Ben Kissel Politics

On today’s Ben Kissel Politics, we bounce between some of the strangest headlines of the week.

Donald Trump wants to prosecute flag burners, pushing the idea of jail time for anyone who lights up Old Glory—because nothing says “freedom” like punishing political expression.

Meanwhile, Marjorie Taylor Greene continues to weigh in on healthcare, and somehow every sentence sounds like a Facebook comment thread that got out of hand.

And then there’s RFK Jr., who claimed that circumcisions increase the likelihood of autism because doctors gave babies Tylenol. It’s the kind of theory that makes you wish there were fact-checkers in the delivery room.

It’s flags, foreskins, and fringe theories—all thrown into one political blender.

Tuesday’s Ben Kissel Politics episode takes us from Moscow bedrooms to American highways.

We look at how sexploitation has been a key driver in Vladimir Putin’s political success, blending propaganda, spectacle, and sexualized power plays to shape his image at home and abroad.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump claims he knows nothing about Ghislaine Maxwell or her denied appeal but adds that he might “look into” possibly pardoning her—or not. Classic Trump: hedging every direction at once.

And back here in the U.S., science confirms that political bumper stickers actually make road rage incidents worse. Turns out your “Don’t Tread on Me” decal might be doing more than just decorating your tailgate.

On today’s Ben Kissel Politics, we dig into a mess of headlines that only get stranger when you put them side by side.

The Israeli government has reportedly been paying tech companies to push propaganda claiming Palestinians have “never been happier.” Meanwhile, Donald Trump encouraged border agents, law enforcement, and the military to beat protesters if they feel provoked—a policy that sounds more like fight club than democracy.

And then there’s Pete Hegseth, proudly admitting he hasn’t washed his hands in twenty years while calling our military slobs. Because nothing screams credibility like a man who thinks soap is fake news.

It’s misinformation, militarization, and a hygiene meltdown—all in one episode, all out of order, and all served with a healthy side of sarcasm.

This Friday on Ben Kissel Politics, we unpack a news cycle that somehow manages to include Pokémon, Theo Von, Donald Trump, and Charlie Kirk.

First, Kristi Noem is in hot water for rolling out a Department of Homeland Security ad that featured Theo Von and Pokémon characters—without permission. Turns out, copyright infringement is still a thing, even if you’re in politics.

Then we head to New York, where Donald Trump had a rough go at the United Nations, stumbling through a meeting where world leaders weren’t exactly buying what he was selling.

And finally, in Oklahoma, the state announced that every high school will host a Turning Point USA chapter in memory of Charlie Kirk. Because when you think of extracurriculars, you think debate team, chess club, and nationwide political indoctrination.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tuesday’s Ben Kissel Politics opens with a 1985 speech from John Denver, reminding us that when information is hidden from the public, curiosity only grows. That idea frames a conversation about what happens when politics and performance take over spaces meant for sincerity.

We look at the odd spectacle of Charlie Kirk’s funeral, where many speakers used the podium less to eulogize and more to push their own political messages or promote their brands. What should have been a farewell often felt like a rally.

And in one of the most unsettling turns, a pastor used AI to recreate Charlie Kirk’s voice, projecting the idea that Charlie demands people: “Do not mourn me for one second because I am in heaven.” It raised questions about authenticity, technology, and how far people are willing to go to make a point.

It’s a journey from Denver’s warning to a modern media circus—proving that the more politics hijacks our grief, the more we should all stop and ask: who is this really for?

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This weekend on Ben Kissel Politics, we put the spotlight on Pastor James David Manning and what might be the best political ad of our lifetime.

We also unpack the continuing fallout from the suspensions and scandals of Jimmy Kimmel now featuring Tucker Carlson, and what their situations say about media, censorship, and the culture wars still raging on our screens.

And finally, we close with a simple but crucial point: words are not violence. Words are words, and violence is violence. Conflating the two may make for good outrage clicks, but it’s a dangerous way to run a society.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Thursday on Ben Kissel Politics, we dive into the growing storm around free speech in America—and how it’s being selectively protected, punished, and paraded around for political gain.

We break down Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension from ABC, what it says about corporate skittishness, and how late-night comedy has become the latest battleground in the culture war.

Then we explore how a Trump-appointed FCC has been weaponizing speech regulations, using them less to defend free expression and more to police it—especially when it threatens their political allies.

And finally, we meet the ultimate political wildcard: Pastor James David Manning, who is somehow mounting a mayoral run in New York City. Against all odds—and probably against his better judgment—he’s taking his pulpit to the polls.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on Ben Kissel Politics, we break down the online circus surrounding the death of Charlie Kirk.

Within minutes, the news became a Rorschach test for social media: some are grieving, some are cheering, and some are furious that anyone is cheering. The algorithm rewarded outrage like it was a national sport, turning a human death into another round of digital mud wrestling.

We dig into the echo chambers that shape these reactions, the conspiracy theories already blooming in the comment sections, and the media literacy desperately missing from the discourse.

And maybe—just maybe—we ask everyone to step away from the timeline, breathe some air, and touch some actual grass. Because if your first instinct to tragedy is “post,” it might be time to go outside and remember how to be a person again.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on Ben Kissel Politics, the news cycle reads like a surrealist play.

Pete Hegseth decided to announce the mission of the newly rebranded Department of War not with a statement, but with a kind of spoken-word poem—because nothing says military might like snapping fingers in the Pentagon.

Meanwhile, Greta Thunberg takes climate activism literally into the fire with her flaming flotilla, proving that protest at sea doesn’t always stay afloat quietly.

On the campaign trail, Donald Trump insists that anything on video that makes him look bad is simply AI trickery. According to this logic, deepfakes have been haunting him since the ‘80s.

And finally, Epstein’s victims are speaking out—vowing to release the names of their political abusers while military jets fly overhead, a scene so cinematic it could only be real life.

It’s poetry, pyrotechnics, and political paranoia—served with the usual side of sarcasm and disbelief.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on Ben Kissel Politics, we open the floor to a live Q&A and tackle a grab bag of political curveballs.

First up, Donald Trump floats the idea of rebranding the Department of Defense as the Department of War, proving once again that subtlety is not his strong suit.

Meanwhile, in a plot twist no one had on their bingo card, the NRA is backing the trans community after a floated proposal to ban gun sales to trans people.

And finally, we dig into the eyebrow-raising claim that Trump has been an FBI informant in the Epstein case for decades. If true, that would mean one of the most chaotic figures in American politics was also moonlighting as a snitch.

It’s rebrands, rights, and rumors—all wrapped in a conversation that proves politics is stranger than fiction.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.