The Mark Thompson Show

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is answering questions at a House Armed Services Committee hearing. His main objective: trying to defend the 2027 military budget proposal. It shoots defense spending to an historic $1.5 trillion, in part for things like military drones, Trump Class warships and missile defense systems. Hegseth will inevitably face questions about the war in Iran, including the ho...

Spirit Airlines is in deep financial trouble. There are reports the Trump administration has a $500 million rescue plan to save the discount airline. Is propping up a failing airline necessary? Would America’s airline travelers suffer without Spirit Airlines?  We’ll look at the pros and cons. Pulitzer prize winning investigative journalist and author David Cay Johnston joins to talk  politics.  Th...

Following a shot fired outside the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, President Trump spoke with Norah O’Donnell on 60 Minutes. He praised the quick response and professionalism of security teams, but fell apart when O’Donnell read excerpts from the suspect’s reported manifesto. Trump assumed the claims  of top officials being involved in heinous crimes against women and children invo...

Donald Trump and Richard Nixon have more in common than being president. They now share the dubious distinction of having almost the same numbers when it comes to Americans supporting their impeachment. Anew Strength in Numbers/Verasight poll shows a majority of U.S. adults, or 55%, support a House impeachment vote. The poll shows 37% are opposed and 8% said they are unsure. Pollsters calculated a...

With a naval port blockade in progress and Operation Epic Fury under way, Trump & Company are ditching the leader of the US Navy. Secretary of the Navy, John C. Phelan, a wealthy financier who has held the post for one year, is departing the administration, effective immediately. They gave no explanation, but Politico reports it has to do with a large battleship that caused in fighting at the...

President Trump is  laying down an indefinite ceasefire with Iran while he says negotiations continue- though Iran says they won’t negotiate under threat.  Overnight, Iran fired on three Ships In Strait of Hormuz.  The fear is that it may complicate  efforts  to  get peace talks off the ground.  We welcome presidential historian and political consultant John Rothmann to discuss it all.   ABC-7 Wea...

We all saw the video of FBI Director Kash Patel boozing it up in the locker room with the U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team. It seems that behavior wasn’t a one-off. New reports in The Atlantic detail accusations by those in Patel’s inner circle that he drinks to excess, passes out and has been unreachable behind the locked doors of his office. Staffers say they even have trouble waking him up. Patel...

For a man who won the presidency seemingly based on the high cost of living. Including rising grocery store prices, Trump appears to have forgotten that, “It’s the Economy, Stupid!” With Americans growing more frustrated by the day about the price of gas, Trump brushed it off yesterday saying prices are "not very high.” He said, gas is “not as high as what was expected from the war” and higher pri...

Five articles of impeachment are being brought by Democrats against Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth. They will likely go nowhere because Republicans control the house, but they sure make a statement. The first article accuses Hegseth of violating his oath of office in overseeing an “unauthorized war against Iran and reckless endangerment of United States service members.” Hegseth is accused of...

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says there are no more Epstein Files to release. He tells Fox News that he doesn’t intend to release any more saying “We have released everything, We reviewed six million pieces of paper. What we released [was] anything associated with the Epstein files. So we are not sitting on a single piece of paper. Nothing that should be released.” It wouldn’t be the first...

Vice President JD Vance is likely not too high on Trump’s list right now. He was sent to Hungary to give Victor Orban a pre-election day boost. It didn’t work and Orban lost. He was sent to hammer out a deal with Iran as Pakistan facilitated talks…that also failed. No deal and no dice. Sadly for Vance, his boss isn’t too understanding. On Easter, Trump was asked about a deal with Iran and joked,”I...

Headlines around the world called Trump’s verbal attack of Pope Leo extraordinary. While some may disagree with church policies, it’s hard to call out a man who consistently offers messages of peace and harmony. Trump called Pope Leo “weak and ‘terrible” and said the only reason he got the job is because of Trump himself. He called on the Pope to “stop catering to the Radical Left.” His blistering...

It's a mystery. Why did Melania Trump hold a solo press conference yesterday where she tried to distance herself from the late Jeffrey Epstein? Was she trying to get ahead of a story about to break, sending her husband a message maybe or is she really just tired of questionable stories and pictures tying her to the late pedophile? One thing her announcement did do...bring the Epstein story back in...

Before Trump's Iran war, the Strait of Hormuz was considered an International Waterway and as such, there was no toll to pay to pass through it. Now, Iran wants to charge fees for ships ‌to pass. Whether that comes to fruition remains to be seen as international leaders are speaking out against the idea of a toll. Meanwhile, a fresh 2-week ceasefire between the US and Iran already appears fragile....

Trump’s MAGA base appears to be disillusioned. Recently, former Trump campaign spokesperson Caroline Sunshine told CNN’s Elex Michaelson… “Who’s MAGA? Because what I’m hearing from everyone is, I’m a ‘three-time Trump voter, and I’m not MAGA anymore. I’m not. I’m now non-MAGA,’”  “MAGA, the base is leaving because they don’t agree with this conflict, and they don’t believe that this is what they v...

Its deadline day. Trump is giving Iran until 8pm Eastern to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He is threatening to blow up power infrastructure and bridges if they fail to do so. The markets are reacting and oil prices are once again rising as a result. So what’s his best move? Another deadline extension, a massive attack or some kind of hastily hammered out ceasefire? We’ll discuss it with Pulitzer Pr...

On Easter Sunday, Donald Trump, who claims to be a Christian, posted a very unchristian like message for the world to see. The message makes him look look unstable, unthinking and very unpresidential. It’s bringing concerns about Trump’s mental health status as he digs deeper into his Iran war with threats, expletives and a bravado that does not offer much hope for diplomacy.  Here’s his Easter Su...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is forcing the Army’s top general out. It’s a move fueling new scrutiny over who is driving decisions inside the Pentagon. With no clear explanation for General Randy George’s early removal, critics are pointing to the growing influence of outside political voices, including far-right activist Laura Loomer, and raising alarms about possible ideological or loyalty tes...

Pam Bondi is out as attorney general. Trump was reportedly not pleased with her performance on his retribution tour. She will be replaced for now by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Trump’s National address centered on plans to get out of his Iran War. He says America is “very close” to finishing its objectives and over the next two weeks, “We’re going to hit them extremely hard.” He also ref...

Trump's so-called "excursion" to Iran appears to be short lived.  The President says Operation Epic Fury, now in it's 5th week, should be over in another two to three weeks.  Trump is talking about checking out of the conflict even without a deal. We'll discuss it with political analyst John Rothmann,   Comedian J-L Cauvin will stop by to help us celebrate April Fool's Day Belinda Waymouth returns...

For all of Trump's threatening and blustering over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, it appears he's willing to walk away while it remains closed. According to the Wall Street Journal, if he forced Iran to open the strait, Trump would have to extend his "excursion" to Iran past the 4-6 weeks he was banking on. Instead, he tells aides that he can end Operation Epic Fury and work to get the Str...

In the rubble of former Iranian nuclear sites, lies 1,000 pounds of uranium. Removing it is dangerous in more than one way, but so is leaving it there.  Trump is reportedly considering a military operation to remove the uranium. The Wall Street Journal reports that he hasn’t made a decision yet, but is open to the idea because it could prevent Iran from making a nuclear weapon.  We’ll discuss it w...

Amid another massive No Kings national day of protest tomorrow, comes word that Trump will insert himself into American currency. This summer, money will begin bearing Trump’s signature along with that of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, dropping the name of the U.S. Treasurer. It’s a first for a sitting President. The first Trump money is set to print in June. In addition, the U.S. will release...

Even Republicans know this is a mess. The lack of coherent information from Trump and his cabinet about his Iran War has some Republicans worried about an escalating fight and a loss of control. House Armed Services Committee chair Congressman Mike Rogers left a briefing saying members told defense officials they need clear details about Operation Epic Fury and offered warnings that troop movement...