The Big Ben Show

Ben opens with the Kimmel saga and why affiliates, not just the FCC chatter, drove ABC’s decision. He breaks down Disney’s calculations, media double standards, and what this moment says about free speech and accountability.

Lee Smith, journalist and author of “The China Matrix,” joins to unpack Gaza politics at the UN, Saudi leverage on a Palestinian state, and Qatar’s influence in the West. He also explains why tariffs and the trade deficit are central to America’s China strategy.

Jon Levine, Washington Free Beacon Reporter, weighs in on the online reaction to Charlie Kirk’s death, consequences vs cancel culture, and how campus events and speaker security should change.

Ben closes with DC’s plan to bring the Commanders back to RFK Stadium, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s dealmaking, National Guard support, and the sharp drop in crime that followed.

DROP A COMMENT: Was the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel the right move? Or cancel culture?

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Ben opens with a personal reflection on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the media spin that followed, then digs into how we got here and what it means for free speech and civic life.

Andy Ngo joins to unpack the online radicalization pipeline, Discord and Steam footprints, and why euphemisms for political violence keep spreading.

Peter Hasson of the Washington Free Beacon breaks down how prominent voices amplified false claims after the killing, why corrections lag, and what accountability could look like across platforms.

Grab Bag wraps with the Bengals’ nightmare after Joe Burrow’s injury and what Cincinnati should do at quarterback right now.

DROP A COMMENT:  How do you feel about the Charlie Kirk assassination?

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Ben opens with the Charlotte light-rail killing of Irina Zyrutska, why legacy outlets tried to look away, and what that says about free speech, crime policy, and who gets to control the narrative. He connects the story to the broader fight over platform power and speech. Ben asks where we’d be without X’s openness and a political climate less tolerant of censorship.

Winston Marshall, former Mumford and Sons Bandmember, then joins to unpack Britain’s speech crackdown. They also tackle immigration tensions and the long, ugly history of grooming gangs that elites don’t want discussed, plus whether AI can ever replace the soul in music.

Finally, Rob Bluey of The Daily Signal, breaks down how the press room now includes voices from legacy outlets long kept out. He and Ben dig into a family-first policy focus from the right (marriage, birthrates, fixing perverse incentives). They also take stock of Trump’s second term so far: a harder border stance cheered by conservatives, with economic risks still looming.

Ben closes with a sports-media rant: ESPN’s RedZone “short ads” morph into 45-second overlays that block live cut-ins. Ben argues it undercuts the entire product and he foreshadows a pricey ad-free upsell.

DROP A COMMENT:  How do you feel about RedZone adding commercials? 

🎙Listen and SUBSCRIBE for more candid conversations on speech, culture, media power, and politics.

Find the full audio show wherever you get your podcasts:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3fRPRZRNC9O7S8u40CSk2D

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-ben-show/id1556479134 

Follow The Big Ben Show on all social platforms:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigbenshowfox?igsh=bW82Mnk3cTQ5Yjkx

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Donald Trump has launched a new war on the cartels, escalating U.S. military action after a Venezuelan drug boat linked to the Tren de Aragua cartel was destroyed, killing 11 members. Ben Domenech explains why this marks a dramatic shift in America’s fight against cartel power and what it could mean for the border.

Then, NFL legend Mark Schlereth breaks down the biggest football storylines heading into the season — including whether Travis Hunter can truly play both sides of the ball, Trevor Lawrence’s make-or-break year, and why offensive line play is the real backbone of the league.

Later, journalist Matt Taibbi joins to unpack his reporting on the Twitter Files, FBI leaks, and the rise of AI-driven censorship. From Russiagate to Silicon Valley’s obsession with transhumanism, Taibbi warns that America is facing a dangerous new phase of surveillance and media manipulation — one that could rival the scandals of Watergate.

Join the conversation! Leave your comments, subscribe for more, and rate & review wherever you listen.

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Another packed edition of The Big Ben Show — from chaotic family vacations and Janice Dean’s hurricane warning to Hunter Biden’s ambitions, Trump’s second term strategy, and the Democrats’ spiral on crime and chaos.

First, Ben shares his own Griswold-style vacation story, complete with Janice Dean’s intervention, and a Busch Gardens roller coaster rescue.

Then, Miranda Devine joins to break down Trump’s no-mercy approach in his second term, the Russiagate conspirators, Hunter Biden’s surprising political ambitions, and why Democrats are in free fall.

Finally in the Grabbag Ben discusses Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys, and Netflix’s “America’s Team” documentary — in what Ben calls the wildest sports story since The Last Dance.

👉 Drop your “vacation gone wrong” stories in the comments!

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Ben opens this week’s show with a viral chart that reveals just how far family formation has collapsed since the 1950s. He unpacks the economic pressures, housing policies, and cultural forces driving this historic shift.

Then, Chef Andrew Gruel joins to expose California’s failures in rebuilding after devastating wildfires, how nonprofit funds are being wasted, and the crushing regulations that punish small businesses. From housing mandates to labor lawsuits, Gruel explains why California’s system is broken, and why he still believes local reform can spark change.

Instead of relying on algorithms during summer travel, Ben closes with a reminder to dig deeper and share classic 90s and 2000s movies with your kids.

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First, Ben dives into the early midterm battlegrounds — as Marsha Blackburn, Nancy Mace, and Roy Cooper jump into key races — and explains why Republicans cannot afford to coast despite a favorable Senate map.

Then, Brit Hume joins to dissect the media’s Russiagate failures, the ethics disaster of Jim Acosta’s AI “interview,” and the corrosive role of anonymous sources in Washington journalism.

Finally, culture writer Kat Rosenfield discusses everything from the internet’s public shaming culture to whether romance can survive in the age of apps.

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First, Ben breaks down the real threat of Mamdani: it's not just his radical platform, but the Democratic Party’s embrace of it as their future.

Then Douglas Murray joins to discuss rising antisemitism, the West’s free speech collapse, and his viral showdown on Rogan over Israel.

Finally: The Naked Gun is back and it might just save Hollywood comedies.

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The woke mob has a meltdown over Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad.

Then, Washington Examiner’s Byron York joins to dig into the latest “Russiagate” revelations, John Brennan’s central role, and why accountability remains elusive.

Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson offers insight into the political fallout and analysis of the Commander's football and Wide Receiver drama.

Finally, a full review of Marvel’s Fantastic Four, breaking down what the studio got right, why family-friendly storytelling works, and how Marvel may have just upstaged Superman at the global box office.

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Following the cancellation announcement of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," Ben describes the host's reaction to his firing after years of poor ratings and prolific verbal attacks on President Trump.  

Outkick Columnist and Host of the Getting Hammered podcast, Mary Katharine Ham, joins Ben to discuss Hunter Biden's return to the media. She notes that the Democrats cannot escape the Biden family as they continue to hurt their party. Later, they dive into Democrat Socialist Zohran Mamdani's candidacy for New York City Mayor. 

Finally, author & host of the Beltway Banthas podcast, Stephen Kent, weighs in on the new Superman movie. Ben and Stephen unpack the parts of the movie they liked and where they thought the film went wrong. 

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