The Left Hook

Mark Bland
  • 2.2 (9)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

Hosted by Mark Bland, The Left Hook is a current affairs and pop culture show with a political twist. Weekly the guys interview actors, writers, artist and a revolving cast of characters to bring you multiple views of some of the most controversial and engaging topics of our time.

  1. 1d ago

    Left Hook - Midnight Attack Drones

    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 Jason couldn't even get to load on YouTube during the show. Then the whole thing backfired at the unveiling of the new White House helipad, where the gutted press pool left one Newsmax crew without a working microphone and the event was barely covered. We also talked about the economic squeeze Americans are dealing with, from $5.15 gas in Chicago and diesel nearing $8 to the reality of people living paycheck to paycheck. I'm old enough to remember when a $2.99 Denny's Grand Slam and a free birthday breakfast didn't feel like folklore. In the second half, we took apart Ben Shapiro's suggestion that young Americans who can't afford to live here should just move somewhere else. Keep telling frustrated 18-to-25-year-olds to leave, and don't act surprised when they spend the next two decades voting against people like J.D. Vance and Mike Johnson. We also had a good laugh at Tommy Tuberville's bizarre claim that airline workers and pilots are "furries," Trump's claim that crime in D.C. has fallen to zero, and the White House obsession with gold décor, ballrooms, and armed drones. We also ran through a Substack list of the five U.S. regions to avoid if society collapses — the Northeast, California, the Southwest desert, Florida, and the industrial Midwest — which an AI tool rated as 60 percent real risk analysis and 40 percent doom-porn. We wrapped things up debating the best sitcom friend group: I picked Friends, Jason picked The Office, and yes, he was wrong. Catch past episodes and stay up to date at MarkBland.net.

  2. Sep 23

    The Left Hook - Who is Number One?

    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 play JD Vance warning of an economic crisis if we leave the war, and Marjorie Taylor Greene's viral rant about diesel prices, which is a sentence nobody expected to write. They also lay out why they think Netanyahu has had too much of Trump's ear, and give their take on the Ed Sheeran and Macklemore blowup: let the concerts just be concerts. Then comes the question in the title. With Mark Carney in Brussels and Canada cozying up to the EU, have we lost our "number one" spot, starting with our own continent? Along the way they get into why Canada's health care makes our "best system in the world" line harder to sell, and some Missouri roasting of Rep. Ann Wagner and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins over their loyalty to Trump. In the middle there's a break for a very real story about Rutgers researchers who built a 3D-printed toilet for mosquitoes, and yes, it's for science. They wrap with a midterm pep talk and a reminder that every episode, old and new, lives at markbland.net.

  3. Sep 15

    Left Hook - 54- Concepts of a Payment

    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 showing her bra" to keep a man interested, leading the hosts to call his remarks gross, misogynistic, and proof that Trump's allies assume the American people are gullible enough to fall for it. Bland and Kull ripped the check proposal as a blatantly dishonest campaign bribe, pointing out there's no way to afford roughly $1.3 trillion in payments and that Trump's claims about tariffs funding them simply don't add up. They mocked the idea that Trump could blame Congress if the money never arrived, calling the promise a desperate "Hail Mary" as his legal troubles continue to pile up. The hosts argued that openly trying to buy people's votes was dangerous for democracy, joking that if it came down to bidding, Democrats could just promise Americans $6,000 instead. Shifting to the bigger political picture, the duo expressed frustration with House Speaker Mike Johnson for sending Congress home for recess, warning lawmakers could remain out until after the midterms and leave President Trump free to run unchecked with executive orders. They stressed the importance of Democrats flipping at least one chamber to provide a necessary check on his power. After their political rant, the hosts lightened the mood with a Reddit list of "five things every American should be able to do," cracking jokes about opening beer bottles, riding mechanical bulls, and other rowdy American staples before wrapping up the show.

  4. Sep 10

    Left Hook - 53 - Where's the Beef 2026

    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 beam. Park president Dan Snider fielded Q&A on the rebrand and ongoing DC licensing negotiations. Plus Family membership secured. Then it gets sharp. Mike Johnson went on camera calling Thomas Massie's claim that Congress would recess until after the midterms "stupid" — then did exactly that, pulling the House out two weeks early. The hosts argue the play is deliberate: run out the clock through midterms, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's until the new session starts, keeping Congress frozen while Trump governs unchecked. The suspected motive: keeping the Epstein Files Transparency Act 2 buried before November. From there: imported Argentine beef that China already rejected for antibiotic contamination, USDA gutting, soybean-bailout déjà vu, and a broader indictment — Trump has dragged the country backward while allies quietly replace us in global trade. Finally, Mark's plea to vote left-of-center in 2028 so the next president can run the "yeah, sorry about that guy" world tour.

  5. Sep 1

    The Left Hook - Lake America

    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 residents will likely keep calling it "Six Flags" regardless of the name change, comparing it to how locals still refer to the Riverport concert venue by its original name despite multiple corporate buyouts. The hosts then pivoted to sharp criticism of President Trump, using the "renaming" theme to mock reported efforts to rename bodies of water like Lake Ontario. They accused the administration of grift, questioned Trump's mental fitness and work ethic, and criticized his handling of NATO, the UN, and foreign policy—while advocating for universal healthcare. They also discussed former ICE/Border Patrol figure Greg Bovino, who claimed in a Tucker Carlson interview that the administration pulled his security detail because they wanted him dead; the hosts dismissed this, arguing he simply no longer works for Trump and faces public backlash for his controversial tenure. They further criticized adviser Natalie Harp, alleged internal White House dysfunction, and a story about Trump reportedly separating himself from his military aide on a flight. In the final segments, the hosts lightened the tone with a discussion of "rude" guest behaviors based on a HuffPost article—covering things like snooping, overstaying, and disrespecting house rules—sharing personal anecdotes. They closed by heavily criticizing Health Secretary RFK Jr., blaming him for a resurgence of measles and other previously eradicated diseases, and attacked Trump's agricultural and trade policies, arguing that tariffs and deals with countries like Argentina and China were hurting American cattle farmers. They also paid tribute to entertainers Dolly Parton and Tim Curry before signing off.

  6. Aug 26

    Left Hook - The Presidents Shadow

    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 aide, Natalie Harp. Bland and Kull expand their political commentary to address the broader state of governance, sharply criticizing Speaker Mike Johnson and the Republican-led Congress for failing to address everyday kitchen-table issues like inflation and gas prices, while also pointing out poor conditions faced by deployed U.S. Navy sailors. Shifting gears, Mark shares details from his recent trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, sparking a passionate music discussion with Jason. Both hosts argue that rock pioneer Chuck Berry—the "Godfather of Rock and Roll"—deserves much more prominent recognition and museum space than he is given, especially when compared to figures like Elvis Presley. Their conversation wanders through various exhibits, from Paul McCartney and Wings to the "Queens of Punk," as well as iconic memorabilia from artists like Michael Jackson and Kurt Cobain, with both hosts sharing their appreciation for classic rock, vintage formats like 8-track tapes, and upcoming live tours. In the final portion of the broadcast, the hosts briefly critique Trump's focus on vanity construction projects and the consumer impact of tariffs before transitioning into a humorous segment on modern concert culture. Reviewing a bit by comedian Dan Reagan, Mark and Jason discuss what it would take to lure Gen Xers back to live shows, advocating for practical perks such as physical souvenir tickets, free parking, actual chairs, cleaner restrooms, and fines for bands that start late. Bland and Kull close out the episode by urging their audience to stay informed, fact-check the news, and vote for accountable leadership in upcoming elections.

  7. Aug 18

    The Left Hook - The Same Page

    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 $1-2 million per day), and a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, the conversation turns to politics. Bland asks Eccle to assess Trump's presidency, and Eccle rates him a 7 out of 10, saying he's "better than Biden" but "not the best by any means." Eccle advocates for an isolationist foreign policy—pulling back foreign aid, stopping the "big brother" role abroad, and reinvesting domestically in education and healthcare—while acknowledging the U.S. has the world's greatest military due to outsized defense spending. The central political debate centers on a Trump audio clip in which the president dismisses concerns about affordability, calling Democrats "con men" and telling the press he doesn't "want to hear about the affordability." Both Bland and Eccle push back on this stance—Eccle, a single man spending over $275 monthly on groceries alone, agrees affordability matters deeply regardless of party. Bland argues that Trump's dismissiveness on kitchen-table economic issues could hurt down-ballot Republicans in future elections, potentially costing them the House and Senate. The two find common ground that no president should tell Americans they don't want to hear about saving money, illustrating the show's cross-partisan format where a liberal host and conservative guest can agree on pocketbook issues even while disagreeing on broader presidential performance.

  8. Aug 7

    Left Hook - The Fauci Diaries

    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 concerns about the Epstein files, presidential pardons, and what they describe as Donald Trump's pattern of self-promotion, legal maneuvering, and misinformation. The discussion expands to Trump's approval ratings, tariffs, immigration rhetoric, government surveillance technology, and the influence of companies such as Palantir. Bland and Cole warn about expanding license-plate tracking and data collection, criticize what they see as hypocrisy around "socialism" and government involvement in private business, and argue that the administration has failed to deliver on promises to reduce costs. The episode closes with lighter conversation about AI, quietly profitable businesses, books, and a true-crime documentary before the hosts again call for Trump to leave office.

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Ratings & Reviews

2.2
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Hosted by Mark Bland, The Left Hook is a current affairs and pop culture show with a political twist. Weekly the guys interview actors, writers, artist and a revolving cast of characters to bring you multiple views of some of the most controversial and engaging topics of our time.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Bland
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodes
    500
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Left Hook