Welcome to LTGP – Luke Thomas Gets Political.
Luke Thomas is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, a husband, a father, and a longtime resident of Washington, DC. After years of sharp analysis in the combat sports world, he brings that same unapologetic depth, intellectual rigor, and sharp commentary to a different kind of arena: politics.
This channel is the official home for Luke’s political takes. Here you’ll find the issues shaping our world, the debates that matter, and the conversations many have asked him to take on outside of the fight game. Whether it’s thoughtful analysis, no-nonsense monologues, or a brutally honest perspective, this is where combat-sports logic meets political discourse.
No tribalism. No spin. Just straight talk.
Subscribe for weekly videos, livestreams, and commentary that cut through the noise.
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Welcome to LTGP – Luke Thomas Gets Political.
Luke Thomas is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, a husband, a father, and a longtime resident of Washington, DC. After years of sharp analysis in the combat sports world, he brings that same unapologetic depth, intellectual rigor, and sharp commentary to a different kind of arena: politics.
This channel is the official home for Luke’s political takes. Here you’ll find the issues shaping our world, the debates that matter, and the conversations many have asked him to take on outside of the fight game. Whether it’s thoughtful analysis, no-nonsense monologues, or a brutally honest perspective, this is where combat-sports logic meets political discourse.
No tribalism. No spin. Just straight talk.
Subscribe for weekly videos, livestreams, and commentary that cut through the noise.
The Riyadh Comedy Festival sparked outrage and confusion across the comedy world. How did some of America’s biggest comedians — from Bill Burr to Dave Chappelle — end up performing for the Saudi government amid ongoing human rights controversies? In this conversation, W. Kamau Bell joins to unpack what the festival reveals about Western comedy’s moral blind spots and the obsession with “getting the bag” no matter the cost.Bell explains why so many stand-up comics, even those with massive success, still carry the mindset of the struggling performer — always chasing the next gig, no matter who’s paying. He describes the industry’s long history of “hell gigs” and shady promoters, and how that culture makes moral compromise feel normal. But as he points out, once you reach a certain level of fame, the excuses start to wear thin.This discussion isn’t just about one festival. It’s about how Western entertainers rationalize working for repressive regimes, and what it says about our broader cultural values. Why do audiences let it slide when their favorite comics take blood money? And what does it mean for comedy’s role as a form of truth-telling when the biggest names avoid uncomfortable truths altogether?For the full conversation, visit Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/If you enjoy thoughtful political and cultural analysis, make sure to subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss future discussions.Chapters:00:00 The Saudi Comedy Festival Debate01:00 Kamau Bell Reacts to the Lineup02:10 Why Comics Take Shady Gigs03:20 The Culture of “Hell Gigs”04:15 Comedy and Moral Compromise05:00 Who Advises These Big Comics?06:00 Bill Burr’s Defense Explained07:10 Bag Culture and the Comic Mindset08:00 The Price of Artistic Integrity09:00 What This Means for Western Comedy
Luke Thomas Gets Political (LTGP)
Welcome to LTGP – Luke Thomas Gets Political.
Luke Thomas is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, a husband, a father, and a longtime resident of Washington, DC. After years of sharp analysis in the combat sports world, he brings that same unapologetic depth, intellectual rigor, and sharp commentary to a different kind of arena: politics.
This channel is the official home for Luke’s political takes. Here you’ll find the issues shaping our world, the debates that matter, and the conversations many have asked him to take on outside of the fight game. Whether it’s thoughtful analysis, no-nonsense monologues, or a brutally honest perspective, this is where combat-sports logic meets political discourse.
No tribalism. No spin. Just straight talk.
Subscribe for weekly videos, livestreams, and commentary that cut through the noise.
