The Claw is the law: A UFC octagon on the White House lawn — Dingus of the Week Podcast #29

There is a 90-foot-tall, 600-ton steel structure on the South Lawn of the White House, assembled on grounds normally used for Easter egg rolls, Marine One departures, and a garden honoring presidents' children. UFC calls it The Claw. The event — UFC Freedom 250 — is scheduled for June 14, coinciding with Flag Day and Trump's 80th birthday. In the weeks before the fight, Trump invested up to $50,000 in TKO Holdings, UFC's parent company. Then he posted a TikTok suggesting The Claw might never come down, comparing it to the Eiffel Tower. He later said he was joking.He was joking, right?This week on DINGUS OF THE WEEK, LYZ LENZ and ZACHARY OREN SMITH ask: at what point does the bit become the thing itself? Also, get the real scoop on two Iowa elections that are getting the national press talking. We just wish they talked to anyone who actually lived here. We're raising money for Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice. Lend a hand!Join us in supporting IMMJDINGUS OF THE WEEK is a weekly comedy news podcast where writers Lyz and Zach light a fire under the American rogue's gallery to see who comes spilling out. If you're tired of doom-scrolling but know ignoring the problem doesn't get us anywhere, this is your new weekend listen. New episodes every Saturday morning.SUPPORT THE SHOW by subscribing on Patreon.👑 $5/month - Not a Dingus tier (3 weekly newsletters, 1 podcast, and our entire archive)👑👑 $10/month - Definitely Not a Dingus tier (all the above + polls and topic submissions, a chat community, weekly discussions, comment access, and our love)SEND US YOUR DINGUS. Record a voice memo and tell us who your dingus of the week is. Make it good and you'll hear your voice on the show. You can also email those to [email protected]. FOLLOW DINGUS OF THE WEEKYoutubeInstagramLYZ LENZ is the HBIC of MYAM Media. ZACHARY OREN SMITH writes about politics for Iowa Starting Line. Follow his work on Instagram (http://instagram.com/zacharyorensmith) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@zacharyorensmith).LAURA BENITEZ wrote the theme song.SHOW RUNDOWN:00:15 - Teen girl music07:29 - Geese isn't a psyop. You just don't know what music like.08:00 - Intro09:20 - Iowa Primary 2026: Kansan Koch son-in-law Zach Lahn beats out low energy Randy Feenstra27:29 - Iowa Primary 2026: Josh Turek's landslide victory over Zach Wahls45:01 - Midroll: For Relay Iowa, Our team High Fructose Corn Sweat is running a race across Iowa raising money for Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice. 50:18 - Dingus: The White House's Claw01:05:52 - Listener Dingus: driver doesn't watch for pedestrian in the crosswalk01:17:09 - Joy: Lyz is lost in her new book project. Zach talks honeysuckle.