The Mark Thompson Show

Trump’s  DOJ is creating a $1.7 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund.” It’s part of a deal resolving Trump’s lawsuit over leaked tax returns but will compensate his allies who say they were mistreated by the Biden-era Justice Department. Is America paying attention to the inside job? Democrats and watchdogs are already denouncing the move as an unprecedented taxpayer-funded slush fund and are promising legal challenges. 
It appears Americans are getting fleeced and Mark Thompson returns to make sure we know exactly what is going down. 
Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston will stop by to help make sense of it all. 
Can America be saved? Jared Yates Sexton, political analyst and author of the book The Midnight Kingdom: A History of Power, Paranoia, and the Coming Crisis will join the conversation. 
The Mark Thompson Show 
5/19/26

Today's Guests Links
Jared Yates Sexton  https://www.jysexton.com/
Prof. David Cay Johnston at RIT, Pulitzer Prize winning Author & Investigative Journalist  https://bsky.app/profile/davidcayjohnston.bsky.social

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#Trump #Epstein #DavidCayJohnston #JaredYatesSexton #Iran #Cuba #Elections #IRS #SlushFund #Religion #ChurchAndState #Politics #Political #PoliticalAnalysis

Donald Trump is reportedly close to settling a $1.8 billion IRS lawsuit and critics say the payout looks like a political slush fund. Anyone who feels wronged by the DOJ under the Biden administration, including all the pardoned J6ers, would be able to apply for a government payout. Trump and his family would reportedly be off-limits when it comes to IRS audits. We will explore the legal and ethical questions raised and look at what it could mean for accountability and future prosecutions. 
iHeart Political analyst Gary Dietrich joins the conversation. 
Dr. Katharine Wilkinson, a transformation voice in the world of climate change, comes bearing ideas obout how everyone of us can participate in the fight to save the planet. 
The Mark Thompson Show 
5/18/26
Today's Guests Links
Dr Katharine Wilkinson - Climate Wayfinding Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home https://www.kkwilkinson.com/
Gary Dietrich, CBS TV & iHeart Radio Political Analyst https://twitter.com/garydietrich

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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is abruptly stopping a planned nine-month rotation of 4,000 U.S. troops bound for Poland. The move comes at a precarious time for Poland and is catching Pentagon staff and European allies off guard. Mo Kelly is in for Mark Thompson and he unpacks the timeline of the canceled deployment, contrasts official statements with anonymous Pentagon sourcing, and connects the move to recent U.S. troop shifts in Europe — including plans to withdraw forces from Germany. We examine why allies are worried about deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank and what signals the decision might send to Russia and our NATO allies. Plus, This week in Politics brings Mo Kelly and Michael Shure together to recap the biggest stories. We’ll take a spin through Florida with Friday Fabulous Florida and head over to the movies with The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder. Happy Friday!

President Trump is in China with a delegation drawing scrutiny across Washington: family members, billionaire tech allies and business figures appear front and center, while longtime China experts and senior State Department voices are far less visible. Is Trump on the verge of a corrupt deal for himself and his family that won’t serve U.S. or historic interests? Is he prioritizing dealmaking and optics over diplomacy and strategy? Where are experienced American diplomatic voices at this pivotal moment? Mo Kelly is in for Mark Thompson and will discuss this and more. We welcome former federal prosecutor and now defense attorney David Katz to talk about the impending Trump deal with the IRS, redistricting battles headed to court and criticism of the Supreme Court. Then, we pivot to marijuana. Mark welcomes Dr. Peter Grinspoon. He is a primary care physician and a board-certified addiction specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Grinspoon's upcoming book is titled “Aging Well with Cannabis: Feel Better, Sleep Better and Live Better with Marijuana and CBD.” It’s a culmination of his hard work to help ‘canna-curious' seniors, family members, and caregivers by providing practical instructions, real-life case studies, and a balanced view of the benefits and risks of cannabis and CBS.

FBI Director Kash Patel faced a fiery Senate confrontation yesterday as lawmakers pressed him over allegations of excessive drinking, unexplained absences and possible misuse of FBI resources. Patel angrily denied the claims, calling them “a total farce.” Democrats questioned whether FBI personnel and assets were improperly used to go after critics and reporters covering the claims that Patel was, at times, so drunk he passed out behind locked doors and security had to break in to make sure he was okay. The hearing devolved into a shouting match, with Patel yelling at senators and accusing those speaking against him of politically motivated attacks.
Mo Kelly is in for Mark Thompson.  He looks at whether Patel's rocky Congressional hearing could put him in the same boat as his former colleague Kristi Noem and whether the allegations against Patel have become an embarrassment for Trump. 
Presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann joins  to talk politics. 
Paid protesters are a real thing, but the concept might be different than you imagine. Mark talks with Adam Swart,  the CEO of Crowds on Demand, to find out more about how it works and whether ethics are considered in the game of optics.
The Mark Thompson Show 
5/13/26
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The Mark Thompson Show 
5/12/26
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Trump is blasting Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling Tehran’s response “totally unacceptable” as tensions rise again across the Middle East. With drone attacks reported near Gulf shipping lanes, uncertainty surrounding Iran’s leadership, and fears growing over oil prices and a wider regional conflict, the pressure is building on all sides. We will break down the collapsing negotiations, the strategic stakes in Hormuz, and whether the ceasefire momentum is already slipping away.
IHeart television and radio political analyst Gary Dietrich will swing by. Should talk about the latest in Iran and the California governor’s race.
Mark speaks with Dr. Steven Bezruchka. He’s the author David Cay Johnston recommended we have on the show. Dr. Bezruchka ust released “Born Sick in the USA: Improving the Health of a Nation.”
 
The Mark Thompson Show 
5/11/26

Stephen Bezruchka - Born Sick
https://stephenbezruchka.com

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The Virginia Supreme Court is blocking a voter-approved, Democratic-drawn congressional map, ruling the amendment process used to approve it violated state procedure. It's a decision that could blunt Democratic hopes and give Republicans a redistricting edge heading into the 2026 midterms. We'll look at the legal arguments over early voting and the constitutional amendment process and the likely impact on the balance of the U.S. House. A shaky ceasefire is compromised by an escalation between the U.S. and Iran near the Strait of Hormuz. We’ll look at U.S. Defense Department and CENTCOM statements on self-defense strikes against missile, drone and small-boat threats and Iran’s response accusing the U.S. of violating the ceasefire and attacking an Iranian tanker and coastal sites. We also examine the immediate impacts on maritime traffic and the implications for ongoing peace talks. This Week in Politics with Michael Shure & Mo Kelly brings a review of the top stories making an impact. The wild streets of Florida come to life with Friday Fabulous Florida. Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, takes us to the movies and right into the weekend.

There is a wild new twist in the Kash Patel story: The Atlantic reports that FBI Director Kash Patel has been traveling with and handing out self-branded bourbon labeled “Ka$h Patel,” making FBI events…interesting? The revelation arrives the same day news broke that the FBI opened a criminal probe into Atlantic reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick over an earlier story alleging Patel’s excessive partying and drinking. We welcome former federal prosecutor, and now defense attorney David Katz to discuss what passing out branded liquor on official business could mean ethically and legally. We’ll explore how the new allegation collides with the criminal inquiry into the reporter who first reported on Patel’s conduct.

It seems Donald Trump is itching to get out of Iran. 
He says he is pausing ‘Project Freedom’, that’s the US mission to guide ships out of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump says the pause will allow time to set up a deal with Iran to end the war. Meanwhile, his blockade of Iranian ports remains and Iran shows no signs of backing down. 
In keeping with the confusing nature of the Trump administration,Trump pressing pause on Project Freedom  contradicts the messages from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They indicated the U.S. secured the strait as a favor to the world and hundreds of commercial ships are lining up to get through. During their press conference, a cargo vessel in the strait reported being hit by a projectile. It doesn’t seem like Iran is pressing pause. 
We’ll talk about it all with presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann.
The Mark Thompson Show 
5/6/26
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