Mark Levin Podcast – "The Best Of Mark Levin – 4/4/26"

Episode Date: April 4, 2026
Host: Mark Levin (Cumulus Podcast Network)
Featured Voice: Steve Deace
Main Theme:
A special ‘best of’ episode with Mark Levin and guest commentary, focusing on America’s ongoing conflict with Iran, the backlash against the military campaign, lessons from U.S. and Revolutionary War history, the politics of opposition, media narratives, and an impassioned discussion about birthright citizenship in the U.S. constitution.

Episode Overview

This episode brings sharp analysis from Mark Levin, interleaved with Steve Deace, on the continuing war against Iran—termed "Operation Epic Fury." The hosts confront critics from the left, the "woke right," and the media, defending the campaign's progress and necessity. They draw historical analogies, skewer ideological and partisan opposition, and delve into foundational constitutional issues—especially birthright citizenship. The episode is heavily laced with signature fiery rhetoric, patriotic themes, and a sense of urgency for American principles.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Progress and Politics of the War with Iran

Timestamps: 00:20–08:15, 13:25–21:40, 49:00–54:44

• Levin's Core View:
  The war is progressing well; casualties are below past U.S. interventions (e.g., Panama, Grenada). Despite negative press, American and allied military actions are necessary and measured.
  • "The war against the Iranian regime is going very well... casualties are less than when we went into Panama to capture Noriega, rescued college students in Grenada, and virtually every other military action." (Mark Levin, 00:20)
• Spectrum of Opposition:
  Steve Deace breaks down sources of opposition: Democrats, Marxists, Islamists, the "woke right" (isolationists), media negativity, economic anxieties, claims of illegality, and anti-Semitism conflating Israel and American policy.
  • "Fifth, the rising anti-Semitism and Israel hatred serves as a useful tool of the Marxist Islamist left and the woke right for scapegoating, claiming the President was forced in the war by the Jews." (Steve Deace, 01:45)
• Political Nature of Criticism:
  Opposition to military action is characterized as partisan, emotional, and often dishonest, with many critics called "grifters," "ideologues," or "morons."
  • "They’re trying to dispirit you. They’re trying to exploit the situation for their own grift, for their own political reasons..." (Steve Deace, 07:46)
  • "If they move from one hysterical point to another, I.e. hysterics, then they're just buffoons looking for cliques." (Mark Levin, 07:19)
• Historical Lessons:
  The reluctance to preempt threats is contrasted with WWII lessons and postwar reconstruction; definitive victory and thorough defeat of the enemy are presented as both moral and necessary.
  • "At the end of World War II, Germany was destroyed, pummeled to death, in fact... Out of the ruins of Germany was born the Third Reich and Hitler... World War I was the war to end all wars." (Mark Levin/Steve Deace, 14:37–15:37)
• International Unity:
  Unprecedented alignment is noted between Arab nations and Israel supporting U.S. action to permanently topple Iran's regime.
  • "Here you have... the Arab countries and Israel united behind the United States. We’ve never seen anything like this." (Mark Levin, 20:34)
• Public Support:
  New polling shows support for the President and the war effort, including among moderates and some Democrats.
  • "51% of all Americans support the president in this war effort. And it's growing... That's the Harvard Daily Mail poll out today." (Mark Levin, 21:42)

2. Revolutionary War Analogy & American Resolve

Timestamps: 09:29–13:25

• Podcast Segment on Revolutionary History:
  Levin extols his video podcast segment about the origins of the American Revolution, framing it as an inspiring example of perseverance—emphasizing that revolutions (good or bad) start with a minority.
  • "They weren’t looking for an off ramp. They weren’t looking for a peace deal... The majority of the colonists were either opposed to the war or neutral. Got that?" (Mark Levin, 11:46–12:07)
• Historical Parallel:
  Comparing the current war effort to the colonies' minority drive for independence; emphasizing that committed minorities often spur world-changing events.

3. Birthright Citizenship & the 14th Amendment Debate

Timestamps: 34:32–48:28

• Levin’s Legal Argument against Modern Interpretation:
  The phrase "birthright citizenship" is not in the Constitution; its adoption was to secure rights for freed black slaves and their children, not for children of illegal immigrants.
  • "Birthright citizenship is nowhere in the Constitution. It’s not part of any official statute. It wasn’t part of the debate in the 1866 Civil Rights act... The idea of immigration, let alone illegal immigration, was on nobody’s mind, wasn’t even in their imagination." (Mark Levin/Steve Deace, 35:21–35:49)
• Historical Context and Textualism:
  The Constitutional amendments post-Civil War were strictly about addressing the treatment of freed slaves. Modern legal arguments expanding birthright citizenship are seen as activist overreach.
• Consequences:
  Levin warns that extending birthright citizenship to children of illegal immigrants could have dire, irreversible consequences for the nation.

4. Media Critique and the “Axis of Evil”

Timestamps: 23:45–27:04, 49:00–54:44

• Selective Media Coverage:
  Senator John Fetterman is cited blasting the press for helping Iran through selective and misleading reporting, especially around Operation Epic Fury’s success.
  • "Iran now loves and learns from the American media. The media's selective coverage rewards and reinforces Iran's strategy. Media amplifies the 1% chaos Iran creates while ignoring the 99% of Iran's beatdown." (Mark Levin quoting Fetterman, 24:02)
• Global Impact:
  Commentary on the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, the threat of nuclear Iran, and calls for global actors to protect their own interests.

5. Criticism of U.S. Political Figures and Islamism in U.S. Politics

Timestamps: 28:46–34:54, 54:44–58:41

• Democrat Candidates & Islamism:
  Discussion of Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed (Michigan), describing him as an “Islamist” and scrutinizing a call in which he suggested avoiding discussion of Khomeini’s assassination out of concern for local Arab-American sentiment.
  • "He’s an Islamist. Hello? He's an Islamist... There's a lot of people in Dear Bornistan who are sad today because Khomeini was killed in our own country, America..." (Mark Levin, 30:11, 31:40)
• Broader Trend:
  Allegations that the Democratic Party is fielding and supporting Islamist candidates and figures; analogy to European left-wing mass immigration policies.
• Moral Righteousness:
  Mark emphatically distinguishes between Muslims and Islamists, denouncing the latter’s influence and defending criticism as necessary for national security and American values.

6. Trump’s Speech on Iran

Timestamps: 48:55–53:13

• Trump's Key Points:
  Trump (archival audio) asserts that Iran's military is decimated and that the U.S. holds all strategic cards. He frames the campaign as a necessary investment in America's and the world’s future.
  • "We have not hit their oil... because it would not give them even a small chance of survival or rebuilding. But we could hit it and it would be gone and there's not a thing they could do about it... We have all the cards, they have none." (Donald Trump, 49:04–50:14)
  • "Tonight, every American can look forward to a day when we are finally free from the wickedness of Iranian aggression..." (Donald Trump, 50:54)
• Past Policy Critique:
  Trump lambasts the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, insisting its termination was crucial for Middle East and Israeli security.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Victory & Resolve:
  "The cost of a nuclear Iran with thousands of ballistic missiles is incalculable." (Mark Levin, 02:35)
• On Clever Media Consumption:
  "Most of them are nimrods and morons... driven by stupidity just because they're dumb people." (Mark Levin, 06:52)
• On American Unity Potential:
  "I'm talking about some of these countries able to work together that haven’t been able to work together before... here that will change the face of the globe." (Mark Levin, 20:37–21:01)
• On Principle:
  "If we can do something about it, we ought to do something about it. That's like people sitting on a subway or on a park bench and somebody has their throat slit and they say, hey, there's nothing I can do about it anyway." (Mark Levin, 18:32–18:47)
• On U.S. Legal History:
  "The whole constitutional conservative movement was born right here behind this microphone." (Mark Levin, 42:02)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Intro/War Assessment: 00:20–05:34
• Opposition Analysis: 05:34–08:15
• Historical Parallels/American Revolution: 09:29–13:25
• WWII & Enemy Defeat Lessons: 13:25–21:40
• Public Polls/Support: 21:40–23:41
• Media Critique/Sen. Fetterman: 23:45–27:04
• Homeland Security Funding & Islamism in Politics: 28:46–34:54
• Birthright Citizenship Discussion: 34:32–48:28
• Trump Speech Highlights: 48:55–53:13
• Islamism in U.S. Politics Redux: 54:44–58:41

Episode Summary

This episode of "The Best of Mark Levin" delivers passionate conservative analysis on the Iran war and broader American political currents. Levin, joined by Steve Deace, champions the need for steadfast military action, warns of media and ideological manipulation, and issues sharp criticisms of domestic opposition—whether from Democratic politicians, the "woke right," or Islamist-leaning figures. The show is laced with patriotic references and appeals to American history as both a warning and inspiration. Notably, there's a deep dive into the origins and intentions of birthright citizenship within constitutional law, arguing against its application to children of illegal immigrants. The episode closes with excerpts of a forceful Trump speech, underscoring the stakes and perceived triumphs of current U.S. foreign policy.

Listeners are left with a clear message: America must stay the course militarily, stay true constitutionally, and remain vigilant against both foreign and domestic threats—ideological or otherwise.