"It’s Giving Sociopath" - Jacqui Heinrich on Graham Platner's Media Protection

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Brian Kilmeade Show — “It’s Giving Sociopath”

Guest: Jackie Heinrich
Date: June 5, 2026
Main Theme:
A sharp analysis of the political, media, and cultural fallout surrounding the candidacy of Graham Platner in Maine’s Democratic primary, with broader reflections on party dynamics, media responsibility, and foreign policy developments.

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode features Jackie Heinrich joining Brian Kilmeade for a candid discussion of the explosive New York Times report on Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner. The conversation examines the muted media treatment of severe abuse allegations, Democratic Party hypocrisy, shifting alliances, media dynamics, and implications for the Maine race—before pivoting to wider Democratic Party divides, Israel policy, U.S.-Iran tensions, and Ukraine.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Graham Platner Scandal and Media Coverage

• Explosive New York Times Report

  • The show critiques the NYT’s handling of abuse allegations against Graham Platner (Democratic Senate candidate), highlighting euphemistic language and questionable timing.
  • Jackie Heinrich points out: “The fact that they call that unsettling behavior and not domestic abuse is wild to me.” (00:54)
  • Details of Platner’s alleged abuses (physical intimidation, demeaning treatment, “yanking...out of a car, leaving marks on her wrist, locking someone in a room overnight”) are discussed. (01:45)
  • Both hosts agree the NYT coverage is “watered down” and poorly timed—published on Friday, just days before the Tuesday primary, after early voting had begun. (02:11)

• Platner’s Explanations & Nazi-Linked Tattoo

  • Brian summarizes Platner’s “bizarre” explanation for his Nazi-linked tattoo, with Jackie confirming a girlfriend provided text evidence contradicting Platner’s public story. (04:43)
  • Notable quote: “He says there’s nothing else credible. I mean, credible is doing all the heavy lifting there.” – Jackie Heinrich (05:40)

• Democratic Party Response

  • Criticism of figures like Kirsten Gillibrand for supporting Platner “for a Democrat vote on the Senate floor,” despite public abuse allegations. (03:22–03:49)
  • Overt political calculation: “You’re gonna go to bat for this guy purely so that you can have a Democrat vote... It just speaks volumes.” – Jackie Heinrich (03:49)

• Comparison to Other Scandals

  • Brian draws parallels to Eric Swalwell’s rapid fall after scandal exposure—“from zero to he's gotta go”—and wonders whether Platner will be similarly ousted. (02:58–03:22)

Party Strategy & The Maine Race

• Potential for Platner’s Withdrawal

  • Brian speculates Democrats may be forced to “pull him,” suggesting “Republicans should pray that he stays in” given significant polling shifts. (07:15)
  • Susan Collins referenced as a durable, respected incumbent—cast her 10,000th consecutive Senate vote the same night the story broke. (07:34)

• Alternative Candidates & State Dynamics

  • They discuss Jared Golden as a possible fallback Democratic candidate, noting his independent streak and local popularity, but questioning his willingness to reengage. (08:02–08:57)
  • Platner’s blue-collar credentials are mocked: “He's supplying his mother’s restaurant with oysters... in a house his parents bought him.” – Jackie Heinrich (08:57)
  • Jackie delivers the episode’s title line: “It's giving sociopath in my opinion.” (09:29)

Reflections on the Democratic Party

• Shift Leftward and Internal Divisions

  • Brian bemoans Democrats’ ideological leftward drift, invoking historical centrism (Clinton, JFK) and radicalism (“rab over win in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia... Usually if you said someone's a socialist, they'd push back. Now they embrace it.”) (09:35)

• Israel as a Party Dividing Line

  • Jackie identifies the Israel issue as “the defining ideological split” in the Democratic Party: “You've got Democrats … who campaign on opposing military funding to Israel. Those are the people, those are the Talaricos, the Platners, the Hama.” (10:28)
  • Quote: “They don't know how to answer the question. Because they know that their base is divided on it.” (11:18)

• Generational Awareness and Political Apathy

  • Jackie criticizes younger generations’ political detachment: “The further removed you get from seeing your liberties really threatened, the less grateful for them you are.” (12:15)

Foreign Policy — Iran and Ukraine

• Iran-Israel-Gaza Negotiations

  • Brian expresses skepticism about President Biden’s claims a deal with Iran is near; Jackie notes Iran is making new demands, especially linking Lebanon and Hezbollah, thus stalling talks: “There's just so much evidence that they're not genuinely moving on these talks.” (15:09)
  • General Jack Keane calls for “full combat operations” against Iran, advocating for military escalation over nominal deals. (14:23)

• Ukraine and U.S. Aid

  • Noted as an “undertold story”: Ukraine’s technological and military adaptations, Putin’s weakening strategic position, and the latest U.S. aid package debated in Congress. (16:12–17:01)
  • Jackie: “Hopefully Ukrainians are talking to the right people and making their case right now.” (16:46)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On NYT’s language:
  “The fact that they call that unsettling behavior and not domestic abuse is wild to me.” — Jackie Heinrich (00:54)
• On Platner’s tattoo story:
  “That's the craziest explanation.” — Brian Kilmeade (04:41)
• On Democratic calculus:
  “You're gonna go to bat for this guy purely so that you can have a Democrat vote... It just speaks volumes.” — Jackie Heinrich (03:49)
• Sharp observation:
  “It's giving sociopath in my opinion.” — Jackie Heinrich (09:29)
• On party realignment:
  “Now it is... I see these extreme candidates... This a radical socialist. Usually if you said someone's a socialist, they'd push back. Now they embrace it.” — Brian Kilmeade (09:35)
• On Israel split:
  “The defining piece... is the Israel issue... those are the Talaricos, the Platners, the Hama... new generation of Dems coming in.” — Jackie Heinrich (10:28)
• On generational shift:
  “The further removed you get from seeing your liberties really threatened, the less grateful for them you are.” — Jackie Heinrich (12:15)
• On Iran negotiations:
  “There's so much evidence that they're not genuinely moving on these talks.” — Jackie Heinrich (15:09)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:45–02:58 — Platner allegations, NYT coverage, and media criticism
• 03:22–04:43 — Democratic responses, party calculus, and candidate hypocrisy
• 05:16–06:44 — Platner’s explanations scrutinized; rumors of more revelations
• 07:15–09:29 — Maine race implications, alternative candidates, and Platner’s image
• 09:35–11:37 — Broader Democratic Party issues; ideological shifts and Israel divide
• 12:15–12:50 — Generational divide and apathy
• 14:23–15:09 — Iran, Israel, and the potential for military escalation
• 16:12–17:02 — Ukraine’s military standing, U.S. aid package, and international implications

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Conclusion

This episode delivers a fast-moving, incisive critique of political opportunism, media failures, and evolving party dynamics, anchored in the explosive Graham Platner story and the Maine race. Jackie Heinrich and Brian Kilmeade dissect what the episode’s own title concludes: “It's giving sociopath,” encapsulating a mood of deep skepticism about candidates, media integrity, and the direction of both U.S. parties. The episode concludes with an eye toward looming international crises and unresolved ideological battles that will define the upcoming election cycle.

Transcript

[Brian Kilmeade]

Jackie Heinrich is in studio fresh off two hours with Bill Hemmer and he really takes a toll on you in the back. How much, how hard is it to work to somebody as unprofessional as Bill?

[Jackie Heinrich]

Oh my gosh, Bill makes it so easy. I didn't even feel the two hours come by.

[Brian Kilmeade]

So we know that too. Dana, sadly, our dad passed away. So you were asked to come up and help out for the last few days. Right.

[Jackie Heinrich]

And happy to do it. And my heart goes out to her. And you know, what a tragic. I mean, 30 days or so after he retired, I mean that's just. It breaks your heart. And I know that they're very close. So I'm happy to be and help in whatever way I can. And my heart goes out to her.

[Brian Kilmeade]

And you're hosting this weekend too.

[Jackie Heinrich]

I am. I'm doing the Sunday briefing on Sunday and I'm going to be back up in New York a couple of days next week. Also filling in on the show.

[Brian Kilmeade]

Now, what else on the Sunday briefing? Who's on?

[Jackie Heinrich]

We are working on our guest list. Yeah, the admin is probably not going to give us anybody because the president's doing an interview on another network. It's what we've heard rumor of. So we're working on that. But we're focusing heavy on the Graham Platner stuff because that race and the Tuesday primary could, you know, say a lot about where the Democratic Party stands right now. And I think it's being very closely watched. So we're pulling that apart. And the new New York Times reporting as well, which, I mean, did you read that, Brian? The fact that they call that unsettling behavior and not domestic abuse is wild to me.

[Brian Kilmeade]

You know what? I didn't pick. That is great reporting on your part. That is, I didn't really pick that up. I just read like it was like every line was explosive.

[Jackie Heinrich]

It's abuse.

[Brian Kilmeade]

It's physical abuse, physical intimidation, aggressive behavior during relationships, demeaning treatment towards women, a fixation with weapons. Our prior knowledge of the meaning of a Nazi linked tattoo before early explanation he gave publicly. And what they're talking about is he's got the tattoo. And the tattoo is something that prison guards had in the Holocaust concentration camps. And he was proud of it. They say other people in his unit had the same tattoo, which obviously let's find the other people in his unit. Maybe they don't want to come public. But I love the explanation. Yeah, it became public when I took my shirt off at my brother's wedding and he married. People were offended because he married a Jewish girl. I'm like, excuse me, you took your shirt off at your brother's wedding and you revealed the tattoo, Right?

[Jackie Heinrich]

The other piece of this is, you know, the New York Times. I know they've got their standards department. I know that his lawyers are probably all over this. Who knows how many months they were working on this. I've heard through the grapevine people who are, you know, closely associated with it that might have been in the works for some time, but they drop it on the Friday before a Tuesday primary. And you've already had early voting, mail in voting in that state. So you wonder, is that too late? And then it's watered down in a way where, you know, this things that are described, yanking one of these women out of a car, leaving marks on her wrist, locking someone in a room overnight, shaking someone so hard by her shoulders that there were marks left. I mean, the way that this was written is just. I don't know. I look at it and I'm like, what happened with this story? I don't know why you dumb it down like that.

[Brian Kilmeade]

Couple of things. First off, does this remind you of Eric Swalwell? First, there's nothing. You don't hear anything. Maybe you heard in Washington that Eric Swalwell was cheating on his wife. Maybe. But all of a sudden, from zero to he's gotta go, he could end up in jail. And then Grand Platter. Grand Platter's okay. You know this. And he's got his tattoo, but we're over that. And then all of a sudden, like a slingshot, it all comes out in this story.

[Jackie Heinrich]

But the Democrats who have endorsed him, I mean, watching Kristen Gillibrand be, you know, who is supposed to be like a women for women, right? Like, that's her whole platform, is she killed out women's empower. And then she says. She's asked about this and says, we're still gonna do Maine. I mean, beating Susan Collins, by the way, who is maybe one of the biggest checks on the president's agenda. It's worth it to.

[Brian Kilmeade]

She voted to impeach him.

[Jackie Heinrich]

Exactly. And you're gonna go to bat for this guy purely so that you can have a Democrat vote on the Senate floor because you are against this president. It just speaks volumes.

[Brian Kilmeade]

So what happened last night when this story comes out? He scrambles to MSNBC msnow. And he tried to explain himself. Here's a little of him explaining. For example, here he is insisting the Nazi tattoo. He had no idea that he was what it meant. And he just got drunk one night and left it. Cut three.

[General Jack Keane]

We even released as a campaign a video which you're putting up on the screen right now of me dancing at my brother's wedding to his wife, who is Jewish and her fully extended Jewish family. And I would not have taken my shirt off in that context if I had known. And so any statement saying that I did know is. Is, again, totally false.

[Brian Kilmeade]

That's the craziest explanation.

[Jackie Heinrich]

Well, and then didn't the girlfriend provide the New York Times with timestamps on their text messages showing that he actually did know about this, you know, long before? And I don't know, it looks like malpractice on the part of the New York Times to me. Just as someone, you know, I don't know what their standards department is or if there was other stuff that we don't know, but the rumor around it is that they have a lot more than they went with. And what they did go with was very watered down. And, you know, hitting on a Friday before a Tuesday primary is just, you know, it's a statement in itself.

[Brian Kilmeade]

They could have held it. They could have held it till Wednesday. Yeah, unless they want him out. I mean, this is so interesting, because Bernie Sanders, evidently, the reporting was behind closed doors on Wednesday. Was it when he went up that behind closed doors, he was asked directly by Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, is anything else here? And if there's anything else, is it abuse? Is it assault? I can't help you if it's assault. And he says there's nothing else. Obviously there's other stuff.

[Jackie Heinrich]

He says there's nothing else credible. I mean, credible is doing all the heavy lifting there. So there may be even more than what we know of right now.

[Brian Kilmeade]

So, number one, this guy, what is he, like this biggest womanizer in the world? It's amazing. I did not know that oyster farmers are that attractive. Especially a guy who doesn't really clean up too well or clean up at all. Does anyone even Google him before they got behind him? I mean, this is. He's not only a bad candidate, he's a bad person. Look at what he's done. So does Ro Khanna introduce him tonight? He's supposed to go up and introduce him. Does he appear with him tonight?

[Jackie Heinrich]

He says he's going to still since this came out, I believe, yes, I think that was the plan as of a tweet from a Hill reporter. Anyway, you know, you wonder if Ro Khan is thinking about his own national ambitions, that, you know, there's always the hint of that with him, I think.

[Brian Kilmeade]

Hint of that he is absolutely running more is news.

[Jackie Heinrich]

Yeah. So here, here maybe he hedges. I don't know.

[Brian Kilmeade]

Here's about Graham Planet. With all this exposure or your personal life's out there. He could have been an anonymous oyster farmer. Now this cut 10 sometimes say why don't we get other people like you know, in public office at a broader pool and then, you know, you run for public office and it's a lot. Right. Is going to come out and given it. And I got to say, you know, watching, watching your wife's video, which again I found very affecting, very compelling and very moving. Like, do you regret doing this?

[General Jack Keane]

No, not in the slightest.

[Brian Kilmeade]

So we'll see if he stays in. My sense is they'll have to pull him. And if I have, my sense is Republicans should pray that he stays in because now they race it down to four. I know we don't go with the public policy polling, but it was an eight point race a week ago. Now it's a four point race. And. And they say Susan Collins is always trailing and always wins.

[Jackie Heinrich]

And funny enough that on the eve of this or on the night, same night the story dropped, she cast her 10,000th consecutive vote in the Senate.

[Brian Kilmeade]

And they're celebrating her.

[Jackie Heinrich]

Right.

[Brian Kilmeade]

Couple of things with Susan Collins. Number one. You notice they haven't said a word. I don't hear any Republican weighing in. They say Jared golden is somewhat of a moderate congressman. That's out. They might grab him and insert him in there because he's the governor.

[Jackie Heinrich]

Yeah, he'd have to agree to do that. I mean, Jared Goldin was a reliable, you know, he would not hesitate to buck his party, which is a high bar for Democrats. I mean, it's like pulling teeth to get them to vote against leadership. And he would do it frequently, but, you know, that takes a toll. And he was personally, I think, kind of done with being in Congress mentally after that battle. And maybe he looks at this and says, I have a responsibility and a duty to serve the people of Maine. We'll see what happens. But he would be one that people are familiar with. They would recognize his name certainly, and he's well liked there. Maine's an interesting place because you got a lot of liberal folks around Portland, but then you've got a lot of conservative folks in the rural areas. You know, Graham Platner trying to masquerade as some kind of salt of the earth guy who's an old, an oyster farmer. I mean, it's not like he's going out and hauling traps and, you know, he's supplying his mother's restaurant with oysters. Like, I don't know. I just.

[Brian Kilmeade]

In a house his parents bought him, right. And he went to prep school for a few years. Now I was listening to his interview where was was on some podcast, a New York Times podcast, the Daily. And he said, well, you went to a prep school. He goes, yeah, but I realized I didn't want to be there, so I got myself kicked out. So I went back to other schools. So instead of being in an expensive school, he got himself kicked. We don't know how. There was no follow up question, but

[Jackie Heinrich]

it's giving sociopath in my opinion. I mean, I don't know, it's incredible.

[Brian Kilmeade]

We'll see what's gonna happen. Jackie. The whole of what I'm doing on Sunday is playing Bill Clinton, you pill. Harry Reid talked about the need to stop offering social services to illegal immigrants. Bill Clinton wanted to get the deficit down and crack down on welfare and talked about how crazy it is that we have an open border and then JFK cutting taxes. We used to be, hey, the Democrat wins at center left, the Republican wins at center right. Then you compromise sometimes. Now it is. I'm looking at the Democratic Party and I see these extreme candidates, the one linked to the blind Sheikh win. Then you see Rab over win in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. This a radical socialist. Usually if you said someone's a socialist, they push back. Now they embrace it. The question is, are they a communist like the mayor of New York City? I think the Democratic Party is going through something much more impactful than the Republicans did with the Tea Party.

[Jackie Heinrich]

Yeah, this is one thing that I'm paying close attention to. And I think the defining piece of it is maybe not even socialism or communism, but I think the deeper ideological split in the Democratic Party is the Israel issue because it started to bubble up in the last election. You know, Joe Biden was tossed out by half of his base for supporting Israel. Kamala Harris tried to sort of hedge it a little bit. And now you've got Democrats who are always asked by one half of their constituents, like, will you take the AIPAC money? And they say no. And then they are, you know, they've got their own Jewish constituents who are like, what the hell? And they say, you know, we're going to pledge unconditional support for Israel. They don't know how to answer the question. And then you have this new crop of Democrats coming up who, who campaign on opposing you know, military funding to Israel. And those are the people, those are the Talaricos, the Platners, the Hama. You know, that is sort of the new generation of Dems coming in. And I think that that is something that is an issue that Republicans could. There's a lot of meat on the bone there to pick over because I think they all have a hard time answering the question because they know that their base is divided on it.

[Brian Kilmeade]

No question that when one of the first debate questions, when those 10 Democrats on stage and pray for you, it's gonna be Mark Kelly, I think then you gotta have Bashir and you gotta have Shapiro and you're gonna have Newsom and Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg. So there'll be about at least 12 out there. One of the questions would be put your hand up in the air if you want to reduce or remove aid to Israel. And that's why Bibi Netanyahu says we're preparing to make our own weapons because we do not think we're going to continue to be supported by America. That, to me is scary.

[Jackie Heinrich]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Brian Kilmeade]

That's our number one ally.

[Jackie Heinrich]

I always say that you can tell the people who didn't experience any real catastrophe on American soil, you're too young to remember 9, 11, you didn't fight in a war. You don't know anyone who fought in a war. The further removed you get from seeing your liberties really threatened, the less grateful for them you are. And I think that there's a lot of young people who live in these online spaces that are, by the way, manipulated by our adversaries and give a very warped view of the issues facing our country.

[Brian Kilmeade]

A few more minutes for Jackie Heinrich when we come back. Don't move. You listen to Brian. Kill me. Chair

[Jackie Heinrich]

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[Brian Kilmeade]

plan available as a benefit with select plans. Jackie Heinrich. A few more minutes with with Jackie and Jackie, there's a few things going on right now and I know you're going to be getting married in New York City, but do you get the sense in the city how crazy they are for the Knicks?

[Jackie Heinrich]

I sure do. My co anchor this morning, Bill Hemmer, was a little short on sleep yesterday because he'd stayed up to watch the game the other night.

[Brian Kilmeade]

I had to make a decision. I said three quarters, but I'm going to go Monday and you got an earlier turnaround.

[Jackie Heinrich]

You got an earlier call time than Bill.

[Brian Kilmeade]

Right. So I'm just wondering, do you think they destroy the city like they did Paris when PSG won? They destroyed the Paris the other day. I mean, do you think it's a weird way to celebrate?

[Jackie Heinrich]

But I don't know. I think if this were Philly, my answer would be yes, but it's not. So hopefully New York will be pleasant and, you know, joyous, but not destructive.

[Brian Kilmeade]

All right, now, the serious stuff, when it comes to the war in Iran, the President says the deal is close. I don't think it's close. I don't think there's. For a second. I just saw the Foreign Minister just spoke and said, no deal unless there's peace in Lebanon. Police.

[Jackie Heinrich]

Yeah.

[Brian Kilmeade]

Hezbollah just spoke out and said there's no peace. So General Jack Keane was on with me a couple hours ago, and he's pretty sure where this is going. Cut 36. Sorry. Cut 37. Eric. Sorry.

[General Jack Keane]

I think we've got to come to the reality that we have to return to military operations. So what I'm suggesting is if we go back to military operations, and I believe that's the preferred option, I think we should return to full combat operations. There's going to be suggestions we just a limited operation or a small operation to kind of get their attention. And here's the caution. The caution is Iran is going to retaliate regardless of whether we go small or go big. Let's go big. Take down as much of their capabilities we possibly can, and get these guys as close to collapses as a military operation can possibly achieve. And then with economic pressure, we can put this regime truly on a pathway to collapse. I think that is the best option in front of us.

[Brian Kilmeade]

And he thinks we're going to. Jackie, what does your reporting say?

[Jackie Heinrich]

Well, I think the President talks about a deal coming together all the time because it helps the markets when he talks about it. I also think that you see all these signs that Iran is not going to negotiate. I mean, they're trying to make this negotiation apply to Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah. And Hezbollah wasn't even party to the talks where they agreed to a ceasefire there. And yet Iran is making their, you know, what happens with them. Big piece of the broad negotiation. There's just so much evidence that they're not genuinely moving on these talks. And so the longer that we talk, that the President talks about a deal coming together and we don't see it, I think it becomes hard for the American people to swallow the idea that a deal does not come together like Susan or Condoleezza Rice writes a piece about how if there is no deal that would be fine because what we've achieved there is so significant. I think that that would be hard for the American people to wrap their minds around when they are thinking that they' going to be either a deal or more action. Walking away with nothing at this point would be I think politically hard to sell.

[Brian Kilmeade]

The straits got to open. No tolls at the very minimum. But, but Jackie was interesting the bit. The most untold story, undertold story is Ukraine. What they have done developing long range missiles and drone technology, leading the world while formulating what it has to be the biggest, most, the biggest, most respected army in Europe. And all they're asking for us is just give me some Patriots. We can handle the drones. They have totally changed that war. And Vladimir Putin starting to lose some of the elites around him and for the first time can't replenish his forces in the four year old war.

[Jackie Heinrich]

It's an incredible moment. I think we've seen these moments come before and not, you know, maximized opportunity there. So hopefully there are, hopefully Ukrainians are talking to the right people and making their case right now.

[Brian Kilmeade]

I know the House has voted to fund them.

[Jackie Heinrich]

Yep.

[Brian Kilmeade]

Get more funding.

[Jackie Heinrich]

Yep. That was, you know, as some people have described it, like the super bowl for Ukraine package. There was a more scaled back package that Johnson didn't bring to the floor that would have included Russia sanctions. This one doesn't have all that but we'll see where it goes.

[Brian Kilmeade]

Jackie Heinrich, we're going to watch on Sunday in the briefing. What time?

[Jackie Heinrich]

11.

[Brian Kilmeade]

11 o'. Clock. It's going to be live. Jackie, they're working you to death. It's okay. Great to see you too. Yeah, that's true.