On today’s Ben Kissel Politics, we dig into a mess of headlines that only get stranger when you put them side by side.
The Israeli government has reportedly been paying tech companies to push propaganda claiming Palestinians have “never been happier.” Meanwhile, Donald Trump encouraged border agents, law enforcement, and the military to beat protesters if they feel provoked—a policy that sounds more like fight club than democracy.
And then there’s Pete Hegseth, proudly admitting he hasn’t washed his hands in twenty years while calling our military slobs. Because nothing screams credibility like a man who thinks soap is fake news.
It’s misinformation, militarization, and a hygiene meltdown—all in one episode, all out of order, and all served with a healthy side of sarcasm.
This Friday on Ben Kissel Politics, we unpack a news cycle that somehow manages to include Pokémon, Theo Von, Donald Trump, and Charlie Kirk.
First, Kristi Noem is in hot water for rolling out a Department of Homeland Security ad that featured Theo Von and Pokémon characters—without permission. Turns out, copyright infringement is still a thing, even if you’re in politics.
Then we head to New York, where Donald Trump had a rough go at the United Nations, stumbling through a meeting where world leaders weren’t exactly buying what he was selling.
And finally, in Oklahoma, the state announced that every high school will host a Turning Point USA chapter in memory of Charlie Kirk. Because when you think of extracurriculars, you think debate team, chess club, and nationwide political indoctrination.
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Tuesday’s Ben Kissel Politics opens with a 1985 speech from John Denver, reminding us that when information is hidden from the public, curiosity only grows. That idea frames a conversation about what happens when politics and performance take over spaces meant for sincerity.
We look at the odd spectacle of Charlie Kirk’s funeral, where many speakers used the podium less to eulogize and more to push their own political messages or promote their brands. What should have been a farewell often felt like a rally.
And in one of the most unsettling turns, a pastor used AI to recreate Charlie Kirk’s voice, projecting the idea that Charlie demands people: “Do not mourn me for one second because I am in heaven.” It raised questions about authenticity, technology, and how far people are willing to go to make a point.
It’s a journey from Denver’s warning to a modern media circus—proving that the more politics hijacks our grief, the more we should all stop and ask: who is this really for?
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This weekend on Ben Kissel Politics, we put the spotlight on Pastor James David Manning and what might be the best political ad of our lifetime.
We also unpack the continuing fallout from the suspensions and scandals of Jimmy Kimmel now featuring Tucker Carlson, and what their situations say about media, censorship, and the culture wars still raging on our screens.
And finally, we close with a simple but crucial point: words are not violence. Words are words, and violence is violence. Conflating the two may make for good outrage clicks, but it’s a dangerous way to run a society.
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This Thursday on Ben Kissel Politics, we dive into the growing storm around free speech in America—and how it’s being selectively protected, punished, and paraded around for political gain.
We break down Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension from ABC, what it says about corporate skittishness, and how late-night comedy has become the latest battleground in the culture war.
Then we explore how a Trump-appointed FCC has been weaponizing speech regulations, using them less to defend free expression and more to police it—especially when it threatens their political allies.
And finally, we meet the ultimate political wildcard: Pastor James David Manning, who is somehow mounting a mayoral run in New York City. Against all odds—and probably against his better judgment—he’s taking his pulpit to the polls.
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Today on Ben Kissel Politics, we break down the online circus surrounding the death of Charlie Kirk.
Within minutes, the news became a Rorschach test for social media: some are grieving, some are cheering, and some are furious that anyone is cheering. The algorithm rewarded outrage like it was a national sport, turning a human death into another round of digital mud wrestling.
We dig into the echo chambers that shape these reactions, the conspiracy theories already blooming in the comment sections, and the media literacy desperately missing from the discourse.
And maybe—just maybe—we ask everyone to step away from the timeline, breathe some air, and touch some actual grass. Because if your first instinct to tragedy is “post,” it might be time to go outside and remember how to be a person again.
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Today on Ben Kissel Politics, the news cycle reads like a surrealist play.
Pete Hegseth decided to announce the mission of the newly rebranded Department of War not with a statement, but with a kind of spoken-word poem—because nothing says military might like snapping fingers in the Pentagon.
Meanwhile, Greta Thunberg takes climate activism literally into the fire with her flaming flotilla, proving that protest at sea doesn’t always stay afloat quietly.
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump insists that anything on video that makes him look bad is simply AI trickery. According to this logic, deepfakes have been haunting him since the ‘80s.
And finally, Epstein’s victims are speaking out—vowing to release the names of their political abusers while military jets fly overhead, a scene so cinematic it could only be real life.
It’s poetry, pyrotechnics, and political paranoia—served with the usual side of sarcasm and disbelief.
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Today on Ben Kissel Politics, we open the floor to a live Q&A and tackle a grab bag of political curveballs.
First up, Donald Trump floats the idea of rebranding the Department of Defense as the Department of War, proving once again that subtlety is not his strong suit.
Meanwhile, in a plot twist no one had on their bingo card, the NRA is backing the trans community after a floated proposal to ban gun sales to trans people.
And finally, we dig into the eyebrow-raising claim that Trump has been an FBI informant in the Epstein case for decades. If true, that would mean one of the most chaotic figures in American politics was also moonlighting as a snitch.
It’s rebrands, rights, and rumors—all wrapped in a conversation that proves politics is stranger than fiction.
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Today on Ben Kissel Politics, the headlines stretch from the classroom to the doctor’s office to the floor of the United Nations.
Media figures are already sparring over the pronouns used for a trans school shooter, turning tragedy into yet another culture war skirmish.
Meanwhile, the debate over Donald Trump’s health heats up—raising questions about fitness, transparency, and whether his campaign trail doctors moonlight as hype men.
And on the world stage, Israel lashes out at Belgium after the European nation officially recognized Palestine as a state in the UN—a diplomatic move that further complicates an already volatile global scene.
It’s a mix of language battles, medical mysteries, and international recognition, delivered with the usual dose of sarcasm, skepticism, and a stiff drink.
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Today on Ben Kissel Politics, we’re tackling the strange mix of fear, free speech, and full-on political backpedaling.
😨 First up: fear of fear itself. How do you confront the anxiety of living in a time where panic feels like the default setting? We dig into what it means to conquer that fear and keep moving forward.
📚 Then we dive into the new pronoun-policing legislation, which caps damages at $50,000 for people offended by speech. Because nothing says protecting freedom like slapping a price tag on it.
🏛️ And finally, Gavin Newsom continues his bid to fight his way to the middle—this time with some spectacular backtracking on earlier stances. Turns out, running for president means your spine has to be as flexible as your polling data.
It’s fear management, language lawfare, and political gymnastics—all wrapped in sarcasm and a stiff drink.
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Today on Ben Kissel Politics, we cover the news cycle’s perfect trifecta of absurdity.
🎤 Alabama Governor Kay Ivey gave a press conference that went off script—thanks to a rogue burp into the microphone. Call it southern charm, call it indigestion, call it the most relatable thing a politician has done all year.
🇺🇸 Meanwhile, Donald Trump is promising that burning an American flag will mean a mandatory one-year prison sentence. Because nothing says freedom quite like locking someone up for using it.
💻 And across the country, data centers keep multiplying like political scandals—draining power, eating resources, and making neighbors wonder if cloud computing is really worth the blackout risk.
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Today on Ben Kissel Politics, we’re paying the real price for progress.
🌍 First, we dive into the climate toll of artificial intelligence—because every chatbot answer and AI-generated cat meme comes with a carbon footprint big enough to stomp a glacier.
🎖️ Meanwhile, in North Korea, Kim Jong Un has actually admitted his soldiers have lost battles. That’s right—the world’s most denial-prone dictator let the mask slip. (Somewhere a propaganda writer is being reassigned to “forever nap duty.”)
📸 And finally, Donald Trump is showing off a photo of himself with Vladimir Putin, as if it’s senior prom all over again. It’s the kind of flex that makes you wonder if his campaign strategy is just running on nostalgia and glossy prints.
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Today on Ben Kissel Politics, the news cycle serves up a platter that’s equal parts salty and surreal.
🦪 In Maine, oyster farmer Graham Platner trades his shucking knife for a campaign slogan, proving that politics really is about who can open the toughest shells.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton shocked plenty of people by conceding that Donald Trump actually had some good ideas on foreign policy. We dig into whether this is honesty, strategy, or just 2024’s weirdest plot twist.
🏛️ And in California, Gavin Newsom is backtracking on the trans athlete debate as he positions himself for a White House run. Turns out, flip-flopping isn’t just an Olympic sport—it’s a campaign strategy.
It’s grassroots grit, bipartisan eyebrow-raisers, and presidential gymnastics—all in one episode.
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In this episode of Ben Kissel Politics, we explore the strange similarities between Bill Clinton and Donald Trump when they talk about immigration—proof that sometimes the political spectrum is just a circle. We also hear from cultural heavyweights George Carlin, Noam Chomsky, and Frank Zappa on why trusting those in power is a dangerous habit. And in the middle of all that cynicism, we talk about how to stay positive when America feels like it’s running on chaos, caffeine, and campaign slogans.
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Today on Ben Kissel Politics, we take a stroll—literally—into some of the weirdest and most troubling policy moves of the week.
🇨🇳 First up: In China, AI is now being used to classify people as criminals for walking down the “wrong” sidewalk. Yes, apparently your Fitbit route could land you on a watchlist. Big Brother has gone full neighborhood watch… with facial recognition.
🌿 Back home, the U.S. is keeping marijuana classified the same as steroids and codeine—because nothing says “modern drug policy” like pretending a joint is the same as a syringe full of HGH.
🏛️ And finally, Jeanine Pirro and Donald Trump are calling for the National Guard to “eradicate” lawlessness and homelessness in Washington, D.C. Because when you have no housing plan, a Humvee is apparently the next best thing.
It’s surveillance, over-classification, and political overcompensation—wrapped in one episode. Come for the policy talk, stay for the mental image of Jeanine Pirro barking orders in camouflage.
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Today on Ben Kissel Politics, the headlines read like a political Mad Lib gone wrong.
📰 First up, Donald Trump addresses the ever-growing Epstein conspiracy theories — and calls them “bullshit.” Which is fascinating, considering some of his previous connections and photo ops. (We’ll let you decide whether this is honesty, damage control, or just the world’s weirdest branding exercise.)
🏦 Then we get into the debanking of politically exposed persons — when banks decide you’re too risky to have an account because your name keeps showing up in scandal stories. Apparently, financial institutions have higher moral standards than some elected officials.
⚖️ Speaking of which — a politician just passed a bill to lessen penalties for 18-year-olds who rape children. Yep. That’s not satire. That’s not hyperbole. That’s an actual, real-life legislative decision someone thought was a good look.
It’s denial, financial exile, and legal decline — all in one episode.
Buckle up, because this political circus just replaced the elephants with flaming dumpsters.
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Today on Ben Kissel Politics, we take you on a journey through America's weirdest political decisions, starting with… Kristi Noem, who’s back in the news and somehow still doing everything except helping her constituents.
🐊 Meanwhile in Florida (obviously), prison officials are greenlighting what we’re calling “Alligator Alcatraz” — a massive new facility in the swamps, because apparently incarceration isn’t cruel enough without reptiles.
🚨 And in Texas, Democrats stage a walkout to break quorum over a proposed racially biased redistricting map. Nothing like voting rights theater to remind us we’re still living in a political reality show—but with fewer coherent plot lines and more sunscreen.
It’s one part satire, one part outrage, and all parts “wait, that’s real?”
Tune in for political chaos, swamp creatures, and the kind of leadership decisions that make you say, “You know what? Maybe the alligators should vote.”
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Today on Ben Kissel Politics, it’s a fever dream of geopolitical denial and scripted entrances.
First, Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu takes a bold stand… against reality. He claims there’s no starvation happening in Gaza, despite footage, aid organizations, and common sense saying otherwise. Who needs facts when you’ve got a podium and a straight face?
Meanwhile, in the weirdest crossover since The Jetsons Meet The Flintstones, Triple H shows up at the White House—presumably to cut a promo on foreign policy. Because nothing says diplomacy like someone yelling “Are you ready?!” into a government microphone.
💸 And then there’s Linda McMahon, delivering a devastating heel turn by announcing that student loans will NOT be forgiven. That’s right, folks—Linda just hit the American youth with a steel chair of economic despair.
It’s politics, it’s wrestling, it’s denial, and it’s debt. Basically, the entire human experience—just with more entrance music.
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In this jam-packed episode of Ben Kissel Politics, we redraw the lines—political and moral.
🗺️ First up, we dive into voter redistricting. Because what better way to honor democracy than by carving up neighborhoods like a gerrymandered pizza?
💸 Then, the money trail leads somewhere... uncomfortable. Apparently, Trump made 4,700 wire transfers to none other than Jeffrey Epstein. That’s not a typo—that’s a Venmo addiction with a felony twist.
🤝 Meanwhile, the U.S. and EU are trying to play nice with a shiny new trade deal. Will it solve global economic woes? Probably not. But it’ll look great in a campaign ad.
🙏 And finally, a devoutly "pro-life" politician is caught funding three abortions—all outside his marriage. Because nothing says Christian values like outsourcing morality and dodging paternity.
If you're looking for a podcast that mixes political chaos with moral collapse and just enough trade jargon to keep your dad awake—this is it.
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This week on Ben Kissel Politics, it’s man vs. machine... or maybe man apologizing to machine.
🤖 Tech CEOs—who once promised us flying cars and smarter phones—are now nervously biting their fingers as AI starts replacing everything from copywriters to therapists. We unpack their public apologies, doomsday warnings, and the not-so-subtle subtext: "Sorry we built the robot that’s better at your job (and probably your marriage)."
🧠 But it’s not all robo-tears. In a rare turn of uplifting news, AI is actually giving people hope. One woman—left voiceless after a stroke—got her voice back thanks to this very same “Skynet-lite” technology.
So... is AI a tool of salvation or a high-tech middle finger to humanity?
We break it down—with the usual mix of sarcasm, side-eyes, and some admiration for the robot that might one day host this podcast.
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