FYPod – Palmer Luckey, The MAGA Billionaire Who Ate His Boogers

Host: Tim Miller
Co-host: Cameron Kasky
Date: October 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tim Miller and Cameron Kasky break down the shifting generational politics in America, with a focus on prominent right-wing billionaire Palmer Luckey. The pair address the rising influence of fringe right cultural ideas among Gen Z, using Luckey's recent commentary and personal eccentricities as a launchpad for a discussion ranging from Democratic Party candidate controversies to the normalization of extreme views at the highest levels of conservative power. With a sharp, sardonic tone, they dissect what’s driving Gen Z toward Trump and what Democrats are getting wrong—highlighting both the importance and pitfalls of authenticity and forgiveness in politics.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. John Fetterman’s Political Evolution & Democratic Infighting

[00:49–07:15]

• Fetterman’s Style and Limitations:

  • Miller and Kasky discuss Senator John Fetterman’s struggle to effectively criticize the Trump administration, observing his tendency to "miss layups."
  • They empathize with his stroke aftermath but critique his lack of follow-through on populist messaging.
  • Quote (Tim Miller, 03:17):
    "You would think this would be a fucking—call it a layup—like, right across the plate for Fetterman to be like, ‘Donald Trump’s taking $230 million that should be going to the people that are struggling to pay for their groceries...’”

• Broader Democratic Strategy:

  • They examine the risks of running unconventional, populist candidates (like Graham Platner in Maine) versus centrist ones, referencing the “Fetterman experience” as a cautionary tale.
  • Reflect on how ideological purity battles can blind both the progressive and centrist wings to pragmatic candidate choices.

2. The Platner Candidacy and Internet History Accountability

[07:54–17:43]

• Internet Past and Redemption:

  • Kasky underscores the importance of context and redemption for candidates from younger generations with messy online histories.
  • The hosts debate the varying standards applied across ideological lines—how progressive candidates receive more forgiveness than centrists would for similar pasts.
  • Quote (Cameron Kasky, 10:44):
    “My generation is going to be a generation of people with a history of comments on the Internet...how are we going to start to handle these things?”

• Populism’s Double Standard:

  • Miller points out the “bad faith” defense of Platner from progressives who’d likely attack centrists over similar revelations.
  • Kasky agrees:
    Quote (14:27):
    "Were it a Pete type, it would be a completely different conversation, and he would be clubbed to death by these very same people who are defending Platner."

• Capacity for Change:

  • Kasky and Miller both stress a belief in personal growth but caution against letting tribal biases cloud reasoned political judgment.

3. Palmer Luckey as a MAGA Symbol—Views and Weirdness

[18:12–21:46]

• Wild Social Views:

  • The hosts play a Palmer Luckey podcast clip where he shockingly argues that teens should have children (16–18 years old) for biological reasons.
  • Kasky jokes about medieval ways and underscores how regressive this thinking is:
    Quote (Cameron Kasky, 19:16):
    “Are you a medieval noble who's trying to betroth me to your six year old daughter?”

• Luckey’s Profile:

  • Miller provides background on Luckey: Oculus founder, controversial billionaire, connected to Matt Gaetz (his sister’s husband), Trump supporter, border surveillance tech entrepreneur.
  • Shares a hilarious and stomach-turning personal anecdote:
    Quote (Tim Miller, 20:00):
    “Over lunch, this man picked his nose and ate it during lunch...It was the most disgusting lunch I've ever had with anyone in my life. He was slurping his miso soup...I found him very scary. And here he is now, big Trumper and acting and advocating for child, child marriage and child rearing.”

• Billionaire Stereotypes Debunked:

  • Kasky pushes back on the myth of the “refined billionaire,” noting:
    “A lot of these guys are weird fucking hippies. ... No more Bruce Wayne billionaires. A lot of these people are as freaky as anyone.” (21:10)

4. Pronatalism, Eugenics Overtones, and Right-Wing Influence

[21:46–26:54]

• Luckey’s “16 Year Olds Should Have Babies” Take:

  • Miller and Kasky dissect this trend of “pronatalism” intersecting with eugenics and white supremacy tropes on the far right.
  • Kasky responds forcefully:
    Quote (Cameron Kasky, 23:55):
    “Just because somebody's body can do something does not mean their mind should have to do it. Like, the psychological toll...Imagine if your 16-year-old daughter [was] dealing with postpartum before she even knows how to deal with the fucking SAT.”

• Immigrant Bashing Meets Population Panic:

  • Kasky highlights hypocrisy:
    “The same people who want us to have net negative migration, by the way, are talking about how there aren't enough people in this country.” (26:01)
  • Both point to the cruelty of demanding “make more babies” while refusing to provide social supports for young or poor families.

• Media & Establishment Enabling:

  • Miller showcases the mainstreaming of ultra-fringe views, referencing promotional materials lauding Luckey as a “maverick.”
  • Sarcastic jab:
    Quote (Cameron Kasky, 27:28):
    “Imagine being a billionaire and not having a better headshot than that. This looks like the poster for an event at like a high school that was graphic designed by somebody using Ms. Paint.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fetterman Failing to Call Out Trump:
  "He’s not even doing the populist, anti-establishment thing. He’s like doing the suck up to the leader, like suck up to the moneyed interest thing."
  — Tim Miller, [05:05]

• On Partisan Bad Faith:
  “The same crew that is coming to Platner’s defense...would be like, see, the centrists are racists.”
  — Tim Miller, [14:00]

• On Palmer Luckey as a Culture Warrior:
  “This man is a maverick and he is a hero”—He justifies 16-year-olds having babies while slurping miso soup and eating his own boogers at lunch.
  — Tim Miller (paraphrased, [21:00–27:28])

Important Timestamps

• [03:17] – Tim Miller’s critique of Fetterman's missed populist opportunities
• [10:44] – Kasky discusses political accountability for past online comments
• [14:27] – Both hosts agree on the bad faith double standard in candidate scrutiny
• [18:12–18:49] – Palmer Luckey’s podcast audio on “having kids in your teens”
• [20:00] – Tim Miller’s infamous “booger eating” lunch story about Luckey
• [23:55] – Kasky dismantles the logic and harm of teen pregnancy advocacy
• [26:01] – Kasky exposes contradictions in right-wing pronatalism
• [27:28] – Sarcastic riff on Luckey’s reputation and public persona

Tone and Takeaways

The episode is irreverently critical, sometimes profane, and deeply skeptical of both right-wing fringe cultural movements and their normalization via media figures like Palmer Luckey. Tim and Cameron argue for more pragmatism and compassion on the left, while showing alarm at the growing power and weirdness unleashed on the mainstream right.

Listeners come away with:

• A sharp view of intra-Democratic debates and the dangers of both purity tests and blinkered populism
• Context for the meme-fueled, sometimes bizarre cultural climate influencing young right-wing voters
• A healthy dose of humor and disgust at the eccentric personalities shaping contemporary American politics