The Q Now

Hosts Mark Bland and Jason Kull open the episode celebrating what they call a "blue tsunami" in the midterms and the biggest win for any party in 50 years. By their count, Democrats are on pace to win the popular vote by about 13 points, flip seven Senate seats and reach roughly 250 House seats. They also point to a list of historic firsts among the winners. Closer to home in the St. Louis area, t...

In a special Halloween edition of The Left Hook , hosts Mark Bland and Jason Kull pull no punches just days ahead of the pivotal 2026 general election. Joining the broadcast is David Veneziano, a Democratic candidate for St. Charles County Executive, who breaks down the urgent need to challenge one-party local rule and address crippling issues like sky-high gas prices and housing affordability. Th...

On this episode of The Left Hook , hosts Mark Bland and Jason Kull sharply criticize President Donald Trump, arguing that his recent public appearances, repeated attacks on political opponents and response to questions about Vice President J.D. Vance raise concerns about his fitness for office. They compare Trump's leadership style to Plato's warnings about tyranny emerging from democracy, discuss...

Mark Bland and Jason Kull turn the spotlight on their own side of the aisle in this episode of The Left Hook, challenging Missouri and St. Louis-area Democrats to stop overlooking opportunities to reach conservative and independent voters. The hosts argue that their presence on Fox News-affiliated radio offers candidates a chance to speak beyond the Democratic base—and that avoiding those conversa...

On this week's episode of The Left Hook , Mark Bland and Jason Kull took on President Trump's incendiary Truth Social post about Minnesota, in which he claimed the state was being "taken over" by Somali immigrants, painted Minneapolis as a war zone, called Tim Walz an "incompetent thief," and urged Minnesotans to "fight back." Bland and Kull broke down why that kind of rhetoric is dangerous: it de...

The show opens with Mark Bland and Jason Kull and a quick post-season autopsy of the Cubs' loss to the Padres — Pete Crow-Armstrong vs. Fernando Tatís, and the unwritten rule that you never root for a division rival like the Brewers — before pivoting to the economy. Mark argues that voters who pulled the lever in 2024 expecting cheaper gas and groceries "on day one" got the opposite, pointing to a...

On this week's episode of The Left Hook , Jason Kull and I went after Trump's decision to pull White House press pool credentials from CNN, MSNBC, ProPublica, Politico, and other outlets. We called it what it is: thin-skinned, authoritarian behavior from an administration that seemingly only wants coverage from people willing to applaud. Less than 48 hours later, they announced "Trump TV" — which...

Grab your coffee, because Mark Bland and Jason Kull are back with a week's worth of things to be mad about. They start at the gas pump, where diesel is pushing $8 in California and the Iran war is taking the blame. Then it's on to Trump's rally joke about holding back FEMA money from flood-hit North Carolina ("I'm not sending it... just kidding"), which got the awkward silence it deserved. They pl...

Hosts Mark Bland and Jason Kull kicked off *The Left Hook* with some lighthearted baseball talk about the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals before quickly diving into politics. Their top headline was Fox News host Jesse Watters, who admitted President Trump's campaign promise of $5,000 checks for every American likely wouldn't happen. Watters infamously compared the empty promise to "a woman sh...

Mark Bland and Jason Kull open with a genuinely fun segment: Mark joined the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) and took his son to Daredevil Days at the newly rebranded Mid-America Adventure (formerly Six Flags St. Louis). Highlights included a backstage tour of Mr. Freeze, standing two feet from the track at launch speed, and a "post-touch" — feeling the coaster's vibration through the support b...

Hosts Mark Bland and Jason Kull opened their St. Louis-based show with a discussion about local news: the rebranding of Six Flags St. Louis to "Mid-America Adventure" under new parent company Enchanted Parks. The hosts covered changes to season passes, pricing, and the popular "Fright Fest" Halloween event, noting that entry will now cost extra beyond a season pass. They joked that St. Louis resid...

On this episode of *The Left Hook*, host Mark Bland and co-host Jason Kull kick off the show by breaking down recent media controversies and political gridlock. They analyze a tense CNN panel exchange between host Abby Phillip and conservative pundit Scott Jennings, criticizing Jennings for what they see as dishonest deflections and double standards regarding Donald Trump and his controversial aid...

In this episode of  The Left Hook , host Mark Bland—a self-described liberal broadcasting on Fox-affiliated stations—is joined by guest co-host Andy Echele, a conservative-leaning friend and veteran. After an extended discussion about Bland's family trip to Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio (where he was sent to a "quiet room" after complaining about outdated bathrooms at a park making...

On  The Left Hook , hosts Mark Bland and Jason Kull deliver an irreverent, left-leaning roundup of the week's political news. They focus heavily on Dr. Anthony Fauci's congressional appearance, arguing that Republican questioning was largely performative and politically motivated, while criticizing efforts to blame Fauci for COVID-era policies. The hosts also connect the hearing to broader concern...

On this episode of *The Left Hook*, hosts Mark Bland and Jason Kulldeliver a punchy, unfiltered look at the political landscape on July 25, 2026. The duo tackles the mysterious silence surrounding Mitch McConnell's health, urging Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to bypass the courts and appoint a replacement immediately. They pull no punches in their critique of Donald Trump's administration—taking...

On this week's Left Hook, Mark and Jason Kull bring their signature moderate-liberal perspective to you — and they've got plenty to say. Todd Blanch's Senate Testimony:  The hosts break down the awkward exchange between Senator Kennedy and Trump's former criminal defense attorney-turned-Deputy Attorney General, questioning whether the nation's top legal office has become the president's personal l...

Mark Bland and Jason Kull dive headfirst into the political chaos dominating the news cycle. They kick things off dissecting Trump's latest gaffes—including his reference to the "Islamic State of Japan" and conversations with holograms—arguing the 25th Amendment can't come soon enough. The hosts tackle the Graham Platner scandal in Maine, where the Senate candidate suspended his campaign amid rape...

This Fourth of July marks America's 250th birthday, but on  The Left Hook , Mark Bland and Jason Kull say it's a celebration that's fallen flat. Instead of the unifying, old-fashioned cookouts, fireworks, and camaraderie we saw at the Bicentennial, Donald Trump has turned this milestone into another self-serving grift. From his "Great American State Fair," to slapping his face on passports and haw...

On this episode of  The Left Hook , host Mark Bland is joined by co-host  Jason Kull  and returning guest Marcus Boston for a wide-ranging and energetic discussion blending humor, politics, and cultural commentary. After some lighthearted banter about Marcus's personal life and Father's Day hypotheticals, the conversation shifts heavily into politics—particularly a new 14-point memorandum of under...

In this episode of The Left Hook , Mark Bland and Jason Kull focus on the politics surrounding Graham Platner and what his rise says about the Democratic Party's direction. They talk about his Senate campaign in Maine, the criticism he's facing, and the way his backers are trying to sell him as a working-class, health care-focused candidate. The hosts push back on the idea that he should be treate...

In this episode, Mark Bland and Jason Kull spend a lot of time talking about how podcasting has changed the media world and made it easier for independent voices to compete with traditional radio. They compare the old system of affiliates, station control, and broadcast credentials with the newer world of podcasts and digital audiences, where reach and influence can come from anywhere. They also u...

The Left Hook  features Mark Bland and Jason Kull in a sharp, fast-moving political conversation centered on Donald Trump, corruption, and the chaos of the current news cycle. The episode opens with discussion of Trump's escalating behavior, fears about authoritarian overreach, the proposed $250 bill with Trump's face, and the federal law that would make that illegal. Bland and Kull also talk abou...

The Left Hook with Mark Bland and Jason Kull leans into a wide-ranging, free-flowing conversation that blends sharp political takes with off-the-cuff humor. This episode circles around the DNC's 2024 report card, but instead of treating it like a formal breakdown, the hosts poke at what it says—and what it avoids—while questioning whether anything will actually change moving forward. Along the way...

On this episode of The Left Hook , Mark Bland and Jason Kull explored global politics, Donald Trump's foreign policy decisions, and the growing economic frustrations facing everyday Americans. Much of the discussion focused on Trump's trip to China alongside Elon Musk, with the hosts arguing that China now appears to hold increased leverage over the United States in matters involving Iran, Taiwan,...

On this episode of The Left Hook , hosts Mark Bland and Jason Kull tackle a wide range of political headlines before closing things out with a much lighter and more comedic discussion. The episode opens with Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker publicly questioning Donald Trump's mental sharpness in a recent Politico interview. Mark and Jason discuss reports of Trump falling asleep during meetings, mi...