The Mark Thompson Show

Trump’s MAGA base appears to be disillusioned. Recently, former Trump campaign spokesperson Caroline Sunshine told CNN’s Elex Michaelson…“Who’s MAGA? Because what I’m hearing from everyone is, I’m a ‘three-time Trump voter, and I’m not MAGA anymore. I’m not. I’m now non-MAGA,’”  “MAGA, the base is leaving because they don’t agree with this conflict, and they don’t believe that this is what they voted for and they’re correct.”She’s joined by a chorus of former MAGA voices now turning away from Trump and a war that broke the MAGA promise. We will talk about it with John Rothmann. He is a presidential historian and political analyst well versed in Middle East history. Our eco-journalist Belinda Waymouth returns with a great edition of “It’s the Planet, Stupid!” We’ll look at Exxon’s drilling habits and a pair of moon bears rescued from a Facebook sale!The Mark Thompson Show 4/8/26Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you’re more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comThe Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page.  Please join! Here's the link: https://m.facebook.com/TheMarkThompsonShow/Show sponsors:coachellavalleycoffee.com  - use code MarkT at check out to save 10%Suite 106 Bakery use code MarkT to save 15%Here’s a special link:https://suite106bakery.com/discount/MARKT

Its deadline day. Trump is giving Iran until 8pm Eastern to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He is threatening to blow up power infrastructure and bridges if they fail to do so. The markets are reacting and oil prices are once again rising as a result. So what’s his best move? Another deadline extension, a massive attack or some kind of hastily hammered out ceasefire? We’ll discuss it with Pulitzer Prize winning author, an investigative journalist, David Cay Johnston. Michael Shure is in for Mark Thompson.The Mark Thompson Show Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you’re more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comThe Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page.  Please join! Here's the link: https://m.facebook.com/TheMarkThompsonShow/Show sponsors:coachellavalleycoffee.com  - use code MarkT at check out to save 10%Suite 106 Bakery use code MarkT to save 15%Here’s a special link:https://suite106bakery.com/discount/MARKT

On Easter Sunday, Donald Trump, who claims to be a Christian, posted a very unchristian like message for the world to see. The message makes him look look unstable, unthinking and very unpresidential. It’s bringing concerns about Trump’s mental health status as he digs deeper into his Iran war with threats, expletives and a bravado that does not offer much hope for diplomacy. Here’s his Easter Sunday post: "“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”Trump later clarified that Iran has an 8 PM Eastern deadline to reopen the strait. We welcome iHeart political analyst Gary Dietrich to the show to discuss this and more. The Mark Thompson Show 4/6/26Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you’re more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comThe Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page.  Please join! Here's the link: https://m.facebook.com/TheMarkThompsonShow/Show sponsors:coachellavalleycoffee.com  - use code MarkT at check out to save 10%Suite 106 Bakery use code MarkT to save 15%Here’s a special link: https://suite106bakery.com/discount/MARKT

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 DayBelinda 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: Fill out your Mark's Madness 2026 bracket here:https://officepoolstop.com/Brackets/29877id: 29877pw: ironrodYou have until Thursday 4/2 8pm ET -- 5pm PT to fill out your bracketThe Mark Thompson Show 4/1/26Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you’re more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comThe Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page.  Please join! Here's the link: https://m.facebook.com/TheMarkThompsonShow/Show sponsors:coachellavalleycoffee.com  - use code MarkT at check out to save 10%Zelmins.com - use code MarkT to save a 15% off your first orderSuite106bakery.com use code MarkT to save 15%

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 3/31/26Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you’re more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comThe Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page.  Please join! Here's the link: https://m.facebook.com/TheMarkThompsonShow/Show sponsors:coachellavalleycoffee.com  - use code MarkT at check out to save 10%Zelmins.com - use code MarkT to save a 15% off your first orderSuite106bakery.com use code MarkT to save 15%

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 3/30/26Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you’re more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comThe Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page.  Please join! Here's the link: https://m.facebook.com/TheMarkThompsonShow/Show sponsors:coachellavalleycoffee.com  - use code MarkT at check out to save 10%Zelmins.com - use code MarkT to save a 15% off your first orderSuite106bakery.com use code MarkT to save 15%

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 3/24/26Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you’re more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comThe Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page.  Please join! Here's the link: https://m.facebook.com/TheMarkThompsonShow/Show sponsors:coachellavalleycoffee.com  - use code MarkT at check out to save 10%Zelmins.com - use code MarkT to save a 15% off your first orderSuite106bakery.com use code MarkT to save 15%  

According to the Wall Street Journal, more U.S. Marines are headed to the Middle East. They are from the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. They are a rapid-response force of 2,200 Marines. The President is said to be considering whether to send even more troops to Operation Epic Fury. As of today, US Central Command says there are about 50,000 US troops already in the Middle East as part of Trump’s war with Iran. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is looking to get $200-Billion to fund Trump’s so called “excursion.” We’ll talk about it with Michael Shure and Mo Kelly as we recap the biggest stories of the week with This Week in Politics. Doctor of Physical Therapy, Adam James, returns to shed more light on Trump’s faltering health. A quick stop by Florida and a check of the latest movies with The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, sweeps us right into a beautiful weekend.

The price of Trump’s Iran war may be about to explode. The Pentagon is quietly pushing for a staggering $200 billion funding request to Congress—far beyond what’s been spent so far—as U.S. and Israeli strikes intensify and weapons stockpiles run low. Inside the White House, there’s doubt the request can even pass, and on Capitol Hill, resistance is already building. Lawsuits related to the Trump administration are flying. Former federal prosecutor, now defense attorney, David Katz will join us to examine the latest from the ongoing efforts by Trump to resurrect his tariff policies to the latest legal decisions on the retribution cases he had the DOJ bring against his foes.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard evaded and stonewalled facing intense questioning on Capitol Hill as senators pressed her on the true state of Iran’s regime, what intelligence President Trump is receiving during the escalating conflict, and her role in the controversial Fulton County ballot seizure. Gabbard described Iran as “degraded but intact,” while sidestepping key details about internal briefings and omitting parts of her written testimony on Iran’s nuclear program—raising fresh concerns about transparency and political pressure inside the intelligence community. The hearing also exposed deeper tensions over how the war is being framed, what the public is being told, and whether intelligence is being shaped to fit the administration’s narrative.Political analyst John Rothmann joins Mo Kelly to discuss.  Mark Thompson has a discussion with attorney Ryan Clarkson about a class action lawsuit against Meta.The Mark Thompson Show 3/18/26Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you’re more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comThe Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page.  Please join! Here's the link: https://m.facebook.com/TheMarkThompsonShow/Show sponsors:coachellavalleycoffee.com  - use code MarkT at check out to save 10%Zelmins.com - use code MarkT to save a 15% off your first orderSuite106bakery.com use code MarkT to save 15%

We are seeing more conflicting information coming from Trump‘s White House. While asking seven countries to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz, Trump now says the United States is strong enough to go it alone, insisting the request for help was nothing more than a loyalty test. So what is it? Does America need allies to come to our aid or is Trump‘s Iran war doing just fine?Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston will swing by the show to examine Trump’s motives for going to war and look at why Trump and his cabinet don’t seem to be on the same page with messaging. The Mark Thompson Show 3/17/26Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you’re more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comThe Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page.  Please join! Here's the link: https://m.facebook.com/TheMarkThompsonShow/Show sponsors:coachellavalleycoffee.com  - use code MarkT at check out to save 10%Zelmins.com - use code MarkT to save a 15% off your first orderSuite106bakery.com use code MarkT to save 15%

* Reminder The live show has a new start time: 11:30AM Pacific/2:30PM Eastern President Trump is escalating pressure on U.S. allies to join a naval coalition protecting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil chokepoints. Trump says he’s “demanded” that about seven countries send ships to help secure the waterway as his Iran war threatens global energy supplies. Still, several governments remain hesitant, raising questions about whether the U.S. will end up policing the world’s most important oil route largely on its own.  IHeart TV and radio political analyst Gary Dietrich will join us to look at Trump’s Iran war and how American allies are not moving fast to join in. The Mark Thompson Show 3/16/26Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you’re more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comThe Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page.  Please join! Here's the link: https://m.facebook.com/TheMarkThompsonShow/Show sponsors:coachellavalleycoffee.com  - use code MarkT at check out to save 10%Zelmins.com - use code MarkT to save a 15% off your first orderSuite106bakery.com use code MarkT to save 15%

The fund for Trump’s presidential library appears to be gone. What happened to some $63 million that was promised to the fund by companies like ABC, Meta, Paramount and X after settling legal cases with Trump? Trump‘s library fund was dissolved last year. Now Democratic senators are demanding answers. Was it another grift? Did the money get used for something else or did it go into someone’s pocket? Is there a reasonable explanation? We’ll discuss. ‘This Week in Politics’ brings Michael Shure and Mo Kelly to the show. Whether you’ve been following Trump‘s war in Iran closely or whether you’ve had to look away, we’ve got you with in depth analysis of this week’s important events.We will take a little taste of Florida and then we’ll talk movies with The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, as we dive into the weekend. Perfection.The Mark Thompson Show 3/13/26Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you’re more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comThe Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page.  Please join! Here's the link: https://m.facebook.com/TheMarkThompsonShow/Show sponsors:coachellavalleycoffee.com  - use code MarkT at check out to save 10%Zelmins.com - use code MarkT to save a 15% off your first orderSuite106bakery.com use code MarkT to save 15%

An FBI alert warns that Iran could retaliate against U.S. military attacks by unleashing drones on the West Coast of America. According to SF Gate, Iran may deliver “drone strikes from an unidentified vessel stationed in an unknown and unconfirmed area off the coast of the United States.” California Governor Gavin Newsom said he has work groups addressing the potential threat and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie says he’s been coordinating with state and federal agencies. With 7 U.S. troops dead, almost 150 wounded, Iranian school girls killed in what appears to be a botched bombing based on outdated intelligence and now reports of threats against California, Trump’s is not finding much support for his Iran War. Mark will examine and discuss. We welcome your comments in the chat. Former federal prosecutor, now defense attorney, David Katz will drop by the show to talk about the top legal cases.Christy Grammer from the divine and delicious suite106bakery.com is back to announce the most scrumptious new flavors. They will be available on her website starting today. One merges two of our favorite things! We are so excited to share her exquisite desserts with you. The Mark Thompson Show 3/12/26 Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you’d like to help, here’s our Patreon Link:  / themarkthompsonshow  Maybe you’re more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...And you’ll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comThe Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page.  Please join! Here's the link:   / themarkthompsonshow  Show sponsors:coachellavalleycoffee.com  - use code MarkT at check out to save 10%Zelmins.com - use code MarkT to save a 15% off your first orderSuite106bakery.com use code MarkT to save 15%