Left Hook - Rotten Tomatoes
The Left Hook
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 conversations leaves potential votes on the table. Drawing on past interviews and their involvement in local political debates, Bland and Kull make the case for more direct engagement, less political...
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The Left Hook - Artificial Intelligence
The Left Hook
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 demonizes an entire community, inflames an already tense political moment, and sets up the idea that federal force should be welcomed into Democratic-led cities. They also connected it to...
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The Left Hook - Super Beets and Super Powers
The Left Hook
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 $41 tab at Steak 'n Shake for three people and $100-plus bills at mid-tier sit-down chains as evidence that prices have outrun promises. From there he takes aim at pressure on the Fed and Jerome...
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The Left Hook - 56 - Midnight Attack Drones
The Left Hook
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...
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The Left Hook - Who is Number One?
The Left Hook
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...
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Left Hook - 54- Concepts of a Payment
The Left Hook
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...
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Left Hook - 53 - Where's the Beef 2026
The Left Hook
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...
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The Left Hook - Lake America
The Left Hook
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...
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Left Hook - The Presidents Shadow
The Left Hook
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...
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The Left Hook - The Same Page
The Left Hook
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...
info_outlineIn 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 use that topic to talk about their own show, how it has grown, and why they think local radio often underestimates independent content.
The conversation then shifts hard into politics, especially Donald Trump’s behavior toward the press and the broader media environment around him. They discuss Trump attacking journalists, why other reporters do not publicly push back, and how fear of losing access shapes coverage. That leads into a larger conversation about Scott Pelley, media pressure inside CBS, and the way they see powerful institutions bending under Trump-era politics.
The episode also covers the economy, the cost of living, and the feeling that many Americans are being squeezed by rising prices, fuel costs, and stagnant wages. Mark and Jason connect that economic anxiety to Trump’s policies and then broaden the discussion to Iran, war powers, and Congress trying to rein in military action. They end by arguing that voters need to make a different choice in the next election, while still keeping the show’s usual mix of sarcasm, hot takes, and occasional sports chatter.