What A Day – "Laura Loomer's Rise To The Top"

Host: Jane Coaston (Crooked Media)
Guest: Will Sommer (Senior Reporter, The Bulwark)
Date: September 9, 2025
Main Theme:
An in-depth look at how Laura Loomer—a once-fringe right-wing influencer notorious for her extreme views and stunts—ascended to a position of major influence in the Trump administration, with particular focus on the broader phenomenon of MAGA media personalities shaping federal power.

Episode Overview

This episode dives into Laura Loomer's astonishing rise from online provocateur to a pivotal insider with the Trump White House, dissecting the mechanics of MAGA influencer power, their personal relationships, and the real-world impacts of their newfound authority. Host Jane Coaston is joined by Will Sommer for a candid and sharp discussion illuminating how figures once considered "too fringe" now steer national decisions.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Changing Nature of Trump’s Inner Circle

• Jane Coaston sets the stage, noting that while Trump had some qualified officials in his first administration, the current roster is now "chock full of the weirdest people the MAGA world has to offer" ([00:54]).
• She highlights Pete Hegseth (Secretary of Defense/War), Pauline Gracia (controversial podcaster nominated for Office of Special Counsel), and most notably, Laura Loomer.

2. Laura Loomer’s Emergence as a Power Player

• Will Sommer identifies Loomer as “at the top of the list” among current MAGA insiders ([03:00]).
• Loomer’s penchant for taking down perceived enemies is recounted:
  • Purged key figures from the NSA and NSC.
  • Instrumental in the ouster of vaccine regulators at the FDA.

“She got the general counsel at the NSA out. I mean, she purged the National Security Council… She got the head of vaccine treatments… ousted at the FDA. The list goes on.”
— Will Sommer ([03:01])

3. Other Influential MAGA Media Personalities

• Jack Posobiec: Noted as a Pizzagate proponent and now a regular at high-level, “bizarro” press briefings ([03:34]).
• Charlie Kirk: Runs Turning Point USA. Trump personally reached out to him to steer the conversation around Jeffrey Epstein ([03:56]).

4. The Loomer Paradox: Loyalty Above All

• Jane probes how Loomer, infamous for stunts like chaining herself to Twitter HQ, reached her current level of access with “absolutely nothing” changed about her “manic” style or extreme beliefs ([04:27]).
• Sommer attributes her success to “incredibly intense loyalty”—her sole focus is Trump, even at personal cost ([05:17]).
• Loomer’s actions often veer into the cruel or illogical, such as:
  • Smearing a Medal of Honor recipient for “disloyalty” ([05:47]).
  • Blocking medical visas for injured Gaza children with a single online campaign:

  “Within 48 hours, she manages to get all these children and adults blocked from receiving medical treatment. That is how much influence she has.”
  — Will Sommer ([06:31])

5. Loomer’s Endgame and Personal Motivation

• Although obsessed with Trump, Loomer expressed ambitions beyond sycophancy: seeking roles in the administration, possibly White House press secretary, and a lucrative post-Trump career ([07:17]).
• Will Sommer references her deposition during her lawsuit against Bill Maher, which revealed her own aspirations for cable gigs and foundation roles ([07:42]).

6. Tactics and Sources of Influence

• Loomer claims hard work and poring over filings, but Sommer suspects she “is being leaked information from within the administration” ([08:24]).
• She’s become an attack dog for various White House factions, sometimes in suspicious alignment with industry (e.g., alleged ties to Big Pharma, though unproven) ([08:46]).

7. Why Is She Irremovable?

• Jane notes she’s widely disliked even among MAGA figures—Marjorie Taylor Greene is cited as a high-profile rival—but Trump keeps her close because she’s “really effective” at attacking his perceived enemies ([09:20]).
• The interpersonal drama among MAGA media personalities frequently drives real-world policy consequences ([10:00]).

8. What This Means for US Governance

• Sommer concludes that the elevation of such characters signals nothing good:

  “These people who we recognized… as sort of very unsavory or unhinged characters… now are regularly visiting the White House and calling the shots to some extent.”
  — Will Sommer ([10:28])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Murdoch Succession:

  “I'm sure [Lachlan Murdoch] will enjoy being loathed by one of this country's two main political factions for the rest of his life. And honestly, it could be either faction at any time.”
  — Jane Coaston ([00:15])

• On Loomer’s Devotion:

  “I've given up having a family, having kids. I've devoted my life to Donald Trump.”
  — Paraphrased from Loomer via Will Sommer ([05:25])

• On MAGA Strategy:

  “She’s sort of being used, and I’m sure she doesn’t mind it, by various factions… If they want to take someone out, they’ll leak against someone—some unflattering information or a tweet…”
  — Will Sommer ([08:24])

• On Loomer's Widespread Dislike:

  “Among MAGA people and especially among Republicans who are MAGA adjacent and are kind of putting up with a lot of this, none of them like Laura Loomer. They all very much dislike her.”
  — Jane Coaston ([09:20])

• On MAGA Infighting Affecting Policy:

  “…the sad reality is that often does affect our policies and sort of the future of this country.”
  — Will Sommer ([10:16])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:02] — Show open & context-setting
• [03:00] — The MAGA influencer family tree: Loomer at the top
• [04:27] — Loomer’s improbable rise & 9/11 trutherism juxtaposed
• [05:17] — Unpacking Loomer’s obsessive loyalty and influence
• [06:31] — Loomer's real-world policy impact: medical visa ban
• [07:17] — Her career ambitions and the Maher lawsuit fallout
• [08:24] — How Loomer obtains information and acts as a conduit
• [09:20] — Why Trump and key MAGA figures keep her in power despite universal dislike
• [10:28] — What Loomer’s rise says about the state of the administration

Overall Tone and Takeaway

The conversation is incisive, irreverent, and worried—a blend of darkly comic disgust and sobering analysis. Jane Coaston’s irrepressible wit and Will Sommer’s deep familiarity with the right-wing media ecosystem make for an engaging, accessible walkthrough of why Loomer’s rise is both astonishing and alarming. The message is clear: the American far-right’s most extreme online influencers are no longer outsiders—they are, in some cases, running the show.

For those seeking to understand how internet provocateurs overtook established political figures in the Trump administration—and what it means for the country—this episode is a must-listen.