Podcast Summary: "Exclusive: Phil Mickelson, the Pipeline, and Trump's (Alleged) 14-Inch Pipe"

Podcast: Pablo Torre Finds Out
Host: Pablo Torre (The Athletic)
Guest: Sam Koppelman (Hunterbrook Media)
Release Date: November 7, 2025

Overview

This episode dives headfirst into the unlikely intersection of professional sports, high-stakes gambling, shady group chats, oil pipelines, and attempted political influence at the highest levels. Pablo Torre is joined by investigative journalist Sam Koppelman to unravel the bizarre saga of Phil Mickelson—the legendary (and infamous) gambler-golfer—his investment in a controversial oil pipeline, and a group of high-roller investors banking on the intervention of Donald Trump (and some, apparently, believing in the power of a "14-inch pipe").

The episode mixes investigative journalism with humor, touching on real political and financial corruption, and the oddities of American power networking.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Playbook of Appealing to Trump (03:00–06:00)

• Torre and Koppelman discuss a recurring theme: People in legal or financial distress try to appeal directly to Donald Trump for salvation.
  • “If you can just get in front of him, you’ve got a shot.” — Sam Koppelman (03:31)
• Examples: George Santos, various corporate execs, and convicted businessmen—seeking pardons or special favors through connections.

2. Phil Mickelson’s Erotic Group Chat and Pipeline Investments (06:45–09:00)

• The core investigative thread: Phil Mickelson sent an explicit, jokey message to a group chat of oil pipeline investors referencing “Big Daddy Trump” and a “14-inch” member—intentionally blending sexual innuendo and stock hype.
  • “Phil Mickelson messages a group of people... This erotic fanfic from Phil Mickelson reads, ‘Big Daddy Trump ready to swing his 14 inch in front of Newsom’s face. Will drive up any stock.’” — Sam Koppelman (07:03)
• The group chat consisted of investors in Sable Offshore, a company trying to restart a pipeline responsible for a devastating Santa Barbara oil spill in 2015.

3. How Sable Offshore Came to Be (11:00–13:00)

• Exxon couldn’t get the pipeline reopened in California, so they effectively offloaded the project to Jim “Big Jim” Flores, a colorful oilman.
• Flores' high-risk, high-reward approach and the gamble to get the pipeline operational become a magnet for someone like Phil Mickelson.
  • “It’s, in a way, the ultimate gamble. And so, of course, it appeals to the ultimate gambler, Phil Mickelson.” — Sam Koppelman (13:38)

4. Phil Mickelson’s Gambling Profile and Shady Stock Talk (14:07–17:30)

• Examined through the lens of extracts from gambler Billy Walters’ audiobook:
  • “The truth is, Phil liked to gamble as much as anyone I’ve met… Phil wagered a total of more than a billion dollars during the past three decades.” — Billy Walters (14:37, 16:23)
• Mickelson repeatedly messaged the group chat about inside info from “Big Jim,” including upcoming press releases and regulatory news likely to move the stock.
  • “I spoke with Jim this morning. An announcement is coming today after market closes…” — (22:05, paraphrased)
• “A law professor we spoke to told us that this sounds like violations of a couple different SEC rules...” — Sam Koppelman (22:32)

5. Money Lost and Group Chat Chaos (23:04–25:15)

• As Sable’s stock price collapsed, Mickelson and many investors lost substantial money—messages reveal desperation and plans to sell and rebuy shares.
  • “We need an actual prayer. I don’t see a clear path forward…” — Phil Mickelson, group chat (23:44)
  • “I’m very defeated right now…” (23:51)
  • “He then… sells half his stock… But then, Pablo, there's another message… where Phil says, I’m buying it back.” — Sam Koppelman (24:08)
• The last-ditch hope: getting Trump’s administration to bypass California regulators by shipping oil via tanker instead of pipeline, with plans to name the tanker “Trump One” and appeal directly to Trump with symbolic overtures.
  • “I've suggested this, it's been ramped up to DJT… we ought to change the name to Ocean America…” — Big Jim Flores (25:37)

6. Deflection, Deniability, and Doxxing (28:15–29:44)

• When Koppelman requested comment, Mickelson refused, then posted Koppelman’s phone number in the group chat, leading to doxxing attempts and prank Craigslist ads.
  • “They tried to dox me by putting up a Craigslist post with my number on it.” — Sam Koppelman (29:00)
• Sable initially denied the legitimacy of incriminating calls, claiming they were AI-generated, only to later confirm key details during a press conference.

7. Regulatory Fallout and the End of the Pipeline Dream (33:18–36:41)

• Sable’s stock crashed 60%+ post-exposé.
  • “It did not pump. It’s down like 60 or something percent since we published.” — Sam Koppelman (34:33)
• The Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors refused to transfer the pipeline's ownership, crediting Koppelman’s reporting as the “final straw.”
  • “The final straw for me was a Hunter Brook article which was as disturbing as anything I've read.” — Santa Barbara Board Member (35:15)

8. How Much Did Phil Lose? And His Shady Past (36:18–41:15)

• Phil’s investment estimated to be in the tens of millions; exact numbers unknown.
• His anxious texts: “Sable's making him too anxious to go on a hike or to go fishing…”
• Recap of Mickelson’s previous insider trading entanglements tied to Billy Walters (who went to prison, but was later pardoned by Trump).

9. How the Trump "Rescue" Playbook Works (42:01–46:21)

• Billy Walters’s commuted sentence (after inside trading conviction) is highlighted as a precedent for Sable’s “play”: Lobby Trump, use private connections, and hope for personal gain through political channels.
• Sable’s plan involved arranging a golf game between Phil Mickelson and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick—Lutnick flatly denied any involvement or knowledge.
• “As you listen to that audio, it’s clear that Sable Offshore thinks… the Trump administration is going to greenlight them if only they put up big gold letters, rename the Pacific Ocean Ocean America, and book tea times for their cabinet secretaries.” — Sam Koppelman (46:21)

10. The End of the Group Chat and "Phil the Writer" (47:13–47:47)

• The group chat dissolved after doxx threats and exposure; Mickelson now has more time “to play golf, or write more erotic fanfic on X.”

Notable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• "If you can just get in front of him, you’ve got a shot." — Sam Koppelman (03:31)
• "Phil Mickelson messages a group of people... This erotic fanfic from Phil Mickelson reads, ‘Big Daddy Trump ready to swing his 14 inch in front of Newsom’s face. Will drive up any stock.’" — Sam Koppelman (07:03)
• “We need an actual prayer. I don’t see a clear path forward…” — Phil Mickelson, group chat (23:44)
• “The sheer accounting of all of this... [Phil] wagered a total of more than a billion dollars during the past three decades.” — Billy Walters (16:23)
• "It did not pump. It's down like 60 or something percent since we published." — Sam Koppelman (34:33)
• “The final straw for me was a Hunter Brook article which was as disturbing as anything I've read.” — Santa Barbara Board Member (35:15)
• "Say what you will about Phil Mickelson, the man has conviction." — Sam Koppelman (39:21)
• “As you listen to that audio, it’s clear that Sable Offshore thinks… the Trump administration is going to greenlight them if only they put up big gold letters, rename the Pacific Ocean Ocean America, and book tea times for their cabinet secretaries.” — Sam Koppelman (46:21)
• "You know, I think he's got a lot of promise as a writer… I'm not sure I would deploy it on the platform known as X, but..." — Sam Koppelman (47:32)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 03:00 – "The Trump Playbook": How everyone in trouble tries to reach the ex-president
• 06:45 – The Phil Mickelson group chat "erotic fanfic"
• 11:00 – Origin story of Sable Offshore and the California oil pipeline
• 14:07 - 17:30 – Phil Mickelson’s gambling addiction, Billy Walters’ perspective, inside info leaks
• 22:05 – Evidence of insider information in group chat
• 23:44 – Phil’s desperate messages about the investment
• 25:19 – Sable’s plan to ship oil via tanker and appeal to Trump
• 28:15 - 29:44 – Phil’s response: doxxing the reporter, Craigslist pranks
• 33:18 - 35:15 – Regulatory response, stock price collapse, Santa Barbara Board votes pipeline down
• 36:18 - 41:15 – Unraveling Phil’s personal loss, his gambling profile, prior insider trading case
• 42:01 - 46:21 – The pattern of seeking Trump’s help, Sable’s farcical access maneuvers
• 47:13 - 47:47 – Group chat meltdown, the story’s absurd denouement

Conclusion

Pablo Torre and Sam Koppelman do what they do best—dissecting urgent cultural weirdness with journalistic rigor and comedic verve. If you want to understand:

• How American celebrity, money, and politics entwine,
• What makes Phil Mickelson tick (hint: gambling, risk, and questionable DMs),
• Or how desperate investors might try to get "rescued" by political power,

...this episode will both inform and highly entertain.

Memorable takeaway:
“The plan is US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick is going to play golf with Phil Mickelson...” (45:20) — The fact that this was considered a plausible linchpin in a multi-million-dollar rescue plot is remarkable, and a fitting summary of the episode’s bizarre intersection of worlds.

Further Information:

• The full article and primary source documents are available via Hunter Brook Media.
• Pablo notes that Phil Mickelson has gone quiet on Sable Offshore since these revelations.

Listen if you enjoy:
Investigative journalism, sports gossip, tales of American excess, and a healthy dose of unfiltered podcast banter.