Breaking Battlegrounds

The Decisions Shaping America with Katie Harbath, Kip Herriage, U.S. Senator Jon Husted & Gary Gygi

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we are joined by Katie Harbath, Kip Herriage, U.S. Senator Jon Husted, & Gary Gygi for a packed show on AI, politics, the Federal Reserve, data centers, immigration, college sports, the national debt, & the future of the American economy. Katie Harbath, founder of Anchor Change & author of the upcoming book Disrupting Politics: A Front Row Seat to the Collision of Technology & Democracy, explains how social media transformed campaigns, why authenticity still matters, how candidates are adapting to podcasts & influencers, & what AI could mean for elections, information, & everyday life. Follow Katie on X, Facebook, & Instagram: @KatieHarbath Substack: Anchor Change with Katie Harbath Check out Disrupting Politics: A Front Row Seat to the Collision of Technology & Democracy, October 6 or pre-order through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, or Simon & Schuster. B’s Crime Corner takes on a new Florida murder case. Attorney Steven Cozzi was representing clients in a legal battle against plastic surgeon Dr. Tomasz Kosowski when Cozzi vanished from his law office. B breaks down the trial, surveillance footage, & the trail of evidence found prosecutors say connects Dr. Kosowski to the disappearance. Then Kip Herriage, Managing Partner & Founder of Vertical Research Advisory, joins to discuss the Fed’s latest rate hike, Kevin Warsh, inflation, oil prices, Iran, AI, data centers, & the market outlook. Kip spent 15 years on Wall Street, helped take seven companies public, & raised hundreds of millions in venture capital. Vertical Research Advisory has outperformed the market in 19 of 22 years averaging 38% annually since calling the October 2022 bear-market bottom. Follow on X: @KHerriage Website: vraletter.com U.S. Senator Jon Husted of Ohio discusses his push to cap foreign athletes on college rosters, the Ratepayer Protection Act & who should pay for data-center energy infrastructure, legislation targeting driver’s licenses for people in the country illegally, energy costs, & his Upward Mobility Act aimed at easing the benefits cliff. Follow on Instagram & X: @SenJonHusted Facebook: Senator Jon Husted Official Campaign X: @TeamHusted Website: www.jonhustedforsenate.com Gary Gygi, President & CEO of Gygi Capital, closes with his take on the Fed, interest rates, inflation, the global oil market, U.S. debt, government spending, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, & whether stronger growth plus spending cuts can put the country on a more sustainable path. Follow Gary on X: @GaryGygi Check out his investment advisory services at gygicapital.com or call 801-787-0342 Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts. Stay connected: • Substack: @breakingbattlegrounds • Website: breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: @breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds Enjoy the show? Leave a 5-star review & share! We are one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, & world-recognized reporters about the opportunities & hurdles the U.S faces.

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9/11, Police Trauma, & Surveillance with Dr. Juliana Pilon, Lt. Randy Sutton, Laura Bondank-Harmon

Twenty-five years after 9/11, what has America learned, and what have we forgotten? This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone tackle 9/11, socialism, child trafficking, police trauma, and the growing debate over government surveillance and Flock cameras. Dr. Juliana Geran Pilon, Senior Fellow at the Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization and an author, joins Chuck and Sam to examine what America has and has not learned since 9/11. She warns that America remains vulnerable not only physically, but psychologically and ideologically. Website: www.julianapilon.com In B’s Crime Corner, we break down the Florida operation that recovered 163 missing children. Chuck, Sam, and B discuss vulnerable children, abusive situations, foster care, trafficking, and how predators use dependency, isolation, and trust to exploit victims. Next, Lieutenant Randy Sutton (Ret.), a retired police lieutenant with more than 34 years in law enforcement and founder and executive producer of The Wounded Blue, discusses police suicide, post-traumatic stress, and what happens when injured officers are abandoned by the departments they served. He explains how witnessing death and tragedy can follow officers home and why reducing the stigma around treatment is critical. Sutton also shares how his own experience led him to create The Wounded Blue and Cops Coffee, which donates 100% of its profits to support injured and disabled U.S. law enforcement officers. Check out Randy Sutton and The Wounded Blue: Website: www.thewoundedblue.org Cops Coffee: copscoffee.org X: @LtRandySutton Instagram: @lt.randysutton @WoundedBlue Finally, Laura Bondank-Harmon, Manager of Legal Programs for the Cato Institute’s Project on Criminal Justice and Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies and Managing Editor of the Cato Supreme Court Review, joins the show to examine Flock cameras, automated license plate readers, AI surveillance, privacy, and the Fourth Amendment. She explains how these systems collect far more than a license plate, creating searchable records of vehicles and their movements. Chuck and Sam ask where the line should be drawn between fighting crime and creating a surveillance state. Check out Laura Bondank-Harmon’s work: Cato Institute on X: @CatoInstitute Website: Cato.org Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: @breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds Enjoy the show? Leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

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Adam Michel, Ludovic Hood, Gary Marx & Gary Gygi on $200T DSA, Iran, Ukraine & the Fed

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck Warren and Sam Stone cover the potential cost of the Democratic Socialists of America’s agenda, pressure on Iran, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Federal Reserve, and a major breaking development in the Lindsay Clancy case. Adam Michel, Director of Tax Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, breaks down his analysis of the DSA platform and why he estimates its largest proposals could require roughly $70 trillion to $200 trillion in additional federal spending over ten years. Michel explains why taxing wealthy Americans alone would fall far short, while also discussing a federal jobs guarantee, Social Security, declining birth rates, immigration, and America’s growing fiscal pressures. Follow Adam on X: @adamnmichel Read his substack Liberty Taxed: A Blog on US Tax Policy In B’s Crime Corner, we break down the latest twist in the Lindsay Clancy case announced today and the major questions now surrounding what happens next. The conversation looks at the broader implications of the defense arguments and what this case could mean for how postpartum mental health, criminal responsibility, and even workplace or legal decisions involving women are handled in the future. Ludovic Hood, Senior Fellow with Hudson Institute’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East and a former U.S. Foreign Service officer, examines Iran, sanctions enforcement, the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf security, Iran’s regional influence, and the future of cooperation between Israel and Arab states. Follow Ludovic on X: @Ludo_Hood Gary Marx, President of Madison Strategies and the Concord Fund and Senior Advisor to the Judicial Crisis Network, gives an on-the-ground look at Russia’s war against Ukraine. After multiple trips to the country, Marx discusses Ukraine’s expanding drone war, attacks reaching Moscow and St. Petersburg, missile strikes, air-defense shortages, the battlefield “kill zone,” and how the war could eventually end. Follow Gary on X: @Garymarx Listen to Peace & Power Ukraine Finally, Gary Gygi, President and CEO of Gygi Capital, breaks down jobs, inflation, interest rates, tariffs, federal deficits, and the Federal Reserve. Gygi explains why upcoming inflation data could influence the Fed’s next move and why federal spending remains central to America’s fiscal outlook. Follow Gary on X: @GaryGygi GygiCapital.com Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: @breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

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Boad Swanson, Cory J. Ruth, Congressman Dusty Johnson & Max Klinger on Socialism, & Surveillance

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Sam Stone is joined by Boad Swanson, Cory J. Ruth, Congressman Dusty Johnson and Max Klinger to discuss America’s crisis of character, socialism, government surveillance, rising beef prices, Washington dysfunction and ideology inside universities. Plus, B’s Crime Corner covers a horrifying North Dakota child murder case. Author and entrepreneur Boad Swanson discusses his book, Great Souled Men: Reclaiming Aristotle’s Vision for Building Character and Virtue. He explains Aristotle’s 12 virtues, the crisis facing young men, the influence of the modern manosphere and how youth sports have shifted from teamwork toward specialization and burnout. Facebook: Boad Swanson Instagram: @rboads Website: GreatSouledMen.com Book: Great Souled Men B’s Crime Corner examines the August 6 North Dakota case involving a 22 year old mother accused of killing two of her children and attempting to kill a third. B and Sam discuss reported postpartum depression, warnings before the killings, nine criminal charges and similarities to the Lindsay Clancy case. Political strategist, economist and Mergence Global CEO Cory J. Ruth discusses the appeal of MAGA and democratic socialism, information overload and rapid cultural change. He also explains the growing capabilities of government surveillance systems and the need for transparency. Ruth previews Double Click: What the Numbers Really Say About Black America, examining Black America as an emerging economic market. Facebook: Cory Ruth X: @coryjruth Instagram: @officialcoryruth Book: Double Click, coming February 2027 Congressman Dusty Johnson breaks down Washington dysfunction, the Farm Bill and why beef prices remain high. He also discusses President Trump and Canada, affordability, legal immigration, nuclear power and permitting reform, warning that America is falling behind other countries in building major infrastructure. X: @RepDustyJohnson Journalist and political analyst Max Klinger discusses his experience studying social sciences at Cambridge and what he sees as ideological capture inside academia. He examines activism presented as scholarship, its spread into K through 12 education, pressure on academics to conform and professors who have privately contacted him with similar concerns. X: @MaxE2review Substack: @maxthinks Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: @breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles facing the United States.

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Noah Rothman, Myrka Dellanos, Jack Cheevers & Gary Gygi on AI, Iran, Debt & Vietnam

What happens when AI panic, Iran, socialism, campus crime, history, and America’s $40 trillion debt crisis collide? This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck Warren and Sam Stone are joined by journalist Noah Rothman, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Myrka Dellanos, author Jack Cheevers, and financial expert Gary Gygi. Plus, B’s Crime Corner investigates the Penn State cocaine ring and the infamous “Pablo Pledge Escobar” nickname tied to the case. Noah Rothman kicks things off with the political backlash against AI data centers and why fear of rapid change is fueling the debate. He explains the growing battle over computing power, energy, and America’s race with China for AI dominance. Noah also examines Trump’s strategy in the Strait of Hormuz, pressure on Iran’s economy, and the potential for growing instability inside the regime. Follow Noah on X: @NoahCRothman Book: Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence Then, B’s Crime Corner dives into the Penn State cocaine ring, where investigators uncovered an alleged fraternity-connected drug operation involving current and former students. The case includes digital payment apps, social media, and the nickname “Pablo Pledge Escobar.” Next, Myrka Dellanos discusses socialism and communism through the personal story of her family’s escape from Cuba. She explains why younger generations can be attracted to radical politics, the influence of media messaging, and the importance of remembering what life under communist regimes actually looked like. Follow Myrka on Instagram: @myrkadellanos Myrka is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, professor of journalism and public speaking, and entrepreneur. Jack Cheevers takes us back to the Kennedy administration and the decisions that pushed America deeper into Vietnam. He examines the 1963 coup against South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem, the instability that followed, and why this turning point deserves greater attention. Book: Kennedy’s Coup: A White House Plot, a Saigon Murder, and America’s Descent into Vietnam Finally, Gary Gygi breaks down America’s $40 trillion national debt, the bond market, inflation, and rising borrowing costs. He explains why spending, entitlements, and long-term fiscal discipline could have major consequences for investors and the U.S. economy. Follow Gary on X: @GaryGygi Visit: gygicapital.com Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: @breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

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AI, China & Latin America's Rightward Shift with Juan David Rojas, Devan Patel & Dr. Jody Edward Ginn

What happens when artificial intelligence, government power, China, climate politics, and human vulnerability collide? This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck Warren and Sam Stone are joined by journalist Juan David Rojas, attorney and AI ethics fellow Devan Patel, and historian Dr. Jody Edward Ginn. Plus, B's Crime Corner examines the tragic Lindsay Clancy case and the role postpartum psychosis played in one of the most disturbing cases in recent years. Juan David Rojas joins the show to discuss climate politics and the political shift taking place across Latin America. Juan recalls watching Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth as an elementary school student in Florida and the fear created by some of the film's predictions about hurricanes, flooding, and climate change. While acknowledging the broader concerns surrounding climate change, he argues that exaggerated predictions and partisan messaging can undermine public trust. Juan also explains why failed energy policies may be helping fuel a conservative resurgence across Latin America, particularly in oil-dependent nations where left-wing governments have attempted to rapidly move away from fossil fuels at significant economic cost. Follow Juan David Rojas on X: @rojasrjuand Next, Devan Patel joins Chuck and Sam for an in-depth conversation about the rapidly changing world of artificial intelligence. Patel examines how Americans can better educate themselves on AI, the philosophical dangers of transhumanism, and the growing push to use technology to overcome fundamental limits of human existence. The conversation turns to one of the biggest questions facing policymakers: How much power should government have over AI? Patel argues for guardrails surrounding critical infrastructure, child safety, fraud, vulnerable populations, and emerging mental-health concerns while warning against government overreach, mass surveillance, privacy violations, and excessive corporate control. Patel also discusses the United States' technological rivalry with the Chinese Communist Party, arguing that America may need both formal and informal channels of communication with Beijing similar to U.S.-Soviet dialogue during the Cold War. He explains why American allies, global critical-mineral supplies, advanced semiconductor production, and international cooperation will all play major roles in the AI race. The conversation explores Marc Andreessen's accelerationism and Techno-Optimist Manifesto, antitrust concerns, corporate power, collective bargaining, lethal autonomous weapons, nuclear security, biotechnology risks, and whether the United States and China can find limited areas of cooperation before increasingly powerful AI systems become even harder to control. Patel also warns about authoritarian surveillance technology spreading around the world and argues that churches and other faith institutions may have an important role to play in protecting civil society and establishing moral guardrails against technological overreach. Learn more about Devan Patel: DevanPatel.com Then, B's Crime Corner examines the tragic case of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother and former labor and delivery nurse accused of killing her three young children in 2023. The segment looks at Clancy's reported mental-health struggles following childbirth, the medications she had been prescribed, and the role postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis have played in the legal and public debate surrounding the case. Finally, historian and educator Dr. Jody Edward Ginn joins the program to discuss the state of history education in America. Ginn argues that declining academic standards, ideological changes within higher education, and shifts in teacher-training programs have left too many classrooms without educators who possess deep subject-matter expertise. The conversation examines what that means for students learning American history — and what may be lost when ideology replaces rigorous historical scholarship. Follow Dr. Jody Edward Ginn on X: @JEGHistorian and check out his website reclaimingtexashistory.com Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

The Fauci Diaries: Power, Public Health & America's Fight for Health Freedom with Jennifer Galardi

In this special one-on-one conversation, Chuck Warren sits down with Jennifer Galardi, Senior Policy Analyst for Restoring American Wellness in The Heritage Foundation's DeVos Center, for a wide-ranging discussion about Anthony Fauci, the Fauci Diaries, and what happens when public health officials gain enormous power with too little accountability. Jennifer examines Fauci's record from the AIDS and Ebola crises through COVID-19, including his controversial role during the pandemic and the consequences of policies that isolated the elderly, disrupted childhood development, and changed the relationship between Americans, doctors, and government health authorities. Chuck and Jennifer also discuss the rise of technocratic government, digital health passports, censorship, the growing distrust of the traditional healthcare system, and why more Americans are turning toward functional medicine and taking greater control of their own health. They close with the growing Make America Healthy Again movement and Jennifer's argument that real health sovereignty may begin with something much simpler: real food, time outdoors, better daily habits, and empowering Americans with the truth about preventable chronic disease. Follow Jennifer Galardi on X: @JennGalardi Catch the full conversation on Breaking Battlegrounds wherever you get your podcasts. In this special one-on-one conversation, Chuck Warren sits down with Jennifer Galardi, Senior Policy Analyst for Restoring American Wellness in The Heritage Foundation's DeVos Center, for a wide-ranging discussion about Anthony Fauci, the Fauci Diaries, and what happens when public health officials gain enormous power with too little accountability. Jennifer examines Fauci's record from the AIDS and Ebola crises through COVID-19, including his controversial role during the pandemic and the consequences of policies that isolated the elderly, disrupted childhood development, and changed the relationship between Americans, doctors, and government health authorities. Chuck and Jennifer also discuss the rise of technocratic government, digital health passports, censorship, the growing distrust of the traditional healthcare system, and why more Americans are turning toward functional medicine and taking greater control of their own health. They close with the growing Make America Healthy Again movement and Jennifer's argument that real health sovereignty may begin with something much simpler: real food, time outdoors, better daily habits, and empowering Americans with the truth about preventable chronic disease. Follow Jennifer Galardi on X: @JennGalardi In this special one-on-one conversation, Chuck Warren sits down with Jennifer Galardi, Senior Policy Analyst for Restoring American Wellness in The Heritage Foundation's DeVos Center, for a wide-ranging discussion about Anthony Fauci, the Fauci Diaries, and what happens when public health officials gain enormous power with too little accountability. Jennifer examines Fauci's record from the AIDS and Ebola crises through COVID-19, including his controversial role during the pandemic and the consequences of policies that isolated the elderly, disrupted childhood development, and changed the relationship between Americans, doctors, and government health authorities. Chuck and Jennifer also discuss the rise of technocratic government, digital health passports, censorship, the growing distrust of the traditional healthcare system, and why more Americans are turning toward functional medicine and taking greater control of their own health. They close with the growing Make America Healthy Again movement and Jennifer's argument that real health sovereignty may begin with something much simpler: real food, time outdoors, better daily habits, and empowering Americans with the truth about preventable chronic disease. Follow Jennifer Galardi on X: @JennGalardi Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

Michael Sobolik on China & TikTok, Vince Torres on Fentanyl, Alex Welz on Iran & Alexa Lavoie on Ceuta

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone examine China's growing challenge to the United States, disturbing allegations involving fentanyl enforcement in New Mexico, the latest developments surrounding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, a 33-year-old NBA All-Star Weekend murder finally solved, and a dramatic migration crisis unfolding in Ceuta. Michael Sobolik, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and author of Countering China's Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance, joins Chuck and Sam to explain why he believes Washington has failed to adequately respond to China's political warfare. They discuss TikTok and ByteDance, America's dependence on Chinese supply chains, Taiwan's security, advanced semiconductor exports, India's growing strategic importance, and why rebuilding the U.S. defense industrial base could be critical in a future confrontation with Beijing. Follow Michael Sobolik on X: @michaelsobolik Book: Countering China's Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance Next, Vince Torres, Executive Director of America First New Mexico, joins the show to discuss New Mexico's fentanyl crisis and allegations from DEA whistleblowers that agents were told not to seize certain large drug shipments. Vince also breaks down the state's education struggles, the push for school choice, and changing voter-registration trends that could reshape New Mexico politics. Follow Vince Torres on X: @VincentTorresNM Then, B's Crime Corner takes us back to Salt Lake City and the 1993 NBA All-Star Weekend, where a woman was murdered in a case that remained unsolved for more than three decades. New forensic technology ultimately helped investigators identify a suspect, leading to an arrest and guilty plea in 2025. Alex Welz, Senior Research Associate at The Heritage Foundation, joins the program with an update on the Iran war and what escalating tensions could mean for global energy markets and the Strait of Hormuz. He discusses Iran's weakened military and economic position, continued support from Russia and potentially China, Pakistan's regional role, and efforts to revive the Kirkuk-Banias pipeline as another route for Middle Eastern energy. Follow Alex Welz on X: @WelzAlex Finally, Quebec-based Rebel News journalist Alexa Lavoie joins Chuck Warren following her reporting from Ceuta. She describes how social-media claims about an supposedly open border helped trigger a massive attempted migration from Morocco, the role she says Moroccan authorities played in the crisis, the use of unaccompanied minors, and the growing divide inside Ceuta over humanitarian assistance, security, and control of the Spanish territory. Follow Alexa Lavoie on X: @ThevoiceAlexa Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

Fauci Under Fire, 16 Children in Danger and China's AI Strategy with Sam Lyman, Shandi Hudson and Gary Gygi

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Sam Stone is joined by B from B's Crime Corner to revisit the COVID-19 restrictions of 2020, Anthony Fauci's influence, vaccine requirements, and the conflicting information Americans were given about who was truly at risk. Then, B's Crime Corner examines the disturbing "Ohio House of Horrors" case, where 16 children were allegedly found living in deplorable conditions. Authorities said some may not have survived another 24 hours. Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, and Elizabeth Siders are accused in connection with the case. Sam Lyman, Head of Research at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, explains why America's Bitcoin, AI, and data-center infrastructure has become a national-security issue. He discusses Chinese influence campaigns targeting U.S. development, misinformation about data-center water use, and the choice between American AI and Chinese AI shaped by censorship. Follow Sam Lyman on X: @SamLyman33 Follow the Bitcoin Policy Institute on X: @bitcoinpolicy Shandi Hudson of Elite Senior Services explains why families should begin planning for senior care before a crisis. She breaks down placement options and how professional guidance can help families find the right care for their loved ones. Follow Shandi Hudson on Instagram: @shandinhudson Learn more: EliteSeniorAZ.com Gary Gygi, President and CEO of Gygi Capital Management, closes the show with his take on the Federal Reserve holding interest rates steady, Kevin Warsh's market-focused approach, and President Trump's use of tariffs as a negotiating tool. Follow Gary Gygi on X: @GaryGygi Learn more: GygiCapital.com Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

Andrew Gould on the Courts, Mike Garcia on Women's Sports, Sophie Cunningham, Charlie Kirk Trial Costs, and The Science of Stripper Tips

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck Warren and Sam Stone are joined by former Arizona Supreme Court Justice Andrew Gould, former Congressman Mike Garcia, comedian Lou Perez, and Utah County Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner. Plus, B breaks down the ongoing search for accused murderer Isabella Rose Johnson in this week's B's Crime Corner. Andrew Gould, a partner at Holtzman Vogel and former justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, joins the show to explain the major differences between serving as a judge and working as a litigator. While litigators advocate for a specific client or interest, judges are required to remain neutral, follow the Constitution, and apply the law regardless of political pressure. Gould discusses his transition between the bench and private practice and shares his concerns about the increasing politicization of the judiciary. He explains why judges should not be attacked for following the Constitution and addresses recent cases in which state and federal courts have been accused of resisting or defying Supreme Court rulings. The conversation also examines claims that the Trump administration has ignored court orders. Gould argues that while the administration has pushed the boundaries of executive authority, it has followed court decisions after losing its legal challenges. Gould also discusses a major Supreme Court campaign-finance case involving mandatory donor disclosure. He explains how forcing organizations to reveal their donors can expose individuals to harassment, retaliation, and political intimidation. The discussion expands into the importance of anonymous political speech, from the Federalist Papers to the Supreme Court's decision in NAACP v. Alabama. Gould also raises concerns about threats against conservative Supreme Court justices and the growing impact of government surveillance, private data collection, drones, and new technology on Americans' Fourth Amendment rights. Learn more about Andrew Gould and his work at Holtzman Vogel. Mike Garcia, chair of the California State Chapter for the America First Policy Institute and former U.S. representative for California's 27th Congressional District, joins the show to discuss biological males competing in women's sports, the political pressure driving Democrats further left, and why Republicans must move beyond social media and connect directly with voters through town halls, door knocking, and grassroots outreach. He also explains AFPI's role in developing policy and influencing White House executive orders. Follow Mike Garcia on X: @mikegarcia1776 In this week's B's Crime Corner, B examines the ongoing manhunt for Isabella Rose Johnson, who is wanted in connection with the murder of Jason Coulthart. Authorities say Johnson remains on the run and may be using aliases to conceal her identity. Five people accused of helping her avoid capture have now been arrested. As the search continues, the reward for information leading to her arrest has increased to $11,000. Comedian, producer, and author Lou Perez returns to the show to discuss the controversy surrounding Sophie Cunningham's comments about transgender athletes competing in women's sports. Lou examines the WNBA's position on the issue and points out that the league currently has no transgender women playing in it. The conversation then takes an unexpected turn as Lou breaks down a 2007 University of New Mexico study examining whether a lap dancer's ovulatory cycle affected her earnings. The study found that dancers earned more money in tips while ovulating, raising questions about biology, attraction, and whether customers were responding to subtle signals without realizing it. Lou also previews his upcoming "Parental Advisory" comedy show in New York City on July 30. Follow Lou Perez on X: @LouPerez Book: THAT JOKE ISN'T FUNNY ANYMORE: ON THE DEATH AND REBIRTH OF COMEDY Finally, Utah County Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner joins the show to discuss the massive financial and logistical burden the Charlie Kirk murder trial is placing on Utah County. Gardner estimates that security, staffing, court operations, and other trial-related expenses could cost the county between $2 million and $2.5 million through 2028. She explains how a nationally watched murder trial can strain local resources for years and why taxpayers may ultimately be responsible for much of the cost. Follow Amelia Powers Gardner on X: @Amelia4Utah Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

Election Security, Robert Durst's Hot Mic, the Woke Smithsonian & Global Upheaval

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone examine election security, Colorado's dramatic political transformation, one of true crime's most infamous hot-mic moments, the battle over American history at the Smithsonian, political upheaval in Latin America, and the Federal Reserve's fight against inflation. Ethan Barton, an editor at The Washington Free Beacon and former editor in chief of The Daily Caller News Foundation, joins Chuck and Sam to discuss President Donald Trump's recent election-security speech. Barton explains why concerns about foreign interference from countries such as China and Russia deserve serious attention, while arguing that combining separate election issues can sometimes weaken the broader message. The conversation then turns to Colorado's transformation from a competitive purple state into a reliably Democratic stronghold. Barton breaks down the role of strategic Democratic investment, liberal population centers, weak Republican infrastructure, limited donor support, taxes, business losses, and changing economic conditions. They also examine rising anti-Israel sentiment within portions of the Democratic Party and the closely watched race in Colorado's 8th Congressional District, where Republican incumbent Gabe Evans faces Democrat Manny Rutinel in one of the country's most competitive congressional battlegrounds. Follow Ethan Barton on X: @ethanrbarton Read his reporting at FreeBeacon.com Next, B's Crime Corner revisits the disturbing story of New York real-estate heir Robert Durst. Durst was long suspected in the 1982 disappearance of his wife, Kathie McCormack Durst, and the 2000 murder of his close friend Susan Berman. His secrets finally began to unravel during HBO's The Jinx when he entered a bathroom after an interview without realizing that his microphone was still recording. While speaking to himself, Durst uttered the chilling words that would become one of the most infamous moments in true-crime history. The recording helped renew attention on the case, and Durst was eventually convicted of Berman's murder in 2021. B's Crime Corner returns every Friday with a new story of murder, mystery, and mayhem. Mike Gonzalez, the Angeles T. Arredondo E Pluribus Unum Senior Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, joins the show to discuss a 162-page White House Domestic Policy Council report examining exhibits and educational materials at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Gonzalez argues that the museum has increasingly presented American history through ideological and activist frameworks instead of providing a balanced account of the nation's achievements and failures. He also explains the Smithsonian's enormous educational reach, its dependence on taxpayer funding, and why the institution's portrayal of American history matters as the country approaches its 250th anniversary. Follow Mike Gonzalez on X: @Gundisalvus Learn more at Heritage.org Carrie Filipetti, executive director of the Vandenberg Coalition and a former deputy assistant secretary of state for Cuba and Venezuela, joins Chuck and Sam to discuss the devastating earthquake in Venezuela and Colombia's recent presidential election. Filipetti examines the enormous loss of life and infrastructure damage in Venezuela, the government's delayed response, and the difficulties of delivering assistance while holding the country's ruling regime accountable. She also explains Colombia's rightward political shift following the election of Abelardo De La Espriella and what the result could mean for security, energy development, regional stability, and the future of relations between the United States and Colombia. Follow the Vandenberg Coalition on X: @VandenbergCo Connect with Carrie Filipetti on LinkedIn Learn more at VandenbergCoalition.org Finally, Gary Gygi, president of Gygi Capital Management, returns to discuss Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's approach to inflation and the economic outlook. Gygi explains why he views Warsh's supply-side focus as a potentially positive development for economic growth. He also examines the current market environment and identifies healthcare and materials as sectors investors may want to watch as inflation, interest rates, and federal monetary policy continue to shape the economy. Follow Gary Gygi on X: @GaryGygi Learn more at GygiCapital.com Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

Socialism, the Charlie Kirk Case, Chalino Sánchez & Arizona's ESA Fight

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, host Chuck Warren flys solo to examine the growing appeal of socialism, the failures of government price controls, allegations of foreign-funded political unrest, the Charlie Kirk murder case, Arizona's escalating school-choice battle, and a new approach to America's federal assistance programs. First, former prosecutor and U.S. Senate Chief of Staff Chuck Flint joins the show to explain why price controls often make housing, healthcare, and other necessities more expensive and less available. Using New York's rent policies and Obamacare as examples, Flint discusses the consequences of government interference in private markets and responds to the rise of socialist candidates such as Zohran Mamdani. Flint also discusses his experience as a prosecutor and examines how anti-ICE demonstrations and unrest are organized and financed. He outlines reported connections involving activist networks, Neville Roy Singham, and possible Chinese Communist Party influence. The conversation then turns to the preliminary hearing for the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk. Flint explains why death penalty cases require extensive procedural safeguards, how prosecutors attempt to protect a conviction from future appeals, and why poorly managed judicial dockets may contribute more to court backlogs than a shortage of judges. Follow Chuck Flint on X: @ChuckAFlint Learn more about the Alliance for IRS Accountability: IRSAccountability.org Next, B takes listeners inside the mysterious final hours of Chalino Sánchez in this week's B's Crime Corner. The Mexican corrido singer built his career by writing about violence, survival, cartels, and the experiences of people around him. During his final performance in Culiacán in May 1992, Sánchez was filmed reading a note that many believe contained a death threat. Hours later, armed men reportedly abducted him, and his body was discovered the following morning. Was the note truly his death sentence, and who ordered Chalino Sánchez's murder? Matt Beienburg, Director of Education Policy at the Goldwater Institute and Director of its Van Sittert Center for Constitutional Advocacy, then joins Chuck and Sam to discuss the fight over Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account program. Beienburg explains how teachers unions gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures for a ballot initiative that could significantly restrict the ESA program, which now serves approximately 100,000 students. He warns that the proposal could impose income limits, restrict eligibility, and remove unused scholarship money that families have saved for future educational expenses. He also discusses the Military Family Protection Act, a proposed Arizona constitutional amendment intended to protect scholarship funds belonging to military families. Because the proposal would be placed in the state Constitution, it could override conflicting statutory changes if voters approve both measures. The conversation also covers two Arizona ballot measures addressing race-based discrimination, the role of outside money in ballot campaigns, and whether voters receive enough information about who is financing major initiatives. Follow Matt Beienburg on X: @MBeienburg Learn more about his work: GoldwaterInstitute.org Finally, Nic Dunn, Vice President of Strategy and Senior Fellow at the Sutherland Institute, joins the show to discuss "empowerment accounts," a proposal to combine multiple federal assistance programs into one streamlined monthly benefit. Dunn explains how the system could reduce administrative complexity, provide stronger incentives for recipients to work and increase their earnings, and address the benefit cliffs that can punish families for becoming more financially independent. He also offers a balanced perspective on artificial intelligence, recognizing its potential benefits while addressing legitimate concerns about its social and economic effects. The discussion concludes with a look at how the Sutherland Institute uses podcasts, videos, and other multimedia formats to make detailed policy research accessible to a broader audience. Follow Nic Dunn on X: @nicdunnutah Learn more at SutherlandInstitute.org Listen to Nic's podcast, Defending Ideas, at DefendingIdeas.org Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

America 250, Ro Khanna's Finances & The July 4th Murders of Shane and Sally

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone bring listeners a special Fourth of July episode focused on America's founding principles, political hypocrisy, civic education, and a chilling unsolved Independence Day murder case. First, Sam Stone is joined by Jay Lapeyre, CEO of Laitram LLC, Board Chair of the Cato Institute and The Atlas Society, and a founding leader of the Free Society Coalition. Jay discusses the Declaration of Independence, the moral foundations of liberty, and why America's founding truths still matter today. He explains how the Declaration project grew out of a desire to move beyond partisan division by focusing on shared principles, civil discourse, human dignity, moral agency, and the pursuit of happiness. Sam and Jay also explore the Free Society Coalition's Declaration challenge, which encourages Americans to read, reflect on, and discuss the Declaration of Independence with family, friends, and neighbors. Next, Chuck Warren talks with Andrew Kerr, investigative reporter at The Washington Free Beacon, about his reporting on congressional financial disclosures and the wealth of politicians who campaign as working-class champions. Andrew explains how lawmakers can delay disclosures, why some still file in analog format, and what he found in Rep. Ro Khanna's financial records, including family interests tied to private golf clubs and wealth management. They also discuss Arizona Democrat Joanna Mendoza and questions raised after changes to her reported net worth. Follow Andrew Kerr X: @AndrewKerrNC Then, Brenda Hafera, Assistant Director and Research Fellow in The Heritage Foundation's B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies, joins the show to discuss the Heritage Guide to Historic Sites. Brenda explains how the interactive guide evaluates historic sites across the country for accuracy, bias, and educational value ahead of America's 250th anniversary. She also breaks down the American Revolution, the Stamp Act, religious institutions, civic virtue, literacy, self-government, and why everyday Americans should return to primary source documents to better understand the country's founding. Explore the Heritage Guide to Historic Sites at the website below: historicsites.heritage.org Finally, B's Crime Corner closes the episode with a Fourth of July true crime story: the unsolved murders of Shane Stewart and Sally McNelly. B walks through the timeline of the 1988 case, the suspects who emerged over the years, the Satanic Panic surrounding the investigation, and the lingering questions that remain decades later. Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

MLB Pride Night, Gavin Newsom's Nonprofits, Phoenix Land Deal, & Gun Rights

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone dive into the biggest political and cultural fights shaping the country. First, Chuck and Sam discuss the controversy surrounding Major League Baseball's Pride Night events, including questions over whether players on California teams were properly told they would be expected to wear special Pride-themed caps and uniforms. They argue that most sports fans, including many gay fans, are not looking for political messaging at the ballpark and simply want to watch the game. The conversation then turns to low voter turnout in recent New York elections, how DSA-backed candidates successfully targeted younger voters, and why traditional Democratic turnout operations may be changing. Chuck and Sam also examine FIFA's decision involving rainbow flags at an upcoming Iran vs. Egypt match in Seattle, progressive contradictions on human rights, and broader concerns about radicalism, Sharia law, and national security. Then, B brings another edition of B's Crime Corner with the tragic case of Officer Isaiah Cordero, who was fatally shot during a traffic stop on December 29, 2022, by repeat offender William McKay. The case sparked a massive police manhunt and raises serious questions about bail practices, repeat offenders, and public safety. Next, Tony Napolitano, Senior Attorney at the Goldwater Institute, joins the show to break down two major legal battles. He explains the Supreme Court's decision striking down Hawaii's restriction on lawful firearm carriers bringing guns onto private property open to the public without explicit permission. He also discusses Goldwater's lawsuit against Phoenix over what the group calls an illegal land giveaway in Roosevelt Row, where the city plans to sell property appraised at $4.8 million for just $1.5 million, potentially costing taxpayers $3.3 million. Learn more about the case at the Goldwater Institute: goldwaterinstitute.org Finally, Susan Crabtree, National Correspondent for RealClearPolitics, 2024 Dao Prize winner, author of Fool's Gold, and contributor to the California Post and City Journal, joins the show to discuss her investigation into Gavin Newsom, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and nonprofit influence in California. Susan details concerns involving corporate donations, school film screenings, taxpayer-funded nonprofit programs, homeless housing projects, illegal immigration services, and weak oversight in California's nonprofit sector. Follow Susan Crabtree and find more of her work on X: @susancrabtree Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

Is AI Shrinking Our Minds? NATO, Fraud, Gun Rights, and the Economy

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Sam Stone hosts while Chuck Warren is out of studio for a packed episode covering artificial intelligence, personal autonomy, NATO's eastern flank, government fraud, gun rights, true crime, and the economy. First, Dr. Keith Ablow joins the show to discuss the psychological impact of AI technologies like ChatGPT and what happens when people outsource creativity, critical thinking, and even their sense of reality to machines. Dr. Ablow is a New York Times bestselling author, mental health expert, and co-founder of Help22. He has appeared across national media to discuss psychology, culture, and personal growth. He also runs Pain-2-Power, a counseling and life coaching platform focused on personal and organizational empowerment. Dr. Ablow warns that technological dependence can weaken individual autonomy, increase groupthink, and make it harder for people to stay grounded in truth. Follow Dr. Keith Ablow on X @keithablow Check out his counseling and life coaching platform dedicated to personal and organizational empowerment Pain-2-Power: www.pain-2-power.com Then, Alex Welz of the Washington Free Beacon joins Sam to share what he learned from his recent trip to NATO's eastern flank, including Finland, the Baltics, and Poland. Welz explains how Ukraine's resilience has shifted the center of gravity inside NATO, why Eastern Europe is taking security more seriously, and how Russia, China, and Iran are all influencing the region's future. Follow Alex Welz on X @WelzAlex Later, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen joins the show to discuss his participation in the Trump administration's Anti-Fraud Roundtable, the fight against Medicaid and federal program fraud, Biden-era gun policies, cooperation with ICE, and Montana's new citizenship marker program for driver's licenses and ID cards. You can follow Attorney General Austin Knudsen on X @MTAGKnudsen In B's Crime Corner, B breaks down the 1997 Heaven's Gate cult suicide, where 39 members died in a California mansion after leaving behind exit interviews, detailed instructions, and one of the most disturbing chapters in modern true crime history. Finally, Gary Gygi of Gygi Capital joins Sam to talk about inflation, work-from-home policies, productivity, and the future of SpaceX and Starlink. You can follow Gary Gygi on X @GaryGygi Website: gygicapital.com Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds for conversations on Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about. Tune in to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering the latest news, politics, culture, crime, and the stories shaping America. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces

Are Mail Ballots, Campus Protests and Midterms Shaping America's Next Political Fight?

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, host Chuck Warren is joined by guest host Tim Mooney for a packed episode covering Arizona politics, campus protests, election integrity, the 2026 midterms, and the latest true crime case making national headlines. The show begins with Chuck Warren sitting down one-on-one with Elijah Norton, candidate for Arizona State Treasurer. Norton discusses his background as a self-made businessman, his campaign for treasurer, and why he believes Arizona needs a leader with real finance, business, and investment experience managing the state's treasury. The conversation covers the role of the state treasurer, Arizona's $32 billion in assets, investment performance, the Permanent Land Endowment Trust Fund, Prop 123, and Norton's call for a comprehensive review of the treasurer's office and a "Doge-style audit" of Arizona's education system. Follow Elijah Norton on X: @NortonforAZ Website: https://nortonforaz.com/ Next, Chuck Warren and guest host Tim Mooney speak with Jessica Schwalb, staff writer at the Washington Free Beacon and a Columbia University graduate. Jessica shares her firsthand experience covering campus protests at Columbia, the pressure students faced during pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and the growing concerns over intimidation, free speech, and student rights on elite college campuses. She also breaks down the deportation case involving Columbia anti-Israel activist Mohsen Madawi and explains how campus movements connect to broader radical organizations and online networks. Follow Jessica Schwalb on X: @jessicaschwalb7 Then, Don Palmer, Senior Legal Fellow for Election Integrity at The Heritage Foundation, joins the show to discuss mail ballots, voter verification, USPS election regulations, ERIC, citizenship checks, voting system security, and foreign interference concerns. Palmer, a former Commissioner and Chairman of the United States Election Assistance Commission and retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer and judge advocate general, explains what states can do to strengthen election security and public confidence. Follow Don Palmer on X: @VotingGuy In the fourth segment, Tim Murtaugh, Washington Times columnist, founder of Line Drive Public Affairs, former senior advisor to the 2024 Trump campaign, and former communications director for the 2020 Trump campaign, joins Chuck and Tim Mooney to preview the upcoming midterm elections. Murtaugh discusses Republican chances in the House and Senate, redistricting, toss-up seats, healthcare costs, the Maine Senate race, Texas politics, and his recent Washington Times column on climate change. Follow Tim Murtaugh on X: @TimMurtaugh Finally, B's Crime Corner takes a closer look at the viral Karmelo Anthony and Austin Metcalf case, where 17-year-old Austin Metcalf was fatally stabbed at a Texas track meet. B breaks down how the incident unfolded, the indictment, the murder conviction, the 35-year sentence, the online rumors surrounding the case, and why this tragedy became one of the most talked-about true crime stories in the country. Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds for conversations on Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about. Tune in to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering the latest news, politics, culture, crime, and the stories shaping America. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces

College Is Broken, China Is on Defense, and Arizona School Choice Is Under Fire

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Sam Stone is joined by Jonathan Butcher, Scot Mussi, Lou Perez, and John Lee to discuss higher education, Arizona school choice, comedy, culture, and Canada's euthanasia controversy. The show is then turned over to Chuck Warren who sits down with Dr. John Lee for a one on one talk on China, Iran, critical minerals, and U.S. foreign policy. The episode wraps with B's Crime Corner and a disturbing true crime case unravleing in Ohio. Jonathan Butcher, Acting Director of the Center for Education Policy and Will Skillman Senior Research Fellow in Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, joins the show to discuss his book Higher Education in America: It's Worse than You Think. Butcher breaks down the rising cost of college, the unclear pricing behind tuition, the role of federal student loans in tuition inflation, and the ideological imbalance on many campuses. He also discusses threats facing Jewish students, the impact of campus culture on young men and women, declining birth rates, and why lawmakers need to enforce the law on college campuses. The conversation also looks at trade schools, career readiness, and why America needs to rethink the idea that every student must follow the traditional college path. Want a copy of Jonathan Butcher's book, Higher Education in America: It's Worse than You Think? The first five listeners to DM the Breaking Battlegrounds Facebook page with "Higher Education in America" will receive a copy. Make sure to include your mailing address so we know where to send it. Follow Jonathan Butcher on X: @JM_Butcher Scot Mussi, President of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, joins Sam to discuss the fight over Arizona's school choice program and a ballot initiative backed by the Washington, D.C. Teachers Union that could impact more than 100,000 students. Mussi explains why school choice matters for families, including students with special needs, and why the fight over education funding is becoming one of the biggest political battles in Arizona. He also discusses Republican enthusiasm ahead of the November midterm elections, border security, cost of living, local spending, municipal budget increases, tax burdens, and what conservatives need to do to turn voter enthusiasm into turnout. Follow Scot Mussi on X: @ScotMussi Follow Arizona Free Enterprise Club on X: @azfec Website: azfree.org Comedian, producer, and author Lou Perez joins the program to discuss a troubling medical assistance in dying case out of Canada involving a 45-year-old man with inflammatory bowel disease and mental health struggles who was assessed for euthanasia outside a Tim Hortons before dying without his family being informed. Lou and Sam discuss the ethical questions surrounding Canada's MAID system, the consequences for the doctor involved, and the documentary Better Off Dead, which examines euthanasia practices in Canada. Follow Lou Perez on X: @LouPerez The second to last segment, host Chuck Warren sits down with Dr. John Lee for a wide-ranging foreign policy conversation on China, Trump's strategy, critical minerals, Iran, and America's alliances. Dr. Lee is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute, a senior fellow nonresident at the United States Studies Centre, and an adjunct professor at the University of Sydney. Lee discusses his article in The Hill, "After the Trump-G Summit, China, Not America, is on the Back Foot," and argues that the Trump administration's reindustrialization and rearming agenda has strengthened America's strategic position rather than weakened it. He explains why Xi Jinping is now operating from a less favorable position, why America's allies may need pressure to take defense more seriously, and why critical minerals have become a major national security priority after years of warning signs from Beijing. Dr. Lee also breaks down the Iran situation, arguing that a successful outcome for the United States would mean setting back Iran's nuclear ambitions and reducing its conventional military threat. He explains why China is a more rational negotiating actor than Iran, how regime security shapes Tehran's decision-making, and why the U.S.-Australia alliance remains strategically strong despite political tensions over Trump. Guest: John Lee Article: "After the Trump-G Summit, China, Not America, is on the Back Foot" in The Hill In the final segment, B's Crime Corner returns with a disturbing true crime case out of Ohio, where two parents were convicted after their 11-year-old son, who had Hirschsprung's disease, died in a hotel room after being denied medical treatment. B breaks down the case, the 15-year prison sentences, the unanswered questions, and the psychology behind parents who harm their own children. Tune in to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering the latest news, politics, culture, crime, and the stories shaping America. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing.

Are Free Speech, Justice, and California Politics All Under Fire? Kamden Mulder, Khosro Isfahani, Cary Davis & Jon Fleischman

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone are joined by Kamden Mulder, Khosro Isfahani, Cary Davis, and Jon Fleischman for a packed episode covering the Biden DOJ, the FACE Act, pro-life investigations, Iran nuclear negotiations, free speech, FIRE, California politics, and B's Crime Corner. First, Kamden Mulder, William F. Buckley Jr. Fellow in Political Journalism at National Review, joins the show to discuss her reporting on the Biden Department of Justice and allegations that the DOJ misused the FACE Act to target pro-life groups. Kamden breaks down concerns over dozens of investigations, uneven sentencing between pro-life and pro-choice activists, and what these cases reveal about politics inside the justice system. Kamden also discusses her reporting on Steve Descano, the Commonwealth's Attorney for Fairfax County, Virginia, who has faced criticism for being soft on crime. She highlights cases involving dropped charges, lenient sentencing, violent offenders, illegal immigration concerns, and public safety in Fairfax County. Kamden Mulder:
X: @kamdenmulder_ Next, Khosro Isfahani, Research Director at the National Union for Democracy in Iran, joins the program to discuss his background growing up in Iran, the Islamic Republic, and the current nuclear negotiations with the United States. Isfahani explains why he believes the Islamic Republic is an expansionist regime that cannot be contained through agreements alone. He discusses the possibility of targeted action against regime officials and tools of oppression, arguing that the Iranian opposition can be supported without American boots on the ground. Isfahani also reflects on his Washington Post opinion piece about America being vilified in Iran. He shares how American movies, culture, and values influenced him and many other Iranians, contrasting that admiration with modern criticism of the United States from the political left. Khosro Isfahani:
X: @KhosroIsfahani Then, Cary Davis, litigation attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, joins the show to discuss a major First Amendment case involving Larry, a retired Tennessee law enforcement officer who was jailed for 37 days after posting a political meme on Facebook. Cary explains how Larry was charged under a school threats statute and held on a shocking $2 million bond, an amount she says is typically associated with extremely serious crimes. After Larry received an $835,000 settlement, the case became a warning sign about political speech, online censorship, excessive bail, and First Amendment rights. Cary also discusses FIRE's broader work defending Americans facing punishment for online speech, including cases that followed the assassination of Charlie Kirk. She encourages listeners to support FIRE, spread awareness about free speech issues, and learn more about FIRE's Free Speech Forum summer program for high school students in Washington, D.C. Cary Davis / FIRE:
X: @TheFIREorg In the fourth segment, Jon Fleischman, political strategist with Fleischman Consulting Group, publisher of the FlashReport, and former executive director of the Republican Party of California, joins Chuck and Sam to break down California politics, Los Angeles, public employee unions, and the future of the Republican Party in deep-blue states. Jon explains how government spending and public employee unions continue to strengthen Democratic power in California. He also weighs in on the California governor's race, including Steve Hilton's chances of making the runoff and how Donald Trump's endorsement could affect the race. Jon also discusses Spencer Pratt's social media strategy and how affordable AI-generated content may change the way political campaigns communicate with voters. Jon Fleischman:
X: @FlashReport
Website: https://www.sodoesitmatter.com Finally, the show wraps up with B's Crime Corner, where the hosts dive into the disturbing world of prison groupies, hybristophilia, and the psychology behind people who become attracted to criminals. The segment touches on infamous cases involving Richard Ramirez, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and others, exploring why some women become obsessed with convicted killers and continue supporting them from behind bars. Listen to this episode of Breaking Battlegrounds for political analysis, First Amendment issues, foreign policy, California strategy, true crime, and conversations with Kamden Mulder, Khosro Isfahani, Cary Davis, and Jon Fleischman. Tune in to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering the latest news, politics, culture, crime, and the stories shaping America. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote •News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds

George Khalaf on ESAs, Henry Thomson on Elections, John Rogers on 2026 Strategy

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds Chuck Warren and Sam Stone are joined by George Khalaf, founder of The Resolute Group, First Day PR, and Data Orbital, who discusses his campaign for Arizona State House in LD 3 and why he decided to move from political consulting to running for office. Khalaf breaks down the issues facing voters in Anthem, Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, and Carefree, including water, affordability, school choice, and growing distrust in elected officials. He also explains the fight over Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts and why he believes protecting ESAs is critical for families across the state. Then, Henry Thomson, Associate Professor in the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University, joins the show to discuss his book Watching the Watchers, which explores how communist dictatorships used secret police to maintain control. Thomson also compares historical surveillance systems to modern authoritarian regimes and discusses his research on off-cycle elections in Arizona, where major bond decisions can be made with extremely low voter turnout. Then, John Rogers, Executive Director of America First Works, joins Chuck and Sam to talk about the upcoming election cycle, Republican strategy, redistricting, the fight to hold the House majority, and what voters can do to help shape the political conversation heading into 2026. Plus, in B's Crime Corner, the hosts cover the viral Mackenzie Shirilla case, involving a 17-year-old who killed her boyfriend and his friend in a deadly crash while claiming she blacked out due to POTS disorder. The segment breaks down the disturbing evidence, including toxic text messages, drugs found in the car, and black box data showing 100% acceleration with no brake usage. The episode wraps with Gary Gygi, President and CEO of Gygi Capital, who shares his outlook on the economy, inflation, the job market, investment strategy, and what economic indicators Americans should be watching in the months ahead. George Khalaf Website: https://georgekhalaf.com/ X: @George_Khalaf Volunteer for Arizona ESAs: https://azlovesesas.com/ Henry Thomson X: @HenryRThomson Watching the Watchers: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/watching-the-watchers/3E1D781ED93CB15D4324ED2B3EAF68C4 Food and Power: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/food-and-power/A2035AC3A20EE54E9B45183D4C1D2801 John Rogers X: @itsjohnrogers America First Works: https://americafirstworks.com/ Gary Gygi President & CEO of Gygi Capital Website: https://gygicapital.com/ X: @GaryGygi Tune in to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering the latest news, politics, culture, crime, and the stories shaping America. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds

Dusty Johnson on U.S.-China Trade, Noah Rothman on Political Violence, Chuck Flint Takes on the IRS, and Lou Perez Breaks Down a Shocking Surrogacy Case

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone are joined by Congressman Dusty Johnson to discuss U.S.-China trade, rare earth minerals, energy policy, gas prices, South Dakota agriculture, data centers, and his campaign for governor. Then, Noah Rothman joins the show to discuss his new book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, and explains why he believes left-wing political violence has often been downplayed, excused, or mischaracterized in American discourse. Next, Chuck Flint, President and CEO of the Alliance for IRS Accountability, breaks down a new national poll on taxpayer concerns, including unrealized gains taxes, IRS asset appraisals, customer service failures, and proposals to reform the agency. Plus, B's Crime Corner debuts its new jingle and covers the tragic 2007 murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom, along with an update on the Alex Murdaugh case and the Supreme Court's decision to overturn his conviction. Finally, comedian and commentator Lou Perez joins the program to discuss a disturbing legal case involving a convicted child sex offender who was reportedly able to father a child through surrogacy, raising serious questions about gaps in current laws, parental rights, and child protection. Follow the guests: Congressman Dusty Johnson: @RepDustyJohnson Noah Rothman: @NoahCRothman Chuck Flint: @ChuckAFlint Lou Perez: @LouPerez Tune in to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering the latest news, politics, culture, crime, and the stories shaping America. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds