Podcast appearances and mentions of mike johnson

Rubio and Speaker Mike Johnson went on camera and accidentally told the truth about the Iran strike story: the "imminent threat" wasn't Iran hitting us first, it was Israel acting and the US expecting the blowback. The guys tear apart the "proactively defensive" framing, ask why "America First" keeps turning into Middle East escalation, and roast the new version of the old sales pitch: Iran is always just months away from "immunity" and "blackmailing America." They also dig into what the War Powers Resolution actually says, why "defensive" is doing a lot of work in these interviews, and how Congress can stop a war of choice immediately if it wants to. Plus: a contractor joke that cuts way too close to home.   00:00 Rubio and Johnson admit the "imminent threat" framing 02:00 "Israel was determined" and the War Powers loophole vibe 03:30 "Great ally" logic and troops put in harm's way 05:20 Was there time for diplomacy or was it "now or never" 07:20 Rubio: "operation needed to happen" and the "immunity" claim 09:20 Netanyahu: "immune within months" and the sales pitch 11:50 Contractor joke, Iron Dome comparison, and the gaslighting point 15:00 The real "danger" is our bases and the bait-on-a-line analogy 16:40 War Powers Resolution basics and what Congress can do now 21:30 "Waffle House" theory for why it happened right now 22:20 Mike Johnson: "not required because it's defensive" 24:30 Leaks excuse, secret briefings, and why "defensive" matters  

Today's Headlines: The U.S. and Israel launched Operation EPIC FURY, striking more than 1,000 targets across Iran. Iran retaliated widely, aiming at U.S. bases in the Gulf but also hitting civilian sites in Dubai, including the airport, the Burj Al Arab, and the Fairmont Palm Hotel. President Donald Trump said the U.S. sank nine Iranian warships, warned Americans to expect casualties and by Sunday, three U.S. service members were dead. In a major escalation, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were reported killed, along with dozens of senior officials. Iran then closed the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of global oil supply. Oil prices are projected to jump roughly 9% as markets reopen. Members of Congress from both parties are now pushing for a War Powers Act vote, noting they were not consulted before the strikes began. At the Pentagon, AI drama escalated. After asking how its model was used in a prior operation, Anthropic lost a $200 million federal contract and was labeled a “supply chain risk” by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Within a day, the Pentagon reached a deal with OpenAI, which says it maintains similar guardrails. Separately, reporting from The Washington Post and ProPublica details a draft executive order circulated by Trump allies that claims China interfered in 2020 and could declare a national emergency affecting election administration ahead of the midterms. Former national security adviser Michael Flynn reportedly convened allies to discuss the plan. Speaker Mike Johnson warned losing the midterms would effectively end Trump's presidency. And in Austin, Texas, two people were killed and 14 wounded in a bar shooting now being investigated by the FBI as a potential act of terrorism. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: WSJ: Trump Warns More U.S. Deaths Possible as Blasts Rock Mideast for Second Day The Guardian: Oil price expected to surge after Iran strikes and strait of Hormuz closure CNN: Congress to vote on Trump's war powers in aftermath of Iran strikes NYT: At the Pentagon, OpenAI is In and Anthropic Is Out WaPo: Trump, seeking executive power over elections, is urged to declare emergency ProPublica: Trump Officials Attended a Summit of Election Deniers Who Want the President to Take Over the Midterms WaPo: ‘It would be the end of the Trump presidency' AP News: FBI probes Texas bar shooting that killed 2 and wounded 14 as possible terrorist act Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: ⁠⁠⁠betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Bryan Hayes, Jamie McLennan and Frank Corrado for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs' rough performance against the Panthers, the roster direction of selling the roster, the players that could be traded from Toronto, Morgan Rielly's tough play and Easton Cowan being scratched from the lineup. TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson on the Maple Leafs' losing stretch, the team selling players and the look of the roster and Shohei Ohtani's stardom in Japan.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan react to the NFLPA's annual survey and report grades getting leaked last night, react to the Atlanta Falcons' NFLPA report card grades, react to Falcons new Head Coach Kevin Stefanski getting a C minus grade for this past season as the Cleveland Browns' Head Coach, and talk about how Kevin Stefanski's NFLPA report card grade isn't good, but isn't all bad either.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan continue to react to the NFLPA's annual survey and report grades getting leaked last night, continue to react to the Atlanta Falcons' NFLPA report card grades, continue to react to Falcons new Head Coach Kevin Stefanski getting a C minus grade for this past season as the Cleveland Browns' Head Coach, and talk about how the NFLPA report cards proves Falcons owner Arthur Blank is one of the best owners in NFL.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan react to the Atlanta Hawks announcing that they are having Magic City night on Monday, March 16th for their game against the Orlando Magic where the team will be paying tribute to Magic City, Atlanta's famed strip club. Ali, Mike, and Beau explain why they think the Hawks having Magic City night is a great way to celebrate the iconic Atlanta culture.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan continue to react to the NFLPA's annual survey and report grades getting leaked last night, continue to react to the Atlanta Falcons' NFLPA report card grades, continue to react to Falcons new Head Coach Kevin Stefanski getting a C minus grade for this past season as the Cleveland Browns' Head Coach, and explain why they think the Browns quarterback controversy last season may've played a part in Kevin Stefanski's C minus grade.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan play a round of Fair or Foul for the halftime portion of the show, and discuss if they think the Falcons will trade back from the 48th overall pick.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan talk about the push to bring NHL hockey back to Atlanta happening again after the U.S. Men's and Women's hockey teams brought home gold in this year's Winter Olympics in Milan, and then close out hour two by reacting to the latest news, rumors, and reports in the NFL as they go In The Huddle.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan spend some time with Co-Owner and Publisher of Dawgs HQ and Co-Host of The Steakhouse, Rusty Mansell! Ali, Mike, Beau, and Rusty discuss Georgia Bulldogs linebacker CJ Allen being one of the best Georgia players Rusty has ever covered, Georgia defensive lineman Christen Miller showing up to the NFL Scouting Combine a little heavy when it comes to his weight, Miller not working out at the NFL Combine and maybe being a guy that could be there for the Atlanta Falcons at pick 48, Rusty wondering how people are going to treat Miami Hurricanes defensive end Ruben Bain Jr. after learning about his short arms, how Rusty feels about the other Georgia players at the combine, how Rusty feels about Georgia cornerback Daylen Everette as an NFL prospect, where Rusty thinks Daylen could go in the NFL Draft, if Rusty thinks Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch's game will translate in the NFL, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton wanting to win a national championship at Georgia, this being a big season for Gunner, the funny back and forth between Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mario Cristobal and Georgia Bulldogs Head Coach Kirby Smart, and Rusty being interested to see how the NFL sees Miami Hurricanes quarterback and former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck and Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan react to the NCAA Football Oversight Committee coalescing around several concepts related to the college football calendar and transfers, including a proposal to impose stiff penalties on schools that accept transfers outside of the portal window. Those penalties would include a multi-million-dollar fine, multi-game suspensions for head coaches and the loss of roster spots. Mike, Beau, and Ali explain why they think the NCAA fining coaches for transfer portal violations would be hard to enforce.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan discuss what they think the best sound in sports is, and then close out hour three by answering people's questions about anything in the Morning Mailbag!

HR3 - 1st round of 2026 NFL Draft may feature multiple Georgia Bulldogs again In hour three Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan spend some time with Co-Owner and Publisher of Dawgs HQ and Co-Host of The Steakhouse, Rusty Mansell! Ali, Mike, Beau, and Rusty discuss Georgia Bulldogs linebacker CJ Allen being one of the best Georgia players Rusty has ever covered, Georgia defensive lineman Christen Miller showing up to the NFL Scouting Combine a little heavy when it comes to his weight, Miller not working out at the NFL Combine and maybe being a guy that could be there for the Atlanta Falcons at pick 48, Rusty wondering how people are going to treat Miami Hurricanes defensive end Ruben Bain Jr. after learning about his short arms, how Rusty feels about the other Georgia players at the combine, how Rusty feels about Georgia cornerback Daylen Everette as an NFL prospect, where Rusty thinks Daylen could go in the NFL Draft, if Rusty thinks Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch's game will translate in the NFL, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton wanting to win a national championship at Georgia, this being a big season for Gunner, the funny back and forth between Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mario Cristobal and Georgia Bulldogs Head Coach Kirby Smart, and Rusty being interested to see how the NFL sees Miami Hurricanes quarterback and former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck and Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson. Mike, Ali, and Beau also react to the NCAA Football Oversight Committee coalescing around several concepts related to the college football calendar and transfers, including a proposal to impose stiff penalties on schools that accept transfers outside of the portal window. Those penalties would include a multi-million-dollar fine, multi-game suspensions for head coaches and the loss of roster spots. The Morning Shift crew also explains why they think the NCAA fining coaches for transfer portal violations would be hard to enforce, discuss what they think the best sound in sports is, and then close out hour three by answering people's questions about anything in the Morning Mailbag!

HR1 - NFLPA report cards are telling, but still don't tell whole story In hour one Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan quickly touch on some of the biggest headlines around the local and national sports scene, react to the NFLPA's annual survey and report grades getting leaked last night, react to the Atlanta Falcons' NFLPA report card grades, react to Falcons new Head Coach Kevin Stefanski getting a C minus grade for this past season as the Cleveland Browns' Head Coach, talk about how Kevin Stefanski's NFLPA report card grade isn't good, but isn't all bad either, talk about how the NFLPA report cards proves Falcons owner Arthur Blank is one of the best owners in NFL, react to the Atlanta Hawks announcing that they are having Magic City night on Monday March 16 for their game against the Orlando Magic where the team will be paying tribute to Magic City, Atlanta's famed strip club, explain why they think the Hawks having Magic City night is a great way to celebrate the iconic Atlanta culture, and then close out hour one by diving into the life of Mike Johnson in Mike'd Up!

HR2 - Kevin Stefanski's situation in Cleveland a lot to do with NFLPA report card grade In hour two Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan continue to react to the NFLPA's annual survey and report grades getting leaked last night, continue to react to the Atlanta Falcons' NFLPA report card grades, continue to react to Falcons new Head Coach Kevin Stefanski getting a C minus grade for this past season as the Cleveland Browns' Head Coach, explain why they think the Browns quarterback controversy last season may've played a part in Kevin Stefanski's C minus grade, play a round of Fair or Foul for the halftime portion of the show, discuss if they think the Falcons will trade back from the 48th overall pick, talk about the push to bring NHL hockey back to Atlanta happening again after the U.S. Men's and Women's hockey teams brought home gold in this year's Winter Olympics in Milan, and then close out hour two by reacting to the latest news, rumors, and reports in the NFL as they go In The Huddle.

Jason Kander and Ravi Gupta break down the Pentagon's escalating showdown with Anthropic, as the Pentagon threatens to cut ties or invoke the Defense Production Act while new war-game research from King's College London shows models from OpenAI, Google, and others recommending nuclear use far more often than humans, alongside a viral video of Sam Altman. They analyze Donald Trump's State of the Union theatrics on the economy and culture wars, the “two-tier economy” warning from McDonald's's CEO, his use of the gallery for viral moments on immigration and trans issues, and stark rhetoric from Mike Johnson. Kander and Gupta also dive into the Epstein files, with NPR reporting missing Trump documents, arrests in the U.K. of Prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson, and renewed questions about why there's no U.S. accountability. Plus, they discuss the tariff decision and the fallout from attacks on the Supreme Court, including warnings from National Review's Andrew McCarthy, an ICE training whistleblower, flight delays tied to Kash Patel that Dick Durbin says hampered the FBI, a youth surge for James Fishback in Florida, and House leadership refusing to call on Tony Gonzales to resign. This and more on the podcast that helps you, the majority of Americans who believe in progress, convince your conservative friends and family to join us—this is Majority 54! Smalls: Get 60% off your first order plus free shipping at https://Smalls.com/MAJORITY54. Nutrafol: Find out why Nutrafol is the best-selling hair growth supplement brand at https://Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code MAJORITY. Check out Ravi's Substack: https://realravigupta.substack.com/p/how-to-stay-off-the-island Join Squadra at https://joinsquadra.com Majority 54 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/majority_54 Majority 54 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/majority54 Jason on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasonKander Jason on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonkander/ Ravi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaviMGupta Ravi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ravimgupta Ravi on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show The Ken Harbaugh Show: https://meidasnews.com/tag/the-ken-harbaugh-show Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump doubles down on lying about the economy during his State of the Union speech. CBS's Tony Dokoupil fawns over Trump's speech. Polling shows that people were unconvinced by Trump after his State of the Union. Mike Johnson gives a new warning ahead of the midterms. The DOJ allegedly withheld dozens of Epstein documents related to Trump. Host: John Iadarola (@johniadarola) Co-Host: Sharon Reed (@SharonReedLive) ***** SUBSCRIBE on YOUTUBE TIKTOK  ☞        https://www.tiktok.com/@thedamagereport INSTAGRAM  ☞   https://www.instagram.com/thedamagereport TWITTER  ☞         https://twitter.com/TheDamageReport FACEBOOK  ☞     https://www.facebook.com/TheDamageReportTYT

With the President of the United States Accused of Raping a 13 Year-Old Girl, the Brazen and Shameless Hypocrisy of Mike Johnson's Christian Nationalists and the MAGA Movement | Sasha Linden Cohen With Heather Ann Thompson on a Crucial Turning Point When Rupert Murdoch Stoked White Rage in the Reagan 80's backgroundbriefing.org/donate twitter.com/ianmastersmedia bsky.app/profile/ianmastersmedia.bsky.social facebook.com/ianmastersmedia linktr.ee/backgroundbriefing

Ta-ta-ta-da! David Waldman and Greg Dworkin serve up a tasty KITM that you'll prefer to the high-price spread! People are still talking about Trump's boring lying in the SOTU. The bits tying the lies together got some attention, but they weren't the point and weren't why anyone was tuning in or tuning out. Trump voters are so embarrassed, that they are pretending not to be Trump voters. Many are getting sick of pretending that they are winning. Many importers are tired of pretending tariffs worked. At least Mike Johnson only needs to pretend for a few more months. Hey, Cubans are now killing Caribbean boaters! Is that even legal? Whoa! Gops don't know what's going on in Texas, neither do Dems. When in doubt, throw money at it. Things are much more clear in the New York Governor race, and out in Pennsylvania. ICE remain the manifestation of MAGA weenie ethos. The SAVE act is dying, and the talking filibuster won't save it. Howard Lutnick is Trump's favorite dealmaker, so it probably doesn't matter if he can make deals. Jeffrey Epstein remains a concern as more villains are exposed, and more villains try not to be exposed. MAGA are reaching down and finding cognitive dissonance they didn't know they had. Kansas demands that trans residents behave how they want them to, until they do, then they'll demand that they act a different way. The FBI raided Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Alberto Carvalho's home and office in relation to an AI chatbot company, which is the new hot place to do felony scams.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan hit the halftime portion of the show and test their knowledge with some Throwback Thursday Trivia!

HR2 - Besides winning Falcons objective is figuring out if Michael Penix is franchise QB In hour two Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan quickly touch on some of the biggest headlines around the local and national sports scene, continue to react to the news that the Atlanta Falcons have reportedly informed wide receiver and former Pro-Bowl special teams player KhaDarel Hodge that they are releasing him, continue to react to NFL Analyst for ESPN Louis Riddick talking about how he doesn't think Atlanta Falcons President of Football Matt Ryan will go into next season without a fully healthy quarterback, Riddick saying he thinks the Falcons will make a big move at quarterback this offseason, and explain why they think commentary on Michael Penix Jr. from national NFL insiders and reporters doesn't hold much weight right now. Mike, Ali, and Beau hit the halftime portion of the show and test their knowledge with some Throwback Thursday Trivia, and then close out hour two by reacting to the latest news, rumors, and reports in the NFL as they go In The Huddle!

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan react to the news that the Atlanta Falcons have reportedly informed wide receiver and former Pro-Bowl special teams player KhaDarel Hodge that they are releasing him, and explain why they think the Falcons releasing Hodge was a move that had to happen.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan let you hear College Football and NFL Analyst for ESPN Louis Riddick talk about how he doesn't think Atlanta Falcons President of Football Matt Ryan will go into next season without a fully healthy quarterback, let you hear Riddick explain why he thinks the Falcons will make a big move at quarterback and explain why he thinks the Falcons signing free agent quarterback Malik Willis makes perfect sense, and explain why they think anybody thinking Malik Willis is the Falcons savior over Michael Penix Jr. is crazy.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan react to the news that the NFL's executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said that out of the 171 replay review or replay assist decisions that happened in the 2025 NFL season, there were five that the NFL wanted back. Mike, Ali, and Beau let you hear Denver Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton and New England Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel give their thoughts on that news about the replay review errors, react to what they had to say, and explain why they think it's hard to believe the NFL only missed 5 of the 171 replay reviews or replay assist decisions that were made last season.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan quickly touch on some of the biggest headlines around the local and national sports scene, continue to react to the news that the Atlanta Falcons have reportedly informed wide receiver and former Pro-Bowl special teams player KhaDarel Hodge that they are releasing him, continue to react to NFL Analyst for ESPN Louis Riddick talking about how he doesn't think Atlanta Falcons President of Football Matt Ryan will go into next season without a fully healthy quarterback, saying he thinks the Falcons will make a big move at quarterback, and explain why they think commentary on Michael Penix Jr. from national NFL insiders and reporters doesn't hold much weight right now.

HR1 - Besides Drake London, future of Falcons wide receiver room is in question In hour one Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan quickly touch on some of the biggest headlines around the local and national sports scene, react to the news that Tony Dungy is likely out as a regular on Football Night in America, react to the news that the Atlanta Falcons have reportedly informed wide receiver and former Pro-Bowl special teams player KhaDarel Hodge that they are releasing him, explain why they think the Falcons releasing Hodge was a move that had to happen, let you hear College Football and NFL Analyst for ESPN Louis Riddick talk about how he doesn't think Atlanta Falcons President of Football Matt Ryan will go into next season without a fully healthy quarterback, let you hear Riddick explain why he thinks the Falcons will make a big move at quarterback and explain why he thinks the Falcons signing free agent quarterback Malik Willis makes perfect sense, explain why they think anybody thinking Malik Willis is the Falcons savior over Michael Penix Jr. is crazy, react to the news that the NFL's executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said that out of the 171 replay review or replay assist decisions that happened in the 2025 NFL season, there were five that the NFL wanted back, let you hear Denver Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton and New England Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel give their thoughts on that news about the replay review errors, react to what they had to say, explain why they think it's hard to believe the NFL only missed 5 of the 171 replay reviews or replay assist decisions that were made last season, and then close out hour one by diving into the life of Beau “Squidbilly” Morgan in The Life of Squid!

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan react to the latest news, rumors, and reports in the NFL as they go In The Huddle!

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan spend some time with Atlanta Falcons beat writer for The Athletic Josh Kendall! Ali, Mike, Beau, and Josh discuss how Josh feels about Louis Riddick's comments about the Falcons quarterback situation, Matt Ryan not having much control over the Falcons quarterback situation, the Falcons not having many options at quarterback, if Josh heard any rumblings about where Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins could land after he's officially released by the Falcons, what Josh thinks Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham and the team are going to do at the linebacker spot with Kaden Elliss being a free agent, how Josh feels about the Falcons franchise tagging Kyle Pitts, if Josh believes the rumors about the Falcons wanting to sign Pitts to a long term contract extension, NFL prospects standing out at the NFL Combine in their team interviews and in the medical evaluations, not the drills they do on the field, what Josh thinks Ian Cunningham and the Falcons approach will be in this year's NFL Draft, who Josh thinks the Falcons backup quarterback will be this upcoming season, and what kind of deal Josh thinks Falcons free agent running back Tyler Allgeier will get on the open market.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan let you hear College Football and NFL Analyst for ESPN Louis Riddick explain why he thinks the Atlanta Falcons will make a big move at quarterback this offseason and explain why he thinks the Falcons signing free agent quarterback Malik Willis makes perfect sense. The Morning Shift crew reacts to what Riddick had to say, and explain why they think Malik Willis is as much of an unknown as a starting quarterback as Michael Penix Jr. is.

Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan continue to react to Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson challenging a strike three call using the new ABS Challenge system, Olson winning the challenge after the review revealed that the pitch had missed the outside edge of the plate by a tenth of an inch, talk about how Matt and the Braves are off to a hot start when it comes to winning challenges with the new ABS challenge system, and then close out hour three by answering people's questions about anything in the Morning Mailbag!

HR3 - Falcons don't have many options at QB this season besides Michael Penix Jr. In hour three Mike Johnson, Ali Mac, and Beau Morgan spend some time with Atlanta Falcons beat writer for The Athletic Josh Kendall! Ali, Mike, Beau, and Josh discuss how Josh feels about Louis Riddick's comments about the Falcons quarterback situation, Matt Ryan not having much control over the Falcons quarterback situation, the Falcons not having many options at quarterback, if Josh heard any rumblings about where Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins could land after he's officially released by the Falcons, what Josh thinks Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham and the team are going to do at the linebacker spot with Kaden Elliss being a free agent, how Josh feels about the Falcons franchise tagging Kyle Pitts, if Josh believes the rumors about the Falcons wanting to sign Pitts to a long term contract extension, NFL prospects standing out at the NFL Combine in their team interviews and in the medical evaluations, not the drills they do on the field, what Josh thinks Ian Cunningham and the Falcons approach will be in this year's NFL Draft, who Josh thinks the Falcons backup quarterback will be this upcoming season, and what kind of deal Josh thinks Falcons free agent running back Tyler Allgeier will get on the open market. Then, The Morning Shift crew reacts to Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson challenging a strike three call using the new ABS Challenge system, and Olson winning the challenge after the review revealed that the pitch had missed the outside edge of the plate by a tenth of an inch. Mike, Ali, and Beau also let you hear College Football and NFL Analyst for ESPN Louis Riddick explain why he thinks the Atlanta Falcons will make a big move at quarterback this offseason and explain why he thinks the Falcons signing free agent quarterback Malik Willis makes perfect sense. The Morning Shift crew also reacts to what Riddick had to say, explain why they think Malik Willis is as much of an unknown as a starting quarterback as Michael Penix Jr. is, continue to react to Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson challenging a strike three call using the new ABS Challenge system, Olson winning the challenge after the review revealed that the pitch had missed the outside edge of the plate by a tenth of an inch, talk about how Matt and the Braves are off to a hot start when it comes to winning challenges with the new ABS challenge system, and then close out hour three by answering people's questions about anything in the Morning Mailbag!

-- On the Show -- Donald Trump's 2026 State of the Union address was a low-energy, reality-detached speech filled with false claims, self-praise, and economic distortions -- Right-wing politicians and media figures exaggerate and misrepresent data to portray Donald Trump as dominant and successful despite weak approval numbers -- Attorney General Pam Bondi struggles to defend Donald Trump's State of the Union during a Fox and Friends interview and fails to present a clear argument -- Several voters criticize Donald Trump's State of the Union speech for lacking economic clarity while one swing voter offers vague praise without specifics -- Mike Johnson admits that losing the midterms would expose Donald Trump to renewed investigations and aggressive House oversight -- The United States Department of Justice withholds dozens of tracked FBI pages tied to allegations involving Donald Trump in the Jeffrey Epstein case -- Joe Kernen challenges Senator Markwayne Mullin's inflation claim on CNBC, undercutting a key Republican talking point about economic progress -- Global markets significantly outperform United States markets since Donald Trump returns to office, weakening his economic leadership narrative -- On the Bonus Show: Democrats win three more elections, prices likely won't go down despite SCOTUS's ruling against Trump's tariffs, the US government drops its case against six Democratic lawmakers, and much more...

Dear Humans, NOTE: Jesus was out sick today. Instead, I hung out with "your weirdo friend," Dr. G! They're a community college rhetorician and gender studies teacher who studies how people talk about things and the impact of that. Make sure to follow them here. Today we covered: Why the way we talk about Epstein matters, and why Dr. G wants less "thrill" and more "consequences, please" The dominoes falling faster overseas, and why international paper trails make coverups way harder to pull off Mike Johnson as a haunted Victorian doll, a creepy elf on the shelf, and the Covenant Eyes "accountability buddy" nightmare that turns your stomach for a reason Why they want you stuck in fear mode, and how hopelessness is their favorite drug Dead internet theory, bots, and the idea that likes are being manipulated to make creators feel alone, even when views are still huge "Don't give him oxygen" as a strategy, plus your sanity check on skipping the State of the Union and choosing literally anything else The Duluth power-and-control wheel, and why it maps disturbingly well onto authoritarian tactics What people can actually do: neighborhood-level organizing, mutual aid, taking marching orders from experienced organizers, and letting "big quiet dudes" run interference for community safety Happy Tuesday, humans. Enjoy this episode with Dr. G, your weirdo friend, and please, for the love of Me, I hope you're doing anything else right now instead of giving Tangerine Palpatine more of your precious time. Love, God

He also met everybody! Really, Speaker Mike Johnson, RFK Jr., Chip Roy, Burgess Owens, Sean Duffy, and many, many more. Was this consummate professional starstruck by anyone? Let's find out.

Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac react to the news that veteran left tackle Trent Williams and the 49ers are struggling to find a contractual solution and that could result in the 49ers releasing Williams and the All-Pro left tackle becoming a free agent next month. Mike, Beau, and Ali explain why they think Williams is still good enough to be a starting left tackle on a win now team if he becomes a free agent. The Morning Shift crew also reacts to the news that Washington Commanders' linebacker Bobby Wagner announced his plan to play a 15th NFL season next year, and that he's going to be a free agent next month as well.

HR1 - Still don't know how Ian Cunningham & Kevin Stefanski feel about 2026 Falcons In hour one Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac quickly touch on some of the biggest headlines around the local and national sports scene, let you hear part of Atlanta Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham's interview with The Steakhouse yesterday where he tells Steak and Sandra that he and the Falcons are planning to release quarterback Kirk Cousins on the first day of the new league year, react to what Cunnigham had to say, explain why they think the Falcons releasing Kirk Cousins after two seasons was always the most likely outcome, let you hear part of Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham's interview with The Steakhouse yesterday where he tells Steak and Sandra why the team is franchise tagging tight end Kyle Pitts, react to what Cunning had to say, let you hear part of Falcons Head Coach Kevin Stefanski's interview with Dukes & Bell yesterday where he talks about how Kyle Pitts will fit in the Falcons offense, react to what Stefanski had to say, explain why they think Ian Cunningham's explanation on why the team is franchise tagging Kyle Pitts feels like the tag will serve as a one-year prove it deal for Pitts, react to the news that veteran left tackle Trent Williams and the 49ers are struggling to find a contractual solution and that could result in the 49ers releasing Williams and the All-Pro left tackle becoming a free agent next month, explain why they think Williams is still good enough to be a starting left tackle on a win now team if he becomes a free agent, react to the news that Washington Commanders' linebacker Bobby Wagner announced his plan to play a 15th NFL season next year and that he's going to be a free agent next month as well, and then close out hour one by diving into the life of Dylan Mathews in ‘Dylin wit it'!

Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac let you hear part of Atlanta Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham's interview with The Steakhouse yesterday where he tells Steak and Sandra why the team is franchise tagging tight end Kyle Pitts, react to what Cunning had to say let you hear part of Falcons Head Coach Kevin Stefanski's interview with Dukes & Bell yesterday where he talks about how Kyle Pitts will fit in the Falcons offense, react to what Stefanski had to say, and explain why they think Ian Cunningham's explanation on why the team is franchise tagging Kyle Pitts feels like the tag will serve as a one-year prove it deal for Pitts.

HR2 - Falcons next move at quarterback could say a lot about Michael Penix Jr.'s future In hour two Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac quickly touch on some of the biggest headlines around the local and national sports scene, let you hear part of Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Kevin Stefanski's interview with Dukes & Bell yesterday where he's asked if he thinks Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco could be a good fit as the Falcons backup quarterback, react to what Coach Stefanski had to say, and explain why they think the Falcons adding a backup quarterback like Joe Flacco would show belief in Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Mike, Ali, and Beau also let you hear part of Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham's interview with The Steakhouse yesterday where he talks about the importance of the NFL Scouting Combine and makes it known that the Falcons will never have as few as five draft picks again as long as he is the teams' GM. The Morning Shift crew reacts to what Cunningham had to say as well. Mike, Beau, and Ali also play a round of Which One Wednesday for the halftime portion of the show, react to the news that the Savannah Bananas have furthered their partnership with ESPN and Disney+ on a 25-game exclusive package beginning February 28, and then close out hour two by reacting to the latest news, rumors, and reports in the NFL as they go In The Huddle!

HR3 - Kaden Elliss may end up being Falcons cap casualty along with Tyler Allgeier In hour three Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac quickly touch on some of the biggest headlines around the local and national sports scene, react to Atlanta Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham being non-committal on free-agent linebacker Kaden Elliss in his scrum with the local media at the NFL Combine yesterday when asked if Elliss is a guy Atlanta wants back, and explain why they would hate to lose Elliss and want him back, but think the Falcons can find a cheaper option and better system fit at linebacker than Kaden Elliss. Then, Mike, Beau, and Ali react to Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves agreeing on a one-year, $27 million-dollar contract extension that includes a club option, talk about how the Braves still need to sign another starting pitcher, explain why they think the Braves haven't made moves this offseason like a team that feels like they're World Series contenders, discuss if the Braves' new in-house TV Network BravesVision could ultimately make Liberty Media give Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos more money to spend on their own players and free agents, recap and react to the Atlanta Hawks' 119-98 win over the Washington Wizards last night, react to last night being the first time former Hawks All-Star Trae Young has been back in Atlanta since being traded to the Wizards last month, talk about the tribute video the Hawks played for Trae and how it made them feel, discuss Jonathan Kuminga making his Hawks debut last night since be trading to the team as part of the Kristaps Porziņģis trade, let you hear Hawks Head Coach Quin Snyder talk about how Kuminga showed the things he's been coaching, react to what Coach Snyder had to say, explain why they think Kuminga's Hawks debut was great and now consistency is the next big step, and then close out hour three by answering people's questions about anything in the Morning Mailbag!

Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac recap and react to the Atlanta Hawks' 119-98 win over the Washington Wizards last night, react to last night being the first time former Hawks All-Star Trae Young has been back in Atlanta since being traded to the Wizards last month, talk about the tribute video the Hawks played for Trae and how it made them feel, discuss Jonathan Kuminga making his Hawks debut last night since be trading to the team as part of the Kristaps Porziņģis trade, let you hear Hawks Head Coach Quin Snyder talk about how Kuminga showed the things he's been coaching, react to what Coach Snyder had to say, explain why they think Kuminga's Hawks debut was great and now consistency is the next big step, and then close out hour three by answering people's questions about anything in the Morning Mailbag!

Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac react to Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves agreeing on a one-year, $27 million-dollar contract extension that includes a club option, talk about how the Braves still need to sign another starting pitcher, explain why they think the Braves haven't made moves this offseason like a team that feels like they're World Series contenders, and discuss if the Braves' new in-house TV Network BravesVision could ultimately make Liberty Media give Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos more money to spend on their own players and free agents.

Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac react to Atlanta Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham being non-committal on free-agent linebacker Kaden Ellissin his scrum with the local media at the NFL Combine yesterday when asked if Elliss is a guy Atlanta wants back, and explain why they would hate to lose Elliss and want him back, but think the Falcons can find a cheaper option and better system fit at linebacker than Kaden Elliss.

Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac react to the latest news, rumors, and reports in the NFL as they go In The Huddle!

Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac play a round of Which One Wednesday for the halftime portion of the show!

Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac let you hear part of Falcons Head Coach Kevin Stefanski's interview with Dukes & Bell yesterday where he's asked if he thinks Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco could be a good fit as the Falcons backup quarterback, react to what Coach Stefanski had to say, and explain why they think the Falcons adding a backup quarterback like Joe Flacco would show belief in Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Mike, Ali, and Beau also let you hear part of Atlanta Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham's interview with The Steakhouse yesterday where he talks about the importance of the NFL Scouting Combine and makes it known that the Falcons will never have as few as five draft picks again as long as he is the teams' GM. The Morning Shift crew reacts to what Cunningham had to say as well.

Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac let you hear part of Atlanta Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham's interview with The Steakhouse yesterday where he tells Steak and Sandra that he and the Falcons are planning to release quarterback Kirk Cousins on the first day of the new league year, react to what Cunningham had to say, and explain why they think the Falcons releasing Kirk Cousins after two seasons was always the most likely outcome.

1. Recent Meetings & Political Context Ben has been in Washington, D.C., meeting with the Treasury Secretary, appearing on Fox News Sunday, and meeting Speaker Mike Johnson ahead of the upcoming State of the Union address. These meetings emphasized what they consider President Trump’s accomplishments, such as tariffs, economic gains, and prioritizing American jobs. 2. Importance of Trump’s Upcoming State of the Union Trump aims to sell voters on his first year back in office, highlighting economic and immigration actions. The speech is viewed as crucial for setting the stage for his next four years and midterm election momentum. 3. Challenges Facing Trump Recent polls showing low approval ratings. The Supreme Court striking down his tariff policy, though Trump reportedly has a workaround. Concerns that if Democrats win back either chamber, his second-term agenda could be paralyzed. 4. Tensions Within the Democratic Party Significant internal division over: Who should respond to Trump’s speech. The direction of their policy messaging. Some Democrats plan to boycott the speech; others push for a coordinated walkout. Multiple separate Democratic responses highlight fractured internal unity. 5. Expected Themes in Trump’s Speech Economy: Claiming reduced inflation, economic revival, and new policies like no tax on tips or overtime. Immigration & Crime: Border security, crackdowns on criminal activity, lowering crime in major cities. Foreign Policy: Rising tensions with Iran, U.S. military buildup, Middle East issues, Ukraine/Russia, and wars he says he has ended. Angel Families: Honoring families of Americans killed by undocumented immigrants. 6. Media & Public Perception The White House event with Angel Families received little coverage from mainstream networks, which is criticized in the text. Trump dismisses negative media polls as “fake.” 7. High Stakes of the Midterms The speech will stress that a Democratic-controlled Congress could: End Trump’s legislative agenda. Lead to new investigations. Potentially result in a third impeachment. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson on Canada's gold medal defeat to the United States, the NHL players returning back to play and contenders in the league. Hockey Hall of Famer and Olympic Medalist Jeremy Roenick on USA's gold medal win, the foundation for USA Hockey and Auston Matthews' legacy and Bryan hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac continue to react to the news that the Atlanta Falcons plan to place the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., explain why they think Pitts hasn't been consistent enough to get the franchise tag, explain why they think a new offense won't automatically fix the hole in Pitts' game, react to the breaking news that the Atlanta Braves have announced the launch of BravesVision, a new television network owned and operated entirely by the organization, and that beginning this season, BravesVision will become the official local television home of the Braves.

Our good friend and host of The Fast Politics Podcast, Molly Jong-Fast, returns to the show! Molly's recent writing in the New York Times has covered the Epstein files and why only a fraction of them have been made public. We tackle the Prince Andrew arrest, Howard Lutnick's lies, and the DOJ's blatant attempt to scrub the files that have been made public.We also get into the SAVE Act and how this is just another attempt by Republicans to subvert democracy. Republican Senators know that the midterms spell trouble for them, so suppressing votes is their best strategy. Will the GOP blow up the filibuster? Does John Thune care more about democracy than Mike Johnson?Plus, we get Molly's thoughts on the latest CBS vs. Stephen Colbert saga, Trump's EPA destroying climate progress, ICE crackdowns around the country, and MUCH more.LISTEN to Molly's podcast, Fast Politics: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fast-politics-with-molly-jong-fast/id1645614328READ Molly's writing in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/by/molly-jong-fast