The Mark Thompson Show

Donald Trump Jr. will be back on the witness stand today testifying in the NY civil fraud trial against several Trumps and the Trump Organization. Junior spent an hour and a half on the stand yesterday. He said he was never involved in the preparation of his father’s financial statements – even after he became trustee for Donald Trump’s revocable trust. When presented with a statement the judge already ruled fraudulent, Trump, Jr. claimed he had nothing to do with it and said, “The accountants worked on it, that’s what we pay them for.” He also said he doesn’t really remember ever working on the document with anyone. Former federal prosecutor David Katz will be in today to discuss it all. We will also check in with our favorite Britisher Anthony Davis to talk about the stories of the day, including the latest in the Middle East.“It’s the Planet, Stupid!” returns with Belinda Waymouth. She’s watching extreme weather and will talk about the effect of a drought on the Panama Canal and International shipping.

A warning from FBI Director Christopher Wray came yesterday at a Senate hearing. Wray says antisemitism is reaching “historic levels” in the United States. Wray said “the Jewish community is targeted by terrorists across the spectrum” including homegrown violent extremists, foreign terrorist organizations, and domestic violent extremists. Erwin Chemerinksy, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, says anti-Semitic speech and actions are unlike anything he’s seen on campus before. Meanwhile, Israeli forces carried out an air strike on a large refugee camp in northern Gaza. They said the action successfully targeted a top Hamas commander responsible for the October 7th attack on Israel. Hamas denies it. Doctors Without Borders calls the strike horrifying. We will check in with John Rothmann about all this and more. The Mark Thompson Show 11/1/23

If you engage in insurrection or rebellion against the US Constitution after taking an oath to protect, preserve and defend it, you can’t be the President of the United States. It’s all there in black & white, clear as crystal under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Six voters in Colorado filed a first of its kind lawsuit arguing Donald Trump is ineligible under that rule. The court hearings start today. David Cay Johnston is in early today to help us lead off the show as we cover this unprecedented case. Jefferson Graham will drop by to talk about President Biden’s executive order on AI. It’s wide ranging and allows for AI developments to be tested before any release.Then, Kim and Jim Avila discuss what it’s like to be a reporter in a war zone. We consider the risks vs the importance of covering conflicts. Jim has been sent to multiple hot spots and has an incredible perspective in a new piece on Barrett News Media.

Over the weekend, Israel's military exchanged gunfire with Hamas and hit targets in northern Gaza in an expanded ground operation. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the number of people killed during Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7th is now nearly 8,000. It’s unclear if that number is verified by other sources. Meanwhile, Jewish people around the world are feeling the frustration over the conflict spill over. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists stormed a Russian airport, angrily kicking at doors and rushing onto a tarmac where a plane had just arrived from Israel. After careful reconsideration, the federal judge overseeing Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case is reinstating a gag order. That means Trump will have to hush up when it comes to bad mouthing prosecutors, court staff and any potential witnesses. Fundraising is a big role for the House Speaker in the 2024 election cycle and it’s not looking like new Speaker Mike Johnson has had a lot of success in that department. Since his Congressional career started in 2017, Speaker Johnson has only raised $5.5 million dollars. Compare that to Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s nearly $500 million during the 2022 campaign and Uh oh! Monday brings Courtney to the studio for a chilling look into a True Crime story and Karen Dawn with Dawn Watch will stop by to talk animals. The Mark Thompson Show 10/30/23

Ivanka Trump really doesn’t want to testify against her dad in his civil trial in New York. Donald Trump, and the Trump Organization have already been found liable for fraud, but how much it will cost them is still to be determined. Ivanka wants the court to toss New York Attorney General Letitia James subpoena for her to take the stand. But court has determined she must testify. Worried about President Biden’s age and approval ratings, a Democratic congressman is throwing his hat into the presidential race. Today, Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips is expected to officially announce that he will challenge President Biden in the Democratic primary. While he says President Biden has done a great job for the country, he tells CBS, “I will not sit still, I will not be quiet in the face of numbers that are so clearly saying that we’re going to be facing an emergency next November.” We will talk to Jim Avila & Michael Shure about whether the challenge is a serious problem for Democrats or just an annoyance. We wait for it all week: Friday Fabulous Florida and Albert has outdone himself this time! We are talking nudity, beer belly wrestling and garage gators. John Daly joins in! So many good movies to choose from this Halloweekend! Culture Blaster Michael Snyder helps narrow down the choices. The Mark Thompson Show 10/27/23

We are back to the United States of Guns! In Lewiston, Maine, authorities are looking for a 40 year old firearms instructor trained by the military who was recently committed to a mental facility. Robert Card is a person of interest in the killings of at least 18 people and the wounding of as many as 13 more at a bar and a bowling alley. Perhaps unrelated but odd in the same town, early yesterday, officers stopped a vehicle for several traffic violations. The 17 year old unlicensed driver was allegedly in possession of a loaded firearm with numerous loaded magazines, including a high capacity drum magazine. The teen was supposed to be on house arrest stemming from a shooting several months ago. Former Federal Prosecutor David Katz is back and there is a lot to talk about with Trump’s inner circle flipping to save themselves. “It’s the Planet, Stupid!” is back in its regular form as Belinda Waymouth returns from her travels. The Mark Thompson Show 10/26/23

It’s another big Mark Thompson Show! John Rothmann stops in to talk politics followed by Cenk Uygur from TYT. We’ll talk Israel-Hamas War, Trump, the recent Trump loyalists who are flipping to save their own hides, including Mark Meadows, and the shambles that is the House Speaker race. Prepare to be scared! The Horror King, Jeff Dixon, will rise up to talk about scary movies and creepy stuff! The Mark Thompson Show 10/25/23

In the last couple of days, two of Trump’s former attorneys, Kenneth Chesbro and Sidney Powell, have accepted plea deals in the Georgia state election interference case in exchange for their testimony. Yesterday, former Trump attorney and fixer Michael Cohen took the stand in Trump’s New York fraud case. Cohen seems to almost be enjoying the opportunity to lay out the truth on Trump.David Cay Johnston will weigh in on how all this information is affecting Trump’s uncanny ability to slither away from blame and consequence.Jim Avila will stop in to talk about his new piece in Barrett News Media He’s baaack! Jefferson Graham is fresh off a big trip. We can’t wait to see the pictures and hear how it went!

A plea deal in the Georgia election subversion case, a flip-flop in loyalty and now the rats are scurrying away from Sidney Powell. Trump is now saying Powell was “never” his attorney. He hopped on his Truth Social platform to write,“ MS. POWELL WAS NOT MY ATTORNEY, AND NEVER WAS. In fact, she would have been conflicted,”Fact: Powell was briefly an official member of Trump’s legal team in 2020, and he kept in contact with her on election-related issues even after she left his campaign.Air strikes continue to hit Gaza. Israel will not agree to a ceasefire. Meanwhile humanitarian aid was finally allowed through the Rafah border crossing with Gaza/Egypt, 20 trucks Saturday and 15 Sunday. Palestinian Crossing Authority officials say the trucks brought "food and medicines" for Gaza.There are now nine representatives willing to take on the Speakership. Getting the GOP on board to select one and then unify is still looking insurmountable. Courtney will pop in to the Mark Thompson headquarters to talk true crime and Karen Dawn will swing by to talk about animals.

Welcome to Friday on the Mark Thompson Show. It’s always a great place to learn a little and have a little fun… I mean a lot. Learn a lot and have a lot of fun. I’m gonna hear about that! Thus, it begins. First, let’s get caught up on the Israeli – Gaza War. Last evening, President Joe Biden spoke to Americans. He explained that this war is an “inflection point” - a fight between democracies and autocracies. He made the case for sending more financial aid to the region, comparing Hamas to Putin. He also discussed Palestinian people caught in the middle jwho are desperate for humanitarian aid. The mess in the People’s House is still not being cleaned up. We will check in on the latest efforts to choose a new Speaker, wicked threats made to GOP Members, Trump’s legal saga and more. Favorite duo Jim Avila in Michael Shure will weigh in on it all. You can’t run from the law in Broward County. Friday Fabulous Florida brings a ridiculously poor attempt to hide from officers and a lot more. John Daly is coming to heckle Floridians! Then Culture Blaster Michael, Snyder jumps in to the fray with his latest movie reviews ahead of the weekend releases. The Mark Thompson Show 10/20/23