Mark Levin Podcast – December 4, 2025

Episode Title: The Dangerous Game: Venezuela's Role in America's Drug Crisis

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Venezuela's escalating role in America's opioid crisis, particularly how the regime acts—according to Mark Levin—not just as a source of illegal drugs but as an adversary waging a form of war on the United States, with the complicity of foreign powers like China, Russia, and Iran. Levin challenges mainstream legal arguments about U.S. military actions against Venezuelan drug operations, sharply criticizes the political and media responses to recent strikes, and explores the broader ideological battles affecting U.S. security and sovereignty. The episode features key discussions with Rep. Chip Roy and political commentator Dinesh D’Souza, providing both legal and strategic context.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Framing Venezuela’s Drug Warfare as an Act of War

• [01:55–05:47] Levin opens by decrying mainstream media criticism of recent U.S. strikes on Venezuelan drug boats. He challenges claims that the actions were "clearly illegal" and points out that media outlets rarely specify which laws are violated.
  • Argues that if Venezuela poisoned America's air or water supply, it would universally be called an act of war.
  • Extends this logic: exporting deadly drugs that systematically kill Americans is also a "government-sponsored act of war," not merely a criminal matter.
  • Quotes:
    "If Venezuela succeeded in releasing toxins into our atmosphere... that's an act of war." (03:00)
    "What Venezuela is doing is trying to kill American citizens … in collusion with other enemies and adversaries." (04:34)

2. Legal Analyses & Critique of Political Responses

• [05:47–09:52] Levin criticizes politicians (notably Democrats and some Republicans) and media for focusing on legalism over national defense, especially in condemnation of cabinet member Pete Hegseth and President Trump for the strikes.
  • Cites the "fog of war" as making perfect, legislated application of law impractical for field commanders.
  • Argues U.S. response is consistent with historic policies (e.g., Monroe Doctrine).
  • Quotes:
    "In a war like this, you don't get due process. It's not a court of law." (05:10)
    "Don't you find it odd that the instinct of these people is to attack us and not the enemy?" (06:56)

3. Drug Crisis & The Role of Open Borders

• [09:52–12:07] Levin links the fentanyl and opioid crisis to U.S. open border policies, alleging indifference or complicity on the part of Democrats and some Republicans.
  • Raises issues of human trafficking alongside drug trafficking.
  • Quotes:
    "They don't normally give a damn about the law, but they're very particular about it now..." (09:52)

4. Interview with Chip Roy: Legality and Precedent for Military Action

Discussion Highlights:

• [20:11–33:14]
  • Roy (candidate for Texas Attorney General) asserts the legality of preemptive military action against narco-terrorists, framing it as self-defense under Article II presidential powers.
  • Levin references precedent (Noriega/Panama, Barbary pirates) for military intervention without formal Congressional war declarations.
  • Roy cites over 500,000 fentanyl deaths in a decade (~400,000 in WWII) to argue that the scale of harm justifies viewed-as-warlike responses.
  • Contrasts "courtroom mentality" versus national security needs.
  • Quotes:
    Chip Roy:
    • "I don't think this is a close call ... The President has a duty to defend us from those trying to kill us." (22:58)
    • "If you have half a million Americans killed this way, how many were killed in World War II?" (25:33)
      Mark Levin:
    • "The U.S. has long taken the position that the inherent right of self-defense potentially applies against any illegal use of force." (24:26)
    • "There is precedent for this sort of thing." (26:41)

5. Threat of Foreign Influence: Focus on Qatar

• [39:40–49:44]
  • Levin scrutinizes Qatar, describing it as a "dangerous country" manipulating U.S. politics, media, and public opinion through financial influence ("financial jihad").
  • Points to attempts to buy off Republican politicians and conservative influencers, and their partnership with major media outlets.
  • Quotes:
    "Qatar has spent billions brainwashing our young people, turning them against our country." (48:16) "They’re the banker to the Muslim Brotherhood ... has a foothold in the United States." (42:26)

6. Interview with Dinesh D’Souza: On Qatar, Tucker Carlson, and the "Neo-Fascist" Influence

Discussion Highlights:

• [52:16–67:56]
  • D’Souza details how Qatar’s influence campaign infiltrates conservative institutions, mirroring George Soros’s methods.
  • Discusses the rise of figures like Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes, and Candace Owens spreading "neo-fascist" and isolationist rhetoric under "America First" branding, weakening the conservative coalition.
  • Critiques the superficiality and opportunism of such positions (especially Carlson’s), arguing their utility to hostile foreign powers.
  • Quotes:
    Dinesh D'Souza:
    • "Qataris…work at what they call 'financial jihad.' That is, they deploy resources to buying influence." (52:16)
    • "Nick Fuentes... traffics very much in the, 'I will say the thing nobody else dares to say'" (60:27)
    • "Tucker has this shtick which is a parody of open mindedness ... it's a con man's routine." (61:35) Levin:
    • "They are connected to the Taliban, the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, and all the rest of it." (49:44)

7. Ideological Divide in America: Immigration, Assimilation, and Urban Decay

• [75:54–91:41]
  • Levin plays and comments on audio from President Trump and Rep. Ilhan Omar regarding Somali immigrant communities in Minnesota—arguing that some migrants, particularly Islamists, undermine American values, refuse to assimilate, and bring instability.
  • Criticizes local authorities for resisting federal enforcement of immigration law.
  • Quotes:
    Trump:
    • "What Somalia, what the Somalian people have done to Minnesota is not even believable... The Somalians should be out of here, they've destroyed our country." (82:29)
      Levin:
    • "You cannot have cities and states... where the federal government is given plenary power over the issue of immigration... You cannot have local law enforcement tell citizens they can defy federal law." (89:37)

8. Audience Calls and Concerns

• [95:57–101:42]
  • Levin takes audience calls, especially from Philadelphia and Maryland, about rising Islamic influence, the presence of mosques, and perceived failures of conservatives to address these demographic shifts or stand up to radical elements.
  • Commentary on the lack of assimilation and embrace of American values.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "[Venezuela is] not just a criminal matter. It is a government of a country that has declared that it is trying to kill and maim American citizens." – Mark Levin [03:59]
• "If Venezuela poisoned our water supply system, I don't think anybody would argue that's not an act of war." – Mark Levin [03:25]
• "In a war like this, you don't get due process. It's not a court of law." – Mark Levin [05:10]
• "If you have half a million Americans that have been killed this way [by fentanyl], how many were killed in World War II?" – Chip Roy [25:33]
• "Qatar has spent billions brainwashing our young people, turning them against our country." – Mark Levin [48:16]
• "Qataris…work at what they call 'financial jihad.' That is, they deploy their resources to buying influence." – Dinesh D’Souza [52:16]
• "Tucker has this kind of shtick which is a parody of open mindedness... it's a con man's routine." – Dinesh D’Souza [61:35]
• "You cannot have local law enforcement tell the citizens... that they can defy federal constitutional enforcement of federal immigration law." – Mark Levin [89:37]
• "I'm going to be perfectly honest with you. I could care less. I don't give a damn." – Mark Levin (on drug smugglers killed in attack) [17:57]
• "They're trying to drag him back into a criminal justice mentality and drag all of us back into a courtroom mentality." – Mark Levin (on Trump) [11:50]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:55 — Mark Levin opens main topic: Venezuela, drugs, and media coverage
• 05:44 — Critique of Democrat/media reaction to military strike
• 09:43 — Links Venezuela, open borders, and Democratic Party
• 11:08 — Trump muscling up military; approach to national security
• 20:11–33:14 — Interview with Chip Roy: legality and necessity of military action
• 39:40 — Levin pivots to threat from Qatar
• 52:16–67:56 — Interview with Dinesh D’Souza: Qatar’s financial jihad and corrupting Western institutions
• 75:54 — Immigration and assimilation: Trump & Omar on Somali communities
• 95:57–101:42 — Audience calls: concerns about Islamism, assimilation, and domestic security

Additional Insights

• Levin consistently frames the drug crisis as a form of war on the U.S., arguing for muscular, preemptive national defense measures and denigrating legalistic handwringing.
• His guests reinforce the view that foreign influence—both through narcotics and ideological subversion (esp. Qatar’s "financial jihad")—poses a grave threat.
• Sharp criticism is directed at political opponents, media figures, and even some in the conservative movement seen as undermining American interests, with explicit suspicion aimed at isolationist and "neo-fascist" elements.
• The episode repeatedly invokes historical precedent and constitutional arguments to support proactive U.S. action against threats, foreign or domestic.

Closing Tone & Takeaways

Mark Levin threads a relentless, urgent tone throughout the episode, pressing listeners to recognize internal and external threats—especially those posed by Venezuela, open borders, and foreign influence campaigns. He demands a return to common sense national defense, celebrates decisive leadership (Trump and Hegseth), and urges Americans to reject the distractions and legalistic quibbling of his political adversaries. In doing so, he paints the struggle as both ideological and existential—requiring not just political action, but vigilance against subversion in all its forms.