Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes – "Candace Owens Is Now Fully Delusional–and Her Audience Doesn’t Care"

Date: November 24, 2025
Host(s): Tim Owen
Guest: Will Sommer (Author, False Flag newsletter)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the recent bizarre claims and escalating conspiracy theories pushed by right-wing influencer Candace Owens, particularly her assertion that French President Emmanuel Macron and Israel are plotting her assassination, connected to a tangled web of other conspiracies involving Charlie Kirk and more. Tim Owen and Will Sommer dissect the details, discuss the traction these ideas get on the right, and reflect on the implications for media, politics, and public sanity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Escalation of Candace Owens’ Conspiracy Theories (Starts ~01:00)

• Candace’s Recent Claims:

  • Owens tweeted she was contacted by a "high ranking employee of the French government" warning that Macron and Israel have executed and funded an assassination plot against her, allegedly via elite French and Israeli squads.
  • Tim reads the tweet with incredulity:

    “They provided concrete proof...This person claims that Charlie Kirk’s assassin trained with the French Legion 13th Brigade with multi state involvement. Journalist Xavier Poussard’s life is at risk. This is deadly serious...” (02:25 - 03:19)

• Interconnected Threads:

  • Will and Tim note that Owens is weaving together previous conspiracy threads:
    • Brigitte Macron being trans
    • Israel-related plots
    • Charlie Kirk’s death allegedly being a hit job

2. Response and Amplification on the Right (04:30 - 07:00)

• Rapid Adoption by Right-Wing Figures:

  • Several right-wing personalities have responded—some expressing concern, others fueling the narrative, e.g., Emerald Robinson (Lindell TV), DC Drano.
  • Tim calls out the lack of logic:

    “How is it confirmed that the assassins are out there? ... If this is verified, how is this not an act of war?” (05:35)

• Impactful Platforms:

  • Candace maintains a massive, responsive audience across both right-wing and “horseshoe left” protest circles concerned about Israel/Gaza.
  • Tim warns:

    “She’s getting huge numbers for this. ... Part of the reason I care about this...when I speak on colleges...the amount of Candace [Owens] that you hear is pretty alarming.” (07:49 - 08:16)

3. The Absurd Details & Evolution of the Narrative (09:24 - 13:41)

• Ever-Evolving Plots:

  • Candace’s follow-up tweets introduce claims of an assassination “paper trail” through French business circles, female and male assassins from France/Israel, and military training exercises tied to Charlie Kirk’s death.
  • She becomes increasingly erratic, drawing on suspicious color choices at rallies (“maroon shirts”), bizarre aircraft movements, and code words like “Valhalla.”
  • Will summarizes:

    “I think she’s identified maybe like 100 potential assassins or people involved in this...” (10:50)

• Media Crossovers:

  • Pavel Durov, Telegram founder, chimes in to say her theory is “entirely plausible,” adding another layer of transnational intrigue and tech-world validation.

4. The Significance & Danger of These Narratives (14:16 - 15:02)

• Owens’ Influence:

  • Both hosts acknowledge the disturbing popularity of Candace’s content, which is outstripping mainstream news and potentially radicalizing viewers.
  • Will:

    “It doesn’t feel good. ... The political valence here is that at one point the right had a lot of capital from the Charlie Kirk assassination...Candace Owens came in and just threw it all over...” (14:32)

• Personal Reflections (and Guilt):

  • Tim confesses:

    “I feel guilty because I kinda want to see the next tweet...Like, this person should be getting help. I really do believe Candace should be seeking help and not, you know, gaining more views for her program than the nightly news. But...I do want to see what happens next.” (15:02)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Absurdity:

  “I had to double check and make sure. Is this a spoof account? ...Is this real Candace?...But it is her real account.”
  — Tim Owen (01:40)

• On the Bizarre Narrative Building:

  “So over the past few days, as you said, Candace has...Basically, I’m the— I’m going to get to the bottom of this. ...Now she claims wetwork in the trade, where...assassins are out to get her.”
  — Will Sommer (04:28)

• On Social Media Influence:

  “Candace’s just pulling up her most recent live streams. 1.5 million, 1.7 million, 2 million. ...The amount of Candace you hear [is] pretty alarming.”
  — Tim Owen (07:49 - 08:16)

• On Narrative Paranoia:

  “She was noticing there was a disproportionate number of men [in maroon shirts]...She’s flagged that as suspicious.”
  — Tim Owen (11:12)

• On Telegram Founder’s Reaction:

  “Pavel Durov...founder of Telegram...He posted: ‘I find Candace’s info about French involvement in [Charlie Kirk’s] death entirely plausible.’ ...So the theory is that France is so mad about Candace’s ‘transvestigations’...plus Charlie Kirk’s 300% tariff, that they have hired a hit squad…”
  — Tim Owen (12:11 - 13:41)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Candace’s original claim read aloud: 02:00 – 03:19
• Discussing right-wing responses and how the narrative spreads: 04:28 – 07:00
• Tim on Candace’s audience size and pipeline effect: 07:49 – 08:53
• Review of Candace’s escalating theory details; maroon shirts & Valhalla: 09:24 – 11:55
• Telegram’s Pavel Durov cited as a believer: 12:11 – 13:41
• Personal reflections on the implications: 14:16 – 15:02

Tone and Final Reflections

The episode blends exasperated humor, concern, and incredulity. Both hosts are baffled by the extremity of Owens’ claims—but equally worried about the mass audience buying in, underscoring the broader problem of viral misinformation and the role high-profile media personalities play in shaping perceptions in modern America.

For more from Will Sommer, subscribe to his “False Flag” newsletter at The Bulwark.