Candace
Candace

Andrew Kolvet Blames Me For Erika PR Backlash | “Mormon Mafia” History Explained | Ep 364

July 23, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Daily Mail ran an article quoting a “family friend” who described Erica Kirk referring to Candace Owens as a “soulless ghoul” and a “b***h.” The article backfired. Public sentiment turned against Erica, not Candace. Andrew Kolvet, Erica’s PR representative, then accused Candace of colluding with the Daily Mail to plant the story so she could use it as content for her show. Candace spent most of the episode refuting that claim, but the accusation itself is only the entry point. The deeper argument she builds is about a pattern: a powerful inner circle—first the so-called “Mormon Mafia” around Howard Hughes, now the LDS-linked leadership at Turning Point USA—that isolates a leader, controls access, and then redirects the organization after the leader dies or is removed.

The Howard Hughes Precedent and the “Mormon Mafia”

Candace traces the term “Mormon Mafia” to its origin: the inner circle of businessmen and accountants who surrounded Howard Hughes in Las Vegas during the 1960s. Hughes, one of the richest men in the world, was an aerospace engineer, film producer, and casino owner. He was also a teetotaler, deeply paranoid about communist infiltration, and convinced he could trust people who lived like him—people who did not drink, smoke, or gamble. So he staffed his inner circle with devout Mormons.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:29) **Opening: Daily Mail Backlash & Andrew Kolvet's Counter-Attack** - Candace describes the fallout from a Daily Mail article quoting Erica Kirk calling her a "soulless ghoul" and a "b****", and Andrew Kolvet blaming Candace for colluding with the paper.
  • 2 (02:01) **The "Mormon Mafia" Origin Story** - Candace introduces the historical term "Mormon Mafia," explaining it refers to the trusted inner circle of LDS businessmen surrounding billionaire Howard Hughes in 1960s Las Vegas.
  • 3 (02:48) **Context: The "Zionist Mafia" in Hollywood** - Candace draws a parallel to a "Zionist mafia," citing her own firing from The Daily Wire for suggesting its existence and detailing the history of the Irgun and Stern Gang.
  • 4 (09:46) **Who Was Howard Hughes?** - A profile of Howard Hughes as one of the richest and most influential men of the 20th century, an aerospace engineer, film producer, and Las Vegas casino magnate.
  • 5 (13:39) **The Rise of the Mormon Mafia** - Candace details how Hughes's paranoia led him to hire Frank William Gay, a Mormon, who then recruited a tight-knit group of LDS men to manage Hughes's empire and control his access.
  • 6 (16:41) **The Suspicious Death of Howard Hughes** - Candace outlines the suspicious circumstances of Hughes's death in 1976, arguing it parallels Michael Jackson's death.
  • 7 (20:13) **Aftermath: The Fortune and Its Controllers** - The fight for Hughes's $2.5 billion estate resulted in a 34-year legal battle, with the majority controlled by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

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Guests on this episode

Andrew Kolvet Candace Owens

Show Notes

Andrew Kolvet attempts to blame me for the Daily Mail article of Erika referring to me as a "soulless ghoul", I look into the history of the "Mormon Mafia", and we address questions from a number of emails we got about the SUV photos. Battalion Metals​ ​ Explore their collection of fair-priced gold and silver! Make sure to enter code CANDACE at checkout to let them know I sent you! https://BattalionMetals.com/candace The Wellness Company​ ​​ Be prepared before you need it. Get your Medical Emergency Kit. Visit http://www.twc.health/CANDACE and use code CANDACE to Save $45 Off + Free Shipping. USA Residents Only 🇺🇸 Zippix​ Nicotine Toothpicks Get 10% off your order with promo code CANDACE at http://www.ZippixToothpicks.com Loreto Publications​ ​​​​​ The Douay-Rheims Bible People http://bit.ly/4nsnwVR American Financing​​​​​ NMLS 182334, http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 800-795-1210 for details about credit costs and terms. Visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/Owens. Average savings based on borrowers who save over $199.99. Candace Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ClipsCandaceOwens Candace Official Website: https://candaceowens.com Candace Merch: https://shop.candaceowens.com Candace on Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/Pp5VZiLXbq Candace on Spotify: https://t.co/16pMuADXuT Candace on Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RealCandaceO Candace en Español: https://www.youtube.com/@CandaceOwensEnEspanol Candace Owens em Português: https://www.youtube.com/@CandaceOwensemPortugues Candace Owens en Français: https://www.youtube.com/@CandaceOwensEnFrançais

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