Laura Loomer’s Feud with Candace Owens is BANANAS (w/ Carol Leonnig & Will Sommer) | Bulwark Podcast
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Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The Secret Service's security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner was compromised by a failure at magnetometers, allowing an armed individual two feet inside the secure perimeter.
- ❖Donald Trump's insistence on golfing at his own courses despite security warnings is a significant risk factor, though Secret Service agents have successfully mitigated threats in these situations.
- ❖DOJ prosecutors are being removed or sidelined for not pursuing politically motivated cases, such as one against John Brennan, which lacked evidence.
- ❖Todd Blanch, the acting attorney general, is reportedly 'auditioning' for a permanent position by aggressively pursuing cases against individuals disliked by Donald Trump.
- ❖The internal 'podcast-istan wars' among right-wing influencers are moving beyond performative feuds, causing genuine damage and disaffiliation within the MAGA movement.
- ❖The right-wing online echo chamber's efficiency in echoing Trump's narratives is breaking down as prominent figures prioritize their own content and feuds over party line messaging.
- ❖Influencer 'Clavicular' (a 'looksmaxer' known for bone smashing) recently overdosed and is now reportedly in business with a figure tied to Israeli organized crime, co-owning a Miami nightclub.
Insights
1Secret Service Failures and Successes Under Scrutiny
Carol Leonnig, a five-time Pulitzer Prize winner, details the Secret Service's mixed record in protecting Donald Trump. She categorizes the Butler incident (where a shooter fired at Trump) as a 'colossal failure' due to a new agent forgetting basic security protocols. The golf course incident, however, is deemed an 'amazing success' because agents proactively identified a threat despite Trump's risky habit of playing at predictable locations. The recent Correspondents' Dinner incident, where an armed individual breached magnetometers, is an 'important failure' of the outer perimeter, prompting an internal 'mission assurance review' by the Secret Service.
Leonnig's analysis of Butler, golf course, and Correspondents' Dinner incidents, including the failure of magnetometers and the suspect's clumsy fall. [] - [], []
2Politicization of the Justice Department
The Justice Department is facing increasing politicization, with career prosecutors being removed or demoted for not aligning with political agendas. Maria Medetta Slong was removed from an investigative team in the Southern District of Florida after concluding there was no evidence to charge John Brennan, as desired by the administration. Todd Blanch, the acting attorney general, is perceived by sources within the DOJ as 'auditioning' for a permanent role by aggressively pursuing cases against Trump's perceived enemies, disregarding established procedures.
Maria Medetta Slong's removal from the John Brennan investigation [], the appointment of Joe Deg Geneva [], and sources reporting Todd Blanch's efforts to 'audition' for the permanent AG job [].
3Right-Wing Media Infighting Fractures the MAGA Echo Chamber
Will Summer reports that the 'podcast-istan wars' among right-wing figures, such as Laura Loomer and Candace Owens, are no longer just performative drama but are causing 'real damage' to the MAGA movement. These deeply personal feuds, including accusations of homosexuality and 'tramp stamps,' are breaking down the once-unified online echo chamber. This fragmentation means that prominent figures are increasingly prioritizing their own content and conflicts over echoing Trump's party line, as evidenced by empty Turning Point events and top-ranking podcasts diverging from Trump's immediate narratives.
Discussion of 'podcast-istan wars' [], empty Turning Point event at UG [], Laura Loomer's specific attacks on Candace Owens [], and the observation that top podcasts like Megan Kelly's and Tucker Carlson's are not suffering for 'apostasy' from Trump [].
4Clavicular's Descent into Organized Crime Ties
The 'looksmaxer' influencer Clavicular, known for bone smashing and drug use, recently overdosed. Following this, he entered a business partnership with Hiwaken, a figure described in federal documents as a 'fearsome Israeli organized crime associate' with ties to extortion, money laundering, and violence (including boasting about cutting a victim's ear). Clavicular and Hiwaken have invested in a Miami nightclub, which Clavicular attended immediately after pulling out his IVs post-overdose, highlighting his deep entanglement.
Clavicular's overdose [], his partnership with Hiwaken [], Hiwaken's alleged ties to Israeli organized crime, extortion, and violence [] - [], and their joint nightclub venture, Bakar [].
Bottom Line
The traditional, unified MAGA propaganda machine, once highly effective through platforms like Fox News and online echo chambers, is showing significant cracks as individual right-wing media figures prioritize personal brand building and internal feuds over cohesive messaging.
This fragmentation could diminish the ability of the Trump movement to control narratives and mobilize its base as effectively as in the past, potentially leading to a more chaotic and less predictable right-wing media landscape.
For political strategists, understanding these internal fissures offers opportunities to exploit divisions or target specific segments of the right-wing audience with tailored messaging, rather than treating it as a monolithic entity.
The increasing willingness of right-wing influencers to engage in extreme personal attacks and bizarre content (e.g., 'tramp stamp' accusations, organized crime ties) is a direct response to audience demand for 'innovative crazy stuff' over 'old tired crazy stuff.'
This trend suggests a race to the bottom in content extremity, where shocking and scandalous personal attacks or outlandish narratives are rewarded with audience engagement, potentially pushing the boundaries of what is considered acceptable in public discourse.
Content creators and platforms could analyze the engagement metrics of such extreme content to understand audience psychology and potentially develop strategies to either counter or capitalize on these trends, depending on their ethical stance and business model.
Key Concepts
False Flag Operation
A covert operation designed to deceive in such a way that the operations appear to be carried out by entities, groups, or nations other than those who actually planned and executed them. This concept is frequently invoked in right-wing conspiracy theories, such as the January 6th pipe bomber incident.
Echo Chamber Breakdown
The phenomenon where a group's internal communication channels, once reinforcing a unified message, begin to fragment due to internal conflicts, personal feuds, and competing individual interests, leading to a loss of cohesive narrative control.
Lessons
- Scrutinize official narratives regarding security incidents, recognizing that 'success' or 'failure' can be framed differently depending on the political agenda, and look for internal reporting to get a clearer picture.
- Be aware of the potential for politicization within federal agencies like the DOJ; understand that personnel changes and investigations may be driven by political loyalty rather than purely legal merit.
- When consuming right-wing media, recognize that internal feuds and personal attacks are increasingly prevalent and can indicate a breakdown in unified messaging, rather than just harmless drama.
Notable Moments
Tim Miller's initial assessment that the Secret Service response to the Correspondents' Dinner incident seemed to 'work,' contrasting with the widespread 'catastrophizing' and the Trump administration's use of the event to justify a new ballroom.
This highlights the immediate political spin applied to security incidents and the differing interpretations of what constitutes a 'failure' or 'success' in a highly charged environment.
The revelation that Pam Bondi's portrait was thrown in the trash by career DOJ staff after her removal, symbolizing the deep internal disdain for political appointees perceived as undermining the department's integrity.
This anecdote powerfully illustrates the low morale and animosity within the career ranks of the Justice Department towards political figures seen as compromising its non-partisan mission.
The FBI's raid on a Capitol police officer's home, complete with a helicopter and SWAT team, based on a 'cockamamie theory' from The Blaze about the January 6th pipe bomber, only for the actual suspect to be arrested a month later.
This incident demonstrates how politically motivated conspiracy theories can lead to the misallocation of significant law enforcement resources and cause severe distress to innocent individuals, highlighting the real-world impact of unchecked speculation.
Laura Loomer's on-air accusations against Candace Owens, including claims about her husband's sexuality and a 'tramp stamp,' sourced from Milo Yiannopoulos, during their 'podcast-istan war.'
This exemplifies the extreme, personal, and often bizarre nature of the infighting within the right-wing media landscape, showcasing a willingness to use highly inflammatory and unverified claims to attack rivals.
Clavicular pulling out his IVs post-overdose to attend the opening of a nightclub he co-owns with an alleged Israeli organized crime figure, Hiwaken.
This moment underscores the depth of Clavicular's involvement in this new, dangerous orbit and his apparent prioritization of these new business ties over his own health and safety, highlighting the perilous nature of his current path.
Quotes
"It's no small thing that he made it inside the site, so to speak. Two feet, let's be fair, inside the site. It's no small thing."
"The guy, meaning Donald Trump, has had three untrained people try to kill him and get pretty damn close. One of them shooting him in the ear. Um, how many more chances does he have?"
"The problem with you, Tim, is is you're so logical. Um you know, it's hard to talk to such logical people."
"Blanch is working really hard, triple time to audition for this job permanently and and is trying to complete that assignment."
"The disdain and hatred for Bondi and Blanch pale like a white hot sun compared to the way agents deal about Cash Pat Mattel."
"It does feel like that's that's broken down completely in the online echo chamber... you're just seeing a lot more of the kind of right-wing propaganda figures starting to kind of break off and be like, you know, I'm I'm not going to just I'm not just spouting the party line today."
"I think that you know unfortunately I think the audience is is flocking a lot more to that kind of like innovative crazy stuff rather than than the old tired crazy stuff."
"Clvicular has incredibly close ties and has gone into business with a man who has repeated who is very close with Israeli organized crime."
Q&A
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