James Fishback is a Florida gubernatorial candidate and former Tucker Carlson guest whom John Kiriakou says he knows personally, and whose views on Israel he considers well-considered, calling them emblematic of a new generation of political candidates rethinking the U.S.-Israel relationship — while insisting he never endorsed Fishback despite claims that went viral.[1] Kiriakou and podcast host Danny Jones discuss Fishback’s platform, which they say includes suspending enforcement of “unconstitutional” anti-Semitic hate speech laws, a moratorium on immigration into Florida, a 50% sin tax on OnlyFans creators, and executing abortion doctors.[2]
In a separate interview, Kiriakou says it was his assistant, not himself, who posted a February 2026 tweet endorsing Fishback, and that he “tore him a new one” and deleted the tweet after learning more about Fishback’s extreme statements.[3] He confirms he never personally endorsed Fishback, who Kiriakou’s interviewer says has made statements including that a Black man should be lynched and disparaging remarks about how Indian people eat — comments Kiriakou agrees make Fishback someone not to be allied with, despite his anti-AIPAC positions.[4]