Trump praises Browns QB Sanders’ “good genes,” the ShamWow guy runs for office in Texas, a Boston suburb cuts trash pickup to twice a month to save the planet, and a Campbell’s executive confesses their food is for poor people and the meat is 3D-printed.
Episode 51 breaks down one of the most unintentionally hilarious political stunts of the decade: MAGA activists declaring a “Patriots at the Park” day at Disneyland in February 2026, proving once again that nothing says “take down a liberal corporation” like giving it hundreds of thousands of dollars in ticket and churro sales.
We also cover the surprisingly warm meeting between Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump, where the two praised each other after months of a very public feud — turning political enemies into temporary soulmates.
And we look at the increasingly absurd spectacle surrounding the Epstein file release, which has devolved into a full-blown circus of leaks, rumors, infighting, and grandstanding.
Episode 50 covers the U.S. dropping programs that helped travelers during holiday flight delays, the border turning away immigrants with medical issues to avoid “taxpayer burden,” and Bob Ross’ corporate handlers selling off his artwork to support media companies hit hard after Trump's financial policies.
Rep. Grijalva gets sworn in and becomes the tie-breaking vote to release the Epstein files, Kristi Noem denies Americans are being detained and then abruptly bails on her own press conference, and Donald Trump claims groceries are down 25% under his watch. We break down the vote, the denial, and the math that doesn’t exist.
In this episode of Ben Kissel Politics we discuss the longest government shutdown in history coming to an end while Donald Trump gets booed at an NFL regular season game in Landover, Maryland.
In Bangor, Maine, a woman convicted of killing a Canadian tourist in 2002 has just been elected to the city council—leaving locals unsure how to react and raising questions about redemption, accountability and public trust. In Florida, a politician and his activist wife were involved in a three-way that went wrong, and now they’re trending after winning a lawsuit against the police in Sarasota—a bizarre turn that blends scandal, civil rights and viral culture. Meanwhile, in Marin County, California, a town has banned tobacco sales and use of any kind, turning its municipality into one of the strictest anti-smoking zones in America.
NYC’s mayoral results shake up the skyline, Rosie O’Donnell revisits 9/11 doubts, Dick Cheney dies at 84, and Gavin Newsom declares he “hates lying politicians.”
The NYC mayoral race heats up, a state senate seat gets tangled in a sextortion scandal, and “evolving priorities” become the corporate code for mass layoffs
Bob Dylan reminds us that truth still matters, Nancy Pelosi says the quiet part out loud about smear tactics, Jared Kushner pitches his master plan for developing Gaza, and Gavin Newsom’s presidential ambitions take a surreal turn.
NYC’s mayoral debate highlights another identity battle for the city, Curtis Sliwa refuses to step aside after pressure from Andrew Cuomo, and we take a hard look at the danger of AI being run by people who don’t have much faith in humanity to begin with.
NYC’s mayoral debate highlights another identity battle for the city, Curtis Sliwa refuses to step aside after pressure from Andrew Cuomo, and we take a hard look at the danger of AI being run by people who don’t have much faith in humanity to begin with.
Congresswoman Grijalva pushes back against Speaker Mike Johnson’s delay in seating her, George Santos may make a comeback from the jailhouse to the White House, and AIPAC’s influence tightens its grip on both parties.
In this episode of Ben Kissel Politics, we tackle a trio of stories that span the domestic and the global. First: former Congressman George Santos, convicted of fraud and identity theft, sees his sentence commuted by Donald Trump—raising questions about loyalty, justice, and the limits of presidential mercy.
Next: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issues alarming claims that teenage boys now have far lower sperm counts and testosterone levels, sounding the alarm on fertility and urging government-driven responses.
Finally: the U.S., under Trump, escalates toward military action near Venezuela—labeling cartels as terrorists, authorizing CIA covert operations, and deploying war-power in the Caribbean.
Tonight on Ben Kissel Politics, we’re mixing surveillance, rebellion, and a little unintentional comedy.
A high school has implemented a digital bathroom security system that allows students only seven bathroom trips a week, proving that the surveillance state now extends all the way to the restroom.
Meanwhile, Marjorie Taylor Greene is making waves by going against her own party, adding another twist to her already chaotic political persona.
And across the globe, Donald Trump took the stage in Israel and delivered what can only be described as a stand-up routine, at one point even suggesting that Bibi Netanyahu should be pardoned. It’s part rally, part bit, and fully bizarre.
It’s bathroom monitoring, party mutiny, and international improv—all in one episode.
On today’s Ben Kissel Politics, we bounce between some of the strangest headlines of the week.
Donald Trump wants to prosecute flag burners, pushing the idea of jail time for anyone who lights up Old Glory—because nothing says “freedom” like punishing political expression.
Meanwhile, Marjorie Taylor Greene continues to weigh in on healthcare, and somehow every sentence sounds like a Facebook comment thread that got out of hand.
And then there’s RFK Jr., who claimed that circumcisions increase the likelihood of autism because doctors gave babies Tylenol. It’s the kind of theory that makes you wish there were fact-checkers in the delivery room.
It’s flags, foreskins, and fringe theories—all thrown into one political blender.
Tuesday’s Ben Kissel Politics episode takes us from Moscow bedrooms to American highways.
We look at how sexploitation has been a key driver in Vladimir Putin’s political success, blending propaganda, spectacle, and sexualized power plays to shape his image at home and abroad.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump claims he knows nothing about Ghislaine Maxwell or her denied appeal but adds that he might “look into” possibly pardoning her—or not. Classic Trump: hedging every direction at once.
And back here in the U.S., science confirms that political bumper stickers actually make road rage incidents worse. Turns out your “Don’t Tread on Me” decal might be doing more than just decorating your tailgate.
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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