Mark Halperin opens with his latest reported monologue on Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the ongoing distorted coverage surrounding it. He reveals how the Dominant Media, aligned with Democratic leaders, downplays the significance of Kirk’s life and murder — and how it is echoing their role in obscuring Joe Biden’s decline. Mark explains how this “conspiracy of camaraderie” further erodes public trust in legacy outlets, deepens polarization, and signals that political violence is too often judged by partisan affiliation. Democrats’ reluctance to empathize with those mourning Kirk, he argues, reinforces the perception that ideology determines which tragedies matter.

Meghan McCain and Ben Ferguson join to discuss America’s reckoning with Kirk’s murder, Erica Kirk’s extraordinary grace, and their own experiences with political threats tied to their Republican affiliations. They also unpack the start of Kamala Harris’s awkward book tour — marked by slights toward prominent Democrats, shifting blame for her 2024 defeat, and interviews that contradict her own account in “107 Days.” Finally, they examine how Harris’s fractured narrative about Joe Biden stands in sharp contrast to the loyalty and unity projected by Donald Trump and JD Vance.

Chapter: For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial 262-454-0503 or go to https://askchapter.org/mark

Disclaimer: Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and standalone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don't directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all your options.

Delta Rescue: Visit https://DeltaRescue.org to learn more

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Mark Halperin opens today’s episode with his reported monologue featuring new information on Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension by ABC and what it reveals about shifting corporate power structures, market pressure, and free speech in modern media. He dissects the reactions from the White House to prominent Democrats, many of whom are outraged by Kimmel’s suspension and jolted by the realization that mainstream media is no longer reliably on their side. Mark examines how changing audience demographics, political influence, and corporate risk management are reshaping television and entertainment, and why the Kimmel controversy shows how corporate power and cultural forces are increasingly shaping each other.

Then, Mark sits down with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for a wide-ranging conversation on border security, public safety, and the lasting mission of Charlie Kirk — and how she plans to honor his legacy. Secretary Noem outlines the priorities DHS is pursuing and explains why enforcing the law, ensuring real consequences, and encouraging voluntary compliance are critical to protecting American communities. Plus, Secretary Noem joins Mark for a quick round of a favorite game: Rapid-Fire Word Association – Trump Cabinet Edition.

After that, Mark is joined by Noam Dworman, owner of the fabled Manhattan venue the Comedy Cellar, to unpack how free speech, corporate pressure, and political influence collide in today’s entertainment landscape – and what that means for comedy. They discuss the behind-the-scenes forces that led to Kimmel being sidelined by ABC, explore how comics inspire one another while navigating the fraught boundaries of what’s considered acceptable, and debate whether we’re living in a new golden age of comedy.

Plus, don’t miss Mark Halperin’s “Last Up” at the end of the show: What’s in a name?

Chapter: For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial 262-454-0503 or go to https://askchapter.org/mark

Disclaimer: Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and standalone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don't directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all your options.

Delta Rescue: Visit https://DeltaRescue.org to learn more

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Mark Halperin opens the show with his reported monologue, along with personal reflections, on the life, assassination, and lasting legacy of Charlie Kirk. He traces Kirk's meteoric rise to becoming a conservative icon without the backing of media, Hollywood, or academia, and explains why his murder feels to many like an attack on the heart of the MAGA movement. Mark explores the rare mix of strategy, charisma, and cultural defiance that fueled Kirk’s rise and why his influence will endure well beyond both his life and politics.

Then, Mark sits down with journalist, author, and The Nerve host Maureen Callahan, MK Media’s resident troublemaker, for a fearless look at the collapse of old media and the rise of unfiltered commentary. Callahan dissects Vogue’s decline under Anna Wintour, the persistent backlash to Meghan Markle, and the broader cultural shift from glossy narratives to authenticity, while also revealing her dream book projects and personal family history. Plus, Mark shares his own dream book he’d love to write.

Chapter: For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial 262-454-0503 or go to https://askchapter.org/mark

Disclaimer: Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and standalone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don't directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all your options.

Delta Rescue: Visit https://DeltaRescue.orgto learn more

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.