W. Kamau Bell Slams Nate Bargatze, Mencia Bail Fight, and Letterman’s Archive Expands
June 25, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readW. Kamau Bell Calls Out Nate Bargatze, Carlos Mencia Fights Bail, and Letterman’s Archive Expands
In a packed episode of Daily Comedy News, host Johnny Mac runs through a mix of controversy, legal drama, and archival news. The dominant thread is a sharp public rebuke from comedian W. Kamau Bell aimed at fellow comic Nate Bargatze, but the episode also covers Carlos Mencia’s legal fight, David Letterman’s expanding digital archive, and several smaller updates from the comedy world.
Bell’s Substack Takes Aim at Bargatze
W. Kamau Bell published a Substack post on Monday titled “It Is So Easy Not to Do This,” directly criticizing Nate Bargatze for attending a White House event during the Trump administration. Bell’s post includes a suggested list of rules for comedians who find themselves “confused when they are judged for their own actions.” The core of his argument is blunt: “The easiest way to not be photographed with fascists is not to go to places where fascists coagulate.” Bell adds that if you do go, “you better have a good reason like a John Brown and Glorious Bastards good reason.”
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:39) **W. Kamau Bell Slams Nate Bargatze for Party with Fascists** - Bell publishes a Substack post with rules for avoiding fascist associations, calling out Bargatze for attending a White House event
- 2 (03:03) **Joe Rogan Recalls Tense Exchange with Trump at UFC Event** - Rogan tells story of backstage conversation about terrorist attack fears
- 3 (03:19) **Carlos Mencia's Attorneys Fight for Bail Release** - Emergency motion filed after Mencia's arrest on 12-count felony tax evasion charges
- 4 (04:37) **Roy Wood Jr. to Appear at DVE Comedy Festival** - Comedian discusses his time at The Daily Show and the importance of informing audiences
- 5 (05:11) **Michael Che Announces New Stand-Up Special** - Che posts on Instagram asking for platform recommendations, noting he doesn't do much press
- 6 (08:17) **Johnny Mac Criticizes Bob Iger's Comments on Jimmy Kimmel Suspension** - Former Disney CEO says pulling Kimmel after Charlie Kirk murder was about "bad taste," not politics
- 7 (10:19) **David Letterman Archive Expanding to YouTube and Facebook** - Worldwide Pants partners with NBCUniversal and Merzigo to distribute over 6,000 episodes
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
00:23 Bargatze UFC Backlash
01:43 Rogan Backstage Story
02:07 Carlos Mencia Bail Fight
03:22 Roy Wood Jr Weekend Plans
03:55 Michael Che Special Tease
04:31 Iger Kimmel Controversy
06:34 Letterman Archive Expansion
07:33 Colbert Writers Emmy Push
08:25 French SNL Attempt
09:54 Conchords Future Update
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Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.
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