The Wake Up America Show with Austin Petersen

Kevin McCallister vs. Authority: Why Home Alone is a Libertarian Masterpiece Is Home Alone actually a movie about the failure of the state and the triumph of private property rights?

Hollywood has forgotten how to make a Christmas movie because they have forgotten how to be sincere. We have traded classics like Home Alone and Elf for "Content Slop" and ironic snark. In this episode, we break down why the holiday blockbuster is dead, why Red One bombed, and why the "Netflix Look" is ruining cinema. But while we are walking away from the theater, we are walking back to the sanctuary. New data reveals a massive, historic shift: Gen Z men are now attending church at higher rates than women. Camellia Peterson (AFP-MO) joins the show to discuss this "Silent Night Revival" and why young men are rejecting modern chaos to find order, tradition, and meaning in the pews. Plus, the "Holiday Hall of Shame" is open for business. From homeowners fighting porch pirates with "Skunk Water" to the woman suing her coworker over a bag of dog food—we cover the absolute chaos of Christmas 2025. Today's Show:

The conservative movement is officially at war. This weekend at TPUSA's "AmericaFest" in Phoenix—the first since the tragic loss of Charlie Kirk—the tensions finally boiled over. Ben Shapiro took the stage to blast Tucker Carlson for "moral imbecility," while Tucker fired back at the "hall monitors" trying to deplatform him. Tom Pappert (The Tennessee Star) joins me to break down the most explosive weekend in the history of the movement and what it means for the 2026 midterms. Then, we look at the other "war" happening this week: The war on reality. A new report exposes that the Census Bureau is refusing to count $1.4 trillion in welfare payments as income. If they did, the poverty rate would drop from 10% to 1%. We are bankrupting the nation to solve a problem that—statistically—doesn't exist. Plus, the "Lightning" has struck out. Ford officially killed the F-150 Lightning this week, taking a $19.5 billion write-down. Jon Miltimore is here to explain why the free market just delivered the ultimate rebuke to the Green New Deal. And finally... whatever happened to the office Christmas party? We look at why HR departments killed the "bacchanal" and why Gen Z is the only generation trying to bring it back. Today's Show: Monologue: The "Sanitized" Society. From Christmas parties to poverty stats, we are being fed a fake version of reality. The $1.4 Trillion Lie: Breaking down the Phil Gramm & John Early report. Why a single mom earning $11k actually has more disposable income ($64k) than a starting teacher. Ford Surrenders: The F-150 Lightning is dead. Jon Miltimore on the dealer revolt, the aluminum fire, and the end of the EV mandate. Civil War in Phoenix: Tom Pappert takes us inside the room for the Shapiro vs. Carlson showdown. Who does the base side with? Read the Research: The Biggest Fraud in Welfare (WSJ) - Phil Gramm & John Early The Taming of the Office Holiday Party (WSJ) - Brenda Cronin Ford Halts Lightning Production, Pivots to Hybrids (Jon Miltimore) #AmFest2025 #TuckerCarlson #BenShapiro #FordLightning #Economy #Welfare #CivilWar

Trump Said Ho Ho Hold My Beer and Descheduled Marijuana. It's a very green Christmas on Wake Up America

The administrative state is in a total tailspin. Today, we break down the explosive departure of Dan Bongino from the FBI. Was it just a "return to media," or was the friction with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Epstein "Client List" the final straw? We look at the move to replace him with legal brawler Andrew Bailey and what it means for the future of the Bureau. Plus, OMB Director Russ Vought begins the "Great Unbinding" by shattering the federal government's climate alarmism factory, NCAR. And the UN is coming for Georgia—investigative journalist Gabriella Hoffman joins us to expose the UNESCO land grab in the Okefenokee Swamp. In this episode:

They told you it was a conspiracy theory. They called you "fragile" for noticing it. But today, the receipts are in. Austin breaks down the bombshell new report from Compact Magazine that proves an entire generation of American men was systematically, illegally, and quietly purged from the workforce to satisfy the "DEI" gods. The data is undeniable, and the "Lost Generation" is finally getting its vindication. On today's show: The Silent Purge: We review the shocking numbers. From Hollywood to the Hospital, verified data shows how meritocracy was destroyed to keep you unemployed. Tenure Won't Save You: The Trump Administration puts "Biased Professors" on notice. The days of taxpayer-funded indoctrination are over. Your Car is a Spy: Judge Napolitano joins Austin to expose the terrifying new "Kill Switch" mandate kicking in for 2026. Can the Feds shut off your engine? The Bondi Truth: Kerry Slone returns to debunk the media lies about the Bondi Junction attack and explains why "Gun Free Zones" are just hunting grounds for criminals. Support the Show: ☕ Wake Up with the Best: Get the roast that fuels the counter-revolution at 4LibertyShop.com.

The West is crumbling from within. Yesterday, we saw "Diversity Hires" in the Australian police force turn their backs and run while citizens were slaughtered. Today, we learn that the Biden-Harris administration is trying to hand over the Okefenokee Swamp to the United Nations. Austin Petersen breaks down the "Great Betrayal": From the record credit card debt fueling this Christmas to the globalist land grabs in our own backyard. On the show: Camellia Peterson (7:30am CT) brings the "Missouri Firewall." She details three massive bills: Banning China from buying farmland, the "Defend the Guard" Act to stop undeclared wars, and the plan to finally END personal property tax. Kerry Slone (8:00am CT) exposes the deadly consequences of DEI in policing. She analyzes the Bondi Beach footage where female officers retreated, leaving civilians defenseless. Gabriella Hoffman (8:30am CT) joins us to stop the Okefenokee UNESCO designation. Locals are fighting back against "Agenda 2030" regulations that would restrict hunting and property rights. Chapters: Intro The Hero Scout vs. The Debt Trap Camellia Peterson: Banning China & Ending Property Tax Kerry Slone: Cops Running Away? Gabriella Hoffman: The UN Land Grab

The West is sleeping. Yesterday in Sydney, 16 people were slaughtered at a Hanukkah celebration in the "gun-free utopia" of Australia. The shooters used long guns despite the ban. The victims were defenseless because the government stripped them of their right to carry. Austin breaks down the "Liberal Suicide Pact": Why the Left insists on importing people who hate Western Civilization, and then disarming the citizens who would fight back. Also on the show: Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) joins us to hammer the point home. If this happened in Texas, the body count wouldn't be 16. It would be zero. He explains why a well-armed citizenry is the only answer to terror. Jon Miltimore (@miltimore79) exposes the "Bipartisan Stupidity" in Washington. Josh Hawley and Bernie Sanders have united to cap credit card interest rates (which will destroy the poor), and the IRS just admitted the "No Tax on Tips" law is a compliance nightmare. Steve Gruber (@stevegruber) breaks down Rand Paul's revolutionary new healthcare plan. Imagine buying health insurance from Costco or Amazon with the same bulk discount you get on toilet paper. Chapters: Intro Bondi Beach Massacre: The Liberal Suicide Pact Steve Gruber: The Costco Health Plan Solution Jon Miltimore: The Credit Card Cap Disaster Kurt Schlichter: Why Gun Control Aids Terrorists Join the movement: Website: http://4LibertyNetwork.com Support the Show: http://4LibertyShop.com Follow the Host: X: @AP4Liberty Instagram: @AP4Liberty #WakeUpAmericaShow #BondiBeach #Terrorism #GunControl #KurtSchlichter #RandPaul #SteveGruber #Economics #Costco #JonMiltimore

TOMORROW. THE RETURN OF SERIF.

The Open Road is under attack. A new coalition of governors is pushing to replace the gas tax with a mandatory GPS-based "Mileage Tax." They call it a "User Fee." We call it a surveillance state nightmare. Austin breaks down the pilot programs that want to track exactly where you drive—and tax you for it. Plus, the price tag is dead. A bombshell report reveals Instacart is charging neighbors different prices for the same groceries. The media says it's "gouging," but is "Surge Pricing" actually a brilliant tool for business owners to manage demand? We play Devil's Advocate. Also on the show: Judge Andrew Napolitano (@Judgenap) joins us to discuss the "Deep State" leaks regarding the Venezuela boat strike and the landmark Supreme Court case Trump v. Slaughter. Can the President finally fire the bureaucracy? Joel Berry (@JoelWBerry) from The Babylon Bee stops by to discuss the "Postliberal Right." Are conservatives becoming the very authoritarians they swore to defeat? Chapters: Intro Your Car is a Snitch: The GPS Mileage Tax Instacart & The Death of the Price Tag Judge Napolitano: Venezuela & War Powers Joel Berry: The Postliberal Right Join the movement: Website: http://4LibertyNetwork.com Support the Show: http://4LibertyShop.com Follow the Host: X: @AP4Liberty Instagram: @AP4Liberty #WakeUpAmericaShow #MileageTax #JudgeNapolitano #BabylonBee #SurgePricing #DeepState #Instacart #Libertarian

THEY AREN'T HUMAN: Proof Nick Fuentes is Leading a Foreign Bot Army The receipts are in, and the "Groyper Revolution" is a lie. A bombshell new report reveals that 61% of the online engagement driving the fringe Right isn't coming from American voters—it's coming from paid bot farms in Pakistan, Indonesia, and Russia. Austin Petersen breaks down the foreign psychological operation designed to rot the MAGA movement from the inside out. Plus, the Deep State is finally on trial. In Trump v. Slaughter, the Supreme Court appears ready to dismantle the "Fourth Branch" of government, with Chief Justice Roberts calling the bureaucracy a "dried husk." Is this the end of the unaccountable federal regulator? Today's Show Rundown:

THE SOMALI FRAUD STATE: $1B STOLEN, A CINNABON MELTDOWN, AND THE WHITE HOUSE CRACKDOWN Minnesota just became ground zero for one of the biggest welfare fraud scandals in American history — more than $1 BILLION stolen through fake autism centers, kickbacks, overseas real estate, and money that may have even reached the Somali terrorist group al-Shabab. Now CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz is warning Gov. Tim Walz that Minnesota could lose federal Medicaid funding unless the state cleans up decades of corruption and identity-politics paralysis. And while billions vanish, a Cinnabon worker is instantly fired after a viral confrontation with a Somali couple — the perfect symbol of America's double standard: protected activist groups get political immunity while working-class Americans get crushed. Meanwhile, the Trump White House has launched Operation Metro Surge, ripping violent Somali offenders off the streets of Minneapolis and exposing what Democrats refused to acknowledge for years. Today we break it ALL down. PLUS: Jon Miltimore on California's new rent-control disaster Austin's take on AI replacing CEOs — and why he already made AI the CEO of 4LibertyNetwork Join the movement. Discord: https://discord.gg/VpZjANjpX4 Shop: 4LibertyShop.com Follow Austin on X: @AP4Liberty

Is Middle America about to snap? Today we break down Hannah Cox's explosive analysis of why the real poverty line may be closer to 140k and why millions of families feel trapped in an economy that punishes hard work. Austin and Stephanie unpack the bleak reality facing the middle class as 2025 closes. Then we turn up the holiday cheer with Freedom Family Friday.

America hits the breaking point. Consumer confidence collapses, car prices explode, and even Costco is suing the government over tariff chaos. Is the economy finally snapping under Washington's bad policies. We dig into the truth behind the crisis the media won't explain.

Boomers vs Gen Z: The $85 Trillion Wealth War Explodes Gen Z says they “did everything right.” Boomers are sitting on $85 trillion. Millennials got crushed in the middle. Today we break down the real economic truth behind the generational wealth crisis and why everyone is blaming the wrong people. Plus:

TOP STORY: Milei vs Hoppe and the libertarian purity crisis. Georgetown's Randy Barnett joins us to explain why libertarians desperately need a theory of the second best if they want to win in the real world. From Trump's feud with Massie to the civil war over Israel and the Milei–Hoppe divide, Barnett breaks down how purity politics is crippling the movement. PLUS: •

Charlie Kirk Is Dead. The Right Is Making Holocaust Memes. What Are We Doing? Today on Wake Up America, Austin Petersen confronts the most disturbing story in politics right now: a leaked group chat of Young Republican leaders filled with Hitler memes, gas chamber jokes, and open antisemitism — and the fallout that could tear the movement apart. We'll unpack:

Cancelling Christopher Columbus: Guns, Germs, and Wokeness The government shutdown just turned into a full-blown purge — and we're celebrating every pink slip. Then we take aim at the Left's favorite historical punching bag: Christopher Columbus. Was he a monster, a hero, or just the first man to trigger modern wokeness? Either way, we're setting the record straight.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk shocked the nation by shaking hands at Charlie Kirk's funeral — their first public interaction since a bitter feud earlier this year. What does this reunion mean for politics, business, and free speech? On today's Wake Up America Show (Sept 22, 2025): Why patriotic assimilation still matters in light of the latest H-1B visa news. Trump brings back the tougher U.S. citizenship test with 128 civics questions. Guest Jon Miltimore on Fauci's pardon bombshell — new Senate emails reveal Fauci told staff to destroy federal records. Guest Jeremy Kauffman on the FCC, Jimmy Kimmel, and how the Right can secure free speech without becoming hypocrites. Bonus Unlock ($100): Breakfast Theatre featuring Elon Musk — he explains the awkward handshake with Trump, trolls Kamala Harris, and dishes on his baby mama drama with Ashley St. Clair.

President Trump has officially declared Antifa a “MAJOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION” — calling them a sick, dangerous radical left disaster — and demanding investigations into their funders. Meanwhile, Disney's ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel “indefinitely” after his disgusting smear of Charlie Kirk just days after Kirk's assassination. On today's Wake Up America Show with Austin Petersen: Trump's Antifa terrorist designation and what it means for liberty, order, and America's future. Jimmy Kimmel yanked off late night after his comments on Charlie Kirk spark FCC backlash. Camellia Peterson (@RareCamellia) on the collapse of late-night comedy and culture wars. Matt Kibbe (@mkibbe) on the liberty implications of labeling Antifa terrorists. Plus: a wild Breakfast Theatre sketch featuring a trans Antifa activist that will leave you laughing and shaking your head.

Vice President JD Vance took over Charlie Kirk's podcast in a powerful memorial, declaring there will be “NO UNITY” with those celebrating political violence. Today on the Wake Up America Show, we break down what that means for the culture war and for free speech in America.  

In today's Wake Up America Show with Austin Petersen, we dive into the fallout after the assassination of Charlie Kirk — and how the Left's cancel culture has transformed into consequences culture. Teachers, pilots, professors, a Secret Service agent, and even corporate employees have been fired or suspended for celebrating Charlie's death online. This isn't censorship — it's justice, accountability, and America finally fighting back.

On September 11th, America wakes up to tragedy. Conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University while speaking to students. His assassination is not just a crime against one man — it's an attack on free speech and the very foundations of liberty. In today's Wake Up America Show, Austin Petersen delivers a powerful opening monologue on what Charlie's death means for our movement, our country, and our future. Guests:

The brutal murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska aboard a Charlotte train has become a national outrage — and a referendum on soft-on-crime, Democrat-run cities. We break down her final moments, the shocking surveillance footage, and the failure of woke justice systems that put compassion for criminals above safety for citizens. Plus, expert guests weigh in on the legal, cultural, and geopolitical fallout — and we unlock one of the wildest Breakfast Theatre sketches yet.

A shocking tragedy in Charlotte: Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, just 23 years old, was brutally murdered on a light rail train by career criminal Decarlos Brown Jr., a man with 14 prior arrests who was still walking free. Why was he released? Why did city leaders stay silent? And why does the media ignore this case when the racial dynamics don't fit their narrative? Today on the Wake Up America Show, Austin Petersen breaks down the horrific details, exposes the political cowardice behind soft-on-crime policies, and asks why Democrats and corporate media refuse to confront the truth.

The Trump Justice Department is reportedly considering banning transgender Americans from owning firearms in the wake of the Minneapolis Catholic school shooting. We break down what this means for the Second Amendment, the future of liberty, and the dangerous precedent it could set. ✅ Stories we cover today: DOJ's rumored trans gun ban proposal Costco gold bars surge 42% in value Malcolm Gladwell's shocking confession on trans athletes

President Trump says he's sending the National Guard into Chicago and Baltimore — with or without the governors' approval. Are federal troops the solution to crime-ridden cities, or is this a dangerous precedent for government overreach? In today's Wake Up America Show with Austin Petersen:

Two children were murdered and 17 others injured in a horrific Catholic school shooting in Minneapolis. The killer, Robin Westman, left behind a manifesto filled with antisemitic hate, “Free Palestine” slogans, and “Kill Trump” notes scrawled on gun magazines. The mayor immediately pivoted to defending transgender ideology and pushing gun control, rather than confronting the disturbing patterns behind these crimes. Today on the Wake Up America Show with Austin Petersen:

It's Freedom Family Friday! Austin and Stephanie tackle the latest cultural and family stories with humor, insight, and plenty of laughs.

Cracker Barrel's Collapse, Ghost Hulk's Revenge, and the GOP's Budget Betrayal | Wake Up America Show 8-21-25 Welcome to the Wake Up America Show with Austin Petersen — the only morning show where liberty roars, guests bring heat, and the bonus content might just summon a ghost.

Generation Ghosted: Why Gen X Won't Lead | Wake Up America Show Is Generation X really the “forgotten generation” with no legacy of leadership, or are we the last sane Americans holding it all together? Austin Petersen breaks down the New York Times hit piece on Gen X and explains why independence isn't irrelevance.

Shelter, Jail, or GTFO — Trump's New Homeless Plan Hits DC The Wake Up America Show with Austin Petersen — August 13, 2025 Trump isn't waiting for permission — he's sending DC's homeless encampments packing. Is it cruel or long-overdue cleanup? Austin breaks down the libertarian case against open-air tent cities and explores why order is the foundation of freedom.

Trump Mops Up DC: The Federal Cleanup Begins President Trump is taking the broom — and the National Guard — to Washington D.C. in one of the boldest law-and-order moves of his presidency. By federalizing the D.C. police and sidelining the mayor, Trump is aiming to scrub the capital clean of its crime crisis. But is this a necessary restoration of order or an overreach of federal power? In this episode of Wake Up America, Austin Petersen breaks it all down with hard facts, sharp wit, and no-nonsense analysis. Segments: AI Entrepreneurial Revolution — Why the future belongs to the early adopters. Trump's DC Takeover — What it means for the Constitution and the rest of America. Camellia Peterson on Lila Rose's “men don't need sex” post and the Supreme Court challenge to Obergefell. Senator Nick Schroer on marijuana rescheduling and law & order. Bonus Content — Mini-documentary at $75 goal, and Defense Against the Dark Arts with the Magic Mirror at $100 goal.

It's Freedom Family Friday on the Wake Up America Show with Austin Petersen and Stephanie Petersen! Today, we mourn the loss of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, and Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner—and ask if this marks the true Death of the '80s. Then, we tackle the wildest stories in politics and pop culture:

  President Trump accuses Barack Obama of treason—and Congress responds by… fleeing a vote on the Epstein files? On today's Wake Up America Show, Austin Petersen breaks down the biggest stories the media won't touch:

It's Freedom Family Friday on Wake Up America with Austin & Stephanie Petersen—assuming the baby stays asleep long enough for all the madness! Today's romp includes: A viral Coldplay concert scandal as Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR chief Kristin Cabot spark cheating rumors on the jumbotron