Posting Through It

Dave Portnoy has leveraged his digital media empire — Barstool Sports — to amass so much political influence that there’s a term for it: "Barstool Conservatism [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barstool_conservatism]." This episode retraces the story of Portnoy’s life and career to explain how he made millions combining sports entertainment, reactionary politics, and pizza reviews. It also reflects on Portnoy’s influence within the broader MAGA movement and “manosphere.” Mike and Jared are joined by Robert Silverman [https://bsky.app/profile/robertsilverman.bsky.social], a feature writer who has covered Portnoy and his media empire at excruciating length. Practically everything you’ll hear on this episode comes directly from his reporting. (Listeners will remember Silverman from April’s “Who the Hell is Tim Pool? [https://postthroughit.substack.com/p/013-who-the-hell-is-tim-pool-feat]” episode.) Some tip jar contributions this week will help us thank Robert for his work on this episode by taking him to a New York Mets game. (As if he has not suffered enough.) If you loved this episode, show your appreciation by tossing in a few bucks: https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod [https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod] Links to Robert’s reporting: * Inside Barstool Sports’ Culture of Online Hate: ‘They Treat Sexual Harassment and Cyberbullying as a Game’ [https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-barstool-sports-culture-of-online-hate-they-treat-sexual-harassment-and-cyberbullying-as-a-game/] (The Daily Beast, 2018) * Barstool Sports ‘Hemorrhaging Money,’ Top Editor Flips Out at Writers [https://www.thedailybeast.com/barstool-sports-hemorrhaging-money-top-editor-flips-out-at-writers/] (The Daily Beast, 2020) * How Barstool Built an Empire by Swiping Sports Highlights [https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-dave-portnoys-barstool-built-an-empire-by-swiping-sports-highlights/] (The Daily Beast, 2023) Transition Music: “Sports” by Viagra Boys [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjL7D33xpS4] Get 50% off your first Magic Mind subscription using the code THROUGHIT50 at https://www.magicmind.com/throughit50 [https://www.magicmind.com/throughit50]. #magicmind #mentalperformance “Who the Hell?” is an unofficial longform series that examines the lives and careers of prominent right-wing social media personalities. Prior episodes in this series covered Jack Posobiec [https://postthroughit.substack.com/p/009-who-the-hell-is-jack-posobiec], Tim Pool [https://postthroughit.substack.com/p/013-who-the-hell-is-tim-pool-feat], Candace Owens [https://postthroughit.substack.com/p/017-who-the-hell-is-candace-owens], and Nick Fuentes [https://postthroughit.substack.com/p/021-who-the-hell-is-nick-fuentes]. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com [https://postthroughit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ben Lorber is a senior research analyst at Political Research Associates. He joined the show for a discussion about the pro-Israel groups cheapening the real antisemitism affecting Jewish people by doing things like pick fights against children’s entertainers like Ms. Rachel and Elmo. How do we keep our moral compass steady against those who seek to wield it as a bludgeon to silence critics of the Israeli government? Links for Ben: * Read his book: “Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741043/safety-through-solidarity-by-shane-burley/]” * Check out his work: Political Research Associates [https://politicalresearch.org/bio/ben-lorber] * Follow his socials: X [https://x.com/benlorber8] and BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/benlorber8.bsky.social] Exit Track: “Hunger for Death” by PUP [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86CLpWXWzDo] Throw a few bucks in our digital tip jar: https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod [https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod] If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with your friends and followers. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com [https://postthroughit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Will Sommer is a senior reporter at The Bulwark, where he authors the newsletter “False Flag [https://www.thebulwark.com/s/false-flag].” A longtime chronicler of right-wing media, Will joins the show to discuss the fallout facing the Trump Administration as it backs off its promise to release the “Epstein Files.” After years of promising to unveil new information about one of the highest profile pedophiles in United States history, the administration has reversed course entirely — leading some MAGA movement figures to call for resignations of key administration figures. Get 50% off your first Magic Mind subscription using the code THROUGHIT50 at https://www.magicmind.com/throughit50 [https://www.magicmind.com/throughit50]. #magicmind #mentalperformance Links for Will: * Subscribe to his newsletter: “False Flag [https://www.thebulwark.com/s/false-flag]” at The Bulwark * Read his book: “Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America [https://www.harpercollins.com/products/trust-the-plan-will-sommer?variant=41063526957090]” via HarperCollins * Follow him on X [https://x.com/willsommer] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/willsommer.bsky.social] Throw a few bucks in our digital tip jar: https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod [https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com [https://postthroughit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Jeff Tischauser, an academic and researcher covering the “white power” movement, joins the show to talk about Patriot Front: a neofascist group known for it’s theatric flash demonstrations and plentiful propaganda. This episode walks through the early years of Patriot Front, scrutinizes its stated beliefs and objectives, sizes up what threat they actually pose, and examines why MAGA keeps alleging its members are “feds.” The show will be off next week. We’ll return on July 14.*** Get 50% off your first Magic Mind subscription using the code THROUGHIT50 at https://www.magicmind.com/throughit50 [https://www.magicmind.com/throughit50]. #magicmind #mentalperformance ***Jeff’s reporting on Patriot Front: * Patriot Front Timeline [https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/patriot-front-timeline/] * Patriot Front secretly using the active clubs network to sustain its influence [https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/patriot-front-active-clubs-network-influence/] * Patriot Front Leader Involved in Fatal Utah Car Crash [https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/patriot-front-leader-involved-fatal-utah-car-crash/] * ‘We Will Fight!’ The Soldier Waging War Against America from Fort Liberty [https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/we-will-fight-soldier-waging-war-against-america-fort-liberty/] * Extremist lawyer appears to be training Patriot Front members to fight [https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/extremist-lawyer-appears-training-patriot-front-members-fight/] Outro Music: “It’s Alive [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKeZCRtprlw]” by Ratboys*** Throw a few bucks in our digital tip jar: https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod [https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod] *** Thanks for listening to Posting Through It. If you liked this episode, share it with your friends and followers! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com [https://postthroughit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Mike and Tom — two folks from the anarchist media collective It’s Going Down [https://itsgoingdown.org/] — joined the show for a conversation about translating the mass appeal of anti-Trump protests into meaningful acts of antifascism against a far-right extremist government. The crew looked back on antifascist organizing in recent decades, discussed ways that anyone can make their activism materially impactful, and considered how the role researchers play has changed in the second Trump era. Links: * Website: It’s Going Down [https://itsgoingdown.org/] * Podcast: “The Beautiful Idea” [https://itsgoingdown.org/author/the-beautiful-idea/] * Social: Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/igd.bsky.social] / Mastodon [https://kolektiva.social/@igd_news] * Unicorn Riot: Protest ‘Peacekeepers’ Shot Two People at a March in Salt Lake City. One Died, the Other Went to Jail. [https://unicornriot.ninja/2025/protest-peacekeepers-shot-two-people-at-a-march-in-salt-lake-city-one-died-the-went-to-jail/] Outro Song: “I Got Heaven” by Mannequin Pussy [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvgYIXc4JDA] Throw a few bucks in our digital tip jar: https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod [https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod] If you liked this episode, consider sharing it with your friends and followers! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com [https://postthroughit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]