winning broadcast journalist best known for his work at NBC News and MSNBC and his ongoing YouTube videos on "Rebel HQ." Find David a: https://substack.com/@davidshuster The Mark Thompson Show 9/28/26 Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the…

Some of Trump's advisers are pushing him to intervene in federal elections. According to The Atlantic, Peter Ticktin, a longtime Trump associate wants him to consider extraordinary measures before the midterm elections.How much influence Ticktin has remain s to be seen ? We have seen Trump’s repeated calls for greater federal control over elections, election-fraud conspiracies and voter restrictions. Now, comes this rhetoric about martial law that could create chaos and shape the political landscape heading into November. We'll talk about this and more with political analysts Michael Shure and Mo Kelly during This Week in Politics. Then it's Friday levity with Friday Fabulous Florida and the Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder.

With the midterms just weeks away, Republican candidates are making a strategic pivot and it's pretty telling. Trump's approval rating is below 40%, with some polls putting it closer to 30%. His policies aren't polling great either. Half of Americans think his deportation agenda goes too far, and even his own MAGA base is getting tired of his foreign policy moves. So what are GOP candidates doing? They're distancing themselves and fast. Some candidates are scrubbing all Trump references from their campaign websites and eliminating him from their ads. Out of hundreds of new campaign commercials from Republicans in competitive races since August, only two have mentioned Trump. One GOP strategist put it bluntly: candidates know Trump is "kryptonite" in 2024. They can read the polls, and the polls are saying loud and clear—don't tie yourself to him if you want to win. We have some great guests on the show today, including John Rothmann, host of “Around the Political World with John Rothmann. “ He is a…

Today's Guests Links Prof. David Cay Johnston at RIT, Pulitzer Prize winning Author & Investigative Journalist https://bsky.app/profile/davidcayjohnston.bsky.social https://substack.com/@davidcayjohnston Dmitri Mehlhorn https://www.dmitrimehlhorn.com The dirty commie rhetoric was put away for a time while President Trump met with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion. The surprisingly cordial conversation focused on one issue affecting nearly every New Yorker: the rising cost of living. The two discussed housing affordability, federal funding, immigration protections, and the safety of immigrant communities or the lack thereof. Despite their differences, Trump said Mamdani has “great potential” as mayor, while Mamdani said it's New Yorkers who will be judging his performance. We welcome Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston. We'll talk about the news outlets banned from the White House and how some of Trump's recent announcements have come as a surprise…

The whole world can see Trump trying to control information about his presidency. We know from history that... "When empires or authoritarian regimes are under threat or fall, it's common for the press to become an early casualty. Controlling the flow of information is crucial for those in power, and when that power is challenged, media censorship, suppression, or manipulation often intensifies." (savejournalism.com) We shine a spotlight on Trump's decision to remove CNN from its scheduled role as the television pool representative for the White House press corps. The move breaks with decades of precedent and follows Trump’s announcement that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico are banned from the White House. While Trump cries "fake news," the rest of the world sees a man scared of the truth closing in. The amazing Sarah Kendzior will join us. She is a best selling author, scholar and journalist. You can find her at sarahkendzior.com and follow her writing and thoughts on the issues of the day on substack at:…

Republicans are facing a difficult midterm balancing act: embrace Donald Trump to energize the MAGA base and access his massive campaign war chest, or keep their distance as his approval ratings fall and some of his policies become political liabilities. We look at why vulnerable GOP candidates are divided over Trump’s involvement, and what that tension could mean for the party’s chances in November. This week in Politics brings our brilliant political analysts Michael Shure and Mo Kelly to the show. We'll talk midterms, Kennedy Center and the latest rumblings on AI. Downshifting into fun gear...Friday Fabulous Florida is on tap and the Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, will talk movies, streaming and more.

Senator Mitch McConnell returned to the Senate Agriculture Committee for a vote on the Farm Bill, but confusion arose when his name was called. After aides and fellow Republicans appeared to prompt him, his name had to be repeated twice before he slightly raised a finger and quietly said “aye.” The moment added to concerns about the 84-year-old senator’s health following his 92-day absence from Capitol Hill. From the possibility that Trump could knock down the Kennedy Center after a judicial ruling against carving his name into the facade to his latest tirade against Supreme Court justices that went against him on mail-in ballots, there is much to discuss with former federal prosecutor, now defense attorney, David Katz. We will sit down with Arlie Russell Hochschild. After years working as a sociology professor at Cal, she has turned her focus to writing with great success. Her latest book is called "Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right." You can find the book at:…

Vice President JD Vance spoke at a closed-door House Republican conference meeting on Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to target Democratic candidates such as Abdul El-Sayed and James Talarico. Critics condemned his advice as an embrace of racist fearmongering. The discussion also focused on voters’ economic frustrations ahead of the midterms. We welcome presidential historian John Rothmann to the show. Jon can be heard on his podcast “Around the Political World with John Rothmann ” We’ll shine a light on a new book called “Draw the Line in Ohio: How One State's Fight for Fair Maps Explains Gerrymandering in America.” The co-authors, legal analyst Rory Riley Topping and Washington Correspondent Josh Rultenberg explain the history of redistricting and how it has become one of the greatest existential threats to US democracy. The book is already #1 on the list of Amazon new releases. Find it: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Draw-the-Line-in-Ohio/Rory-Riley-Topping/9781493098033 And check our their new…

The US Supreme Court is blocking a Trump administration rule that would have restricted mail voting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, and voting rights advocates are celebrating the win. The postal service rule, by presidential executive order, would have given the executive branch unprecedented control over how Americans vote by mail and let the Postal Service refuse to send ballots to voters. Legal experts warned the screening plan posed serious risks to voting access for millions of Americans. Election officials from Arizona, Texas, and Wisconsin are relieved the court recognized that election oversight belongs to the states, not the president, and that the midterms won't be disrupted by this contested rule being implemented mid-election. Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston will stop by to discuss this and more. David Cay Johnston’s Substack: https://substack.com/@davidcayjohnston Skye Perryman will join us to discuss her ongoing efforts to uphold democracy.…

Donald Trump is pushing back against calls for stricter AI guardrails, calling them part of a “sick conspiracy” against the industry and data centers. As concerns grow over AI’s potential risks, Trump, discounting warnings of the demise of humanity from AI industry leaders, says the U.S. must keep moving fast to stay ahead of China. Guests today include: Emmy award winning news anchor David Shuster. You’ve seen him anchor on MSNBC - he’s worked for Fox News, CNN, Current TV, The Young Turks, and Al Jazeera America. Find David at: https://davidshuster.substack.com/ Comedian, impressionist & attorney J-L Cauvin will stop by the show. Check out his tour dates at: https://linktr.ee/JLComedy We welcome Common Cause CEO Virginia Kase Solomon . She is a nationally recognized leader in the fight for social justice, civil rights, and a more inclusive democracy https://www.commoncause.org/ The Mark Thompson Show Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:…

"I don’t care if I’m registered or not, I’m going to try to cheat like hell like they do." Donald Trump leads a crowd in a pledge to vote in the upcoming midterms, calling himself the greatest president in U.S. history and claiming that Democrats are the biggest cheaters of all. Today, marks 25 year since the September 11th attacks on America. How have we changed as a country? Kenneth Feinberg will tell us about his experience as the Special Master of the U.S. Government's September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. This Week in Politics brings journalist Michael Shure and political analyst Yasmin Khan to the show to discuss everything from Trump's midterm convention, to his call for a dividend should voters keep the house and senate red, to the soaring price of gas and diesel fuel. Follow Michael Shure on X at https://x.com/michaelshure Read Yasmin on Substack at open.substack.com/pub/yazzzzzk We'll stop by Florida to take the pulse of America's craziest state. The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, will swing…

Is the president actually trying to buy this election? You might be waiting for his latest promise of cash like you're still waiting for your DOGE check. Donald Trump gave a wild "midterm convention" speech promising every adult citizen a $5,000 "Trump dividend" if Republicans keep hold of Congress in the midterms. From the sheer desperation of the pitch to the legal reality that he can't just send out trillions of dollars without Congressional approval, we're questioning if this is just another fantasy or a straight-up attempt to rig the vote. Former federal prosecutor, now defense attorney, David Katz will stop by and we'll ask him if this so called dividend based on the outcome of an election is legal. We'll also look at word that former Trump attorney Michael Cohen is in line for a pardon. Then ,we are off to save the election with reporter Greg Palast. He just released a six-part series of short video reels on the latest in vote suppression tricks. His series is called "Jim Crow Reloaded" and you can…

President Trump doled out $45,000 in cold hard cash to three White House aides as holiday bonuses. Natalie Harp, Chamberlain Harris, and Margo Martin each had a merry trip to the bank. The White House insists is totally normal. Meanwhile, Harp's been making headlines for her suspiciously close relationship with Trump, including joining him on a secret catering cart jaunt to a secret plane trip and cramming herself in the trunk of the car Trump was in so they wouldn’t be too far apart. Yeah, that’s not normal. We'll look at the details of this holiday payout and where the money came from. We are joined today by John Rothmann. John is the host of “Around the Political World with John Rothmann. You can also hear him on the Voice of San Francisco at thevoicesf.org Author and political analyst Jared Yates Sexton will stop through. You can find details about Jared’s books and more of his writing at his website and on his sub stack. https://www.jysexton.com/books Substack - https://jaredyatessexton.substack.com/…

Latest polling and projections are shaking up the 2024 midterm race—and the GOP is worried. Decision Desk HQ now gives Democrats a 67% chance of flipping the House, while Senate control has shifted to a dead heat, with forecasters calling it a near 50-50 toss-up, possibly going 51-49 for Democrats. This is a reversal from earlier predictions, where Republicans seemed poised to hold the Senate. FCC chair Brendan Carr is now trying to clamp down on polling information he doesn’t like by calling it fake. Despite Republican efforts at redistricting, which came before the Democratic response to such moves, and despite work to cut polling places in certain states and stamp out mail-in voting, Trump finds himself in a pickle and he knows it. What's driving this shift in midterm voter sentiment? What does it mean for the final stretch before election day? We will break down the latest numbers and examine growing alarm within Republican ranks. Pulitzer prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay…

CNN’s well known conservative voice is calling for the U.S. to declare victory over Iran. Scott Jennings says it's the president's responsibility to explain to Americans how the war has been won. Meanwhile, money for the Iran war is still being spent and American warships are still deployed. Will Americans believe Trump if he claims victory or will it be perceived as another piece of propaganda in support of an unpopular war ahead of America’s midterm elections. Guests today include former federal prosecutor and now defense attorney, David Katz. We will ask him about Congress blocking a proposed constitutional amendment to keep Supreme Court justices to nine. Comedian, impressionist and attorney J – L Cauvin will stop through to talk politics and tell us about his upcoming comedy tour.

Creating election chaos could pay off big-time for Trump. He doesn't need to win every legal battle over mail-in ballots, gerrymandering, election monitors or voter confusion, he only needs the mess itself. Confusion becomes the weapon.Confusion suppresses turnout. Uncertainty over voting procedures and information discourages participation. A smaller, more demoralized electorate works in his favor. We’ll talk elections with presidential historian and host of Around the Political World. John Rothmann will join us in the first hour. Political analyst and author Jared Yates Sexton will stop through to talk politics. His brilliant insight on the issues will make you seek out his writing. He’s that good. Find Jared at : https://www.jysexton.com/books https://jaredyatessexton.substack.com/ Then, we are off to save the planet with amazing eco- journalist, Belinda Waymouth. She’ll explain how a mining company fell to opposition from Native American tribes. The Mark Thompson Show 9/2/26 Patreon subscribers are the…

Here comes the Trump billion dollar ballroom we didn’t need. The Supreme Court is allowing Trump to move forward indefinitely with the construction of a new White House ballroom. In a 5–4 decision, the justices blocked lower-court rulings that would have halted work on the project’s above-ground portion. Trump’ tone deaf project, dripping with gold accents, comes ahead of the midterm elections - a time when issues of affordability are on the minds of voters. Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston stops through to talk about presidential powers, distractions and crimes. The Mark Thompson Show Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link: https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshow Maybe you’re more into PayPal. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24 And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com The Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page. Please join!…

Health concerns about President Trump are growing after he joined Trey Gowdy for a bizarre conversation covering golf, the economy, and foreign policy. Trump’s statements were so strange that critics questioned what was really going through his mind, including peculiar claims about Canada and an unusual plea asking voters to imagine him on the 2026 midterm ballots. Trump also claimed to have "largely taken care of inflation." We’ll talk about it with a star studded Monday guest list including: Emmy award-winning news anchor David Shuster, Find David: https://davidshuster.substack.com Journalist Greg Palast New series: Jim Crow Reloaded. SaveYourVote.org The Mark Thompson Show 8/31/26 Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link: https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshow Maybe you’re more into PayPal. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24 And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com The Mark…

Trump’s latest trade-war power move is making waves. His new executive order officially renames Lake Ontario “Lake America.” The move is sparking fierce pushback from Canada, US governors, and Indigenous history advocates. Is this patriotic branding or political theater? Emmy award winning news anchor David Shuster returns to pilot the show. He'll look at "This Week in Politics" with Michael Shure and Mo Kelly, delve into the strange place that is the state of Florida and chat about movies with The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder. Happy Friday!

More than 165 people are dead and as many as 1,500 are unaccounted for following catastrophic floods devastating towns and valleys along the Nepal-Tibet border. In Nepal's hardest-hit Rasuwa region, videos show the power of the floodwaters as they tore apart bridges and swept people away. Authorities believe the disaster was triggered by a landslide associated with a glacial event in the Himalayas, which sent a massive surge of water. Emmy award-winning news anchor David Shuster is sitting in for Mark today. He’ll speak with former federal prosecutor and now defense attorney David Katz about the recent ruling on voting by mail and so much more.

Despite an embarrassing blunder during a recent debate, Darline Graham is advancing to the General Election in her South Carolina Senate Race, securing the party's nomination for the Senate seat previously held by her brother, Lindsey Graham. Darline is backed by Donald Trump, whose PAC dumped a lot of money into this race. She moves forward to face Democrat Annie Andrews in the general election. We’ll talk about it with John Rothmann. He is a presidential historian and political analyst. He’s also heard daily on his audio podcast ‘Around the Political World with John Rothmann.’ The political conversation continues with political analyst and author, Jared Yates Sexton. Find more of Jared at Substack - https://jaredyatessexton.substack.com/ “It’s the Planet, Stupid!“ brings our amazing eco-journalist Belinda Waymouth to the show. It’s worth staying to the very end to catch today’s uplifting turtle story. The Mark Thompson Show 8/26/26 Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help,…

Here’s what happens when a racist, sexist jerk like Jesse Watters trieds to steamroll someone that can actually fight back with facts. Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed sat down with Watters for a heated debate covering gas prices, the Iran war, Sharia law, Colin Kaepernick, gender-affirming care, and more. They had an intense exchange on the issues shaping the 2026 election. We will put it to David Cay Johnston, our Pulitzer Prize, winning investigative journalist and best selling author. The Mark Thompson Show 8/25/26 Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link: https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshow Maybe you’re more into PayPal. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24 And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com The Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page. Please join! Here's the link: https://m.facebook.com/TheMarkThompsonShow/ Show sponsors:…

A federal judge is putting a stop to the Trump administration’s freeze on immigrant visas affecting applicants from 75 countries. U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his legal authority by ordering visa denials for applicants who had otherwise been found eligible to enter the United States. The policy, introduced in January, suspended immigrant visa issuance to nationals from countries the State Department considered at high risk of public-benefit dependency. The affected nations span regions including Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. It's a star studded guest line up today: Sarah Kendzior joins us. She is a best selling author and scholar. Find her on The Mark Thompson Show Mondays at noon Pacific/3pm Eastern, check sarahkendzior.com for a quick way to buy her books and find more of Sarah on Substack at: https://substack.com/@sarahkendzior Emmy award winning news anchor David Shuster joins the…

The US-Iran conflict is at a dangerous standstill. President Donald Trump is threatening a sweeping new sanctions campaign against Iran and countries that continue doing business with it. We examine whether Washington’s “economic D-Day” can force a breakthrough, whether Iran’s sanctions-evasion networks and international alliances will undermine the strategy and whether Trump is making empty threats that may weaken the position of the United States. Mo Kelly and Yasmin Khan will join us for a look at 'This Week in Politics.' Friday Fabulous Florida highlights our weirdest state. The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, will slide down his rainbow to share his thoughts on the latest movies and streaming options ahead of the weekend. Let's get this Friday started!

America doesn't have an Iran deal and gas prices are skyrocketing, but don't worry, at least we have a fancy new driveway and helicopter pad at the White House. President Construction Project is back at it with another way to spend money. Trump called reporters to the South Lawn for an impromptu tour of his new driveway replacement and a look at the progress on his new helipad. Trump also says the driveway is getting an upgrade with California-mined white granite that he says is more fitting for the White House. Standing near the carved granite helipad with the presidential seal, Trump presented the construction as a central part of his legacy. Speaking of goings on at the White House, we are learning more about the odd relationship between Trump and his aide Natalie Harp. Reports indicate that she once rode in the trunk when there weren't enough seats in Trump's vehicle so they wouldn't be separated...and that for more than a year, she refused to get a security clearance.

Progressive Democrats made a surprising splash in Florida’s Senate primary as state Rep. Angie Nixon beat Alex Vindman, setting up a tough general election against GOP Sen. Ashley Moody and signaling possible left-wing momentum in President Trump’s home state. We will look at election results from Alaska as well, where Democrats think they may have a road to the Senate. In Wyoming, Megan Degenfelder becomes the 5th Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate to lose a primary this election cycle. It seems that having Trump's support isn't the key to winning anymore. Guests today include John Rothmann. He is the host of the podcast "Around the Political World with John Rothmann" and a former KGO Radio host. Belinda Waymouth joins us to talk about the environment. Our favorite eco-journalist brings the latest on efforts to drill for oil off the coast of California, but you will leave the show feeling hopeful as she always packs positive stories about our world too. The Mark Thompson Show 8/19/26 Patreon subscribers…

Donald Trump’s political problems are getting harder to ignore — and his options overseas may be shrinking just as fast. A brand-new Reuters/Ipsos poll has Trump’s approval at just 33 percent, the lowest of his presidency, with 64 percent disapproving and a remarkable 80 percent of Americans now expecting the Iran war to drag on. Meanwhile, Trump’s promised quick resolution with Iran looks increasingly elusive: the negotiating period has expired without a deal, the Strait of Hormuz remains a dangerous sticking point, and Trump is escalating his rhetoric even as his practical choices for ending the conflict appear increasingly limited. We’ll look at a president boxed in abroad, battered in the polls at home, and running out of room to maneuver on both fronts. Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta may be pulling a trick from Johnny Carson’s Carnac the Magnificent when it comes to predictions. Acosta recently guessed that President Trump would check out of the White House early, before his term is up. Acosta cited…

Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff called out Trump’s relationship with his much younger aide Natalie Harp. We'll roll the video. With a spotlight on Trump’s Iran War, it is glaringly clear that there are critical vulnerabilities in his approach to military and defense strategies. Trump talks big, relying heavily on rhetoric and posturing, but defense analysts have identified significant gaps between public statements and strategic execution. In addition to the declining condition of the military under Trump’s Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, Trump’s military actions, including strikes on infrastructure, have often lacked long-term planning, leaving blind spots for after effects like disruptions to shipping lanes or unintended regional escalation. His reliance on precision munitions depleted critical inventory, compromising military readiness and leaving America more vulnerable. Add to that the damage Trump has done to America’s alliances. He has weekend coordination and information sharing. and damaged…

How much would it take for you to go on Fox News and tell lie after lie day after day? We’ll take a look at some surprising salaries. Sometimes when the lies get exposed to people that swallowed them whole, it can be very surprising. It appears Joe Rogan has had a bit of an awakening. President Trump wants the Navy to go back in time, ditching key technology aboard aircraft carriers in favor of older less efficient equipment. The changeover will cost big bucks. We’ll look at the biggest stories of the week with political analysts Michael Shure and Mo Kelly. A little Friday levity comes in the form of Friday Fabulous Florida and the Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, will stop by to talk movies. Happy Friday y’all!

President Trump took a swipe at the Secret Service as he claimed a military plane that secretly flew him out of Turkey last month was “at greater risk” of being targeted, while also insisting it was the Secret Service that made the call. He told reporters he only followed what agents and the military wanted, saying they had arranged an “equal safety” change. When pressed, Trump suggested the aircraft he was put on would be more likely to be the one attackers might go after. On the election front, the progressive candidate in the Wisconsin governor's race fell to the more mainstream Democratic candidate. The My Pillow guy Mike Lindell was too crazy for Minnesota voters. Despite being endorsed by Trump, Lindell was defeated in his attempt to govern Minnesota. We'll examine the election results. Guests on the show today include John Rothmann. Our friend and former KGO host now hosts his own podcast "Around the Political World With John Rothmann" Author and political analyst Jared Yates Sexton will stop by to…

President Trump's latest executive order is aimed at overhauling the nation's childhood vaccination recommendations. He is directing federal agencies to cut the number of vaccines children receive and spread out their shots across more doctor ‘s appointments. Trump’s new "gold standard" recommendations consist of only 11 core vaccinations against the most serious diseases, along with the MMR vaccine, which the president hopes will eventually be administered as separate shots rather than as a combined vaccine. Doctors are already speaking out against these changes, saying it means fewer children will be fully vaccinated. The Washington Post is reporting that President Trump had to be smuggled out of Turkey in a catering truck and onto a smaller airplane in an attempt to thwart threats against him. We’ll discuss it all with Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston. The Trump administration‘s grifting, scandals and interesting pardon policies have us following the money. We…

"The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Donald Trump’s previous attempt to impose restrictions on birthright citizenship, but the President hasn’t stopped trying to reinterpret the constitutional guarantee to advance his restrictive immigration agenda. In the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump signed two new executive orders on immigration—one that would exclude specific categories of U.S.-born children from getting automatic citizenship, and another that would authorize visa and entry restrictions for “birth tourism.” Guests today include: Best selling author Sarah Kendzior Author and legal expert June Carbone News anchor David Shuster

President Trump signs new executive orders aimed at narrowing birthright citizenship, citing an “unfortunate” Supreme Court decision blocking his earlier effort. The moves tighten existing limits and narrow exceptions, including rules tied to “alien enemies” and so-called birth tourism...but the Supreme Court already reaffirmed that the 14th Amendment grants citizenship to children born on U.S. soil. Is Trump trying to skirt the Constiution and the Supreme Court ruling? We'll discuss. Please help us grow The Mark Thompson Show. If you can click like, make sure you're subscribed and share the show with your social media contacts, it would be most appreciated. Let's get to 200k subscribers! It's going to be a great Friday Mark Thompson extravaganza. 'This Week in Politics ' brings two favorites, Mo Kelly and Michael Shure, by the show to discuss everything from the war in Iran to Trump's freak out over word of US munitions shortages to Vice President Vance taking on some of Trump's meaner qualities. A litte…

When Democrats can’t agree on Democratic priorities, you know something is wrong. It was evident on Monday’s installment of ‘The Weekly Show.’ Host Jon Stewart questioned Pennsylvania’s Democratic Senator John Fetterman about his threats to leave the Democratic Party because he feels there is insufficient support for Israel. To Fetterman's claim that Israel is his "red line," Stewart said "Israel is not our country." Today’s guests include: Former federal prosecutor David Katz. We will ask him about Todd Blanche, the dropped reflecting pool cases and the possibility that the UK could open an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and what that might mean here in America. Author and political analyst Jared Yates Sexton. The political conversation continues with Jared Yates Sexton. His take on the issues of the day will leave you thinking long after the show is over. Find Jared at: https://www.jysexton.com Substack - https://jaredyatessexton.substack.com/ “It’s the Planet , Stupid!” with eco- journalist Belinda…

President Trump issues a stark warning for Iran during an Oval Office signing event, declaring that this represents Iran's "last chance" to negotiate a deal with his administration. Is that just another back-and-forth or is time running out for Trump to end his war with Iran? Guests today include: David Cay Johnston is a regular Tuesday delight on The Mark Thompson Show. Johnston is a Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist. He is a professor at the Rochester Institute of technology and the founder of DC report. https://www.dcreport.org/ https://substack.com/@davidcayjohnston Christopher Armitage is an author whose work focuses on governance, institutional resilience and public policy systems. You can find him at Christopherarmitage.com or on his substack: https://cmarmitage.substack.com/

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. got some hard pushback from CNN anchor Dana Bash during a contentious 21-minute interview on “State of Union." Bash pressed him on his vaccine skepticism. The conversation turned heated as Bash challenged Kennedy’s claims about COVID-19 vaccines and their impact on children, specifically asking whether he could point to credible research demonstrating that the vaccine “did more harm than good.” Guests today include: Trita Parsi. He is an expert on foreign policy, including Iran, and serves as the Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute. https://www.tritaparsi.com https://tritaparsi.substack.com David Shuster is an Emmy award winning news anchor. You’ve seen him on MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, Current TV, The Young Turks and more. https://substack.com/@davidshuster On YouTube - Rebel HQ Rich Logis was deep into MAGA until 2022. It was January 6th, the botched handling of Covid and Uvalde that shook his faith. Now he runs a group for those leaving MAGA. His book is…

"President Donald Trump has a choice: allow changes to a controversial court settlement and secure the confirmation of his former personal lawyer as attorney general, or thumb his nose at a pair of his few remaining Republican critics in Congress." Michael Shure and Mo'Kelly will join us to discuss the top stories of the week. The Mark Thompson Show 7/31/26