Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes

Episode: Inside the Sloppiest Brawl in TPUSA History

Date: August 26, 2025
Hosts: Sam Stein (C), Tim Miller (B), Will Sommer (D)
Theme: Dissecting the infamously sloppy brawl between MAGA influencers at a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) convention, and exploring its context, cultural meaning, and aftermath within the conservative influencer scene.

Overview

This episode dives into the notorious "sloppiest brawl" in the history of Turning Point USA conventions—a fight between two right-wing influencers, Christian rapper Bryson Gray and "Misfit Patriot," that occurred in a gravel lot during the 2024 TPUSA event. The Bulwark team—Sam Stein, Tim Miller, and Will Sommer—break down how the incident unfolded, analyze the fight’s cultural context, and humorously comment on the world of MAGA celebrity conventions, highlighting the strange, chaotic energy of the scene.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: TPUSA’s Unique Vibe

• Cultural Contrasts: TPUSA events are described as part debauched college party, part religious revival, and part political rally. The general environment ranges from young, hard-partying conservatives to religious revival attendees and “gray hairs” seeking speeches from right-wing celebrities.

“There’s this huge age gap at the TPUSA events…you see a decent, like a lot of people walking around like videoing themselves…then a lot of gray hairs, a lot of blue hairs, people who just watch the speeches…” — Tim Miller [04:48]

• Comparison with CPAC: Unlike the more staid Conservative Political Action Conference, TPUSA attracts a younger crowd with more “fuck boys” and fitness enthusiasts.

“Even in...like the women are hotter…a lot of, like, fuck boys, you know, muscle dudes. Dudes look like they’re on the RFK regimen…” — Tim Miller [06:41]

2. The Brawl: Who, What, Where, and Why

• The Combatants:
  • Bryson Gray: Christian MAGA rapper famous for songs like “Trump is Your President”.
  • Misfit Patriot: Mid-tier influencer with more nuanced views, described as a possible “Tim Miller of the MAGA universe” for questioning far-right figures, but still a Trump supporter.

“He’s a Trump supporter, unlike Tim, but he has kind of shreds of consciousness for a right winger...sometimes he’s like, ‘wait a minute, should we be palling around with Andrew Tate?’” — Will Sommer [02:03]

• Reason for Conflict: The fight stemmed from Bryson calling one of Misfit Patriot’s gay friends an “abomination,” leading to a drunken sucker slap by Misfit Patriot.

“He said, do you think my friend is an abomination? I said, biblically, he is an abomination. It’s just that simple.” — Bryson Gray (quoted by Will Sommer) [09:32]

• Escalation: Twitter DMs, attempts to formalize a boxing match, but settling on a spontaneous brawl in a gravel lot near the Phoenix convention center.

3. Blow-by-Blow: Analyzing the Fight

• Fight Breakdown:
  • Sloppy, amateurish fighting with missed punches, failed takedown attempts, and comedic grappling.
  • The pivotal moment: Misfit Patriot tries to flip Bryson, but it backfires, resulting in a headfirst slam into the gravel.
• Notable Play-by-Play Comments:
  • “So he tries to pick him up and toss him, and it goes terribly wrong, basically.” — Sam Stein [11:24]
  • “He thinks he’s gonna do, like…I don’t know why he’s messed up…flip this guy over my head.” — Will Sommer [11:40]
• Infamous Ball Incident: Disputed and repeatedly referenced. Bryson claims he gets his balls grabbed; hosts replay the video to investigate.
  • “That’s the issue of the ball grab…would come up a lot in the post fight debate here.” — Will Sommer [13:03]
  • “I think that he’s claiming…I’m ruling that as a ball he grabbed.” — Tim Miller [13:15]
  • “After the balls are grabbed…that’s the spot…Oh my God.” — Sam Stein [13:20]

4. Aftermath and Ramifications

• No Rematch: Despite Twitter-space bravado, no rematch at the convention.

“He said, I got to get a rematch or whatever…If I see him, I’m gonna have to beat him up instantly.” — Bryson Gray (quoted) [14:07]

• Bans and Bickering: Bryson Gray is eventually banned from future TPUSA events, possibly for homophobic comments as well as the fight.
  • “They banned Bryson from future TPUSA events. They haven’t banned Misfit Patriot.” — Will Sommer [15:45]
  • “Charlie Kirk really draws a hard line on any homophobic comments. Okay, one homophobic comment and you are not welcome back at TP USA.” — Tim Miller [16:05]
• Continuing Drama: The feud continues on social media, with both parties claiming victory.
• Perspective: The hosts reflect on the surreal, almost farcical nature of MAGA influencer culture and how these small-time brawlers might become national players.
  • “Misfit Patriot might end up, like, running the CFTC sometime, you know, so…it’s important to get to know these fairly.” — Tim Miller [16:35]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Age and Social Gaps at TPUSA:
  “The only people who are kind of middle aged are like, like Charlie Kirk.” — Sam Stein [05:26]
• On Sloppy Brawling:
  “It goes so fast. But he slams his head into the gravel, and then he’s just fucked.” — Sam Stein [11:50]
• On the Fight’s Pivotal Moment:
  “Is that what he did? I think that he’s claiming…” — Tim Miller [13:02]
• Relating to Other Low-level Fights:
  “As a fan fight in the stands of a preseason game between two of the worst teams in the NFL, that’s like that’s real. It’s pretty equivalent, I think, to like kind of low level MAGA influencer.” — Tim Miller [15:09]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:30 — Hosts (Sam Stein, Tim Miller, Will Sommer) introduce the episode and explain the context of the brawl
• 04:37 — Discussion about the unique “vibe” and various age groups at TPUSA events
• 09:32 — Explanation of the fight’s origins: the “abomination” comment
• 10:14 — Detailing the (failed) logistics of setting up a “real fight” at a gym
• 11:20 — Blow-by-blow analysis of the fight video and failed takedowns
• 12:39 — Discovery of the ball-grabbing incident and review of evidence
• 13:56 — Discussion of aftermath, calls for a rematch, and continued online drama
• 15:29 — Explanation of consequences: event bans, TPUSA’s response
• 16:35 — Reflections on the significance (or lack thereof) in the wider conservative movement

Conclusion

This Bulwark Takes episode expertly lampoons the spectacle of online-right influencer culture at TPUSA, using the infamous brawl as a lens to explore the mixture of party culture, religious fervor, and performative aggression that characterizes these events. The hosts’ banter layers sharp insights with genuine amusement, highlighting both the absurdity and the real-world consequences that can spill out from these seemingly inconsequential internet beefs.

For those who want a glimpse into the chaotic crossroads of MAGA fandom, influencer drama, and performative masculinity, this episode is a masterclass in irreverent, incisive podcasting.