MMA Analyst Luke Thomas: There’s a Story Here Everyone Is Missing

If you love What Next, join Slate Plus at slate.com/youtubeplus?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=link&utm_content=What_Next&utm_campaign=show_description&tpcc=youtube-link-show_description-What_Next to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you’ll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts.

Trump is planning to celebrate his birthday with a massive UFC fight at the White House. Two Virginians have sued to stop the fight - but its not looking good (and anyway, the arena is already up on the lawn). What is up with the president and combat sports? How is MMA and UFC complicit in propping up his reputation, esp among young men?

How Donald Trump rearranging the White House lawn to accommodate a UFC fight neatly mirrors the way the organization and its parent company have reshaped themselves around the president.

Guest: Luke Thomas, MMA journalist and host of the Morning Kombat podcast. 

Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.

Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Madeline Ducharme, Patrick Fort, Rob Gunther and Paige Osburn. 

Social:
@maryharris on Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/maryharris.bsky.social

Note: Captions are auto-generated by YouTube.

Learn more: https://slate.com/podcasts/what-next

Follow Slate on Social:
Slate on Twitter - https://twitter.com/Slate
Slate Podcasts on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SlatePodcasts
Slate on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slate
Slate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slate

Видео MMA Analyst Luke Thomas: There’s a Story Here Everyone Is Missing канала Slate