Luke Thomas Gets Political: The mystery of Tupac Shakur's murder remains one of the most debated stories in hip hop history, and a recent Diddy documentary has reignited speculation around who was truly responsible. Luke is joined by award winning journalist Ben Westhoff to break down what the available evidence actually supports, and where conspiracy theories surrounding Sean Combs go beyond what can be proven. The conversation examines the Orlando Anderson theory, the alleged million dollar bounty, and why many law enforcement sources have historically treated those claims with caution.Beyond Tupac and Suge Knight, the discussion explores why public accountability in hip hop is unfolding decades later, how civil cases and media pressure now shape outcomes, and how investigative journalism differs from artist controlled documentaries and biopics. Westhoff explains how power, money, and narrative control often distort history, and why the Tupac murder case continues to endure as a mix of fact, myth, and unresolved truth in American culture.#lukethomaspolitics #diddy #tupac Listen to the full conversation over on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/Subscribe for more long-form political and cultural analysis.Chapters00:00 Tupac murder theory01:42 Diddy’s role in Tupac death03:10 Tupac hitman theory 05:46 Why Diddy went down 10:02 Hip hop journalism today12:10 Why rap biopics distort history

What happens when immigration enforcement crosses into authoritarian territory, and what does it actually cost the country?This episode breaks down the growing debate around DHS and ICE, examining why calls for reform are no longer enough for many critics. Drawing from immigration research, legal analysis, and economic data, the discussion challenges the idea that mass enforcement benefits American workers or public finances. Instead, the argument presented is that aggressive immigration crackdowns cause measurable harm to entrepreneurship, foreign investment, labor markets, and long term economic stability.The conversation also addresses claims frequently made by right wing politicians and media figures, including allegations that immigrants drain public resources or suppress wages. According to the data cited, immigrants are more likely to start businesses, contribute more in taxes over their lifetimes, and attract outside investment into local economies. Removing them, the argument goes, weakens growth at a time when declining birth rates already threaten the sustainability of social programs and infrastructure.Beyond economics, the episode raises serious concerns about civil liberties, constitutional protections, and the normalization of performative cruelty in enforcement practices. The choice facing the country, as framed here, is stark: a diverse, growing economy or an exclusionary system that undermines its own future.Listen to the full conversation over on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/Subscribe for more in depth political analysis, media criticism, and long form commentary every week.Chapters00:00 DHS reform question01:05 ICE enforcement abuses02:10 Immigration and investment data03:15 Immigrants and entrepreneurship04:10 Economic myths debunked05:15 Birth rates and social programs06:20 Ethnostate vs prosperity07:30 Political scapegoating exposed

Luke Thomas Gets Political: Donald Trump has - illegally - renamed the Kennedy Center the Trump-Kennedy Center.Trump’s latest moves reveal a governing style driven by retribution, self enrichment, and historical revisionism rather than problem solving. From efforts to rename public institutions to punishing states and cities that resist him, this discussion breaks down how Trump’s obsession with legacy and loyalty is actively harming public trust, cultural institutions, and effective governance.The conversation examines the push to reshape public spaces in Trump’s image, including the backlash surrounding the Kennedy Center, and why these symbolic power grabs are failing. It also explores how Trump’s inner circle has shifted from institutional restraints to pure enablers, exposing a transactional and openly corrupt approach to governing. As affordability worsens, housing costs remain high, and basic economic pressures mount, Trump’s focus appears increasingly detached from the real problems facing Americans.There is also a broader discussion about whether the GOP is beginning to move on, as Trump’s inability to deliver results collides with growing political fatigue. From climate retaliation to immigration crackdowns to foreign policy saber rattling, the thread running through it all is punishment over progress.If you are trying to understand where Trumpism is headed and why its cracks are becoming harder to ignore, this conversation lays it out clearly.Subscribe for more long form political analysis and commentary.Listen to the full conversation over on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/Chapters00:00 Trump and the Kennedy Center00:48 Obsession with monuments01:30 Cultural backlash grows02:00 Governing by loyalty02:45 Corruption and self dealing03:40 Punishment politics04:15 GOP fatigue emerges05:10 Reality vs rhetoric

Slavery was banned in the U.S. in 1865, which means for most, it’s a shameful but distant historical footnote. Yet, as historian Patrick Wyman argues, the ideas underpinning it still hold currency in the modern world. For as much as the practice of the slavery is associated with outdated ethical codes and even ancient societies, there is a through line to our present day.In his new podcast Past Lives, Wyman not only explores the question of slavery and the people who lived it, but does so from the perspective of the ‘ordinary’. In other words, rather than try to understand history solely through the lens of great leaders or singularly consequential figures, Wyman’s new podcast tries a sociological approach of examining the lives of the individual living in what were more common for their time. This view, he argues, is often missing from historical analysis and offers a new window into understanding not merely the lives of slaves (or even just ordinary people), but the greater context in which they lived.In this interview, Wyman and I discuss this new podcast, explore the ways in which slavery still bleeds into the modern world, talk his time in combat sports and so much more.**As always, thanks to the Substack paid subscribers who made this interview possible.**Patrick Wyman holds a PhD in history from the University of Southern California. He previously worked as a sports journalist, covering mixed martial arts and boxing from 2013 to 2018. His work has been featured in Deadspin, The Washington Post, Bleacher Report, and others. He is currently host of the podcast, Past Lives. He previously hosted Tides of History and Fall of Rome.#history #historian #podcast

Historian Patrick Wyman explains to Luke Thomas that slavery isn't a binary of free or unfree, but a broad range of different kinds of unfreedoms. This, he argues, means we are still living with the impacts of the thinking that underpins the practice even in the modern world.To watch the whole interview, go to my Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/p/slavery-is-still-with-us-an-interview#history #slaveryhistory #podcast

Luke Thomas breaks down the groyper movement, Christian nationalism, and how antisemitism gets smuggled in under “anti-Israel” rhetoric before tackling COVID policy, rent control, and the Ali Reform Act. Luke explains what Groypers actually are, why their project revolves around a white ethnostate and aggressive anti-immigrant politics, and how that worldview is built on vibes instead of evidence about immigration or demographics. Luke draws a sharp line between serious criticism of Israeli policy and naked bigotry toward Jews or any Abrahamic religion, making clear you can oppose a government’s conduct without endorsing religious hatred.From there, he revisits the COVID era, arguing that vaccines and Operation Warp Speed were crucial but that mandates in some civilian contexts and overly “managed” scientific messaging damaged public trust and left openings for bad faith attacks. He talks candidly about what he would reconsider on mandates and what still holds up in hindsight.Luke also fields a question on rent control and rent stabilization, outlining why adding housing supply matters more than price controls alone, and why he is cautious about drawing strong conclusions without a deeper read of the literature. Finally, he reacts to Rep. Ilhan Omar’s questioning at the Ali Reform Act hearing, why UFC reform is likely to sail through the House, and why the real fight will be getting 60 votes in the Senate.Listen to the full conversation over on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/If you find this kind of long-form political analysis useful, hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you do not miss future breakdowns.Chapters00:00 What is a groyper00:26 Christian nationalism and antisemitism02:19 Criticizing Israel without bigotry03:17 COVID response and vaccine debates04:19 Rethinking mandates and mistakes04:55 Science messaging and public trust05:20 Rent control and rent stabilization06:03 Rep. Omar and Ali Reform Act06:40 Will UFC Ali bill actually pass

Luke Thomas reacts to US immigration wanting to see five years of social media posts to let people into the country, and he breaks down how performative cruelty has become a governing style of Donald Trump.Listen to the full conversation over on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/Subscribe for more political breakdowns, clips, and full episodes.Chapters:00:00 “Remotion” and remigration fear00:17 DHS social media hostility00:48 Visa vetting and privacy invasion01:20 Tourism drop and backlash02:26 Tariffs and ideological governing03:43 Venezuela escalation risk04:08 Oil tankers and provocation claims07:03 Online debates and media moments08:11 Right wing infighting snapshot09:13 Fuentes and ethnonationalist project

Luke Thomas: Saudi Arabia’s sportswashing hits UFC, boxing, and the Ali Revival Act debate.Is the UFC’s media deal talk and new combat-sports legislation REALLY a behind-the-scenes bargaining chip for Saudi normalization with Israel? In this clip, we walk through why that “grand negotiation” theory feels like a stretch—and why the more believable explanation is far more obvious (and more important): Saudi soft power.The conversation digs into how influence actually works in 2025—less cloak-and-dagger, more saturation. If you can establish a constant presence across major sports, entertainment, and tech, you don’t need a single secret deal. You just become part of the American mainstream.Subscribe for more unfiltered political commentary through the lens of sports, media, and power.Listen to the full conversation over on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/Chapters:00:00 Abraham Accords theory debunked00:24 Saudi soft power play01:07 Why this job isn’t stress01:59 When media platforms disappeared02:29 The ladder disintegrates03:17 Boxing monopoly warning04:28 No stenography for bad actors05:11 Waking up at 3AM06:15 What ambition cost07:36 Skills built for vanished world08:03 Finding new answers

Luke Thomas speaks to John Fugelsang, actor and political commentator, about the problem of Christian nationalism, how it differs from Christianity, why he believes the religion has been hijacked and what can be done about it.His new book, "Separation of Church and Hate" is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Separation-Church-Hate-Fundamentalists-Flock-Fleecing/dp/1668066890#lukethomas #christiannationalism #christianityontheright

Trump’s latest Venezuela saber rattling raises the question of whether he will try to use a war scare to invoke the Alien Enemies Act and target Venezuelans while selling another round of “regime change” to the public. In this clip, we look at the talk of airstrikes, drone sorties in the Caribbean, and the familiar mix of drug war rhetoric and terrorism panic that Washington reaches for when it wants to justify military escalation. He compares today’s lazy effort to manufacture consent for action in Venezuela with the massive propaganda campaign that preceded the Iraq War, from Colin Powell’s infamous UN presentation to the wall to wall media blitz after 9/11. At the same time, he walks through what is actually happening inside Venezuela’s oil sector, how Maduro has offered foreign access to heavy crude, and why Washington’s goals have very little to do with fentanyl or “cartels” and everything to do with power. From there, the conversation turns to domestic politics and the 2028 Democratic primary. He explains why he is fed up with centrist “managers,” why he only cares about candidates who will fight for a different political and economic model, and why he is skeptical of figures like Gavin Newsom. Finally, he looks at Zohran Mamdani’s recent win, what his margins with young men and other key groups tell us, and how his listening first, affordability focused campaign offers a real roadmap for Democrats trying to win back voters who went to Trump. Listen to the full conversation over on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/If you find this helpful, hit subscribe, drop a comment, and share the clip with someone who still believes the official story on Venezuela.Chapters00:00 Trump, Venezuela, and Alien Enemies Act00:00:37 Drone strikes and drug war pretext00:02:00 Iraq War vs Venezuela propaganda00:02:18 Maduro’s oil offer to the U.S.00:03:09 Lazy manufacturing of consent today00:05:18 Who to back in 2028 primary00:06:38 What Dems must learn from Mamdani00:07:09 Affordability and winning young men

Luke Thomas: After Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was accused of a war crime this week, Luke asks just how many of Trump's cabinet members like Pam Bondi or Kristi Noem face potential legal jeopardy for their acts in office?SUBSCRIBE TO MY SUBSTACK: https://lthomas.substack.com/#lukethomas #donaldtrump #petehegseth

The RFK Jr leak and the media fallout around Olivia Nuzzi reveal a deeper problem inside American political journalism. This video breaks down how elite reporters, favored by management and insulated from consequences, shape national narratives while avoiding accountability. RFK Jr’s disturbing leaked messages are shocking on their own, but the way media institutions respond to scandals like these says even more about the state of modern journalism.We look at how insider relationships, preferential treatment, and scoop laundering create a two tier system where powerful figures and media darlings are protected while everyone else plays by a different set of rules. The transcript highlights how the incentives of elite journalism align less with informing the public and more with maintaining access, pleasing editors, and reinforcing the worldview of the powerful. When these incentives collide with political celebrity culture, scandals like RFK Jr’s become symptoms of a much larger structural rot.The discussion also explores the collapse of the traditional media ladder, why combat sports media reflects the same broken dynamics, and how the public ends up misled by institutions that no longer reward merit or ethics. The RFK Jr leak is not just an isolated embarrassment. It is a window into an ecosystem that keeps failing upward while pushing out those who refuse to play the game.Listen to the full conversation over on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/If you find this kind of analysis valuable, consider subscribing to the channel for more breakdowns like this.Chapters00:00 RFK Jr leak reaction02:00 Media enabling elite favorites04:00 Why the system rewards failure06:00 Scoop trading and power laundering08:00 Olivia Nuzzi ethics problems10:00 How RFK Jr fits the pattern12:00 The rigged media ladder14:00 Broader collapse of media standards

Kristi Noem’s $200+ million DHS ad campaign is not border security, it is self-dealing on your dime. In this video, we break down how a firm tied to Noem quietly benefited from a massive no bid contract, how shell companies in Delaware helped hide the money trail, and why this looks less like “law and order” and more like aristocrats looting the treasury.We walk through reporting on the Mount Rushmore ICE ad shoot, the mysterious contractor structure, and the parallel scandal involving Gulfstream private jets bought during a government shutdown. Then we zoom out: what does it mean when the same people screaming about “illegals” and “fiscal responsibility” are the ones burying jobs and GDP reports while siphoning public money to friends and allies through opaque deals and culture war PR?In the second half, the conversation shifts to who should actually be trusted with power. Abdul El Sayed’s work on Medicare for All, his public health background, and a real plan to stop people from dying because they are too poor to see a doctor are contrasted with the Noem style corruption model that treats government as a cash machine.If you are tired of being told to fear immigrants while your tax dollars fund private jets and propaganda, this one is for you.Listen to the full conversation over on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/If you find this useful, subscribe to the channel and share the video with someone who still thinks this is about “border security” and not about who gets rich.Chapters00:00 Noem’s DHS ad scandal00:45 Mount Rushmore ICE cowboy ad01:30 No bid contracts and shell firms03:00 Private jets and shutdown hypocrisy04:15 Corruption, tariffs, and the economy05:30 Vandals of democracy and your taxes06:30 Who should run in 202207:15 Abdul El Sayed and Medicare for All08:15 Why US healthcare is collapsing

Luke Thomas: Donald Trump’s “hang them” posts about Democratic lawmakers show how far his political violence and authoritarian rhetoric have gone, and what that means for American democracy. In this video, Luke Thomas breaks down why calls to execute political opponents are not just “trolling,” and why pretending they are harmless is part of how fascistic ideas get slowly normalized.Luke walks through Trump’s confusion over a dementia screening he bragged about as an “IQ test,” the sharp decline from his 2015–2016 debate performances, and whether we are now in 25th Amendment territory. He looks at the viral video from veteran lawmakers reminding troops that their oath is to the Constitution, not to a commander in chief, and explains why Stephen Miller’s “sedition” attacks on them are so dangerous.From Trump’s dehumanizing content about protesters to his push to criminalize “anti-capitalist” or “anti-Christian” beliefs under NSPM 7, Luke connects the dots between escalating rhetoric, state power, and a movement that may not accept losing elections again. The question is not just what Trump is saying, but whether anyone around him is willing to stop it before tragedy follows.If you value independent political commentary on Trump, political violence, fascism in America, and the health of our democracy, make sure you’re subscribed and share this video with someone who needs to see it.Listen to the full conversation over on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/Subscribe for more in-depth breakdowns and weekly political analysis.Chapters00:00 Trump “Hang Them” threat00:40 25th Amendment for Trump01:10 Trump “Trolling” to Fascism01:40 Illegal Orders And The Oath02:10 Stephen Miller Screams “Sedition”02:40 Will MAGA leave after losing?03:20 Dehumanizing Protesters, Targeting ActBlue04:05 NSPM 7 And “Extremism” List05:00 Weaponizing The State Against Rivals

Luke Thomas: Immigration reform, Social Security, and exploding healthcare premiums collide in this political commentary as Luke Thomas breaks down how Homeland Security, ACA subsidies, and Stephen Miller’s agenda are reshaping the safety net. He starts with a New York Times report on DHS pulling agents off CSAM, terrorism, and cartel cases and reassigning them to immigration work, then walks through the human and economic cost of that choice.Luke argues that far from being a “drain,” immigrants are a long term financial lifeline for Social Security, Medicare, and basic government functions, especially as the US population ages. He explains how expiring ACA subsidies will spike premiums, how private equity in hospitals is already linked to worse outcomes, and why entitlement programs are mathematically unsustainable without a serious expansion of legal immigration.Along the way he contrasts the US with Canada and Japan, both of which are already “immigration beggars,” and warns that an ethnostate fantasy leads directly to a government that cannot fund disaster relief, healthcare, or education for your kids. The clip closes with Luke, a former USMC artilleryman, answering whether he would enlist under today’s leadership and geopolitical reality.#lukethomaspolitics #lukethomas #usimmigration If you want more independent analysis on the intersection of immigration, economics, and national security, make sure you subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications so you do not miss future breakdowns.Listen to the full conversation over on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/Chapters:00:00 DHS shifts child exploitation agents to border00:35 Human cost of deporting mixed-status families01:10 Immigrants as net taxpayers and workers01:45 ACA subsidies expire and premiums spike02:30 Entitlements, aging population and immigration math03:20 Canada, Japan become immigration beggars04:20 Militarized policing, detention and remix culture05:20 Immigration as ticking time bomb06:40 Ethnostate fantasy or functioning government07:20 Why this USMC vet will not enlist

Luke Thomas discusses Pres. Donald Trump inviting Mohammad Bin Salman to the White House only to try to exonerate him under questioning about the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.#trumpnews #lukethomaspolitics #lukethomas

Luke Thomas: UFC fighter Brendan Royval’s White House UFC fight comments ignite a bigger question about real fans vs billionaires, while new Epstein emails, Trump mentions, and reporting by Murtaza Hussein at Drop Site News raise fresh questions the media glossed over, as Luke Thomas breaks it all down.In this video, we start with Royval’s “Hunger Games” critique and whether a White House card would actually serve the diehard fight fans or mostly seat VIPs and DC power players. We assess the realities of security, who likely gets in, and why fight sports should feel communal rather than like a museum exhibit for the ultra‑rich. Then we pivot to the week’s document dump: what the Epstein emails do and don’t show, why some outlets chased the lurid while missing the “shadow diplomacy” story, and the possibility Epstein functioned as an intelligence asset of some kind—an angle that deserves far more daylight. We close with takeaways for fans, media, and anyone trying to separate spectacle from substance.If you value independent analysis on combat sports and politics, subscribe and share this with a friend who cares about keeping the focus on the fans and the facts.Listen to the full conversation over on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/Chapters00:00 Royval’s “Hunger Games” take00:45 UFC White House crowd reality02:00 Who actually gets in UFC White House 03:05 Billionaires vs real UFC fans04:20 What fight sports are for05:35 Fans deserve the seats06:38 Epstein emails overview07:20 Shadow diplomacy reporting08:30 Was Epstein an asset09:40 What media missed

Luke Thomas: Craig Jones just dropped a scathing essay comparing Dana White to a “fight pimp,” and it might be the clearest breakdown yet of how UFC power and fighter pay really work. In this video, we walk through Craig’s Iceberg Slim metaphor, the illusion of wealth around top fighters, and why so much of MMA media has completely abandoned any meaningful criticism of power.Craig argues that fighters are not just competing, they are performing a lifestyle borrowed from the promotion itself: rented sports cars, sponsored private jets, and a dream that is more illusion than reality. We talk about why that illusion is “contagious,” how it keeps fighters defending the very system that exploits them, and what it means for anyone who depends on the industry for access or opportunity.From there, the discussion turns personal. I explain why I left a previous career in DC politics, what it did to my health, and why I refuse to build a second life around telling powerful people what they want to hear. If truth about fighter pay and MMA power structures cannot be spoken out loud, what is the point of knowing it at all.If you care about fighter pay, free speech, and what it actually costs to criticize the UFC, this conversation is for you.#lukethomas #lukethomaspolitics #craigjones Listen to the full conversation over on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/If you find this useful, hit subscribe and stick around for more deep dives on MMA, politics, and power.Chapters00:00 Craig Jones “fight pimp” video01:05 Iceberg Slim metaphor and UFC02:20 Illusion of fighter wealth04:10 Why MMA media stays quiet06:00 Truth, power and access in MMA07:45 Leaving DC and refusing silence09:20 Costs of speaking honestly on UFC10:30 Why voices like Craig Jones matter

Luke Thomas on why Megan Kelly and other MAGA media boosters are trying to find any defense possible of Trump as the Epstein Files scandal continues to cause problems for them.#lukethomas #donaldtrump #megankelly

Young men are turning away from the right—and the political establishment isn’t ready for what comes next. This conversation explores why younger voters, especially men, are shifting left across recent elections and what that could mean for the country’s populist future.We look at Zohran Mamdani’s victory in New York City, his focus on affordability, childcare, and free transit, and why that message resonated so powerfully. The discussion also touches on the economic lockout facing younger generations—rising housing costs, medical debt, and the loss of real community in modern life—and how that instability threatens democracy itself.Luke examines what it would take for progressive movements to rebuild trust with young men: not just online rhetoric, but real-world organizing, affordability, and community. What happens when young people are locked out of stability, family, and belonging? And can the left fill that void before reactionary politics does?Listen to the full conversation over on Luke’s Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/Subscribe for more in-depth political breakdowns every week.Chapters00:00 Why young men are swinging left01:00 The left’s disconnect from young voters02:20 Populism and the challenge of governing03:00 Zohran Mamdani’s unexpected success04:00 Affordability and the new populist message05:30 Why home ownership matters for democracy06:00 Tim Wu and the “Age of Extraction”07:00 The economic lockout crisis08:20 Medicare for All as the only solution left09:00 Building real community again10:00 Why reconnecting young men is essential