Useful Idiots

Useful Idiots

JD Vance Can't Stop Laughing at Trump's al-Qaeda Joke

The Useful Idiots Friday Free-For-All

Aaron Maté's avatar
Katie Halper's avatar
Aaron Maté
and
Katie Halper
Nov 14, 2025
∙ Paid

This week Trump met with Syrian President al-Sharaa, formerly known as Mohammad al-Jolani, the former leader of al-Qaeda in Syria. And he treated the former US-labeled terrorist in the most American way: literally showering him in perfume and laughing at jokes together.

Because if you implement US regime change and support Israel in the Middle East, beheadings and 9/11s are just water under the bridge.

Also in this week’s Friday Free-For-All: Bari Weiss and John Fetterman accidentally spill the truth about antisemitism, Eric Trump says the least-relatable thing you’ve ever heard, and a reporter gets breathless interviewing the latest Kennedy boy.

Subscribe to watch it all here in our Friday Free-For-All:

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Useful Idiots to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Matt Taibbi
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture