The Mark Thompson Show

Americans are increasingly frustrated with the cost of health Insurance - from out of pocket costs to prescribed treatments not being covered. The reaction to the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson highlights the anger boiling toward companies making billions off the backs of people who feel they are being treated unfairly and with an utter lack of empathy. We’ll talk about it with journalist Michael Shure. We’ll also ask him about rumblings that President Biden could issue preemptive pardons to protect targets of Trump’s retribution campaign. It’s not Friday without Friday Fabulous Florida. We’ll check in on the nation’s wildest state to see what they’ve been up to. The Culture Blaster will join us to look at the best movie and streaming options for the weekend ahead. Movie critic Michael Snyder always leaves us with great ideas.

From a discarded water bottle to a dropped cell phone to reports of messages left on bullet casings, police have a lot to go on when it comes to finding a suspect in the killing of United Health CEO Brian Thompson. His wife says threats had been made against him, yet he was without the security detail provided by UnitedHealth Group, America’s largest insurance company. Journalist Anthony Davis joins the conversation with a unique perspective about the cost of healthcare in America. Trump’s legal team wants the election interference charges against him in Georgia dropped. We’ll ask our legal expert, former federal prosecutor and now defense attorney David Katz, all about it.

When asked about the possibility of pardoning Trump before the election, President Biden laughed it off. Now, following the pardon of Hunter Biden, there are multiple calls for such a move. Political insiders like Senator Joe Manchin and John Dean and commentator Stephen A. Smith all say it’s time to put any chares against Trump yo bed. We’ll talk about it with Political analyst and presidential historian John Rothmann. Television personality Lisa Joyner Is starting up new podcast. We will talk to her about that and more. 12/4/25Patreon 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.com#Biden #Trump #Pardon #PresidentialPardon #Politics #Political #PoliticalAnalysis #PresidentialHistorian #JohnRothmann #Podcasting #LisaJoyner #Environment #ClimateChange #EcoJournalist #BelindaWaymouth

Trump’s choice to oversee the Pentagon couldn’t even oversee a couple nonprofits. The New Yorker reports Pete Hegseth was forced to step down from both Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America because of  “serious allegations of financial mismanagement, sexual impropriety, and personal misconduct.” Add that to a rape allegation and a now public letter from his mother in which she made her embarrassment of and disappointment in him clear, and Pete Hegseth is looking like Trump’s latest failure. We welcome Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist, and author David Cay Johnston to the show to discuss that and more. Boxes full of tech gadgets keep arriving at Jefferson Graham’s house. We’ll check in with him on this Tech Tuesday to see what he is recommending for your holiday gift list.The Mark Thompson Show 12/3/24Patreon 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.com#Trump #Hegseth #DavidCayJohnston #Biden #Pardon #HunterBiden #PresidentBiden #Politics #Political #PoliticalAnalysis #Confirmations #Senate #House #BackgroundChecks #ElonMusk #TechTuesday #JeffersonGraham #Apple #Google

Despite words to the contrary earlier this year, President Biden is pardoning his son Hunter. The move will keep the younger Biden out of prison following convictions for gun and tax related crimes. Our Legal expert on the show, former federal prosecutor David Katz, predicted the move months ago asking what man would let his son rot in jail when he has the power to let him go on charges that were only brought because his father is the president? The move has outraged Republicans. Trump is comparing the incomparable saying President Biden should have pardoned January 6th insurrectionists:      "Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!"We welcome IHeart Television and Radio political analyst Gary Dietrich to the show to discuss it. Monday means True Crime on The Mark Thompson Show. Josh Mankiewicz will join Courtney to examine this week’s case.Karen Dawn, of Dawn Watch, will wrap it up with “ A Word About Animals.”The Mark Thompson Show 12/2/24Patreon 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.com#Biden #BidenPardon #HunterPardon #HunterBiden #Pardon #Trump #J6 #J6Pardons#Politics #Political #PoliticalAnalysis #Law #PresidentialPardon #TrueCrime #JoshMankiewicz #TrueCrimeCorner #Animals #KarenDawn

Countries around the world are getting ready for Trump’s promised tariffs. In return, some are ready to level tariffs of their own on American goods. Potential trade wars are bringing economic jitters even before Inauguration Day. The president-elect made threats online to Mexico and Canada that they’d face high tariffs if they don’t stop migrants and fentanyl from coming over the border into the U.S. He threatened China with tariffs if they don’t stop fentanyl from coming into the U.S. as well. Mark will look at how this could play out Courtney will stop by to talk about the new merch just in time for the holidays. Eco- journalist Belinda Waymouth will share some hope for the environment with “It’s the Planet, Stupid!” Surprise! Just before this huge movie weekend, The Culture Blaster Michael Snyder will come by to tell us what’s good and what we can skip at theater. *Programming Note: No shows Thursday & Friday of Thanksgiving week.

The effort to seat Trump’s incoming cabinet is a wild, chaotic, cash filled scramble. From dark money infiltrating the process and selling access to the president-elect to word that his confidants are jockeying so hard for influence that it’s led to physical confrontations, Trump’s second time around is not a smooth process. We welcome Pulitzer Prize winning author and investigative journalist David Cay Johnston to discuss this and more. Kamala Harris's team speaks.Tech Tuesday brings Jefferson Graham by to share his “Tech Turkeys of the Year.”The Mark Thompson Show 11/26/24Patreon 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.com#Trump #DavidCayJohnston #Electionfallout #politics #political #politicalanalysis #TrumpCabinet #Musk #Epshtyn #TechTuesday #JeffersonGraham #TechTurkeys

The Trump transition team is being directed not to move forward with FBI background checks for nominees.  According to CNN, the Trump team was caught off guard by allegations against Pete Hegseth and Matt Gaetz.  So why the aversion to background checks and why won't Trump and his team sign ethics forms?  We'll ask former federal prosecutor now defense attorney, David Katz about that and more.  We also welcome iHeart Television and Radio political analyst Gary Dietrich to talk politics.  Author Joel Brokaw will join us to tell us about his new book detailing his father's like work. Norman Brokaw was a legendary Hollywood agent.  The Book is called: Driving Marilyn: The Life and Times of Legendary Hollywood Agent Norman Brokaw.  It's full of wonderful stories from some of the biggest names in the business.  The Mark Thompson Show 11/25/24  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.com#Trump #ElectionFallout #BackgroundChecks #DavidKatz #political #PoliticalAnalysis #politics #GaryDietrich #Legal #LegalAnalysis #Matt Gaetz #TrumpTransition #TrumpTeam #ChuckWoolery #TinyTim #VickFlick #JoelBrokaw #HollywoodAgent #NormanBrokaw

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy discuss details of their plans to eliminate some governmental rules along with many federal workers. As part of the Department of Governmental, Efficiency, the pair will be outside volunteers overseeing a staff of “small government crusaders.” They are looking to make administrative and regulatory cuts and save money. The plan is to “identify rules that exceed the authority Congress granted agencies.” They’ll run it past lawyers and then present it to Trump who will be able to take executive action. If regulations are cut, the staff working in those areas will likely be unnecessary. Team DOGE will be whittling agencies down to the minimum number required to perform legal and constitutional duties. Those workers who lose jobs will not be saved by civil service protections, according to Musk and Ramaswamy as cuts would fall under a “reduction in force.” We will discuss it with political analyst and journalist, Michael Shure. We’ll also ask him what he thinks about Pam Bondi, Trump‘s new candidate to be the US Attorney General. We’ll swing by Florida to see what those crazy kids are up to. Get ready to pick your favorite story of Friday Fabulous Florida. It’s a big weekend at the movies. Gladiator 2 and Wicked are on the big screens. We will find out if either are worth your time or money. The Culture Blaster, Michael Snyder, brings his critical eye.

Pressure on Matt Gaetz proved to be too much. He is stepping away from the Attorney General nomination. During the run up to the election, Trump did his best to distance himself from Project 2025. It’s a blueprint for implementing some draconian Christian nationalist policies that appear to be wildly unconstitutional. Trump said he had no idea who was behind the plan. Now, he is embracing its creators. So far, the following men have been tapped to serve in the Trump administration and also are neck deep in Project 2025: *Russ Vought, an architect of Project 2025 who supports aggressive use of presidential powers is reportedly being considered to lead the White House Budget Office K *Tom Homan, tapped to be the “border czar” *John Ratcliffe, who may be the next CIA director *Brendan Carr, heading the FCC *Pete Hoekstra, Trump’s ambassador to Canada *Stephen Miller, led America First Legal, which advised on Project 2025, will be an assistant to the president, deputy chief of staff for policy and Homeland Security advisor. Some in Trump’s circle, like Steve Bannon, have admitted that Project 2025 was the plan all along. We welcome our favorite Britisher to the show. Journalist Anthony Davis will talk politics. Investigative journalist Greg Palast will share some new details on efforts to count every ballot. Former federal prosecutor David Katz will discuss Trump’ pending state cases out of New York and Georgia being put on hold.