Dave Portnoy slammed for treatment of his own podcasts amid FOX News choice

19:50 ET, Fri, Oct 23, 2026 Updated: 19:51 ET, Fri, Oct 23, 2026

From the source Dave Portnoy speaks on Youtube (Image: Youtube: @DavePortnoy)

Dave Portnoy built Barstool Sports on being able to freely say whatever he wanted, but one of his own employees says the boss draws the line at hearing an educated retort.

Kirk Minihane claims a challenging microphone was enough to kill their Barstool podcast. The outspoken host accused Portnoy of abandoning The Unnamed Show because he couldn't tolerate political disagreements, despite regularly airing his views on Fox News.

Minihane made the allegations on his podcast just after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul ripped Portnoy over his outrage about LeBron James' helicopter travel.

The podcaster argued that Portnoy remains willing to discuss contentious subjects, provided he speaks to people unlikely to challenge him. "I think he's a gigantic p---- about it," he said.

"He won't go on with anybody who challenges him," he continued. "He'll go on Fox News and get his d--- sucked. He literally said it to me. He's like, 'I can't do Unnamed anymore, because I can't handle you.' That's true!" he declared.

"I think he's a gigantic pussy about it. He won't go on with anybody that challenges him. He'll go on Fox News and get his dick sucked. He said to me, 'I can't do @barstoolunnamed anymore because I can't handle you.'" https://t.co/MPJO5G8drw

The Unnamed Show launched in 2024 with Portnoy, Minihane and former NHL player Ryan Whitney, regularly putting company disputes and combustible personalities in the same conversation.

It stopped later that year and did not return when Minihane resumed podcasting following a break. The latest dispute surfaced as Portnoy commented on Michigan's Senate race, including criticism of Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

His political appearances also gave Minihane an opening to ask why similar discussions had apparently become unwelcome on a show produced by Portnoy's own company. Minihane rejected the suggestion that avoiding their podcast protected Portnoy from controversial video clips.

From the source Dave Portnoy and Kirk Minihane on their old show (Image: YouTube: @DavePortnoy)

Minihane argued that Portnoy was already discussing politics publicly and that the same critic would likely circulate his comments regardless of which program carried them. "What's the difference, really? The same people hate you are gonna hate you," Minihane argued.

His complaint was less about Portnoy's political position and more about who, when, and where to defend it. Fans of the sports network keep questioning Minihane's future at Barstool after he said he doesn't expect the company to renew his contract when it expires in 2027.

Portnoy was slammed online after he sided with Jimmy Kimmel's suspension in September 2025 over comments regarding the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

NYC politician Curtis Sliwa roasted Portnoy after the Barstool frontman led his followers to believe he was making a potential run for New York City mayor and would go after Mayor Zohran Mamdani in November 2025.