Mark Levin Podcast — October 11, 2025
Episode: Qatar's Controversial Military Partnership: A Shocking Revelation
Overview
In this episode, Mark Levin—joined frequently by Steve Deace—delivers an urgent, impassioned critique of the U.S. military’s new partnership with Qatar, announcing that a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility will be built at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho. Levin challenges the wisdom, precedent, and morality of deepening military interdependence with a regime he assails as a leading funder of terrorism and anti-American activism, especially in light of Qatar’s connections to 9/11 and ongoing support for groups like Hamas and the Taliban.
The program also veers into related territory: pressure on Israel, American universities’ acceptance of foreign money fueling anti-Israel and anti-American sentiment, Supreme Court races, and criticism of media and conservative influencers who, in Levin’s view, have failed to sound the alarm on Islamism, Marxism, and threats to American ideals.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Qatar’s Military Facility in Idaho: A Shocking Precedent
- Announcement & Reaction (04:40–05:24)
- Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War, announces that the U.S. is “signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho” to host Qatari F15s and training (04:40–05:24).
- Levin: “Say what? The Qataris have a base in the United States for whatever the reason. They're going to pay for it, no doubt, but we're building it.” (05:00)
- Deace: “We're building the Qatari Emiri Air Force... in Idaho. One of the worst Islamist terrorist states on the face of the earth. That plays both sides.” (06:50–06:58)
- Levin’s Critique
- Stresses that such an arrangement is unprecedented—beyond even NATO partnerships and existing treaties.
- Draws a stark contrast: “We haven’t done that with any other country... Not with Britain or France, not with Israel.” (34:20)
- Quote: “This is a brutal, monarchical, inbred dictatorship.” (02:56)
- Security and Morality Concerns
- Expresses alarm at training Qatari pilots on advanced U.S. jets, questioning their allegiances and intentions.
- “Did we get an apology for 9/11? Did they agree to swear off terrorism?” (05:51)
- Condemns the U.S. government for “slobbering over” Qatar while pressuring Israel (10:16–11:41).
2. Qatar’s Track Record: Terror Financing & Influence Operations
- Deace: “The biggest funder of terrorism in the world. The biggest funder of Islamism in our colleges and universities... front groups that talk about overthrowing the United States.” (02:10)
- Levin: Highlights Qatar’s protection of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), support for the Taliban, and ongoing funding of Hamas.
- “They helped KSM escape from our FBI.” (02:10–02:46)
- Financial Influence in U.S. Institutions
- Qatar’s money “spreads around Democrat, Republican, all over our government, all over the people, the grifters who hang around our government, the special interests, the lobbyists, the law firms.” (04:19)
3. Hypocrisy in U.S. Foreign Policy
- Levin and Deace lampoon the praise heaped on Qatar and Saudi Arabia while Israel faces relentless pressure and criticism.
- “Saudi Arabia, thank you. Saudi Arabia, thank you. Qatar, thank you, thank you, thank you all. But we had to pressure, you know, Israel...” (09:51)
- Deace: “The Israelis are fighting for their survival... They haven't asked for any bases in the United States either. They don't have an agreement that we will use the full force of the United States military to protect them if they're attacked. Only Qatar has that.” (29:07)
4. Who Is Accountable?
- Levin expresses frustration at Congress—particularly Republicans—whom he accuses of passivity or being compromised:
- “I guess the senators and congressmen are going to sit on their asses and just watch all this happen, right? Especially the Republicans. Probably half of them have bought off, too.” (11:26)
5. Broader Culture War: Islamism, Marxism, and American Institutions
- Universities: Billions of dollars from Qatar (and others) have, per Levin, corrupted Ivy Leagues, fueled radical campus anti-Israel/anti-American mobs: “Hitler Youth. The river to the sea crowd. Burning of the American flag. Carrying the Muslim Brotherhood flag. Right there in our own country.” (21:02)
- Media/Influencers: Condemns fellow conservatives and right-wing podcasters he believes are enabling or ignoring the threat (“Kitarlson,” “Owens,” “Bannons”), accusing them of “embracing more Islamism than Americanism and Christianity and Judaism” (14:54).
6. Reflection on Conservative Voices & Rush Limbaugh
- Levin and Deace present an archival Rush Limbaugh call (68:48–73:01), providing a standard for principled conservatism and unwavering support for Israel. They lament the current lack of strong, honest advocacy in the face of growing radicalism.
- “Rush would be disgusted by it... There’s no way in hell he would support or defend any country, let alone Qatar, having a base in the United States of America.” (59:44–63:13)
7. Audience Reaction: Callers Respond
- Multiple callers, including veterans, call in horrified by the Qatari air base plan, questioning national security, precedent, and common sense.
- “We should not have a foreign country having a base in the United States, period. Let alone Qatar... This is a bad precedent.” (99:59–100:14, retired first sergeant Jerry)
- “I am absolutely horrified and appalled at this idea of putting any nation's military base... on our sovereign soil.” (104:48, Luzia, former Army officer)
- Deace remarks: “I've got veterans lined up here... furious with this. I think this audience, massive audience, is really repulsed by this. I think this was a terrible move.” (105:45)
8. Related Topics: Gaza, Hostage Deal, Supreme Court
- Levin delves into the current Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage crisis, emphasizing the moral hazards of prisoner exchanges (81:40–84:01).
- Calls attention to Pennsylvania’s critical Supreme Court retention races, painting them as pivotal for future election integrity. (89:24–94:44)
- Touches on increasing activism and funding fueling Antifa/leftist violence (77:45–79:09).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On the Air Base:
- “We're building the Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at the Mountain Home base in Idaho. Say what?”
— Mark Levin (05:00) - “It's shocking to me... Building an air base training center for their pilots in our own country. Shocking to me.”
— Steve Deace (34:24)
On Qatar’s Influence:
- “You can't have it both ways. [Mandami]'s dangerous for America. And if he's dangerous for America, what the hell is Qatar?”
— Mark Levin (21:02) - “Its DNA is everywhere, especially in our country.”
— Mark Levin (06:02)
Moral Outrage and Prognosis:
- “There's no way in hell Qatar should have a base in the United States of America. No, no way. No explanation. I don't want to hear it from anybody.”
— Mark Levin (63:13)
On Criticism of Other Conservatives:
- “There's not a damn thing controversial about what I'm saying. It's the truth. And if I'm not here to tell you the truth, who the hell will be?”
— Steve Deace (14:22)
Rush Limbaugh Clip:
- “Peace is the absence of threat and the presence of justice... Peace to the Palestinians... is a much different definition than the Israeli definition. This is one of the problems.”
— Rush Limbaugh (70:13–72:37, archival audio)
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Qatar Deal Announcement & Critique: 04:40–06:50
- Context on Qatar’s Terror Links: 02:10–03:42 / 08:10–09:13
- Federal Praise for Qatar & Pressure on Israel: 09:51–10:41
- Congressional Passivity: 11:26
- Campus Influence & Street Mobs: 21:02–24:32
- Caller Responses (Military Veterans): 98:48–106:03
- Rush Limbaugh Archival Segment: 68:48–73:01
- Supreme Court Races in PA: 89:24–94:44
- Prisoner Exchanges & Israel: 81:40–84:01
- Media/Influencer Criticism: 14:54–15:45, 59:44–63:13
Tone & Style
True to Mark Levin’s reputation, the episode brims with passionate, staccato delivery, tinged with sarcasm, incredulity, and moral urgency. He is unyielding in his condemnation of Qatar, unwavering in his support for Israel, and unapologetically combative toward those—inside or outside his movement—who, in his judgment, betray American and Western values.
Summary for Non-Listeners
This episode is an urgent, uncompromising call to reject deeper U.S.–Qatari military ties, warning that they compromise national security, betray American values, and empower a regime with a long, unrepentant record of terrorism sponsorship. Levin underscores the lack of precedent, questions the motives of U.S. leadership, and rails against complacency and corruption—among policymakers, universities, the media, and even some fellow conservative commentators. The episode closes with reflections on Rush Limbaugh’s legacy, audience feedback from outraged veterans, and warnings about the hollowing out of American institutions—not just by adversaries abroad, but by those Levin sees as quislings within.