Newt’s World – Episode 909: The Heir – Alex Soros
Date: November 15, 2025
Host: Newt Gingrich
Guest: Matt Palumbo (Bestselling Author, Content Manager at Bongino Report)
Podcast Theme: Investigating the rise of Alex Soros as the new leader of the Soros philanthropic and political empire, his strategies, influence in politics and global affairs, and what it means for the future of progressive activism.
Episode Overview
In this episode, Newt Gingrich sits down with Matt Palumbo, author of The Heir: Inside the Not so Secret Network of Alex Soros, to discuss the transformation of the Soros influence in politics and society as Alex Soros takes the helm from his father, George Soros. The conversation uncovers the mechanisms of influence, controversial philanthropic strategies, and the implications for law, politics, and global affairs under Alex Soros’s leadership.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Background and Introduction (01:39–04:08)
- Soros Empire Shift: Gingrich notes that the “George Soros Empire is now the Alex Soros Empire…the son is even more radical than the father” and introduces Matt Palumbo’s investigative work.
- Normalization of Critique: Palumbo highlights a shift in media openness to critiquing Soros, mentioning his own high-profile media appearances and changes in the public discourse.
- Quote: “The boogeyman status or people being afraid to even be accused of being anti Semitic or something for going after him has faded a little bit. So now all eyes are on the son.” (02:25 – Matt Palumbo)
2. Palumbo’s Role at Bongino Report and Professional Trajectory (04:08–05:50)
- Palumbo discusses his experience launching Bongino Report as a conservative aggregator, alternatives to Drudge, and the site's impact.
- He reveals that his time at the site is ending, hinting at new directions in his career.
- Quote: “…we just try to educate people the best we can on a diverse array of topics…mostly politics. But we throw, you know, sports and entertainment, health, fitness, and some other topics on the website just so it's more of a one stop shop.” (04:59 – Matt Palumbo)
3. New York City Politics and Soros Influence (06:00–15:23)
- Zoran Mamdani’s Mayoralty
- The conversation pivots to New York’s new mayor, Zoran Mamdani, described as an anti-police, far-left figure whose rise is linked to Soros-backed groups like the Working Families Party.
- Palumbo criticizes policies like “fare free buses” and the anti-police stance, describing second-order effects on crime and city dynamics.
- Quote: “There being a wealth exodus, a person exodus…The people leaving are predominantly liberals who don't understand cause and effect and don't realize that their own voting is what's causing the policies that caused them to leave.” (06:26 – Matt Palumbo)
- Mamdani’s Electoral Appeal and Political Machine
- Mamdani’s campaigning is likened to “middle school class president” tactics combined with effective social media strategy and a charisma that connects with left-wing voters.
- Quote: “He has the almost identical fake smile that AOC has when they're trying to resonate with people. It really just worked.” (08:47 – Matt Palumbo)
- Discussion of institutional roadblocks to Mamdani’s agenda, with skepticism about how much he can actually achieve given the city council and state legislature’s roles.
- The Role of Soros Funding in Local Politics (11:39–13:28)
- Examining direct and indirect support for left-wing policies and political figures, especially via the Working Families Party, which receives “many millions from Soros.”
- Quote: “To get on that line, you have to sign on with a bunch of very cartoonish far left policies. And this is basically what everyone at a climate hysteria protest or a Free Palestine protest believes—being very anti cop, tax billionaires and millionaires.” (12:07 – Matt Palumbo)
4. Ascendancy of Alex Soros (17:00–20:34)
- The Selection Process
- Discussion of why Alex Soros, not his brother Jonathan, became the heir—insiders doubted Alex’s effectiveness, but Palumbo points to Alex’s early involvement in global trips and meetings.
- Quote: “Someone who knows him described his speaking style as being like that of a record skipping.” (17:58 – Matt Palumbo)
- Alex’s motivation is described as a mirror of his father's, rooted in power and influence, cultivated from youth via privileged access to global leaders.
- Social Media and International Networks
- Alex is more public about his networking efforts, frequently posting photos with prominent politicians and celebrities across the globe to signal influence.
- Notable example: “He posted one with Mamdani…I think it was the night of or the day after the election. It was of note because he was actually in Europe when he posted that photo…” (18:46 – Matt Palumbo)
- Deep ties to controversial figures and governments abroad, such as repeated visits to Albania’s prime minister, suspected of involvement in corruption and state “narco” activities.
5. Soros Influence in U.S. Federal Politics (20:34–24:02)
- Penetration of Democratic Power Structures
- Gingrich and Palumbo review the number of senior Biden officials with Soros connections, including Neera Tanden and Ron Klain via Center for American Progress.
- Alex Soros’s White House visits are linked to subsequent policy announcements, especially in climate policy.
- Quote: “There was about two thirds of them…some sort of climate issue leading into the meeting or being announced within two weeks after it.” (21:56 – Matt Palumbo)
- Importance of rigorous archival research to uncover visitation patterns and policy correlations.
6. The DA Strategy and Criminal Justice Reform (24:02–30:19)
- District Attorney Funding: Examination of the deliberate investment (about $40 million) to elect roughly 75 progressive district attorneys, shaping prosecution policy across major U.S. cities.
- Quote: “The problem with these second chance judges is they think second chances are infinity chances. But a lot of them ideologically just empathize with criminals.” (25:14 – Matt Palumbo)
- Noting massive underreporting of crime due to police understaffing and lack of enforcement, leading to increases in retail theft and public safety issues (“micro prison” effect for law-abiding citizens).
7. Soros and Drug Decriminalization Movement (30:19–32:56)
- Palumbo identifies the Soros family as pivotal in shifting the drug policy narrative toward decriminalization, starting with marijuana and advancing to more radical “harm reduction” strategies.
- Quote: “They started with marijuana, which was, I guess, ironically, the gateway drug to bigger drug decriminalization and legalization efforts…” (30:32 – Matt Palumbo)
- Critique of the practical effects of harm reduction—arguing they increase overall harm by normalizing drug use and creating “sectioned off” areas of lawlessness.
8. Soros International Affairs: Ukraine and Eastern Europe (32:56–36:03)
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Ukraine: Alex Soros’s connections to senior Ukrainian leadership and philanthropic activities, with questions about whether such involvement will serve as leverage for broader progressive reforms post-war.
- Quote: “The question just is, what is he going to do with the influence after the war? And I think it's going to be to sort of push a lot of the sort of social agenda.” (33:38 – Matt Palumbo)
-
Albania as a Case Study: Chronicling the intertwining of philanthropy, social engineering, and alleged corruption via partnerships with local politicians and the use of USAID funds.
- Quote: “...It's all drug trafficking money. So they're building these high rises, no one is living in them. So it's not really adding to the housing stock.” (38:06 – Matt Palumbo)
9. Broader Implications and Final Thoughts (36:03–39:09)
- Gingrich summarizes the Soros agenda as a multi-generational “effort to profoundly change the world in a direction that most of us would think is crazy.”
- Palumbo points out that “philanthropy” is a misleading label, given the destabilizing effects and controversial policies advanced by Soros-funded groups and USAID partners, referencing years of documented influence dating back to Eastern Europe in the 1990s.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Soros Critique Normalization:
“The boogeyman status or people being afraid to even be accused of being anti Semitic or something for going after him has faded a little bit. So now all eyes are on the son.”
— Matt Palumbo (02:25) -
On Power and Motivation:
“I think his father was to a large extent motivated not only by wealth and power, but power just for the sake of having it. And that was the life that Alex was groomed under from a very young age.”
— Matt Palumbo (18:10) -
On Progressive Prosecution:
“The problem with these second chance judges is they think second chances are infinity chances. But a lot of them ideologically just empathize with criminals…”
— Matt Palumbo (25:14) -
On Drug Decriminalization:
“They started with marijuana, which was, I guess, ironically, the gateway drug to bigger drug decriminalization and legalization efforts…”
— Matt Palumbo (30:32) -
On International Agendas:
“It's all drug trafficking money. So they're building these high rises, no one is living in them. So it's not really adding to the housing stock.”
— Matt Palumbo (38:06)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 01:39 – Introduction to Alex Soros and his new leadership role
- 02:55 – Palumbo on writing and media coverage of Soros
- 04:26 – Palumbo’s career at Bongino Report
- 06:00 – Discussion about NYC politics and Zoran Mamdani
- 11:39 – Soros-backed Working Families Party and influence
- 17:00 – How Alex Soros was selected as heir
- 20:34 – Soros family connections in U.S. political appointments
- 24:02 – Soros-backed district attorneys and crime policy
- 30:19 – Soros and the push for drug decriminalization
- 32:56 – Alex Soros’s activities in Ukraine and Albania
- 36:03 – Larger perspective: philanthropy vs. influence operation
- 39:09 – Closing thoughts and book plug
Overall Tone & Takeaway
The conversation is critical, skeptical, and deeply analytical of the strategies and motivations behind the Soros family's philanthropic and political spending—arguing their goals go beyond traditional liberalism into radical societal transformation, using large-scale funding to institutionalize far-left policies in the U.S. and abroad. Palumbo provides a wealth of examples, drawing from his reporting and latest book, and Gingrich steers the discussion toward practical political implications for listeners concerned about shifts in law, order, and governance.
For listeners seeking a thorough exploration of Alex Soros’s influence and the evolving Soros legacy, this episode delivers a blend of investigative insight, political analysis, and provocative argumentation.