•Sen. Joni Ernst Retires: Iowa’s Republican senator won’t seek reelection in 2026, setting up a high-stakes battle for control of a key Senate seat.

•Trump’s Pocket Rescission: The White House cancels $4.8 billion in foreign aid using an executive maneuver that bypasses Congress. Critics say it undermines constitutional spending powers, raising a fresh separation of powers fight.

•Kraft Heinz Breakup Plans: The company is reportedly exploring a $20 billion spinoff of its grocery products while keeping its condiments and sauces separate. It’s a reversal of the 2015 Buffett-backed merger and a sign that leaner, more focused operations are the future.

•Europe Buys U.S. Weapons for Ukraine: European partners are now funding U.S.-made arms directly for Ukraine, reflecting a major shift toward shared defense responsibility.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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Stay grounded, stay informed, and keep the faith.

•Chinese Money Laundering Networks: U.S. banks funneled over $300 billion tied to Chinese operations fueling fentanyl smuggling and Mexican cartels. Weak compliance has made America’s financial system a national security risk.

•GDP Revised to 3.3%: The Commerce Department revised Q2 GDP growth upward, but the numbers reveal fragility.

•Fox vs. YouTube TV: A carriage fee dispute threatens millions of subscribers with blackouts of Fox News, Fox Sports, and local affiliates just as football season begins.

•Atlanta Journal-Constitution Ends Print: Georgia’s largest newspaper will stop printing physical editions by year’s end. A symbol of the decline of local journalism, the move to digital only raises questions about civic accountability and the future of community news.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

Get the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite app.

Stay grounded, stay informed, and keep the faith.

•China’s Salt Typhoon Hack: A massive espionage campaign infiltrated telecom infrastructure across 80 countries, including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Millions of U.S. call logs and even sensitive communications may have been exposed. This is infrastructure warfare, not just spying.

•Greenland Influence Allegations: Denmark summons the U.S. envoy after reports that Trump-linked operatives pushed separatist sentiment in Greenland. Allies should be treated as allies, not targets of manipulation.

•Tariffs on India: The administration doubled tariffs to 50% on Indian goods over cheap Russian oil imports. While meant to pressure Moscow, the move risks undermining U.S.-India relations and driving New Delhi closer to China.

•DC Felony Case Collapses & Minnesota Attack: A grand jury declined to indict a former DOJ staffer on felony assault after a sandwich throwing incident, highlighting prosecutorial overreach. Meanwhile, tragedy strikes Minnesota as a transgender activist murders children at a Catholic church, reminding us of the spiritual battle underlying our politics.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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Stay grounded, stay informed, and keep the faith.

•Energy War in Europe: Russia and Ukraine escalate attacks on pipelines and refineries as President Trump pivots U.S. strategy to support NATO allies supplying Ukraine. What’s at stake is not just territory, but global energy security.

•California Gerrymandering Fight: A new lawsuit challenges California’s partisan maps, but with a partisan state Supreme Court, the outcome looks predetermined. The fight underscores how partisan courts erode trust in democracy itself.

•HHS Targets Gender Ideology in Schools: The Trump administration launches a federal inquiry into state sex education programs pushing transgender ideology without parental consent. California is the first state to lose funding.

•AI vs. Human Jobs: Artificial intelligence is displacing both entry-level workers and older employees, threatening opportunity ladders and fueling cultural resentment. Leaders will face mounting pressure to regulate AI and prioritize human dignity.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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Stay grounded, stay informed, and keep the faith.

•The Abrego Garcia Case — Deported by mistake, returned, and now facing deportation again—this time to Uganda. His case exposes serious flaws in due process, immigration enforcement, and political theater.

•Cash Bail Reform Debate — President Trump presses for ending cash bail. He’s right about fairness, but eliminating bail without safeguards risks dangerous judicial discretion. The real balance must keep violent offenders locked up while protecting nonviolent defendants from financial ruin.

•Intel’s Warning on Federal Equity — Intel pushes back on the Trump administration’s proposal for the U.S. government to take a 10–15% ownership stake in the company. Free markets thrive on innovation, not government control, and Intel warns of lost investor confidence and global competitiveness.

•Trump Sues California Over Redistricting — The Justice Department challenges California’s new redistricting laws, calling out a partisan “independent” commission and constitutional violations. Democrats may have given Trump exactly the fight he wanted, one that could backfire nationally.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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Stay grounded, stay informed, and keep the faith.

Epstein transcript released, Intel equity fight, Fed rate cut signals, DC crime crackdown.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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Stay grounded, stay informed, and keep the faith.

Walmart tariff squeeze, Trump goes on crime patrol, Dobson’s legacy, and NY fraud fine overturned.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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Stay grounded, stay informed, and keep the faith.

Epstein files sealed, Vance & Hegseth shift crime debate, media trust plunges, Army expands arsenal

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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Hamas ceasefire stalls, Trump tariffs hit allies, Intel bailout sparks socialism debate, and radioactive shrimp.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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Stay grounded, stay informed, and keep the faith.

• Zelensky Meets Trump at the White House — Ukraine’s president presses for security guarantees, and Trump pointedly refuses to rule out U.S. troops in a post-war peace deal.

• Intel Bailout or Corporate Socialism? — The Trump administration floats a controversial proposal for the U.S. Treasury to take an equity stake in Intel in exchange for Chips Act funds.

• Dominion vs. Newsmax Settlement — A last-minute $67 million settlement avoids trial, reinforcing that defamation carries real costs and accountability matters.

• Redistricting Wars: California vs. Texas — Gavin Newsom’s gamble on new maps could backfire, potentially handing Republicans more long-term congressional seats.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

Get the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite app.

Stay grounded, stay informed, and keep the faith.