The Joe Pags Show

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New evidence is changing the picture of what happened before an ICE officer shot a Venezuelan DoorDash driver in Austin. Video reviewed by Austin police shows Wilber Garces Perez initially pulled over and speaking with ICE agents before a brief vehicle pursuit ended near the location of the shooting—details that complicate the earliest accounts of the encounter. Pags takes on a local news anchor and makes the case for why where you get your news matters more than ever: feelings don't belong in straight reporting, facts do. The callers weigh in before former Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Greg Bovino joins for Part 1 of a must-hear conversation. What is it actually like for federal agents to apprehend someone with a final order of removal? What does the new video tell us? What about the body-camera controversy—and what are agents trained to do when someone allegedly drives away during an enforcement encounter? Bovino brings an angle to the Austin case you may not have heard anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Austin ICE shooting remains front and center as Border Czar Tom Homan weighs in on the case and the coverage surrounding it. Then another immigration story breaks: CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott has ended the agency's participation in a Biden-era policy that allowed officials to solicit and accept private gifts for migrants in federal custody. Karoline Leavitt takes on what the White House calls “fake news,” setting up a bigger conversation about anonymous sources, questionable sourcing and how a shaky premise can completely shape a headline. The phones open before the fight over CNN, MS NOW and Politico being barred from the White House gets another look. Then former Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Greg Bovino returns for Part 2. What does the evidence really show in Austin? Did the driver speed away? What should agents do when attempting to arrest someone with a final order of removal? What does the bodycam tell us? Bovino also tackles the bigger immigration question—are we actually seeing “mass deportations”?—before answering something completely unexpected: Will he ever run for president? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Austin shooting takes another stunning turn after Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, the attorney representing Wilber Garces Perez, comes under fire for a grotesque, now-deleted social media post about Charlie Kirk. Pags doesn't hold back on what he thinks of it before turning to Attorney General Todd Blanche and the Justice Department's election-fraud investigations. Administration officials say federal law enforcement has made 160 election-fraud arrests since late 2025, with hundreds of active investigations underway. Kamala Harris is back speaking publicly, prompting Pags to call out what he sees as hypocrisy after her four years as vice president. Then a federal judge orders Texas to air-condition its entire prison system by the end of 2029, ruling that extreme heat in uncooled facilities violates the Eighth Amendment. Texas plans to appeal, while Pags argues the sweeping mandate is another example of judicial activism. Rep. Beth Van Duyne of Texas' 24th District joins to dig into what's happening in North Texas, including alleged H-1B visa fraud, ongoing investigations and concerns surrounding potential voter fraud.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump takes the world stage at the United Nations, but back home the ICE shooting in Austin is getting even more complicated. New details indicate the Venezuelan man involved initially stopped for ICE officers before driving away, and Pags wants to know why that critical part of the story has been so difficult to find in the coverage. Using reporting and video from Breanna Morello, the show digs past the headlines and into what actually happened, while Rep. Greg Casar continues speaking out about the shooting. Then the White House media fight takes another turn as Secretary of State Marco Rubio weighs in on the decision to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds. But Pags spots what he sees as a glaring contradiction: If these organizations are truly being “banned,” how are their reporters still talking to administration officials—and continuing to get questions to Trump? The callers jump in as Pags takes on slanted coverage, media credibility and what Americans are actually being told. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump takes his message straight to the United Nations, tackling Iran, illegal immigration around the world, the fight against drug cartels and what he sees as international institutions placing unfair burdens on countries. Iran takes center stage as Trump weighs another major decision and reiterates that Tehran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. Pags praises the president for delivering that message directly to the global community and laying out exactly where America stands. The Austin ICE shooting also brings some practical advice: Getting stopped by law enforcement can absolutely suck, but Pags explains why staying calm and cooperating in the moment can keep a bad situation from becoming much worse. Then Rep. Chip Roy joins for an in-depth conversation about what happened in Austin, the controversy surrounding the White House's restrictions on several media outlets and Rep. Greg Casar's response to the shooting. Roy also takes on Casar's immigration position, including his support for creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Sound Byte of the Night delivers an instant classic when Vice President JD Vance accidentally calls the “far left” the “fart left”—and even Vance can't help but acknowledge the slip. Then it's back to serious business as President Trump continues laying out his fight against international drug cartels before signing a major security agreement with Denmark and Greenland that significantly expands America's military presence on the island, including two new U.S. defense areas. Meanwhile, the White House's new 24/7 “Trump TV” YouTube stream is already generating plenty of controversy amid the ongoing fight with major media outlets. Then economist Vance Ginn, a former White House chief economist, joins for a deep dive into something hitting every American's wallet: interest rates. The Federal Reserve just raised its benchmark rate for the first time in more than three years as it tries to bring persistent inflation under control. What does that mean for mortgages, credit cards, borrowing and prices? Is today's economy actually stronger than it was under Biden? And how can raising interest rates ultimately help bring inflation back down? Ginn breaks down the economics in a way everyone can understand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The media fight isn't going away. After CNN, MS NOW and Politico were barred from the White House, Pags argues that access to the building is a privilege—not an unlimited right—and cuts through the First Amendment fight surrounding the ban. Then a shooting involving an ICE officer in North Austin explodes into the headlines, with stories emphasizing that a DoorDash driver was shot and remains detained with a bullet in his back. But buried much deeper in the coverage is another key fact: DHS says the Venezuelan man entered the country illegally and was under a final order of removal. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation. Pags cuts through the hysteria and misleading headlines, while also making clear he doesn't believe ICE should be operating in unmarked vehicles. It's another reminder of why where you get your news matters. Plus, Austin Rep. Greg Casar's reaction gets airtime before the White House launches “TRUMP TV,” a new online stream debuting Monday night. Trump also weighs in on the media controversy himself before heading to New York City's Gracie Mansion for another meeting with democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who invited him. The two have maintained regular contact despite major political differences, but Pags says that as a Trump supporter, he doesn't like seeing the president spending this much time with Mamdani—and explains why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hour opens with a look back at Barack Obama and Pags' argument that his presidency helped deepen America's political divisions, including a look at what Rush Limbaugh was warning about at the time. Then the Lindsay Clancy case takes another wild turn. Defense attorney Kevin Reddington is asking the judge to investigate the lone holdout juror, including his alleged cellphone use during deliberations, his juror questionnaire and potentially his phone records. The judge has not yet ruled on the request. Pags has some VERY strong words for Clancy's attorney and the latest legal maneuver. Then Kay Hill joins for an in-depth conversation about the White House media fight. CNN, MS NOW and Politico are suing over their loss of White House access, while ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox have joined CNN in halting pooled video coverage of presidential events. Why are outlets that weren't banned joining the fight—and why are they doing it now? There may be more to the strategy than meets the eye, and this is a conversation you have to hear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Iran war keeps expanding, and now the Houthis are creating another major problem in Yemen. Iran-backed Houthi forces are pushing for more territory near critical Red Sea shipping routes, while reports say President Trump recently called off planned U.S. strikes against them. Pags asks the obvious question: Why didn't we just take them out when we had the chance? Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. pressure campaign could effectively ground Iranian airlines worldwide beginning Wednesday, and U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz previews Trump's upcoming showdown at the United Nations over accusations involving U.S. military actions in Iran. Then things get a little lighter with Gavin Newsom and Jake Tapper going fishing—and some deep-sea fishing talk from the crew—before another story really gets under Pags' skin. Amazon delivery drones are increasingly filling the skies over Richardson, Texas, after the FAA approved expanded operations, and residents are raising concerns about noise and the sheer number of flights overhead. Are we really ready to automate even MORE of our lives and accept drones constantly buzzing over our neighborhoods? Pags isn't sold, even as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy talks about embracing the best technology available. Plus, Bessent keeps getting pressed on AI as Washington wrestles with just how quickly this technology should reshape everyday American life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Free Speech Friday kicks off with a massive Truth Alert as President Trump announces a historic Greenland agreement securing expanded, permanent U.S. military rights on the strategically critical island. Then Hasan Piker says the Middle East would be “more stable” if Iran had nuclear weapons—and Pags absolutely tears the argument apart in a must-hear moment. The phones light up before another huge story breaks: Trump says CNN, MS NOW and Politico are being banned from the White House. That brings the First Amendment front and center as Pags breaks down what freedom of the press actually protects and where presidential authority over White House access comes into play. Plus, Trump takes questions from reporters, and listeners have plenty to say about it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A bizarre Gavin Newsom image has people asking whether it's even real, and Pags breaks down what he's seeing. Then the spotlight turns to Trump-endorsed Florida Rep. María Elvira Salazar after she released a campaign ad directly challenging the president's immigration enforcement, saying it has gone “too far.” That has Pags asking a much tougher question: Did Salazar misrepresent where she stood to get Trump's endorsement? Her video gets the full treatment, along with the administration's response defending its immigration crackdown. From there, Pags makes one thing crystal clear—he's certainly not joining the crowd calling to defund the police. Listeners write in and get answers live before the amazing Dr. Carol Swain returns for Part 2. The accomplished author and political scientist digs into a question frustrating conservatives across the country: Why do Republicans so often seem determined to fight their own side while Democrats appear far more disciplined? It's a fascinating breakdown of the political landscape and the divisions shaping the GOP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Don Jr. wedding story gets another update as President Trump says his son told him he will repay Umar Kremlev for the money spent on two wedding celebrations in the Bahamas. Trump says he doesn't know Kremlev and dismissed the controversy as "not a big deal," while Pags breaks down what actually happened versus the political narrative surrounding it. Then construction begins on new border barriers in Texas' Big Bend region as the administration continues expanding its border-security infrastructure. And FINALLY—the Pentagon releases another batch of UFO files, including documents tied to a secretive military program. Pags says Americans deserve the full truth about what the government knows. Plus, questions swirl over whether Universal will actually release its Elon Musk documentary after reports that the studio is reconsidering its plans. Then Erin Molan joins the show for a special interview wrapping up a wild week—from Ed Sheeran and the Lindsay Clancy case to Sydney Sweeney, Gavin Newsom and plenty more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags starts with the latest on the Iran war as the conflict increasingly draws attention toward Yemen and President Trump weighs what comes next. Then the lone holdout juror in the Lindsay Clancy trial finally speaks publicly, calling several fellow jurors “activists” and giving his side of what happened inside the deliberation room. Pags digs into his claims and asks listeners where they stand—and the phone lines explode. Then attention turns to Mitch McConnell after a confusing moment during a Senate Agriculture Committee vote. Video shows Sen. John Hoeven initially telling McConnell to vote “no,” apparently misunderstanding which question was being voted on, while McConnell maintained his “aye” vote; the farm bill ultimately advanced 12–11. Pags plays the clip and questions whether Washington applies the same standards to aging politicians on both sides of the aisle. Plus, a federal judge orders the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days' notice before making significant physical changes to the building. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags says Texans need to be paying very close attention to the Senate race, and he's sounding the alarm over James Talarico. New undercover video features a minister from Talarico's longtime church questioning whether his recent political makeover is genuine, and Pags digs into what voters are being told versus Talarico's record. Then Gavin Newsom casually floats the idea of running for president during a bizarre fishing video, and Pags gets into Rep. María Elvira Salazar breaking with President Trump on immigration despite receiving his endorsement. Then former ESPN anchor Sage Steele joins Pags for an incredible Part 1. They tackle Caitlin Clark, the WNBA and the question the league seemingly refuses to answer clearly: What determines whether someone is eligible to play in a women's league? Plus, Steele takes us behind the scenes of ESPN, why SportsCenter used to be must-see television, what changed and why she ultimately walked away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags dives into a major decision facing President Trump as the Iran war spreads further into Yemen. Trump says he's weighing whether to resume large-scale attacks on Iran, asking whether he wants to “go in and annihilate them,” while also saying he hopes the months-long war is nearing an end. Pags doesn't mince words about where he stands: If America is going to fight a war, he argues, the objective should be to win it. The phone lines light up as listeners weigh in on what Trump should do next. Then the amazing Sage Steele returns for Part 2. The former ESPN anchor and host ofThe Sage Steele Show gets into Caitlin Clark, the WNBA and the debate over eligibility in women's sports before taking Pags deeper inside what happened at ESPN. What changed at SportsCenter? Why did something that was once must-see TV lose its way? And what ultimately pushed Steele to leave? It's another fascinating conversation with plenty more to unpack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags starts with Vice President JD Vance's message that the administration needs to do a better job highlighting what it sees as its wins before turning to a move that hits Americans directly in the wallet: the Federal Reserve just raised interest rates for the first time in more than three years. The Fed unanimously increased its benchmark rate by a quarter point to 3.75%–4%, citing persistent inflation, and signaled that additional increases could follow. Pags breaks down the hike and what it could mean before opening up the phones. Then White House Drug Czar Sara Carter joins Pags with numbers and details from inside the administration's fight against drug trafficking. Carter takes Pags through what her office says is being accomplished, the operations targeting suspected drug-running vessels, and the broader effort against cartels and trafficking networks. U.S. forces have carried out dozens of strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels over the past year, although the campaign's legality and effectiveness remain disputed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags starts with the latest fight over the Kennedy Center after a federal judge again blocked President Trump's name from being added to the building, and Pags asks why this has become such a major argument in the first place. Then Thomas Massie's effort to impeach War Secretary Pete Hegseth gets pushed until after the midterms as the House leaves Washington early—and Pags wonders whether the whole thing has become more about publicity than actually removing Hegseth. Pags has also been asking where all the Republican midterm advertising is. Now there's an answer: Trump-aligned groups are preparing to pour more than $130 million into House and Senate races across the country. Then former Democratic fundraiser Lindy Li joins Pags for Part 1 of a revealing conversation about the Biden White House. Li gives her account of who she believes was really wielding influence inside the administration—and why she says it wasn't simply Joe Biden calling the shots. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags takes us live to North Carolina as President Trump hits the campaign trail for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley, with the midterms now less than two months away. Pags explains why he believes Trump's agenda is effectively on the ballot in November and what control of Congress could mean for the administration's priorities. Then major new questions emerge one year after Charlie Kirk's assassination. Kirk's family has taken the first step toward a possible lawsuit against Utah Valley University and the state, alleging serious security failures—including concerns about rooftop access that Turning Point USA says were raised before the event. Plus, Lindy Li returns for an explosive Part 2. The former Democratic fundraiser gives Pags her account of who was wielding influence inside the Biden White House, names names and explains why she's now speaking publicly about what she says she witnessed inside Democratic politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Pags digs deeper into President Trump's $5,000 "dividend" promise as Speaker Mike Johnson tries to explain how it could actually happen. Congress would have to approve the payments, and Pags asks the question everyone wants answered: Could Americans really get these checks? Then former CIA officer Gary Berntsen joins Pags for Part 1 of an incredible look back at the hunt for Osama bin Laden after 9/11. Berntsen led CIA operations against al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and was on the ground during the battle of Tora Bora, where bin Laden ultimately escaped. Did America have an opportunity to get bin Laden years earlier? Why did he escape at Tora Bora? And why did it ultimately take nearly a decade after 9/11 to find him? Pags and Berntsen dig into the questions that still surround one of the biggest manhunts in American history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags starts with a rare Mitch McConnell sighting—and, of course, breaks out the Mitch impression—before diving back into the Lindsay Clancy case. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is now offering “asylum” to the lone holdout juror amid controversy surrounding him after the mistrial. Then the conversation turns to AI after layoffs hit two San Antonio television stations. Pags asks whether The Terminator is starting to feel a little less like science fiction as the debate over AI and American jobs intensifies. President Trump is pushing back against calls for additional AI guardrails, arguing that America has to stay ahead of China in the race for the technology. Pags digs into the risks, the competition with China and just how quickly this technology is changing the world. Then former CIA officer Gary Berntsen returns for Part 2, taking Pags even deeper inside the hunt for Osama bin Laden after 9/11 and the lingering questions about missed opportunities, intelligence failures and why it ultimately took nearly a decade to find him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags starts with breaking news from the Supreme Court on mail-ballot rules ahead of the 2026 midterms before impeachment takes center stage. Hakeem Jeffries isn't ruling out another Trump impeachment, while Rep. Al Green is moving to force a House-wide impeachment vote. Pags asks where the actual accountability is as the administration raises concerns about suspected fraud—and why more isn't being done. Then he gets into the latest media firestorm surrounding Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding. Don Jr. and Bettina Anderson are pushing back hard on the coverage, saying there is “no conspiracy” and “no mystery” behind the wedding funding story. Plus, Kay Hill joins Pags to tackle the growing fight over green cards, immigration and taxpayer-funded benefits as cities challenge the Trump administration's new public-charge policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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One year after Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University, Joe Pags dedicates the hour to remembering the man, his message and the legacy he left behind. Pags recalls exactly where he was when the news broke—interviewing Ben Carson when the world learned Charlie had died—and reflects on why he believes anyone who truly took the time to listen to Charlie knew exactly where he stood and the kind of man he was. Pags takes us to Utah Valley University as Charlie is remembered one year later and shares Vice President JD Vance's words about his friend. Then the show reaches back into the archives for something special: Pags' 2022 interview with Charlie Kirk, recorded when The College Scam had just been released. Charlie was warning about what he saw happening on college campuses even then, while also talking about the family and faith that would become such an important part of his legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags takes us live to the Republican midterm convention in Dallas as Gov. Greg Abbott takes the stage. Pags gets into the battle for Texas and sounds off on James Talarico before checking in on Mike Lawler's race in New York. Then comes President Trump's huge new promise: $5,000 for American adults if Republicans sweep the midterms. Can Trump actually do it? Pags explains why Congress would have to act and gets into the growing Republican support for the proposal. Then former Secret Service member Darin Kinder joins Pags one year after Charlie Kirk's assassination. Kinder offers incredible insight into how security has changed, what public speakers need to do differently now and the precautions that could save lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags dives into what happened to late-night television, looking back at David Letterman and Jay Leno before asking why today's biggest shows have become so openly political. Then Pags gets into Jimmy Kimmel moving his interview with James Talarico to YouTube amid concerns about the FCC's equal-opportunities rules for political candidates. Pags spends time breaking down what those rules actually mean for broadcasters and why putting an interview online changes the equation. Then Pags takes us live to the Republican midterm convention before welcoming Christy Edwards Lawton, who has compiled Charlie Kirk's public statements and positions into a new book. One year after Kirk's assassination, Lawton explains why she wanted to create a reference to Charlie's own words—giving readers a way to see exactly where he stood across the issues he spent years discussing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Republican midterm convention is officially underway in Dallas, but Joe Pags quickly turns to President Trump's striking new prediction: He says the Iran war will end "immediately after" the November election, arguing Tehran is trying to influence the midterms and can't withstand U.S. economic pressure much longer. Oil prices are surging amid renewed fighting, and while Trump says negotiations remain possible, he says they're not what the administration is currently pursuing. Pags also gets into Russia and Ukraine after Trump says the biggest obstacle to a deal is that Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy simply "hate each other," while contrasting Trump's frequent exchanges with reporters with the previous administration. Then Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivers the latest on Iran before the phones open up. Plus, former U.S. Marine Mike Jernigan joins Pags for a deep dive into one of the biggest questions of the conflict: Is the Strait of Hormuz actually open or closed? What's happening to ships trying to move through it, why is Kharg Island so strategically important to Iran's oil exports, and what should Americans understand about the battle for one of the world's most critical waterways? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags dives into Secretary of State Marco Rubio's trip to Ecuador, where Rubio is expanding the U.S. fight against drug trafficking organizations, announcing plans for additional security assistance and designating Los Tiguerones as a foreign terrorist organization. Pags reacts as Rubio speaks bluntly to reporters about the violent groups behind the drug trade. Then things get personal as Pags gives an update on Mama Pags recovering from hip surgery, talks about why "temporary" really does mean temporary, and celebrates the explosive growth of his bodycam YouTube channel. The midterm convention is officially underway in Dallas, and James Talarico is walking back his past statement about there being six sexes, saying there are two and admitting he "missed the mark." Then longtime political strategist Roger Stone joins Pags for a wide-ranging conversation spanning his days working for Richard Nixon, the 2026 midterms, the Russia-collusion investigation and questions surrounding the origins of that narrative, allegations involving foreign interference in the 2020 election, and Stone's perspective on the political landscape heading toward November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags keeps one eye on the Republican midterm convention in Dallas as Dr. Mehmet Oz speaks about fraud and Rep. Byron Donalds fires up the crowd, while Pags asks the bigger question: What is the future of the country going to look like—and are Americans actually going to show up and vote? The convention is a two-day Republican gathering centered on the midterms and President Trump's agenda. Then Hunter Biden raises eyebrows by saying he "may have to" run for president in 2028, although he stopped short of announcing a campaign. Things get much more serious when Pags reacts to a senior Anthropic safety researcher estimating a greater than 10% chance that advanced AI could kill all humans within the next decade—an estimate Pags says should be ZERO. Experts emphasize that such probabilities are subjective estimates, not scientifically established odds. And for the stupid story of the day, Seattle police spark ridicule after an official referred to people known for gun violence as "trigger-pullers." Plus, Roger Stone returns for Part 2 of his wide-ranging conversation with Pags. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags dives into the stunning fallout from the Lindsay Clancy mistrial—and somehow the story keeps getting more unbelievable. After an 11–1 jury split favoring a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity verdict, Clancy's attorney is now publicly asking President Trump to consider a pardon, despite the case involving Massachusetts state charges outside presidential pardon power. Pags wants prosecutors to seek a retrial and reacts to jurors revealing just how close Clancy came to being acquitted of murder, with one holdout refusing to join the other 11. Then another horrifying case enters the conversation: an Illinois mother accused of killing her young son had reportedly shown an interest in the Clancy case. Pags takes calls and sounds off on the disturbing stories and theories people will believe before turning to the tragedy in Miami, where authorities have identified five victims killed in the Amazon cargo plane crash. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags starts with the Republican midterm convention in Dallas and argues it shouldn't simply turn into another Trump rally as Republicans try to make their case to voters. Ken Paxton is campaigning in Texas with major outside support, while President Trump is once again trolling the internet—this time posting a map showing Canada, Mexico, Greenland and more covered in the American flag. Pags asks the bigger question: Do posts like this actually persuade anyone to vote Republican in November, or are they just memes for people who already support him? Then Attorney General Todd Blanche honors Rudy Giuliani before Pags turns to a much more serious moment: the approaching one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk's death. The Dallas convention itself is planning a remembrance of Kirk, whose assassination left a major void in conservative youth politics. Kay Hill joins Pags for Part 1 to examine where the Republican Party stands today, Kirk's lasting impact on younger voters, whether anyone has stepped up to fill the messaging void he left behind, and what Republicans need to communicate as they head into the midterms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pags and the crew tackle a huge question for the conservative movement: Who steps up next? Is Vice President JD Vance the future of the Republican Party, could Marco Rubio eventually make a run for the White House, and has Rubio shown a side of himself that even Pags didn't know was there? With Vance already drawing significant 2028 attention, Pags uses a baseball analogy to ask who the conservative movement's next "cleanup hitter" really is. Then, with the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, Pags reflects on just how dramatically America—and New York City politics—have changed since that seemingly normal week before the attacks. Kay Hill returns for Part 2 as the one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk's assassination approaches. Kirk's influence on young conservatives remains significant, while Turning Point USA continues trying to carry his political and organizational legacy forward. Can anyone fill the void he left? And with Republicans gathering in Dallas for an unusual midterm convention this week, Pags and Hill dig into the GOP's messaging challenge and the future voices competing to shape the party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices