**Headline: Dan Bongino’s Back, and He’s Not Holding Back – But Is Anyone Listening?**
So, after a nine-month detour running the FBI, former deputy director Dan Bongino is back in the podcasting game. He kicked off his comeback with a Monday episode that featured a brief call from Donald Trump, who was all about the good vibes for Bongino, who left the bureau in December. But let’s be real — this was mostly Bongino’s two-hour monologue where he took aim at his old nemesis: the mainstream media.
He declared himself “the podfather” and made it clear he’s here to reclaim the MAGA movement. Before he traded in his microphone for an FBI badge, Bongino was all about the wild conspiracy theories that had his followers riled up, especially regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s suspicious death. But after a gig at the FBI, where he was supposed to be part of the system he used to rail against, he was caught playing a tricky game of balancing act. His former fans weren’t impressed when he seemed to tone down the rhetoric.
This podcast launch was a big deal for Bongino, complete with a flashy billboard in Times Square. His return attracted around 140,000 viewers right off the bat, peaking at 220,000. Not too shabby, but let’s not forget, he’s diving back into an audience that hasn’t exactly been rolling out the welcome mat.
During his show, he had a few choice words for critics. He called out “grifters” who thought he was done, labeling them “dipshits, bums, and losers.” Talk about making friends! He was particularly scathing towards media types, claiming they’re “totally divorced from reality.” And for those he accused of leaking from the FBI? He didn’t hold back, telling them they could “go fuck yourself.”
After a long rant, he grinned at the camera and asked, “Aren’t we back?” The irony here is rich, especially since he steered clear of most conspiracy theories — until a technical glitch cut his livestream. Suddenly, he was back to claiming, “Rumble is under attack,” as if he’s some kind of free speech martyr.
Bongino then tried to clarify his time at the FBI, especially regarding the Epstein files. He claimed the bureau didn’t have the bombshell evidence many imagined, saying there were no tapes of powerful men committing crimes, just a public rolodex. He argued that the information people were clamoring for just wasn’t there, which is a far cry from the tales he spun before.
As the show wound down, Trump called in again, praising Bongino’s efforts at the FBI and urging him to stick to the mic. Trump even took shots at Democrats, claiming if he were in charge of Chicago, he’d be begging for Trump to come help. Classic Trump.
Bongino plans to keep his show rolling every weekday, and if anyone thought he’d be more subdued after his time in the government, think again. He ended his episode with a message to his critics: “All my bullshit detractors… don’t know shit about anything.” He even flipped the bird to the camera, as if that’s going to win over any new fans.
So, here’s the question: is Bongino really back, or is he just trying to reclaim a throne that’s already got a few contenders? Either way, you’ve got to love the drama.
