The Q - Episodes

16 - Off the Air

12/9/2025

Mark Bland and perennial co-host Jason Kull dive into Missouri’s new porn-site age-verification law that forced Pornhub and others to block the state entirely. The duo erupts in disbelief: Republican lawmakers who scream “small government” just made it harder for adults (including themselves) to access legal porn, all while ignoring that the same voters overwhelmingly passed a pro-choice amendment the state refuses to honor. They call it peak hypocrisy: “They’ll track your porn but won’t release Epstein files or count your vote.”

The rant spirals into broader MAGA absurdities: Trump still whining about 2020 five years later, Kash Patel’s cosplay FBI jacket, Pete Hegseth’s boat-shooting scandal285 shooting narco-subs, pardoning Jan 6 rioters while arresting a “pipe-bomber” nobody cares about, and Joe Rogan parroting nonsense about non-citizens voting in Minnesota.

Mark predicts the first big Trump cabinet casualty will be Hegseth, Bondi, or Patel, bets Jason a milkshake it’ll be spun as “Biden’s fault,” and warns the authoritarian pendulum is swinging hard. It’s raw, furious, hilarious Midwestern talk-radio at its finest — equal parts outrage and dark comedy about a country that can’t even keep its porn free anymore.

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15 - Black Friday

12/2/2025

Mark Bland unleashes a no-holds-barred takedown of Donald Trump’s chaotic second term. Coming off a personally tough holiday, Bland argues the real “black” in Black Friday 2025 isn’t the shopping deals; it’s the darkening economic picture the administration is desperately trying to hide.
He spotlights the unprecedented cancellation of the third-quarter GDP report (the third major economic indicator scrapped in weeks), blaming mass deportations, new tariffs, and a lingering government shutdown for pushing the U.S. toward recession. Bland contrasts this year’s generic, Great Value Thanksgiving dinners with the name-brand abundance Americans enjoyed under Biden, accusing Trump of gaslighting voters while quietly admitting his own policies are tanking the economy.
From the turkey-pardoning stage turning into an angry rant against Chuck and Nancy, to Trump seemingly shrugging “just say yes” when asked if he’s a fascist, Bland paints a picture of a presidency spiraling into pettiness, dementia-fueled loops, and authoritarian cosplay. Add Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation, ICE detaining U.S. citizens, the abrupt collapse of Elon’s DOGE experiment, and Pete Hegseth picking fights with war hero Mark Kelly, and Bland declares: the chaos isn’t coming; it’s already here.
A passionate call for adults to demand transparency and accountability in a country that feels increasingly run like a reality-TV dictatorship.

Download: traffic.libsyn.com/theqnow/The_Left_Hook_-_15_-_BLACK_Friday.mp3

14 - ILLEGAL

12/2/2025

In the latest firestorm episode of The Left Hook, Mark Bland and Jason Kull tore into Trump’s second-term meltdown with zero apologies. Top of the list: the long-promised Epstein files. After months of stalling and letting Kash Patel twist in the wind, Trump finally signed a 30-day release order—everyone expects a comically redacted black-bar disaster because his name is all over the existing docs and the dismissed 2016 lawsuit alleging he raped a 13-year-old still haunts the files. On Air Force One, Trump pointed at a female reporter and snarled “Quiet, piggy,” with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (who was 15 when her 60-year-old husband was 47) defending it as “frankness Americans love.” A coalition of Democratic lawmakers and veterans dropped a viral video telling troops and intel officers to refuse illegal orders—cue MAGA screaming “sedition” and “death penalty” from the same crowd that pardoned January 6 insurrectionists. The Coast Guard quietly declared the OK hand gesture no longer a hate symbol, and Grok spent the week bending over backwards to call Trump’s misogyny “playful” until xAI had to admit they tweaked the AI. From top to bottom, every accusation is a confession, and the mask isn’t just off—it’s been shredded, burned, and scattered over Mar-a-Lago’s lawn.

Download: traffic.libsyn.com/theqnow/The_Left_Hook_-_14_-_ILLEGAL.mp3

13 - Dropping the Ball

11/18/2025

Centrist host Mark Bland is done with the modern Democratic Party. In a fiery 40+ minute solo rant, he declares the 2024 loss wasn’t just Trump’s win; it was self-inflicted by spineless liberal leadership.
The trigger? Eight Democratic senators (Fetterman, Kaine, Durbin, Shaheen, Hassan, Rosen, Cortez Masto, Angus King) broke ranks and voted with Republicans to reopen the government, restoring SNAP benefits but surrendering all leverage. Bland calls it the ultimate capitulation: “Checks and balances are real, but folding the second things get hard is why we lost.”
He torches Schumer, Fetterman (“a really tall idiot”), and the entire 2025 liberal class as “feckless and useless,” accuses senators of pocketing massive retroactive paychecks while Americans suffered, and says local St. Louis-area liberals flake on commitments the same way national Dems flake on principle.
Bland, a longtime moderate who’s pulled from both sides, now sounds the alarm: the party needs a complete leadership purge before 2026 midterms. He’s still pro-liberal policies (universal healthcare, etc.) but refuses to carry water for cowards anymore.
Bonus burns: Trump got mercilessly booed at a Commanders game, Epstein files are allegedly coming, and the party that claims to fight the rich just handed senators fat checks.
Mark Bland is officially off the plantation. The Left Hook just went fully independent.

Download: traffic.libsyn.com/theqnow/The_Left_Hook_-_13_-_A_Dropped_Ball.mp3

12 - Precursor to Change

11/12/2025

On *The Left Hook* host Mark Bland dissected a seismic political earthquake shaking Donald Trump's second term. In New York City, 34-year-old Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani demolished former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa with a commanding victory—the highest turnout in 50 years, exceeding 2 million ballots—becoming the city's first Muslim, first South Asian, and first African-born mayor, and the youngest in over a century. Mamdani’s victory roar, “Donald Trump, turn the volume up!”, vowed free childcare, universal buses, and a crackdown on predatory landlords like Trump, framing it as a mandate for working families amid national chaos. Bland hailed it as the opening salvo of a 2026 blue tsunami, amplified by Nancy Pelosi’s retirement after 39 years, clearing the path for AOC and Gavin Newsom to lead the resistance. Meanwhile, Trump’s tariffs are crushing households with a $1,200 annual tax hike, driving inflation to 3% and core prices higher for apparel and furniture—eggs linger at $5–6 a dozen, gas far from $2. The 46-day government shutdown, ending November 10 after bipartisan Senate passage, gutted SNAP benefits, furloughed feds, and slashed flights 10%—worse than the worst U.S. cancellation day, every day—while Trump refused negotiations. Elon Musk branded Mamdani a “charismatic swindler” on Joe Rogan’s podcast, stumbling when pressed for proof—pure projection, Bland declared, after Musk’s own chainsaw stunts with Trump. New York’s message rings clear: Trumpism is toxic. Bland urged listeners to organize; Impeachment 3.0 is loading.

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LH 11 - Advance the Relationship

11/4/2025

On The Left Hook, hosted by Mark Bland, guests Producer Bobby Hickman and Jason Kull dive into a lively mix of politics, sports, and pop culture. The episode kicks off with a discussion on the World Series, touching on potential MLB expansions in cities like Nashville and Portland. The conversation shifts to global sports, including the NFL's international ambitions and a futuristic elevated stadium in Qatar for the 2034 World Cup.
Politically, the trio critiques Donald Trump's claim of acing a dementia screening, which he called a high IQ test, raising concerns about his mental health and leadership. They debate JD Vance's appeal, with Bobby citing his "vibe" but acknowledging his factual inaccuracies. The discussion highlights fears of authoritarianism and a government shutdown, criticizing Republican tactics. Speculation about Trump's health, including possible strokes, and conspiracies about Epstein files and a third term via Vance add intrigue. The episode also critiques the Louisiana governor's involvement in selecting LSU’s next football coach, blending sports and politics. It wraps up with a fun segment on the worst TV families, like the Boltons and Lannisters from Game of Thrones, and favorite Halloween candies, with Laffy Taffys and Reese’s topping the list.

Catch the show Saturday mornings on CBS Radio KRLL and WIBH! 9am CST on wibhradio.com

DOWNLOAD: traffic.libsyn.com/theqnow/The_Left_Hook_-_11_-_adVANCE_that_Relationship.mp3

LH 10 - Retribution without Context

10/27/2025

On this episode of *The Left Hook with Mark Bland*, airing Saturdays at 9:00 AM CST on WIBHradio.com and CBS affiliates, host Mark Bland and guest Jason Kull dive into political controversies and pop culture. A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows 55% of Americans, including 29% of Republicans, believe Trump is using federal law enforcement to target enemies like James Comey and Letitia James, fueling concerns about political division, with 67% worried about conflict and 61% viewing redistricting as harmful to democracy. Bland and Kull criticize Trump’s “retribution tour,” noting his inflammatory rhetoric and GOP’s tolerance of Nazi symbols and white nationalist support, despite their anti-Democrat stance. They question Trump’s incoherent “Gulf of America” remarks and his fixation on a lavish White House ballroom over healthcare. The episode shifts gears with a fun Tournament of Pop Culture, pitting classic sports video games like *Tecmo Super Bowl*, *NBA Jam*, and *Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!* against each other. After heated debates, *Tecmo Super Bowl* emerges as the greatest sports video game. Find Bland on markbland.net and Kull at @FeatherBangs on Twitter. Share with a friend or Family!

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LH 9 - Young Republicans

10/27/2025

On this episode of The Left Hook with Mark Bland, airing Saturdays at 9:00 AM CST on CBS affiliates and WIBHradio.com, host Mark Bland tackles pressing issues from St. Louis. He dives into a Mother Jones exposé revealing racist texts from young Republican leaders, aged 24-35, including slurs and violent rhetoric like gas chamber threats. Vice President J.D. Vance dismissed these as "edgy jokes" on Charlie Kirk’s show, drawing criticism for GOP hypocrisy. Bland calls this "Hitlergate," highlighting the party’s failure to condemn such rhetoric, tying it to broader Republican embrace of divisive ideologies, including Nazi references and Civil War statue defenses. He questions their logic, noting the contradiction in celebrating historical Democrats while decrying socialism. Bland also critiques Trump’s incoherent "reverse bathtub" remarks and a Middle East peace deal with Israel and Hamas, suspecting ulterior motives with Netanyahu. He addresses Joe Rogan’s disappointment with Trump’s deportation policies, accusing Rogan of enabling hate. The show closes with a lighter note, listing top Halloween candies like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (67% chance) and Sour Patch Kids (55%), per Action Network’s data. Follow Bland at markbland.net for more.

download: traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theqnow/The_Left_Hook_-_9_-_Young_Republicans.mp3

LH 8 - The Enabling Act of 2025

10/27/2025

On "The Left Hook with Mark Bland," aired every Saturday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST on WIBHradio.com and CBS affiliates, host Mark Bland discusses Donald Trump's controversial actions, focusing on the deployment of National Guard troops to U.S. cities like Portland, Oregon, and Chicago. Bland criticizes Trump’s claims of cities being "war zones," arguing they lack evidence and reflect an East Coast-West Coast divide. He highlights Stephen Miller’s CNN claim that Trump has "plenary authority" to deploy troops, a term Bland links to authoritarian tactics, drawing parallels to Hitler’s 1933 Enabling Act. Bland suggests Trump’s moves, including a government shutdown, aim to protect himself from potential Epstein file revelations, alleging he’s targeting citizens rather than illegal immigrants. He condemns groups like Rose City Antifa for fueling Trump’s narrative by engaging in confrontational protests, urging non-violent resistance. Bland warns of Trump’s authoritarian push, enabled by Republican support, and calls for accountability, especially if Epstein allegations prove true. The episode concludes with a lighter segment on Halloween activities, noting popular choices like watching scary movies (48%) and consuming pumpkin-flavored items (46%)

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LH 7 - Enemy Within

10/8/2025

Mark Bland dives into two big political stories. First, he unpacks a recent high-profile military meeting where Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed a bold new vision for the armed forces, focusing on a tougher mindset and controversial changes to department priorities. Bland notes the chilly response from military leaders, hinting at unease with talk of redirecting focus to domestic issues, which some see as a risky shift in tone. He ties this to broader concerns about state-level plans, like Missouri’s, to ramp up security measures.

Second, Bland tackles the ongoing government shutdown, sparked by a congressional standoff over budget disputes. With hundreds of thousands of federal workers sidelined and millions in daily costs piling up, the closure’s hitting everything from public services to economic confidence. Bland points to past shutdowns under similar leadership, criticizing the lack of compromise and growing political divides that threaten stability. He warns that these moves could signal a troubling direction for the country, urging listeners to stay sharp.

The Left Hook Saturdays at 9 AM Central on WIBH or KRLL, or visit markbland.net for more.

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