Dan Bongino Returns to Podcasting with a Vengeance
After a brief nine-month interlude in the corridors of the FBI, former deputy director Dan Bongino has returned to the podcasting world, where his commentary is often as incendiary as it is polarizing.
On the inaugural episode of his revamped show, which aired on Monday, Bongino received a call from none other than President Donald Trump, who offered his well wishes and support. However, the bulk of the episode was a two-hour monologue where Bongino took aim at his longstanding adversaries—chiefly, the mainstream media—while striving to rekindle the fervor of his original audience that had propelled him into the MAGA limelight.
“The podfather is back,” Bongino proclaimed, “and I’m here to reclaim this movement.”
Before his tenure at the FBI, Bongino was a prolific figure in right-wing podcasting, known for his fervent promotion of deep-state conspiracy theories. His role as the agency’s second-in-command placed him at a crossroads, caught between the digital persona he had cultivated and the responsibilities of leading one of the nation’s top law enforcement bodies.
His previous forays into conspiracy theories, particularly regarding the circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s demise, had garnered him a dedicated following. Yet, upon entering the FBI, Bongino found himself under scrutiny for rapidly softening his rhetoric, which led to backlash from some of his former fans who accused him of abandoning their cause.
The launch of Bongino’s show marked a significant moment for him, especially following a tumultuous stint at the FBI. The episode kickstarted with a notable Times Square billboard and attracted around 140,000 viewers initially, peaking at 220,000 on the conservative platform Rumble.
In this newfound freedom, Bongino is not returning to the warmest of receptions. He didn’t hold back in addressing his critics, stating, “I want to address the grifters out there who mistakenly thought I wasn’t coming back.” He added, “This movement’s been hijacked by a small group of dipshits and bums and losers, who are nothing but doomers under the guise of accountability.”
This theme of defiance permeated much of the two-hour broadcast, as Bongino lambasted various detractors. He quipped, “Get your lips and just pucker them up and plant a big wet one on my ass,” directed at “the libs and their media pals.”
He was particularly scathing towards those in the media, whom he accused of being “totally divorced from reality,” and for the alleged leakers within the FBI, he had equally fiery words: “You guys destroyed the place, and you tried to destroy us too. But I’m back now, and you can go fuck yourself.”
As Bongino wrapped up his tirade, he smiled into the camera and declared, “We’re so back. Aren’t we?” Curiously, unlike his previous shows, he largely avoided conspiracy theories—except for a brief moment when his livestream unexpectedly cut out due to a technical glitch. “Rumble is under attack, this show is under attack, this is what these scumbags do,” he remarked. “Can’t have a voice like me speaking out.”
Bongino also provided what he termed “behind the scenes” insights from his FBI days, attempting to clarify decisions that were misunderstood, including the agency’s approach to the Epstein files. “When you’re selected for one of these principal or deputy positions, every decision is a level 10 decision,” he explained. “Find out which one is the shittier decision and avoid it. That’s the best you can do.”
He continued, “Here’s the problem with the Epstein mess. The FBI doesn’t have the evidence many thought it did. … There were not tapes with powerful men raping kids. There was not a list. Epstein’s rolodex was already public. The files are largely unreleasable for many reasons.”
Near the episode’s conclusion, Trump reappeared for a quick chat, discussing various topics including the administration’s crime policies and the welfare fraud scandal in Minnesota. Trump chimed in with his trademark bravado, suggesting that if he were a Democratic governor in Chicago, he would be eager for Trump’s intervention.
“Listen, you did great in the FBI,” Trump told Bongino. “I’m very torn. I think, maybe, I’d rather have you where you are. Very few people can do what you do, and your voice is a very important one.”
Despite the tumult of his FBI experience, Bongino is set to host his show every weekday, and for those anticipating a more subdued version of him post-government, he had a direct message: “All my bullshit detractors or whatever don’t know shit about anything. Throwing popcorn from the front row. We’re the number one livestream in the world. … I’m such a target that they came after the whole damn website. That’s how bad they want to keep me off the air.”
“But I have my first—guys, you ready for this screenshot?—double barrel to those who tried to stop us,” he concluded, flashing two middle fingers to the camera, sealing his comeback with a flourish that underscores the unapologetic nature of his return.
