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The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Study: Democrats are as pagan and Godless as you would imagine, and it has gotten much worse. But we're all in trouble because Republicans are less and less believers too – but not nearly to the extent of Dems, yet.Good ol' classy Crocked Crockett: Jasmine Crockett says ‘f— you' to Supreme Court over new Texas districts. More. Notice a repeat of the classic hypocrisy of Dems: Justices are “illegitimate” if they disagree with Dems.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Texas sales tax revenue totaled $4.3 billion in December, outpacing inflation by a lot.Texas Launches Lone Star Coins and Modern Texas Redback Gold Notes.Texas teachers union sues to stop TEA probe over Charlie Kirk posts.Yesterday much “conservative-leaning” media acted like Leftist media and attacked Hilton. I held off covering the story until the truth could come out and as I expected from the beginning, this was not Hilton acting badly but a local hotel franchise.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates. www.PrattonTexas.com
Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Twist of Irony Clay and Buck dive into the fallout from the historic Delta Force raid in Venezuela, which captured Nicolás Maduro and killed 32 Cuban bodyguards. They explore the strategic implications of Operation Absolute Resolve, framing it as a modern reaffirmation of the Monroe Doctrine and a bold move by President Trump to reassert U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere. The hosts discuss how this operation signals a shift in global power dynamics, undermining Chinese and Russian influence and exposing the weakness of authoritarian regimes like Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran. Republicans Stay at Hotels, Too Hilton Hotels cut ties with a franchisee after reports surfaced that ICE agents’ reservations were canceled. Clay and Buck frame this as a major shift in corporate behavior, contrasting today’s swift response with the era of performative activism during 2020. They credit the Bud Light backlash as a turning point, warning brands against alienating half the country and highlighting Michael Jordan’s timeless advice: “Republicans buy sneakers too.” From corporate culture, the discussion pivots to economic policy and tariffs, as Buck cites new research showing Trump’s tariff strategy did not fuel inflation, contrary to predictions by mainstream economists. Clay and Buck argue that tariffs, combined with strong GDP growth, could help balance the federal budget by 2026–2027 if upheld by the Supreme Court. They blast the failures of modern monetary theory and Biden-era spending, emphasizing common-sense economics and Trump’s vindication on trade policy. What Happens in NY, Won't Stay in NY Clay and Buck discussing the decline of New York City under Mayor Zohran Mamdani, warning that his radical socialist agenda—framed as replacing “rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism”—could devastate property rights and public safety. They highlight viral clips of Mamdani’s allies advocating for housing as a “collective good,” signaling a push toward shared equity models that undermine private ownership. The hosts argue this reflects the broader influence of unmarried progressive women on Democratic policy, calling them the driving force behind destructive cultural and political trends. The conversation shifts to economic migration and the future of financial hubs, citing predictions that Miami and South Florida could replace New York as America’s financial capital, while tech billionaires flock to Texas. Clay and Buck attribute this to post-COVID remote work flexibility and tax advantages in states like Florida, Texas, and Tennessee, contrasting these environments with high-tax states such as New York and California. They warn that as wealthy residents flee, blue states will raise taxes further, accelerating the exodus. TX Rep. Chip Roy An in-depth interview with Congressman Chip Roy, who praises President Trump’s bold leadership in Operation Absolute Resolve, the mission that captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Roy explains the strategic importance of stabilizing Venezuela, restoring its oil production, and preventing resources from flowing to adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran. He emphasizes that this is not “nation-building” but a critical move to secure the Western Hemisphere under the Trump Doctrine, strengthen U.S. energy independence, and protect national security. Roy also warns of challenges ahead, including corruption within Venezuela’s regime, and stresses the need for strong rule of law and economic recovery. The discussion then pivots to the Somali daycare fraud scandal in Minnesota, which has rocked Governor Tim Walz’s political career. Clay and Buck play audio from Walz’s defiant press conference, where he vows not to resign despite mounting evidence of billions in fraudulent welfare payments. Roy underscores how grassroots investigations—like the viral exposé by a 23-year-old YouTuber—are filling the void left by legacy media, signaling a new era of citizen journalism and accountability. He calls for aggressive federal prosecutions, noting that fraud tied to federal funds warrants U.S. attorney involvement, and predicts that heads will roll as investigations expand nationwide. Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! ihr.fm/3InlkL8 For the latest updates from Clay and Buck: https://www.clayandbuck.com/ Connect with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on Social Media: X - https://x.com/clayandbuck FB - https://www.facebook.com/ClayandBuck/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuck YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What does the U.S. capture and prosecution of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro reveal about presidential power, immunity, and the limits of the law? In an excerpt from this week's Insider episode, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss many legal issues raised by Maduro's apprehension and indictment: Is this really a drug-trafficking case, a foreign policy move disguised as a law enforcement action, or both? And why is the case being handled by Preet's former office, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York? In the full episode, Preet and Joyce dive deeper into the military action in Venezuela and the Maduro prosecution. Can Maduro successfully claim immunity as a head of state? How does that compare to the immunity the U.S. Supreme Court has given U.S. presidents? And what role has Congress played in limiting or enabling overseas uses of force? CAFE Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis. Not an Insider? Now more than ever, it's critical to stay tuned. To join a community of reasoned voices in unreasonable times, become an Insider today. You'll get access to full episodes of the podcast and other exclusive content. Head to cafe.com/insider or staytuned.substack.com/subscribe. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.This podcast is brought to you by CAFE and Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureTrump placed tariffs on many nations, the Asian nation exports are surging, even with the tariffs. More money for the people. Fuel prices are below $2 in many states. Trump has cut 646 regulations.Trump is using the Jacksonian Pivot to bring down the [CB] and go back to the constitution. The [DS] is losing it money laundering system. They are having a difficult time funding their operations. Trump is continually putting the squeeze on the [DS] and each nation run by dictators is going to fall one by one. Trump gave the [DS] 8 months to comply with his EO. He brought the NG into their states, they forced them out. He gave them a chance but they decided to escalate the situation. Next move is POTUS. Economy (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2008258196322856968?s=20 all-time high. This is despite US tariffs which were initially set at to 49%, but later negotiated down to ~20%. At the same time, Chinese exports to the US plunged -40% YoY in Q3 2025. This comes as the region has a massive cost advantage over US and European manufacturing, which ranges from 20% to 100%, even after tariffs. Companies use Southeast Asian economies as alternative export bases to avoid China’s 37% reciprocal tariff. As a result, the amount of trade rerouting from China hit a record $23.7 billion in September. US trade flows are shifting sharply amid tariffs. https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/2008327708200104042?s=20 https://twitter.com/profstonge/status/2008516399564509382?s=20 https://twitter.com/DrJStrategy/status/2008306299235189133?s=20 and a decisive shift of policy emphasis toward productive capital and economic sovereignty rather than financial engineering, Trump has reoriented the engines of growth toward productive capital, investment, industry, and national capacity. Anchored by the Trump Corollary, asserting a sovereign, American‑led Western Hemisphere and demonstrated in both the flawless military operation in Venezuela and the broader regime‑pressure strategy, this doctrine is not theater but an integrated fusion of economic, security, and hemispheric power. These changes are as profound in their structural implications as the original Jacksonian pivot, and those who assume Trump is a merely performative politician and strategist are therefore sorely mistaken, confusing a disruptive style with a coherent focused project to realign America's coalition, its economic model, and its role in the world. Political/Rights https://twitter.com/KatieMiller/status/2008286018722562351?s=20 https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/2008263492030349618?s=20 Hilton Axes Hotel From Their Systems After Video Shows Them Continuing to Ban DHS and ICE Agents https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2008497245826556404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2008497245826556404%7Ctwgr%5E65c50b3797a2e502ba8c026a05c290955554706a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Frusty-weiss%2F2026%2F01%2F06%2Fhilton-axes-hotel-from-their-systems-after-video-shows-them-continuing-to-ban-dhs-and-ice-agents-n2197811 Less than two hours after the video had been uploaded to X, Hilton issued another statement saying they were dropping that particular hotel from their list of franchisees and accusing ownership of lying to them about making corrections to their policy. https://twitter.com/HiltonNewsroom/status/2008522493171298503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2008522493171298503%7Ctwgr%5E65c50b3797a2e502ba8c026a05c290955554706a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Frusty-weiss%2F2026%2F01%2F06%2Fhilton-axes-hotel-from-their-systems-after-video-shows-them-continuing-to-ban-dhs-and-ice-agents-n2197811 Source: redstate.com https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2008256013162410201?s=20 mandatory detention without bond hearings. Judges opposing the move admitted the goal is to promote self-deportation rather than extended courtroom battles. Conservatives say the numbers reveal a coordinated judicial campaign to override Trump’s immigration policy. SCOTUS has yet to rule on the matter. DOGE Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board Votes to Dissolve Organization in Act of Responsible Stewardship to Protect the Future of Public Media The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress to steward the federal government's investment in public broadcasting, announced today that its Board of Directors has voted to dissolve the organization after 58 years of service to the American public. The decision follows Congress's rescission of all of CPB's federal funding and comes after sustained political attacks that made it impossible for CPB to continue operating as the Public Broadcasting Act intended. Source: cpb.org Geopolitical https://twitter.com/Object_Zero_/status/2008524560891588691?s=20 flight path (ballistic or powered) from Kola to anywhere on the lower 48, then everything goes over Greenland. Greenland is the theatre where any strategic exchange between Washington and Moscow is contested. If you want to intercept a ballistic missile, the best point to do so is at the apogee, at the top of the flight path. The shortest route for an interceptor to get to an apogee is from directly below the apogee. That's where Greenland is. So, without stating what should happen here, this is **why** the Trump administration says they **need** Greenland for national security. The other thing that is happening is that the Northern Passage through the Arctic is opening up, and soon there will be Chinese cargo ships sailing through the Arctic to Rotterdam. It's faster than the Suez and the ships aren't limited to Suezmax size so China and EU trade is going to accelerate a lot. This means Chinese submarines will also be venturing under the Arctic into the Northern Atlantic, IF THEY AREN'T ALREADY DOING SO. Hence, the North East coast of Greenland serves not 1 but 2 critical strategic security objectives of US national security. If this wasn't clear to you, please understand that the Mercator global map projection is for children and journalists only. It is not a useful guide to where any countries or territories actually are in the real world that we live in. No self respecting adult should be using Mercator for their worldview. Anyone saying “there must be some other secret reason for Trump being interested in Greenland” is a certified ignoramus. https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/2008414070425206927?s=20 permission from the Ministry of Defense. “We want to clarify that what happened in downtown Caracas was because some drones flew over without permission and the police fired dissuasive shots. No confrontation took place. The whole country is in total tranquility,” said a Spokesman for the Information Ministry. https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/2008420269480694261?s=20 Miraflores Presidential Palace. Seems like a failed coup attempt https://twitter.com/jackprandelli/status/2008298246675021881?s=20 offshore oil, creating a massive geopolitical risk. The most immediate outcome in capture of Maduro is to neutralize this threat and secure the operating companies stakes in Guyana, as well as Western Hemisphere’s energy security. By stabilizing Guyana’s production, which is set to hit 1.7 million barrels per day, the intervention guarantees way more oil flow in near term than reviving Venezuela’s aged infrastructure and heavy sour oil. This move protects billions in U.S. investment and positions Guyana producers as the ultimate winners. https://twitter.com/Rasmussen_Poll/status/2008448254095012088?s=20 https://twitter.com/profstonge/status/2008591197728813564?s=20 Mass Protests Enter 9th Straight Day in Iran — Regime Accused of Killing Young Woman and Multiple Peaceful Protesters as Officials Deny Responsibility — Brave 11-Year-Old Iranian Boy Calls on Nation: “Take to the Streets! We Have Nothing to Lose!” (VIDEO) Protests against Iran's murderous Islamic regime continued across the country for a ninth straight day over the weekend, as nationwide unrest intensifies and the government struggles to maintain control. Demonstrations have now spread to multiple cities throughout Iran, with citizens openly defying the Islamic Republic and targeting its symbols of power. The latest wave of protests was initially sparked by the collapse of Iran's currency, further devastating an already-crippled economy and pushing ordinary Iranians to the brink. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2008537318035173629?s=20 https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2008532051331526713?s=20 https://twitter.com/infantrydort/status/2008501122902774238?s=20 when reminded that teeth still exist. They insist the world runs on rules now and that borders are sacred. Also that true power has been replaced by paperwork. This belief is not moral in the least. It's f*****g archaeological. They live inside institutions built by violence, defended by men they no longer understand, and guaranteed by forces they refuse to acknowledge. Like tourists wandering a fortress, they admire the stonework while mocking the idea of a siege. They confuse order with nature. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Then blame the person that reminds them of this. Civilization is not the default state of humanity. It is an achievement that is temporary, fragile, and expensive. It exists only where force once cleared the ground and still quietly patrols the perimeter. A lion does not debate the ethics of hunger. Neither does a starving empire. History is not a morality play, it is a pressure test. When pressure rises, abstractions collapse first. Laws follow power; they do NOT precede it. Property exists only where someone can prevent it from being taken. Sovereignty is not declared, it is enforced. The modern West outsourced this enforcement, then forgot the invoice existed. So when someone points out uncomfortable realities (whether about Greenland, Venezuela, or the broader balance of power) they respond with ritual incantations: “You can't do that.” “That's wrong.” “That's against the rules.” As if the rules themselves are armed. As if history paused because we asked nicely. This is how empires fall. Not from invasion alone, but from conceptual rot. From mistaking a long season of safety for a permanent condition. From believing lethality is immoral instead of foundational. Every civilization that forgot how violence works eventually relearned it the hard way. The conquerors did not arrive because they were monsters; they arrived because their victims could no longer imagine them. The tragedy is not that power still exists. The tragedy is that so many have forgotten it does. Idk who needs to hear this but civilization is a garden grown atop a graveyard. Ignore the soil, and someone else will plant something far less gentle. Hate me for being the messenger and asking the hard questions about conquest if you want. You're just wasting your time. War/Peace Zelenskyy Announces the Appointment of Former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland as Economic Advisor Chrystia Freeland was the former lead of the Canadian trade delegation when Trudeau realized he needed to try and offset the economic damage within the renegotiated NAFTA agreement known as the USMCA. Freeland was also the lead attack agent behind the debanking effort against Canadian truckers who opposed the vaccine mandate. In addition to holding Ukraine roots, the ideology of Chrystia Freeland as a multinational globalist and promoter for the World Economic Forum's ‘new world order' is well documented. given the recent revelations about billions of laundered aid funds being skimmed by corrupt members of the Ukraine government, we can only imagine how much of the recovery funds would be apportioned to maintaining the life of indulgence the political leaders expect. In response to the lucrative “voluntary” appointment, Chrystia Freeland has announced her resignation from Canadian government in order to avoid any conflict of interest as the skimming is organized. Source: theconservativetreehouse.com https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2008618653500273072?s=20 https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/2008610869924757613?s=20 this aligns with Trump’s stated approach, where Europe takes a leading role in postwar security but with American support to ensure durability—such as the proposed 15-year (or potentially longer) guarantees discussed in recent talks. The “Coalition of the Willing” (including the UK, France, Germany, and others) is coordinating these pledges to reassure Kyiv, but the framework explicitly ties into U.S.-backed elements like ceasefire verification and long-term armaments. Russia has not yet shown willingness to compromise on core demands, so the deal’s success remains uncertain, but this step advances the security pillar of the overall plan. Medical/False Flags https://twitter.com/DerrickEvans4WV/status/2008435766742179996?s=20 dangerous diseases. Parents can still choose to give their children all of the Vaccinations, if they wish, and they will still be covered by insurance. However, this updated Schedule finally aligns the United States with other Developed Nations around the World. Congratulations to HHS Secretary Bobby Kennedy, CDC Acting Director Jim O'Neil, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, CMS Administrator Dr. Oz, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, and all of the Medical Experts and Professionals who worked very hard to make this happen. Many Americans, especially the “MAHA Moms,” have been praying for these COMMON SENSE reforms for many years. Thank you for your attention to this matter! DONALD J. TRUMP PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/2008416829404746084?s=20 https://twitter.com/WeTheMedia17/status/2008558203077095579?s=20 President Trump's Plan https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/2008278499153637883?s=20 who tried to kill Justice Kavanaugh at his family home in Maryland. Read: https://twitter.com/mirandadevine/status/2008312587197497804?s=20 https://twitter.com/PubliusDefectus/status/2008542355838955625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2008542355838955625%7Ctwgr%5E08a8ea4b3726984aaeb1e460fafe90ec5a25b84f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhillary-clinton-launches-attack-trump-january-6%2F Developing: Lt. Michael Byrd Who Shot Ashli Babbitt Dead on Jan. 6, 2021 in Cold Blood, Runs an ‘Unaccredited' Day-Care Center in Maryland at His Home and Has Pocketed $190 Million in HHS Funds Captain Michael Byrd and his home daycare in Maryland. In one of his autopen's last acts before Joe Biden left office was to pardon Capt. Mike Byrd, the DC officer who shot and killed January 6 protester Ashli Babbitt in cold blood during the protests on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021. Paul Sperry discovered recently and posted on Tuesday that Former Lt., now Captain Mike Byrd, has been running an unaccredited day-care center with his wife in their Maryland home since 2008. That is nearly 17 years! The Byrds have received $190 million in this HHS day-care scheme. Via Paul Sperry. Via Karli Bonne at Midnight Rider: https://twitter.com/PattieRose20/status/2008547480431218991?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2008547480431218991%7Ctwgr%5Ec607b3d9ed0b3fbdb6e390fdfadc416d9a45a379%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F%3Fp%3D1506321 Source: thegatewaypundit.com The White House has published a page revealing the full TRUE story of January 6 — before, during, and after. It includes: – Video and evidence showing Nancy Pelosi's involvement – A complete, detailed timeline of events – A tribute to those who died on or because of J6 A full investigation into Nancy Pelosi and everyone involved is now essential. You can view the page here: https://whitehouse.gov/j6/ https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/2008569594550895005?s=20 EKO Put This Out April 28, 2025. President Trump signs Executive Order 14287 in the Oval Office. The title reads like standard bureaucracy: “Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens.” But in the third paragraph, a single phrase changes everything: Sanctuary jurisdictions are engaging in “a lawless insurrection against the supremacy of Federal law.” Insurrection. The exact statutory term from 10 U.S.C. §§ 332-333 . The language that unlocks the Insurrection Act of 1807. Georgetown Law professor Martin Lederman publishes analysis within days. The executive order mirrors Section 334 requirements. The formal proclamation to disperse before military deployment. It designates unlawful actors, issues formal warning, establishes consequences. Governors dismiss it as political theater. Constitutional attorneys recognize something else. The proclamation was already issued. Trump just didn't announce it as such. THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK January 20, 2025. Inauguration Day. Hours after taking the oath, Trump issues Proclamation 10886 declaring a national emergency at the southern border. Section 6(b) requires a joint report within 90 days on whether to invoke the Insurrection Act. The deadline falls April 20, 2025. Eight days later comes Executive Order 14287 . National emergency declaration establishes crisis conditions. The 90-day clock forces formal evaluation. The executive order provides the legal predicate. Section 334 of the Insurrection Act mandates the president issue a proclamation ordering insurgents to disperse before deploying military force. April 28 order satisfies every requirement. It names the actors. Describes their unlawful conduct. Warns of consequences. Grants opportunity to comply. Governors treated it as negotiation leverage. It was legal notification. The trap locked in April 2025. Everything since has been documentation. THE TESTING PHASE Throughout 2025, the administration attempts standard enforcement. National Guard deployments under existing authority. October 4, 2025 . Trump federalizes 300 Illinois National Guard members to protect ICE personnel in Chicago. Governor J.B. Pritzker files immediate legal challenge. Federal courts block the deployment. Posse Comitatus restricts military involvement in domestic law enforcement. November 2025 . Portland judge issues permanent injunction against Guard deployment in Oregon. December 23, 2025 . The Supreme Court denies emergency relief in Trump v. Illinois. Justice Kavanaugh files a brief concurrence with a consequential footnote: “One apparent ramification of the Court's opinion is that it could cause the President to use the U.S. military more than the National Guard.” Northwestern Law professor Paul Gowder decodes the signal : “This is basically an invitation for Trump to go straight to the Insurrection Act next time.” The courts established ordinary measures cannot succeed when states organize systematic resistance. They certified that regular law enforcement has become impracticable. They documented the exact threshold Section 332 requires. The founders designed a system that assumed conflict between federal and state authority. For decades, that friction was suppressed. Emergency powers normalized after 9/11, federal agencies expanded into state domains, courts deferred to administrative expertise. The Guard deployment battles weren't system failure. They were constitutional gravity reasserting itself. Courts blocking deployments under Posse Comitatus didn't weaken Trump's position. They certified that ordinary measures had become impracticable, crossing Section 332's threshold. December 31, 2025 . Trump announces Guard withdrawal from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland via Truth Social. Governor Newsom celebrates: “President Trump has finally admitted defeat.” But the machine's interpretation misreads strategic repositioning as retreat. You cannot claim ordinary measures have been exhausted if contested forces remain deployed. Pull back. Let obstruction resume unchecked. Document the refusal. Then demonstrate what unilateral executive action looks like when constitutional authority aligns. THE DEMONSTRATION Trump v. United States . THE HIDDEN NETWORKS Intelligence sources describe what the roundups since fall 2025 actually target. Embedded cartel operatives running fentanyl distribution chains under state-level protection. The riots following military arrests aren't organic resistance. They're funded backlash from criminal enterprises losing billions. Pre-staged materials appear at protest sites. Simultaneous actions coordinate across jurisdictions. The coordination runs deeper. Federal employee networks across multiple agencies held Zoom training sessions in early 2025. Officials with verified government IDs discussed “non-cooperation as non-violent direct action,” the 3.5% rule for governmental collapse, and infrastructure sabotage through coordinated sick calls. They planned to make federal law enforcement impracticable. The exact language Section 332 requires. Sanctuary policies exist because cartel operations generate billions flowing through state systems. Governors sit on nonprofit boards receiving federal grants. Those nonprofits contract back to state agencies, cycling federal dollars through “charitable” organizations. Cartel cash launders through these same construction and real estate networks. When Trump's operations extract high-value targets, they disrupt the business model. The Machine defends itself through coordinated obstruction designed to make federal enforcement impracticable. This transcends immigration policy. This tests whether states can capture governance for criminal enterprises and nullify federal supremacy. THE LINCOLN PARALLEL Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation confounded supporters and critics alike. Abolitionists expected moral thunder. Instead they received dry legalese about “military necessity” and “war powers.” The document deliberately avoided the word “freedom.” It specified which states, parishes, counties. It exempted border states still in the Union. Constitutional historians recognize the genius. Lincoln wasn't making a moral proclamation. He was establishing irreversible legal predicate under war powers. Once issued, even Northern defeat couldn't fully restore slavery. The proclamation made restoration of the old order structurally impossible. Trump's April 28 order follows identical construction. Critics expected immigration rhetoric. Instead: technical language about “unlawful insurrection” and “federal supremacy.” Specified sanctuary jurisdictions, formal notification procedures, funding suspensions. Avoided inflammatory language. Constitutional attorneys recognize the structure. Irreversible legal predicate under insurrection powers. Even political defeat cannot fully restore sanctuary authority. States would have to prove they're not in systematic insurrection. Both presidents disguised constitutional warfare as administrative procedure. THE COMPLETE RECORD When you review the eight-month timeline you recognize what most ‘experts' miss. The April 28 EO satisfied every Section 334 requirement. It designated sanctuary conduct as insurrection. It provided formal notification. It established consequences. It granted eight months to comply. Compliance never arrived. California and New York passed laws shielding criminal networks. Illinois officials threatened to prosecute ICE agents. Multiple states coordinated legal defenses against federal authority. Courts blocked every standard enforcement attempt. They certified that ordinary measures have become impracticable. Every statutory requirement checks complete: Formal proclamation warning insurgents to disperse: April 28, 2025 Executive Order 14287 Extended opportunity to comply: Eight months from April to December 2025 Documented systematic multi-state obstruction: Sanctuary laws, prosecution threats, coordinated resistance Exhausted ordinary enforcement measures: Guard deployments blocked by federal courts Judicial certification of impracticability: Supreme Court ruling with Kavanaugh footnote The legal architecture stands finished. The predicate has been established. Only the final triggering event remains. Thomas Jefferson signed the Insurrection Act into law on March 3, 1807 . He understood executive authority: forge the instrument ahead of the storm, then await the conditions that justify its use. Abraham Lincoln used it to preserve the Union when eleven states organized systematic resistance. Ulysses S. Grant invoked it to shatter the Ku Klux Klan when Southern governments refused to protect Black citizens. Dwight Eisenhower deployed federal troops to enforce Brown v. Board when Arkansas chose defiance. Each invocation followed the same pattern. Local authorities refuse to enforce federal law. The president issues formal proclamation. Forces deploy when resistance continues. The current situation exceeds every historical precedent in scale and coordination. Multiple state governments coordinating systematic obstruction. Sanctuary jurisdictions spanning dozens of cities. Criminal enterprises funding the resistance through captured state institutions. The April proclamation gave them eight months to stand down. They chose escalation. THE COUNTDOWN The January 4 statement confirms what the legal timeline already established. Prerequisites met. Constitutional threshold crossed and judicially certified. The operational timeline is active. The next escalation triggers the formal dispersal order. Section 334 requires the president issue proclamation ordering insurgents to “disperse and retire peaceably to their abodes” before deploying military force. That's the legal tripwire. Once issued, if obstruction persists after the compliance window closes, federal troops can enforce federal law. Active duty forces under the Insurrection Act. Constitutional. Unreviewable. The forces won't conduct door-to-door immigration raids. They'll provide security perimeters while federal law enforcement executes targeted operations against high-value assets. Operatives. Trafficking nodes. Criminal infrastructure. Targeting oath-bound officials elected and appointed, as well as federal employees who swore to uphold federal law and chose insurrection instead. THE RESTORATION Sanctuary jurisdictions received explicit insurrection warnings last spring. More than half a year to comply. Every olive branch rejected. Courts blocked ordinary enforcement repeatedly, certifying impracticability. The Venezuela op demonstrated unilateral resolve. Yesterday's statement activated the operational sequence. Pattern recognized. Machine is exposed. Evidence is complete. What remains is execution. They're just waiting to hear it tick. The most powerful weapon restrains until every prerequisite aligns. Until mercy extends fully and meets systematic rejection. Until the constitutional framework demands its use. Every prerequisite has aligned. Mercy has been extended and rejected. The framework demands its use. Revolution destroys. Reversion restores. The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves. The Insurrection Proclamation frees a republic. https://twitter.com/EkoLovesYou/status/2008304655156342936?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2008597603412308341?s=20 (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");
Just days into 2026, Mary and Andrew dive into a fresh slate of legal questions brought on by the United States' surprise extraction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife to New York to face criminal charges. Unpacking why the operation is widely viewed as illegal in both Venezuela and here at home, they focus on the Trump administration's pattern of self-excusing questionable tactics under the banner of fighting crime and drug smuggling. Next, as the fifth anniversary of the January 6th insurrection approaches, Mary previews her upcoming testimony in front of House Democrats on the impact the broad swath of pardons for J6 convictions has had, before the co-hosts review Jack Smith's now public deposition before the House Judiciary Committee. Last, Mary and Andrew turn to the newly unsealed order in the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case, in which the judge believes DOJ officials may have pushed to prosecute him only after he was wrongly deported to El Salvador.Further reading:Former Special Counsel Jack Smith's testimony transcript is HERE, the video is HEREHERE is Judge Gary R. Brown's ruling from 12/18 on the awful conditions in an ICE detention facility in Long Island, NY. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. You'll also get exclusive bonus content from this and other shows. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
David French is joined by David Lat to explore the legality of the Trump administration's arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and President Trump's recent loss at the Supreme Court over his mobilization of the National Guard. The Agenda:—Can we arrest foreign leaders?—Compliance with international law—The arrest of Manuel Antonio Noriega—Presidential authority and war powers—Trump v. Illinois—National Guard mobilization—The Court's relationship with Trump—Top legal stories of the year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: 3:05pm- On Monday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced he will no longer seek election for a third term. His announcement comes after Minnesota, under his leadership, misappropriated billions-of-dollars to fraudulent welfare claims. 3:10pm- According to reports, on Friday at 10:46pm ET President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead on an extraction mission to capture Venezuelan authoritarian Nicolas Maduro. The successful raid consisted of 150 aircrafts—which eliminated air defense systems and cut power to infrastructure in Caracas. On Monday, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared before a New York City judge—charged with narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracies. 3:30pm- David Gelman— Criminal Defense Attorney, former Prosecutor, & a former surrogate for Donald Trump's Legal Team—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to recap Venezuelan authoritarian Nicolas Maduro's appearance in a New York court where he pled not guilty to drug trafficking charges. Gleman jokes that Maduro has a better chance of winning the Powerball than being granted bail. 3:40pm- Can the Trump administration legally target other tyrannical regimes? In an article for The Free Press, Yale Law Professor wrote “under Supreme Court case law, the decision about whether or not to recognize a foreign government belongs exclusively to the president.” Which is important because “foreign heads of state are immune from prosecution…but as the courts held in [Panama leader Manuel] Noriega's case, head-of-state immunity does not apply to a dictator whom the U.S. doesn't recognize.”
The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Show (01/05/2026): 3:05pm- On Monday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced he will no longer seek election for a third term. His announcement comes after Minnesota, under his leadership, misappropriated billions-of-dollars to fraudulent welfare claims. 3:10pm- According to reports, on Friday at 10:46pm ET President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead on an extraction mission to capture Venezuelan authoritarian Nicolas Maduro. The successful raid consisted of 150 aircrafts—which eliminated air defense systems and cut power to infrastructure in Caracas. On Monday, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared before a New York City judge—charged with narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracies. 3:30pm- David Gelman— Criminal Defense Attorney, former Prosecutor, & a former surrogate for Donald Trump's Legal Team—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to recap Venezuelan authoritarian Nicolas Maduro's appearance in a New York court where he pled not guilty to drug trafficking charges. Gleman jokes that Maduro has a better chance of winning the Powerball than being granted bail. 3:40pm- Can the Trump administration legally target other tyrannical regimes? In an article for The Free Press, Yale Law Professor wrote “under Supreme Court case law, the decision about whether or not to recognize a foreign government belongs exclusively to the president.” Which is important because “foreign heads of state are immune from prosecution…but as the courts held in [Panama leader Manuel] Noriega's case, head-of-state immunity does not apply to a dictator whom the U.S. doesn't recognize.” 4:05pm- Rich, Matt, and Justin return from Christmas break. Rich got a dog, Justin still had to work, and Matt is in Scottsdale enjoying the 70-degree weather. 4:20pm- Following the United States' successful capture of Nicolas Maduro, the Colombian defense minister invited Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to Colombia for a firsthand look at the country's fight against drug trafficking. While speaking to the press, President Donald Trump warned that Colombian President Gustavo Petro should “watch his ass” if he doesn't stop sending drugs to the U.S. 4:30pm- Dr. Victoria Coates—Former Deputy National Security Advisor & the Vice President of the Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the operation to successfully capture Venezuelan authoritarian Nicolas Maduro. Could the Trump administration target other problematic despots in Colombia or Iran, for example? Dr. Coates is author of the book: The Battle for the Jewish State: How Israel—and America—Can Win. 5:00pm- John Yoo—The Emanuel Heller Professor of Law at the University of California at Berkeley—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his latest article for National Review, “The Trump Administration's Actions in Venezuela Are Constitutional.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/01/the-trump-administrations-actions-in-venezuela-are-constitutional/. 5:30pm- Rich's BIG announcement: Beginning next week, The Rich Zeoli Show will take on a new form! The show will become a one-hour, nationally focused podcast which can be heard locally on 1210 WPHT from 6pm to 7pm! 6:05pm- Daniel Turner—Founder and Executive Director of Power the Future—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to respond to the news that the U.S. will take control of Venezuela's oil. Will this lower gas prices? 6:20pm- According to reports, on Friday at 10:46pm ET President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead on an extraction mission to capture Venezuelan authoritarian Nicolas Maduro. The successful raid consisted of 150 aircrafts—which eliminated air defense systems and cut power to infrastructure in Caracas. On Monday, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared before a New York City judge—charged with narco-terrorism and cocaine importation conspiracies. 6:30pm- Democrat Hypocrisy: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ...
The New Yorker staff writer Jon Lee Anderson joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and brought him to the United States to face narco-terrorism charges. They talk about the unprecedented nature of the raid, the shaky intelligence and legal rationale behind it, and what the operation reveals about the Trump Administration's increasingly coercive approach to the region. They also examine what “running” Venezuela could look like in practice—from leaving Maduro associates in power to exploiting the country's oil reserves—and how the intervention may reverberate across Latin America. This week's reading: “Regime Change in America's Back Yard,” by Jon Lee Anderson “Who's Running Venezuela After the Fall of Maduro?,” by Jonathan Blitzer “The Folly of Trump's Oil Imperialism,” by John Cassidy “The Brazen Illegality of Trump's Venezuela Operation,” by Isaac Chotiner “Can the U.S. Really ‘Run' Venezuela?,” by Caroline Mimbs Nyce The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine's writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Tune in to The Political Scene wherever you get your podcasts. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Today's Headlines: Trump's Venezuela operation keeps getting weirder. Nicolás Maduro and his wife pled not guilty in Manhattan court and Maduro insists he's “still president” — despite currently living at the detention center. Trump walked back his claim that Marco Rubio would “run Venezuela,” and is now elevating Stephen Miller to help oversee things with interim leader Delcy Rodriguez — while warning he'll launch more strikes if she doesn't cooperate. Meanwhile, Trump allies say opposition leader María Corina Machado blew her shot at power by… not giving Trump her Nobel Prize. To make things…more chaotic, Trump has started floating similar threats toward Cuba, Mexico, Colombia — and Greenland — prompting Greenland's prime minister to remind him that their country is “not an object of superpower rhetoric.” Congress only got briefed on the Venezuela strikes after the fact, because Trump says lawmakers “leak,” though somehow oil companies heard before and after. Also suspicious: someone made $400k on Polymarket betting Maduro would be deposed in January. Abroad, protests in Iran continue, and a British intel report says Ayatollah Khamenei has a “Plan B” escape route to Moscow if things collapse. In other news, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth censured Sen. Mark Kelly in the first step toward possible rank demotion — all because Kelly appeared in a video noting it's legal to refuse illegal military orders. The administration also slashed the number of recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11 — a move that could reshape insurance coverage and access next year and Arizona's Supreme Court building was evacuated after a suspicious package containing homemade explosive material was found. Lastly, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced he won't seek a third term following months of harassment fueled by Trump and right-wing trolls resurfacing an old Somali daycare fraud case. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: NBC News: Live updates: Maduro arrives at New York courthouse for first court appearance since capture in Venezuela The New Republic: Trump Wants Stephen Miller to Have a Terrifying New Role in Venezuela WaPo: U.S. plan to ‘run' Venezuela clouded in confusion and uncertainty Newsweek: Cuba's ‘Days Are Numbered'—Lindsey Graham Yahoo: Greenland's Prime Minister Just Delivered A Brutal Reality Check To Donald Trump The Independent: Gunfire heard near Venezuelan presidential palace The Times: Ayatollah Khamenei plans to flee to Moscow if Iran unrest intensifies AP News: Hegseth censures Sen. Kelly after Democrats' video urging troops to resist unlawful orders PBS: Trump administration cuts number of vaccines it recommends for every child The Guardian: Arizona supreme court evacuated after package tests positive for explosives AP News: Walz, Democrats' 2024 VP pick, drops bid for third term as Minnesota governor; Klobuchar considers Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In our news wrap Tuesday, President Trump warned his fellow Republicans that he'll be impeached if they don't put in a strong showing in this year's midterm elections, abortion will remain legal in Wyoming after the state's Supreme Court struck down two laws and at least 36 people have now been killed amid ongoing protests in Iran over the country's struggling economy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Tara breaks down a sweeping federal crackdown unfolding in Minneapolis and beyond — from thousands of fraud and immigration investigators deployed, to explosive revelations about ghost daycare centers, suitcase cash operations, and decades-old investigations buried by Washington. As panic spreads among Democrat officials, Tara explains why this moment is different, how crime statistics are finally moving in the right direction, and why the media's narrative about “chaos” and “war” collapses under basic facts and long-standing law. This episode connects fraud, open borders, crime, censorship, and media deception — and shows why accountability is suddenly back on the table.
On our first show back after the holidays, Brian Finucane, a senior advisor at the International Crisis Group, explains the legal ramifications of invading Venezuela and kidnapping its leader for “law enforcement.” We'll break down the Supreme Court's ruling eviscerating Trump's effort to conscript National Guard troops to terrorize cities. And for subscribers, Justin Baldoni will once again teach us (how not to) CivPro.Links:Trump v. Illinois [Supreme Court]https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25a443_new_b07d.pdfBrian Finucane, Presidential War Powers, the Take Care Clause, and Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, Cornell Law Review (2020)https://live-cornell-law-review.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Finucane-final.pdf1989 OLC Memorandumhttps://www.justice.gov/olc/opinion/authority-federal-bureau-investigation-override-international-law-extraterritorial-lawUS v. Commonwealth of Virginia [In-state tuition for immigrant children]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72085714/united-states-v-commonwealth-of-virginia/JGG v. Trumphttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69741724/jgg-v-trump/?order_by=descLively v. Baldonihttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69741724/jgg-v-trump/?order_by=descShow Links:https://www.lawandchaospod.com/BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPodThreads: @LawAndChaosPodTwitter: @LawAndChaosPodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Is the most powerful defender of your freedom not a politician but your local sheriff? What if the person standing between you and government overreach is someone most Americans barely think about until they see flashing lights in their rearview mirror? What if everything you have been told about law enforcement authority, federal power, and who actually answers to the people is wrong? Studio Sponsor: Cardio Miracle - "Unlock the secret to a healthier heart, increased energy levels, and transform your cardiovascular fitness like never before.": CardioMiracle.com/TBNS In this episode, Brian Nichols is joined by Richard Mack, the only sheriff in American history to take the federal government to the Supreme Court and win. Sheriff Mack breaks down the constitutional role of sheriffs, why they are supposed to answer directly to the people, how COVID exposed a tale of two very different approaches to law enforcement, and why your freedom may depend on whether your local sheriff remembers his oath. This is a grounded, real-world conversation about liberty, responsibility, and how freedom is actually defended at the local level, not in Washington. ❤️ Order Cardio Miracle (CardioMiracle.com/TBNS) for 15% off and take a step towards better heart health and overall well-being!
The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: There is plenty of irony in the U.S. action in Venezuela to go around. But, the biggest thing I've noticed is the utter nonsense being spewed by Democrats about the action being illegal. Jonathan Turley well covers that fact that this exact issue has already been litigated to the Supreme Court (a court Dems liked at the time.)Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.AT&T contributing to the hollowing out of our great cities. AT&T announced today it would leave it giant skyscraper in downtown Dallas for the old EDS campus in Plano.U-Haul report says Texas is back to #1 on people moving one-way into the state.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates. www.PrattonTexas.com
In National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) the Court is set to consider “whether the limits on coordinated party expenditures in 52 U.S.C. § 30116 violate the First Amendment, either on their face or as applied to party spending in connection with "party coordinated communications" as defined in 11 C.F.R. § 109.37.”.The case kicked off in 2022 when two Republican party committees brought suit against the FEC in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. They contended the 1971 Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) imposed unconstitutional restrictions on their capacity to coordinate campaign advertising with candidates, and that FEC v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee (2001) which had upheld the restrictions as constitutional, had been made unsound by developments in law, facts, and precedent in the intervening time.As required by FECA for constitutional challenges, the district court certified the legal question to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit sitting en banc which upheld FECA. The Supreme Court granted cert. and Oral Argument is set to be heard on December 9, 2025.Join us for an expert breakdown of oral arguments.Featuring:Brett Nolan, Senior Attorney, Institute for Free Speech
On June 27, 2025, a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire challenging President Trump's Executive Order No. 14,160, which denies birthright citizenship to children born after February 19th, 2025 to parents who are either illegally present in or temporary residents of the United States. On July 10th, the District Court issued a preliminary injunction barring the execution of the order, and, in September, the Trump administration petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari before judgment. The Court granted cert and will hear oral arguments in early 2026.The case hinges on the question of whether children born to illegal or temporary residents of the United States are "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" and thus entitled to citizenship under the 14th amendment. Join us for this timely discussion on a case with immense implications for immigration enforcement, our understanding of the 14th amendment, and the meaning of birthright citizenship.Featuring:Trent McCotter, Partner, Boyden Gray PLLCProf. Michael Ramsey, Warren Distinguished Professor of Law, University of San Diego School of LawProf. Ilan Wurman, Julius E. Davis Professor of Law, University of Minnesota Law School(Moderator) Prof. Randy Barnett, Patrick Hotung Professor of Constitutional Law, Georgetown University Law Center
Don't miss Gurvey's Law's annual Supreme Court update. In this episode, we will review the most important cases presently before the Supreme Court of the United States. This year we are honored to have join Alan and Michelle, one of the country's foremost authorities on constitutional law, Professor Ilya Somin, to gain insight into cases involving President Trump's powers, “political weaponization”, and tariffs.
Credit union predictions take center stage as Mark Ritter hosts Jeff Lyons on Credit Union Conversations to review their 2025 forecasts. The MBFS leaders analyze their interest rate forecasts, NCUA board changes, and tariff-negotiation predictions with a candid self-assessment. Throughout this engaging review, they explore Federal Reserve rate cuts, consumer lending trends, commercial lending stability, and the challenges facing credit unions in the auto loan market as vehicle prices surpass $50,000. They examine the accuracy of housing market forecasts and the outcomes of budget deal negotiations, while acknowledging mixed results in their prognostication.WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:✅ How NCUA board changes and Supreme Court cases continue to impact credit union regulatory oversight, with the FTC lawsuit setting precedent for future administrative decisions affecting the credit union industry.✅ Why the auto loan market faces unprecedented challenges as average new vehicle prices exceed $50,000, causing consumers to hold vehicles longer and fundamentally shifting credit union business strategies.✅ The accuracy of inflation predictions and credit card delinquency forecasts, including how CPI data at 2.7% contradicts consumer experiences of rising costs in everyday purchases.✅ How commercial lending stability diverged from consumer lending trends in 2025, creating a bifurcated lending environment that requires different strategic approaches for credit unions.Subscribe to Credit Union Conversations for the latest credit union trends and insights on loan volume and business lending! Connect with MBFS to boost your credit union's growth today.TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Mark Ritter and Jeff Lyons review their year-end credit union predictions for 2025 and discuss their accuracy00:38 NCUA board changes discussion covering the firing of Democratic board members and predictions about Supreme Court cases impacting regulatory authority01:33 Interest rate forecasts review, revealing they missed by 25 basis points and tariff negotiations analysis examining how tariffs became a negotiating tool07:07 Auto loan market and consumer lending trends, highlighting the average cost of a vehicle and the lending environment affecting credit union business09:06 Discussion of credit card debt to be determined in February and March, and some football talk: Penn State and RutgersKEY TAKEAWAYS:
The Foreign Press Association has expressed 'profound disappointment' with the Israeli government’s submission to the Supreme Court arguing in favor of continuing the ban on foreign journalists entering the Gaza Strip, despite the ceasefire. The FPA has submitted a number of petitions to the court demanding the ban be lifted. KAN's Mark Weiss spoke with Nicolas Rouger, a board member of the FPA. (Photo: AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of PeaceCast, NJN's Maxxe Albert-Deitch is joined by author, internationally renowned human rights lawyer, and longtime activist Sari Bashi to discuss the new English translation of her book Upside-Down Love, originally published in Hebrew in 2021. Told in alternating chapters by both Sari and Osama (a pseudonym), Upside-Down Love is a moving portrait of two ordinary people falling in love and navigating the regular pitfalls of a relationship, set against an extraordinary backdrop of the West Bank. The pair met when Sari represented Osama in petitions to Israel's Supreme Court to allow him to pursue his education overseas. Their story offers a new lens on current events in Israel-Palestine—experiencing the conflict in their day to day lives, raising their children, and coping with constant threats to themselves, their families, and loved ones. Osama and Sari's star-crossed romance—an intimate, vulnerable portrait of an astoundingly resilient Israeli-Palestinian relationship—has since become a beacon of hope in the aftermath of October 7, 2023. Now on its way to becoming an international sensation, Upside-Down Love speaks to the unique circumstances of this specific moment in history, while also illustrating a timeless truth: Love will triumph over bigotry and destruction. Buy or pre-order the book (out in the US on January 20th, 2026)- https://bookshop.org/p/books/upside-down-love-sari-bashi/6b7db8d45024dc23?ean=9798228590052&next=t&
This Day in Legal History: January 6 InsurrectionOn January 6, 2021, a significant and unprecedented legal and constitutional crisis unfolded in the United States. As a joint session of Congress convened to certify the Electoral College results of the 2020 presidential election, a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. The attack followed weeks of false claims about election fraud and a rally earlier that day in which Trump urged his supporters to “fight like hell.” The violent breach forced lawmakers to evacuate, delayed the certification of Joe Biden's victory, and resulted in deaths, injuries, and extensive property damage.Legally, the event triggered a cascade of consequences. Hundreds of participants were arrested and charged with offenses ranging from unlawful entry and assaulting federal officers to seditious conspiracy. High-profile members of far-right groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys were prosecuted, with some leaders convicted of seditious conspiracy, a Civil War-era charge rarely used in modern times. The attack also led to Trump's second impeachment, the first time in U.S. history a president was impeached twice. He was charged with incitement of insurrection, although the Senate ultimately acquitted him.In the broader legal aftermath, January 6 prompted legislative and judicial scrutiny of the Electoral Count Act of 1887, with Congress passing reforms in 2022 to clarify the vice president's limited role in certifying election results. The attack also raised questions about the limits of First Amendment protections when political speech turns into violent action, and about the potential disqualification from office under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits insurrectionists from holding public office.Barry Pollack, the U.S. attorney best known for securing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's release deal, is now representing Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in a high-profile U.S. narcotics case. Maduro, who was captured in a U.S. military operation along with his wife, pleaded not guilty this week in a Manhattan federal court to charges of leading a cocaine trafficking conspiracy involving guerrilla groups and drug cartels. Pollack plans to challenge the legality of Maduro's capture—calling it a “military abduction”—and is also expected to raise arguments about foreign leader immunity.These arguments face steep legal obstacles. The U.S. no longer recognizes Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate president, having rejected the results of his 2018 re-election. Furthermore, U.S. courts have historically been reluctant to dismiss cases based on how a defendant was brought to U.S. soil. Still, Pollack's involvement signals a serious defense strategy grounded in international legal questions and executive immunity claims.Pollack's experience with politically charged and internationally sensitive cases is extensive. He recently helped negotiate Assange's release from a British prison through a plea deal that allowed the WikiLeaks founder to avoid U.S. imprisonment and return to Australia. His track record also includes work on behalf of a former CIA officer and an acquitted Enron executive.Assange's lawyer Barry Pollack to fight Maduro's US narcotics charges | ReutersWith a new Republican majority appointed by President Donald Trump, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is expected to shift sharply away from pro-union policies that defined its recent Democratic era. After nearly a year of paralysis caused by Trump's unprecedented firing of Democrat Gwynne Wilcox—leaving the board without the quorum needed to issue decisions—the Senate confirmed two Republican nominees in December 2025, restoring its ability to act and giving conservatives control of the five-member board for the first time since 2021.Key Biden-era decisions are now vulnerable to rollback. These include expanded union rights such as representation without secret-ballot elections, bans on mandatory anti-union employer meetings, and broader remedies for fired workers. Critics say these moves strayed from precedent; federal courts are reviewing them, but outcomes will vary by jurisdiction unless the Supreme Court weighs in.Union election rules are also likely to change. Under Biden, the NLRB accelerated the election process and made it harder for decertification efforts to proceed—moves unions supported to counter employer delays. Republicans are expected to reverse these rules, potentially making it easier to dissolve existing unions.The board's political independence is also under scrutiny. A court recently upheld Trump's removal of Wilcox, challenging legal protections meant to shield NLRB members from dismissal without cause. If the Supreme Court supports similar arguments in upcoming cases, the NLRB's structural independence could be weakened, raising concerns about politicization and fairness in labor adjudications.Meanwhile, lawsuits by major companies like Amazon and SpaceX are targeting the board's role as both prosecutor and judge in its own cases, claiming constitutional violations. If courts side with these challengers, it could force Congress to restructure the agency—perhaps by limiting its powers or shifting cases to federal courts.NLRB poised for major policy shifts in 2026 with new Trump-appointed majority | ReutersWisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan resigned following her conviction for obstructing the arrest of a migrant in her courtroom, a case that became entangled in broader national tensions over immigration enforcement. Dugan, elected to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in 2016, was found guilty in December 2025 of helping Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national facing domestic violence charges, evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who were present at the courthouse. She had denied wrongdoing, claiming she followed a courthouse policy requiring staff to notify supervisors of ICE's presence.Her conviction drew sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers, with some calling for impeachment, especially as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to crack down on local interference with federal immigration policy. Dugan had been suspended from her judicial duties during the legal proceedings. Prosecutors framed the case as a warning that public officials are not above the law, highlighting the Justice Department's willingness to pursue charges against judges who obstruct federal enforcement actions.Before serving as a judge, Dugan led a local Catholic Charities chapter that provided refugee resettlement services. Her background and the nature of the charges underscored the ongoing conflict between local protections for immigrants and federal efforts to expand deportations.Wisconsin judge resigns after being convicted of obstructing migrant arrest | ReutersMy column this week is on a novel cruise tax. Hawaii's attempt to expand its transient accommodations tax to include cruise ship passengers hit a temporary roadblock when the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a New Year's Eve stay, pausing enforcement of the new “green fee.” The law, which took effect January 1, aims to place cruise cabins on equal tax footing with hotels by imposing an 11% tax on the portion of a cruise fare linked to overnight stays while docked in Hawaiian ports. Hawaii argues this is a general, nondiscriminatory tax on short-term lodging rather than a fee tied to the ship itself. To bolster its legal case, the state is framing cruise cabins as equivalent to hotel rooms, and emphasizing that the tax is based on services consumed on land, not the ship's movement or port access.The cruise industry, however, contends the tax violates the Constitution's Tonnage Clause, which prohibits states from levying duties on ships for merely entering or staying in port. They've also invoked the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1884, which restricts port-related charges not linked to specific services. But Hawaii's defense is that the tax is not about access or vessel status—it is a consumption tax on guests staying overnight, regardless of whether the bed is on land or in a moored ship. The policy avoids targeting ships and instead captures revenue from tourism, aligning maritime and land-based lodging under a consistent legal framework.The Department of Justice has joined the cruise industry's challenge, suggesting the issue's seriousness. If litigation continues, the U.S. Supreme Court may ultimately decide whether this tax model is constitutionally sound. Still, Hawaii's approach—drafting a neutral, consumption-based tax rather than a maritime-specific charge—may serve as a blueprint for other coastal states looking to tap into cruise tourism revenue without triggering constitutional violations. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe
In our news wrap Tuesday, President Trump warned his fellow Republicans that he'll be impeached if they don't put in a strong showing in this year's midterm elections, abortion will remain legal in Wyoming after the state's Supreme Court struck down two laws and at least 36 people have now been killed amid ongoing protests in Iran over the country's struggling economy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Steven Rinella talks with New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich, Ryan Callaghan, and Randall Williams. Topics discussed: Corner crossing and the Supreme Court ruling; stream access; the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, mining, and caribou; the Roadless Rule; where to develop and not develop renewables; relative bipartisan support for nuclear energy; reintroducing pronghorn back to an area of New Mexico; the breadth of the coalition that came together around keeping public lands in public hands; and more. Connect with Steve and The MeatEater Podcast Network Steve on Instagram and Twitter MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Leah kicks off the episode with repeat guest Rebecca Ingber of Cardozo Law to discuss the wild illegality–both domestic and international–of Trump's regime change operation in Venezuela. Then, Kate, Melissa, and Leah welcome Princeton professor and expert on the rise of modern autocracies, Kim Lane Scheppele to break down how Trump is consolidating power over the executive branch and the courts. Leah next catches up with president and CEO of Democracy Forward Skye Perryman on some of the legal developments over the holidays, including challenges to Department of Education funding cuts, the freezing of childcare payments to Minnesota, and a near-total abortion ban for veterans. Finally, the hosts speak with Demand Justice's Josh Orton about the worrying trends his organization is seeing among Trump 2.0's judicial nominees.Kim's favorite things: An “Almost Sacred Responsibility”: The Rule of Law in Times of Peril, Gerald J. Postema (Judicature); Judge Harvey Wilkinson's opinion in Abrego Garcia v. Noem; Judge William G. Young's opinion in AAUP vs. Rubio; Sara L. Ellis's opinion in Chicago Headline Club v. Noem; The Dual State, Ernst Fraenkel; The Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2026! 3/6/26 – San Francisco3/7/26 – Los AngelesLearn more: http://crooked.com/eventsBuy Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025! 3/6/26 – San Francisco3/7/26 – Los AngelesLearn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A feckless Chief Justice who is obviously trying to avoid being attacked by his favorite president Trump, issued a worthless “Final Report” on this past year at the Judiciary, filled with misstatements, omissions and misleading “statistics”. Missing from the report? Any mention of Trump's attacks on the Judiciary, Judges, Lawyers and Law Firms, the violence threatened against them, the use of rogue US Attorneys to go after Trump's political enemies, the corruption of the DOJ, the lack of ethics at the Supreme Court, and the battle that has spilled into the open between the lower federal trial courts and the Supreme Court, or the Court being complicit with Trump through the use of the “shadow docket” to allow back door appeals to side with Trump 86% of the time. Michael Popok blows apart the Report and its attempt to wrap Roberts and judges in a flag to fool the American people into believing that the Third Branch hasn't been captured by MAGA and Trump. 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 Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown 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
Today's Headlines: Looks like there's no easing into this new year. Trump dramatically escalated his Venezuela fixation this weekend, launching major strikes in Caracas and having Nicolás Maduro pulled from his home and flown to federal detention in Brooklyn. Maduro was re-indicted on familiar narcotrafficking charges, while Trump bragged that the U.S. is effectively “running Venezuela now” alongside American oil companies. But instead of installing Trump's preferred opposition figure, Venezuela's Supreme Court tapped Maduro's vice president Delcy Rodríguez as interim leader. Before all that, the U.S. had spent weeks chasing a Venezuela-bound oil tanker — until Russia swooped in on New Year's Eve, added it to its registry, and painted a Russian flag on the side to shield it from seizure. Trump also hosted President Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago with Stephen Miller, Jared Kushner, and Pete Hegseth, claiming “progress” while simultaneously echoing outrage on Putin's behalf after a friendly call with him. Abroad, Switzerland's army chief warned the country couldn't withstand a major attack, protests in Iran turned deadly as Trump threatened to “intervene,” and Trump ordered Christmas Day strikes on ISIS militants in Nigeria. On the home front, Trump froze all childcare payments nationwide after citing a Minnesota welfare fraud case involving a small group of Somali immigrants — while simultaneously moving to garnish wages from millions of student loan borrowers in default starting in January. One notable check on his power: the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 against his National Guard deployments to several U.S. cities. Meanwhile, the newly released Jack Smith testimony says he had evidence Trump committed multiple felonies that could rise to treason before his cases were shut down — and the massive Epstein document dump is already under scrutiny for delays, missing records, and questionable redactions, including internal DOJ emails noting Trump flew on Epstein's plane more than previously known. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: NBC News: Maduro arrives in New York after capture in Venezuela NYT: How Trump Fixed On a Maduro Loyalist as Venezuela's New Leader NYT: Russia Asks United States to Stop Pursuit of Fleeing Oil Tanker NBC News: Trump and Zelenskyy project optimism about prospects for a Ukraine-Russia peace deal despite 'thorny issues' The Daily Beast: Putin Burns Trump With Embarrassing Details of Phone Chat Reuters: Army chief says Switzerland can't defend itself from full-scale attack PBS: Trump threatens to intervene in Iran if regime continues to kill protesters NYT: U.S. Strikes ISIS in Nigeria After Trump Warned of Attacks on Christians NYT: Trump and Netanyahu Exchange Praise After Meeting, Showing Few Signs of Strain CNN: Israel becomes first country to formally recognize Somaliland as independent state AP News: Trump's attacks on Minnesota's Somali community cast a spotlight on fraud cases The Guardian: Trump administration reportedly freezes all childcare payments to all states CNBC: Trump administration to start seizing pay of defaulted student loan borrowers in January WaPo: Trump ends effort to keep National Guard in Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland PBS: Read Jack Smith's full deposition on the decision to indict Trump Axios: Mike Pence's think tank poaches top Heritage staff as MAGA rift grows NBC News: Justice Department is reviewing 5.2 million pages of Jeffrey Epstein files NBC News: The president, the plane and the prince: Top takeaways from the 3rd Epstein files release Des Moines Register: Democrat wins Iowa Senate election, holding off GOP supermajority CNBC: USPS changes may delay postmark dates. What it means for your tax returns, ballots, bills and more Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SUBSCRIBE TO JORDAN'S FREE NEWSLETTER. Get the facts, without the spin. UNBIASED offers a clear, impartial recap of US news, including politics, elections, legal news, and more. Hosted by lawyer Jordan Berman, each episode provides a recap of current political events plus breakdowns of complex concepts—like constitutional rights, recent Supreme Court rulings, and new legislation—in an easy-to-understand way. No personal opinions, just the facts you need to stay informed on the daily news that matters. If you miss how journalism used to be, you're in the right place. In today's episode, Jordan is covering everything you need to know about the operation in Venezuela to capture Nicolás Maduro. Throughout the episode, she answers the following questions: Who is Nicolás Maduro? How did the operation unfold? WHY was Maduro captured and brought back to the U.S.? Did this really have to do with drugs? Or does it have to do with oil? What have the reactions been on all sides? Did this operation break international law? Did President Trump need congressional authorization? Is it legal for the United States to capture and prosecute another foreign leader? What did Trump mean when he said the United States will "run" Venezuela? What can we expect from here? Critical Thinking Segment SUBSCRIBE TO JORDAN'S FREE NEWSLETTER. Watch this episode on YouTube. Follow Jordan on Instagram and TikTok. All sources for this episode can be found here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
President Donald Trump enters 2026 facing mounting pressure on multiple fronts — rising health care costs for millions of Americans, a Supreme Court decision that could upend his tariff agenda, fragile peace efforts in Ukraine and Gaza and political distractions that refuse to fade. USA TODAY White House Correspondent, Joey Garrison, breaks down what's at stake for the president as midterm elections loom.Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Today on Mea Culpa, I'm joined by constitutional scholar and former U.S. Attorney Harry Litman for a critical conversation about unchecked presidential power, secrecy, and the erosion of democratic guardrails. We break down Trump's escalating foreign policy threats—from Iran to Venezuela—his normalization of military action without congressional oversight, and how retaliation-based governance is replacing the rule of law, from freezing federal funds in Minnesota to vetoing a bipartisan clean water bill in Colorado. Harry, a former Deputy Assistant Attorney General who has argued before the Supreme Court, explains why these moments matter, how Congress's silence enables executive overreach, and what happens when loyalty replaces legality. In a time when chaos is mistaken for strength and secrecy becomes policy, this episode confronts how close we are drifting toward government by vendetta—and why the law still matters. Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Venezuela's embattled leader, Nicolás Maduro, is in a New York City courtroom today—facing charges that include narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. This weekend's bold operation in Venezuela has major geopolitical implications but could also impact oil supply abroad. While oil prices have seen some movement since news broke Saturday morning, energy stocks are rising as investors bet U.S. companies could eventually gain access to Venezuela's massive oil reserves. All of this comes as we kick off a new year and a new month—one that could bring a significant announcement from President Trump on his next pick for Federal Reserve chair… along with a potential Supreme Court ruling on the president's tariffs. Kenny Polcari, the Chief Market Strategist at SlateStone Wealth, joins FOX Business' Lydia Hu to discuss how investors are reacting to the news out of Venezuela. Plus, he lays out his expectations for this week and 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Summary In the kickoff broadcast of Armed American Radio for 2026, host Mark Walters discusses significant topics surrounding the Second Amendment, including a recent Ninth Circuit ruling on open carry in California, the ongoing debate between open and concealed carry, and the implications of background checks on ammunition purchases. The conversation also touches on the National Firearms Act (NFA) and the political landscape affecting gun rights, emphasizing the importance of unity among patriots in defending their rights. In this conversation, Mark Walters discusses various themes surrounding gun rights, government preparedness, and the implications of recent political developments. The dialogue covers the failures of government systems, the importance of understanding individual rights as outlined in the Federalist Papers, and the potential impact of upcoming Supreme Court cases on gun legislation. The conversation also delves into the political landscape in Virginia and California, the significance of local politics, and personal stories that highlight the dangers of communism and the importance of individual rights. The speakers emphasize the need for active participation in political processes to safeguard freedoms. Takeaways The Ninth Circuit ruling affirms open carry as a constitutional right. Open carry and concealed carry are not interchangeable rights. Background checks for ammunition purchases are flawed and unconstitutional. The political landscape in California continues to challenge Second Amendment rights. The NFA and tax stamp changes are significant developments for gun owners. Gun control laws often fail to address the root causes of violence. The importance of historical context in understanding gun rights. Unity among gun rights advocates is crucial for effective advocacy. The ATF’s inefficiencies highlight the challenges faced by gun owners. The ongoing debate over gun rights reflects broader political tensions. The government often fails to anticipate the consequences of its actions. Understanding our rights is crucial for defending them. The Supreme Court’s decisions can significantly impact gun rights. California’s gun laws are restrictive and controversial. Local politics play a vital role in shaping gun legislation. Personal stories of communism highlight the importance of individual rights. The Democrat Party’s stance on gun rights is increasingly concerning. Active participation in politics is essential for protecting freedoms. The Federalist Papers provide insight into the founding principles of rights. Self-defense legal representation is crucial for gun owners. Armed American Radio, Second Amendment, Open Carry, Concealed Carry, Ninth Circuit, Gun Control, Background Checks, NFA, Tax Stamp, Political Commentary, gun rights, government preparedness, Supreme Court, Virginia politics, California gun laws, self-defense, communism, individual rights, Democrat Party, Federalist Papers
Summary In the kickoff broadcast of Armed American Radio for 2026, host Mark Walters discusses significant topics surrounding the Second Amendment, including a recent Ninth Circuit ruling on open carry in California, the ongoing debate between open and concealed carry, and the implications of background checks on ammunition purchases. The conversation also touches on the National Firearms Act (NFA) and the political landscape affecting gun rights, emphasizing the importance of unity among patriots in defending their rights. In this conversation, Mark Walters discusses various themes surrounding gun rights, government preparedness, and the implications of recent political developments. The dialogue covers the failures of government systems, the importance of understanding individual rights as outlined in the Federalist Papers, and the potential impact of upcoming Supreme Court cases on gun legislation. The conversation also delves into the political landscape in Virginia and California, the significance of local politics, and personal stories that highlight the dangers of communism and the importance of individual rights. The speakers emphasize the need for active participation in political processes to safeguard freedoms. Takeaways The Ninth Circuit ruling affirms open carry as a constitutional right. Open carry and concealed carry are not interchangeable rights. Background checks for ammunition purchases are flawed and unconstitutional. The political landscape in California continues to challenge Second Amendment rights. The NFA and tax stamp changes are significant developments for gun owners. Gun control laws often fail to address the root causes of violence. The importance of historical context in understanding gun rights. Unity among gun rights advocates is crucial for effective advocacy. The ATF’s inefficiencies highlight the challenges faced by gun owners. The ongoing debate over gun rights reflects broader political tensions. The government often fails to anticipate the consequences of its actions. Understanding our rights is crucial for defending them. The Supreme Court’s decisions can significantly impact gun rights. California’s gun laws are restrictive and controversial. Local politics play a vital role in shaping gun legislation. Personal stories of communism highlight the importance of individual rights. The Democrat Party’s stance on gun rights is increasingly concerning. Active participation in politics is essential for protecting freedoms. The Federalist Papers provide insight into the founding principles of rights. Self-defense legal representation is crucial for gun owners. Keywords Armed American Radio, Second Amendment, Open Carry, Concealed Carry, Ninth Circuit, Gun Control, Background Checks, NFA, Tax Stamp, Political Commentary, gun rights, government preparedness, Supreme Court, Virginia politics, California gun laws, self-defense, communism, individual rights, Democrat Party, Federalist Papers
Summary In the kickoff broadcast of Armed American Radio for 2026, host Mark Walters discusses significant topics surrounding the Second Amendment, including a recent Ninth Circuit ruling on open carry in California, the ongoing debate between open and concealed carry, and the implications of background checks on ammunition purchases. The conversation also touches on the National Firearms Act (NFA) and the political landscape affecting gun rights, emphasizing the importance of unity among patriots in defending their rights. In this conversation, Mark Walters discusses various themes surrounding gun rights, government preparedness, and the implications of recent political developments. The dialogue covers the failures of government systems, the importance of understanding individual rights as outlined in the Federalist Papers, and the potential impact of upcoming Supreme Court cases on gun legislation. The conversation also delves into the political landscape in Virginia and California, the significance of local politics, and personal stories that highlight the dangers of communism and the importance of individual rights. The speakers emphasize the need for active participation in political processes to safeguard freedoms. Takeaways The Ninth Circuit ruling affirms open carry as a constitutional right. Open carry and concealed carry are not interchangeable rights. Background checks for ammunition purchases are flawed and unconstitutional. The political landscape in California continues to challenge Second Amendment rights. The NFA and tax stamp changes are significant developments for gun owners. Gun control laws often fail to address the root causes of violence. The importance of historical context in understanding gun rights. Unity among gun rights advocates is crucial for effective advocacy. The ATF’s inefficiencies highlight the challenges faced by gun owners. The ongoing debate over gun rights reflects broader political tensions. The government often fails to anticipate the consequences of its actions. Understanding our rights is crucial for defending them. The Supreme Court’s decisions can significantly impact gun rights. California’s gun laws are restrictive and controversial. Local politics play a vital role in shaping gun legislation. Personal stories of communism highlight the importance of individual rights. The Democrat Party’s stance on gun rights is increasingly concerning. Active participation in politics is essential for protecting freedoms. The Federalist Papers provide insight into the founding principles of rights. Self-defense legal representation is crucial for gun owners. Keywords Armed American Radio, Second Amendment, Open Carry, Concealed Carry, Ninth Circuit, Gun Control, Background Checks, NFA, Tax Stamp, Political Commentary, gun rights, government preparedness, Supreme Court, Virginia politics, California gun laws, self-defense, communism, individual rights, Democrat Party, Federalist Papers
It's Monday, January 5th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Muslims in Congo, Africa kill 15 The New Year began in chaos and mourning for residents of Katanga village in North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reports International Christian Concern. As families gathered to welcome 2026, armed Muslim fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, carried out a deadly nighttime incursion, killing at least 15 people on Thursday, January 1. Working with the global Islamic State movement, the ADF is among the most dangerous terrorist groups in Congo. Venezuelan dictator captured in daring U.S. raid Venezuelans are celebrating in the streets. (Audio of celebration) Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro was seized by the United States Army's secretive Delta Force unit in a daring raid on his heavily-secured compound, reports the Daily Mail. CBS News reported that the ultra-elite Delta Force unit was behind the capture of Maduro, and his wife Cilia, in the early hours of Saturday morning. The couple was seized from their bedroom in the dead of night by U.S. forces as they slept, according to CNN. The raid did not lead to any U.S. casualties. The pair was snatched by helicopter from Caracas after they had been monitored by CIA spies, with President Donald Trump giving the order to take them two days ago. President Trump says Maduro and his government have conspired to flood the United States with illegal drugs, and will now face trial in the U.S. on drugs and weapons trafficking charges. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke at a Saturday press conference. RUBIO: “Nicolas Maduro had multiple opportunities to avoid this. He was provided multiple very, very, very generous offers, and chose instead to act like a wild man, chose instead to play around. “The 47th president of the United States is not a game player. When he tells you that he's going to do something, when he tells you he's going to address a problem, he means it. “The President doesn't go out looking for people to pick fights with. Generally, he wants to get along with everybody. We'll talk and meet with anybody. But don't play games. Don't play games while this President's in office, because it's not going to turn out well. I guess that lesson was learned last night, and we hope it will be instructive moving forward.” Biden's DOJ pressured FBI to raid Mar-a-Lago Newly-declassified documents show that President Joe Biden's Department of Justice pressured the FBI to conduct the infamous 2022 raid of then-former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home – even though the FBI repeatedly warned that such a raid was unwarranted, reports NewsBusters.org. In an X.com post last Tuesday, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, wrote, “FBI did not believe it had probable cause to raid Pres. Trump's Mar-a-Lago home, but Biden DOJ pushed for it anyway. Based on the records, Mar-a-Lago raid was a miscarriage of justice.” Grassley linked to the documents posted online, which detail communications between the DOJ and the FBI. Brent Bozell confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Last Thursday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Media Research Center founder Brent Bozell as U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, despite obstructionist tactics by Democrats, reports CNSNews.com. By a 53-43 vote, the Senate approved Bozell to fill the post vacated by former ambassador Reuben Brigety, who resigned in January. BOZELL: “I will communicate our objections to South Africa's geo-strategic drift from non-alignment toward our competitors including Russia, China and Iran. “I'll press South Africa to end proceedings against Israel before the International Court of Justice. “Second, I will advance the President's invitation to Afrikaners who wish to flee unjust racial discrimination. “I will support the President's call for the South African government to rescind its support for the expropriation of private property without compensation.” Bozell served as president of the Media Research Center from its founding in 1987 until May of this year when he stepped down to be ambassador. His son, David Bozell, now leads the Media Research Center. Mom upset school secretly socially transitioned her daughter A mother in Maine, named Amber Lavigne, had her parental rights usurped by school officials when a guidance counselor secretly gave her gender-confused 13-year-old daughter a chest binder and referred to her by using a male name and pronouns. A chest binder is used to flatten the breasts of a trans-identified girl to help her pretend to be a boy. With the help of the Goldwater Institute, Lavigne is taking the school to the Supreme Court, reports The Christian Post. LAVIGNE: “I don't want to lose my daughter to the state, even as she grows into an adult, I'll always be her mom.” When she confronted her daughter about the chest binder in her bedroom, she learned that the school guidance counselor had provided it. LAVIGNE: “This situation really is about my parental rights being violated, about a social worker who had never even had a conversation with me, encouraging my child to keep secrets from me, to tell her, ‘Look, I'm not going to tell your mom, and you don't have to either.' So, she's bringing these breast binders home and hiding them in her room on me. That's distressing!” Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” (Watch Amber Lavigne's 4-minute video.) Arkansas Governor in hot water for celebrating Christmas And finally, secularists and atheists alike were predictably furious with Arkansas Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders this past Christmas, reports LifeSiteNews.com. It's just not that they found her professed love for Jesus Christ problematic. It's that she used her position as governor to spread the truth that Jesus Christ is the Savior of Mankind. On December 16, Sanders issued a declaration recalling that “more than two millennia ago in the little town of Bethlehem, far from the centers of power in first-century Rome, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born in a humble manger.” Sanders added that “on that first Christmas, Christ's arrival was unassuming” and “not focused on the wealthy or powerful but rather on the poor, powerless, and meek.” Sanders then approved an extra day off for state employees on December 26 “in order that [they] may spend this holiday with their families giving thanks for Christ's birth.” The God-hating Freedom From Religion Foundation was livid. In a letter to Governor Sanders, attorney Chris Line said, “State offices are not churches, and gubernatorial proclamations are not sermons. The governor is free to practice her religion privately, but she may not use the authority of the state to promote Christian doctrine as official government speech.” Governor Sanders tweeted, “The Freedom from Religion Foundation took issue with me closing state offices to celebrate Christmas and sent a letter demanding I rescind my proclamation. Christmas is not just a holiday; it's the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth. Meaning matters, we won't pretend otherwise.” Matthew 1:20-21 says, “What is conceived in Mary is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, January 5th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
Intro -Sam Welcome back to another episode of Let's Go Hunt, the holliest jolliest band of fuckwits this side of Christmas. Tonight! Vince H, under the weather Dave Packard, who is still tired of this summer weather at Christmas Mike Goncalves, the Gambler And, Sam Alexander - who's pretty sure it's Saturday. Around the Campfire Tonight: We're looking back on the year and what we're looking forward to Sam's special note: leave us a review if you would like to see the downfall of corporate podcasts! Warheads on Foreheads with Mike https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSH53KejJW-/?igsh=ang0ZjhlaGhkN2hv What can we learn from this? We can learn to be better people, probs Eventual Ad Slot . Personal Gear Chat and Updates: Mike Hummer lights work on Prado Dave Christmas Pheasant Hunting Hunting with our buddy Lew, Clint, son Elijah and buddies Kyle, Lane and Tanner Kyle got his first pheasant Used grandma's gun for the first time 7 miles Kicked up the biggest covey of quail I've ever seen 1 cock and 1 quail A look back How'd your 2025 hunting go? Thermal hunt with Vince, Brandon and Ty Family Scouting trip Elk camp with Mike PF Banquet and Youth hunt Addie's first deer Rack-o-saurus Finished out with the first wild pheasant I've shot in 20 Years and first quail Sign stand target Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands fuckery? C:/Users/dapac/Downloads/CCNG_DraftAssessment_202500703_Final508_RevisedMaps_.pdf https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/psicc/planning/forest-plan/grasslands-plan-revision-library Sam New Year's New Shite Vince FRT sadness Did some shooting with a buddy Long range-ish, several guns checked out Done did some work on the son's deer hide Trying to work on the coyote hide Got the tanning solution prepped and working the hide soon Worked on the hide, hope I got enough flesh off Set the fur, hope I got it set well enough Got out and shot my bow some which was fun Finally really got my crossbow dialed in…I think News and World Events Initiative 82 https://leg.colorado.gov/content/wildlife-and-ecosystem-conservation-commission-0 Wyoming Corner Crossing going to the Supreme Court? https://montanafreepress.org/2025/05/22/landowner-looks-to-appeal-loss-in-corner-crossing-case-to-us-supreme-court/ Spotlighting With Dave: What are some other uses for thermals? Subsonic 22LR: so many ammo options, so what's the difference? What the Rut is going on here? or The Otter Creek Labs Polonium 30. What's it good for? Please, if you listen to our show, leave a review! Go to lghpodcast.com -> Click on Support the Show -> Leave us a Review! -> Follow the link to your favorite podcast brain beamer and leave us a review! Email contact@lghpodcast.com and get a sticker pack! Outro - Vince Support the sport and take a buddy hunting! If you like that buddy, tell them about our show! If you don't like that buddy, slip a number 4 buck round in with his goose loadspoke a hole in his U-blind. Hit us up at lghpodcast.com. Thanks for listening and Let's Go Hunt! EMAIL: contact@lghpodcast.com Let's Go Hunt Archives - Firearms Radio Network
Send us a textIn October, Mama Dragons was invited to participate in an annual event in Hollywood called “A Day of Unreasonable Conversation.” This day-long event is an invitation-only gathering of our culture's most influential storytellers — writers, producers, content creators, and executives — with activists, thought leaders, and individuals with lived experience. The gathering is framed around a simple but urgent question: “In the face of today's biggest challenges, how can storytelling move us forward?” Mama Dragon Shauna Jones was part of a panel discussion on trans rights which asked, “What if we trusted our kids?” Today In the Den, Sara talks with Shauna and Mama Dragons Executive Director Liz Welch about their experience at the event and what it can mean to trust our children when they tell us who they are.Special Guest: Liz WelchLiz has extensive advocacy and lobbying experience in LGBTQ+ and religious freedom at the federal, state, and local levels. While at the ACLU, Liz led a National Faith Coalition that supported efforts to advance protections for LGBTQ+ communities while preserving the rights of faith communities. She also co-facilitated a transgender education and advocacy project, working to train and support trans activists in advocating for their rights across the country. Additionally, Liz is a trained mediator, experienced facilitator, and event coordinator for everything from hyper-local Pride events to coordinating the rallies at the Supreme Court of the United States for the biggest cases of our time. She is the proud mother to Mariah, who is a public defender and an avid baker.Special Guest: Shauna JonesShauna Jones grew up in a small, conservative potato farming town in Idaho in a devoutly religious Mormon family. When Shauna's oldest child came out as bisexual and transgender as a teenager, her worldview was challenged and changed. She joined Mama Dragons in 2015 and has been helping to create queer-affirming homes through LGBTQ+ parent education through the group ever since. Shauna loves gardening, running, and rainbows. She is a firm believer in the power of choosing kindness and love.Links from the Show:Subscribe to the Fix the News SubstackLearn More About A Day of Unreasonable ConversationListen to Shauna's Speech at the Supreme Court Listen to Shauna's Unreasonable Day of Conversation panelCaitlin Seida's Hope Is a Sewer Rat poem Join Mama Dragons todayIn the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. Support the showConnect with Mama Dragons:WebsiteInstagramFacebookDonate to this podcast
This week, we're taking a look at the state of knife laws across the United States. The Department of Justice recently made headlines, and garnered backlash, after it defended the federal Switchblade Act in court on the same day it filed suit against Washington, DC's "assault weapons" ban. To discuss the state of play in that case and against other switchblade regulations, we have Knife Rights Inc's founder Doug Ritter on the show. His group is responsible for the federal case and numerous cases against state laws around the country. Ritter described the way switchblades, often described as automatic knives and sometimes vaguely defined, are regulated. He said the federal Switchblade Act effectively, or perhaps ineffectively, bans most interstate sales of the knives as well as their carry in certain places. He noted several states go even further and ban their possession outright. In the case against DOJ, Ritter said his group is arguing that knives--switchblades included--are "arms" protected by the Second Amendment. He argued they fit the definition the Supreme Court has pointed to in previous cases and it makes little sense for the Trump Administration to argue AR-15s are protected by knives aren't. Ritter further criticized the way that DOJ defended the Switchblade Act. He argued the DOJ's logic, which centers on the concealability of automatic knives and their appeal to criminals, could be and has been used to defend restrictions on AR-15s or even handguns. He dismissed the historical tradition of regulating knives cited by the DOJ as too thin to stand. He also accused the administration of being schizophrenic on the Second Amendment. He went on to describe his group's strategy in challenging state knife restrictions. Ritter said they filed suits in multiple federal circuits, hoping to create a split that puts pressure on the High Court to get involved. Special Guest: Doug Ritter.
Part One | Part Two January 6th was terrifying for many Americans. After all, they saw it on television. But what did they really see? Did they know what actually unfolded that day? Did they even ask? Trump is the Jan. 6 President, proclaims the New York Times' Editorial Board.And the text:What I learned, living through these events as a former Democrat, is that the New York Times Editorial Board is lying through its teeth. Or maybe they aren't lying. Maybe they really do believe it. They exist inside the Doomsday Cult of the Left, after all, along with all of those high-minded “journalists” at the New Yorker and the Atlantic.But to make the bold proclamation that any protest, or even riot, against oppressive forces, whether you believe them to be oppressive or not, is un-American proves they don't know this country or its history very well.There were two sides to this story. If I'd never left the Left, I would have believed their version of the event. I would have been just as horrified. I would have thought it was an attack on democracy. But protests are the voices of the unheard and a healthy sign of any democracy, and for a grassroots movement, and millions of Americans who had been disenfranchised by the four years Trump was in power? This was the best way for them to be heard. The only way for them to be heard.They just didn't know they were walking into an ambush by forces far greater than them, and more powerful than any political party in American history and what they wanted to do was use that protest - a moment of desperation for desperate Americans abandoned by the government, the culture and most institutions - and demonize them further by calling them extremists, terrorists, Nazis, insurrectionists. January 6th was played on a loop by the Democrats and their propaganda machine, once known as the legacy media. And why wouldn't it be? It was everything they needed at just the right time. See, there's a Confederate flag. See, there's a hangman's rope. See, there's some guy in horns howling inside the Capitol. Zip ties, hanging Mike Pence, Trump watching the mob, and hoping they wouldn't stop. It all painted a picture in our minds of an angry president amidst a violent coup. In our age of algorithm-driven mass hysteria, we're no different from the Puritans in Salem who believed in “spectral evidence,” what you can't see but can only imagine. January 6th finally provided them with the proof they needed of their campaign against MAGA.It's just that none of it was true. Why would Trump have wanted a riot? He'd gone to great effort to convince Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz to debate the election in the Senate. All the riot did was hand absolute power to the Democrats, Reichstag Fire style. Not only did the media sell that lie, but you'd be severely punished if you asked any questions, especially about the 2020 election. Yes, we lived through that and more. Just because the Democrats have memory-holed everything they've done in the last ten years to cling to power doesn't mean it didn't happen or that we shouldn't talk about it. There was nothing wrong with talking about an election that was anything but free and fair. I naively went into it as a major Biden advocate, believing he could win the old-fashioned way. I didn't know they'd hide him and Kamala Harris in the basement and let the legacy media do all of the heavy lifting. I didn't know they'd planned it—everything that happened throughout 2020 to ensure Trump was taken out of power, like they were meddling in some third-world country's elections. It's all written down in TIME Magazine. They planned on saving an election that was not theirs to save. Who gave them that right? The American people decide, and if one political party believes itself to be above the people, then that is an insurrection, not against the government but against all of us and a fair process we depend on. They justified everything they did by the lies they told themselves about who Trump really was and how dangerous he was supposed to be. They rigged the election by manipulating the media, changing any law that got in their way, using COVID as an excuse to push ballot harvesting, funded by a $400 million cash infusion, and all the while pretending they were “saving democracy.”By all accounts, I should have been cheering them on. Yes, get Trump! Anything and everything should be allowed as long as we were saving the country from Hitler! I believed that at first. Why wouldn't I? I was straight out of Central Casting as a Resistance Lib. This was the back of my car in 2012.This is who I was.Before that, I was just a lowly Oscar blogger spending my time writing about superficial things, but suddenly, in 2015, everything changed. I was in a panic about the Greenhouse Effect and the sea level rise. I threw myself into politics to help the Democrats win. Overnight, I became someone who mattered online, with a growing following, adoration, and kindness from strangers. The warm embrace of the elite Left felt intoxicating: invitations to exclusive parties, friendships with high-status blue-checks on Twitter like Steve Schmidt, Rick Wilson, and Oprah, so much love and support online - after all, I was helping to save democracy and the planet! I was even invited to an early fundraiser for Joe Biden in May of 2019. It was necessary. I was important. I mattered.You can imagine, then, how surreal it would have been for anyone who knew me that way to see me starting to question the official narratives. For me, it began with what I believed was mass hysteria that had overtaken my side. Just as the Southerners had whipped themselves up into a frenzy, believing that if the slaves were freed, there would be chaos and violence, so too did we believe that if Trump won, that was the end of everything. But, looking back, all it really was was a populist revolt against a ruling class that just decided what America would be now. Class no longer mattered, only skin color and gender identity did.Little by little, I began to pull away as things got weird. The more I tried to speak out, the worse it got for me. They went after me hard on social media for years. But none of that would have driven me away from the Democrats. As with so many others, 2020 was the turning point for me. I suddenly could see the strings, and I wondered who was pulling them. Trotting out experts to say “systemic racism” was more important than a global pandemic, and trotting them out again to discourage Trump from sending in the National Guard. And again, to say the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation. How stupid did they think we were?We lurched from COVID to racism back to COVID to lockdowns, and all the while, as I would come to realize, the aim was only to GET TRUMP. Imagine completely taking over an election to take out a one-term president with a strong economy. Why?I asked the same question then as I wonder today. Why did it have to be an existential crisis? Why drive half the country to the brink of insanity? Why cosplay Trump as Hitler and pretend this was World War II? Couldn't they win the old-fashioned way with better candidates and better policies? Russiagate, spying on his campaign, two impeachments, four indictments, convicting him of a felony, taking his mug shot, two assassination attempts, trying to throw him off the ballots, and needing the Supreme Court to shut it down, and the American people still chose Trump. Shouldn't that have been the wakeup call? Shouldn't that have been the moment their stupid, futile, destructive war ended?No. It wasn't about politics for the Left. It was deeper than that. It was as deep as preserving the South before, during, and after the Civil War. January 6th allowed them a way out of what they'd become, not what MAGA had become. They were the violent ones and had been going all the way back to 2015, when a mob descended upon Trump supporters.They rioted at Trump's inaugural. They believed themselves justified in attacking Trump supporters because they were convinced they were “fascists.” But their words meant nothing because they distorted them beyond comprehension. What does it mean to call someone Hitler, a fascist, a dictator, a rapist, a pedophile, a racist, a white supremacist? These words mean nothing now. And then came 2020, the point of no return. For me, it was the recognition that my side didn't care about democracy or the truth. They only cared about defeating an imaginary enemy they invented but never existed. And were prepared to bring this country to its knees to achieve that goal.When I saw this video of Sue's 100-year-old mattress store, I posted it on social media, and the response was, “How can you care more about property than people”? By then, they had already called me a racist many times, and they were pushing me out of utopia and farther and farther away. Was I a racist because I cared about Sue and the older man who defended her with a fire extinguisher? Trump's speech at Mt. Rushmore was the first time I'd heard anyone in public life talk about what we could all see but almost no one would say out loud. The media called it dark and divisive because, of course, they did. Are you getting it yet? This only goes one way. That was for me yet another layer of the onion being pulled back to reveal what the legacy media had become. They were not reporting the news. They were telling us what to think, and they still are. After I started watching Trump's rallies for myself, I kept waiting for the version of Trump we were sold to emerge. He never did. Instead, a guy who would stand in the pouring rain to speak to his supporters showed me what MAGA was really about. It was a love story. Trump had their backs, and they had his.Just listen to them as he visits East Palestine, Ohio after the train derailed and spilled toxic waste in their tiny forgotten town.That's why they showed up in DC on January 6th. Not to storm the Capitol. Not to hang Mike Pence. Not to overthrow the United States government, as if. If you know them, you know there are no people in this country who love it more. You know they would never damage the Capitol. They are the side that prides itself on not being violent like the Left. The narrative after January 6th was and remains a lie.Why is it that the Left was given full and free rein to rampage anywhere they pleased all throughout that Summer, and the Trump supporters were treated like terrorists who flew planes into the World Trade Center, and the Japanese who bombed Pearl Harbor? Because the Left had, and still has, most of the power to shape the media narrative and thus, reality.I had to ask these questions of myself, someone who had gone along with so much of it, not because I was a conformist but because I genuinely believed it. The more questions I asked, the worse it got for me. That was when I knew there was no talking to them, no shaking them out of it, no hoping for sanity to return. And there was no saving the Left. They were no longer the party I once knew.What Democrats want is their utopia, or Woketopia, back. They have always believed Trump was an insect who needed to be crushed, and his place in American life was temporary, and once he's gone, “things will go back to normal.”To them, it's all Trump. One last cancel. He's the only person they couldn't destroy and the only thing standing in their way.Whatever he is for, they are against. They are even rooting against America, rooting for America to falter before the eyes of the world. Imagine being that petty. If we entered World War III, does anyone doubt they'd all be out there trying to ensure Trump fails? The irony of the Madouro capture is that it exposes the Left as liars yet again. Here is what it is like to be under the rule of a dictator. Everything the Left has been LARPing (Live Action RolePlay) for the last ten years is what Madouro actually was. The juxtaposition between the Venezuelans celebrating and the liberals complaining is illuminating.John Brown Two WaysJohn Brown was an abolitionist who was executed for treason by the federal government for a slave insurrection before the Civil War. He was hailed as a hero by the North and became an inspiration for those willing to fight and die for a cause.If the American Revolution was about liberating the colonies from the British and the Civil War was about liberating the slaves from bondage, what is our Virtual Civil War really about? Who is to be liberated at the end of it? More importantly, what are the causes worth fighting and dying for?In the film One Battle After Another, sure to win Best Picture this year at the Oscars, the film's ANTIFA-like revolutionary Perfidia Beverly Hills lays it out:Our Virtual Civil War already has a body count. Charlie Kirk's assassination by a transgender-supporting terrorist, Luigi Mangione's assassination of a healthcare CEO, the attempted assassinations of Trump, and the ongoing attacks on ICE agents seem to lock in what the Left is fighting for.Are they fighting for a border-free America because borders themselves are oppressive white supremacy? It sure looks that way. Are they prepared to fight and die to preserve Woketopia? Some of them are. Maybe more of them will be.Does our future look like 1984, where geography takes a backseat to ideology, and we'll be aligned with Germany, the UK, Canada, and France, with migrants flowing freely into our countries, and where you will be okay as long as you agree that 2+2=5 and you love Big Brother?Abraham Lincoln, like Winston Churchill, was what Neil Howe and William H. Strauss called a Gray Champion of the Fourth Turning. When I look at what Trump is doing now, the bold moves, the attacks he's survived, there is no doubt he is our Fourth Turning's Gray Champion. When I see videos like this, I am reminded of why. Who else but Trump would do this? He shows them every day that he is not afraid of them, not even a little bit, even after being shot in the head, impeached, and convicted.Will Tyler Robinson, Matthew David Crooks and whatever that surfer dude out in Florida's name was be seen by the Left as the John Browns of their time? Martyrs willing to fight and die to save “democracy,” or to avenge transgender people, or immigrants? Do those on the Right see the Jan 6ers as the John Browns of their fight, beating corruption and the deep state?Lincoln sought, above all, to preserve the Union and saw the war as a test of “whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure.” Once you fracture the Union, then there is no America at all, and it might as well be 1984.As for me, it's like Bob Dylan once said, How does it feel? To be on your own? With no direction home? Like a complete unknown? How does it feel? It feels like freedom. // This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sashastone.com/subscribe
Legal expert Hans von Spakovsky joins Mark, Kim, and Ethan to unpack the legal legitimacy behind the U.S. capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Drawing direct parallels to the 1989 Noriega precedent, Hans explains why Trump's move was fully constitutional and backed by decades of case law, even with a Clinton-appointed judge now overseeing the trial. The team raises sharp questions about jurisdiction, Mexico's cartel problem, and the reemergence of Trump's “Monroe Doctrine.” Hans also previews key upcoming Supreme Court cases on tariffs and transgender participation in women's sports, calling 2026 a potential legal roller coaster year. #HansVonSpakovsky #Maduro #Trump #LegalAnalysis #SupremeCourt #MarkCoxMorningShow
There is a crucially significant case now before the U.S. Supreme Court which may be decided within days or months. The timing will determine whether its impact is felt in this Congressional cycle (2026) or 2028. It deals with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, a landmark civil rights statute that was re-authorized by Congress nearly by acclamation in 2006. Even Chief Justice John Roberts, no friend of the law, said at the time that while the Court struck down Section 5 of the Act in 2013 (a provision that required states to get approval from the federal Department of Justice in order for certain states and local jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination to redistrict) that Section 2, prohibiting racial gerrymandering, would still be on the books to protect the rights of those populations. If Section 2 protections are gone, the Voting Rights Act is, in effect, gutted and unworkable as envisioned and has operated over the last sixty years. Between 12-19 Congressional seats in the Deep South, now represented by Black legislators, could be absorbed into White conservative districts. To discuss this possibility is David Daley, America’s leading expert on gerrymandering, a Senior Fellow at FairVote (fairvote.org) and author of a number of books on the subject, including his latest “Antidemocratic: Inside the Right’s 50-Year Plot to Control American Elections.”
House and Senate return to another ticking clock on funding — they'll need to pass 9 appropriations bills by January 30, or some combination … a review of what's coming in the Supreme Court … will the GOP work on health care? … the USPS has a new procedure on postmarks that may impact mail-in ballots … Trump says he doesn't believe Putin … all this and more.
Venezuela's embattled leader, Nicolás Maduro, is in a New York City courtroom today—facing charges that include narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. This weekend's bold operation in Venezuela has major geopolitical implications but could also impact oil supply abroad. While oil prices have seen some movement since news broke Saturday morning, energy stocks are rising as investors bet U.S. companies could eventually gain access to Venezuela's massive oil reserves. All of this comes as we kick off a new year and a new month—one that could bring a significant announcement from President Trump on his next pick for Federal Reserve chair… along with a potential Supreme Court ruling on the president's tariffs. Kenny Polcari, the Chief Market Strategist at SlateStone Wealth, joins FOX Business' Lydia Hu to discuss how investors are reacting to the news out of Venezuela. Plus, he lays out his expectations for this week and 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This Day in Legal History: Federal Court Strikes Down “Balanced Treatment” Law in ArkansasOn January 5, 1982, a federal district court in Arkansas issued a landmark ruling in McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education, striking down a state law that required public schools to give “balanced treatment” to both evolution and creation science. The law, known as Act 590, had been passed in 1981 and mandated that schools teach creationism—defined in the statute as a scientific model based on a literal interpretation of the Bible—alongside evolution. The law was immediately challenged by a coalition of clergy, educators, and scientists who argued that it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.Judge William Overton ruled that Act 590 was unconstitutional because it advanced a particular religious viewpoint under the guise of science. In his decision, Overton provided a clear and influential definition of what constitutes science, stating that scientific theories must be guided by natural law, testable, and subject to falsification. He found that “creation science” failed all of these criteria and was therefore religious in nature, not scientific. The court also concluded that requiring its teaching in public schools constituted state endorsement of religion.The ruling marked one of the first major judicial rejections of efforts to include religious doctrine in public school science curricula following the U.S. Supreme Court's earlier decision in Epperson v. Arkansas (1968), which struck down laws banning the teaching of evolution altogether. McLean v. Arkansas would go on to shape the legal and educational landscape in future church-state separation cases, including the pivotal 1987 Supreme Court decision Edwards v. Aguillard, which similarly invalidated a Louisiana law promoting creationism in schools.Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York court after a surprise U.S. military operation captured him in Caracas. The high-stakes raid, likened to the 1989 Panama invasion, involved U.S. Special Forces breaching Maduro's security and flying him to Manhattan, where he faces drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges. His wife, Cilia Flores, was also captured. Maduro is accused of running a cocaine network in collaboration with major criminal groups like Mexico's Sinaloa cartel and Colombia's FARC.The capture sparked international outrage. Russia, China, Cuba, and other allies condemned the raid, while U.S. allies cautiously emphasized legality and diplomacy. The U.N. Security Council is set to review the operation's legality. Meanwhile, Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, shifted from initial outrage to signaling willingness for cooperation with the U.S., a notable pivot considering her past as a fiery Chavista loyalist.President Trump justified the move as a counter to drug smuggling, illegal immigration, and the past nationalization of U.S. oil assets. He also made clear his aim to reopen Venezuela's oil sector to U.S. companies. However, he has sidelined Venezuela's opposition leaders, disappointing figures like María Corina Machado. Despite Maduro's removal, his political allies remain in power, and the military's loyalty appears unchanged. Venezuelans at home are wary, bracing for possible unrest.Venezuela's Maduro due in court, loyalists send message to Trump | ReutersTrump's efforts to further reshape the federal judiciary in 2026 are facing a slowdown due to a shortage of vacancies. After returning to office in 2025, Trump secured the confirmation of 26 judicial nominees—more than in the first year of his initial term. However, only 30 new judicial seats have opened since then, compared to the 108 vacancies available when he first took office in 2017. This is largely due to aggressive judicial appointments by both Trump and former President Biden over the past decade, which filled many potential retirements with younger judges.Some judges eligible for senior status—a form of semi-retirement—have opted to remain active. Experts suggest this could be due to either personal preference or distrust among conservative judges about Trump's choices for replacements. The appellate court nominations have particularly slowed, with only three judges announcing retirements in 2025. Still, Trump managed to flip the balance of the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals and strengthen conservative influence in district courts across states like Missouri, Florida, and Mississippi.Despite the low number of available seats—currently 49—Trump still has opportunities to make appointments, especially in Republican-led states. However, 13 of those vacancies are in states with at least one Democratic senator, triggering the “blue slip” custom, which allows senators to block judicial nominees from their states. While this tradition doesn't apply to appellate courts, it still limits district court nominations. Senate Republicans remain divided on whether to uphold the blue slip norm.Trump's ability to further reshape judiciary in 2026 hindered by few vacancies | ReutersIn 2026, U.S. law schools are facing a mix of rising interest in legal education and mounting regulatory and financial pressures. A major shift comes from President Trump's 2025 budget, which capped federal loans for professional degrees at $50,000 annually and $200,000 total. With many law schools charging over $50,000 per year (excluding living costs), incoming students may need to seek private loans, which often come with higher interest rates and stricter credit requirements. In response, some schools—like Santa Clara University—are offering across-the-board scholarships to help bridge the gap.Law school accreditation is also in flux. The American Bar Association (ABA), traditionally the primary accreditor, is facing political attacks over its diversity standards and regulatory burden. Texas is planning to develop its own law school approval system for bar eligibility, and other states like Florida and Ohio are exploring similar options. The ABA is now working to streamline its standards amid this pressure.July 2026 will also see the debut of the “NextGen UBE,” a shorter, skills-focused national bar exam that replaces some memorization with practical assessment. Some states, however, are opting out or creating their own licensing alternatives.Meanwhile, artificial intelligence is gaining traction in legal education. A growing number of law schools are integrating AI training into their curricula, and platforms like Harvey are being adopted by faculty and students alike.Despite the looming challenges, interest in law school remains strong. Applicant numbers rose 20% over the previous year, building on an 18% increase in 2024, and first-year enrollment is also trending upward.US law schools face loan limits, oversight pressures in 2026 | ReutersU.S. courts are poised to play a decisive role in shaping how copyright law applies to generative AI this year, as lawsuits from major publishers, creators, and tech companies come to a head. At issue is whether AI developers like OpenAI, Google, Meta, and others can invoke the legal doctrine of fair use when training models on copyrighted materials, or whether they must pay license fees—potentially amounting to billions.The legal landscape shifted dramatically in 2025. A class action by authors against Anthropic resulted in a $1.5 billion settlement, the largest of its kind, while The New York Times, Disney, and other major rights holders filed fresh lawsuits. Judges began issuing preliminary rulings on whether AI training qualifies as transformative fair use, with conflicting outcomes. One judge called AI training “quintessentially transformative,” supporting tech companies' claims, while another warned that generative AI could harm creators by saturating the market with competing content.Several high-profile cases remain active in 2026, including those involving AI-generated music and visual art. Meanwhile, some copyright holders are choosing collaboration over litigation. Disney, for example, invested $1 billion in OpenAI and granted use of its characters, while Warner Music dropped lawsuits against AI firms to co-develop music tools. These deals hint at possible industry-wide licensing frameworks, though ongoing litigation could still dramatically reshape the economic and legal norms governing AI.AI copyright battles enter pivotal year as US courts weigh fair use | Reuters This is a public episode. 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In this Best Of episode, we revisit our 2023 conversation with Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. We talked to Sen. Whitehouse about his book, “The Scheme,” which examines how dark money and radical right wing activists worked tirelessly to gain control of the Supreme Court. Sen. Whitehouse lays out all the key players in this effort, including The Federalist Society and Leonard Leo, the main architect of this mission. By filtering dark money through dozens of agencies and blocking Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland, the right wing has a chokehold on the SCOTUS majority. As a result, we've seen rulings that are horrible for abortion rights, climate change, voting rights, and so much more. Sen. Whitehouse also explains some of the ways that the extremist takeover of the judicial system can be reigned in, but it's going to be a fight. READ Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse's book, “The Scheme”: https://thenewpress.org/books/9781620978344/
Episode 271- New Year – New Challenges Also Available OnSearchable Podcast Transcript Gun Lawyer — Episode Transcript Gun Lawyer — Episode 271 Transcript SUMMARY KEYWORDS Second Amendment, New Jersey, gun oppression, Bruen decision, carry permits, violent crime, John Petrolino, high capacity magazines, gun training, NRA classes, self-defense, gun laws, gun rights, gun ownership, legal battles, gun journalist. SPEAKERS Teddy Nappen, Speaker 2, Evan Nappen Evan Nappen 00:15 I’m Evan Nappen. Teddy Nappen 00:16 And I’m Teddy Nappen. Evan Nappen 00:18 And welcome to Gun Lawyer. Well, I want to thank all of my listeners and supporters, because on The Gundies Award for Podcast of the Year, I’m proud to tell you that Gun Lawyer has made the top five. And so, as one of the top five nominees, we are now in the running to see whether or not we win the Podcast of the Year. But I’m very honored to have made the top five, and I appreciate all of you that took the time to vote for Gun Lawyer. It’s a great way of getting a statement out there about what we believe in and what we fight for here. You know, our show does have a lot to do with what’s going on with New Jersey, because New Jersey is, as you know, the worst state in the country when it comes to oppression of our Second Amendment rights. And by bringing more and more attention to it, we shine that disinfectant of truth out there. So, this is important, and we want to keep up the keep the pressure. Teddy Nappen 01:44 Do you know what we should do for when we for the awards, we don’t go to accept it. We instead send a couple people who are recently released from the Gun Owner Gulag to accept the award. Yeah, like Marlon Brando sent Evan Nappen 02:00 Yeah, right. We’ll send someone from the Gulag to accept the award. I spent three months just to get out, even though I was innocent of all charges. You know, it’s just insane what New Jersey is doing. We’ll be reporting on the new laws that the Governor has yet to sign, but it appears that he will sign further oppression of our Second Amendment rights in New Jersey. And what you have to be aware of so you can protect yourself, because it is really just the extreme government action focused on attacking the Constitution. I mean, that’s what New Jersey is doing. It’s a fact. They try to contrive every conceivable angle to further deteriorate a Constitutional right. Instead of doing everything they can to Page – 1 – of 10 try to protect it, they do everything they can to try to diminish it. That’s the evil of what the New Jersey government is all about, and that’s really what it is. Evan Nappen 03:18 It is anti-rights, anti-Constitution. They are oppressors, and good people suffer. Good, law-abiding citizens suffer. This isn’t an academic exercise. Real people go to jail. Real people have their lives destroyed. Real people have their careers destroyed, their freedom taken and their families destroyed, over this garbage that New Jersey does in turning law-abiding citizens into criminals. I see it every day in the practice of New Jersey gun law. And the purpose of gun law, Gun Lawyer, of this radio show, is to bring attention to this. To help you, the listener, protect yourself from the evil oppression that is New Jersey. And they will, without any care, destroy you if they can, to promote their agenda, their agenda of destroying guns and gun owners. And this is what I see. Okay? This isn’t just hyperbole. It isn’t some made up fantasy. It is literally what I see happening to individuals as I practice in the, in this very area of New Jersey gun law. And it shows you when you have states that are following this agenda, how they destroy good people. So, you’ve got to be careful, especially in New Jersey. But do not give up. Maintain the fight. Stay vigilant. It’s critical. In the big picture, we are winning. New Jersey is going to get its head handed to it. I’m confident in the court decisions that we’ll be seeing. We will succeed. But in the meantime, it’s a battle. I want to see the least amount of casualties on our side in this battle, but it’s a battle nonetheless. Evan Nappen 05:24 And on that point recently, there was an article by one of my favorite writers, Dean Weingarten, who posted this in AmmoLand. He makes a very interesting point about what happened to the homicide rate after the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision. (https://www.ammoland.com/2025/12/what-happened-to-the- homicide-rate-after-the-supreme-courts-bruen-decision/) So, you know, we have this great Second Amendment decision in Bruen that establishes our right to self-defense outside the home and that actually finally enables the carry permits to have to be issued by the anti-gun oppression states like New Jersey that were using the trick of “justifiable need” to stop law-abiding citizens from being able to have a gun to defend themselves, and the legal barrier that the courts created knowingly to oppress rights was working. Evan Nappen 06:25 You know, we had less than 600 carry licenses. And the Bruen decision handily eliminated that, so that licenses had to be issued. Now we’re in the, you know, 60, 70, 80,000 licenses. The number is hard to pinpoint, but it’s constantly growing. And this is great that so many citizens now can be defenders instead of victims. But New Jersey, of course, embarked on trying to limit where you can use your carry. Hence, the “sensitive places”. This crazy matrix of where you can and can’t carry which is also the subject of a court challenge, and we should be seeing some great outcome there, as the, as the Appellate Court has taken on that issue again. Seeing New Jersey’s gun laws go up in flames and go to the garbage can, the garbage heap of history where they belong. Evan Nappen 07:29 But this article from Dean Weingarten about what happened to the homicide rate after the Bruen decision is really very interesting, because it’s a very interesting question. I mean, what this goes to is, Page – 2 – of 10 every time there is anything that is pro-gun rights, pro-enforcing our Constitutional rights, anything that expands our ability to exercise our rights, the anti-rights crowd, the oppressors, will shout what I call BITS, bits. Which is Blood In The Streets. There’ll be blood in the streets. You know, this is going to be the Wild West. This is going to be, you know, just the sky is falling, right? Every time, every time. And so, of course, the prediction was, if we have carry, we’re going to have blood in the streets. And it’s going to be terrible and all this mayhem. And guess what? The opposite, of course, the opposite. The opposite happened. Evan Nappen 08:31 Because as Dean points out in his article, it says. “As of the latest numbers of October 2025, the 12- month running average of violent crime has dropped 14% since June of 2022. The drop in murders is even more pronounced at 39%. The numbers are from the tools provided by the Real Time Crime Index.” How about that, folks? Murder down 39%. Violent crime down 14%. This is tracking, as you and I always knew it would, when law-abiding citizens can defend themselves. Now, of course, it’s not the only reason that violent crime and murders have gone down, but it is absolutely a contributing factor. And the antis are always quick to say. Well, if it just saves one life, we need to. Well, guess what? How many lives have now been saved by the expansion of our rights to carry and defend ourselves since the Bruen decision? Way more than one life, that’s for sure. Lots of lives, lots of lives are being saved because of Constitutional freedom being expanded and protected and preserved. So, this is important to recognize and to force our adversaries to face the fact that guns save lives. That trained law-abiding citizens are lifesavers, and that firearms are protection that is effective. Not just to that individual defending themselves or their families, but in the big picture, the statistics themselves speak to the benefit of it. Evan Nappen 10:54 Hey, I would also like to mention our good friend, John Petrolino, who does amazing journalistic work. And it’s not just me saying that. I’m happy to mention that John recently was given an award, and actually more than one from the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists. (https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2025/12/30/petrolinos-coverage-of-new-jersey-2a-issues-earns- accolades-from-surprising-source-n1231070) They announced winners of the 2025 Excellence in Journalism Awards. And we’re talking about winners that include the New York Times, the Asbury Park Press and Politico. Evan Nappen 11:39 Well, lo and behold, there’s John Petrolino, one of the contributors for Bearing Arms and a great writer. He really has done tremendous work in New Jersey, and he won first place for “Best Coverage of State Government” for his series of articles highlighting abuses of the “shall issue” carry permit system. These very abuses of which demonstrate institutionalized racism. He documented excessive wait times and how the number of black applicants are discriminated against. And this research was, in fact, corroborated by the group Rise Against Hate, which, you know, they’re normally not a 2A group. And he won first place also for “Best Coverage of Municipal Government for his Bearing Arms story “Permit to Carry Denial Over a Driving Record?” And he’s really gotten praise here from his fellow journalists, and I think it’s great. Because not only does he deserve it, but imagine, you know, we’re talking about real journalism here, not the propaganda that the lamestream media throws at us. I mean, we’re talking Page – 3 – of 10 about real journalism that puts out a product that is otherwise not being seen, and in doing so, aids our Second Amendment rights and helps fight the oppression with the disinfectant of truth. John, congratulations on your awards. That is just really great, because when you win, we win, and it gets the message out. So, that’s a great job, and we’re proud of you. Evan Nappen 13:56 Hey, let me mention our good friends at WeShoot. WeShoot is a range in Lakewood, and they have got some great specials focused on training, including some great price drops. They are putting forward new prices to save money to get folks training. They’re doing it to make training easier and less expensive. So, they’re offering the USCCA and NRA CCW classes now at $225 down from $299. So, it’s even more affordable. This includes the New Jersey concealed carry class as well. You can get your CCARE and get your carry permit. They are great. That’s where Teddy and I got our certification from. And right there at WeShoot. They’re offering dates for both the NRA and doing your renewals for your carry permits, and they even have carry certification for seniors. They do a special seniors class. Evan Nappen 15:14 They are magnificent in their training programs that they offer. They offer also their HSI Adult CPR / AED certification course. You’ll earn a two-year certification on that. You’re learning how to perform CPR and AED, you know, defibrillator use, and handle basic first aid, respond to choking and cardiac arrest and such. So, if you want to get your training in all these areas and many others, and also just learning to shoot better, they are the place to go. WeShoot is conveniently located in Lakewood, right off the Parkway. You can go to wehootusa.com, weshootusa.com, and check out their website. Beautiful photography. They also have a great pro shop. They have lots of great guns and great deals. They will take care of you. You’ll be able to have a great place to shoot and enjoy relaxation at the range. And you’ll know that you are able to defend yourself and your loved ones should the need arise. But also go there and have some fun. Evan Nappen 16:41 Let me also tell you about our good friends at the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs. They are fighting very, very hard in a very challenging environment, and they are the key gun rights group in New Jersey. They are the NRA State Affiliate. They’re the umbrella organization of gun clubs through the state, but they also have individual members. Everybody needs to be a member of the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs. You’ll get their fantastic email alerts, and you’ll get a great newsletter. You’ll also know that you’re part of the solution fighting. They’re going to send you out things you can do real quick to make your voice heard as we continue the fight. And we’ve made a difference. The Association has made a difference. We’re still in a major battle, but the Association is there in the courts, as we speak, fighting on those key issues in the Appellate Courts. Evan Nappen 17:40 As we are talking right now, they’re there in the courts. We’re seeing some incredible results, and we’re going to see even more incredible results. I am extremely optimistic that the courts are going to really deliver for us. The truth is on our side. The law is on our side. The Supreme Court has laid out the groundwork that is all on our side. And the Association is truly on our side, working for the elimination of Page – 4 – of 10 Second Amendment oppression, especially on those key issues that affect so many of us. So, join the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs at anjrpc.org. Evan Nappen 18:33 And don’t forget to get a copy of my book, New Jersey Gun Law. It’s the bible of New Jersey gun law. Get your book today. Go to EvanNappen.com. It’s the big orange book that is the Bible of New Jersey gun law. It’s a book used by everybody, and you need to have a copy so that you can protect yourself. It is the only book out there that describes New Jersey gun law in a question and answer format so that it is actually almost understandable. How’s that? You can almost understand it from that book. Now, I tried to make it as user- friendly as I can, but New Jersey, of course, itself, is just contradictory in many of its own laws. I try to point it out in the book, when they are saying one thing and then saying another. The contradictions seem to just fly out because they just can’t pass new gun laws fast enough, and they don’t bother to make sure that they actually make sense, right? So, that’s where the book comes in. You’ll be able to know these distinctions and protect yourself. When you get the book, scan the QR code on the front cover and join, for free, my private subscriber base. You’ll get updates, and you’ll be able to access the archives for any previous updates that are there. This way the book will stay current because of that. So, go to EvanNappen.com and order your copy today. Hey, Teddy, what do you have for us today? Teddy Nappen 20:11 Well, as you know, Press Checks are always free, and I always want to see what is the Left, what is the argument they are making now? What is the push that they are trying to go for? Well, it seems they’ve gone and changed their tactics. They are now focusing in on high capacity magazines, or as what you know and everyone else knows them to be, standard capacity magazines. Because it’s just another made up term that they use. But going to The Trace to see their newest argument, I love this, by the way. “How Gun Manufacturers Swamped the Market With Large-Capacity Magazines” (https://www.thetrace.org/2025/12/large-capacity-magazine-nssf-gun-study/) Yes, that’s who is to blame for why there is such a high demand of a quote, unquote high capacity magazines. It’s the gun manufacturers. That’s who’s to blame. So, this article is by Mike Spies in The Trace. They start off with “At least 717 million devices like the one used in the Brown University mass shooting . . . ” Oh, well, there you go. Immediately. The first line. Evan Nappen 21:23 All they do is sell emotion. They’re just selling it as emotion. What about, you know. Do you know what a small, virtually, statistically irrelevant, it’s so small, the number of magazines, of a magazine that holds whatever they’re calling high capacity of that day, whatever that may be, was the reason, was the effect for that crime. Because the magazine held a certain amount of rounds. That is somehow the reason for the crime. It is a statistical irrelevancy. It is pure emotion. Teddy Nappen 22:07 I wonder how they, I wonder how they feel about in Australia, where it took, you know, two guys with a couple of bolt actions. And, you know, I think the body count was what? Double from Brown. But no, sorry, don’t talk about that. Page – 5 – of 10 Evan Nappen 22:20 Right. Teddy Nappen 22:21 Mind you they try to highlight this. Oh, man, Dad, did you know that between 1990 to 2021, the gun industry flooded the market with 717 detachable firearm magazines that held 11 rounds or more. You see, Dad, prior to 1990, there were no magazines that held over 11 rounds. Evan Nappen 22:46 That’s what it was? None. There was suddenly a flood. Teddy Nappen 22:52 A flooding, as a flooding. Then describe what the term a magazine, you know, for anyone doesn’t understand. And then tried to make the argument that not all manufacturers of gun magazines provided data to the study to stipulate the figures representing conservative estimates that military and law enforcement sales were not counted, and roughly 46% of magazines were accounted for from some 443 million, including rifle magazines that held 30 rounds or more. Evan Nappen 23:26 Okay. So, if we have millions and millions and millions of magazines that hold over 10 rounds, do you know how few isolated events, just think of how many few events? They get a ton of media coverage, but how few those events are. And even in those events, what statistical difference did it make that they had a magazine that held more than 10 rounds in commission of that crime? It is so rare and to have to this be of anything, of any real impact, of any true impact, yet it’s pure emotion there. So, oh my God, all these magazines are out there. Yeah, well, so what? So, what? They don’t make a difference. The only time it makes a difference is to the individual who needs to defend themselves. Then the issue of firepower is important in one’s own self-defense. So, when magazines are limited, the question you have to ask is, well, how many bullets is your life worth? In other words, how many bullets can you have to defend your life? Your Government has arbitrarily determined that your life is only worth 10 bullets. No more than 10, just 10. That’s all it’s worth. You’re not worth 11 bullets or 12 or anything more. That’s really what they are saying. Teddy Nappen 25:00 They also seem to stress this whole idea that magazines were only at 10 rounds until 1990, and they’re trying to make that argument. Well, thanks to again, always, when the left make their argument, use context and history, and that is how it is debunked. Right here from, I believe, you said this was a very well known writer, Dave Kopel. Evan Nappen 25:29 Absolutely. David Kopel. Page – 6 – of 10 Teddy Nappen 25:30 He wrote a brilliant article, which I highly recommend people read, “The History of Firearm Magazines and Magazine Prohibition”. (https://davekopel.org/2A/LawRev/2015/History-of-firearms-magazines-and- magazine-prohibition.pdf) Evan Nappen 25:33 Well, it must be a short history, since it only began in 1990. Teddy Nappen 25:44 No, no, let’s start with. Evan Nappen 25:46 Oh, really. Teddy Nappen 25:47 Yeah, you know, let’s go all the way back to 1580. Evan Nappen 25:51 Oh, 1580. Wow, how did they miss that? Teddy Nappen 25:55 I know. With the multi-shot guns. And then cut to the patent pending, 1718, of the Puckle Gun, shooting, you know, 23. Evan Nappen 26:05 I love the Puckle gun. Teddy Nappen 26:06 You know, it used 11 pre-loaded cylinders. And then cut over to everyone’s favorite, the Lewis and Clark air rifle, the Girandoni, that had a detachable magazine. Evan Nappen 26:20 And air guns are firearms in New Jersey. So, it would still considered a firearm. Yeah. Teddy Nappen 26:27 Yeah. So, and cut over to the Alexander Hall and Colonel Parry Porter rifles that were 15-shot rotating cylinder. But they may say, oh, it’s not detachable, though. Even though it’s well beyond the capacity, and you know this is only 1850. Cut over now to the 1866 chain pistol fed , 20 round, belt fed chain pistol. Imagine carrying that? Evan Nappen 27:00 I like that. Page – 7 – of 10 Teddy Nappen 27:01 Yeah. And then cut now to 1899 with the, or 1900 when they were commercially available, the Luger semi- automatic pistols that, you know, could use a seven or eight round magazine or a, you know, their version of a high capacity 32 drum mag. Evan Nappen 27:21 Oooh, the old snail drum mag for the Luger. Teddy Nappen 27:25 And then cut to 1927 where you could go to Auto Ordinance for a 30 round mag. Evan Nappen 27:32 Or a 50 or 100. That’s right. Teddy Nappen 27:35 In 1927, you know? Well, we’re getting, we’re getting closer. You’re getting around that time. But now to 1963, with the AR-15 rifle, with the 20 rounds, a little higher than that, to 30 round magazine capacity. Which to the point, where there was a famous (Supreme Court) case, Staples versus United States, where they were trying, where it differentiated from the AR-15 to the M 16. They tried to blend machine gun to semi auto. Evan Nappen 28:06 Well, they did that on purpose — to fool the public. It was even admitted in Josh Sugarmann’s book. He said that was the intention — to fool the public, who won’t be able to tell the difference between full auto and semi- auto. Machine guns and semi autos. It’ll fool them, because that’s what they’re about. They just want to fool the public to get their agenda through. Teddy Nappen 28:27 Because they, because the Left have this whole ideology, which is the people are stupid and we can manipulate them. Unfortunately, yeah, there’s a lot of people that aren’t read up on it and get easily tricked. They play off of emotions and that’s how they play their game. Luckily, now, thanks to the internet and people being able to do their own research. Even though they’ve, you know, censored, but we’ve fought back hard on that, people can actually see and look up and find out. Oh, yeah, wait. They just lied to me. Here’s the proof. It’s very easy now to debunk their lies, and it’s quite hilarious. Teddy Nappen 29:08 And then I love the ending to it all. I love his ending to the whole article, which is we end this story now in 1979. Jimmy Carter is president, and Gaston Glock is making curtain rods in his garage. Now, look right now. Evan Nappen 29:28 Oh, no, the Glock pistol is coming. Page – 8 – of 10 Teddy Nappen 29:30 Yeah, the Glock pistol is coming. And then all magazine which, and then all polymers. It just comes down to this. The magazines, high capacity magazines, have existed throughout history, and they will continue to exist. Because when they try to sell their argument about high capacity magazines, you know, they will forever be out there. Evan Nappen 29:59 What’s going to happen when it is just laser, and it can be endless? Just how much power. There won’t even be a capacity limit. It’ll just be limitless, essentially. Evan Nappen 30:13 I’m so. Sorry, my wife is always about the teleporter, where you won’t even need to load the mag. You’ll just point the gun and it’ll teleport the bullet into you, like. Evan Nappen 30:24 Oh, that sounds like a real accuracy improvement. Teddy Nappen 30:27 I know. So, again, technology will always progress more and more, and they will never be able to keep it. I can’t wait for the National Ray Gun Association. I think it was a Futurama joke. Evan Nappen 30:39 A National Ray Gun Association. That’s good. Evan Nappen 30:46 So, you know, one of the key things we like to do is have our listeners stay protected and not end up a GOFU. And unfortunately, GOFUs are Gun Owner Fuck Ups. They’re expensive lessons that you get to learn on the cheap. You get to learn for free, so you don’t commit the same error, the same fuck up. And so this week’s GOFU, something that, you know these come from actual cases, actual experience, actual folks that I’m representing. And it’s really a principle here today, and that is, don’t escalate the situation. Don’t be the person that initiates a problem that can be avoided. If you can avoid a conflict, you need to avoid the conflict. You cannot engage in a manner the way you used to, let’s say, before you were armed. Evan Nappen 31:56 Because you are armed, you’re essentially having to walk away. If something is just verbal, whatever, don’t escalate it. Don’t engage further. Because then what happens is you, as a gun owner, become the target of the law enforcement action, even though you weren’t the one who may have even initiated it. But if you escalated and went along with whatever this problem was that even got created or started by another person, you end up having to pay the price. I see this often where a law-abiding gun owner has an argument with somebody, and the law-abiding gun owner is in the right. The law-abiding gun owner doesn’t do anything wrong, but the other party somehow sees, notices, believes, thinks, that the gun owner has a gun, and then claims to the police that they saw the gun. You threatened them with the gun. They felt intimidated by the gun, whatever. Page – 9 – of 10 Evan Nappen 33:19 And it’s now escalated to where the gun owner gets charged with threatening, brandishing, whatever, and you just see it take off as an escalation. You need to learn to ignore all the jackasses that are out there that cause trouble, that act stupid. You have to take a different kind of attitude to ignore these people. Ignore them. Unless you are being threatened with serious bodily injury or death, where you have no other option, then ignore these people. Get away from these folks that are just trouble. Because if it comes around that you’re a gun owner, and there’s an issue, I see it. The tables turn on the gun owner all the time. Stay low key. Stay discreet. Don’t escalate. Stay away from these people that get law-abiding citizens into trouble because of the built in bias in the system against gun owners. Evan Nappen 33:42 This is Evan Nappen and Teddy Nappen reminding you that gun laws don’t protect honest citizens from criminals. They protect criminals from honest citizens. Speaker 2 34:25 Gun Lawyer is a CounterThink Media production. The music used in this broadcast was managed by Cosmo Music, New York, New York. Reach us by emailing Evan@gun.lawyer. The information and opinions in this broadcast do not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state. Page – 10 – of 10 Downloadable PDF TranscriptGun Lawyer S3 E271_Transcript About The HostEvan Nappen, Esq.Known as “America's Gun Lawyer,” Evan Nappen is above all a tireless defender of justice. Author of eight bestselling books and countless articles on firearms, knives, and weapons history and the law, a certified Firearms Instructor, and avid weapons collector and historian with a vast collection that spans almost five decades — it's no wonder he's become the trusted, go-to expert for local, industry and national media outlets. Regularly called on by radio, television and online news media for his commentary and expertise on breaking news Evan has appeared countless shows including Fox News – Judge Jeanine, CNN – Lou Dobbs, Court TV, Real Talk on WOR, It's Your Call with Lyn Doyle, Tom Gresham's Gun Talk, and Cam & Company/NRA News. As a creative arts consultant, he also lends his weapons law and historical expertise to an elite, discerning cadre of movie and television producers and directors, and novelists. He also provides expert testimony and consultations for defense attorneys across America. Email Evan Your Comments and Questions talkback@gun.lawyer Join Evan's InnerCircleHere's your chance to join an elite group of the Savviest gun and knife owners in America. Membership is totally FREE and Strictly CONFIDENTIAL. Just enter your email to start receiving insider news, tips, and other valuable membership benefits. Email (required) *First Name *Select list(s) to subscribe toInnerCircle Membership Yes, I would like to receive emails from Gun Lawyer Podcast. (You can unsubscribe anytime)Constant Contact Use. Please leave this field blank.var ajaxurl = "https://gun.lawyer/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php";
I never thought I'd be glued to my screen, watching the Supreme Court become the hottest ticket in town, but here we are on this crisp January morning in 2026, with President Donald Trump's legal battles dominating the headlines. Just days ago, on December 23, 2025, the justices handed down a key ruling in Trump v. Illinois, partially siding with the administration in a tense showdown over federalizing the National Guard in Illinois. The majority allowed the move, with Justice Kavanaugh writing a concurrence, while Justices Alito and Thomas dissented, arguing it overstepped state authority. According to the Brennan Center's Supreme Court Shadow Docket Tracker, this decision came after a First Circuit ruling let it stand, underscoring Trump's push to assert federal control amid rising urban unrest in Chicago.But that's just the appetizer. The real drama kicks off next week. On January 13, the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., will hear oral arguments in two massive challenges to state bans on transgender students—like those in West Virginia and Idaho—playing on sports teams matching their gender identity. KVUE News reports these cases hinge on the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause and Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools. Challengers say the bans unfairly sideline kids like Becky Pepper-Jackson in West Virginia, who's been fighting since 2021 to compete in girls' track.Then, on January 21, all eyes turn to Trump v. Cook, a blockbuster testing presidential firing powers. President Trump tried to oust Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook in August 2025, citing alleged mortgage fraud from before her 2023 appointment to the Fed's Board in Washington. A D.C. district judge blocked it, and now the Supreme Court has deferred any stay until arguments, per the official docket for case 25A312. The Constitution Center notes this stems from the Federal Reserve Act, which only allows removal "for cause," not at-will. If Trump wins, it could reshape independent agencies like the Fed, which steers the U.S. economy with trillions in influence—think interest rates affecting your mortgage or job market.These aren't isolated fights. The Court's fall term already tackled Trump v. Slaughter on firing a Federal Trade Commissioner and Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump over tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Lawfare's Trump Administration Litigation Tracker logs dozens more, from immigration deportations under the Alien Enemies Act in Trump v. J.G.G. to earlier agency head removals. With decisions due by June, the stakes couldn't be higher—executive power, civil rights, economic stability all colliding.As I sip my coffee, scrolling updates from the National Constitution Center, I can't help but wonder: will this term redefine Trump's second presidency? The justices, from Chief Justice John Roberts to the newest voices, hold the gavel.Thanks for tuning in, listeners. Come back next week for more, and this has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
The Supreme Court looked at the circumstances when VAT is deductible following a share sale. https://uklawweekly.substack.com/subscribe Music from bensound.com
Dave Rubin of "The Rubin Report" shares his 2026 predictions on Gavin Newsom's possible presidential run; who'll win the NBA finals; if Trump will finally be able to bring an end to Russia's war with Ukraine; if Barack Obama will divorce Michelle Obama; who will win the Super Bowl; if Tesla will roll out its Optimus robots; if Trump will fire a prominent cabinet member; if Elon Musk will appear on the Rubin Report; the price of Bitcoin; if there will be a major showdown between Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump; if Jasmine Crockett will win her senate race; if Trump's tariffs will get shut down by the Supreme Court and much more.
In this special New Year episode - John shares his latest episode of his podcast with Professor Corey Brettschneider - The Oath and the Office. They start with the Supreme Court checking Trump on using the National Guard—why it matters, and whether the Insurrection Act is the next risk. That ruling is their doorway into a 2025 Year in Review: where they revisit Trump's most dangerous attacks on the Constitution, and the guardrails that barely held. Next, they break down Judge James Boasberg's escalating confrontation with the administration over deportations tied to the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. Can the government claim people sent to Venezuela have no due process rights? And can courts be told it's “too late” once they're out of the country? They explain what the Constitution requires and what's at stake for the rule of law. Finally, they turn to Florida, where Ron DeSantis's remake of New College offers a blueprint for a broader war on education—replacing what they label “woke” with enforced ideology, down to symbolic culture-war moves like honoring Charlie Kirk.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.