The Mona Charen Show Candace Owens Is Tearing MAGA Apart (w/ Will Sommer)
Mar 16, 2026
Will Sommer, investigative reporter and author of the False Flag newsletter who tracks right‑wing influencers and online extremism. He maps the new influencer networks and details Candace Owens's rise and factional fights within MAGA. He traces shifts at Turning Point USA, mainstreaming of extremists, and how personalities reshape political power.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Influencers Outsized Role In Conservative Power
- Right-wing social influencers now shape conservative politics beyond traditional outlets like Fox News.
- Will Sommer says YouTubers and podcasters (e.g., Candace Owens) drive ideology and even White House attention instead of legacy media.
Candace Owens Turned On Turning Point After Kirk's Death
- Candace Owens leveraged insider access and conspiracy theories to attack Turning Point USA after Charlie Kirk's death.
- Sommer recounts Owens alleging donor disputes, claiming videos and shifting theories that culminated in her Bride of Charlie series targeting Erica Kirk.
Identity Amplified Owens' Early Rise
- Media organizations amplified Candace Owens because she was a charismatic black conservative woman, which increased her platform.
- Sommer explains Turning Point and The Daily Wire initially promoted her presence, then split when her anti-Semitic claims escalated.