Matt Flegenheimer

And that obviously expanded over the course of these four years in between his terms.

And that obviously expanded over the course of these four years in between his terms.

Absolutely. And White has accumulated a ton of cultural capital and political capital from being this grand figure in that space. And he knows when and how to use it. And I think the most interesting example of this in recent times is with Bud Light. Like the beer. The beer. Bud Light, the beer. Are you familiar with Bud Light as a brand?

Absolutely. And White has accumulated a ton of cultural capital and political capital from being this grand figure in that space. And he knows when and how to use it. And I think the most interesting example of this in recent times is with Bud Light. Like the beer. The beer. Bud Light, the beer. Are you familiar with Bud Light as a brand?

So in the spring of 2023, you see the beginnings of a huge backlash to Bud Light on the political right.

So in the spring of 2023, you see the beginnings of a huge backlash to Bud Light on the political right.

Over a promotion they did involving a transgender influencer.

Over a promotion they did involving a transgender influencer.

And Dana White is in the process of negotiating a beer sponsorship with Anheuser-Busch, Bud Light's parent company. And he's in a tough position because he sort of stands accused of selling out for associating with Bud Light after this major backlash. But obviously the sponsorship is lucrative for the UFC.

And Dana White is in the process of negotiating a beer sponsorship with Anheuser-Busch, Bud Light's parent company. And he's in a tough position because he sort of stands accused of selling out for associating with Bud Light after this major backlash. But obviously the sponsorship is lucrative for the UFC.

So what he does is he sets about trying to uncancel Bud Light.

So what he does is he sets about trying to uncancel Bud Light.

Yeah. And what White does is call himself as a character witness.

Yeah. And what White does is call himself as a character witness.

He goes on with Tucker Carlson, with Sean Hannity, with Charlie Kirk.

He goes on with Tucker Carlson, with Sean Hannity, with Charlie Kirk.

The message being essentially, if Bud Light wants to do business with me, that tells you all you need to know. And privately, he is back-channeling with a lot of these figures. Kid Rock, who had been a part of this effort to protest Bud Light. He is talking to the Anheuser-Busch CEO in White's green room, and they're sort of talking it out and finding a way forward.

The message being essentially, if Bud Light wants to do business with me, that tells you all you need to know. And privately, he is back-channeling with a lot of these figures. Kid Rock, who had been a part of this effort to protest Bud Light. He is talking to the Anheuser-Busch CEO in White's green room, and they're sort of talking it out and finding a way forward.

And then Trump himself, even months after that, is continuing to sort of hammer Bud Light on social media, and White speaks to him on the phone. And after that phone call, Trump posts a sort of follow-up saying that the company deserves a second chance, going through a lot of talking points that echo White's thoughts.

And then Trump himself, even months after that, is continuing to sort of hammer Bud Light on social media, and White speaks to him on the phone. And after that phone call, Trump posts a sort of follow-up saying that the company deserves a second chance, going through a lot of talking points that echo White's thoughts.