Luke Thomas

I had the opportunity to guest lecture at the University of Maryland on the relationship between MMA and the political right. We start from social sorting and psychology influences and then get to fascism in 1930s Brazil to the modern UFC-MAGA alliance and more. open.substack.com/pub/lthomas/...

Lula winning is (almost) every Brazilian fighter’s 9/11.

UFC fighter Bobby Green livestreams himself running a red light and causing an accident... A+ dumb content...

Watching TKO and Canelo humiliate themselves by forcing through on Saudi events while the country is literally being bombed tells you how utterly addicted and central to their business sportswashing dollars are.

MMA as a vector for the stupidest version of right-wing politics? Brother, that train is never late.

In Eli Clifton & Ian Lustick's new book, they argue AIPAC shouldn't be thought of as trying to promote policies that would be good for the state of Israel. Rather, they argue, AIPAC exists to limit what can be debated, questioned or even discussed. Here's our convo: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y2i...

Would you rather have a cool gold chain or talk MMA with Rogan? Thanks to the Mark VR App, you don’t have to decide!

A new book chronicles how the Israel lobby in the U.S. came to be one of the most powerful while amassing treasure from smaller but richer donors. Its tactics have shifted and so has its focus, pushing into eroding civil liberties at home. My convo w/ the authors lthomas.substack.com/p/how-the-is...

How did a famous, lying UFC vet get shot conducting shadowy paramilitary operations in the Congo? defector.com/how-did-a-fa...

ICYMI: The UFC is now airing anti-Democratic Party ads from the MAGA, Inc. super PAC during live UFC broadcasts: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_36...

There are myriad issues with combat sports and lifting rooms, but at their best, an embrace of what they have to offer can be transformative for confidence and self awareness.

If nothing else, we've learned top tennis players have much more power than UFC or WWE main eventers. Novak may be a jerk, but he's not stupid & he ain't flying into a warzone.

Anytime I make the mistake of reading an MMA fighter’s opinion on anything other than punching people in the face I feel dumber as a result of the experience.

I saw the NAZA documentary today. While much of the reporting is not new, hearing from those who made the Israeli killing machine in Gaza operable through AI surveillance helps underscore its depth, scope and depravity. My reaction: youtu.be/TF8WTAFMvV4?...

I saw the NAZA documentary today. While much of the reporting is not new, hearing from those who made the Israeli killing machine in Gaza operable through AI surveillance helps underscore its depth, scope and depravity. My reaction: youtu.be/TF8WTAFMvV4?...

it is deeply annoying to enjoy MMA as a combat sport while 95% of the fandom and the participants are the worst chuds imaginable

NEW POD! Luke Thomas (@lukethomas.bsky.social) on the Senate version of the Ali Act, Nico’s flip, if the bill becomes law, more. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

I spoke with the journalist doing the best coverage of the attempt to destroy the Ali Act in Congress. We discuss how decisive Nico Ali Walsh's disappointing turn is for TKO, why lefty media ignored the story completely and where things stand with the bill: lthomas.substack.com/p/boxing-ali...

I spoke with the journalist doing the best coverage of the attempt to destroy the Ali Act in Congress. We discuss how decisive Nico Ali Walsh's disappointing turn is for TKO, why lefty media ignored the story completely and where things stand with the bill: lthomas.substack.com/p/boxing-ali...

The worst part of Bonta caving on the Paramount merger is that it's a big flashing signal to every other company that there is no antitrust enforcement in America and you can bully your way into getting whatever you want. It's a monumentally bad decision.

Left-wing media is divorced from anything combat sports related. This is likely due to there being little political and even cultural overlap between who occupies those worlds. This is extremely unfortunate because legislation or biz practices lefty media typically would cover go untouched.

i love polls that are like "BREAKING: 64% of country now aware of most painfully obvious liar and crook in national history"

UPDATE: Ed Sheeran’s backup band and openers quit his tour.

Of all the late stage Trump theories, wants the world to die with him seems increasingly credible.

Man, I can’t believe a prominent member of the MMA community used their celebrity to publicly endorse MAGA politics. How unusual.

MMA had a brief moment where it could highlight unique human interest stories or serve as emergent, almost punk rock cultural phenomena. Now it’s a vector for right-wing politics and home to low IQ dipshits desperately seeking Darwin Awards.

Fantastic thumbnail work from @lukethomas.bsky.social.

When I first started making the argument MMA was a vector for right-wing politics (esp. in Western Hemisphere), I got fierce blowback at the suggestion. Now it's conventional wisdom repeated in the Financial Times.

Watching @lukethomas.bsky.social on CNN and I’m losing my mind at these dog shit bad faith attacks against AES and Hasan youtu.be/k9VIChHPjPM?...

NEW: ICE agents demanded that REI turn over the names of "all persons" who bought a green beanie from the outdoor retailer over the past two years as part of their probe of protesters who entered a St. Paul church in March. @regret.bsky.social w/ the scoop: www.wired.com/story/ice-wa...

I’m actually looking forward to this. For as long as the humiliation exists, it’ll be delicious.

Me on CNN: there isn't actually *any good data* that shows how Abdul El Sayed is doing with Jewish voters. What exists only applies to the primary and even that is very scant. New polls show him 5+ on Rogers, so why are we assuming he has to dig out of a hole? www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9VI...

We are allowing barbarism and unfathomable state violence all in the name of national self harm from immigration illiteracy.

The downstream consequences of declining higher ed enrollment - especially while the Trump administration makes the problem worse by reducing the number of international students - is an under appreciated story.

Combat sports is so odious and broken in 2026 that venues have to issue apologies for hosting Nazi kickboxing events.

I’ve been trying to warn everyone. Now they’re waving Nazi flags openly at combat sports events.

Dem leadership isn’t digging their own graves. They’re digging ours.

Luke is spot-on in this one! This has to be the lowest-IQ, most idiotic smear job ever to come out of the mainstream media and the Democratic Party. It’s fucking backfiring big time! The Dem leadership is digging their own political graves! @lukethomas.bsky.social youtu.be/25XkzVrxpQw?...

Amazing to live in a country where the secret police are handling inter-chud beefs. It's like the Night of Long Knives playing out in the parking lot of a Dollar General.

The original, terrifying IT. His performance gave my brother and I nightmares as kids. He could do terror, but truly, he could do anything. Incredible range for a natural-born performer. What a brilliant talent. He’ll be missed.

This is what the growth of surveillance is going to bring. Not safety from crime, but new, non-criminal acts redefined as criminal so as to give the police an excuse to exercise power. local12.com/news/offbeat...

More thoughts from me--- and a breakdown of the arbitrator's decision. The Washington Post Fired Me. I Fought—and Won My Job Back. karenattiah.substack.com/p/the-washin...