Andrew Schulz Takes Credit for Trump's Election Night Thumping

For about three days, I considered moving Andrew Schulz over from my list, “Men who should be banned from public speaking,” to my other list, “Men who can keep their podcast mics.” Then, the latest episode of Flagrant released, and he bounced right back into the first column. His overwhelming self-satisfaction with his own political importance is not only nauseating but also a little scary. He might be almost as influential as he believes he is.

The opening of Flagrant’s Thursday episode starts with Schulz saying, “What's up everybody? Welcome to the most powerful podcast on the fucking planet. Put some respect on our names. We getting dictators elected. We getting communists elected. Whoever the fuck we want.”

It’s a far stretch to say that Flagrant got Donald Trump elected; though their softball interview weeks before the 2024 presidential election certainly didn’t hurt Trump. It is also a stretch to say that Flagrant got Zohran Mamdani elected; though their buddy buddy interview with the candidate the week before the New York City mayoral election certainly didn’t hurt. 

It is notable that Schulz calls Trump a dictator, though he’s clearly speaking in hyperbole, as he then goes on to call Mamdani a communist—he’s a Democratic socialist. 

But still, there’s been a shift in the show recently, climaxing at the decision to bring on Mamdani. Now, Schulz and his co-host Akaash Singh seem to be drunk on their political power. 

“So what's the deal? Should we charge more for ads? Like what's really going on when you have this much power?” Schulz asked. 

In a cacophony of cross-talk, the Flagrant panel erupted: 

“We want all the credit!”

“If we got all the credit for getting Trump elected, you better keep that same energy.” 

“All the credit.” 

“Unless things go sideways, in which case…”

“We want the left to give us all the credit cuz they're very happy right now,” Schulz joked. “So, give us all the credit because you scapegoat us for Trump.” 

It is true that Mamdani’s win was part of a sweeping victory against Trump-backed candidates in the November 4 elections. Elsewhere, a Democrat beat Republican challengers in both Virginia and New Jersey. The failures nationwide signaled to many political experts on both sides of the party that Trump and the Republican Party may face real trouble against Democrats in the 2026 midterms, which could radically shift Trump’s ability to carry out his radical policy agenda. 

Whoever comes out on top in this divisive political moment, the Flagrant bros believe themselves to be quite well positioned, having interviewed both Mamdani and Trump. 

“We gave you Trump. Be happy. We gave you both gifts,” the podcast host continued, sounding a bit nasally this week. “We're very benevolent. We might be the most benevolent podcast.”

I don’t know how long playing both sides will work—maybe forever. But it is a frightening thought that podcast hosts are now legitimate political power brokers in America. That’s probably not going to work out well for any of us.