NOTE: This piece first appeared on NYNewsPress.com.
By Richard Luthmann with Michael Volpe
Elon Musk’s “America Party” Push: Can Tech Billionaires Fix Politics?
The Unknown Podcast 46 kicked off with a bang, diving into Elon Musk’s announcement of a new political party—dubbed the “America Party.” Co-host Michael Volpe was skeptical but intrigued.
“Democrats and Republicans have dominated since the 1850s,” Volpe said. “Elon has 220 million Twitter followers. That’s not nothing.”
Volpe compared Musk’s ambitions to Tesla’s rise: “In 2004, Tesla was a joke. Now it rivals Ford and GM. Can Musk do the same in politics?”
Richard Luthmann was less bullish.
“Musk is a great engineer. He builds. But politics? He’s out of his league,” Luthmann said. “Unless it’s a pro-wrestling act with Trump, I don’t buy it.”
The co-hosts discussed Musk’s central issue—federal debt. Volpe explained, “Since Obama, we haven’t seen real growth. Clinton grew GDP by 3.8% a year. Debt is stifling investment.”
But Luthmann was blunt. “Debt isn’t sexy. It doesn’t make headlines. How many pornos take place in an accountant’s office?”
They also dropped a legal bomb: New York election law bans party names with “America.” “That’s a First Amendment lawsuit waiting to happen,” said Luthmann. “Maybe Elon’s already breaking the law.”
Whether Musk can galvanize independents or just fracture the vote remains to be seen. “He might be the middle’s power broker,” Luthmann added, “but I still think it’s a long shot.”
Epstein, Bondi, and the Nonexistent Client List
Next up: the ever-controversial Jeffrey Epstein saga. The hosts clashed over Florida official Pam Bondi’s Fox News claim that Epstein’s client list “was sitting on my desk.”
“She said it was on her desk,” Volpe said. “Now the government says there is no list. She should be fired.”
Luthmann disagreed. “Pam Bondi’s doing a great job. She got snowjobbed by the Deep State. This is classic bureaucratic sabotage.”
Volpe argued that people romanticize conspiracy theories. “Lee Harvey Oswald? Lone gunman. Tupac? Shot in a turf war. Epstein? Probably killed himself facing life as a pariah.”
Luthmann pushed back hard. “The autopsy said Epstein had to be a Cirque du Soleil performer to kill himself the way they claim. That’s not nothing.”
Volpe held firm. “Maxwell trafficked girls to Epstein, not to clients. No evidence was presented about other men. We want a list because we want a conspiracy.”
Luthmann invoked Bill Clinton’s connections and said the public deserves real answers. “There were powerful people flying to that island. That’s not a coincidence.”
Diddy Beats the Feds—But Is It a Win?
In a surprising turn, the podcast shifted its focus to the recent trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs. The verdict? Acquitted on most charges—convicted only of two prostitution-related counts.
“No one predicted this,” said Volpe. “Prosecution witnesses crumbled under cross-examination. The jury didn’t buy it.”
But Luthmann wasn’t impressed.
“Where’s Diddy now? MDC Brooklyn. He’ll be in a federal prison doing five years.”
He slammed Diddy’s legal team.
“With his money, he should’ve walked. You don’t get the B-team when your freedom’s on the line. Arthur Aidala would have walked him out of that courtroom.”
Volpe disagreed.
“They poked enough holes to plant reasonable doubt. That’s how you win.”
Luthmann remained unimpressed.
“He got denied bail. That tells you the judge thinks time is coming.”
They agreed the trial was a black eye for the DOJ.
“Through two administrations, they couldn’t seal the deal,” Volpe said. “That’s embarrassing.”
Tucker Carlson and the “Woke Right’s” Dangerous Dance
The co-hosts then torched Tucker Carlson for his softball interview with the president of Iran.
“He lets the guy claim Iran has never done violence. It’s state-sponsored terror central!” Luthmann exploded. “He’s lost credibility.”
Volpe noted Carlson’s pattern: “He interviews Putin. He interviews Iran. But never Ukraine. Never Israel. That’s a problem.”
Luthmann said the term “Woke Right” applies, accusing Carlson of pushing isolationist, conspiratorial narratives.
“He gives platforms to enemies of America and ignores our greatest allies,” Luthmann says.
Volpe called out the hypocrisy: “The same people crying about DEI hires ignore that white men dominate every corporate C-suite.”
They also accused Carlson of platforming Holocaust deniers.
“He’s peddling anti-Semitic garbage,” Luthmann said. “He needs to get his head on straight or get the hell off the air.”
They warned Carlson’s brand of pseudo-populism is harming America.
“There was no ‘drumbeat for war’ with Iran,” Volpe said. “That’s Tucker’s fantasy.”
Trump’s Holy War on the Johnson Amendment
The segment closed with a bombshell: Trump’s IRS just stopped enforcing the Johnson Amendment, allowing churches to endorse political candidates.
Volpe questioned the constitutionality.
“Jefferson said church and state should be separate. This invites political churches.”
Luthmann disagreed. “Churches are foundational to moral order. Banning them from politics violates speech and association rights.”
He continued, “The 1954 rule was political—Lyndon Johnson was scared of religious truth-tellers. LBJ was a SCUMBAG.”
Volpe responded, “It’s simple. If you want to stay tax exempt, don’t endorse candidates.”
Luthmann invoked Aristotle and Aquinas.
“Man is political by nature. You can’t separate faith from governance,” he said.
The two agreed it’s a major cultural shift.
“Now churches can slam or praise Trump from the pulpit,” Volpe concluded. “We’ll see how that plays in 2026.”
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