The Prevailing Narrative with Matt Bilinsky

The Iran War has not shortage of storylines, themes, and questions. What is being accomplished? What are the risks? Is America getting involved in another ill-fated military adventure? How does this end? Dan Holloway is a veteran and one of the keenest observers of military and foreign affairs. He joins me to discuss all the plots and sub-plots of the war in Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The reaction to the Epstein Files has gone completely off the rails. A large segment of society believes the files have proven some sort of pedophile sex ring, when nearly the entirety of the wrongdoing can still be attributed to one man - Jeffrey Epstein. Jay Beecher is an investigative journalist who has been diving deep on the Epstein Saga for years. He has interviewed numerous Epstein victims and other parties of interest including Epstein's brother and Ghislaine Maxwell's brother. He joins me to dispel many of the myths around the Epstein Files/Saga. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is a commonly accepted narrative that the Jeffrey Epstein saga goes well beyond Epstein himself, and involves some sort of "sex blackmail ring" of the world's most powerful people. Even those who push such theory accept that previously available evidence does not prove it. BUT - they claim - the hidden "Epstein Files" will tell the tale once finally released. Well, this week over 3 million such files were released. What do they show? How are people interpreting them (and mostly misinterpreting them)? What CAN be concluded? I discuss it all this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Minnesota has never been known as a hotbed of political activity. But thus far in the 2020's, a strange amount of controversial events have come out of this state: the George Floyd incident, the curious case of Tim Waltz, and the recent allegations of widespread fraud from the Somali immigrant community....which led to the shooting of Renee Good and the ensuing riots and civil unrest against ICE. Leighton Woodhouse has been documenting the odd developments coming out of the state typically known for "Minnesota Nice" and joins me to discuss it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new Twitter feature identifies each accounts "location".....revealing that many prominent anonymous accounts that play on American political hostilities are actually located in foreign countries. Is this a "psy-op" by a foreign adversary? Or just greedy scammers taking advantage of platform monetization? MAGA Mascot Marjorie Taylor Green falls out with President Trump. Does this reveal larger dissension and breakage in the MAGA coalition? Other evidence suggests yes. I break down Trump's 28-Point Peace Proposal for the Russia/Ukraine War and where we are with the conflict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many polls show Steve Hilton leading in the 2026 California Governor's race. Steve is a businessman, author, and former advisor to the Prime Minister of Britain, with a wide range of fascinating experiences. Steve joins me to discuss California's dysfunction and failed policies around energy costs, housing, crime, homelessness, and host of other issues - and more importantly, his plans to fix them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A cancerous element has arisen on the "Online Right" - with controversial figures like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Andrew Tate, and Dave Smith peddling no shortage of toxic, ill-spirited, and outright false ideas in a blatant distortion of "America First". Nathan Livingstone and his account (MilkBarTV) have taken on the task of exposing these grifters - using their own videos, words, and past content to exhibit their dishonesty and ulterior motives. Nathan appears to be on target because he is currently being sued by Andrew Tate and in an online copyright battle with Candace Owens. He joins me to discuss this cancerous element of the Online Right and the tactics they use to deceive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The conflict in the Middle East appears to be over. How was peace achieved? Why did "World War 3" never come to pass? How much credit does Donald Trump deserve? What are the pros and cons of this situation for all sides and what can we expect going forward? I address all of these questions and give my free-range thoughts on the topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jimmy Kimmel's late night show is taken off the air after he makes blatantly false claims about the killer of Charlie Kirk. Is this just a typical instance of "Cancel Culture"? The right wing using the left's tactics against them? Or Kimmel's employers finally having enough of his problematic behavior and declining ratings? What was the government's role here? My guest Ethan Strauss has some inside sources on the government's role and a unique perspective on what this means for "free speech ". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a new episode of the Prevailing Narrative! In this special July 4th edition, we dive into the explosive fallout between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, dissect the controversial "one big, beautiful bill" in Congress, and get unfiltered takes from British commentator Jade Warwick. We also break down the P Diddy trial verdict, the latest Glastonbury Festival controversies, and the shifting landscape of UK immigration and culture. Plus, we discuss landmark Supreme Court rulings on parental rights and Title IX changes in college sports. If you’re interested in politics, pop culture, or just love a sharp, witty debate on the issues shaping America and the UK, this episode is for you! Highlights: "I hate it when mommy and daddy fight, honestly, but I just feel as if you had battle of the egos, and that's totally fine." "If you want to be punk rock, don't do the most popular thing in the world right now." "The politicians do this because the people will vote against them if they cut the cord." "As a woman, I'm not comfortable changing with men around. I don't care whether you are passable like a Thai ladyboy or not." Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:45 Elon Musk's Frustrations and Third Party Plans 04:27 Challenges of Cutting Spending in Government 10:35 Elon Musk's Third Party Plans and Their Implications 15:28 The One Big Beautiful Bill and Its Controversies 19:10 P Diddy Trial Verdict and Conspiracy Theories 24:08 Unpacking Conspiracy Theories 40:52 Glastonbury Festival and Political Stances 41:04 Supreme Court Ruling on LGBTQ Curriculum Opt-Out 44:12 Final Thoughts and Fourth of July Celebration Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a new episode of the Prevailing Narrative! Today, Matt delves into the early weeks of the P. Diddy RICO and sex trafficking trial. Joined by independent journalist Emilie Hagen, Matt navigates the sensational details and legal nuances surrounding the case. They explore the nature of sex trafficking charges, the public's misconceptions, and the defense's strategies. Highlights: “Sex trafficking isn’t some Epstein-level conspiracy—it’s coercion + a commercial sex act. Diddy’s on tape beating Cassie; that’s enough.” “The defense is doing a great job at misdirecting. Today, they made a psychologist look like a clout-chasing fraud.” “People want this trial to be about secret tapes of Leo DiCaprio. It’s really about a guy who pissed on women and bribed security guards.” “Celebrities are pathetic. Meet Alex Soros for 30 seconds, you’ll realize no one’s smart enough to run these ‘elite’ schemes.” Timestamps: 03:22 Interview with Emilie Hagen: Insights from the Courtroom 06:14 Legal Analysis and Public Perception 09:21 Defense Strategies and Witness Testimonies 13:00 Conspiracy Theories and Media Coverage 15:07 RICO Charges and Broader Implications 23:41 Celebrity Involvement and Speculations 27:48 Concluding Thoughts and Future Expectations 36:09 Diddy and the Music Industry Power Dynamics 38:55 Legal Misunderstandings and Public Reactions 40:27 Celebrity Scandals and Public Fascination 44:08 The Dark Side of Hollywood 58:26 Diddy's Family and Public Image 01:01:27 Conclusion and Where to Follow Updates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a new episode of the Prevailing Narrative podcast! In today’s episode, we dive into the release of a new book, "Original Sin", detailing Joe Biden's cognitive decline and the Democratic Party's attempt to conceal it - with help from the media. This episode is for those questioning the mainstream media, curious about political agendas behind corporate news, and determined to get closer to the truth. Whether you're a freedom-focused citizen, a political skeptic, or just tired of media manipulation—this one's for you. Timestamps: 00:13 Biden’s Cognitive Decline Goes Public 03:35 The Media Knew and Covered It Up 06:29 Why Biden Won in 2020 Despite It All 10:00 Midterms, Distractions, and the Power of Deflection 14:56 The Robert Hur Report and Its Fallout 20:22 The Debate That Changed Everything 24:47 Who Was Actually Running the White House? 30:00 Biden’s Cancer Reveal—Another Deflection? 39:44 Epstein’s Death: Suicide or Something Else? 53:27 Why the Epstein Truth Might Be More Mundane Than You Think Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a new episode of the Prevailing Narrative! In this explosive episode, we dive deep into the toxic intersection of racial tensions, online outrage, and tribal politics. Join us as we dissect two controversial cases involving Karmelo Anthony and Shiloh Hendrix, exploring how social media amplifies racial resentment and drives destructive narratives. This episode is essential viewing for anyone seeking to understand the complex dynamics of modern racial discourse, cancel culture, and the dangerous tribalism threatening social cohesion. Highlights: "General group frustrations or grievances do not justify excusing bad behavior." "We need less in-group solidarity. We need less ethnic solidarity." "If you're defending someone's bad acts purely based on racial solidarity, you are one of the bad guys." "Society is on a razor's edge here, and this park incident might just be the spark that lights a bigger fire." Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: The Dark Side of Online Racial Tribalism 05:30 Karmelo Anthony Case: Self-Defense or Murder? 15:45 Shiloh Hendricks Incident: Cancel Culture Meets Racial Tension 25:20 Fundraising Wars: Ethnic Solidarity or Moral Bankruptcy? 32:41 Chris Rufo's Role in the Trump Administration's Strategy 37: 48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a new episode of the Prevailing Narrative! In this episode, host Matt Bilinsky shares his thoughts on the Trump administration's economic strategy, exploring Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent's insights on trade wars, tariffs, and the potential reshaping of American manufacturing. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in economic policy, international trade, and the complex dynamics of global commerce. Highlights: "Desperate circumstances require desperate measures." "We better get some good trade deals out of this to make the pain worth it." "We want to ensure working families aren't left behind in the next era of economic growth." "Trump intends to usher in the most prosperous decade in American history." Timestamps: 00:00 State of Trump's Trade War and Economic Plan 01:32 Trump's Economic Strategy and Globalization 03:25 Scott Besant's Perspective and Trump's Rhetoric 09:48 Ross Douthat's Analysis and Trump's Black Pilled Mentality 14:59 Scott Besant's Speaking Engagement and Economic Strategy 16:48 Besant's Editorial and Trump's Economic Goals 20:48 Political Perspective and Market Reaction 22:01 Conclusion and Future Discussions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a new episode of The Prevailing Narrative! Join Matt Bilinsky as he dissects the latest political controversies, including the Kilmar Abrego Garcia deportation case, Pentagon leadership challenges, and the ongoing dynamics of Trump's foreign policy and trade negotiations. Perfect for political junkies, news enthusiasts, and anyone seeking nuanced analysis beyond mainstream media narratives. Highlights: "Why are the Liberals so apt to go to bat and defend criminals and defend illegal aliens?" "There will be no World War Three." "The media was throwing kerosene on an otherwise controllable flame." "America still has allies, international interests, and it does sometimes need to use the military." Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: The Continuing Saga of Kilmar Abrego Garcia 02:18 Media Framing and Legal Context 06:54 Examining Gang Affiliations and Tattoo Evidence 12:20 Chris Van Hollen's Visit and Media Mischaracterization 19:05 Pentagon Controversies: Pete Hegseth Under Scrutiny 27:59 The Schism in Conservative Foreign Policy Views 32:04 Updates on the Trade War 34:28 The Japan Trade Deals: Plans and Complications 37:00 Why the Japanese Negotiation Stalled 44:01 Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a new episode of the Prevailing Narrative! Today, we’re covering two controversial topics: the Trump administration's new tariff policies and recent high-profile deportation cases, examining the media's portrayal and the underlying complexities of these issues. We’ll peel back the layers of mainstream media narratives, exposing the hidden details often buried beneath sensationalist headlines. Prepare for a no-holds-barred analysis that challenges conventional wisdom, breaks down complex economic strategies, and reveals the nuanced reality behind Trump's bold economic and immigration moves. Highlights: "Always look past the headlines, always dive into the details." "The American dream was not built on cheap products." "Is the news always fake? Are they always mischaracterizing the Trump administration's actions?" "We're going to reconstitute all this manufacturing when a television goes from 400 to 600?" Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:00 - Fake News and Media Mischaracterization 3:04 - Detailed Analysis of Kilmer Amato Abrigo Garcia's Case 5:22- Legal and Immigration Details of Garcia's Case 13:07 - Trump's Tariff Strategy and Economic Implications 22:08 - Arguments for and Against Tariffs 25:05 - Media and Public Perception of Tariffs 25:21 - Economic and Political Implications of Tariffs 30:55 - Conclusion and Future Outlook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a new episode of The Prevailing Narrative podcast! Today, we’re covering the fascinating career arc of Doug Ellin, creator of the cultural phenomenon Entourage. From his impulsive leap into Hollywood to his fiery commentary on LA politics and his surprising pickleball obsession, Doug shares insights that are as entertaining as they are thought-provoking. Whether you’re a fan of his work or simply curious about the inner workings of Hollywood and its shifting dynamics, this episode offers a unique perspective you won’t want to miss. Tune in to hear stories that blend humor, grit, and wisdom—perfect for anyone looking for inspiration or a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment world. Highlights: "Hollywood seemed unattainable back then; now it feels like anyone can DM a star or be part of it through social media." "I became head of the mailroom at New Line Cinema in nine weeks, but what really mattered was writing my first script and making my short film." "Michael De Luca handed me a $10,000 check from his own pocket after seeing my amateur stand-up night—that moment changed everything." "Entourage wasn’t just about fame; it was about friendships and the struggles that come with success." Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 1:36 Doug Ellin's Career Arc and Early Influences 5:48 The Culture of Aspiring Hollywood Actors 9:08 Doug Ellin's Early Hollywood Experiences 20:31 The Making of "Fat Beach" and Its Impact 27:05 The Rise and Fall of "Kissing a Fool” 36:12 The Success of "Entourage" and Its Cultural Impact 51:42 Doug Ellin's Political Observations and Podcasting 54:27 Deterioration of Los Angeles and Personal Safety Concerns 1:00:25 Impact of Crime on Residential Areas and Public Perception 1:04:34 Ineffective Use of Taxes and Public Services 1:06:29 Comparisons with Other States and Personal Decisions 1:08:48 Final Thoughts on California and Future Plans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A wide-ranging conversation with Charles Fain Lehman of the City Journal on prominent news items this week including: Deportation of Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalili and the battle over "free speech" that has ensued. Charles' recent article on how violent crime has decreased but public disorder (and perceptions of crime) remain high. Speculation on Trump's economic plans and the impact on his popularity, contrasted against the Democrats registering an all-time low Approval Rating of 29% last week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last Friday witnessed a perhaps never-before-seen event with President Trump and Vice President Vance getting into hostilities with Zelensky in the Oval Office....just as major deal was about to be signed. This situation is a Rorschart test with Trump fans seeing a powerful example of "America First" and Trump haters seeing a crass bully abusing a courageous ally. Which version of reality is true? I breakdown the good and bad arguments on each side and try to put the conflict in broader context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Movie stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are in a fierce battle having exchanged multiple 9-figure lawsuits. The tipping point came with a New York Times piece in December attempting to portray Baldoni as harasser and abuser on the set of his film "It Ends With Us". Now Baldoni's lawyer has filed a 224-page counter-suit against Lively, the NY Times, and others filled with copious evidence showing the original story to be just another in a long line of "fake news" stories by the legacy media. Ariadna Jacob had her career as a top talent manager ruined by a similar NY Times smear piece years ago, and has made it her business to analyze these topics. She has been covering the Lively/Baldoni/NY Times beef and joins me to breakdown the How, What, Why and everything in between. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump's 1st week was a flurry of Executive Orders aimed at destroying the liberal stranglehold over our institutions, and attacking progressive orthodoxies on immigration, DEI, gender ideology, and the size of government. I explore the nature and impact of these EOs. Also - for the first time since the Reagan 80's the "Culture Wars" are moving right. How is this happening only a few years after BLM, DEI, and the Great Awakening peaked in progressive cultural hegemony? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2024 was a "Vibe Shift" we cannot ignore. The cultural landscape has been indisputably altered, and we enter 2025 with different customs, norms, expectations, and permissions that we didn't have the last decade. Donald Trump was certainly one character in this "vibe shift" but it cannot be attributed to him alone. This episode I explore the transition in cultural eras we experienced over the course of the last year. The fates of Daniel Penny & Luigi Mangione oddly intersected. It is very telling who celebrated the actions of which individual. What does Daniel Penny tell us about the progress we've made, and what does the vile celebration of Luigi Mangione's assassination of a healthcare CEO tell us about where we need to go? Porn star Lily Phillips plans on filming herself having sex with 1,000 men in 24 hours. Many feminists claim she is an exploited victim, and that the men participating in this event are borderline criminals. What the hell is going on here? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The most impactful feature of last week's election was Hispanic voters shifting +24 points towards Donald Trump. One heavily Hispanic county in south Texas flipped to Trump that hadn't voted Republican since....1892. Journalist Leighton Woodhouse went straight to the source and interviewed dozens of residents of Starr County Texas on how Donald Trump and the Republicans finally won them over. Also - some quick thoughts on Trump's initial cabinet appointments. Mostly good with a couple flubs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump with a shocking landslide win, completing the political resurrection of the century (at least). So many storylines: Hispanics embrace Trump, Elon Musk's role, blue states shifting right on crime, Kamala falling flat, etc. Comedian and podcaster Bridget Phetasy (Spokeswoman for the "Politically Homeless") joins me to explore all the themes and storylines around the 2024 election and the historical dynamics underlying it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump's staged shift at McDonald's has dominated the news cycle all week, with his fans wildly exuberant and the media predictably losing its mind. What does this tell us about how the race is shaping up? The biggest story you are NOT hearing about is the exposure of falsehoods peddled by the transgender movement, revealed in a Supreme Court case. These are so scandalous they have even inspired notorious Trump-hater Andrew Sullivan to consider voting for him. Katherine Dee is a brilliant culture writer and she joins me to discuss some of her best pieces including an exploration of Tumblr's role in the Woke revolution, her beliefs on claims of "cultural stagnation", and "politicians as social media personalities" and responsive fandom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The most important non-national race of the 2024 Election Season is the race for Los Angeles District Attorney. Why? Because it is a referendum on the "criminal justice reform" movement that swept America in the late-2010s and peaked in the summer of 2020. Ultra-progressive (and Soros-funded) George Gascon became DA in 2020 with promises to build a kindler, gentler, more "fair" justice system. The results have not been good. This week I interview his opponent in the upcoming election, Nathan Hochman, a former Federal prosecutor who has promised to return common sense to the city's approach to public safety. Nathan is currently up big in the polls, signaling what the Wall Street Journal has called a "law & order revolt" in ultra-liberal Los Angeles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Middle East: Lee Smith is an elite geo-political analyst who has been ahead of the curve on nearly every foreign policy issue of the past decade. His recent piece "Killing Nasrallah" cogently explains the motives, mechanics, results, and impact of Israel's assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. He joins me to discuss the recent developments and future projections for the war in the Middle East. Gender Politics: The media keeps rolling out pieces on how "nice guy" liberals like Tim Walz & Douglas Emhoff represent the "New Masculinity". What is this new masculinity they speak of and is this election a referendum on this new concept of masculinity? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Legendary social media personality Josh Ostrovsky aka "The Fat Jew" was the 1st person to publicly discuss what had been an open secret in Hollywood and nightlife circles - the freaky sexual proclivities of P-Diddy. This is of course now coming to a head with Diddy's arrest and an avalanche of claims around his depraved sexual tastes, and alleged criminal behavior surrounding it. The Fat Jew was also (arguably) the 1st person to meaningfully monetize social media popularity. He joins me to discuss the Diddy situation, and the evolution of celebrity and influencer culture over the past 15 years since "being famous online" became a thing. (Ok and a few other shocking revelations from the world of celebrity freakhood) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Zuckerberg releases a startling letter revealing that the government pressured Facebook into censorship around COVID and duped Facebook into shelving the Hunter Biden Laptop story - both of which he regrets. Telegram founder Pavel Durov arrested in France which brings up the question: Is a platform responsible for the criminal behavior of its users? RFK Jr. quits his campaign and endorses Donald Trump - aggressively. What does this tell us about political and social realignment, and what does this mean for the 2024 election? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A summary of the first month of Kamala Harris as the Dem nominee. Trump's assassination attempt and Joe Biden mysteriously stepping down already a distant memory. An entire media apparatus springs into action to wipe all memory of Kamala as an embarrassing failure as VP from everyone's memory. Well I won't let people forget. A summary of her history as a candidate and Vice President, and some thoughts on the Democratic National Convention (and their policies, if you can find them). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julian Assange strikes a deal making him a free man for the 1st time in 14 years. International affairs expert Niccolo Soldo joins me for a retrospective on Assange & Wikileaks, the controversy surrounding him, and what it tells us about "Digital Age" issues like privacy, civil liberties, government corruption, and the American political realignment of the last decade. Joe Biden just turned in arguably the worst debate performance in modern history. Everyone seems to think there is no way he can be carted out as the Democratic nominee and assume he'll be replace. I explain why I think that is WRONG & why Joe Biden is likely to be the Democratic candidate the fall. Niccolo also gives us a deeper picture of the recent French elections with shocking success for the right wing anti-immigration coalition led by the National Rally. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recently many lies have taken hold around historical events like "colonization" or the fight against Communism in the 20th Century. Why do these lies matter? Because they are being weaponized in arguments around current topics like immigration, the Middle East conflict, and DEI. Wilfred Reilly decided to debunk these lies and give a fuller picture of history in his recent book "Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me" - and he joins me this week to discuss. Also - immigration issues heated up domestically and overseas with (1) Anti-Immigration parties doing remarkably well in EU elections, and (2) Trump announcing intention to deport 15-20 million undocumented immigrants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump convicted on 34 counts of "Falsifying Business Records". A "crime" almost exclusively charged as a misdemeanor, but prosecuted against Trump as a felony. Will Chamberlain of the Article 3 Project joins me to discuss the abuse of the law and numerous improprieties around this case. Multiple "whistleblowers" have now come out exposing a deeply troubling decline in quality and standards at UCLA Medical School. Student failure rates have skyrocketed since UCLA hired a new Dean of Admissions focusing almost entirely on DEI. Aaron Sibarium spoke with the whistleblowers and joins me to discuss. Anthony Fauci grilled by Congress and admits much of his COVID medical guidance had no scientific basis. A summary of the revelations from his testimony. Michael Moynihan wrote an incredible piece on the Downfall of Vice Magazine. How a company went from a $6 billion valuation to bankrupt in a matter of years. Seemingly infested by the Woke Virus. A true "Go Woke Go Broke" masterpiece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Campus protests and civil unrest have hit America's colleges, and some of its cities. Yes, there are money sources behind many of these protests. But if you follow the money trail, what do you find? Do you find a deliberately constructed plan to tear America apart at its seams? Or do you find a chaotic random web of naive philanthropists, "professional activists", and NGOs that simply lump together seemingly unrelated progressive causes? I believe you find the latter. There is no Wizard of Oz orchestrating it all, just a "witches brew of billionaires, Islamists, and leftists" as Tablet Magazine puts it. In this episode, I explore the web of funding sources - the Who, the What, the How, and the Why. I also discuss the Resurrection of the American Frat Bro, as basic frat dudes are cheered on taking on the protestors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Real life Ray Donovan meets Michael Corleone. That is the life of Orlando "Ori" Spado who served as "Hollywood's Fixer" with connections to organized crime for decades. Ori's story is an odyssey of 20th Century Hollywood & Mafia including figures from Frank Sinatra & the Rat Pack to Naomi Campbell & Suge Knight. Dealing with the highest stakes incidents with the highest profile celebs, Ori survived and thrived by living by a strict Honor Code of rules and principles. He joined me to share those principles and the wisdom gained from some incredible stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NY Mag dropped a hit piece this week on "the man" in the wellness world - Andrew Huberman. Mostly focusing on his dating life. Were these necessary revelations exposing a fraudulent guru? Or just a sleazy tabloid smear attempt? Candace Owens is terminated by the Daily Wire and paints herself as the victim YET AGAIN. Why she is a lazy conspiracy theorist and perpetual martyr, not a courageous contrarian. Murthy vs. Missouri is the landmark case around 1st Amendment intrusion during the COVID years. Lower courts ruled that the government was so coercive in its communications with Facebook, Twitter, etc. that it turned the social media platforms into arms of the government & violated 1st Amendment rights. The case is now being heard by the Supreme Court and legal expert Ben Weingarten joins me to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Taryn Southern has always been ahead of the curve on new technologies. She was one of the earliest YouTubers beginning in 2007, and has been a trailblazer in the field of Artificial Intelligence - releasing a fully AI-composed pop album in 2018, before most of the world had heard of "Chat GPT". She's now a leading voice (and mind) in the field of Artificial Intelligence, advising the world's leading companies and creators, on how to better utilize AI and be smart about how to encounter the challenges presented by this groundbreaking technology. Taryn joins me to discuss how AI will have earth-shattering impact in media and content creation, the medical field, and the tasks and incidents of every-day life. We also discuss key ethical concerns around AI. Who gets to program these powerful systems, and how do we ensure they are free from the biases and agendas of their programmers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Believe it or not Election Season 2024 is already upon us. Los Angeles has a primary coming on March 1st with some major elections and issues at stake. To discuss, I am joined by: Councilwoman Traci Park - to discuss her successes and challenges, and ballot measure HLA which threatens to exacerbate the city's budget crisis. Sam Yebri - a local political leader and founder of "Thrive LA" a political action committee to represent the interests of moderate voters. Sam and I break down the races from city council to district attorney and more. Christy Vega - Christy's family has owned LA landmark restaurant Casa Vega for 68 years. She heads numerous small business and restauranteur advocacy groups, and joins us to discuss how LA political dysfunction is impairing the local business environment and making it nearly impossible for small businesses like hers to survive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Spencer is the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point. If he is not the world's leading authority on Urban Warfare....he is on the short list. John has been writing extensively about the Israeli Defense Force's operation in Gaza in response to Oct. 7th as it is a never-before-seen urban combat mission against an entrenched enemy with 400 miles of tunnels, ensconced within the civilian infrastructure of roughly 8 cities. John explains to us why the IDF's accomplishments over the last 10 weeks out-strip anything he ever envisioned possible in urban warfare. We also get into international law, the morals/ethics of combat, hostage rescue, and John's experiences as an urban combat veteran in Iraq. Truly an incredible discussion that I think you'll learn a lot from. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"The Devil Within" is one of the most popular true crime podcasts out there. Host Branden Morgan asked me to join him to provide legal analysis and explanation of the "Son of Sam" laws. These were a set of laws passed in response to the "Son of Sam" murders, ostensibly preventing criminals from making money by selling the stories of their crimes for Film, Tv, Books etc. These laws bring up a host of fascinating 1st Amendment issues - issues that have been litigated up to the Supreme Court in numerous high profile cases. Crime incidents from O.J. Simpson to the kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jr. to the movie "Goodfellas" have been the subject of cases around this body of law that have made their ways through the courts to some controversial results. Given there popularity of the "true crime" genre, this is sure to be a hot body of law over the coming years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Intro: "Mental Health" has become content. Is talking about mental health on social media really helping us? Is it in fact worsening our mental health? Colorado Disqualifies Trump from Presidential Ballot: An analysis of the legal arguments and political implications. J.D. Haltigan: How do concepts from the clinical psychiatry and psychology world help explain Clown World? Are we valorizing mental conditions? Are we being dominated by Cluster B personality disorders? Ph.D J.D. Haltigan has been asking (and answering) such questions better than anyone and joins me this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Naama & Ofir Weinberg's aunt & uncle were murdered by Hamas in the October 7th terrorist attack, and their cousin Itai is one of nearly 200 hostages currently being held by Hamas. His life used as a bargaining chip, never knowing if the next time the door to his cell opens it will be the last. Victims and hostages can be just statistics or pictures on a screen to many people. But these are real people and their loved ones relive the horror of these attacks on a daily basis. Naama and Ofir are on a mission to tell Itai's story and use every tool at their disposal to save his life. They joined me this week to discuss this harrowing situation. We also dived into the experiences and views of every day citizens for whom this conflict is not just a news item, but a constant reality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elon Musk is in the cross-hairs of liberal "media watchdog" groups again. But this time he is returning fire. Elon appears to have hard evidence of fraud against Media Matters and is going after them in court. Candace Owens is a divisive figure. A courageous truth-teller, or a cynical grifter? Both? Her recent flirtation with raging anti-Semite Norman Finkelstein speaks volumes. Absolute chaos in the world of Artificial Intelligence as Open AI CEO (and industry figurehead) Sam Altman is abruptly fired by the company's Board. What led to this? What does this tell us about the tensions underlying the roll-out of AI? International Affairs expert Niccolo Soldo (not his real name) returns to breakdown all things related to the conflict in the Middle East, and discuss his latest piece on how the "Diversity Equity Inclusion" world's rejection of Jews as a "preferred" class has revealed numerous fault lines in the American Culture Wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Damir Marusic has been one of the shrewdest commentators on the political dimensions of the conflict in the Middle East. His piece "Hamas Bid for Revolutionary Legitimacy" showed unique insight on the motives and objectives of the event that catalyzed this conflict. Meanwhile, everyone seems to be leveling accusations of "genocide" - accusations which do not survive even the bare minimum of scrutiny. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3 weeks into the Israel-Palestine conflict we take a look at which narratives have taken hold. In particular, the many false equivalencies commentators attempt to apply to the 2 sides. Free speech advocates warned progressives for years that Cancel Culture was a bad idea. They were dismissed. Now that progressives are experiencing professional and social consequences for their support of Hamas, these progressives are getting a taste of their own medicine. A number of major tech figures are calling out Tik Tok for poisoning the discourse around the Middle East conflict among the youth - and even suggesting Donald Trump was right to try to ban it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jon Taffer is one of the shrewdest business minds you will come across. While many know him as the star and creator of hit show "Bar Rescue", he's not only an iconic hospitality figure, but a best-selling author and highly sought after corporate speaker (he even created NFL Sunday Ticket (!)). Jon joins me to discuss his journey through the hospitality and business world, and shares the immense wisdom he has accumulated - including from his best-selling books "The Power of Conflict" and "Don't Bullshit Yourself". A conversation you will really enjoy and learn a lot from. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I attempt to explain the "complexities" of the Israel/Palestinian conflict on 3 levels: 1: The history. How did we get here? Does one side in fact share more of the blame? 2: The current geo-politics. How do the motives of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the US, et al factor into this conflict? 3: The US culture war. Progressive institutions, movements, and intellectuals have unmasked themselves, being suspiciously forgiving of the slaughter of innocent civilians. And people are noticing. Also, MLB Pitcher Trevor Bauer had his life ruined by accusations of sexual misconduct. Last week he provided indisputable evidence he was a victim of an embezzlement scheme from an accuser. Yet the sports media seems uninterested in apologizing for indulging false accusations against him. Outkick's Charly Arnolt joins me to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I interview Richard Hanania on his recently released Best-Selling book "Origins of Woke: Civil Rights Law, Corporate America and the Triumph of Identity Politics". This book has been lauded by notable figures such Elon Musk, and criticized by the mainstream press with The Atlantic going so far as to call it "a Trojan Horse for White Supremacy". It appears to be an explanation for the Woke phenomenon focused around Civil Rights Law and its overreach. Listen and decide for yourself. On a related note, Race Hustler extraordinaire Ibram Kendi implodes in scandal around his Center for Anti-Racism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russell Brand is the target of sexual assault accusations & a vicious censorship campaign. While the charges appear serious, many suspect Brand is being targeted less for his bad behavior in the past, & more for his recent turn as an anti-Establishment media figure. What happens when a person is being rightly prosecuted but for the wrong reasons? Also, Emilie Hagen & Jennifer Carmody join me for a follow-up to our discussion on the House in Habit podcast about Bari Weiss' public debate on "Did the Sexual Revolution Fail?". A deep dive into modern gender roles and relations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices