Conservative podcasters reduce mentions of Donald Trump

An analysis of nearly 70,000 hours of political podcasts reveals that conservative influencers are mentioning President Donald Trump significantly less than during the 2024 election cycle. Mentions of the president per hour on conservative podcasts have declined by nearly 70 percent from their peak.

This shift appears linked to growing dissent within the MAGA movement regarding the U.S. military conflict in Iran. Since the launch of strikes against Iran in late February, monthly mentions of Trump on conservative podcasts have dropped by an additional 30 percent. Prominent media figures, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, have publicly criticized the administration's involvement in the war, with Carlson describing the conflict as a betrayal of 'America First' policies.

While Trump has sought to remain the central figure of the Republican party's midterm efforts, the focus of conservative media has shifted. For example, Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico has emerged as a frequently discussed figure on these platforms, surpassing other high-profile Democrats in mention frequency.