It’s a big Friday show! We’ll look at Trump’s latest back and forth tariff ultimatums and extensions as he scrambles to make more trade deals.
We’ll get details on whether Trump’s new tax policy will make it easier to slide control of social security to private companies. Alex Lawson with Social Security Works will lay it all out. 
Oscar nominated writer and director Billy Ray will stop in to talk movies, Hollywood and politics. 
This Week in Politics brings our beloved Jim Avila and Michael Shure to the show. These heavy hitting journalists will help us highlight the biggest stories of the week. 
The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, brings it home with his thoughts on your theater and streaming options this weekend.
The Mark Thompson Show 
8/1/25
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The Mark Thompson Show 
7/31/25
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The man who helped Trump out of jam after jam and, according to whistleblowers, told Trump administration officials to ignore judicial rulings is now himself a federal judge. It’s a lifetime appointment for Emil Bove. Loyalty pays off. 
Political analyst and presidential historian John Rothmann joins to talk politics. 
Eco-journalist Belinda Waymouth helps us save the planet. 
Oh, and Mark is back!
The Mark Thompson Show 
7/30/25
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Here comes the “flying palace.”  It turns out that “free” jet from Qatar will cost US taxpayers nearly one billion dollars to renovate. That money is coming frm a fund meant to upgrade aging U.S. nuclear weapons. Reports indicate that at the end of Trump’s term, the plane will go to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. That’s a big gift from both Qatar and the Amercan people. 
Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative reporter David Cay Johnston joins to discuss.
The Mark Thompson Show 
7/29/25
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With her information on Iran’s nuclear capabilities brushed aside by Trump, National Security Director Tulsi Gabbard found a new way into the spotlight and Trump’s good graces. With allegations that former President Obama lied about Russia’s election interference in 2016, Congressman Jason Crow says Tulsi Gabbard has made herself a “weapon of mass distraction.” 
Michael Shure will be in the Captain’s chair to talk about it with iHeart TV & radio political analyst Gary Dietrich. 
The Mark Thompson Show 
7/28/25
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It is shaping up to be a difficult September for Attorney General Pam Bondi. Republican leaders in the House are going after information in the Epstein files. Files Bondi reportedly told Trump his name was featured in multiple times, but told the public there were no files to release. MAGA is losing confidence in Bondi and some GOP House members seem to be feeling the same way. Subpoenas are flying and the Epstein case and its bungling will likely carry past the House recess in August and continue to follow Bondi into the fall. We welcome former ABC White House correspondent and award-winning journalist Jim Avila to talk about the Epstein case and more. Friday Fabulous Florida is upon us again. We’ll take a look at our fun, Southern friends and their summer shenanigans. The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder joins us with his take on the latest movies in theaters and streaming options. Let the weekend begin!

In May, Trump was briefed and knew his name is all over the Epstein files. Since that briefing, the DOJ’s move has been to seal the evidence and keep the public in the dark. Attorney General Pam Bondi's deputy, Todd Blanche (Trump’s former defense attorney) are visiting with Ghislaine Maxwell — Epstein’s longtime co-conspirator — in prison. It would seem a deal is in the offing. Meanwhile, Trump distracts by raging at Obama, and Tulsi Gabbard happily tosses more gasoline on the conspiracy bonfires about Obama. Award-winning journalist Gil Gross and former federal prosecutor David Katz join us to expose the cover-up, examine the legal risks, and track the growing panic among Trump’s GOP allies

CNN is out with old video footage and pictures that further illustrate the tight bond between Donald Trump and the late convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Pictures show Epstein at Trump’s second wedding, video shows the pair joking around at a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and a more ominous picture shows Epstein looking at Trump’s two young children. Trump is furious about old images being published and reportedly screamed at and then hung up on a CNN reporter over the release. Meanwhile, the wild rumpus of Trump’s outlandish behavior continues as he tries to fire off distractions in all directions. Presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann joins to talk about this and the politics of the day. We highlight the planet and our changing environment with “It’s the Planet, Stupid!” Eco-journalist Belinda Waymouth always finds hope for future.

The Trump administration has the will, the plans and now the resources to ramp up immigration enforcement. Trump’s Border officials say Americans will soon see ICE agents flood sanctuary cities run by Democrats. At Trump’s request, the Republican led Congress earmarked more than $170 billion over the next four years for increased immigration enforcement, detention and deportation. It seems the immigration arrests happening across the country will only become more severe and widespread. 
We will talk about all of it and so much more with Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist and author David Cay Johnston. 
The Trump administration now has the go ahead from the Supreme Court to dismantle the US Department of Education. We welcome the Education workers union president, Brittany Coleman. She’s the AFGE Local 252 Chief Steward and an attorney for the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in Dallas. 
It is Tech Tuesday once again on The Mark Thompson Show and that means Jefferson Graham will join us to talk about the latest gadgetry. 
The Mark Thompson Show 
7/22/25
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A secret meeting at Rupert Murdoch’s Montana ranch? Reports indicate Vice President JD Vance and his wife flew into Butte aboard Air Force Two on June 11th. The plane stayed on the ground from around 2:30pm to nightfall. The Associated Press reports Vice President Vance spoke with 94-year-old Murdoch (owner of the Wall Street Journal), his son Lachlan Murdoch and other Fox News executives, though the nature of the conversation wasn’t shared. After the meeting, the vice president and his wife enjoyed on a short hike. Just a few weeks later, the Wall Street Journal published a salacious birthday note said to have been written by Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, with a drawing of a naked lady and wishes for daily secrets. Now, Trump is suing the Wall Street Journal and those associated with the story for $10 billion. So what was VP Vance doing at Murdoch’s Montana Ranch and what went down at that meeting?
We’ll talk about it with iHeartRadio and TV political analyst Gary Dietrich. 
We are excited to welcome Dr. Vincent Racaniello to the show. He is a researcher in virology at Columbia and has done groundbreaking work. He is bringing his knowledge to the public with a series of podcasts helping educate people about viruses and vaccines.
The Mark Thompson Show 
7/21/25
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