My Trump-Voting, Retired FBI Dad Returns to Talk Charlie Kirk Murder, Kash Patel as FBI Director, and Political Violence in America

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Hey folks,

Back by popular demand! I brought my dad, Bill Nellis — retired FBI agent and diehard Republican — back on to talk about Charlie Kirk’s murder. We don’t agree on much, but we dug deep into the political violence shaking this country, and I think it’s one of the most important conversations I’ve ever had on this show.

Here’s what we got into:

• [00:01:12] My dad explains why he admires Charlie Kirk — and I push back on what that says about the political moment we’re living through.

• [00:04:09] We argue about the immediate partisan spin around the murder and whether the right is weaponizing tragedy for political gain.

• [00:07:02] A fierce back-and-forth on mental health, radicalization, and who’s really to blame for the rise in political violence.

• [00:17:04] Shockingly, we agree: both parties are failing to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people — and it’s costing lives.

• [00:33:10] My dad’s tough love take on student loans, privilege, and what he really thinks about who deserves to retire with dignity.

This conversation is essential. Not because we agree — we don’t — but because we’re willing to go there. We don’t sugarcoat it. We don’t shy away. And we don’t let each other off the hook.

If you value honest, urgent political talk that cuts through the noise, become a paid subscriber today. Help me keep making space for conversations that matter — the kind the political class is too scared to have.

With urgency,
—Mike