Podcasts about Herold

Jon Herold digs into a fresh batch of White House transparency documents on election machine supply chain vulnerabilities, walking through claims that voting machine vendors rely on Chinese made parts, but flags what he thinks is a bigger discovery: what appears to be the previously unknown title of a classified national security memorandum buried in the document citations. He also breaks down Trump's new national emergency declaration over foreign threats to the power grid, connects it to earlier joint declarations from top intelligence officials about the White House ballroom construction, and plays Trump's signing ceremony for the very on brand renaming of Lake Ontario to "Lake America." Other topics include a skeptical take on CIA Director Ratcliffe's under the radar Moscow trip, fresh Kremlin threats toward British military facilities over Ukraine support, and RFK Jr.'s claims about a fabricated Pennsylvania measles death. Sponsor reads and chat banter round out a document heavy Thursday show.

Jon Herold works to untangle public confusion over a recent SCOTUS ruling on mail in voting, explaining that it only unfroze one of two active cases challenging Trump's postal executive order while the League of Women Voters case is still blocking key provisions. He covers the DOJ and FBI seizing Chinese state sponsored hacking tools that targeted NASA, the Fed, and other agencies, a Secret Service leak investigation resulting in staff suspensions, and a newly announced Meta settlement over child safety claims. Ashe in America joins later to break down the Mike Lindell Minnesota recount fight and why the state's proposed "partial recount" methodology raises red flags. Other topics include a Pentagon claim of newly found Afghanistan withdrawal documents, a Massachusetts lawmaker's pandemic fraud arrest, and some fun with a new nickname for a Colorado election official. Sponsor reads, ad mishap bloopers, and a lively chat session round out a Wednesday show ahead of tonight's Power Hour with Burning Bright.

Jon Herold digs into the unfolding Data Republican controversy, walking through how the prominent conservative data analyst faced backlash after admitting she's a paid special government employee at the Department of War, despite previously framing a State Department document handoff as an entrapment attempt. He argues the real issue isn't her politics but the lack of disclosure, and plays a clip of Rep. Anna Paulina Luna discussing her push for legislation requiring paid influencers to disclose government ties. Other topics include CIA Director Ratcliffe's surprise trip to Moscow, Canada's retaliatory tariffs set for September 8th, a batch of fiery Trump Truth Social posts on renaming Lake Ontario and reducing joint military exercises with South Korea, a Supreme Court ruling allowing Trump's election integrity order to proceed, and a viral story about anti "Flock camera" vandals. Sponsor reads, birthday shoutouts, and some fun personal stories round out a newsy Tuesday show.

Jon Herold calls it a boring Monday news cycle but still digs into Trump's newly announced 50 percent tariffs on Canadian autos, parts, and steel starting in 2027, reading through the Truth Social post accusing Canada of running up a 60 billion dollar trade deficit. He plays clips from Treasury Secretary Bessent's rollout of "Operation Economic Outcast," a sweeping sanctions campaign aimed at cutting Iran off from the global economy, and a JD Vance clip on socialism that Jon thinks echoes past comments a little too closely. Other topics include a massive 13.7 billion dollar AI chip deal for Rumble Group, a viral Spencer Pratt rant about "mommy sleuth" TikTok conspiracy culture around Charlie Kirk's death, and a look at USAID fraud reporting. Sponsor reads, chat banter, and some personal football coaching stories round out a slower Monday show.

Jon Herold leans into a slow Friday with a mostly chat driven show, tackling former NSA Robert O'Brien's Fox News op ed arguing courts blocking White House ballroom construction endangers presidential security, and connecting it to his own theories about continuity of government bunkers. He plays a clip of Steve Bannon calling DOGE "fake and ghey" and questioning Bannon's push for a national emergency election declaration given his past comments urging people to vote despite believing elections are fraudulent. Other topics include Trump's deal to import cheap ground beef to lower prices, a new National Space Transportation policy memo, an ActBlue co founder pleading the Fifth before Congress, and some fun with AI business bots. Sponsor reads, meetup chatter, and a lively, laid back chat session round out a light Friday show ahead of tomorrow's Power Hour with Chris.

Jon Herold and Burning Bright open with a mystery eye injury bit before pivoting to celebrate, ironically, the country officially crossing forty trillion dollars in debt. From there it's a full rundown of the week's declassifications, including an Eric Swalwell related document that's more interesting for how it got declassified than what's actually in it, plus new filings in the James Comey case that Herold still isn't convinced amounts to anything real. There's a segment on the former NIAID official who quietly pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges without much media attention, a discussion on US sanctions against the International Criminal Court president, and a longer debate about whether Comey could plausibly be guilty of something bigger than what's currently charged. The guys also touch on Venezuela, voting machine history, and revisit the ever popular Epstein files question. Dense news week, delivered with the usual banter.

Jon Herold deals with a wave of fraudulent charges on his own bank card while running a genuinely slow Thursday show, leaning heavily on chat interaction. He covers the national debt officially crossing 40 trillion dollars, plays a Scott Bessent clip on whether the deficit has peaked, and digs into reports that the FBI seized former Congressman Eric Swalwell's electronics amid a sexual misconduct investigation. Other topics include Trump's sweeping new economic pressure campaign against Iran, a DOE critical minerals funding announcement, and a look at how both anti Trump Democrats and the Freedom Caucus are struggling in this year's primaries. The chat also pulls Jon into a lengthy, somber discussion of an ongoing Massachusetts murder trial that dominates a good chunk of the show. Sponsor reads, a new Badlands group chat setup, and plenty of live chat banter round out a lighter but talkative Thursday.

Jon Herold welcomes back Ghost for a deep geopolitical breakdown, replaying an old clip of Ghost's David's Corridor prediction before diving into the Mecca Accords, a Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and Turkey defense pact he calls bigger than the Abraham Accords, and a web of new oil pipeline deals connecting Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran. Ghost also unpacks a reported Tulsi Gabbard back channel with IRGC leadership, the timing behind Assad's in absentia death sentence, and his theory on where the Syria nuclear material narrative actually originated. Jon separately covers a former Fauci advisor's guilty plea, new US sanctions on ICC officials, a Trump and Canada tariff pause tied to reviving the Keystone pipeline, and a Moderna cancer vaccine breakthrough he views with some skepticism. Sponsor reads, market updates, and a preview of tonight's Power Hour round out a busy Wednesday show.

Jon Herold breaks down a newly declassified 2020 NSA memo showing a deputy director delayed a foreign election targeting report for over a year out of fear it would brand the agency as "deep state," then replays what he calls his favorite Trump clip on the weaponized intelligence community to tie it all together. He questions why these releases seem to route exclusively through journalist John Solomon rather than being dumped raw like the JFK or Epstein files, and touches on last minute US-Canada tariff talks, a judge blocking the FBI's planned headquarters move, and a fake Los Angeles mayoral poll a firm admitted was a "social experiment." Other highlights include a rundown of odd primary season shenanigans across several states, some personal back to school stories, and a preview of tonight's Power Hour. Sponsor reads and a lively chat session round out a dense Tuesday show.

Jon Herold digs deep into newly declassified FBI files on suspected Chinese operative Christine Fang, nicknamed "Rusty Thumbs" by investigators, and her years long relationship with Congressman Eric Swalwell, walking through the FBI's failed attempt to recruit her as a source before pivoting to a campaign corruption investigation that ultimately closed without charges. He builds out a detailed theory around a still classified National Security Presidential Memorandum he believes triggered the document release, connecting it to his ongoing coverage of the weaponized intelligence community storyline. Other topics include an appeals court dismissing an Alien Enemies Act challenge, Trump's Truth Social post on reducing joint military exercises with South Korea, Kushner and Netanyahu's Gaza disarmament stance, and a Bloomberg opinion piece skeptical of Tucker Carlson's third party ambitions. Sponsor reads, personal deck staining stories, and a lively chat session round out a dense Monday show.

Jon Herold spends Friday explaining why he refuses to watch the much hyped Candace Owens versus Andrew Wilson debate, arguing that a debate can never settle a controlled opposition dynamic and that whoever "wins" has nothing to do with who is actually right. He responds to some chat pushback on his stance, then shifts into a genuinely quiet news day covering an appeals court dismissing an Alien Enemies Act challenge, a trade court upholding Trump's de minimis tariff closure, and a report on federal agencies routing funds to terror linked charities. There is also a look at falling DC and Memphis crime stats tied to National Guard deployment, Trump's Supreme Court push on ballroom construction, and some personal baseball and birthday stories. Sponsor reads, meetup ticket reminders, and an extended chat hangout round out a lighter Friday show.

Jon Herold and Burning Bright open with sponsor banter (yes, there's now a joke Chinese knockoff Badlands promo code in play) before diving into a fresh John Solomon clip and a batch of newly declassified files. The throughline for the night is clear: the intelligence community, not any one political figure, is squarely in the crosshairs of these disclosures. Herold breaks out one of his all time favorite Trump clips, a rapid fire rundown of Russiagate, the Mueller probe, both impeachments, the dossier, and the Twitter files, framing it as the actual target list behind everything getting declassified right now. The guys dig into why that framing matters, what's still to come, and why they think this moment has been years in the making. There's the usual mix of substance and back and forth banter throughout, including a few tangents that wander before circling back.

Jon Herold leans on the chat for a lighter Thursday, opening with Karoline Leavitt's announced departure as White House Press Secretary and a fun debate over whether the role should even exist in the Trump era. He digs into a Washington Post report tying a covert CIA program to mysterious strikes on Ecuadorian fishing boats near the Galapagos, plus a separate leak questioning the CIA's confidence in the Iranian assassination threat that prompted Trump's secret plane switch in Turkey. Other topics include a new executive order on transnational cybercrime, a Natalie Winters report on USDA funded halal meal programs in public schools, the national debt closing in on 40 trillion, and Trump's push for permanent Daylight Saving Time. Jon also gives a sneak peek at his own AI powered news aggregator project. Sponsor reads, market updates, and a lively chat session round out a slower but fun Thursday show.

Jon Herold digs deep into newly declassified documents revealing that the FBI's "Round river" operation buried corruption reporting from 14 confidential human sources on Joe Biden while formally labeling officials like Bill Barr and Mike Pompeo as Russian disinformation conduits. He ties this fresh evidence back to Hunter Biden's laptop emails and the Blue Star Strategies contract timeline to argue the Tucker Carlson led "redemption tour" is conveniently timed to counter the release. He also plays a clip of John Solomon previewing possible grand jury indictments out of Fort Pierce, Florida, and covers Trump floating a national emergency declaration to bypass Congress on election reform, plus a new DOJ special grand jury in DC overseen by one of Jeanine Pirro's deputies. Sponsor reads, market updates, and a preview of tonight's Power Hour round out a dense Wednesday show.

Jon Herold digs deep into Andrew McCabe's own memoir to fill in the timeline on how Sessions told him he'd be acting FBI director just a day before McCabe's team opened its investigation into Sessions, then pairs that with old Trump tweets questioning Sessions' recusal to build out his running theory on the weaponized intelligence community. He also breaks down newly released Fauci text messages showing private concern about miscarriage risk from COVID vaccination during pregnancy, contrasted with the public messaging insisting there were no red flags, tying it to Trump's new vaccine transparency executive order. Other topics include a Tucker Carlson led Hunter Biden "redemption tour" Jon finds frustratingly unchallenged, a Syrian court sentencing Bashar Assad to death in absentia, and new reporting on Trump's secret military jet exit from Turkey amid an assassination threat. Sponsor reads and a lively chat session round out a dense Tuesday show.

Jon Herold kicks off Monday digging into newly declassified documents showing the FBI opened an investigation into Jeff Sessions, codenamed "March Toll," the day after James Comey was fired, arguing the timing exposes a deliberate effort to prolong the Russia collusion narrative. He tracks down old McCabe congressional testimony while building out his own timeline connecting the Sessions probe to the previously covered "Oxford comma" investigation and the broader weaponized intelligence community storyline. Other topics include Trump's Truth Social posts demanding compensation from Iran for war damages, a Politico style piece on Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's balancing act on interest rates, a look at AI generated video games disrupting the industry, and Minnesota's primary ballot featuring some unusually named candidates. Sponsor reads, a recap of the Jupiter, Florida meetup he missed, and a lively chat session round out a document heavy Monday show.

Jon Herold recovers from a canceled Florida trip (thanks to an airport radar outage) to dig into Trump's wide ranging Punchbowl News interview, breaking down his lukewarm comments on Senate Leader Thune, his surprisingly uncertain tone on the midterms, and some fascinating remarks on crypto, AI, and a possible 2028 run. He also plays a clip of John Solomon making the case that the intelligence community's election interference dwarfs anything foreign adversaries did, walks through two new executive orders cracking down on birth tourism and birthright citizenship, and covers a federal court blocking White House ballroom construction. There's also a pointed breakdown of a new GAO report finding DOGE's claimed savings didn't hold up to scrutiny, plus a disappointing July jobs report. Sponsor reads, meetup logistics, and plenty of live chat banter round out a newsy Friday show.

Jon Herold pre records a lighter Thursday show ahead of a Florida trip, walking through John Solomon's latest declassified documents on a 2020 Maricopa County voter data hack that the Biden Justice Department never prosecuted, though he admits the release feels underwhelming compared to what he was hoping for. He covers the Senate Homeland Security Committee voting to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress despite his Biden era pardon, a Washington Post report on Trump and Hegseth clashing over munitions shortages that the White House denies happened, and a striking story on Palantir's remarkably low effective tax rate. There's also a look at online debate swirling around General Flynn's paid speaking activities, jobless claims data, and a viral burrito pricing controversy tied to affordability complaints. Sponsor reads, birthday shoutouts, and Sunday meetup details for Jupiter, Florida round out a shorter but newsy show.

Jon Herold spends most of Hump Day walking through newly declassified documents revealing a previously unknown FBI investigation, codenamed "Oxford comma," opened into Trump for allegedly acting as a Russian agent just seven days after he fired James Comey. He builds out a detailed timeline connecting Comey's leaked memos, the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and internal FBI texts suggesting agents knew the Russia collusion theory had already been debunked before the investigation began. Jon also floats a lighthearted personal theory tying the case's codename to an edited Trump tweet from the same period. Other quick hits include Kash Patel's new FBI partnerships with China and Russia on transnational crime, a dismissed Oath Keepers case, Cuba regime change reporting, and an odd new AI safety incident involving Anthropic's Mythos model. Sponsor reads and a preview of tonight's Power Hour with Burning Bright round out a dense Wednesday show.

Jon Herold celebrates his 36th birthday with a lighthearted, slower newsday, opening with chat banter and sponsor shoutouts before digging into a striking story about retired American four star generals who allegedly ran a decades long back channel with a Chinese military intelligence front, some reportedly ending up on China's payroll. He also covers Trump's public frustration with DC's US Attorney Jeanine Pirro over a reflecting pool vandalism case, a former FBI agent accused of stealing crypto and asking ChatGPT how to hide it, Putin signing Russia's first comprehensive crypto regulation law, and reports that the US depleted its long range precision missile stockpile during the Iran conflict. There's also a rundown of a widely shared list of Trump's top accomplishments from 2025, plus birthday shoutouts, sponsor reads, and a lively chat session throughout a relaxed Tuesday show.

Jon Herold opens birthday week with Trump's back and forth Truth Social posts on Iran, alternating between canceling a planned strike and blasting Tehran as duplicitous, while poking fun at how many times the administration has claimed victory in the conflict. He digs into a Michigan cyclospora outbreak, weighs in on the ongoing General Flynn controversy over foreign lobbying payments while urging listeners not to get emotionally attached to online drama, and covers Cornyn and Tillis finally backing Todd Blanche's confirmation after the DOJ rescinded its anti weaponization fund. Other stories include a DOJ subpoena targeting a reporter over a leaked Navy SEAL mission, SpaceX's rocky post IPO stock slide, the national debt closing in on 40 trillion, and a look back at author Annie Jacobson's devolution book making mainstream waves. Sponsor reads, meetup details, and a lively chat session round out a busy Monday show.

August 3, 2026 | Season 8 | Episode 24A market can look calm right up until it doesn't, and this week's setup shows why. We start with the big drivers that hit all at once: the Federal Reserve holding interest rates steady, a bond market that reacts to credibility as much as data, and a fresh wave of headlines out of Iran that immediately changes the tone for oil, stocks, and risk appetite. If you follow geopolitics and markets, the Strait of Hormuz and the path of crude prices are not abstract. They are inputs into inflation expectations, Treasury yields, and equity multiples.Then we zoom out to something most investors don't spend enough time on: the psychology behind leadership. I walk through how Winston Churchill's early combat and war-correspondent years built a risk tolerance and communication style that later shaped real decisions, and how Donald Trump's New York City tabloid era taught him to treat media attention as leverage. The takeaway is practical: if you want to anticipate how policy is messaged and how pressure is handled, you study the blueprint, not just the latest headline.From there, we get tactical on what moved markets: the rare US and Bank of Japan currency intervention that jolts USD/JPY and flows directly into the Treasury market, plus the AI trade unwind that shows how leverage and margin calls can force liquidation even when a thesis is directionally right. We also break down big tech earnings from Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Apple to separate AI capital expenditures from real AI monetization. Finally, we close with a second major investing theme gaining speed: GLP-1 obesity drugs and why the next wave, including oral pills, could reshape healthcare and markets.If this helps you think more clearly about risk, rates, tech earnings, and the narratives that move prices, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.** For informational and educational purposes only, not intended as investment advice. Views and opinions are subject to change without notice. For full disclosures, ADVs, and CRS Forms, please visit https://heroldlantern.com/disclosure **To learn about becoming a Herold & Lantern Investments valued client, please visit https://heroldlantern.com/wealth-advisory-contact-formFollow and Like Us on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn | @HeroldLantern

Jon Herold and Chris Paul kick things off with a genuinely wild moment: Joe Rogan using the actual term "devolution" on his own podcast, which the guys treat as a mainstream milestone years in the making. They play the clip, react in real time, and debate what it means that a concept once confined to niche corners of the internet is now getting airtime from one of the biggest podcasters alive. From there it's a walk through election night 2020 footage, a Mark Elias clip that's made the rounds before, and a preview of Herold's upcoming "Devolve 2" project, this one centered on Covid and Fauci. There's a mix of nostalgia (revisiting old devolution era clips) and forward momentum (what the sequel project will cover), making this one feel like both a victory lap and a setup for what's next.

Jon Herold spends Friday breaking down what he sees as a suspicious media push around footage of migrants overwhelming Spain's Moroccan border enclave, questioning the timing alongside a recently pinned Trump post praising Morocco's king. He also digs into the tense Todd Blanche confirmation saga with Senators Cornyn and Tillis, plays a few clips from Trump's televised Camp David meeting covering Iran talks and the newly announced Gaza disarmament agreement, and reacts to Hunter Biden's media appearance defending his business dealings, tying it back to the Burisma and Blue Star Strategies email trail. A caller named Med Beds joins for a discussion on media trust and information warfare. Other topics include a new CISA election security blueprint facing skepticism, and Gavin Newsom's tax return release. Sponsor reads, meetup details for Jupiter, Florida, and a lively chat session round out a busy Friday show.

Jon Herold digs into a notable fact sheet released jointly by the heads of the ODNI, NSA, CIA, and DHS, which formally confirms that China's voter data theft meets the official definition of election interference rather than mere influence. He plays a clip of John Solomon previewing more upcoming disclosures on FBI and intelligence community abuses, plus Trump's own comments respecting Biden's pardon of Fauci while insisting Biden's presidency itself lacked legitimacy. Other topics include Trump threatening to temporarily pull Todd Blanche's AG nomination over GOP holdouts, a new CNN poll showing voters favor a wholesale congressional shakeup, a Politico report on lopsided disaster aid approvals by state political leaning, and rising mortgage rates. Sponsor reads, Vegas conference ticket news, and a lively chat session round out a dense Thursday show.

Jon Herold breaks down Fauci's much anticipated congressional testimony, where he pled the Fifth Amendment repeatedly, including on questions as basic as what day of the week it was, and shares the viral moment where Senator Bernie Moreno dropped an F bomb demanding an apology. He walks through Kathryn Herridge's reporting on the legal strategies that could still challenge Fauci's Biden era pardon, plus a batch of Trump Truth Social posts reflecting on his COVID response and defending Operation Warp Speed. Other stories include the abrupt and unexplained exit of Bill Pulte, Chad's withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, a Senate probe into Trump Media's paid early access service for Truth Social posts, and a formal federal ban on gain of function research. Sponsor reads, market updates, and a preview of tonight's Power Hour with Burning Bright round out a dense Wednesday show.

Jon Herold covers a busy Tuesday with Zelensky and Netanyahu both visiting the White House at the same time, plus fresh Biden ghostwriter tapes catching him warning his own material might be classified. He digs into newly surfaced Fauci diary entries showing a private death rate estimate far lower than what he told Congress under oath ahead of his Wednesday testimony, and runs an informal poll asking whether Fauci will ever see prison time. Other topics include Trump's admission that his new tariffs functionally mirror the ones the Supreme Court struck down, a Trump aide's prediction market betting scandal, a Kansas town divided over an underground nuclear reactor, and a Supreme Court fight over new mail in voting restrictions. Sponsor reads, market updates, and a lively chat session round out a newsy Tuesday show.

Jon Herold kicks off the week digging into newly released Fauci diary entries ahead of his expected Wednesday congressional testimony, highlighting private notes that seem to contradict his public statements on COVID origins, asymptomatic spread, and the "gain of function" debate. He weighs in on James Comey's motion to dismiss his indictment on First Amendment grounds, a new tariff blitz targeting 60 trading partners over forced labor concerns, and Natalie Winters' reporting on mainstream journalists allegedly tied to a China linked influence network. There's also a look at Mitch McConnell's ongoing absence from the Senate, an upcoming Netanyahu White House visit, and a couple of old Trump clips on the debt ceiling and a possible 1929 style crash. Sponsor reads, a celebration of hitting 250,000 Rumble subscribers, and plenty of live chat banter round out a newsy Monday show.

July 27, 2026 | Season 8 | Episode 23The market is sending mixed signals that are easy to miss if you only watch the headlines. One moment the major indexes look fine, and the next a single theme, artificial intelligence, is doing so much of the lifting that the “index equals the market” assumption starts to break down. We dig into the new reality of AI on versus AI off, where breadth matters, concentration matters, and your portfolio can be taking more AI risk than you intended.We also unpack two earnings reactions that caught investors off guard. Tesla's report raises the question of how long the market will pay a premium for vision without execution, even with big promises around autonomy, robotaxis, and robotics. Alphabet posts blockbuster numbers, yet the stock drops as Wall Street zeroes in on massive AI spending, capital expenditures, and the uncomfortable moment when free cash flow turns negative. Along the way, we explain a crucial AI accounting dynamic: chipmakers recognize revenue now while hyperscalers depreciate infrastructure over years, which can make profits look better than cash reality.Then we zoom out to the real-world drivers that can reset valuations fast: Middle East tension, the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices, inflation expectations, and a bond market offering higher real yields. We cover overlooked medical device stocks that may be “on sale,” clarify what the Social Security trust fund timeline could mean for future benefits, and explain why Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) deserve a fresh look as an inflation hedge.If this helped you stress-test your assumptions about AI stocks, market concentration, and bond opportunities, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review. What part of your portfolio feels most exposed right now?** For informational and educational purposes only, not intended as investment advice. Views and opinions are subject to change without notice. For full disclosures, ADVs, and CRS Forms, please visit https://heroldlantern.com/disclosure **To learn about becoming a Herold & Lantern Investments valued client, please visit https://heroldlantern.com/wealth-advisory-contact-formFollow and Like Us on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn | @HeroldLantern

Jon Herold wraps up the week digging into the newly passed 1.5 trillion dollar NDAA, flagging a notable change that swaps "Military Information Support Operations" back to psychological and cognitive warfare language, plus a new brain performance enhancement program for Special Operations Forces. He weighs in on Politico polling showing Americans think gas prices are worse than they actually are, breaks down a fresh batch of Trump Truth Social posts covering China and Russia staying out of arming Iran, EU fines on American tech companies, and the budget bill's progress in the House. There's also a dive into nearly 150,000 rejected mail ballots in California's primary, growing pressure on JD Vance within the GOP, and Todd Blanche's rocky confirmation exchanges with senators. Sponsor reads, meetup details for an upcoming Jupiter, Florida gathering, and plenty of live chat banter round out a newsy Friday show.

Jon Herold runs through a busy Thursday news cycle starting with House Republicans joining Democrats on a symbolic war powers vote aimed at Trump's Iran authority, plus fresh Truth Social posts on the Saudi civil nuclear deal and a pointed warning to the Houthis. He digs into a Wall Street Journal report on Schumer's closed door "election doomsday" tabletop exercises, drawing comparisons to the 2020 era Transition Integrity Project, and shares a normie friend's private group chat about voter fatigue heading into the midterms. Other stories include a House Judiciary referral of Jack Smith to the DOJ, a Secret Service leak investigation tied to Vance's detail, rising mortgage and oil prices, and Wall Street firms paying big money for faster access to Trump's Truth Social posts. Sponsor reads, market updates, meetup announcements, and a lively chat session round out the show.

Jon Herold and Burning Bright pick up the thread from the last two episodes, breaking down their reactions to the election fraud disclosure now that the dust has settled, and floating a theory that the intelligence community, not the election itself, might have been the real target all along. There's also a look back at the Saturday deep dive Herold did with Chris Paul going through the declassified documents. Then the show pivots hard into a wild AI segment. Stories about AI systems allegedly breaking out of a sandbox during a cybersecurity test, growing concern over data centers, and a theory that the AI industry wants government regulation not for safety but to kill off open weight models and hand control to a handful of players. There's a prediction on the table about what happens if that theory plays out, so don't be surprised if this one gets referenced again down the road.

Jon Herold gets fired up for tonight's Power Hour while working through a batch of newly posted declassification documents Trump shared overnight, including Michigan's fraudulent voter registration numbers, non citizen voting data from a handful of states, and a CIA rundown of Chinese election influence tactics. He plays clips of Pete Hegseth defending a $1.5 trillion defense budget request and Trump himself dodging a question on China consequences, and digs into New Jersey's non citizen voter registration dispute between the state and its software vendor. Other topics include a new Clarity Act draft targeting officials' crypto holdings, an extended National Guard deployment in DC, and a preview of tonight's Power Hour discussion on the DSA's grip on the Democratic Party. Sponsor reads, market updates, and a lively open chat session round out a busy hump day show.

Jon Herold fights through a frustrating stream glitch (audio fine, no video on Rumble) while covering a lighter Tuesday news day dominated by Iran war fallout. He digs into reporting that intelligence community leaks are undermining Trump's negotiating position, a Politico piece describing the conflict as a "quagmire" ahead of the midterms, and a personal anecdote about a normie conservative brother in law's surprisingly pessimistic 2028 outlook. Other highlights include newly released Senate documents on the FBI blocking a border stop of an EcoHealth Alliance official, a court ruling clearing the way for Biden's memoir tapes to go public, Kash Patel's planned Russia visit, and a lively back and forth over a clipped comment from journalist John Solomon about not voting. Sponsor reads and plenty of chat chaos round out a technically bumpy but entertaining Tuesday show.

Jon Herold opens a quiet Monday by connecting the newly declassified China election documents to older intelligence community history, walking through 2016 era presidential daily briefings on Russia to argue the same pattern of suppression and fabrication runs through every major hoax of the Trump era. He digs into a batch of Trump Truth Social posts, including a firm defense of Netanyahu against arrest threats from New York's mayor, a warning to Iran over American soldier deaths, and pressure on Canada over wildfire smoke. There is also a rundown of the newly activated Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a State Department report on decades of Cuban subversion, and a quick detour into a viral Taco Bell food safety scare. Sponsor reads, some lighthearted chat banter, and a preview of tonight's Baseless Conspiracies round out a lighter Monday show.

Jon Herold spends "Post Disclosure Day" digging through the freshly declassified documents behind Trump's primetime speech, arguing the paperwork itself is far more damning than how Trump actually described it on stage. He walks through claims that China stole 220 million voter files, worked with Venezuela style tactics to manipulate machines, produced fraudulent driver's licenses for ineligible voters, and pressured US companies and journalists through financial leverage. Jon also digs into leaked intelligence community emails suggesting analysts deliberately downplayed or suppressed China related findings from President Trump's daily briefings, plus a striking Michigan voter registration fraud statistic. He shares mainstream media reaction to the speech, plugs his new Substack series compiling the documents, and previews more coverage on tomorrow's Power Hour. Sponsor reads and some lively chat interaction round out a document heavy Friday show.

Jon Herold spends Hump Day bracing for Thursday's big election announcement, sharing poll results on audience expectations and urging people to prepare for a possible letdown rather than get their hopes too high. He plays clips from Amy Coney Barrett's testimony about threats to her family and her push for more Supreme Court security, offering some pointed pushback on her reasoning, then turns to DNI nominee Jay Clayton's rocky confirmation hearing exchange over election integrity. Other topics include new revelations about Jack Smith's team accessing lawmakers' private texts, a Wisconsin elections panel referring Elon Musk's million dollar giveaway for criminal review, Joe Biden's oddly delivered memoir trailer, a permanent switch to Daylight Saving Time, and a few Iran war updates. Sponsor reads and plenty of live chat banter round out the show, plus a preview of tonight's Devolution Power Hour with Burning Bright.

Jon Herold calls it "E Day" as Washington braces for Trump's primetime election disclosure speech, and he spends much of the show digging through old intelligence community reports and executive order 13848 to argue that China's 2020 election interference was known and suppressed years ago while Russia's role got amplified. He walks through Paul Sperry's reporting on alleged Chinese hacking of voter databases, weighs in on the Politico piece about nervous Republicans ahead of the speech, and shares clips from Rubio's remarks on political terrorism and NSPM 7. There's also a look at the SAVE Act's uncertain path through the Senate following Lindsey Graham's death, leadership shakeups in Ukraine, and a philosophical detour on why he believes the country cannot "move on" from 2020 until it is addressed. Sponsor reads and a lively chat session round out the show, with a preview of tonight's speech coverage.

Jon Herold spends Taco Tuesday weighing in on Trump's teased primetime address this Thursday, which insiders suggest may reveal declassified election intelligence and voting machine vulnerabilities, while journalist John Solomon urges caution about the swirling leaks. Jon walks through Trump's own comments ruling out foul play in Lindsey Graham's death, the appointment of Graham's sister to fill his Senate seat, and renewed speculation about what a "clean slate" election reset could mean. He also covers Trump swapping a planned Strait of Hormuz shipping fee for new Gulf trade deals, the formal notification to Congress restarting the clock on the Iran conflict, Schumer's opposition to the defense bill, and a fresh inflation report. Sponsor reads, some good natured ribbing about mullets and Lindsey Graham jokes, and a healthy dose of live chat banter round out a fairly newsy Tuesday.

Jon Herold opens a quieter Monday with the weekend's biggest shock, Senator Lindsey Graham's sudden death, and works through Trump's on camera tributes alongside the swirl of conspiracy chatter, replacement speculation for South Carolina's seat, and how the loss squeezes an already razor thin GOP Senate majority. He also revisits the ongoing Mitch McConnell health mystery and a widely shared "hostage photo" that fans are picking apart for signs of manipulation. Elsewhere, Jon breaks down Trump letting the housing bill become law without his signature, a curious international statement on Colombia's elections that echoes 2020 US election fraud arguments, a new Pentagon task force targeting media leaks, and Trump's declaration that the US will guard the Strait of Hormuz. A Kash Patel meme mishap, some sponsor reads, and a good chunk of live chat banter keep the mood light despite the heavier news.

Jon Herold digs into Trump firing the remaining Election Assistance Commission leadership and traces the history of the agency, from its role distributing COVID era election funds to its Dominion voting system certification timeline, connecting it to his long running election integrity coverage. He also unpacks reports that Israel shared intelligence about an Iranian assassination plot against Trump, which he ties to the plane swap and the renewed Iran bombing campaign. Rounding things out are Trump's Truth Social threat to withhold his signature on the housing bill without the Save America Act, a Qatari mediated push for new Iran talks, and a dig into whether CrowdStrike still has a hand in election security. Sponsor reads and some candid chat exchanges about karma, trust, and helping people keep the show moving at its usual loose pace.

Jon Herold works through a New York Times deep dive on the many ways Trump is using federal power to try to shape the 2026 midterms, walking through nationalization efforts, redistricting battles, election security cuts, and ongoing fights over voter rolls in states like Georgia and Minnesota. He shares some skepticism about whether these efforts have produced any real world results yet and invites the chat to weigh in. There is also a look at Graham Platner's Senate campaign collapsing under new allegations, Trump's on camera reaction to it, fresh testimony from Lance Twigs in the Tyler Robinson case, and a couple of business headlines including a wave of new chip manufacturing investment. Sponsor breaks and some lively back and forth with the chat round things out for a fairly dense Thursday show.

Jon Herold rolls into hump day with a lighter mood, opening with a shoutout to a fan painted portrait of his cat before diving into the noise around Trump's Air Force One travel plans and the speculation over why he's flying home the old fashioned way. He plays a few clips from the president's press gaggle, including some candid comments on assassination odds and the ongoing Iran conflict, then breaks down Trump's rocky NATO stop in Turkey and the fallout with allies like Spain and Denmark. There's a look at fresh DOJ action on noncitizen voting, a Nebraska lawsuit tied to overseas ballots, and another twist in the long running Seth Rich documents saga. Jon also works through a couple of sponsor segments and some good natured chat interaction along the way. It is a loose, conversational ride through a fairly newsy Wednesday.

Jon Herold kicks off a quieter Tuesday by admitting the news cycle feels stuck in neutral, with Iran, Ukraine, and the economy all in a holding pattern. He gets it out of his system on Team USA's early soccer exit before turning to the swirl of speculation around Mitch McConnell's health and whether Scott Jennings' account of their phone call adds up. There's a quick check-in on the Tyler Robinson case as new courtroom video surfaces, plus a rundown of Trump's push for a massive defense funding bill and a fresh headline on Marine Le Pen's ongoing legal saga in France. Expect some good-natured ribbing about world leader indictments, a Walmart price-drop story that raises more questions than it answers, and a few lighter moments from the live chat along the way. It is a laid back, conversational episode that still manages to touch on plenty.

Jon Herold returns after the Fourth of July weekend with a candid discussion about the official end of DOGE and the intense reactions surrounding it. Using government spending data and DOGE's own published numbers, he questions whether the initiative lived up to the expectations set by its supporters while exploring why factual criticism is often labeled as "black pilling" within the truth community. Jon dives into the difference between hope and hopium, arguing that pursuing truth requires balancing optimism with realism. The episode also touches on the newly released National Resilience Strategy, Trump's Independence Day call with Vladimir Putin, ongoing geopolitical developments, and a lighthearted look at World Cup controversy after Trump's involvement in overturning a suspension for a U.S. player. Throughout the show, Jon makes the case that honest conversations should never be off limits, even when they challenge popular narratives.

Jon Herold comes in on July 4th Eve light on prep and heavy on chat energy, which turns out to be exactly right for a holiday Friday. Bill Pulte fired dozens of ODNI intelligence officials this week for allegedly withholding information from leadership, and Jon floats the theory that Ratcliffe may be the one directing the firings while Pulte provides cover. The New York Times reported that the US secretly warned regional allies to tip off Iran that Israel was planning to assassinate its Foreign Minister and Parliament Speaker during active peace negotiations, and Jon says it fits the pattern of Israel simply not caring about talks it never wanted in the first place. The left and a Chinese commentator are now publicly discussing Trump's third term, which Jon reads as projection mixed with genuine worry, and he plays Steve Bannon's Economist interview making the principled case that the will of the American people is what the Constitution actually embodies. A Texas state rep Jon interviewed back in August 2025 just got appointed as Abbott's election integrity policy advisor, and Jon got cited as a conservative influencer in the Dallas Morning News for it. CannCon's $2.40 gas prediction lands at $3.82 nationally. Jon also closed out Badlands YouTube early today to avoid a second strike.

Jon Herold comes in Thursday fresh off GART and immediately flags two stories that deserve more attention than they are getting. The FBI has surged over 260 intelligence analysts from every single field office in the country to support the Atlanta-based Georgia 2020 election investigation, with a July 17 deadline and mandatory overtime including holidays. Jon calls it the biggest resource deployment he has seen toward election accountability and immediately asks whether a public briefing from Trump before or after the NATO trip, now being predicted by multiple sources, actually follows. John Brennan suing the Trump administration to preserve investigation records gets a careful breakdown: Jon is less worried about the merits of Brennan's case and more worried about what it says about whether deep state operatives inside the administration may have seeded communications that could be used to taint any future RICO indictments. The USPS mail-in ballot restrictions were blocked by Judge Emmett Sullivan, the same judge from the Flynn case, citing a 2021 settlement with the NAACP. The Save America Act apparently cannot even pass the House in its older form. The June jobs report came in at just 57,000 with significant downward revisions. Trump posted NATO spending numbers and Jon is watching for a move toward the exit.

What if the most valuable thing you could do for your restaurant is make yourself unnecessary?Rob Herold has operated a single Chick-fil-A in Bowie, Maryland for 17 years. While most operators chase more locations, he went the other way, building a business that runs without him so he could coach leaders, serve communities overseas, and climb mountains with his son.In this conversation, we get into why your time is worth more than you think, how hiring a virtual assistant became the highest-leverage decision he ever made, and what it really costs operators to insist on doing everything themselves.If you are drowning in your own business and calling it dedication, this one will change how you see your calendar.To learn how to delegate like Rob, check out the free step by step guide below:https://resources.belaysolutions.com/partners/full-compTo learn more about BELAY Solutions and how they can help you reclaim your time, download their free Freedom Framework here or text COMP to 55123 to get the link sent directly to you._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com