Mark Levin Podcast – "The Best Of Mark Levin" (12/25/25)

Episode Date: December 26, 2025
Host: Mark Levin, Cumulus Podcast Network

Overview:

This "Best Of" episode of the Mark Levin Show features a sweeping critique of what Levin calls America's new "imperial ruling class," focusing on their connections to foreign regimes (notably Qatar), media manipulation, and efforts to undermine traditional American and Judeo-Christian values. Levin launches pointed attacks on prominent media figures in the podcast and alternative media space, discusses the dangers posed by unassimilated immigrant communities, supports assimilationist policies, and warns of strategic geopolitical threats from authoritarian states. Throughout, he weaves Christmas wishes and historical reflections about the Founding Fathers, aiming to inspire and educate his conservative audience.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. The Rise of a New "Imperial Ruling Class"

• Elite Celebration of Foreign Regimes: Levin alleges that American elites—across politics, business, media—are cozying up to Qatar, a regime he characterizes as despotic, anti-Western, and supportive of terrorism.

  • Quote: "Qatar has as its mission the destruction of the United States from within, the destruction of the west, and of course, the destruction of the State of Israel. And it puts its money where its mouth is." (04:08)

• Media Figures as ‘Grifters’: He targets prominent podcasters and influencers (notably, Tucker Carlson whom he derisively calls "Kitarlson" and others like Steve Bannon, Candace Owens, Nick Fuentes), accusing them of hypocrisy, greed, and foreign influence.

  • Quote: "These are elitists, not you and me, not Mr. And Mrs. America. You get nothing out of this. This isn't intended for you." (05:44)
  • Quote: "Tucker Carlson is a media creation. Banning a Hollywood boy, a crook, pled guilty." (12:42)

• Media Manipulation & Youth Influence: Constitutional conservatives, he argues, are being marginalized, as media figures financed by foreign interests mislead American youth.

  • Quote: "Their targets, young people with minimal experience, young people who are not being taught history in college, young people who are rejecting our founding." (11:03)
  • Quote: "They're preaching to these young kids, your kids and grandkids, that there's no hope, that America sucks, that market capitalism is a disaster, that everybody before was wrong, wrong. Ronald Reagan was a loser." (26:02)

2. Historical & Political Critique of Immigration and Assimilation

• Somali Immigration & Cultural Clustering:
  A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing Somali communities in Minnesota and elsewhere. Levin, referencing and reading extensively from an article by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, argues that "amoral familism" and cultural insularity among immigrants can undermine American civic life if not remedied by full assimilation.

  • Quote: "Clustering preserves trauma, carries forward all rules, and recreates the dynamics that spurred people to leave in the first place." (60:06, quoting Hirsi Ali)
  • Quote: "To help Somalis and to help Minnesota, we must insist on a civic identity that supersedes Klan identity. Those who refuse should not remain in the country." (62:24)
  • Quote: "There's a reason why the Somali community in Minneapolis, 80,000 strong, are doing what they're doing. It's not per chance. It's not by accident." (74:06)

• Multiculturalism and National Identity:
  Levin claims political correctness and multicultural policies prevent open discussion of failures to assimilate, enabling both criminal activity and threats to national unity.

  • Quote: "What Minnesota, Sweden, and Britain and Canada all have done repeatedly is confused compassion with abdication. They assume that if they offer refugees safety... they will integrate into modern civic life. But in societies ruled by multiculturalism, integration never comes." (58:27, quoting Hirsi Ali)

3. Attacks on Media Figures and the ‘Pseudo-MAGA’

• Media Grifters and Fake Populists:
  Levin is relentless in his critiques of right-wing media personalities, painting them as opportunists who mouth "America First" slogans while undermining the country for personal gain.

  • Highlight: Extended tirades against Tucker Carlson (called "Kitarlson", "Katarlson", or "Guitarluson") for alleged foreign ties and enabling anti-Semitic and anti-American narratives.
  • Quote: "He is an imperial ruling class elitist with his home in Maine and his home in Florida and his home at Qatar with his $150,000 to $200,000 speeches." (24:52)
  • Quote: "Katalson was born with a platinum spoon in his mouth... a concoction. Laughing all the way to the bank. That would be the bank of Qatar." (80:31, 80:36)

• Disdain for 'Alt-Right' and Faux Conservatives:
  He calls out other 'neo-fascists' and media stars on both the left and the 'new right' (Bannon, Fuentes, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Candace Owens), castigating them as grifters, racists, and anti-Semites.

  • Quote: "Leave Erica Kirk alone. Leave her alone. She's a grieving widow... He was horrifically assassinated. Get off her back. Leave her alone. And don't put out your phony video, you little bastard. Katarlson." (86:57)
  • Quote: "Nick Fuentes is a Klansman in a funeral suit." (80:01)

• Warning About Election Consequences:
  Levin repeatedly warns that this trend will cost conservatives dearly in upcoming elections.

  • Quote: "These people are going to cost us... not just the midterm elections... we're going to get slaughtered thanks to these people, even if the economy's chugging along." (28:41)

4. Historical Reflections & Calls for Civic Renewal

• Founding Father's Stories:
  Throughout the episode, Levin intersperses educational segments about the signers of the Constitution and key figures in American history, emphasizing the need for civic education and patriotic renewal in America’s youth.

  • Notable Moment: "We're going to spend a lot of time on American history, early history and beyond. Because I really feel that if we're going to save this republic, if we're going to get our youth back, that we have to make really good use of these platforms, not this other sick stuff that's being pushed out there." (93:38)

• American Tradition:
  Levin frequently evokes the image of "Mr. and Mrs. America"—the salt-of-the-earth, traditional, patriotic citizen—as the backbone of the nation and the counterweight to elitist subversion.

• Upcoming Projects:
  He hints at a big announcement regarding the expansion of his media presence, emphasizing his refusal to take foreign money.

  • Quote: "I've got a big announcement at the beginning of next year when I come back. I'm very excited about it. We're expanding our media empire. And not a single foreign nickel from anybody." (36:04)

5. Geopolitical Warnings

• China-Taiwan – Military Threats:
  Levin closes with a grave warning about reports suggesting China could overwhelm US military forces in a Taiwan conflict, stressing the need for focus on real threats rather than divisiveness and scapegoats.
  • Quote: "Communist China would destroy the US military in a fight over Taiwan. We will be sending our major aircraft carriers there and they can blow them out of the water within minutes." (105:53)
  • Analysis: Levin links this vulnerability to the disunity and weakening of America's "psyche" due to corrupt elites and internal division.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Qatar’s Threat:

  • "Qatar has as its mission the destruction of the United States from within, the destruction of the west, and of course, the destruction of the State of Israel. And it puts its money where its mouth is." (04:08, Mark Levin)

• On the ruling class and media manipulation:

  • "We have a new imperial ruling class, both parties, a new imperial ruling class. Businesses, unions, media financiers." (05:02, Mark Levin)
  • "They've used a new platform called podcasting, really developed in the early 2000s, as a means by which to communicate the views, the beliefs, the so called values of the Qatari regime." (06:19, Mark Levin)

• Criticism of Tucker Carlson and other media figures:

  • "Tucker Carlson is a media creation... They become enormously wealthy. Doing what they do, partying with whom they party. And then they want you to believe that they represent the little guy." (12:42-13:45, Mark Levin)
  • "He's Qatar's favorite lap dog. Not even a close second out there. He's Qatar's favorite lap dog." (80:36, Mark Levin)

• On media manipulation of youth:

  • "Young people who are not being taught history in college, young people who are rejecting our founding." (11:03, Mark Levin)

• Assimilation & Somali Communities (quoting Ayaan Hirsi Ali):

  • "Clustering preserves trauma, carries forward all rules, and recreates the dynamics that spurred people to leave in the first place... But it also fuels the logic of retribution, the law of violence, and the conditions in which extremist ideas take root." (60:06, Quoting Hirsi Ali)

• On assimilation and national unity:

  • "To help Somalis and to help Minnesota, we must insist on a civic identity that supersedes Klan identity. Those who refuse should not remain in the country." (62:24, Quoting Hirsi Ali)

• On election consequences:

  • "We are going to get slaughtered thanks to these people, even if the economy's chugging along." (28:41, Mark Levin)

• On the new right:

  • "Do you think we're going to attract voters as constitutional conservatives if we embrace racism, bigotry, misogyny, anti Semitism, anti Christianity, anti Americanism?" (89:25, Mark Levin)

• On historical knowledge and civic education:

  • "I'm going to make sure of it on this platform and the new platform that I'll be working on. Oops. Oops. Oops. You get the point." (105:17, Mark Levin)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:48] - Levin's introduction and remarks on national heritage, warning of elite influence via Qatar
• [04:44] - Outlining the emergence of a new ruling class & their embrace of foreign regimes
• [12:37] - Critique of media figures, focus on Tucker Carlson, Bannon, and influencers
• [17:42] - Questioning the motives of those attacking traditional conservatives
• [26:02] - Concerns over the impact on youth and the political system
• [49:23] - Excerpt and commentary from Ayaan Hirsi Ali on Somali culture and immigration
• [60:06] - Discussion on assimilation and American identity
• [80:01] - Characterization of Nick Fuentes and other extremist figures
• [93:38] - Historical education segment: signers of the Constitution
• [98:42-104:20] - Geopolitical segment: Israel, Middle East policies, and Turkey in Gaza
• [105:53] - China/Taiwan military threat and call to refocus on substantial dangers

Memorable Moments

• Emotional defense of Erica Kirk (Charlie's widow) and condemnation of conspiratorial attacks from within both left and right media circles.

  • Quote: "She's a grieving widow... He was horrifically assassinated. Get off her back." (86:57)

• Repeated contrasts between ‘Mr. and Mrs. America’ and the new elite:

  • "You, the electricians and plumbers who watch what's taking a place, taking place in places like Qatar where these people are getting filthy rich, preaching against your country..." (29:09)

• Christmas wishes threaded throughout as a reminder of American heritage and tradition.

Summary Tone

Levin’s delivery is fiery, combative, and emotional, mixing derision of opponents with rallying calls to his audience. He leans heavily on populist rhetoric, employing sarcasm, name-calling, and moral clarity, especially in addressing what he views as threats to American values and security. There’s an undercurrent of nostalgia for traditional civic education and patriotic unity, serving as both a critique of the present and a call to action.

Utility for the Uninitiated

This episode serves both as a highlight reel of Levin's central recurring themes and a primer for newcomers on his critique of contemporary politics—blending foreign policy, culture war, media criticism, and American history. Whether or not one shares his views, listeners come away with a clear sense of what animates Levin’s perspective: skepticism of elites; mistrust of the new right and left alliances; deep concern for assimilation and American identity; and a belief that grassroots, patriotic citizens hold the key to national renewal.