Breaking Battlegrounds

Jessica Anderson joins Breaking Battlegrounds this week to discuss the Trump Accounts for Kids, an innovative public-private partnership included in the Big Beautiful Bill. The program focuses on saving today and investing in the future, with business leaders matching contributions to a modern version of "baby bonds." It represents a meaningful investment in the American Dream for the next generation. Jessica also breaks down the rapid and damaging shift under Abigail Spanberger. Spanberger campaigned as a moderate highlighting her background as a mom and former CIA officer and promising to prioritize affordability. Yet in less than 30 days in office, she has embraced the most extreme elements of the Democratic Party and pushed them into the mainstream. Jessica describes Spanberger as the female equivalent of Mamdani in Virginia. The agenda includes massive tax hikes, new taxes on lawn equipment, cutting off state and local cooperation with ICE and law enforcement, and introducing resolutions to roll back Governor Youngkin's changes to DEI policies—among many other proposals. As a result, business owners are already exploring options to leave the state, while many small businesses may be forced to shut their doors altogether.
Chairman Will O'Neill of the Republican Party of Orange County joins us to discuss the massive California fraud quickly unfolding and the staggering $31 billion in unemployment fraud that occurred in 2021 and 2022. During that period, states took out unemployment loans from the federal government to cover shortfalls. California still owes more than $20 billion and remains the only state that has not repaid its federal loan. Because the state has failed to pay it back, employers are now facing higher unemployment taxes—effectively a tax increase driven by Governor Newsom's refusal to retire California's own debt. O'Neill also highlights a recent case in which an individual living in a $7 million home was arrested for allegedly stealing $23 million in homelessness funds from a program overseen by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass's department.
Gary Gygi joins us to discuss the Trump Accounts for Kids, a new initiative that provides every child with a $1,000 account at birth. The funds become accessible at age 18, though recipients can choose to leave the money invested and allow it to continue growing over time. These accounts will be primarily invested in the stock market, with the possibility of limited additional options. The goal is not only long-term growth, but education—introducing young people to capitalism, helping them understand that risk can be positive, and reinforcing the value of participating in the market.
Bess Byers joins us to discuss New York City's $65 million effort to house trans homeless people. When she first saw the story, she immediately thought of the women at a Los Angeles shelter where she previously volunteered women who were seeking refuge after fleeing abuse and domestic violence. Bess raises concerns that legislation affects these women-only shelters by housing women with males and whether it's trans homeless or any homeless shelter, the homeless industrial complex has so much fraud and waste.

Our first guest today is Josh Hammer, senior editor-at-large at Newsweek, host of The Josh Hammer Show, and author of Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West. Josh explores America's long-standing interest in Greenland, dating back to the Lincoln and Truman administrations. While Denmark maintains limited authority over the territory, NATO oversees much of Greenland's day-to-day security—and with the United States serving as the backbone of NATO, Josh explains how this history and reality help frame President Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland.
Josh also weighs in on the war in Ukraine, examining possible timelines for its conclusion. He argues that it is in America's best interest for Ukraine to remain independent, and notes President Trump's consistent position that the priority must be reducing bloodshed while continuing to support Ukraine.
Our second guest is John Trobough, a candidate for Arizona's First Congressional District. John is running for Congress because he believes our nation is at a crossroads, and Arizona has a unique opportunity to lead—but only if we elect leaders who genuinely care. As the epicenter of the next-generation economy, Arizona may not replace Silicon Valley, but it has the potential to become the "Silicon Desert." John joins us to discuss the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, why it's critical that we get ahead of it, and how we can ensure innovation and economic growth truly benefit Arizona's economy.
Comedian and writer Lou Perez joins us to talk about his recent piece, "Police Bodycams: The Left's Biggest Self-Own." Lou explores the irony that police body cameras—originally demanded by anti-police activists—have ultimately done more to undermine that movement than anything else. He also discusses his book, "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore: On the Death and Rebirth of Comedy," where he examines how humor has been shaped by woke culture. Lou argues that for years, comedians trying to push back against Donald Trump often relied on the same recycled jokes, which ultimately opened the door for a new wave of comics willing to tackle topics others were afraid to touch.

Our first guest today is Roya Hakakian, author of Journey from the Land of No. Born and raised in Iran, Roya explains that what has unfolded there over the past two weeks is comparable in national trauma and moral consequence to the September 11, 2001 attacks or the October 7 terrorist massacre. She argues that the world's failure to grasp the scale of these events is akin to 9/11 happening and no one paying attention. The reports are horrific—reminiscent of genocidal campaigns of the 20th century—including accounts of security forces in Mashhad beheading teenagers and municipal workers being instructed not to clean blood from the streets, deliberately leaving visible reminders to terrorize the population.
We are also joined by Reuel Marc Gerecht, a former CIA Iranian targets officer who spent years identifying, assessing, and attempting to recruit Iranians with access to valuable intelligence. He argues that short of direct military action, the United States can play a far more aggressive role by helping protesters secure communications and cyber capabilities to disrupt the regime's control. The regime, he notes, appears to have taken a "shotgun" approach—systematically eliminating anyone who has demonstrated leadership in street protests—and that targeted repression is strategically significant.
Our third guest is Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Iran Program, where he oversees the organization's Iran-related research and analysis. He contends that if President Trump intends to help catalyze the next phase of protests in Iran—to give momentum and protection to those already in the streets—the United States will need to act in a way that is politically consequential. Political pressure and military signaling, he argues, must be fused. While Qatar fears regime collapse, Turkey arguably has the most to lose and has been among the most vocal opponents of an Iranian implosion. The regime's more than 12-day internet blackout, Taleblu notes, is designed to prevent images and videos that violate its own red lines from escaping and saturating the global media environment.

Our first guest today is Former Ambassador Thomas Shannon, Jr, a Senior International Policy Advisor bringing more than three decades of government service and diplomatic experience to his practice, providing strategic counsel to clients across a range of legislative, foreign police, and national security issues. Thomas explains why France, Italy, and Spain have been hesitant to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, despite its extensive involvement in terrorist activity inside Iran and beyond. He notes that such a designation could complicate future cooperation during a potential political transition in Iran.
Thomas also examines the long-standing relationship between Venezuela and Cuba. After Russia withdrew support from Cuba in 1991, Venezuela emerged as Havana's primary lifeline—providing oil and financial support in exchange for Cuban intelligence officers and social programs that helped the Chávez government maintain control over political opposition, monitor the Venezuelan military, and provide security for Chávez himself. As Cuba enters a period of slow political change, the sudden loss of Venezuelan oil, gas, and cash would have profound consequences for the island.
Finally, Thomas warns that failed efforts at regime change can leave the international community worse off than before. President Trump has pursued a solution to Venezuela for more than a decade, and Thomas discusses the strategic dilemma facing Trump following plans to capture Nicolás Maduro and his wife: whether to recognize a democratic opposition that claims victory in the 2024 election, or to pursue an alternative pathway for political transition.
Our in-studio guest this week is Greg Roeberg, a candidate for Arizona Attorney General. Greg is a husband, father, business leader, and cancer survivor who previously served as President Trump's campaign attorney, working to defend the integrity of our elections. During the discussion, Greg explains the role of the Attorney General and outlines how he would uphold and defend the Arizona State Constitution. He also addresses the controversial lawsuits filed by Kris Mayes and shares his priorities and plans should he be elected as Arizona's next Attorney General.
We are joined by actor and director Steven Grayhm, who has just released a new film titled Sheepdog. The movie explores the challenges combat veterans face as they transition back into civilian life. Sheepdog—sheepdofthemovie.com—premieres today, January 16th.
The inspiration for the film began when Steven met a tow truck driver who came to his aid after his car broke down. During their conversation, the driver shared his own struggles reintegrating into everyday life after military service. That encounter stayed with Steven. In 2011, he traveled across the country meeting with veterans and quickly realized this was not an isolated experience—many veterans face the same difficult challenges. Those stories became the foundation and inspiration for Sheepdog.
Our financial expert, Gary Gygi, joins us once again to break down the state of the economy. While economic growth continues, job creation has lagged. Employers aren't laying workers off—but they also aren't hiring at significant levels. As a result, many Americans are juggling multiple jobs and working 60 to 70 hours a week just to make ends meet. Meanwhile, the U.S. trade deficit has fallen to its lowest level in years, signaling a major reduction in the trade imbalance. If this trend continues, it reflects exactly what President Trump has long emphasized: reindustrializing America and exporting more of what we produce.

Our first guest today is Alessandra Hay, reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine. Alessandra discusses a growing humanitarian crisis: the lack of space to bury the dead. Severe shortages of cemetery plots have forced burials outside designated cemeteries, raising concerns about contamination of local water supplies. Ukraine is now in the final stages of constructing a crematorium in Kyiv to address the issue.
Hay also explains that announcements of peace talks have little impact on daily life for Ukrainians, as Russia shows no genuine interest in ending the war. Many Ukrainians believe there is no option but to continue fighting. While the war will not last forever, people are living in uncertainty, waiting to see what comes next—because anything can happen.
 
Our second guest, Josh Cook, former Regional Administrator for the EPA's Pacific Southwest Region, addresses the Tijuana River sewage crisis and its wide-ranging impacts on the military, schools, and tourism. He explains how criminal gangs from Mexico transported and dumped sewage into the Tijuana River, allowing fecal contamination to flow into the United States and pollute American beaches. Within 100 days, more than 10,000 gallons of sewage were removed and prevented from reaching coastal areas—ending a problem that had persisted for over 20 years. Cook also discusses how Arizona is being penalized due to its geography and how the Clean Air Act has increasingly been used as a tool to stifle prosperity and economic growth.
 
Joel Pollak is an opinion editor at the California Post, a newly launched, seven-days-a-week digital print newspaper in California. The absence of right-leaning media outlets in the state has allowed Governor Gavin Newsom to shape national narratives without meaningful state-level media scrutiny. Our hosts discuss Pollak's latest piece examining why Newsom has effectively disqualified himself from a presidential run. They also address how the taxpayer-funded press office has been transformed into a political trolling operation targeting President Trump. The conversation further explores the South African Constitution—long admired by the American left and even supported by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg—which guarantees a wide range of socio-economic rights such as healthcare and a clean environment.