Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is forcing the Army’s top general out. It’s a move fueling new scrutiny over who is driving decisions inside the Pentagon. With no clear explanation for General Randy George’s early removal, critics are pointing to the growing influence of outside political voices, including far-right activist Laura Loomer, and raising alarms about possible ideological or loyalty tests shaping military leadership. General George isn’t the only experienced, educated leader being forced out. Chief of Chaplains, Major General William Green Jr. and Commander of Army Transformation and Training, General David Hodne, are also being shown the door. The shakeup is intensifying concerns about politicization at the highest levels of command—and who might be next. It’s going to be a great Friday show. We’ll recap ‘This Week in Politics’ with Michael Shure and Mo Kelly. It’s been a doozy with Trump admitting he’d rather pay for a war than daycare, threatening to bomb Iran back into the Stone Age, showing up at a Supreme Court hearing and then firing Attorney General Pam Bondi. We switching to Friday fun mode with a stop by Florida to look at the locals and a visit with The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, to discover the best movie streaming options for this weekend. Grab a cup of Coachella Valley Coffee and a Suite 106 Bakery cupcake and settle in for the ride.

Pam Bondi is out as attorney general. Trump was reportedly not pleased with her performance on his retribution tour. She will be replaced for now by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Trump’s National address centered on plans to get out of his Iran War. He says America is “very close” to finishing its objectives and over the next two weeks, “We’re going to hit them extremely hard.” He also referred to skyrocketing gas prices as a “short term increase.” Will Iran stop fighting just because Trump walks away? Does Trump realize that his war has affected multiple industries in a global economy? We’ll examine the ramifications of Operation Epic Fury. Former federal prosecutor, now defense attorney, David Katz will stop by to talk about birthright citizenship, a judge putting a stop to the construction of Trump‘s new military grade ballroom and more.

Trump's so-called "excursion" to Iran appears to be short lived.  The President says Operation Epic Fury, now in it's 5th week, should be over in another two to three weeks.  Trump is talking about checking out of the conflict even without a deal. We'll discuss it with political analyst John Rothmann,  
Comedian J-L Cauvin will stop by to help us celebrate April Fool's Day
Belinda Waymouth returns with "It's the Planet Stupid!" and a look at a whale birth that will lift your spirits. 
David Sirota, with The Lever, will join us to talk politics. 
Oh...and it's time for  Mark's Madness. Here's how to play: 
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The Mark Thompson Show 
4/1/26
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For all of Trump's threatening and blustering over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, it appears he's willing to walk away while it remains closed. According to the Wall Street Journal, if he forced Iran to open the strait, Trump would have to extend his "excursion" to Iran past the 4-6 weeks he was banking on. Instead, he tells aides that he can end Operation Epic Fury and work to get the Strait open through diplomatic means or via allies in the Gulf and Europe.  
A Kuwaiti supertanker fully loaded with 2 million barrels of oil from both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia destined for China was set on fire in an Iranian drone attack. The flames burned for hours and are now out, but the hull of the Al Salmi tanker is badly damaged. It doesn’t appear to be leaking, but there are concerns it could. With oil prices soaring, the economic damage of losing the $200 million worth of oil aboard along with the environmental crisis would be catastrophic. The drone strike came hours after Trump threatened Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face the obliteration of energy plants and oil wells. 
We’ll have the latest on the Iran war as we discuss it all with Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston. 
The Mark Thompson Show 
3/31/26
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In the rubble of former Iranian nuclear sites, lies 1,000 pounds of uranium. Removing it is dangerous in more than one way, but so is leaving it there. 
Trump is reportedly considering a military operation to remove the uranium. The Wall Street Journal reports that he hasn’t made a decision yet, but is open to the idea because it could prevent Iran from making a nuclear weapon. 
We’ll discuss it with iHeart political analyst Gary Dietrich. Immigration attorney Michael Foote will be in to tell us whether recent court decisions against Trump and ICE are making a difference in the fight to treat immigrants fairly.
The Mark Thompson Show 
3/30/26
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Amid another massive No Kings national day of protest tomorrow, comes word that Trump will insert himself into American currency. This summer, money will begin bearing Trump’s signature along with that of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, dropping the name of the U.S. Treasurer. It’s a first for a sitting President. The first Trump money is set to print in June. In addition, the U.S. will release a golden dollar coin with Trump’s likeness. Instant MAGA collector’s item or instant symbol of a wanna-be King? We will discuss. A huge Friday Mark Thompson Show is in store. We’ll visit with comdian/attorney J-L Cauvin, discuss ‘This Week in Politics’ with Michael Shure and Mo Kelly, peek in on the wild spectacle Floridians provide every week and check out new movies with The Culture Blaster Michael Snyder.

Even Republicans know this is a mess. The lack of coherent information from Trump and his cabinet about his Iran War has some Republicans worried about an escalating fight and a loss of control. House Armed Services Committee chair Congressman Mike Rogers left a briefing saying members told defense officials they need clear details about Operation Epic Fury and offered warnings that troop movements in the Middle East should be “thoughtful and deliberate.” This as public support for Trump’s Iran War continues to drop. We’ll have the latest on Trump’s so called Iranian excursion. Former federal prosecutor, now defense attorney, David Katz will stop by to talk about the mail in ballot case before the Supreme Court, the DOJ deal to pay ex-Trump adviser Michael Flynn a million dollars and the verdict against Meta in a child exploitation case.

Trump insists “very good” talks are ongoing between Jared Kushner and Steve Witcoff for United States and a very important mystery man from Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz. He wouldn’t name the Iranian negotiator, saying that was for safety reasons. He was also wishy-washy on details of this deal. Iran denies any deal along with any ongoing talks and called it fake news intended to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the bad spot in which the US and Israel are trapped. 
Pulitzer Ptize winning investigative journalist and author David Cay Johnston will join us to discuss the validity of Trump’s story about talks with Iran and why someone is telling tall tales. 
Dr. Steven Hassan will drop in to talk about cults and what it takes to break free of them. 
The Mark Thompson Show 
3/24/26
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