Joe Armacost, affectionately known to millions of listeners as “Producer Joe” from The Dan Bongino Show, passed away over the weekend following a courageous battle with ALS, according to colleagues and friends.
“Joe, Rest peacefully with The Lord,” wrote FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino on X Monday morning.
The news was first shared by WCBM host Sean Casey, who honored Armacost’s memory during Monday’s Morning Drive with Casey & Elliot:
“A bright light was extinguished when Joe Armacost passed. He died Saturday, July 19th,” Casey said. “He had been staying with his close friend Tommy Levin during the final stages of his illness.”
Armacost, who was diagnosed with ALS after a visit to Johns Hopkins, had relocated to Florida following the conclusion of The Dan Bongino Show, which wrapped when Bongino accepted President Trump’s appointment as Deputy Director of the FBI.
A Legacy in Conservative Media
Joe Armacost leaves behind a powerful legacy in conservative media, having served as the lead producer of over 2,900 episodes of The Dan Bongino Show. Prior to his national platform, Armacost was a fixture at WCBM, a conservative talk radio station in Baltimore, Maryland.
“Joe was an incredible guy who shared the stage in a rock band with my dad back in the day,” said a family friend in a tribute from The Constitution Project on X.
“His great sense of humor and staunch conservative values made him unforgettable.”
Fans of the show will remember Armacost’s signature comedic characters—“the 7-11 Guy” and “the Colonel”—as staples of Bongino’s early podcast years. He was widely loved not only for his talent but for his patriotism, humility, and deep loyalty to the conservative movement.
“Joe will be sorely missed… Rest in peace, friend,” the tribute read.
Bongino Returns Amid Epstein Case Turmoil
Meanwhile, Dan Bongino has returned to his post at the FBI after briefly stepping away during a heated dispute with Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
According to multiple sources, Bongino considered resigning over what he viewed as a lack of transparency in the DOJ’s review of the Epstein case. Though his long-term future remains unclear, he resumed his duties in recent days.
The dispute came as Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed a motion in federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts tied to Epstein’s 2019 indictment and Ghislaine Maxwell’s prosecution, citing “intense public interest” and President Trump’s commitment to transparency.
“Transparency for the American public is of the utmost importance to this Administration,” the DOJ wrote.
Earlier this month, the DOJ concluded a review of the Epstein case, stating it found no additional evidence to pursue new prosecutions. However, the push to unseal grand jury records suggests that Trump’s DOJ continues working to provide answers amid growing demands from the MAGA base.
