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US Strikes Iran, Fauci Pleads The Fifth, SCOTUS Mail In Voting Fight | Your News Talk America
Your News Talk America · Show Notes
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Today’s Guests
Paul Davis, Vice President at the Institute of World Politics, joins Jake for two segments today. Mr. Davis was the lead analyst for MNA 3 Syria/Lebanon and coordinated with the intelligence community on military and political issues affecting the region. From 2003 to 2005, he served as lead intelligence analyst with the DIA’s Iraq Division, responsible for military and political intelligence production in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Read Paul Davis’s full bio
9:00 ET · Show Open: US Strikes Iran
The US completed a night of strikes on southern Iran, with explosions heard across the region. The latest strikes are roughly twice the size of the previous bombardment, a source tells the Jerusalem Post.
- Explosions were reported in Bushehr, Abu Musa, Kish Island, Ahwaz, and Qeshm Island, according to Iranian state media Press TV.
- The New York Times reports the tanker explosion at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta on Wednesday was the result of an Iranian drone attack, citing two Iranian sources who requested anonymity.
Read more at The Jerusalem Post
Panelist: Paul Davis, Vice President, Institute of World Politics · bio
9:20 ET · Iran, the Houthis, and Turkey
Iran is set to receive hundreds of Chinese shoulder fired missiles as the Middle East divides further over the Iran war, with Houthi Saudi tensions continuing to ramp up.
- The recent joint US Saudi strikes marked the first time Riyadh has publicly joined Washington in action, the Jerusalem Post reports.
- Analysis: Israeli rhetoric toward Turkey is increasingly shaping Ankara’s view of the tensions over Syria. Turkey was the first Muslim majority country to recognize Israel after its founding, and relations stayed warm until the AKP party’s rise in the early 2000s, per The Jerusalem Post.
Panelist: Paul Davis, Vice President, Institute of World Politics · bio
9:35 ET · Election Integrity
A look at citizenship verification measures, voter ID ballot questions, and the fight over the Trump administration’s mail in voting order.
- Citizenship verification measures are moving in Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Kansas, South Dakota, and West Virginia.
- Voter ID ballot measures are on the table in Arizona, California, Colorado, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, and Oklahoma.
- Alaska is weighing ranked choice voting, Virginia is working on restoration of voting rights, and New Jersey has fresh election news.
- New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill says she will block release to the Trump administration of more than 6,000 noncitizens illegally registered to vote in the state, as a software vendor undercuts her “glitch” explanation and instead blames New Jersey. Could millions of noncitizens be on voter rolls nationwide?
- The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to fully implement an executive order imposing additional restrictions on mail in voting. Solicitor General D. John Sauer called a Massachusetts federal judge’s order pausing the policy in 23 states and DC “extraordinary” and asked for an immediate administrative stay while the justices consider the request.
- Trump signed the executive order, “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,” on March 31. It directs the US Postal Service to propose mail in and absentee ballot rules and the Department of Homeland Security to compile state citizenship lists, and it would limit USPS mail in ballots to voters on those lists. Read the order.
- A coalition of 23 states and DC, led by California, argues the order conflicts with the Constitution’s grant of authority to states over voter eligibility and the “Times, Places, and Manner” of congressional elections. More at SCOTUSblog.
Panelist: Don Palmer, Senior Legal Fellow, Election Integrity, The Heritage Foundation · bio
10:00 ET · Fauci and the Courts
Dr. Fauci pleaded the Fifth Amendment 111 times yesterday, plus a full docket of Supreme Court news.
- Can Fauci still plead the Fifth after being granted and accepting a presidential pardon? What if that pardon was signed with an autopen?
- Could Eric Holder face contempt of Congress charges?
- New York City is releasing the names and addresses of property owners. Mayor Mamdani published the names of all NYC property owners who could be hit with a new pied à terre tax. Read more at the New York Post.
- The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to fully implement its mail in voting restrictions executive order. More at SCOTUSblog.
- Lawyers for President Trump and the federal government asked the Supreme Court to take up his appeal of the defamation case brought by journalist E. Jean Carroll. A jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million, and a federal appeals court in New York upheld the verdict. Trump’s lawyers argue the ruling “wrongly eviscerates Presidential immunity,” calling it the first case in the nation’s history to impose damages liability on a president for conduct in office. Read the petition · More at SCOTUSblog.
- Why the Blanche nomination should be rejected: Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is not qualified to be attorney general because of a conflict between his oath to the rule of law and his personal loyalty to President Trump, whom he represented for years in a criminal case in New York. Wasn’t Merrick Garland confirmed by the Senate, and didn’t he blur the same lines? Read Judge Napolitano’s column.
Panelist: Judge Andrew Napolitano, Senior Judicial Analyst, Newsmax, host of the Judging Freedom podcast. Latest opinion piece: “The American Presidency and Perpetual War” · judgenap.com
10:30 ET · Fauci’s Fingerprints on Fetal Tissue Research
Dr. Fauci’s record goes far beyond the killing of beagles in his testing labs.
- NIH funded researchers implanted organs from aborted babies into mice and nicknamed the experiment a “BLT sandwich.”
- Are these experiments truly “pro choice?” Is this how taxpayer dollars should be spent?
Panelist: Shawn Carney, President and CEO, 40 Days for Life · bio
11:00 ET · Markets and Economy
The Fed holds rates steady, Treasury yields hit their highest level since 2007, and maritime flashpoints from Hormuz to the Black Sea reshape global trade.
- Fed policymakers left rates unchanged amid elevated uncertainty, per Fox Business.
- Why does the Treasury bond selloff continue? The 30 year Treasury yield hit its highest level since 2007 after the Fed kept rates unchanged. More at CNBC.
- Visa announced plans to cut 7% of its workforce, about 2,600 jobs, as the payment processor pushes for greater efficiency. Is AI the new efficiency expert in corporate America?
- From Hormuz to the Black Sea, maritime battlefields are shaping a new world order. More at CNBC.
Panelist: Dr. Julia R. Cartwright, Senior Research Fellow in Law and Economics, American Institute for Economic Research · bio
11:30 ET · US Iran Tensions Continue
US Iran tensions grow with continued strikes across the Gulf as Pakistan pushes for a return to talks.
- The president has reportedly been presented a plan to eliminate all of Iran’s missile capability in 14 days. Is that realistic?
- Reuters reports China is shipping shoulder fired missiles to Iran. Can the United States seize that shipment in transit? Will China risk landing an aircraft in Iran to deliver the weapons, weapons that could end up shooting down civilian aircraft in other parts of the world, including the United States?
- For the first time, the US participated in joint military strikes with Saudi Arabia. What does this mean for the future?
Panelist: Dr. James Robbins, Dean, Institute of World Politics, former Senior Advisor to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld · bio
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Iran’s Surprise Strike on U.S. Forces, SNAP Fraud Meets EBT Chip Cards, Section 301 Tariffs and Forced Labor | Your News Talk America
Your News Talk America
Show Notes for Wednesday, July 29, 2026
9:00 AM · Show Open: The Deep State and the Media
Jake opens the show on how damaging the Deep State and its inhabitants really are, and how the media is choosing to cover it. NBC is airing the Biden tapes while CBS is pushing the Fauci diary to a streaming channel instead of network air, a split decision that raises questions about how today’s Fauci hearings will be covered, if they get covered at all.
- How damaging is the Deep State and its inhabitants?
- Mixed results: NBC covers the Biden tapes while CBS kicks the Fauci diary to a streaming channel
- How will the media cover today’s Fauci hearings, and do we already have our answer?
Source: NewsBusters: Mixed Results, NBC Covers Biden Tapes, CBS Kicks Fauci Diary to Streaming
Guest: Curtis Houck, Managing Editor, NewsBusters
9:20 AM · SNAP’s Fraud Problem Meets a Slow Fix
SNAP recipients are running into empty cards after skimming devices were planted on card readers, and states are rolling out upgraded EBT chip cards to fight the cloning and skimming behind it. Left unaddressed, the projected fraud losses could top $233 million.
- SNAP’s fraud problem meets a slow fix as chip cards arrive state by state
- Food stamp recipients face empty cards due to skimming devices on card readers
- EBT cards are being upgraded to combat skimming and cloning
- Projected losses from fraud could exceed $233 million without action
Guest: Mary McCue Bell, Breaking News Political Reporter, The Washington Times · mbell@washingtontimes.com
9:35 AM · Client Segment: Schagrin Home Comfort Products
Schagrin Home Comfort Products joins the show to talk seasonal home comfort, from air conditioning to Energize DE rebates on new HVAC systems to gas fireplaces.
- Air conditioning
- Energize DE rebates on new HVAC systems
- Gas fireplaces
Guest: Marc Frey, General Sales Manager, Schagrin Home Comfort Products
9:45 AM · DIAL Caller Debate: The IRGC Strikes U.S. Forces
The pause is over. The IRGC launched a surprise attack against U.S. forces, firing multiple ballistic missiles from Iran, all of which were intercepted. In response, U.S. and Saudi forces carried out a joint strike on an Iranian backed proxy in northern Iraq. CENTCOM said the precision strikes on July 28 targeted Iran aligned terrorists in eastern Iraq that the IRGC had directed to attack U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure. The IRGC denies ordering its Iraqi militia proxies to fire on U.S. bases, and most of the attacks described are drone attacks. Separately, Israeli media reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu discreetly departed for the U.S. after Israeli security officials recommended a secretive flight amid fears Iran was escalating efforts to target Israeli officials. This is a listener driven debate: is this escalation, or a message to the Iranian regime, and what are we waiting for?
- The pause is over: the IRGC launches a surprise attack against U.S. forces
- Multiple ballistic missiles launched from Iran, all intercepted
- A joint U.S. Saudi strike on an Iranian proxy in northern Iraq: escalation, or a message to the regime?
- The IRGC denies ordering its proxy militias in Iraq to fire on U.S. bases
- Most of the attacks described are drone attacks
- Fearing an Iranian attack, Netanyahu reportedly departed discreetly for the U.S.
Sources: Jerusalem Post: Live Updates · Jerusalem Post: Netanyahu Departs for U.S.
No panelist this segment: DIAL producers and callers drive the debate.
10:00 AM · Texas’ Economy and the Fight Over Illegal Farm Labor
Texas is now the world’s eighth largest economy, and Jake asks what that growth actually feels like for Texans and newcomers alike. A new agriculture bill in Congress, HR9535, has just dropped, and it includes amnesty for illegal immigrants. In his op ed for The Blaze, Ammon Blair argues that Big Agriculture, not family farms, is driving demand for illegal labor: many large corporations have built their business model around cheap, illegal labor, while independent farms operate successfully with legal workers. He argues enforcing immigration law will not destroy American farming, that farms can thrive by hiring legal workers and using visa programs when needed, and that the Trump administration should prioritize family farms that follow the law over policies that benefit large multinational agribusiness.
- Texas is the world’s eighth largest economy: what does that growth feel like for Texans?
- A new ag bill in Congress, HR9535, includes amnesty for illegal immigrants
- Big Agriculture, not family farms, is driving the demand for illegal labor
- Enforcing immigration law will not destroy American farming
- The solution is supporting independent farmers, not corporate agribusiness
Sources: GovTrack: HR9535 · The Blaze: Illegal Labor Isn’t Farming’s Future, It’s Big Ag’s Crutch
Guest: Ammon Blair, Senior Fellow, Texas Public Policy Foundation, and a 20 plus year U.S. Border Patrol veteran
10:30 AM · Analyzing the Iran Fallout
Jake brings in a combat veteran and strategist to make sense of the DIAL caller debate that just aired. The pause is over: the IRGC launched a surprise attack against U.S. forces, firing multiple ballistic missiles from Iran, all of which were intercepted, followed by a joint U.S. Saudi strike on an Iranian proxy in northern Iraq. CENTCOM said the July 28 precision strikes targeted Iran aligned terrorists in eastern Iraq that the IRGC had directed to attack U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure. The IRGC denies ordering its Iraqi proxies to fire on U.S. bases, and most of the attacks described are drone attacks. Separately, Netanyahu reportedly departed discreetly for the U.S. amid fears of an Iranian attack on Israeli officials. Is this escalation, or a message to the regime, and what is Washington waiting for?
- The pause is over: the IRGC launches a surprise attack against U.S. forces
- Multiple ballistic missiles launched from Iran, all intercepted
- A joint U.S. Saudi strike on an Iranian proxy in northern Iraq: escalation, or a message to the regime?
- The IRGC denies ordering its proxy militias in Iraq to fire on U.S. bases
- Most of the attacks described are drone attacks
- Fearing an Iranian attack, Netanyahu reportedly departed discreetly for the U.S.
Sources: Jerusalem Post: Live Updates · Jerusalem Post: Netanyahu Departs for U.S.
Guest: Lt. Col. Darin L. Gaub (Ret.), combat veteran, strategist, and author of Veritas Vincit
11:00 AM · Section 301 Tariffs and Forced Labor
Jake asks an economist to explain Section 301 tariffs and why forced labor factors into how they get set. Alejandro Martinez, head of Mexico’s National Food and Commerce Union, known as SNAC, told YNTA that the USMCA did very little to raise wages for Mexican workers, raising the question of whether these tariffs are really about a level playing field or about wages. The panel also digs into structural overcapacity in industrial sectors and how it could affect tariffs on some trading partners. Separately, President Trump announced that imported generic drugs will stay tariff free for the next two years before facing steep new duties, a move meant to encourage pharmaceutical companies to manufacture more medicine in the U.S. In a Truth Social post, Trump said generic drug imports will keep a 0 percent tariff beginning August 1, 2026, for a two year transition period, before the tariff rises to 100 percent for one year and then 200 percent after that.
- Explaining Section 301 tariffs
- What is forced labor, and why does it factor into tariff decisions?
- Alejandro Martinez of Mexico’s National Food and Commerce Union, SNAC, says the USMCA did little to raise worker wages
- Are these tariffs about a level playing field, or about wages?
- What is structural overcapacity, and how does it affect tariffs on trading partners?
- Generic drug imports stay tariff free for two years before duties rise sharply
Sources: National Food and Commerce Union, SNAC · Fox Business: Donald Trump · Fox Business: Tariffs
Guest: Jason Sorens, PhD, Economist, American Institute for Economic Research
11:30 AM · America’s Loneliness Epidemic
Has America stopped talking to each other directly? In his book Make America Talk Again, author Brilyn Hollyhand argues that the country’s loneliness epidemic did not happen by accident. As social media, political media, tribalism, and fear of cancellation have replaced real conversation and authentic relationships, Americans have grown more isolated, polarized, and disconnected from one another. His book offers a roadmap for rebuilding friendships, communities, and face to face conversation. Jake asks whether, with less and less representative government in America, the fact that Americans are not speaking to each other plays into the hands of the country’s domestic and foreign enemies.
- Has America stopped talking to each other directly?
- Is there a loneliness epidemic in America?
- In Make America Talk Again, Brilyn Hollyhand argues the epidemic isn’t accidental
- Social media, tribalism, and cancellation fears have replaced real conversation
- The book offers a roadmap for rebuilding friendships and communities
- Does the decline of real conversation play into the hands of America’s enemies?
Guest: Brilyn Hollyhand, returning to the panel; credited with convincing President Trump to use TikTok during the 2024 election. He will also share how Gen Z feels about a potential war with Iran.
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Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain Deception, Fauci’s Private COVID Diaries, NYC’s Pied a Terre Enemies List | Your News Talk America
Your News Talk America
Show Notes · July 28, 2026
9:00 · Show Open: The Communist Manifesto for America
Jake opens the show examining what he calls the Communist Party’s manifesto for a takeover of America, after Democratic Socialists of America national cochair Megan Romer appeared on Fox News Sunday with host Shannon Bream and confirmed the DSA’s Communist manifesto. A new CNN poll finds most independent voters are not buying it.
- Democratic Socialists of America national cochair Megan Romer confirmed the DSA’s Communist manifesto during a Fox News Sunday interview with host Shannon Bream.
- CNN pollster Harry Enten reports that 77% of independent voters do not buy into socialism, with only 17% ready to go down that road.
On DIAL: Open to Dial producers and callers. Discussion question: is socialism the future of America, or are independent voters right to reject it?
9:20 · Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain Deception
Ahead of a White House meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to show President Trump evidence that Iran is lying about its interest in a diplomatic solution, what officials are calling Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain deception. Oman and Iran have also accelerated talks to reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran has executed two men tied to January’s anti regime protests.
- The New York Post reports Netanyahu will show Trump proof that the Iranian regime is lying about pursuing a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
- Oman and Iran have accelerated talks to restart shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a short term fix amid a slowdown in fighting between Washington and Tehran, the Wall Street Journal reports.
- Iran has executed two men connected to January’s anti regime protests, the Judiciary’s Mizan News Agency reported Tuesday. The two were charged in the killing of security force members.
- Jake’s question: will any eventual deal return Iran, or Persia, to the world community, or will it remain an isolated kingdom where its people live in captivity?
Sources
Panelist: Christine Balling, Senior Vice President for Professional Affiliations, The Institute of World Politics · cballing@iwp.edu
9:35 · War Powers and Iran: A Navy Vet’s Blueprint to Fix a Divided Nation
As Americans debate the recent conflict with Iran and the growing reach of presidential war powers, Navy veteran Mike Bedenbaugh argues that solving today’s foreign policy crises requires looking back to the Constitution, not screaming over partisan politics.
- Central question: who actually decides when America goes to war?
- Proposals to strengthen representative government and increase citizen participation.
- Solutions to reduce the influence of concentrated political and corporate power and restore balance between federal, state, and local authorities.
- Approaches to fiscal responsibility and long term national sustainability.
- A constitutional framework for evaluating military intervention, foreign alliances, and war powers.
- Bedenbaugh argues those who threaten the Constitution sense that Americans have abandoned the concept of representative government.
Panelist: Mike Bedenbaugh, U.S. Navy veteran and former independent congressional candidate.
A former U.S. Navy Quartermaster aboard the nuclear powered guided missile cruiser USS South Carolina (CGN-37), Bedenbaugh combines military experience with historical analysis drawn from the Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and George Washington’s Farewell Address. He is the author of Reviving Our Republic: 95 Theses for the Future of America. revivingourrepublic.com
10:00 · Fauci’s Private COVID Diaries and Biden’s Classified Docs Fallout
A 1,141 page release of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s private COVID 19 diaries, published by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) ahead of Fauci’s scheduled testimony, reveals new details on fame, prize money, and the lab leak debate. Separately, newly released tapes between Joe Biden and memoir ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer undercut the White House account of Biden’s classified documents case.
- Six takeaways from the Fauci diaries on fame, prize money, and the lab leak debate, ahead of his scheduled Wednesday testimony.
- Recordings between Biden and ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer from 2017 reveal halting speech and memory struggles.
- Former Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark: “The tapes make clear that Biden disclosed massive amounts of classified information to his ghost writer Mark Zwonitzer,” said the Oversight Project’s VP of litigation.
- Clark argues Biden should forfeit the $8 million book advance and his Delaware home, where he kept classified documents.
- Jake’s question: what benefit does releasing the tapes now give to those who want Biden criminally punished?
Panelist: Kaelan Deese, Department of Justice Reporter, The Washington Examiner · @KaelanDC
10:20 · Is This Trump’s War? Putin, Iran, and the Strait of Hormuz
Jake asks whether “Trump’s War” is a fair label, noting Obama declared war on Libya, which led to Benghazi. Iran linked media have posted threats against Melania and Baron Trump, and Iran continues to insist it will control the Strait of Hormuz no matter what. President Trump said he will ask Vladimir Putin whether Russia is sharing intelligence with Iran.
- Jake’s question: is “Trump’s War” a fair accusation, given Obama declared war on Libya, which led to Benghazi?
- Iran linked media have posted threats against Melania and Baron Trump; Jake asks why the U.S. has not targeted their state run media. (Newsmax)
- Iran continues to insist it will control the Strait of Hormuz no matter what.
- President Trump said he will ask Putin whether Russia is sharing intelligence with Iran. “Well, we’ll find out if that’s true,” Trump told reporters Monday on Air Force One. “I’ll ask Putin about it.”
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he will share evidence that Putin is assisting Iran in targeting U.S. bases in the Middle East via satellite surveillance.
Sources
Panelist: Lieutenant Colonel Tony Shaffer, US Army (ret), Senior Fellow at both the London Center for Policy Research and the Center for Advanced Defense Studies.
10:30 · NYC’s Pied a Terre “Enemies List”
New York City’s Department of Finance has released a searchable database, what critics call an enemies list, of property owners who might be covered by the city’s new non resident pied a terre tax, naming thousands of wealthy New Yorkers, including donors who backed Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s campaign.
- The city’s Department of Finance released an “enemies list” of property owners who could be hit with the new non resident pied a terre tax.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration published a searchable database of properties that could fall under the new tax, effectively doxxing thousands of wealthy New Yorkers.
- The list covers all unoccupied, non primary residences in the five boroughs worth north of $1 million, including full names and addresses.
- The city is already mailing all these owners asking them to clarify if they qualify, so publicizing the list is not about informing them, it is about scaring them.
- The Department of Finance’s own website admits the list “is not limited to… those properties that may be subject to the surcharge,” meaning most of the list is not relevant to the tax.
- Many people on the list are primary residents of condos or coops that would sell at $1 million or more, a common price point in today’s market.
Sources
Panelist: Nicole Huyer, Senior Research Associate, Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, Heritage Foundation
11:00 · Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain Deception, Round Two
Jake returns to Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain deception with EJ Kimball’s U.S. Israel policy lens. Ahead of the White House meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to show President Trump proof that Iran is lying about pursuing a diplomatic solution, as Oman and Iran accelerate Strait of Hormuz shipping talks amid a slowdown in fighting.
- The New York Post reports Netanyahu will show Trump proof that the Iranian regime is lying about pursuing a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
- Oman and Iran have accelerated talks to restart shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a short term fix amid a slowdown in fighting between Washington and Tehran, the Wall Street Journal reports.
- Iran has executed two men connected to January’s anti regime protests, the Judiciary’s Mizan News Agency reported Tuesday.
- Jake’s question: will any eventual deal return Iran, or Persia, to the world community, or will it remain an isolated kingdom where its people live in captivity?
Panelist: EJ Kimball, Director of Policy, U.S.-Israel Education Association · @KimballEJ
11:30 · The $9 Billion Question: How Can Anyone Trust AARP?
A new report from Juniper Research Group founder Chris Jacobs finds AARP has received an estimated $10.8 billion in tax free revenue from UnitedHealth since 2007, including a $9.1 billion advance in 2024 tied to future royalty fees on AARP endorsed insurance plans.
- AARP has received an estimated $10.8 billion in tax free revenue from UnitedHealth since 2007.
- In 2024, AARP received an additional $9.1 billion from UnitedHealth as an advance on future royalty fees, which it expects to recognize over 12 years, equivalent to roughly $755 million a year.
- AARP reported nearly $11 billion in total revenue and $9.2 billion in net income in 2024, a profit margin exceeding 83% after the advance payment.
- Member dues declined by about $500,000 in 2024 while corporate royalty revenue rose nearly $70 million.
- Dues accounted for just 14.9% of AARP’s operating revenue in 2024, down from 28.9%, while marketing income grew from 35.6% to 62.0%.
- A 2023 survey found 85.2% of AARP members are concerned about the UnitedHealth relationship, and more than 75% called the royalty arrangement a potential conflict of interest.
Sources
Panelist: Chris Jacobs, Founder and CEO of Juniper Research Group and author of the American Commitment report on AARP.
Juniper Research Group is a consulting and analytics firm based in Washington, DC. Jacobs previously served as a Senior Policy Analyst for the Heritage Foundation and the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, and as a policy advisor to Members of Congress on Capitol Hill. He is the author of The Case Against Single Payer. JuniperResearchGroup.com
11:50 · Salute the Troops
Jake closes the show with Salute the Troops, honoring the men and women of the U.S. armed forces.
- A moment set aside each day to recognize the service and sacrifice of America’s troops.
Powered by your voice. DIAL is the only listener platform of its kind in talk radio, live in the country only on Your News Talk America.
Iran Ceasefire Holds as US Munitions Run Low, Fauci COVID Diaries Exposed, Chinese Spy Arrested Inside NATO | Your News Talk America
Your News Talk America with Jake Smith
Show Notes for Monday, July 27, 2026
Today’s Featured Guest
Paul Davis is Vice President at the Institute of World Politics. He joins Jake for the first two segments this morning to open the show on the fragile standoff with Iran and to break down the widening picture across the Middle East and the Caspian. Bio: iwp.edu/faculty/paul-m-davis
9:00 Show Open: Running on Empty?
Jake opens with the story everyone is chasing this morning: reporting that the pause in US strikes on Iran may be tied to a thinning American munitions stockpile, even as the President pushes back on the claim. The guns are quiet in the Strait of Hormuz, but the pressure is building on every side.
- The Wall Street Journal reports the halt in US attacks traces to declining munitions stock, citing US officials familiar with the matter.
- Iran has not asked to resume talks to end the war, and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has not changed, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday.
- Red Sea shipping drops after Houthi attacks on Saudi oil sites, according to new data.
- The IDF intercepts drones attempting to cross the border between Israel and Jordan.
Guest: Paul Davis, Vice President, Institute of World Politics · iwp.edu/faculty/paul-m-davis
9:20 Jihad Calls, a Golan Raid, and a Caspian Sea Warning
Paul Davis stays on to map the escalation. Statements attributed to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei call for continued attacks on Israel and praise Hezbollah, framing terrorism as an inspiring message. Meanwhile the fight spreads north and east.
- In statements released in response to a Hezbollah letter pledging allegiance to Iran, Khamenei allegedly asserts that there remains no path forward except jihad and resistance against the US and Israel.
- Report: the IDF arrests a civilian and conducts a raid in the Syrian Golan Heights.
- Iran issues a second warning to Ukraine after what Tehran calls an attack on a vessel in the Caspian Sea that killed one sailor. Ukraine says it targeted a Russian warship and vessels moving Iranian linked military cargo.
Sources: Jerusalem Post live updates · Al Jazeera on the Caspian Sea strike
Guest: Paul Davis, Vice President, Institute of World Politics · iwp.edu/faculty/paul-m-davis
9:35 Fauci’s COVID Diaries
Jake takes on the newly released Fauci diaries, made public by Senator Rand Paul. The entries chronicle the early COVID response, task force meetings, briefings, and an unmistakable appetite for the spotlight.
- The records log task force meetings, scientific discussions, and extensive media work through the opening months of the pandemic.
- Multiple entries capture his reactions to praise, media profiles, and public adulation as the crisis unfolded.
- Jake’s take: the more the interview requests poured in, the further the science slipped from the center of the story.
DIAL caller debate. No panelist this segment. Producers and callers drive it, and your questions and votes on DIAL set the direction.
9:45 Are Festivals and Parades Too Dangerous to Attend?
From a gun battle in Seattle to a deadly weekend attack in Berlin, Jake asks whether public gatherings have become soft targets, and whether street takeovers are the next front in a spreading breakdown of order.
- A 21 year old man convicted in 2025 of trying to join ISIS, and accused of ramming a rented vehicle into a Berlin LGBTQ Pride parade, was killed by police on Sunday after charging officers with a knife. German authorities identified him as Abdul Ballout and tied him to Berlin’s Islamist scene.
- Street takeovers, where dozens or hundreds of cars mass in one spot to do donuts, race, and drive recklessly, are a growing national menace.
- A takeover on New York Route 347 on Long Island snarled traffic and led to arrests and an illegal gun confiscation.
Source: Police Executive Research Forum on street takeovers
DIAL caller debate. No panelist this segment. Producers and callers take the wheel.
10:00 Why Is Iran Getting Another Chance? Plus a Spy Inside NATO
Brigadier General Blaine Holt joins Jake to war game the options on the President’s desk and to ask whether a munitions shortage is real or a leak designed to blunt the war effort.
- Is the military truly low on munitions, or is the pause cover for a psychological operation and damaging leaks?
- Why is Ukraine firing on Iranian shipping in the Caspian Sea, and how do the options on the table differ from recent strikes along the Strait of Hormuz?
- Conflicting intelligence on damage to Iran’s nuclear program, including questions about Pickaxe Mountain, a site Iran has kept hidden and uninspected.
- Is China spying on NATO? A Canadian citizen of Chinese origin, working as an intern inside NATO’s command center, was arrested Friday on suspicion of espionage after NATO security tipped off Belgian intelligence.
Source: Washington Times on the NATO espionage arrest
Guest: Brigadier General Blaine Holt, USAF (ret), host of the Dangerous Intellectuals podcast. Episode 46, The Sick Dragon, features Gordon G. Chang · dangerousintellectuals.com
10:30 Budget Reconciliation 3.0 and a Sour Economy
Thomas Aiello of the National Taxpayers Union joins Jake on the state of the next reconciliation fight and why voters still feel underwater on the economy.
- Where does Budget Reconciliation 3.0 stand right now?
- Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine Clark says the President’s war is a failure and that Americans are not safer for it.
- Americans’ views of the economy stay negative, with 6 in 10 now saying the President’s economic policies have made things worse, according to the Pew Research Center.
Source: Pew Research Center economy survey
Guest: Thomas Aiello, Senior Director of Government Affairs, National Taxpayers Union · ntu.org
11:00 Will a Blockade Move Iran? And Should Xi Come to Washington?
Dr. James Robbins joins Jake on whether renewed economic pressure can force Iran to the table, and on the mixed signals coming out of Washington and Tehran.
- Can a blockade and renewed economic pressure move the negotiating needle with Iran?
- The President says his administration is talking to Iran. Iran says there are no discussions underway. Which do we believe?
- Given fresh intelligence that China interfered in the 2020 election, and the toll from the release of COVID from Wuhan, should Xi be coming to the White House in September?
Guest: Dr. James Robbins, Dean of the Institute of World Politics and a former Senior Advisor to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld · iwp.edu/leadership/james-s-robbins
11:30 How Will History Record These Days?
Author Jared Knott joins Jake to zoom out. Will the campaign against Iran be remembered as the moment the world was saved, or as a costly blunder? It is the exact question at the heart of his books.
- Days after striking two Saudi flagged ships in the Red Sea, the Houthis fired missiles into the southern Saudi city of Jizan.
- Saudi Arabia says it carried out a firm and proportionate military response targeting the Iran backed group inside Yemen.
- Iran reported no new US strikes overnight into Saturday, the first apparent pause after 13 consecutive nights of attacks.
- Brent crude, the global benchmark, retreated to around $96 a barrel Friday after reports that Pakistan is exploring renewed US and Iran talks with encouragement from China.
Guest: Jared Knott, author of Tiny Blunders/Big Disasters (Books 1 and 2) · available on Amazon
11:50 Salute the Troops
Jake closes the show honoring the men and women in uniform, with the final slot held open for any late breaking news. Producers and callers on DIAL help steer the last word.
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Trump Weighs Massive Iran Strike, Oil Tops $100, Dick Morris on The Real Charlie Kirk | Your News Talk America
Your News Talk America with Jake Smith
Daily Show Notes · Friday, July 24, 2026
9:00 · Show Open: Iran War Splits the MAGA Base as Oil Tops $100
Jake opens with the widening war. U.S. Central Command says it has completed its 13th night of strikes against Iranian military targets and maritime infrastructure, with explosions heard across multiple parts of Iran after another American wave. The economic shock is landing at home, and the politics are shifting fast.
- Oil surged above $100 a barrel Thursday for the first time since May as the escalating conflict rattled global markets.
- A new POLITICO poll finds the share of MAGA voters who think the war is worth the economic cost has fallen to roughly a third, down from 50 percent in May.
- Half of President Trump’s base thought the Iran war was worth its costs in May. Now just over a third do.
DIAL caller debate: Is the Iran war still worth the economic cost? Producers and callers take the floor. Your questions and votes steer where Jake goes next.
Sources: Fox News · Iran · Fox News · Middle East
9:20 · Worst Media Quote of the Week: Who Is the Winning MSM Maggot?
The weekly poll returns with three nominees for the worst media moment. Jake and Nick Kangadis of MRC Video break down the tape.
- CNN’s Abby Phillip questions whether noncitizens on New Jersey voter rolls is really “fraud,” prompting Scott Jennings to ask whether they were unaware they were not citizens. CNN’s NewsNight with Abby Phillip, July 21.
- Podcaster Jennifer Welch attacks JD Vance’s “homicidal hypocrisy” over immigration enforcement on The I’ve Had It podcast, July 21.
- Former CNN anchor Don Lemon calls MAGA “the closest thing to the modern version of the Nazi Party” on the Can’t Be Censored podcast, July 15.
Guest: Nick Kangadis, Senior Content Creator, MRC Video.
9:45 · John Leake on Mind Viruses: America’s Irrational Obsessions
Nonfiction author John Leake joins Jake. Leake studied history and philosophy with Sir Roger Scruton and wrote his master’s thesis on Edmund Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France. Since 2021 he has worked closely with Dr. Peter McCullough and was the primary author of their New York Times bestseller Vaccines: Mythology, Ideology, and Reality, as well as The Courage to Face COVID-19.
His latest book is Mind Viruses: America’s Irrational Obsessions.
Book: Mind Viruses on Amazon
10:00 · Trump Says He Is Close to a “Massive Attack” on Iran
Paul Davis of the Institute of World Politics joins Jake to game out what a larger strike would look like. Trump told Axios he is “considering a massive attack, bigger than ever before,” and is “close to making a decision.”
- Trump’s polling shows the war is unpopular even with his own base, and Iran is aware of it.
- The Houthis have emerged from their caves to attack Saudi oil shipments in the Red Sea. What kind of escalation is this?
- Kuwait is under increasing attack. How do the Gulf states respond?
Guest: Paul Davis, Vice President, Institute of World Politics.
10:20 · Oil Tops $100 as the Supply Crisis Deepens
Ryan Yonk of the American Institute for Economic Research joins Jake on the energy squeeze. With little sign of de-escalation, analysts say the market will take the path of least resistance and prices will keep climbing until pressure builds on the administration to return to the negotiating table.
- U.S. gasoline prices are again above $4 per gallon, which could hasten a return to talks ahead of the November midterms.
- Middle East oil production is still 7 to 8 million barrels a day below prewar levels, with global onshore inventories near record seasonal lows and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve close to dangerously low.
- U.S. refinery utilization hit 96.2% as of July 17, up from 94.7% a year earlier, with American fuel exports at record highs amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Do Americans gauge the whole economy on gas and diesel prices alone?
Sources: OilPrice · Oil Tops $100 · OilPrice · Refinery Utilization · AAA Gas Prices · EIA Weekly Highlights
10:30 · Are American Families Really in Crisis Over Gas Prices?
Kent Strang, Managing Director of Americans for Prosperity, joins Jake to push back on the crisis narrative as gas prices climb and the President’s poll numbers slide on Iran.
- Is the second Trump term about building long term economic strength rather than quick fixes?
- How are American families actually doing, and how have the tax cuts helped them?
- Reports say companies issued tariff refunds pocketed the money instead of passing it back to consumers. Your thoughts?
- Will the latest round of tariffs on Canada hurt American families?
Guest: Kent Strang, Americans for Prosperity. Read Kent’s DC Journal piece: The Working Families Tax Cut Is Making the Economy Better for All · AmericansForProsperity.org
10:50 · How Can Trump Save the SAVE America Act?
Captain Morgan Murphy, USN (ret), a national security expert and former Trump White House official and Pentagon spokesperson, joins Jake as the President presses the Senate on election reform.
- The White House says Trump’s patience with Senate Majority Leader John Thune is wearing thin as Republicans struggle to unite behind the bill.
- Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump wants as much of the SAVE America Act passed as possible before the August recess.
- Trump singled out Thune in a July 22 speech in Marietta, Georgia, urging Senate Republicans to end the filibuster and pass the bill, which would require proof of citizenship and voter ID and prohibit universal mail in voting.
Sources: USA Today · Thune patience · USA Today · SAVE America Act · USA Today · Marietta speech · USA Today · What’s in the SAVE Act
11:00 · New Tariffs Hit 60 Trading Partners as Temporary Duties Expire
Economist Jason Sorens of the American Institute for Economic Research joins Jake as a new tariff regime takes effect Friday.
- The administration imposes tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners as a temporary global tariff expires.
- Canada, Mexico, India and the United Kingdom are among those facing a 10% tariff.
- On Monday Trump also announced a 50% tariff on certain Canadian imports, citing what officials called trade “discrimination” against American businesses.
- A New York Post opinion piece argues major U.S. companies are pocketing tariff refunds and stiffing consumers.
Sources: Fox Business · New tariffs on 60 partners · Fox Business · 50% Canada tariff · NY Post · Tariff refunds · Fox Business · Tariffs · Fox Business · United Kingdom
11:20 · Dr. Nathanael-Israel Israel on Boldest Scientific Formula of God and Creation
What if the Bible’s account of creation could be supported by measurable scientific data? Research scientist Dr. Nathanael-Israel Israel joins Jake to reconcile science and faith through a simple mathematical formula he says arrives at the same answers the book of Genesis gave millennia ago.
- He says the formula cracks the universe’s origin at the crossroads of science and faith and can demonstrate God’s existence.
- It calculates that the Earth was formed in 2.82 days, the moon in 3.32 days and the sun in 3.69 days.
- His goal is to equip children and parents, scientist or not, with an easy to understand story of the universe’s origin.
- Would this reading of the data create confusion for Christians and Jews given their belief in God’s eternal plan and providence?
Book: Boldest Scientific Formula of God and Creation on Amazon
11:30 · Dick Morris on The Real Charlie Kirk
Number one New York Times bestselling author and NEWSMAX contributor Dick Morris joins Jake on his new book The Real Charlie Kirk, which puts Kirk’s life and times into political and religious context, from Turning Point USA to the White House.
- Morris traces Kirk’s path from young conservative activist to the leader who helped galvanize the youth vote to twice elect Donald Trump.
- Kirk’s murder raises questions about what happens next for the conservative youth movement and its Christian, pro Trump direction.
- Morris frames the moment as a literal turning point for a polarized nation and asks whether the country will choose to heal and protect free speech without enabling violence.
11:45 · Alvin Lui on Randi Weingarten and What Is Being Taught to Kids
Alvin Lui, President of Courage Is A Habit, joins Jake to close the show.
- Randi Weingarten launched into a wild political rant at the UFT teachers union convention this week. Is she reflective of public school education in America?
- Alvin found and posted on X disturbing material being taught to children in an Indiana classroom. What did he find?
Guest: Alvin Lui, President, Courage Is A Habit. See his post: @CourageHabit on X
11:50 · Salute the Troops
Jake closes the week honoring the men and women serving in uniform at home and abroad.
Powered by your voice.
Your News Talk America runs on DIAL, the only listener platform of its kind in talk radio, where your questions and votes shape what Jake covers in real time. Join in at RealNewsTalk.com.
Iran War Escalation, War Powers Showdown, SCOTUS Beer Forfeiture Case | Your News Talk America
Your News Talk America with Jake Smith
Show Notes for Thursday, July 23, 2026 · 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM ET
Today’s Guests
Judge Andrew Napolitano joins for two segments today. He is Senior Judicial Analyst at Newsmax and host of the Judging Freedom podcast. His latest opinion piece is The American Presidency and Perpetual War. More at judgenap.com.
9:00 · Show Open: US Escalates on Iran
The US has stepped up its Iran campaign with what sources describe as the first B-1 bomber strike since the conflict resumed.
- Sources tell the Jerusalem Post the US launched its first B-1 bomber strike since fighting resumed, signaling a major escalation.
- B-1 bombers can carry two dozen 2,000 lb bombs or dozens of cruise missiles, which Axios reports marks a significant expansion of the US military campaign.
- Per an Axios report, the deployed B-1 began its mission from a base in the United Kingdom.
- US Central Command did not mention the B-1 in its statement on the overnight strikes against Iran.
- The US flew several B-1 missions between February and April during Operation Epic Fury, hitting missile bases, command centers, weapons storage sites, and air defenses.
Guest: Brady Knox, Foreign Affairs Reporter at the Washington Examiner.
Sources: Jerusalem Post · Washington Examiner
9:20 · US Surges Forces Toward the Middle East
The US is moving forces, weapons, and medics toward the Middle East to widen President Trump’s military options against Iran.
- The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that the US is repositioning forces, weapons, and medics to give President Trump broader options.
- Officials say the surge comes as Trump weighs widening the conflict against Iran.
- Special operations forces have deployed to the region from their US bases, according to flight tracking data and US officials.
- Squadrons of jet fighters have been staged across the Middle East.
- Bomber aircraft at bases in the US and UK are on high alert to ramp up operations, one official told Fox News.
Guest: Lt. Col. Darin L. Gaub (Ret.), combat veteran, strategist, and servant leader. Over a 28 year military career he served as an infantryman, helicopter pilot, strategic planner, and task force commander. He is the author of Veritas Vincit, Latin for “Truth Prevails.”
Sources: Wall Street Journal · Fox News · Veritas Vincit (book)
9:35 · Monologue: Taking Stock
Jake’s monologue, Taking Stock.
9:45 · Election Integrity on the Ballot
Several states are set to vote on major election related ballot measures this year.
- Citizenship verification: seven states will consider constitutional amendments clarifying that only US citizens may vote (AK, AR, AZ, KS, SD, WV).
- Voter ID: voters in several states will weigh proposals on voter identification requirements (AZ, CA, CO, NC, NV, OH, OK).
- Ranked choice voting in Alaska: voters will decide whether to repeal the state’s ranked choice system, one of the most closely watched reform battles in the country.
- Restoration of voting rights in Virginia: voters will consider expanding voting rights for people convicted of felonies, raising questions about eligibility and administration.
Guest: Don Palmer, Senior Legal Fellow for Election Integrity at the Heritage Foundation.
Source: Heritage Foundation
10:00 · Who Holds the War Power?
One of the defining failures of modern American government has been the steady erosion of Congress’s constitutional authority over war.
- The Constitution grants Congress, not the president, the power to declare war. Congress decides to go to war; the president wages it.
- Over recent decades, presidents of both parties have increasingly treated military intervention as an executive prerogative rather than a congressional requirement.
- Is the War Powers Act constitutional?
- Where was the War Powers Act when President Obama was bombing Libya? Selective enforcement?
- Can a president simply veto a War Powers resolution?
- What is the difference between legislation and a resolution?
Guest: Judge Andrew Napolitano (see Today’s Guests). Latest opinion piece: The American Presidency and Perpetual War.
Source: judgenap.com
10:20 · SCOTUS Takes the Beer Forfeiture Case
The Supreme Court agreed to hear whether an airplane was improperly seized over a six pack of beer.
- The justices added Jouppi v. Alaska to the 2026 to 2027 oral argument docket through a regularly scheduled summer order list.
- Alaskan bush pilot Ken Jouppi is challenging the forfeiture of his $95,000 airplane, which prosecutors sought on the theory that he must have known a passenger was bringing a six pack of beer into a village where alcohol is prohibited.
- Jouppi argues the forfeiture violates the Eighth Amendment’s ban on excessive fines.
- Also on deck: can President Trump impose tariffs on Canada?
Guest: Judge Andrew Napolitano (see Today’s Guests).
Sources: SCOTUSblog · Jouppi v. Alaska case page · OT2026 term · Summer order list (PDF) · CSIS on Canada tariffs
10:30 · New Jersey, ERIC, and Noncitizen Voters
New Jersey joined the ERIC system, which does not report whether a person is a noncitizen, while 24 states are not using the federal SAVE system to verify voter eligibility.
- New Jersey is one of many states that do not use the free federal SAVE system to check for illegal aliens in their voter registrations or existing rolls.
- The Gateway Pundit reports that illegal aliens then began voting.
Guest: Jim Hoft, Editor of The Gateway Pundit.
Source: The Gateway Pundit
10:50 · The Myth of Birthright Citizenship
The Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment seems simple, yet it sits at the center of one of the most contentious constitutional battles of our time.
- In The Myth of Birthright Citizenship, Richard Epstein argues the common belief that the clause grants citizenship to anyone born in the US is profoundly wrong.
- He contends citizenship requires being “subject to the jurisdiction” of a sovereign, offering loyalty in exchange for protection, not merely being born within a state’s jurisdiction.
- His evidence draws on close textual analysis, the overlooked Naturalization Acts from 1790 to 1870, and writers such as William Blackstone and Emmerich de Vattel.
- The book also examines how earlier birthright debates shaped constitutional doctrine on voting rights, segregated schools, takings, and taxation, and it addresses responses to President Trump’s January 20, 2025 executive order on birthright citizenship.
Guest: Richard Epstein, author of The Myth of Birthright Citizenship: What the Fourteenth Amendment Really Says.
11:00 · Reconciliation and the Deficit
An update on reconciliation and why a new bill must contain spending offsets.
- A new reconciliation bill must contain spending offsets to address the deficit.
- The deficit continues to grow.
Guest: Brittany Madni, Senior Fellow for Fiscal Policy at the National Taxpayers Union and the National Taxpayers Union Foundation.
Sources: NTU analysis · Brittany Madni (bio)
11:20 · What Is Going On With Tesla and SpaceX?
A look at SpaceX’s rocky market debut and renewed talk of a Tesla merger.
- Elon Musk’s SpaceX has struggled since its stock market debut last month.
- After peaking near $225 just days after its IPO, SpaceX stock has slid to a new low of $120, well below its $150 debut price.
- The reporting cited in the show notes says the slide erased roughly $1 trillion in market value and cost Musk his short lived trillionaire status.
- Could a merger of SpaceX and Tesla be next?
Guest: Dr. Paul D. Mueller, Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research. His latest opinion piece: The Myth of the Free-Riding Billionaire: Ray Madoff’s The Second Estate.
Sources: Mashable · Mashable (Musk) · Yahoo Finance · Paul Mueller (bio)
11:30 · Mind Viruses: America’s Irrational Obsessions
Author John Leake on why America’s decline owes less to outside threats than to irrational beliefs that spread like contagions.
- America’s slide from Cold War victor to “a house divided against itself” is driven not by external threats but by irrational beliefs that spread like contagions.
Guest: John Leake, a nonfiction author with a lifelong interest in medical history, psychology, and criminology. He studied history and philosophy with Sir Roger Scruton and wrote his master’s thesis on Edmund Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France. Since 2021 he has worked closely with Dr. Peter McCullough and was the primary author of their New York Times bestseller Vaccines: Mythology, Ideology, and Reality, as well as The Courage to Face COVID-19.
11:50 · Mamdani, ASEAN, and Russia’s Role
Dr. Antonio Graceffo on Mamdani, the ASEAN summit in Manila, and new accusations against Russia.
- Writing in The Gateway Pundit, Graceffo argues that Mamdani’s antisemitism is the glue holding his coalition together.
- Is anything significant expected from the ASEAN summit in Manila this week?
- Russia is accused of providing coordinates for US targets to the Iranians in Jordan, which resulted in the deaths of three US servicemembers.
Guest: Dr. Antonio Graceffo, PhD, China MBA, an economist and national security analyst focused on China and Russia, a graduate of American Military University, and a reporter for The Gateway Pundit.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit · China Econ Group
11:50 · Salute the Troops
We close the program by honoring the men and women who serve.
Powered by your voice.
DIAL is the only listener platform of its kind in the country, where your questions and votes shape the show in real time. Learn more at RealNewsTalk.com.
Iran Strikes Reach 11th Night, Anti ICE Attack on NY Federal Building, Saudi Nuclear Deal | Your News Talk America
Your News Talk America with Jake Smith
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 · Show Notes and Sources
Featured Guest Across Multiple Segments
Paul Davis, Vice President at The Institute of World Politics, joins Jake for the 9:00 and 9:20 segments on the Iran campaign. Bio: iwp.edu/faculty/paul-m-davis
9:00 · Show Open: US Strikes on Iran Reach 11th Consecutive Night
The US military said late Tuesday it began its latest round of strikes on Iran, the 11th consecutive night of American attacks. CENTCOM forces began hitting military targets at 7 p.m. ET, in an operation the command says is designed to keep degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
- CENTCOM says the strikes target Iran’s capacity to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran continues strikes across the Middle East, and Secretary of State Rubio notes the regime is “not serious” about peace talks.
- Why is Iran continuing to attack its Gulf neighbors? Are they looking for a fight, or are those neighbors targets because they are US allies?
Source: The Jerusalem Post live updates
Guest: Paul Davis, The Institute of World Politics · Bio
9:20 · Psyops, Iranian Centrifuges, and the Saudi Nuclear Deal
- How much of modern warfare is propaganda and psyops? President Trump’s White House meeting with the President of Lebanon may have been staged imagery aimed at Iran: your proxy havens are shrinking.
- If the intelligence on the moved Iranian centrifuges was generated last November, why did Israel make it public now? Are they trying to dictate US war plans?
- The Saudi nuclear deal as a punch to Iran’s gut. The Trump administration plans to submit to Congress a 123 Agreement signed by Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman to share nuclear power technology. Two sources told Reuters the pact does not include the safeguards the US has said would stop materials being diverted to a weapons program.
Guest: Paul Davis, The Institute of World Politics · Bio
9:35 · Jake’s Monologue: “Share and Share Alike”
Jake takes the mic solo for today’s monologue.
9:45 · Trump’s Grip on Arizona and 6,000 Noncitizens on NJ Rolls
- President Trump’s sway within the GOP was on display in Arizona’s primaries Tuesday night, as his endorsed candidates powered through key Republican contests. Former NFL kicker Jay Feely, who received Trump’s endorsement in the final stretch, won the GOP primary in Arizona’s competitive 1st Congressional District.
- Rep. Andy Biggs, a former House Freedom Caucus chair who landed Trump’s endorsement, easily captured the GOP nomination for governor, topping Rep. David Schweikert and the rest of the field by more than 50 points.
- Approximately 400 noncitizens cast ballots illegally in New Jersey elections since 2023 after more than 6,000 immigrants were wrongly added to the state’s voter rolls, Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill admitted Tuesday, attributing the additions to a software error. Sherrill used the press conference to take a swipe at President Trump.
Sources: Fox News: Arizona primaries · Fox News: Jay Feely wins · New York Post: NJ voter rolls · New York Post: election security funding
Guest: Dr. Nan Hayworth, former New York Congresswoman; Independent Women’s Forum Board; ConservAmerica Board Chairman · ConservAmerica
10:00 · Americans Warm to AI as Colleges Rethink the Classroom
- More than half of Americans hold a favorable view of artificial intelligence despite media firestorms around data centers and economic upheaval. In a national HarrisX poll, 56% of voters were favorable and 36% unfavorable. Seventy two percent agreed AI could cut time spent on repetitive tasks, and 71% called it the start of a new industrial revolution.
- Nathan Leamer, executive director of Build American AI, says the public is optimistic about the benefits, from medical breakthroughs to economic growth, and that lawmakers and innovators have room to engage.
- Cornerstone University is integrating AI across academics, honors programming, and research, with applied AI coursework, an AI Academy, and a presidential advisory board, while emphasizing a Christian understanding of human dignity and ethics. Dr. Moreno-Riaño explains why colleges cannot simply ban AI and how to separate responsible use from academic dishonesty.
- Per Steve Yates of The Heritage Foundation, China is using TikTok and other platforms to sour American opinion of AI and to delay data center projects across the country.
Sources: New York Post: AI favorability poll · Cornerstone University
Guest: Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, President, Cornerstone University · Bio
10:20 · Inside Arizona’s Elections With Jordan Conradson
- Arizona held primary elections last night. What is the takeaway beyond the strength of President Trump’s influence in the state?
- Last Thursday, President Trump laid out evidence of what he called international tampering in the 2020 election. Jordan was directly involved in what went on in Arizona. What did he make of the President’s speech?
- New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill says more than 6,000 noncitizens were placed on voter rolls and blames a software error. Are we likely to hear about more such errors heading into the November midterms?
Guest: Jordan Conradson, White House correspondent, The Gateway Pundit · @ConradsonJordan
10:30 · Rubio at ASEAN and China’s Pressure in the South China Sea
- Why is Secretary of State Marco Rubio attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in the Philippines?
- Is Rubio gathering intelligence on China’s constant harassment of Philippine naval vessels and shipping in the South China Sea?
- Should there be a summit with Xi in September, given the evidence of Chinese tampering in the 2020 election?
- Steve Yates argues China is using TikTok and other platforms to sour American views of AI and stall data center construction. Is Chinese infiltration using social media to taint how Americans see AI facilities?
Guest: Andrew Harding, Policy Analyst, National Security and Indo Pacific Affairs, The Heritage Foundation · Bio
10:50 · Why Voters Still Sour on the Economy
- A majority of voters disapprove of President Trump’s handling of the economy, and the discontent runs deeper than tariffs and gas prices. Most Americans feel the system is stacked against them.
- The President’s economic polling reached record lows in two surveys as voters stayed pessimistic despite improving inflation.
- Corporate earnings remain strong. Do Americans see the economic plan as long term rather than short term? And do most voters look at the price of gasoline and simply see a bad economy?
Guest: Dr. Julia R. Cartwright, Senior Research Fellow in Law and Economics, American Institute for Economic Research · Bio
11:00 · Attack on a New York Federal Building
- An anti ICE attack struck a New York federal building. FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle identified the suspect as 43 year old Andrew Arrabaca.
- The Department of Homeland Security described Arrabaca as an anti Immigration and Customs Enforcement rioter. He was apprehended by officers and has been interviewed, Barnacle said.
- Arrabaca is a former US Army soldier who served from 2001 to 2005 and worked as a mechanic on Patriot missile systems. Police noted he wore a military style helmet.
- ICE has drawn its share of bad press. Last Friday, Anna Giaritelli, Homeland Security reporter for the Washington Examiner, reported on this program that agents she interviewed are raising concerns about working conditions and rushed academy training for new recruits.
Guest: Todd Bensman, Senior Research Fellow, Border Security and Immigration Center, The Heritage Foundation · Bio · @BensmanTodd
11:20 · An Ex Google Contractor on 2020 Election Claims
- Newly released government records and renewed debate over election security have again placed the 2020 election in the national spotlight. Indy Pederson, former Google contractor and author of Sacrificing Humanity, has followed these controversies closely and brings high level digital IT expertise.
- Pederson says that in his role he pulled down programmer notes from an electronic voting machine manufacturer before the election, and contends those notes and manuals describe how votes could be fractionalized.
- Long before today’s headlines, Pederson was examining allegations involving election technology, foreign influence, government transparency, and efforts to shape public perception.
Guest: Indy Pederson, former Google contractor and author of Sacrificing Humanity: The UFO is a Portent of Nuclear War · Book
11:30 · Main Street, Succession, and the Iran War
- What are the ramifications for US small businesses from the war in Iran?
- Why the small business succession crisis is one of the biggest economic stories no one is talking about, and the long term impact of private equity ownership on Main Street.
- How a new generation of owners can preserve local businesses while modernizing them with technology and AI without eliminating jobs, and what policymakers and entrepreneurs can do to keep Main Street thriving.
Guest: William Fry, Founder and CEO, American Operator · About
11:50 · The Iran War Is About Energy
- Is the Iran war, at its core, about energy?
- What to make of Israel’s release of intelligence claiming Iran was moving centrifuges into Pickaxe Mountain.
- Is the Trump administration’s nuclear deal with the Saudis a good idea? What are the benefits and dangers of sharing nuclear technology with the Kingdom?
- How concerning is the Houthi threat to Red Sea shipping and the rerouting of oil shipments?
Guests: Brigham A. McCown, US Navy (ret.), Senior Fellow and Director, Initiative on American Energy Security, Hudson Institute · Bio · @BAMcCown · Dr. James Robbins, Dean, The Institute of World Politics; former Senior Advisor to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld · Bio
11:50 · Salute the Troops
Jake closes the show honoring the men and women serving in uniform.
Powered by your voice.
DIAL is the only listener platform of its kind in the country, where your questions and votes shape what Jake covers live. Learn more at RealNewsTalk.com
US Strikes on Iran and Regime Change Talk, Anti ICE Attack at 26 Federal Plaza, SpaceX Starship Scrub | Your News Talk America
Your News Talk America
Daily Show Notes for Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Today’s Guests
Asaf Romirowsky, PhD (9:00 and 9:20) is Executive Director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME). Trained as a Middle East historian, he holds a PhD in Middle East and Mediterranean Studies from King’s College London and has published widely on the Arab Israeli conflict, American foreign policy in the region, and Israeli and Zionist history. He is coauthor of October 7: The Wars Over Words and Deeds.
9:00 · Show Open: US Strikes on Iran and Talk of Regime Change
Jake opens on a widening US campaign against Iran, a Tehran backed ceasefire push, and a fresh Israeli strike on a senior Hamas commander.
- US Central Command completes a fresh round of strikes on Iran after explosions are heard across the country’s south, marking its tenth day of strikes. Blasts were reported in Bandar Abbas, on Sirik Island, and on Qeshm.
- The Wall Street Journal reports Iran moved nuclear centrifuges into Pickaxe Mountain, deepening concern that Tehran is working to protect its uranium enrichment capacity.
- Houthi forces impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, and the Saudis reroute their oil through the Red Sea.
- The Jerusalem Post reports it was Tehran that initiated the proposal now advanced by mediators for a 10 day ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Two sources say the aim is to resolve the Strait of Hormuz dispute tied to last month’s memorandum of understanding, which both sides now treat as void. The move underscores how urgently Tehran wants a pause as US strikes expand and President Trump weighs a return to a full scale campaign. Read more at The Jerusalem Post.
- President Trump is now said to be weighing regime change in Iran.
- The IDF and Shin Bet announced they killed Adham Ibrahim Sha’aban Nasman, operations head of Hamas’s Gaza City Brigade. Nasman served as a battalion commander in the group’s Nukhba force, led the brigade’s October 7 infiltration into Israel, and held several former hostages, including Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, Ziv and Gali Berman, Eitan Mor, Matan Angrest, and Omri Miran.
On this segment: Asaf Romirowsky, PhD (see Today’s Guests).
Sources: jpost.com ceasefire report · Shin Bet coverage · The Jerusalem Post
9:20 · Rising Antisemitism in New York
- A vandal hurled motor oil and feces at two Queens synagogues last week. Worshippers discovered the mess Friday morning, said Steven Saphirstein, community outreach coordinator for the neighborhood safety group Queens Shmira. New York Post.
- A 96 year old Auschwitz survivor, Jerry Wartski, says he now hides his Star of David chain amid spiraling antisemitism in the city. He gave Democrats a history lesson, warning that the party and the Democratic Socialists of America are being infiltrated by antisemites who leave Jews feeling unsafe in the streets. New York Post.
On this segment: Asaf Romirowsky, PhD (see Today’s Guests).
Sources: Synagogue vandalism · Auschwitz survivor · NYPD hate crime data
9:35 · Monologue
Jake’s monologue: Watch Your Language.
9:45 · Attack Targets ICE at 26 Federal Plaza
- An attack targeting ICE struck a New York federal building. FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Barnacle identified the suspect as Andrew Arrabaca, 43.
- The Department of Homeland Security described Arrabaca as an anti ICE “rioter.” He was apprehended by officers, Barnacle said.
- Arrabaca is a former US Army soldier who served from 2001 to 2005 and worked as a mechanic on Patriot missile systems. Police noted he wore a military style helmet. He is in custody and has been interviewed.
- ICE has drawn weeks of bad press. Where do those problems come from? Last Friday, Washington Examiner homeland security reporter Anna Giartelli reported on this program that ICE agents cite poor working conditions and new recruits being rushed through academy training. (945 CUT 2)
On this segment: Todd Bensman, Senior Research Fellow for the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation.
10:00 · The Constitution, the Courts, and Birthright Citizenship
According to Ilan Wurman, the Julius E. Davis Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota, the modern reading of the Constitution diverges sharply from its historical understanding. Five examples:
- Courts are out of control and do not grasp the original conception of the judicial role.
- Congress’s regulatory power under the commerce clause far exceeds the original understanding, so much of the New Deal state is basically unconstitutional.
- The Constitution contains no power to spend for the general welfare, so most modern welfare spending is unconstitutional, which ties into welfare fraud.
- Congress has delegated excessively to the administrative state, helping create a “deep state” that governs Americans’ daily lives.
- The original distribution of foreign affairs and war powers heavily favored Congress. Today the President exercises most of these powers.
Wurman is the only academic to file an amicus brief in the birthright citizenship case on behalf of the Trump Administration. His work was cited three times by the Justices and recently drew four votes at the Supreme Court. He argues for the original meaning and coherent structure of the Constitution as it was conceived, against how it has been misconstrued.
On this segment: Ilan Wurman, Julius E. Davis Professor of Law, University of Minnesota, author of The Constitution of 1789: A New Introduction.
Source: Ilan Wurman on Amazon
10:20 · A Tenth Night Over Iran and the Oil Markets
- A tenth night of bombing Iran. What targets were hit last night, and how do they differ from earlier strikes?
- Oil markets stay on edge as renewed attacks near the Strait of Hormuz and the threat of disruption at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait raise risks to global energy supplies.
- Houthi forces impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, and the Saudis reroute their oil through the Red Sea.
- Analysts expect the US to avoid a full scale conflict before the midterm elections, limiting oil and gasoline price spikes while continuing to negotiate with Iran. OilPrice.com.
- Fuel markets are even tighter than crude, with damaged refineries in the Middle East and Russia pushing gasoline and diesel prices higher despite weaker Chinese demand. Analysts warn higher fuel prices could persist.
- For Ryan Morgan: this war has shifted from ending Iran’s nuclear ambitions to demilitarizing the Strait of Hormuz. How much further must the US go to clear the threats there, and why has Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stayed so quiet?
On this segment: Ryan Morgan, Pentagon and military reporter for The Epoch Times (ryan.morgan@epochtimes.us); and Sam Romain, Chairman of Americans for Energy Dominance.
Sources: OilPrice.com analysis · Americans for Energy Dominance
10:30 · Mission Aborted: SpaceX Scrubs Starship Flight 13
- SpaceX aborted the planned launch of Starship Flight 13 after an automated system detected a problem during engine ignition just before liftoff.
- Elon Musk said the issue involved two Raptor engines that will be replaced before another attempt, which he expects within a few days.
- The flight was set to test Starship’s latest upgrades and deploy 20 next generation Starlink satellites, a key milestone for reusable spaceflight, lunar missions, and Mars exploration.
- The scrub weighed on SpaceX’s newly public stock, which declined after the delay.
- Questions for the guest: the biggest challenges before humans can reach Mars; what SpaceX gets right and what still remains; whether the company moves too fast or is simply the only way to innovate; the Kessler effect and why space debris matters; balancing satellites with a healthy orbital environment; the opportunities and risks of becoming a multiplanetary civilization; and whether Starship could help deploy debris removal missions or SOAR’s technology.
On this segment: Christopher Lee Jones, founder and president of Satellite Orbital Access and Removal (SOAR), a Florida startup developing technology to capture small pieces of orbital debris. A retired Miami Dade Fire Rescue firefighter and paramedic, Jones moved into the space sector after researching orbital debris and the Kessler syndrome. He is the author of Mars Mission I: Surviving the Kessler Effect and is working with the University of Texas at El Paso on a patented passive debris capture system.
Source: SOAR
10:50 · Did the Networks Have a Right to Hide Trump’s Speech?
- The charge: the media had no right to hide Trump’s Thursday night speech. Did the networks abandon their duty to inform the public by refusing to carry a presidential address?
- When does legitimate editorial judgment become information control? Why not carry the speech and challenge its claims afterward?
- Have journalists moved from reporting the news to deciding what Americans are permitted to hear?
- What the preemptive dismissal of the address reveals about political bias inside national newsrooms, and how media gatekeeping deepens the crisis of trust in journalism. (Publius)
- How did NBC News report the attack at 26 Federal Plaza? “Fireworks set off outside 26 Federal Plaza.”
On this segment: Dennis Kneale, author of The Leadership Genius of Elon Musk, veteran business journalist and proud Florida resident. His latest book is Oregoners.
Source: Oregoners on Amazon
11:00 · What Has Happened to the Smithsonian?
- Has the Smithsonian replaced American history with restorative justice themes and a focus on slave reparations? Jake and the guest take stock of the institution’s direction.
On this segment: Dr. Allen Mendenhall, Research Fellow at the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies and Senior Advisor to the Free Enterprise Initiative at The Heritage Foundation.
11:20 · Epic Fury Returns: Iran, Hormuz, and the Midterms
- Epic Fury returns. The Wall Street Journal reports Iran moved nuclear centrifuges to Pickaxe Mountain, and Houthi forces impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.
- The US issues a “worldwide caution” to citizens amid rising tensions with Iran.
- How degraded is Iran’s ability to attack shipping in the Strait of Hormuz? Iran claims it targeted US missile systems in Kuwait, and the IRGC says it blew up two vessels in Hormuz.
- Are the American people prepared for regime change in Iran and what it would cost the nation? If boots on the ground are required, which nations take part? What are the political ramifications for Republicans and the midterms? Jeff Crouere says seniors, who usually support US military intervention, should not be taken for granted by Republicans.
- For Dr. Callahan: what do you make of FBI Director Patel traveling to Moscow?
On this segment: Dr. John Marshall Callahan, Professor at the Institute of World Politics and former deputy spokesperson at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; and Jeff Crouere, talk show host and political analyst of Ringside Politics on Real America’s Voice, columnist, and author of America’s Last Chance!
Source: America’s Last Chance on Amazon
11:30 · Medicaid Fraud and the Families It Hurts
- What is the status of the federal crackdown on Medicaid fraud, where benefits meant for American families raising an autistic child have been stolen?
- Fraudsters stole benefits, and now, because of that alleged criminal activity, families say they are being denied the benefits they need.
On this segment: Tayler Sanders, Family Advocate with the Autism Family Alliance.
Source: Autism Family Alliance
11:50 · Dearborn Signage, Your Calls, and Salute the Troops
- Facebook post: a Home Depot in Dearborn, Michigan has added Arabic to its in store signage.
- Many major retailers in Dearborn have added Arabic as well, at locations including Walmart, Home Depot, Costco, Kroger, and Albertsons. Is this capitulation, or simply a sound business decision?
- Are planned data centers being targeted by the CCP by way of TikTok and other social media in the United States? (The Honorable Steve Yates is a Senior Research Fellow for China and National Security Policy and Chung Ju Yung Fellow at The Heritage Foundation.)
- This slot is open for DIAL producers and callers.
Salute the Troops closes today’s show.
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Ninth Night of U.S. Strikes on Iran, Russia’s Largest Missile Barrage on Kyiv, Starship Flight 13 Scrubbed | Your News Talk America | July 20, 2026
Your News Talk America with Jake Smith
Monday, July 20, 2026 · 9:00am to 12:00pm ET
Ninth night of U.S. strikes on Iran · Russia’s largest ballistic barrage on Kyiv · Starship Flight 13 scrubbed · The networks and the president’s address
Today’s Guests
Paul Davis is Vice President at the Institute of World Politics. Bio
EJ Kimball is Director of Policy for the U.S. Israel Education Association, where he works directly with members of Congress and their staffs on Israel policy. U.S. Israel Education Association
Brigadier General Blaine Holt, USAF (ret) is host of the Dangerous Intellectuals Podcast. Episode 45, The Fight for Cognitive Liberty, is out now. DangerousIntellectuals.com
Christopher Lee Jones is founder and president of Satellite Orbital Access and Removal (SOAR), a Florida startup developing technology to capture small pieces of orbital debris. A retired Miami-Dade Fire Rescue firefighter and paramedic, Jones moved into the space sector after researching orbital debris and the Kessler syndrome. He is the author of Mars Mission I: Surviving the Kessler Effect and is working with the University of Texas at El Paso on a patented passive debris capture system aimed at improving the long term sustainability of the orbital environment. SOAR
Dennis Kneale is a veteran business journalist, a proud Florida resident, and author of The Leadership Genius of Elon Musk. His latest book is Oregoners. Oregoners
Dr. James Robbins is Dean of the Institute of World Politics and a former Senior Advisor to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Bio
Rabbi Michael Barclay hosts the radio show and podcast The Rabbi’s Table: Dialogue Not Debate on CRN Digital Talk Radio, where he leads bold conversations on religion, freedom, Israel, America, and today’s most pressing cultural issues. The Rabbi’s Table
Christine Balling is Senior Vice President for Professional Affiliations at the Institute of World Politics. Institute of World Politics
9:00 · Show Open: Ninth Straight Night of U.S. Strikes on Iran
Jake opens on the widening fight over the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM says the newest wave of strikes on Iran began at 7 p.m. ET, the ninth consecutive night of the campaign, with the stated aim of degrading the Iranian capabilities being used against commercial vessels and civilian mariners moving through the strait.
- CENTCOM says the strikes will continue degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
- Tehran says the U.S. hit a nuclear power plant under construction in southern Iran and calls the strike a clear violation of international law, according to The Times of London.
- Iranian media reported explosions in Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr, and Bandar Imam Khomeini.
- Iran has been answering back by targeting U.S. bases and other infrastructure in neighboring countries, The Jerusalem Post reports.
- The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency logged a report of a vessel on fire roughly 8 nautical miles northwest of Kumzar, Oman, from a source it described as verified.
Guest: Paul Davis, Institute of World Politics
9:20 · Escalation, American Casualties, and the Iraq Energy Play
A source tells the Jerusalem Post that the president is leaning toward escalation, with one official saying that barring an unexpected development the odds of a diplomatic solution with Iran are now close to zero. Paul Davis walks through what that means for American forces spread across the region.
- American service members were killed defending against an Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack on a base in Jordan. Full report
- Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is no longer inside Iran, according to an Israeli security source cited by the Saudi outlet Al Hadath. Should Israel expect to rejoin the fight? (Fox News)
- The IDF says Israel is ready to resume fighting after Iranian missile debris came down near Eilat.
- The U.S. Embassy in Bahrain issued a security alert Sunday warning that Iran may target unspecified locations in central Manama, and urging Americans to stay vigilant and follow the guidance of local authorities.
- Manama sits on Bahrain’s northeastern coast, east of Saudi Arabia, and is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet.
- BP and ConocoPhillips are partnering on a giant Iraqi oilfield, following the Oval Office meeting between President Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi. OilPrice.com
Guest: Paul Davis, Institute of World Politics
9:35 · Monologue: From Deescalation to Escalation
Jake takes the hour to the front of the story. A ceasefire that was supposed to wind the war down has instead produced nine straight nights of American strikes, dead U.S. service members in Jordan, and a shipping lane that much of the world’s energy depends on turned into a shooting gallery. How did the off ramp become the on ramp?
9:45 · Where Is Iran’s Supreme Leader, and Is Israel Coming Back In?
EJ Kimball is in regular contact with offices on Capitol Hill. Jake asks him how members and staff are reacting to a conflict that has swung back to escalation, and what the reporting on Iran’s leadership vacuum means for the next phase.
- An Israeli security source cited by Saudi outlet Al Hadath says supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is not in Iran, and that statements issued in his name are being drafted by IRGC leadership. (Fox News)
- The IDF says Israel is ready to resume fighting after Iranian missile debris crashed near Eilat.
- How is Congress reading the collapse of the diplomatic track, and what does it want to see before the next tranche of support moves?
Guest: EJ Kimball, U.S. Israel Education Association
10:00 · Two Wars, One Information Battlefield
Brigadier General Blaine Holt takes the wide view: the Iran campaign, the largest ballistic missile barrage Russia has thrown at Kyiv, and the fight over what people are allowed to think about either one.
- CENTCOM’s ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iran, with explosions reported in Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr, and Bandar Imam Khomeini.
- Tehran says the U.S. struck a nuclear power plant under construction in southern Iran and calls it a violation of international law. (The Times of London)
- Russia launched one of its largest ballistic missile attacks of the war overnight into Sunday. Ukraine’s air force described a massive combined strike using attack drones and air and ground launched missiles, with Kyiv as the main target.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky said the enemy fired more than 40 missiles of various types, most of them at the capital, along with 120 attack drones.
- If Keir Starmer answers to the City of London, some argue he is effectively its mayor. Was Burner installed?
- Dangerous Intellectuals Podcast Episode 45 is up and ready to consume: human cognition under attack in fifth generation warfare, with the goal of controlling all human thought.
Guest: Brigadier General Blaine Holt, USAF (ret), host of Dangerous Intellectuals Podcast, Episode 45: The Fight for Cognitive Liberty
10:30 · Mission Aborted: Starship, Space Debris, and the Kessler Effect
SpaceX called off the launch of Starship Flight 13 after an automated system caught a problem during engine ignition seconds before liftoff. Christopher Lee Jones joins Jake on what the scrub says about the program, and on the orbital debris problem that could close space to everyone.
- Elon Musk said the issue involved Raptor engines that will be removed and replaced before the next attempt, which he expects within days.
- The mission was set to test Starship’s latest upgrades and deploy 20 next generation Starlink satellites, a key milestone for reusable spaceflight, lunar missions, and Mars.
- The scrub also weighed on newly public SpaceX stock, which slipped after the delay.
- What are the biggest obstacles standing between us and a successful crewed mission to Mars?
- What is SpaceX getting right about the future of space exploration, and what still has to be solved?
- Critics say SpaceX moves too fast. Supporters say that is the only way to innovate. Where does Jones come down?
- What is the Kessler Effect, and why should anyone outside the space industry care about debris?
- How do we keep the benefits of satellites without wrecking the orbital environment?
- What should the public understand about the opportunities and the risks of becoming a multiplanetary civilization?
- Could Starship itself become part of the fix by flying debris removal missions, and could a future flight carry SOAR technology?
- What is Mars Mission I: Surviving the Kessler Effect about?
Guest: Christopher Lee Jones, founder and president, Satellite Orbital Access and Removal (SOAR)
10:50 · The Media Had No Right to Hide Trump’s Thursday Night Speech
Dennis Kneale on the networks that passed on the president’s prime time address, and what the decision says about who now controls the flow of information to the American public.
- Did the networks abandon their duty to inform the public by declining to carry a presidential address?
- When does legitimate editorial judgment become information control?
- Why not carry the speech and then challenge its claims afterward?
- Have journalists moved from reporting the news to deciding what Americans are permitted to hear?
- What the preemptive dismissal of the address reveals about political bias inside national newsrooms.
- How media gatekeeping keeps deepening the crisis of trust in journalism. (Publius)
Guest: Dennis Kneale, author of The Leadership Genius of Elon Musk and Oregoners
11:00 · Two Fronts: The Strait of Hormuz and the Skies Over Kyiv
Dr. James Robbins on the strategic picture as the Iran campaign runs into its ninth night and Russia escalates against Ukraine’s capital in the same 24 hours.
- CENTCOM’s ninth consecutive night of strikes, aimed at Iranian capabilities used against shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Tehran says a nuclear power plant under construction in southern Iran was hit and calls it a violation of international law. (The Times of London)
- American service members killed in the Iranian missile and drone attack on a base in Jordan.
- An Israeli security source cited by Al Hadath says Mojtaba Khamenei is out of the country, and the IDF says Israel is ready to rejoin the fight. (Fox News)
- Russia’s overnight barrage on Kyiv: more than 40 missiles of various types and 120 attack drones, in one of the largest ballistic attacks since the invasion began.
- Does Moscow read American focus on the Gulf as an opening?
Guest: Dr. James Robbins, Dean, Institute of World Politics
11:20 · Back From Israel, and Two Ugly Stories From New York
Rabbi Michael Barclay has just returned from Israel. Jake asks him how the Israeli government is reading the return to escalation with Iran, and then turns to two stories out of New York City that landed hard over the weekend.
- What is the mood inside Israel as the fight with Iran heats back up?
- The Jerusalem Post reports the IDF has publicly stated it is ready to rejoin the fight. Was that statement meant for Tehran’s ears?
- An Israeli security source cited by Al Hadath says supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is not in Iran. (Fox News)
- A vandal threw motor oil and feces at a pair of Queens synagogues, according to police sources and a neighborhood safety group. Worshippers found the mess Friday morning outside the two houses of worship, said Steven Saphirstein, community outreach coordinator for Queens Shmira. New York Post
- A 96 year old Auschwitz survivor says he now hides his Star of David chain because of spiraling antisemitism in New York City. Jerry Wartski says the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America are being infiltrated by antisemites, and that the climate has Jews feeling unsafe on the street. New York Post
Guest: Rabbi Michael Barclay, host of The Rabbi’s Table: Dialogue Not Debate
11:30 · Russia Pounds Kyiv With the Largest Missile Attack of the War
Christine Balling closes the show on the two theaters at once: nine nights of American strikes on Iran, and a Russian barrage on Kyiv that Ukrainian officials describe as the biggest ballistic attack of the war.
- CENTCOM’s ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets and air defenses as the conflict keeps escalating.
- Tehran says the U.S. hit a nuclear power plant under construction in southern Iran. (The Times of London)
- American service members killed in the Iranian attack on a base in Jordan.
- An Israeli security source cited by Al Hadath says Mojtaba Khamenei is no longer in Iran, and the IDF says it is ready to resume fighting after debris fell near Eilat. (Fox News)
- Are the attacks on Kyiv a sign that Putin is himself under pressure to end this war?
Guest: Christine Balling, Senior Vice President for Professional Affiliations, Institute of World Politics
11:50 · Salute the Troops
Jake closes the show honoring the men and women in uniform, with American service members killed in action in Jordan this week and thousands more standing watch across the region.
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Iran Strikes Escalate, ICE Vehicle Pursuits Reinstated, California Trash Inspections | Your News Talk America | July 17, 2026
Your News Talk America
Daily Show Notes with Jake Smith · July 17, 2026
Today’s Guests
Kevin Jackson · Radio talk show host. thekevinjacksonnetwork.com
Mark Meckler · President and cofounder of Convention of States Action. One of the nation’s most successful grassroots activists, Meckler cofounded the Tea Party Patriots, whose 23 million volunteers organized and executed one of the most dramatic swings of congressional power in U.S. history. conventionofstates.com
Anna Giaritelli · Homeland Security Reporter, Washington Examiner. washingtonexaminer.com/author/anna-giaritelli
Joe Hoft · Author of The Steal Volumes 1 through 3. joehoft.com
Brittany Madni · Executive Vice President of the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC). Madni served as a Congressional aide and trusted senior advisor for a decade on Capitol Hill, with an emphasis on budget and appropriations strategy. epicforamerica.org/bios/brittany-madni
John O’Connor · Former Assistant U.S. Attorney in Northern California and the nation’s foremost expert on the Watergate scandal. Author of Postgate: How the Washington Post Betrayed Deep Throat, Covered Up Watergate, and Began Today’s Partisan Advocacy Journalism and its sequel The Mysteries of Watergate: What Really Happened. Order both books at postgatebook.com
Ryan Morgan · Pentagon and Military Reporter for the Epoch Times. ryan.morgan@epochtimes.us
Brigham A. McCown · U.S. Navy (ret). Senior Fellow and Director, Initiative on American Energy Security at the Hudson Institute. hudson.org/experts/1473-brigham-mccown
Murray Sabrin, PhD · Mises Institute Associated Scholar and Emeritus Professor of Finance at Ramapo College of New Jersey.
9:00 Show Open: Trump Lays Out the Evidence
Jake opens with reaction to President Trump’s address to the nation. Trump framed the speech as both a summary of first term accomplishments heading into the Midterms and a warning about potential election theft through foreign interference.
- If the evidence holds up, U.S. government agencies and employees paid for with taxpayer dollars conspired with a foreign enemy to steal the 2020 election.
- Many Americans who tuned in to the President’s warning believe no one will ever be brought to justice.
- What to make of NBC and ABC declining to air a presidential address.
Guest: Kevin Jackson
9:20 ICE Pursuits, the DSA Fight, and Iran
- The President overruled DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and reinstated ICE vehicle pursuits. Kevin’s analysis of the reversal.
- The fight for control between the Democrat Communist Party and the Democrat Socialists of America is underway, and why DSA candidates, many of whom identify as minorities, are getting pulled in.
- The Iran war is back, and what it means for the President, the Republican Party, and the nation in November.
Guest: Kevin Jackson
9:35 Jake’s Monologue
9:45 Open: Trump Speech Reaction
Segment left open for reaction to the President’s address, with DIAL producers and callers weighing in.
10:00 The Deep State, the 17th Amendment, and Term Limits
Mark Meckler reacts to the President’s address and the claim that the Deep State is real and conspires with enemy foreign governments. The conversation turns to the Mitch McConnell AI videos circulating on social media and whether the 17th Amendment has turned the U.S. Senate into a lifetime, exclusive club. As American families face modern economic and social challenges, Washington remains run by a 40 to 50 year club of politicians who arrived in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Meckler argues permanent seniority is actively damaging the country and that standard term limits alone will not fix it short of repealing the 17th Amendment.
- The Insulated Ruling Class: decades of seniority create a political class with no downside risk for bad policy, leading to massive bills, lobbyist carveouts, and a focus on the next election rather than the next generation.
- The Lifestyle of Power: why modern politicians refuse to step aside for generational change as Washington shifts from public service to a lifestyle of perks, prestige, and self serving fundraising networks.
- Erosion of Public Trust: how forty year incumbents from both parties signal to voters that elections are a formality and the system is permanently rigged, driving public trust to historic lows.
- The Hidden Danger of Congressional Only Term Limits: limiting terms for elected politicians alone shifts total control to unelected bureaucrats and staffers, the deep state. True reform requires simultaneous term limits on federal agencies and staff to prevent an unaccountable power imbalance.
Guest: Mark Meckler
10:20 Trump Steps In to Restart ICE Vehicle Pursuits
- After the suspension of ICE vehicle pursuits, President Trump intervenes directly with orders to resume. What the reversal means.
- Why DHS is so quick to bow to political pressure when the American people voted for enforcement.
- Whether the President is concerned his promise to round up and remove large numbers of illegal immigrants will fall short before the Midterms.
- Whether forcing that shortfall is exactly what opponents of removals are trying to do.
Guest: Anna Giaritelli
10:30 The Steal, China, and What Comes Next
- Joe Hoft’s reaction to the President’s speech.
- In The Steal Volume 1, Hoft detailed how China planned to meddle in the 2020 election because Trump was causing it economic pain. The CCP wanted Joe Biden in the Oval Office, and they succeeded.
- Now that the account is public, what happens next. Most Americans doubt any American co conspirators will be punished.
- With the war with Iran resumed, the long and short term political risks for the President and Republicans as the IRGC drags it out.
Guest: Joe Hoft
10:50 Budget Reconciliation: The $95 Billion Party Line Push
An update on the Budget Reconciliation bill with EPIC’s Brittany Madni.
- House Republicans advanced their budget plan out of committee Thursday afternoon, the first legislative step toward a third party line reconciliation package ahead of the impending August recess.
- The House Budget Committee approved the resolution along party lines, 20 to 14, unlocking $95 billion for a GOP only package to fund the Pentagon, farmers, and other priorities the President has demanded.
- The blueprint does not include instructions to committees to find the deep savings fiscal hawks wanted to offset the new spending. Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) tried to calm those concerns by pointing to executive branch action, citing the President’s whole of government attack on more than $500 billion a year in fraud.
Source: Politico · House GOP takes first step on $95 billion party line package
Guest: Brittany Madni
11:00 California’s Trash Inspectors and the Watergate Cover Up
California garbage inspections. California cities will begin inspecting resident waste bins under a bill requiring reductions in methane emissions, a move the show calls straight out of the EU socialist playbook. No fines are issued at first, but residents receive unsolicited feedback on a tag city workers leave behind, worn in high visibility vests and badges as they look through the garbage.
Source: New York Post · Sacramento deploys trash inspectors under Newsom methane rules
Watergate and the CIA. In a new opinion piece, John O’Connor argues the newspaper credited with saving democracy spent 50 years hiding the CIA’s role in Watergate.
- Why the CIA targeted Nixon and his presidency.
- Nixon has been vilified historically for what O’Connor calls minor misconduct, while a newspaper that willfully misled the public about a sitting president’s guilt, and caused his removal, escapes scrutiny.
- The damage did not end there, as left leaning media have since been incentivized to act as partisan kingmakers and kingbreakers.
- O’Connor’s lesson: not shame on Nixon, but shame on the Washington Post.
Source: postgatebook.com · The Watergate Truth
Guest: John O’Connor
11:20 CENTCOM’s Sixth Night of Strikes and Iran’s Threats
- CENTCOM says it is holding Iran accountable and has completed a sixth night of strikes against military targets. More than 50,000 U.S. service members stationed in the Middle East remain vigilant, lethal, and ready.
- Iran’s IRGC claims it targeted a U.S. command center at al-Tanf in Syria in retaliation for recent American strikes.
- Sirens sounded across Bahrain and Kuwait after a reported Iranian attack on U.S. helicopters and reconnaissance aircraft at Shakir Airbase.
- The Trump administration is expected to broaden its campaign against Iran with a wider range of strikes and an expanded target list, though timing remains unclear.
- Iran warns it will escalate missile attacks if Washington intensifies, threatening to destroy infrastructure across the region if its own infrastructure is hit. If the U.S. strikes Iran’s energy infrastructure, Iran threatens energy targets in neighboring Gulf States, with the added question of Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping.
- Iran may be playing a short game, since workarounds to the Strait of Hormuz would do long term damage to Iran’s oil exports and economy.
Guests: Ryan Morgan · Brigham A. McCown
11:30 250 Years of Independence and the Constitution
- Celebrating 250 years of American independence.
- California inspecting residents’ trash cans. Does that require a search warrant?
- Speed cameras. Are they constitutional?
- ICE pursuits. What are the constitutional requirements?
Guest: Murray Sabrin, PhD
11:50 Salute the Troops
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