America in Focus

Secretaries are well known for earning modest wages, but not the ones who work at Pocantico Hills Central School District. The school district of 500 students outside New York City has its secretaries rack up $130,000 and $190,000 a year, an investigation by The Center Square found.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As the Trump administration makes changes to visa programs and other political leaders call for further changes, the debate continues about how much legal immigration and what kind should be facilitated by visa programs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Louisiana's annual budgets swelled more than 71% over the past decade, ticking up year after year under a Democratic governor who expanded Medicaid and led the state through the COVID-19 pandemic. While the pace of spending slowed under a Republican governor elected two years ago, the bottom line keeps growing, an analysis of state records by The Center Square found.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/article_867cfa6b-54c3-4b65-92c8-c1fd5707afc6.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – With the record-long government shutdown finally over, Republicans are ramping up conversations about how to reform Obamacare and address the rising cost of insurance premiums. Democrats, who refused to authorize government funding for 43 days, used the shutdown to bring attention to the expiring enhanced Obamacare Premium Tax Credit. The enhanced subsidies are set to revert to original, pre-pandemic levels on Dec. 31, which would partially contribute to enrollees' monthly plan payments rising in 2026. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_df79d471-bd13-4ea2-b956-f5645d805869.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Senate on Tuesday agreed to pass a bill by unanimous consent requiring the U.S. attorney general to release all documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer initiated passage of the U.S. House of Representatives bill to release the files. The U.S. House passed the measure earlier Tuesday afternoon. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_e47dba81-feaf-4caf-8396-8751b8e4147b.htmlhttps://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_abaeee4e-2665-4154-b0bf-acffc9fe9491.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Responding to Americans' frustrations over high grocery prices, President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday exempting more than 200 food products from tariffs. "Certain qualifying agricultural products will no longer be subject to those tariffs, such as certain food not grown in the United States," according to the White House. The executive order includes coffee, beef and bananas. Prices for all three have increased significantly, at least in part due to Trump's tariffs, which the exemptions are intended to address. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_48667bbe-fdc9-4442-aada-b68654eb48f9.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – One of the sponsors of Wisconsin's statewide sports wagering legislation is warning prediction markets could take over the sports wagering marketplace if state lawmakers don't pass a law in the Assembly Wednesday allowing the state's 11 tribes to offer online sports wagering in the state. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_636ec6ef-a0ee-4c2b-a1a6-fdc30bfa8bde.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – With the longest government shutdown in history finally over, federal agencies are slowly bringing affected services back online and hoping to resume normal operations by the end of next week. Tens of millions of low-income Americans on food stamps should receive November benefits within 24 hours, Politico reported. Some of the most disruptive consequences of the 43-day shutdown, however, may take longer to remedy. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_9a4a4017-2de1-4735-a433-2b09d70ca5d0.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump has again floated the idea of sending Americans $2,000 from tariff revenue, but a new analysis suggests the import taxes won't bring in enough money to cover the proposed checks. Trump's tariff rebate suggestion comes a week after the Supreme Court sharply questioned his authority to impose tariffs under a 1977 law that he has used to justify the bulk of the tariffs announced on April 2, which he dubbed "Liberation Day" for U.S. trade. The cases challenging Trump's tariff authority remain pending before the nation's highest court, but even if the revenue source were not in question, Trump could face challenges in getting the checks out to taxpayers. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_88d156dd-cb20-493d-9b9f-ded4e379a03f.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – The U.S. House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol cost almost twice as much as previously reported, including spending taxpayer funds for TV news producers and documentary filmmakers to create videos dramatizing its case against President Donald Trump, an investigation by The Center Square found.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_e6512782-9ecf-4b83-ad61-2fd26f4464f3.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – As the government shutdown drags into its 38th day and forced flight reductions begin taking effect, the number of daily flight cancellations Americans are experiencing has skyrocketed. By noon Friday, airlines had slashed 850 flights within, into, or out of the United States – quadruple the number of cancellations made the previous day. The numbers will only increase over the coming days as 40 major U.S. airports implement the Federal Aviation Administration's order to reduce flight volume by 10%, a necessary safety measure as staffing shortages become more severe.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_e865f9aa-b10a-472d-85bf-4fd9eac4a92b.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Self-proclaimed democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani will be the next mayor of New York City after taking down the former Democrat New York governor for a second time on Tuesday. Democrats also won their respective races for governor in New Jersey and Virginia Tuesday.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_3591145a-5e5e-4ba9-b632-621c8f02b14c.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Supreme Court gave President Donald Trump's tariff authority a chilly reception on Wednesday, with his economic agenda hanging in the balance and businesses and consumers watching for higher prices. After the president spent months talking about how much money his tariffs would generate, Trump's Solicitor General D. John Sauer told the nation's highest court Wednesday that the import duties are solely focused on regulation, not raising revenue. Even the conservative wing of the Supreme Court was skeptical.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_5b088a76-ce8e-43eb-b998-40d387a67b97.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Spending on U.S. House of Representatives office accounts increased by more than 85% over the past three decades but nearly half of that occurred since 2020, an investigation by The Center Square found. The Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) provides each of the 435 U.S. representatives in Congress about $2 million a year to pay staff, travel, buy equipment and run their Washington, D.C., and district offices, giving members wide latitude on how to spend the money within House ethics and administration committee rules Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_d7fcb6c8-de6a-4d3d-ab83-4e3c4bdfd171.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Millions of Americans reliant on food stamps will not receive benefits for the month of November, due to the ongoing government shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will not issue Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits until the government reopens, with the agency saying on its website that “the well has run dry.” Federal agencies like the USDA have remained unfunded since Oct. 1, when the government shuttered after Senate Democrats blocked Republicans' Continuing Resolution, a seven-week funding stopgap. Since then, all but three Democratic senators have continuously filibustered the House-passed CR, demanding that Republicans promise to renew a costly pandemic-era expansion of Obamacare Premium Tax Credits. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump feels confident the flow of fentanyl from China will be curbed following a “great meeting” with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. The meeting prompted Trump to cut in half the tariffs the U.S. put on China due to the flow of the deadly drug. “I've agreed, as you know, I put a 20% tariff on China because of the fentanyl coming in, it's a big tariff, and based on [Xi's] statements today, I reduced it by 10%, so it's 10% instead of 20% effective immediately. I believe he's going to work very hard to stop the death that's coming in,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on his way back to Washington. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) The number of businesses owned by racial minorities and women that are certified by Illinois plummeted in the past year, partly due to a new computer system the state bought for as much as $750,000 and was designed to help boost the number, an investigation by The Center Square found. In an annual report this year to lawmakers, the Commission on Equity and Inclusion cited its new supplier diversity management portal as one of its main accomplishments, noting that it would enhance the commission's work by "streamlining processes." Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: http://thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_1d388202-7dda-4687-a573-d94e12f1554c.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Senate Democrats are set to block Republicans' government funding bill for the 12th time Wednesday, keeping the federal government shut down despite tens of millions of low-income Americans at risk of losing food stamps or early childhood education assistance. Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture will resume core Farm Service Agency financial services Thursday, the unfunded agency cannot provide money to support SNAP or WIC benefits for the month of November, which together serve up to 49 million people. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_930b106e-32b0-4845-b219-31be188a3024.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump's plans to “restore election integrity” and prevent voter fraud include banning mail-in voting and requiring that voters present identification at the polls. The majority of Americans support the voter ID requirement but are divided on a mail-in voting ban, according to a new poll. Trump's proposal to ban mail-in voting nationally – something he could not do via executive order but may be able to pressure some states to implement – receives support from 47% of Americans nationally, while 48% oppose it. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_3d36ecb7-c5c6-4b30-beda-88b5339e15cf.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin has paid billions of dollars in recent years for outside investors to manage most of the state's retirement funds even though it has an expansive team of highly paid investment employees, according to state data. State auditors this year urged the state of Wisconsin Investment Board to create specific plans that might shift more of that management to state employees "because external management is more expensive," a recent report by the Legislative Audit Bureau said. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_26aa4669-4177-409a-9b8a-9c03bee52d5c.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – A new poll shows that President Donald Trump's approval rating reached 48% in October, a number mostly bolstered by Republicans. The Center Square Voters' Voice Poll, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights, surveyed 2,565 registered voters from Oct. 2-6, 2025. Half of voters surveyed objected to how Trump is handling his job as president, with 10% somewhat disapproving and 40% strongly disapproving. Nearly 30% strongly approve of his performance and 19% somewhat approve.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_46bb4e11-106f-4b66-ae3e-c4ae3066e281.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – In an act of defiance, Democratic senators blocked the House-passed full-year funding bill for the Department of Defense from advancing Thursday. The procedural vote on one of the 12 annual appropriations bills to properly fund the government in fiscal year 2026 failed despite Republican leaders bringing it to the floor to remedy some of the worst effects of the ongoing government shutdown. The bill would have authorized funding for the DOD and its employees' salaries, as well as restore pay for military service members won't see their next paycheck if the shutdown drags on. The Pentagon has already dipped into untapped research and development funds in order to subsidize Oct. 15 paychecks.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_6ec0cb9d-f2e9-4499-8621-e76741e24990.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) — A half-dozen school districts in New York state reported spending more than $70,000 per student recently, with two districts spending almost or more than $100,000, an investigation by The Center Square found. Each of the six districts were among the smallest in the state, with fewer than 340 students. Still, the figures dwarfed those of a typical pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school district in the Empire State in 2023-'24. According to the New York State Department of Education, the median figure for per-pupil spending was $35,095. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/new_york/article_dad44cd9-fcf1-4d7d-98e7-c35023849811.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – U.S. senators have left town for the weekend and will not vote again on a federal funding bill until Tuesday, meaning the ongoing government shutdown will stretch into its third week. Meanwhile, today marks the last time that over 700,000 civilian federal workers will receive a partial paycheck, leaving federal employees either furloughed or working without pay until the government reopens. About 1.3 million active-duty service members, who normally would receive their pay Monday, will be left out in the cold unless Congress passes a bill to prevent that.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_ef97f9f9-46ae-46e0-879e-2614e29c7462.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – During a round table discussion with independent journalists at the White House on Wednesday afternoon, President Donald Trump said his administration would designate Antifa a foreign terror organization. The Center Square asked the president if he would designate Antifa, which he designated a domestic terror group last month, a foreign terror organization (FTO). Trump appeared to be under the impression that it was already an FTO.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_03638cc7-fd2b-478d-9389-a11488e86680.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Despite federal pushback for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, Illinois has spent millions of dollars in the past few years for new, high-paying government jobs to increase the amount of state contracts that go to businesses owned by racial minorities, women and people with disabilities, an investigation by The Center Square found. Yet, at least on paper, the relatively new Commission on Equity and Inclusion is farther from its goal than when it began work in 2022. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_05a70ee4-5c31-4ac2-a881-96f4f779be65.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – The results of a May executive order aiming to reform drug pricing are beginning to materialize, per an administration announcement Tuesday. Major pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer has agreed to slash prices on many of its drugs in the U.S. after months of negotiations with the administration. Both those involved in the discussions and observers were uncertain how they would accomplish the president's directive.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_94a8607c-7183-49ca-bb55-7e072c680791.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – It's day three of the government shutdown, and U.S. lawmakers are no closer to a government stopgap compromise, with both parties believing they'll win the standoff. The Senate is set to vote Friday afternoon on both Democrats' and Republicans' competing short-term Continuing Resolutions for the fourth time, but neither is likely to pass. Democratic leaders remain staunch in their demands that Republicans commit to renewing the COVID-19 era enhanced Obamacare Premium Tax Credits, while Republicans are betting that enough rank-and-file Democrats will fold to public pressure to reopen the government as the shutdown drags on.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_75677460-31f8-4232-93d2-93ced1d38ec2.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – A hard deadline has been set for Hamas to agree to a peace deal proposed by President Donald Trump and accepted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning this is their “last chance.” Trump told Hamas leaders that they have until 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, Washington, D.C. time, warning this is their last chance or “all HELL” will break loose. In a Friday Truth Social post, the president described the terror group as a “ruthless and violent threat” in the Middle East.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_48b0ac68-4115-4480-b9e5-24d7e7ff6464.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) — Before President Trump warned pregnant women to avoid taking Tylenol, three members of Congress dumped stock in the Fortune 500 company that makes the popular painkiller -- sell-offs that saved them from incurring sizable losses, an investigation by The Center Square found. The lawmakers sold $1,001 to $15,000 each in Kenvue Inc., a Summit, New Jersey-based consumer products company that spun off from Johnson & Johnson two years ago. The sales are notable also because most investment analysts recommended that investors hold their shares. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – With only six days until the federal government shuts down, Republicans and Democrats have yet to secure a funding deal – and the Trump administration is already planning on how to make the most of it. In a leaked memo, the Office of Management and Budget outlines plans for federal agencies that would run out of funding during a government shutdown to “use this opportunity” to consider permanently eliminating certain positions in federal programs, projects, and activities “not consistent with the President's priorities,” consistent with applicable law. “[W]e must continue our planning efforts in the event Democrats decide to shut down the government,” the memo reads. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_21609d61-bdd8-483a-a1f4-4c43b00821e8.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Ryan Routh was found guilty of all charges in a plot to kill Donald Trump by a federal jury that needed little time to reach a verdict Tuesday afternoon. Deciding to represent himself and getting cautions many times from Judge Aileen Cannon along the way, Routh nevertheless presented himself as incapable of the five charges prosecutors levied against him. The jury of seven women and five men in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Fort Pierce ultimately were swayed more – needing only about two hours, 20 minutes – by the United States' attorneys and their 38 witnesses over seven days of testimony.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/florida/article_43e8980d-915a-4479-96a4-88a5abb5f69d.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Business leaders and corporations across the country that employ foreign workers through the H-1B visa program have scrambled to respond to President Donald Trump's recent reform efforts. Last week, Trump announced the United States would charge companies $100,000 for each H-1B visa issued to a temporary foreign worker. The administration imposed a Sept. 21 deadline for charges to start on H-1B visa holders.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_afa235d7-3e01-44cf-9fbd-978f3a14b113.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Discretionary spending by Illinois state leaders has increased more than $16 billion since J.B. Pritzker became governor nearly seven years ago. That is a total increase of about 43%. Before Pritzker, the state's general fund spending was roughly flat or had modest increases, according to state data. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner was in office for part of that time. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_d5bc09e2-ab3d-48c6-9f7d-3ef6ce6bc0f0.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Senate failed to pass either Democrats' or Republicans' government funding proposals Friday to prevent a government shutdown. Senators have now left town for a week-long recess, leaving only two days when they return to pass some kind of funding stopgap before the government shuts down on Oct. 1. Republicans' Continuing Resolution would have extended current government funding levels until Nov. 21, buying lawmakers time to pass all 12 annual appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026. It also included $30 million for additional lawmaker security and $58 million for U.S. Supreme Court judges and members of the executive branch. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_aa5086d0-8a97-494e-88c6-b5f79701d058.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump is designating Antifa a “major terrorist organization,” he announced in a social media post Wednesday evening. The Center Square asked the president Monday afternoon if he would be designating the left-wing group a domestic terror group following a spate of political violence against conservatives and Republicans, including the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. “I am pleased to inform our many U.S.A. Patriots that I am designating ANTIFA, A SICK, DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER, AS A MAJOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. I will also be strongly recommending that those funding ANTIFA be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices,” the president posted.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_75a1d02a-08a4-4653-8fc4-87616189f46d.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said Tuesday he will seek the death penalty for Tyler James Robinson, the man charged with the assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk. Gray told reporters he was filing a total of seven counts against Robinson, 22, including aggravated murder, discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and counts of obstruction of justice and witness tampering. "The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy," Gray said. Kirk, a devoted ally of Trump, was shot and killed during an event Wednesday that 3,000 people attended at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/utah/article_61555876-064c-4518-8c47-81d49398b0f9.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(The Center Square) – The Make America Healthy Again Commission released a sweeping strategy Tuesday to nationally improve children's health, which includes more than 120 initiatives – including advancing research on autism, pesticides, vaccine injury and water quality – aimed at that end. The strategy fulfills a directive from an executive order the president signed in February requiring an assessment of American children's health and a subsequent strategy for improving it. The assessment identified “four potential drivers behind the rise in childhood chronic disease” that it said simultaneously “present the clearest opportunities for progress”: poor diet, exposure to synthetic chemicals, lack of physical activity and chronic stress and over-medicalization. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_9556095d-624e-42d1-a1dc-e09eeed6e02c.html

(The Center Square) – Chilling video of the Aug. 22 stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail has drawn increased awareness of the incident. Included are social media audiences wondering about the lack of national mainstream media coverage, and second-term Republican President Donald Trump. He's not only vowed to crack down on crime but sought to take action including through use of National Guard troops in certain cities.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/north_carolina/article_9490bdb5-4fed-4f9e-918b-0b9d4b1a9e3e.html

(The Center Square) – Authorities on Friday confirmed the suspect in the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk is in custody. The suspect was identified as Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah. "We got him," Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said at a Friday news conference. Cox said that on Thursday night, a family member of Robinson's "reached out to a family friend," saying Robinson had implicated himself in the shooting. The friend then contacted authorities, who took Robinson into custody.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_c2d467a0-af81-4266-afb0-077bf0885069.html

(The Center Square) - Taxpayers are covering rents of up to $6,020 per month in Arizona, leading taxpayer advocates to question the growing duration of federal Section 8 housing choice voucher (HCV) usage. "Section 8 needs to focus on lifting people out of the trap of poverty, not putting them into the lap of luxury," said National Taxpayers Union president Pete Sepp in an interview with The Center Square. "It's unfair to ask taxpayers who can't afford mortgages or rents of six thousand dollars per month to foot the bill for subsidies amounting to that much." Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/arizona/article_3a65f31d-61ed-478b-a097-937019c81985.html

(The Center Square) – Ryan Routh will have court-appointed lawyers nearby as he represents himself in a Florida court against charges related to attempting to assassinate Donald Trump. Jury selection starts Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Routh, 59, is a construction worker from North Carolina more recently working in Hawaii. He pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/florida/article_17ab15e0-9794-400d-a0ab-ea7e9538f075.html

(The Center Square) – With 26 days until the federal government runs out of money, top appropriators have narrowed in on their preferred funding gameplan: push the equivalent of the Senate's three-bill minibus through the House, then let a Continuing Resolution temporarily cover the rest. Approving a CR would mark the fourth time in a row that U.S. lawmakers have punted on funding the government properly, having passed three CRs in fiscal year 2025 to keep government funding essentially on cruise control. Congress is supposed to craft and pass 12 appropriations bills on an annual basis, providing updated funding for federal agencies to spend on programs.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_89a16630-f91a-4610-b832-b0cb77b1fc6a.html

(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court late Wednesday to rescue his trade deals and economic agenda after two lower courts said the president has no authority to issue broad tariffs. Trump's team told the high court that the nation's future depends on a quick ruling. Two courts have already said the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act doesn't give the president unbounded tariff authority.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_248efb69-4022-424c-ad76-fee61c390ab0.html

(The Center Square) – Two weeks after declaring “Liberation Day” in Washington, D.C., to combat crime, President Donald Trump signed executive orders to end cashless bail in the nation's capital, while taking steps to eliminate it throughout the country. The president signed the executive orders on Monday morning in the Oval Office. The moves threaten to withhold federal funding from states and jurisdictions that don't comply with his executive action, which could have a major impact on states like California and Illinois. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_75d94d90-a498-4c41-b955-2d38a159ec8b.html

(The Center Square) – Before Hurricane Katrina ravaged the coast, the New Orleans population was about 460,000. Twenty years later, the city has dropped to about 380,000 as it continues to rebuild. Katrina still ranks as one of the deadliest and costliest storms to hit the United States in history. With more than 1 million displaced and 1,833 deaths, the population in New Orleans was severely impacted by the natural disaster.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/article_0c16ef99-5fc9-4bd2-b268-ffdf058b5d48.html

(The Center Square) – Two nonprofits run by an attorney with long-time Democratic connections have been filing ethics complaints against lawyers who represented Trump officials or issues, seeking to get them disbarred or disciplined. But an investigation by The Center Square found nearly all of the attorneys the groups targeted received no public discipline years after the complaints were filed.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxRead more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_de746d6d-6d33-46a4-b173-ea294931550b.html

(The Center Square) – Casting a ballot may look different for millions of American voters in the 2026 midterm elections if Republican-led states follow President Donald Trump's wish to abolish mail-in voting and electronic voting machines. In a lengthy social media post Monday, the president announced he is planning to “lead a movement” to end mail-in ballots and voting machines, beginning with issuing an executive order in the near future. Trump said the changes would restore election integrity and “help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections.” He called mail-in voting a “SCAM” that can enable “MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD” and labeled paperless voting machines "Inaccurate," “Expensive” and “Seriously Controversial.”Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_e05e42cb-de76-41c1-8ae5-a483eb322b96.html

(The Center Square) – The White House has helped open the channels of communication between Russia, Ukraine and the rest of Europe, but the details of any resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war remain murky. The White House continues to highlight the differences in how President Donald Trump has responded to the overseas conflict versus former President Joe Biden. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared some remarks from European leaders to that effect from Monday's discussions at the White House at a Tuesday press briefing.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_9541e5af-6a72-4d5d-aa53-d2af178c599f.html

(The Center Square) – More than a week after President Donald Trump declared “Liberation Day” in Washington, D.C., his administration is touting the operation as a success as more Republican governors commit National Guard troops. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that since the operation began on Aug. 11, law enforcement officials have made 465 arrests, adding that “nearly half” of the “arrests have occurred in the high-crime areas” of the district. The D.C. Police Union has calculated major decreases in crimes since “Liberation Day,” including 83% drops in carjackings, 46% decreases in robberies, 22% drops in violent crime, 21% decreases in car theft, and 6% drops in property crime. The group adds that there has been an 8% reduction in crime overall.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_46a7c8d9-b819-4342-afe4-b7006b5c6c1b.html

(The Center Square) – As President Donald Trump's tariff policies come into effect, July's Consumer Price Index showed overall consumer prices rose 2.7% annually, slightly lower than forecasted by economists. The CPI measures changes in price of everyday consumer goods like groceries and clothes over time. July's CPI rose 0.2% on a monthly basis since June's reading which came in at 2.7%. Since a universal 10% tariff was implemented in April, economists have been watching how levies would affect costs for consumers. Data has shown that tariff impacts have been marginal so far this year, in part due to businesses stockpiling goods before tariffs went into effect.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_86a16aec-5925-4480-8b77-b8a350e78220.html