Breaking Battlegrounds

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck Warren and Sam Stone welcome Chuck Flint, Henry Olsen, and Jon Riches to discuss the 2026 midterms, government fraud, IRS accountability, Democratic Socialists of America spending proposals, constitutional rights, and government overreach. Plus B's Crime Corner examines Colleen Slemmer's murder by Christa Pike and the controversy surrounding Pike's death sentence.
Chuck Flint, President and CEO of the Alliance for IRS Accountability, former Senate Chief of Staff, and prosecutor, joins Chuck and Sam to expose the staggering cost of government fraud. They discuss estimates of up to $521 billion in annual federal losses, fraud involving COVID relief, Medicare, Medicaid, and hospice programs, and proposals for mandatory minimum sentences and personal accountability for public officials who intentionally or recklessly ignore fraud. Flint also examines unpaid taxes among federal employees, the Democratic Socialists of America's multitrillion-dollar agenda, the growing national debt, and solutions including zero-based budgeting and a balanced budget amendment.
Website: irsaccountability.org
Substack: strikingflintdc
X: @ChuckAFlint Instagram: @chuckflintdc
Facebook & LinkedIn: Chuck Flint
B’s Crime Corner shifts the spotlight away from headlines about Christa Pike’s failed execution and back to the horrific crime that put her on death row. B revisits the 1995 torture and murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in Tennessee, the jealousy-fueled killing, chilling trial evidence, Pike’s actions afterward, and the decades-long legal battle, reminding listeners of the horrific crime at the center of the controversy.
Henry Olsen, Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and host of Beyond the Polls and Conservative Crossroads, analyzes the battle for control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections. Olsen examines Republicans' chances of retaining the Senate, whether polls underestimate conservative voters, and key Senate races in Ohio, Texas, Maine, Michigan, and Minnesota. He also explores political shifts in Spain and France, Europe's populist right, and what early election-night results could reveal about a possible Republican upset.
X: @henryolsenEPPC
Jon Riches, Vice President for Litigation at the Goldwater Institute's Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation, examines government overreach and constitutional rights. Riches challenges Pima County's data center moratorium, discusses government restrictions on private property rights, and explains the Goldwater Institute's fight over mandatory DEI training at Arizona State University. He also addresses zoning, HOAs, taxpayer-funded film incentives, and how litigation can hold government agencies accountable when they overstep.
X: @GoldwaterInst
Website: goldwaterinstitute.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.
Stay connected:
• Substack: @breakingbattlegrounds
• Website: breakingbattlegrounds.vote
• News: breakingbattlegrounds.news
• X: @breaking_battle
• Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds
• Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds
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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.

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone are joined by Jonathan Butcher, Dr. Lars Powell, and Sine Kerr for a wide-ranging conversation on education, censorship, insurance, and the future of Arizona.
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 break down the Trump administration’s restoration of Title IX protections, the legal fight over Biden-era gender identity rules, and what the changes mean for women’s sports. He also discusses restorative justice in schools, classroom discipline, school choice, the Heritage Education Freedom Report Card, the “Mississippi Miracle,” and why civics education remains essential to the American experiment.
Follow on X: @JM_Butcher
Book: The Polarization Myth: America’s Surprising Consensus on Race, Schools, and Sex
In B’s Crime Corner, Brennen revisits the death of Kurt Cobain and the growing calls to reexamine the case. She walks through the forensic concerns that continue to raise questions, including the shotgun evidence, blood spatter issues, heroin levels, missing syringe concerns, and why some believe the case deserves a fresh look as a potential murder rather than a suicide.
Dr. Lars Powell, Executive Director of the Center for Risk and Insurance Research at the University of Alabama, joins the program to discuss research suggesting spam filters may have sent Republican fundraising emails to junk folders, potentially costing GOP campaigns an estimated $117 million in donations. He explains how the data was analyzed, what the findings may show about email bias, and why the issue matters. The conversation also expands into rising insurance costs, building standards, and how stronger construction can reduce losses and make coverage more affordable.
Find him on LinkedIn: Lars Powell
Finally, Sine Kerr, Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Arizona, joins Chuck to discuss the campaign trail, the major issues driving the race, and her vision for the state alongside Andy Biggs. She talks about Arizona water policy, agriculture, affordability, tax policy, Medicaid fraud, energy prices, and why she believes Arizona needs stronger leadership and a more serious long-term strategy.
Follow on X: @SineKerr
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.

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck Warren is joined by Brian McDonald, Annie Chestnut Tutor, & Jay Feely for a packed show on the new Greenland agreement, China's control of critical minerals, Russia, NATO, artificial intelligence, data privacy, Arizona's water crisis, Social Security, the national debt, & the 2026 midterm elections.
Brian McDonald, columnist & geopolitical analyst, breaks down the new Greenland agreement & why the Arctic has become increasingly important to American national security. From rare earth minerals & China's dominance in critical mineral processing to emerging Arctic shipping routes & the Golden Dome missile defense system, Brian explains the strategic importance of Greenland for the United States & NATO. He also discusses Russia's potential military ambitions beyond Ukraine, European security concerns, the future of NATO, & whether the U.S. can repair its relationship with Denmark following tensions over Greenland.
Follow Brian on X: @iamBrianBJ
B's Crime Corner takes on the disturbing Mississippi murder investigation involving a 29-year-old mother of four found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned house in Jackson. B breaks down the homicide investigation, reported arrests, unanswered questions surrounding the woman's death, & the public debate over whether race played a role in the tragedy.
Then Annie Chestnut Tutor, policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation's Center for Technology and the Human Person, joins to discuss the future of artificial intelligence, the risks of autonomous AI, & the growing debate over whether AI development should slow down. Annie examines concerns surrounding AI-generated bioweapons, cyberattacks, consumer data privacy, & the dangers AI chatbots can pose to children. She also discusses U.S.-China cooperation on AI safety, the need for stronger consumer protections, & how local communities should approach the rapid expansion of data centers while balancing innovation with human safety.
Follow Annie on X: @AnnieChestnut
Check out her work: www.heritage.org/staff/annie-chestnut-tutor
In our podcast-exclusive segment, Jay Feely, former NFL kicker & Republican nominee for Arizona's 1st Congressional District, joins Chuck to discuss his 2026 congressional campaign, Arizona's growing water concerns, the Colorado River negotiations, border security, housing affordability, & the national debt. Jay explains his position on water conservation & how water shortages could impact Arizona farmers, housing development, & economic growth. He also discusses the financial outlook for Social Security & Medicare, government spending, inflation, Trump Accounts, & his differences with his Democratic opponent on economic policy. Jay shares how his NFL career shaped his perspective on public service & what he hopes to accomplish if elected to Congress.
Follow Jay on Instagram & X: @jayfeely
Facebook: Jay Feely for Congress
Website: www.jayfeelyforcongress.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.
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.

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.

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.