After a tumultuous nine-month tenure at the FBI, Dan Bongino has returned to the airwaves, launching his first podcast episode since resigning as the agency's deputy director. The return was marked by a fiery blend of score-settling and technical hiccups, alongside a brief guest appearance by former President Donald Trump.

Bongino's comeback episode, aired on Monday, was not just another podcast but a declaration of war against his critics and a reassertion of his place in the MAGA universe. "The podfather is back," he announced, "and I’m here to take back this movement."

Before his stint at the FBI, Bongino was known for his aggressive rhetoric and conspiracy theories, particularly surrounding the circumstances of Jeffrey Epstein's death. His role at the FBI, however, put him at odds with his past comments and his core audience, some of whom labeled him a sellout for his perceived flip-flopping.

The episode opened strongly with about 140,000 viewers and peaked around 220,000, according to figures from Rumble. However, it wasn't just about the numbers; Bongino used the platform to retaliate against the mainstream media and some FBI insiders. "You guys destroyed the place, and you tried to destroy us too," he charged. "But I’m back now, and you can go fuck yourself."

Adding to the drama, the show experienced a technical glitch 15 minutes in, which Bongino claimed was an attack on his platform. "Rumble is under attack, this show is under attack, this is what these scumbags do," he exclaimed.

Trump's call-in added another layer of spectacle. The former president praised Bongino's work at the FBI and discussed topics ranging from national security to urban governance. Trump reiterated his disputed claim of a landslide victory in the 2020 election and discussed his desire to "nationalize the voting" process.

Despite avoiding many of the conspiracy theories that marked his earlier broadcasts, Bongino did share insights from his FBI days, particularly about the Epstein case. "The FBI doesn’t have the evidence many thought it did... The files are largely unreleasable for many reasons," he explained.

Bongino's podcast is scheduled to air every weekday, promising more controversy and insights. His final words were a direct challenge to his detractors: "All my bullshit detractors or whatever, don’t know shit about anything. Throwing popcorn from the front row. We’re the number one livestream in the world. ... I’m such a target that they came after the whole damn website. That’s how bad they want to keep me off the air."

With his characteristic defiance, Bongino concluded the episode by flipping two middle fingers to the camera, signaling that his return might be just as provocative as his departure.