Breaking Battlegrounds

Scott Johnson, an original contributor to the blog Power Line, joins the show to break down his decade-long reporting on Rep. Ilhan Omar marrying her brother and the extensive fraud issues tied to Minnesota's Somali community. Johnson walks through the documentation, court records, and investigative reporting that underpin the marriage allegations, explains why the story has been ignored or downplayed by much of the media, and connects it to broader patterns of political protection and accountability failures. He also discusses Minnesota's ongoing Somali fraud scandals, how taxpayer dollars have been misused, and why these cases raise serious questions about oversight, enforcement, and public trust.   More about Scott Johnson Johnson is an original contributor to the blog Power Line. Power Line was named Time magazine's first and only Blog of the Year in December 2004 for its role in exposing the Rathergate story. 

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck Warren and Sam Stone are joined by four expert guests to unpack the biggest issues shaping national security, global stability, media accountability, and the economy. Dr. Mike Waller, national security expert, investigative journalist, and former CIA operative, explains why artificial intelligence is America's most critical strategic asset, how China and Russia deploy espionage and "honeypot" tactics to steal U.S. technology, and why U.S. dominance in AI is essential to national survival. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald journalist and Maria Moors Cabot Prize winner, discusses her reporting on what's happening in Haiti, detailing the horrific toll of gang violence on women and girls and the lasting impact of sexual violence on families and children. Scott Johnson, founder of the Power Line blog, dives into his decade-long reporting on Rep. Ilhan Omar marrying her brother and Minnesota's Somali fraud problem. The episode concludes with Gary Gygi, president of Gygi Capital Management, former mayor, and veteran financial expert, who breaks down warning signs in the global economy, including labor market trends, union pressures, and the deepening economic challenges facing China.

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-693b7196-3b5c-832f-a919-a589a18299f4-4" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we take on three of the biggest issues shaping America's future: national security, education, and taxes. First, Dr. Meg Reiss, founder and CEO of SolidIntel, joins the show to explain how American red tape is strengthening China's dominance over rare earth minerals. Then, National Emmy winning investigative reporter Chris Papst of Fox45 Baltimore joins to discuss his book Failure Factory, which uncovers America's public education crisis, including how billions in taxpayer dollars are spent while student outcomes stagnate and what parents nationwide should be watching for in their own school districts. Finally, Matthew Putnam of the National Taxpayers Union explains how Truth in Taxation laws offer a proven solution to runaway property taxes, highlighting successful reforms in states like Utah, Kansas, and Nebraska and why lawmakers across the country are paying attention.  

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we examine the state of American institutions, the GOP, and family finances with three great guests. First, Goldwater Institute Senior Fellow Timothy K. Minella joins the show to discuss his new report "Peer Review Gone Wild," which argues that major academic journals are prioritizing ideology over rigorous scholarship, undermining public trust in taxpayer-funded research and evidence-based policymaking. Then, Jesse Arm, vice president of external affairs at the Manhattan Institute, breaks down his new analysis "The New GOP: Survey Analysis of Americans Overall, Today's Republican Coalition, and the Minorities of MAGA," exploring shifting voter coalitions, the emerging Republican base, and what recent Tennessee election results tell us about the party's future. Finally, financial expert Gary Gygi returns to discuss the new proposal for "Trump Accounts," which would provide every child born between 2025 and 2028 with a 1,000 dollar deposit from the federal government and what that could mean for families.

*]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-69205b89-90ec-8330-a1d7-91e4b0bed4d0-2" data-testid= "conversation-turn-22" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Sam Stone joins National Review columnist and Locked In host Caroline Downey and Manhattan Institute Fellow Daniel Di Martino in person at Arizona State University for a conversation on "Gen Z: The Future of American Politics," exploring cultural trends, campus movements, and the shifting ideological landscape among younger voters. Later in the show, Chuck and Sam are joined by investigative reporter Ben Wieder of McClatchy's Washington bureau and the Miami Herald as he breaks down the newly released Epstein files, what the documents reveal, and the ongoing questions surrounding victims, media relationships, and federal investigations. Tune in for a conversation you won't hear anywhere else.