AFTER HOURS WITH ALEX STEIN – March 30, 2026 (Real America’s Voice / iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Summary & Highlights

Episode Overview

Broadcasting live from CPAC in Dallas, Texas, Alex Stein hosts a fast-paced, irreverent, and combative episode featuring interviews, grassroots color commentary, and satirical takes on current conservative issues. The episode’s main theme revolves around the state of the conservative movement, intra-party friction, pop culture, gender and identity debates, and loyalty to “America First” values—with signature Stein humor and theatricality throughout. Notably, the episode includes high-energy man-on-the-street segments, interviews with key candidates (Brandon Herrera, Mark Lynch), conservative movement figures (Enrique Tarrio, Jerry Brooks, Bo French), and detransitioner advocates, as well as biting commentary on both party insiders and mainstream media.

Key Discussion Points & Segment Breakdown

1. CPAC on the Ground: Setting the Scene

• [02:04] Alex introduces the event from CPAC in Dallas—describing it as one of the “biggest conservative political events in the country.” Personality-driven, the show aims to provide unfiltered access, roam the venue, and highlight both high-profile and everyday participants.

2. GOP Primary Battles & Critique of Party Insiders

Interview: Brandon Herrera (Congressional Candidate, Texas) [02:39]

• Herrera discusses replacing Tony Gonzalez and running against an opponent Herrera characterizes as “very large” and anti-2A, pro-child drag shows, and “not anything actual Texans will support.”
• Brandon Herrera: “We're in an R +7 district, but you never want to get too complacent… We've just stepped in and started doing the job already, just advocating to the White House, to DHS on behalf of the district.” [02:39]
• Guns and “culture war” issues front and center. Alex quips about “amnesty for big booty Latinas” as a recurring gag.
• Alex: “Are you going to give amnesty to big booty Latinas? Because I think if you're a nine, you're fine.” [03:36]
• Herrera jokes, “We'll talk to you about it when we get there.” [03:41]

Interview: Mark Lynch (Senate Candidate, SC) [04:06]

• Criticizes Lindsey Graham for being a “closeted homosexual” and claims Graham is more interested in foreign wars than local constituents.
• Mark Lynch: “He has a blood lust, a sick war monger’s heart… He’s all about war… his other nickname, Gramnesty, Glamnesty.” [06:02]
• Lynch frames his campaign through Christian family values, business acumen, and ties to Roger Stone and Trump strategy.
• Mark Lynch: “We bring a great present to our country with the removal of a traitor.” [07:41]

3. Pop Culture, Satire, and Race

• Alex employs provocative, often intentionally offensive humor. Ongoing jokes about “big booty Latinas,” race, and identity politics; makes light of conservative talking points and turns them on their head.
• Alex on AOC: “Look at that booty on aoc. That's my favorite big booty.” [01:34]
• Exchanges with black and Iranian-American attendees at CPAC, satirizing tokenism and challenging stereotypes.
• Alex: “You'll never catch a black person doing a school shooting. You know, because they don't really go to school.” [08:54] (Satirical, edgy humor).

4. Gender, Detransitioners, and Culture Wars

Interview: Detransition Advocates [33:01–38:16]

• Claire Abernathy (detransitioner) & Simon Amaya Price (detransitioner and activist) share personal stories of transitioning and detransitioning, parental and therapist involvement, and hostile backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates.
• Claire: “...when I was 13 and a half, almost 14, they took me to a therapist… who told them that all of these other issues that I had, my eating disorder and my self harm, were because I was actually a boy and they wouldn't affirm me.” [34:50]
• Discuss harassment and death threats received for their public advocacy against gender ideology.
• Claire: “It's a cult, and we are apostates, and so they can't have that.” [36:17]
• Simon has worked to support others leaving transition and passing bills to restrict youth gender medical interventions: “I've directly had probably 5D transition.” [37:12]

5. Conservative Movement Infighting & Realignment

Interview: Enrique Tarrio (Proud Boys leader) [15:58–26:46]

• Tarrio discusses being denied CPAC access, factional infighting, and criticism of “gatekeepers” like Josh Hammer, who he accuses of dividing the MAGA coalition.
• Enrique Tarrio: “This guy that wasn’t a Trumper is trying to gatekeep what our movement is.” [18:11]
• Predicts future realignment: “All they're doing is creating the next movement in conservatism… very, very, they're not very pro Israel in these cases. They have a view on foreign policy.” [21:30]
• Debate on the Trump/Proud Boys “stand back, stand by” moment:
  • Tarrio: “I didn't really take it as a rally cry, but I did take it as, hey, stand by me. And we have. And I have. I've stood by the President.” [22:11]
• Tarrio predicts Republican losses in the midterms and a symbolic Trump impeachment, ultimately seeing it as a rallying event for the base.
  • “Impeachment doesn't really mean anything. Democrats have already taken the meaning out of impeachment.” [24:00]
• Promotes his forthcoming memoir and candidly discusses prison and movement loyalty.

6. CPAC Grassroots Vibe: Family, Diversity, and Protest

• Alex’s father, Harold Stein, shares his impressions of CPAC:
  • Notes diversity of attendees and “weird” presence of Iranian protesters. [27:26–28:39]
• Ben Berkwam (RAV Media) and Bo French (Texas Conservative/Regulator Runoff Candidate):
  • Comment on protest culture and dangers of complacency. [29:19–32:45]
  • French pushes back on regulation and “fake conservatives,” plans a major campaign party with prominent Texas figures.

7. Satirical Social Critique & Fox News Jabs

• Frequent shots at Fox News (“just boomer bullcrap”).
• COVID-19/vaccine misinformation used for comic effect.
  • Alex: “I posted on Facebook that if you got the vaccine, it would turn you gay. That's not true. If you got vaccinated, you were already gay to start with. That's the order of operations, guys.” [14:13]

8. Representation and Black Conservatism

Interview: Jerry Brooks (Black Conservative Podcaster) [41:13–48:54]

• Brooks offers his experience as a black conservative; reflects on the influence of Thomas Sowell and difficulties in the movement.
  • “In the early years, yeah, it was hard… But then I realized over the years, coming up... really learning from some of the great minds.” [44:31]
• Lively debate on the “hottest congresswoman,” humor about masculinity, and the importance of loyalty and family values.
• Brooks underscores generational legacy (“Tar Heel born, Tar Heel bred…”) and has fun with Fox, AI, and “in black and right” branding.

9. U.S. Foreign Policy, the Draft & Veterans

Interview: Tom Morrissey (Vietnam Vet) [49:17–50:27]

• Proud to have served, advocates for a military draft for national experience, but would exclude women from combat roles due to POW concerns.

10. Citizen Journalism & Grassroots Media

• [50:52] Michael Casey describes viral moment interviewing Mike Lindell as Lindell is served court papers live at CPAC.
• Ashley Holland promotes citizen journalism work with the James O’Keefe Media Group.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mark Lynch: “Poly means many and ticks are blood sucking parasites. And that's what this game is.” [05:09]
• Enrique Tarrio: “I have a level of loyalty to the president… that doesn't mean his appointees don't get the brunt of… my criticism.” [18:43]
• Alex Stein: “Neither parent wanted me because I was that bad. And so what I learned was, is that dogs have races. Yeah… Chihuahuas are obviously Mexican… pit bulls are obviously black people…” [11:45]
• Claire Abernathy: “It's a cult, and we are apostates, and so they can't have that. We sort of challenge the idea that kids 100% of the time know who they are…” [36:17]
• Alex Stein (recurring): “If you’re a nine, you’re fine. If you’re an eight, we don’t need an immigration debate. If you’re a seven… oh, thank heaven.” [13:31]

Useful Timestamps

• [02:39] Brandon Herrera interview (guns, Texas politics)
• [04:06] Mark Lynch interview (Graham critique, foreign policy)
• [15:58] Enrique Tarrio interview (movement, Trump, infighting)
• [27:26] Alex’s Father reflects on first CPAC
• [30:54] Bo French interview (oil industry, Texas politics)
• [33:01] Detransitioners’ stories
• [41:13] Jerry Brooks interview (black conservatism, movement)
• [49:17] Tom Morrissey on draft, women in military
• [50:52] Mike Lindell served live/interview with O’Keefe Media Group

Episode Tone and Takeaways

• Energetic, irreverent, provocative: Alex Stein’s trademark style runs throughout, veering between performance art, social satire, political outrage, and open mockery of opponents both right and left.
• Insider/outsider friction: The episode highlights generational and ideological divides within the conservative coalition, with criticism both of establishment “gatekeepers” and progressive adversaries.
• A focus on culture and identity: Identity politics, gender, race, and representations of masculinity are persistent through-lines, often delivered through biting or taboo-pushing jokes.
• Calls for activism: Repeated appeals for activism (“show up and vote!”) and protection of core conservative industries (guns, oil) underscore the sense of urgency Stein and his guests want to convey.
• Real America’s Voice branding: Several reminders to eschew legacy media, embrace alternative networks, and “watch Real America’s Voice.”

Conclusion

This episode offers a high-octane, often controversial snapshot of the current American conservative movement, as seen through the no-filter lens of Alex Stein at CPAC Dallas. It combines campaign insight, culture war flashpoints, and both self-mocking and hard-hitting commentary—punctuated by interviews with activist outsiders, candidate insiders, and a rotating cast of colorful characters.