In this bonus segment for Episode 02 of Left Out Loud, Ally and Seth test-drive a new recurring format: “A Shot at the News.” With equal parts frustration, humor, and political commentary, they react to a handful of major headlines and absurd moments from the news cycle while trying to keep things sharp, honest, and a little unhinged.

They break down Trump’s appointment of Erica Kirk to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors, react to the eye-popping cost of Kristi Noem’s ad campaign, and dig into reports that the Pentagon spent $93 billion in a single month, including on bizarre expenses like king crab, a Steinway piano, and fruit basket stands. They also highlight one rare good-news story about Costco being cheaper than Walmart and Aldi while still paying workers better, then close by talking through the Texas Senate race, Jasmine Crockett’s loss, and why Democrats are rallying behind James Talarico in the bigger fight to flip the Senate.

Links and Resources

• U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors
• Erica Kirk / Charlie Kirk / Turning Point USA
• Kristi Noem ad campaign discussion
• Pentagon spending controversy
• Costco vs. Walmart / Aldi price comparison
• Texas Senate race
• Jasmine Crockett
• James Talarico
• Tim Cywinski's interview is referenced at the end of the episode

Mentions in the Episode

• Donald Trump
• Erica Kirk
• Charlie Kirk
• Kristi Noem
• Kamala HQ / “Headquarters Newsroom”
• Barbie
• Oppenheimer
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
• Top Gun: Maverick
• Iron Man
• The Matrix
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
• Pentagon budget and audit failures
• Iran
• Walmart
• Aldi
• Costco
• Stephen Colbert
• CBS
• FCC
• John Fetterman
• Kyrsten Sinema
• Joe Manchin
• John Cornyn
• Ken Paxton
• Christian nationalism

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