Forget world renowned economists and financial experts, it seems to have taken the CEOs of the biggest retailers in America to convince Trump to ease off the Chinese tariffs. The leaders of Target, Walmart and Home Depot met with Trump in the oval office yesterday and finally, Trump seems to be getting the message that his tariffs are bad for business. We’ll explore that and more with award-winning journalist Gil Gross. Still no movement in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, despite calls from a judge to bring him back to America. Judge Paula Xinis gave the Trump administration an extension on the time she allotted them to show evidence that they are trying to bring him home while also letting them know she’s far from pleased, writing: “Defendants have failed to respond in good faith, and their refusal to do so can only be viewed as willful and intentional noncompliance. That ends now," We will run the case past former federal prosecutor, and now defense attorney, David Katz.

The same day investors learned that Tesla earnings dropped 71% in the first quarter, Elon Musk announced his decision to step away from DOGE. The controversial Trump administration role leaves Musk with a tarnished public image and a company that has born the brunt of public anger toward him. Musk told Tesla investors that next month, he will transition away from DOGE, spending a day or two a week on efforts to cut government waste, fraud and abuse. The move comes even as his efforts to cut $2 trillion fell far short. According to the Washington Post, Musk is ready to check out of Trump's administration as "attacks" from the left have also taken a toll. Presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann will drop by the show to talk about Musk and much more. “It’s the Planet, Stupid!” brings eco-journalist Belinda Weymouth to the show. On the heels of Earth Day, Belinda will showcase some of the organizations working to help the earth, despite a policy shift away from environmental protections.

After embarrassing the Trump administration and the Department of Defense multiple times with the careless treatment of America’s most sensitive secrets, there are reports that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is being replaced. NPR quotes an anonymous source as saying the White House is already trying to find someone else for the job. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt calls it “fake news”
We welcome Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston to discuss 
We’ll talk tariffs and a faltering economy with Michael Hiltzik, an award winning journalist with  the LA Times.
The Mark Thompson Show 
4/22/25
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appears to be a prolific texter of America’s secrets. Because a journalist was mistakenly added to texts on the Signal platform about the timing of a bombing in Yemen, that incident was well reported. Now, there is word of a second Signal group chat regarding the same attack. Even more egregious, this one reportedly happened on his personal phone and included his wife, lawyer and brother. Damaging Infomation about Hegseth is surfacing after the ouster at least four former Pentagon officials Hegseth fired last week.
Michael Shure helms the show today.
The Mark Thompson Show 
4/21/25
Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:
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Maybe you’re more into PayPal.  
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Despite everything laid out in Project 2025, Trump 2.0 is a chaotic disaster. While it seems Trump and friends are trying to follow the script, they just can’t seem to get anything right. Trump‘s tariff plan put the global economy in the dumpster and made him look like an amateur. His immigration policy, while slowing traffic at the border, has put him on a head-on collision course with the courts. Even his beloved Supreme Court allies are rolling their eyes at the bumbling Trump clown car. The move to cut government spending resulted in an on again off again firing spree, making it difficult for federal workers to function. From measles outbreaks to plane crashes to a ridiculous focus on retribution instead of tackling pressing matters, Trump’s second term looks like a full on mess. John Aravosis will stop by to talk politics. You may know him from his wildly successful offerings AmeriBlog or The Aravosis Report on TikTok. We welcome journalists Michael Shure and Jim Avila to the show to recap this week in politics. Their insight, wisdom and witty banter make this a segment not to be missed. We’ll pay a visit to our friends in Florida for a little levity on a Friday. Plus, The Culture Blaster Michael Snyder will slide in to share the best in streaming and movies in theaters.

Two judges, overseeing different deportation related cases brought against the Trump administration, are getting more frustrated. Trump officials are ignoring or outright defying federal court orders. It has District Judge James Boasberg announcing that there is probable cause to find the government in contempt after the showing what he called "willful disregard" for his order to stop planes carrying alleged gang members to El Salvador. Federal Judge Paula Xinis says that despite her order for Trump officials to facilitate the return of the deported alleged gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom the Trump administration admitted was deported by error, they have not communicated any movement on progress . For that inaction, Judge Xinis is considering whether to hold officials in contempt. We welcome long time talk show host and friend of the show Pat Thurston in the first hour. Then, Former federal prosecutor and now defense attorney, David Katz will join to share his thoughts on the contempt, enforcement of judicial orders and more.

The U.S. District Court Judge overseeing the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador by the Trump administration in what they claim was an administrative error, wants to know what Trump officials have done so far to facilitate his return to the United States. Judge Paula Xinis says the Supreme Court has spoken on the matter and she is now ordering the testimony of four Trump administration from ICE, Homeland Security and the State Department. We welcome Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston to the show. We are taking the pulse of our environment with eco-journalist Belinda Waymouth. She joins us for “It’s the Planet, Stupid!”

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is pointing out her colleague Marjorie Taylor Green as an example of the reason a ban on lawmakers trading individual stocks is necessary. A disclosure filing showed the Republican Congresswoman dropped thousands on shares in multiple companies before Trump announced a 90 day pause on tariffs. The Democrat had some harsh words: “We saw Marjorie Taylor Greene buy that dip. I got one question for her: How much did you make? How much did you make off of people’s despair? How much did you make off that panic? How much did you make off of that suffering?” We’ll go over the details with presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann Today, we celebrate the finale of Mark’s Madness 2025. Mark will stop in to talk about the contest, the winner and how it all went down. Then, comedian JL Cauvin climbs aboard to help Kim and Tony drive The Mark Thompson Show station wagon. Tech Tuesday brings Jefferson Graham in to talk gadetry and innovation.

Over the weekend, we learned that electronic items will be exempt from tariffs only to find out a day later that isn’t permanent. It was great news for tech investors for a few hours. Now, we understand Trump is putting tariffs on semiconductors, which will include electronic  products like phones. Pharmaceuticals will have tariffs soon as well. Senator Elizabeth Warren says Trump is playing a game of “Red-light, Green light” with the economy. Major investors are calling the back and forth disruptive. Internally, GOP members are having more trouble with the president’s policies. 
CBS iHeart television and radio political analyst Gary Dietrich will stop by the show to talk about that and more.
The Mark Thompson Show 
3/14/25
Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:
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Nearly every well regarded economist is looking at Trump’s tariff plan with disdain. Former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called it “the worst self-inflicted wound that I have ever seen an administration impose on a well-functioning economy” to Nobel laureate Paul Krugman who says, “Anyone sounding the all-clear on tariffs, or Trump economic policy in general, should be kept away from sharp objects and banned from operating heavy machinery.” With markets still reacting to an uncertain future, and the possibility of more tariffs, we are not out of the woods yet. We’ve got journalist, Jim Avila and Michael Shure, who will stop by to talk about the top political stories of the week. We’ll stop in to see how the folks of Florida are handling this crazy week. The Culture Blaster Michael Snyder will bring us all the latest details on movies and streaming. Add to that, Mark’s Madness and Friday is looking pretty sweet!