(Photo by Theo Von/YouTube)
Theo Von, once counted among the influential podcast hosts credited with helping Donald Trump reconnect with young male voters, appears to be charting a different course. A year after Trump’s inauguration, the comedian is now signaling a shift in tone and sympathy, this time toward Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Von, 45, recently hosted the independent Vermont senator on his popular podcast, This Past Weekend. During the wide-ranging interview, the two found common ground while discussing Trump’s use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota and the fatal shooting of 37-year-old mother Renee Good by an ICE agent.
Sanders did not hold back in his criticism. “What Trump is using ICE for now is a domestic military operation,” he said. “You don’t shoot somebody in the head who was in their car. It’s Trump saying, ‘I have the power.’ This is what Trumpism is about. It’s intimidation.”
Von agreed with the senator’s concerns. “I agree, like, Trump has an authoritarian energy,” he replied.
With more than 4.42 million YouTube subscribers and an audience that reaches tens of millions each week, Von’s voice carries weight, particularly among younger listeners who increasingly identify as Republican. During the conversation, he told Sanders that he believes the need for a viable third political party in the United States has never been greater.
He also praised several Democrats he views as forward-thinking, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Ro Khanna. “Guys like Ro Khanna, people who are inspired by him, I like a lot of things he has to say… he’s a forward thinker,” Von said.
Von was part of a wave of podcast hosts who boosted Trump’s appeal during the 2024 campaign by offering the then-candidate long, friendly interviews. Yet in recent months, he has publicly broken with Trump on several issues, especially immigration. In October, he criticized the Department of Homeland Security for using his video clips in deportation-related content without permission.
“Yooo DHS i didnt approve to be used in this. I know you know my address so send a check. And please take this down and please keep me out of your ‘banger’ deportation videos,” he wrote in a now-deleted post. He added, “When it comes to immigration my thoughts and heart are a lot more nuanced than this video allows… Bye!”
Later, on his podcast, he explained the personal roots of his feelings. “My father immigrated here from Nicaragua. One of my prized possessions is… his immigration papers from when he came here. I have them in frame,” he said. “So I have tons of thoughts about [immigration]… This was just f—ed up.”
The Sanders episode, which had drawn around 250,000 views on YouTube shortly after release, appeared to resonate with listeners. One commenter wrote, “I am pleasantly surprised. I’ve never been a Bernie fan. I am so glad I watched this. He presents himself much differently than what we see on short news clips.”
Another added, “This guy seems genuinely concerned about our country in a way that so many of us are.” The interview closed on a reflective note. After Sanders thanked him for the conversation, Von responded simply and honestly: “We’re trying, man. You know, it’s…. I’m learning as I go.”
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