The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

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   Number 1: How Much Is the Iran War Really Costing American Taxpayers? (Ep 845)

   Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson TRUMP CUTS CAMP DAVID WEEKEND SHORT President Trump returned unexpectedly to the White House after cutting short a weekend at Camp David. The White House did not immediately give a public explanation for the schedule change. But it came during a significant escalation in the Middle East. The United States has warned that renewed hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen could escalate rapidly. A Houthi ballistic missile was launched toward Riyadh, marking a significant expansion of the renewed conflict. The State Department has also issued new warnings to Americans traveling through the region. So we'll look at what happened, what we know about the President's unexpected return and what we should be watching next. 🇺🇦 UKRAINE LAUNCHES MORE THAN 1,000 DRONES AT RUSSIA Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine just saw an extraordinary escalation of its own. Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones toward targets across Russia overnight. Hundreds were directed toward Moscow in what Russian officials described as the largest drone attack ever launched against the capital. The attack came as Russia was completing the third and final day of parliamentary voting. Russian officials reported deaths and injuries, and Moscow's oil refinery was among the facilities damaged. Russia says it intercepted enormous numbers of drones. Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian oil, energy and military infrastructure as it attempts to weaken Moscow's ability to sustain its war effort. We’ll take a closer look at what happened and why the timing of this attack is getting so much attention. 💰 THE IRAN WAR: AT LEAST $43.6 BILLION—AND COUNTING How much is America's war with Iran costing taxpayers? We finally have a better idea. U.S. Central Command has provided Congress with a new estimate putting the military cost at approximately $43.6 billion through September 3. The biggest expense? Weapons. About $28 billion of the estimate is associated with replacing munitions used during the conflict. Billions more have gone toward military operations and equipment that has been lost or damaged. Additional fuel costs reported separately push the overall figure closer to $45 billion. But here's the important part: Even that may not be the final bill. The estimate does not fully account for rebuilding or repairing American military facilities damaged during Iranian attacks. There is also the question of replenishing America's missile and interceptor inventories. And the war is continuing. So $43.6 billion isn't necessarily the price tag for the war. It's closer to a snapshot of the bill through early September. We'll break down where the money has gone and what additional expenses could still be coming. 🏗️ A $3 BILLION “MINOR” DEVELOPMENT? And finally, we come home to Spartanburg County. A legal fight is underway over the massive Valara data center project on South Pine Street. The basic question sounds simple: Is this a major development or a minor development? But the answer has enormous consequences. Residents represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center argue that Spartanburg County improperly treated the project as separate minor developments. Why does that matter? Because under the county's process, a major development receives Planning Commission review and greater public scrutiny. A minor development can be handled administratively without that same process. The residents argue a project of this size and scope should have gone through the major-development process. Spartanburg County and Valara dispute that interpretation and argue the classification depends on the specific language of the county ordinance—not simply the project's price tag or physical size. And there's another development. South Carolina's Department of Environmental Services has now approved an air construction permit allowing Valara to construct and operate 11 simple-cycle combustion turbines. So this debate isn't simply about whether somebody thinks a project “sounds” major. It's about what Spartanburg County's ordinance actually requires and whether the county followed that ordinance. We'll look at what both sides are arguing and why a judge is now being asked to sort it out. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national and international news, South Carolina news and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #MiddleEast #SaudiArabia #Houthis #Iran #IranWar #Ukraine #Russia #Moscow #Putin #IranWarCost #CENTCOM #DataCenters #SpartanburgSC #SouthCarolina #Valara #ArtificialIntelligence #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

   September 21, 2026·41min
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   Number 2: Trump Promised $5,000 Checks — Now Republicans Ask: Where’s the Money Coming From? (Ep 842)

   Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson President Trump got plenty of attention at the Republican convention in Dallas when he promised a $5,000 “Trump dividend” to every adult American citizen if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in November. Five thousand dollars sounds pretty good. But now some Republicans in Congress are asking the obvious question: Where are you getting the money? The proposal could cost more than $1 trillion, and several Republican lawmakers are questioning whether the federal government can afford it when the national debt has already surpassed $40 trillion. Others are looking for ways to make Trump's proposal work. So today we’re going to follow the money. How much would these checks actually cost? Could tariff revenue pay for them? Would Congress have to approve them? And what would sending that much money into the economy mean for inflation and the national debt? Plus, parents—you’re going to want to hear this next story. A father says his 9-year-old son managed to spend $118,000 promoting his Minecraft and Roblox videos on YouTube. And it apparently started after Dad showed him how to run a $20 advertising campaign. Talk about a marketing lesson getting expensive! Then we come home to South Carolina. The Palmetto State continues adding people at an extraordinary rate. But voter-registration numbers aren't keeping pace with that population growth. So here's my question: Where are all these new South Carolinians when it comes time to register to vote? And finally, today is one of my favorite days of the year. It's Law Enforcement Appreciation Day—LEAD Upstate. Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis joins us to talk about something incredibly simple that can mean an awful lot to the men and women who put on that badge every morning: Thank you. 💰 REPUBLICANS QUESTION TRUMP’S $5,000 DIVIDEND President Trump made a very big promise in Dallas. If Republicans maintain control of the House and Senate in November, Trump says every adult American citizen will receive a $5,000 dividend. Now comes the hard part. Paying for it. Estimates suggest the program could cost somewhere around $1.2 trillion. And some Republican members of Congress are raising concerns. South Carolina Congressman Ralph Norman is among those questioning the proposal and asking where the money would come from. Other Republicans are more receptive but say Congress would need to be involved. Trump has argued that revenue generated from tariffs can help fund the payments. Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno has proposed legislation that would use what he calls “market access fees” on foreign goods to finance the checks. So there are several big questions still unanswered. Is there enough tariff revenue? Would the payments add to the deficit? Would Congress approve them? And could putting more than a trillion dollars into consumers’ hands put additional pressure on inflation? Forget the slogans for a moment. Let's do the math. 💳 A 9-YEAR-OLD SPENDS $118,000 ON YOUTUBE ADS?! Parents, this story should get your attention. A father says he wanted to teach his 9-year-old son a little about marketing. The boy had a YouTube channel featuring Minecraft and Roblox videos and was disappointed that he wasn't getting many views. So Dad showed him how YouTube advertising works. They created a small campaign with a budget of about $20. Apparently the 9-year-old learned the lesson a little too well. According to his father, the boy later returned to the advertising system and started creating campaigns himself. And the credit card attached to the account? It wasn't Dad's personal card. It was his company credit card. Three weeks later, Dad says he was called into a meeting with company officials and shown the total: $118,000. Apparently the young man figured more advertising meant more views. Technically, he wasn't wrong. Some of the videos reportedly reached around 200,000 views. But I don't think Dad was planning on a $118,000 marketing budget! There is a serious lesson here for every parent and grandparent. Check what credit cards are saved on your devices. Use parental controls. Set spending limits. And don't assume a child understands that clicking a button on a screen is actually spending real money. 🗳️ SOUTH CAROLINA IS GROWING—SO WHERE ARE THE NEW VOTERS? South Carolina continues to be one of America's fastest-growing states. People are moving here. New neighborhoods are being built. Traffic is increasing. Schools are growing. Businesses are expanding. You can see the growth practically everywhere. But here's something interesting: Our voter-registration rolls haven't been growing at anything close to the same pace. And that raises a pretty simple question. Why? Are newcomers waiting before registering? Are many keeping registrations in their former states? Is the population growth concentrated among people who aren't eligible to vote? Or are thousands of eligible South Carolinians simply choosing not to register? This isn't about telling anyone how to vote. It's about participation. If you're eligible to vote and South Carolina is now your home, registering is how you gain the ability to participate when Election Day arrives. So with all these people moving into the Palmetto State, where are the new voters? 🚔 TODAY IS LEAD DAY Finally, today is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day—LEAD Upstate. Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across Greenville County will come together at the Greenville Downtown Airport. And the purpose really couldn't be simpler. Thank you. Thank you for putting on the uniform. Thank you for missing dinners with your family. Thank you for working holidays. Thank you for answering the call when the rest of us are running away from danger. And thank you for serving communities that sometimes forget just how difficult that job can be. Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis joins us to talk about LEAD and why those two simple words—thank you—can mean so much to a law enforcement officer. We'll also talk about morale, recruitment, retention and what ordinary citizens can do to show officers that their service is appreciated. Sometimes support doesn't require a big speech. Sometimes it just requires two words. Thank you. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #TrumpDividend #5000Check #Congress #Republicans #Midterms2026 #SouthCarolina #SCPolitics #VoterRegistration #YouTube #Parenting #OnlineSafety #LEADUpstate #LawEnforcement #SheriffHobartLewis #GreenvilleSC #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

   September 18, 2026·43min
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   Number 3: Secret 2024 Democratic Poll Reportedly Put Kamala Harris LAST Among Biden Replacements (Ep 841)

   Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson There’s a fascinating new story about what may have been happening behind the scenes inside the Democratic Party during those chaotic weeks of the 2024 presidential campaign. Former Democratic fundraiser Lindy Li says Democrats conducted secret polling as questions mounted about whether President Joe Biden could remain the party’s nominee. And according to Li, Vice President Kamala Harris finished last among the potential Biden replacements tested in that polling. If her account is accurate, it raises some fascinating questions about what Democratic insiders knew before Biden withdrew—and how Harris ultimately became the nominee. We’ll separate what has been documented from what is being alleged and look back at one of the most extraordinary periods in modern presidential politics. Plus, there will NOT be a House vote this week on Congressman Thomas Massie’s articles of impeachment against Secretary Pete Hegseth. Why? House leaders sent everybody home. We’ll explain what happened. Then, disturbing video from a New York college campus shows a violent confrontation that left three students stabbed and two people in custody. And if you were hoping interest rates were finally about to come down, the Federal Reserve had other plans. The Fed raised rates by a quarter point Wednesday—the first increase since 2023. And here in South Carolina, lawmakers are providing hundreds of thousands of dollars to expand Flock license-plate cameras even as communities around the country debate privacy concerns surrounding the technology. WHAT DID DEMOCRATS KNOW ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS IN 2024? We all remember those extraordinary weeks in the summer of 2024. President Biden’s debate performance intensified questions about whether he could continue as the Democratic nominee. Democratic leaders were debating what to do. Donors were nervous. Potential replacements were being discussed. Eventually Biden withdrew, and Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee. But now former Democratic fundraiser Lindy Li is describing what she says was happening privately. Li says secret polling tested Harris against other possible Biden replacements—and she says Harris finished last among the alternatives. That claim could become part of the discussion surrounding Harris if she considers another presidential campaign in 2028. But there is an important distinction: The underlying poll has not been publicly released, so this is Li’s account of what Democratic insiders were seeing—not independently verified public polling. We’ll look at what she says happened and how it compares with what was publicly known during those chaotic weeks in 2024. 🏛️ NO HEGSETH IMPEACHMENT VOTE—HOUSE LEAVES WASHINGTON Remember Congressman Thomas Massie’s effort to force a House vote on eight articles of impeachment against Secretary Pete Hegseth? That vote isn’t happening this week. House Republican leaders abruptly ended the chamber’s legislative week Wednesday, sending members home ahead of the November midterms. That means Massie’s effort to force lawmakers to vote on his impeachment resolution has been interrupted. Massie isn’t happy. He argues that Congress should have remained in Washington and voted. House leadership says lawmakers have completed their scheduled business and are returning home. We’ll explain what happened and what it means for Massie’s effort against Hegseth. 🚨 THREE STUDENTS STABBED ON COLLEGE CAMPUS What is happening on our college campuses? Disturbing video captured a violent confrontation at Westchester Community College in New York that left three students injured. Authorities say two people were taken into custody following the incident. Video from the scene appears to show students fighting as the confrontation escalates. Three students suffered stab wounds. We’ll look at what authorities say happened, what the video shows and what we know about the investigation. 💰 THE FED JUST RAISED YOUR INTEREST RATE If you were waiting for the Federal Reserve to start lowering interest rates, you’re going to have to wait a little longer. The Fed went in the opposite direction Wednesday. Policymakers unanimously raised the federal funds target rate by a quarter percentage point to 3.75% to 4%. It is the first Federal Reserve interest-rate increase since July 2023. Why? Inflation. The Fed says inflation remains too high and that higher rates are necessary to move inflation back toward its 2% target. But there’s a cost. Higher rates can mean higher borrowing costs on credit cards, auto loans, business loans and other variable-rate debt. And there may be more coming. Federal Reserve projections indicate policymakers expect another quarter-point increase before the end of the year. We’ll explain what this means for your wallet and why the Fed is raising rates when so many Americans were expecting them to come down. 📸 SOUTH CAROLINA PUTS MORE MONEY INTO FLOCK CAMERAS There’s an interesting debate happening over automated license-plate readers. Some communities around the country have restricted or reconsidered Flock cameras because of privacy concerns. But South Carolina lawmakers are moving in another direction. The state budget includes $365,000 for four South Carolina law-enforcement agencies to add automated license-plate readers or expand their existing camera networks. The money is going to agencies in Cameron and Florence and McCormick and Marlboro counties. Supporters say these cameras can be valuable tools for finding stolen vehicles, locating suspects and solving crimes. Critics worry about how much information is being collected, how long it's stored and who can access it. So where should the line be? How do we give police useful technology without creating a surveillance network that tracks innocent people? That’s a conversation worth having. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #KamalaHarris #JoeBiden #Democrats #Election2024 #Election2028 #PeteHegseth #ThomasMassie #Congress #FederalReserve #InterestRates #Inflation #FlockSafety #FlockCameras #SouthCarolina #Privacy #CollegeCrime #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

   September 17, 2026·42min
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   Number 4: Jeffries Won’t Rule Out Trump Impeachment If Democrats Win the House (Ep 838)

   Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Could President Donald Trump face another impeachment fight if Democrats take control of the House in November? House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday and was asked directly whether impeachment would be on the table if Democrats win the House. Jeffries did not rule it out. We’ll look at exactly what he said, what he didn’t say, and why the question of impeachment is already becoming part of the conversation surrounding the November midterms. Plus, diesel fuel has now surged past $6 a gallon nationally, setting another record as disruptions from the Iran war and other global supply problems continue putting pressure on fuel markets. And remember: diesel isn’t just about truck drivers. Diesel moves America. Trucks, farms, construction equipment and much of the machinery that keeps the economy moving depend on it. When diesel goes up, those additional costs can eventually show up in the prices consumers pay for everything from groceries to building materials. We also have a major development in Mississippi, where police have arrested a 51-year-old man on a murder charge following the death of Tasia Fortune, the 29-year-old mother of four who was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned home. And LaDonna Ryggs joins us with a firsthand report from last week’s Republican midterm convention in Dallas. 🏛️ JEFFRIES WON’T RULE OUT TRUMP IMPEACHMENT House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” where George Stephanopoulos asked him about what Democrats would do if they regain control of the House. And one word inevitably came up: Impeachment. When asked whether impeachment would be on the table, Jeffries did not rule it out. That does not mean Democrats have formally announced an impeachment effort, nor does it mean articles of impeachment have been introduced as part of this discussion. But it does mean the Democratic leader is leaving the possibility open. We’ll listen closely to what Jeffries actually said and discuss what another potential impeachment battle could mean for Washington following the November elections. ⛽ DIESEL BLOWS PAST $6 A GALLON This is one of those stories that affects people who never buy a gallon of diesel. The national average price of diesel has now climbed above $6 per gallon, setting a record as global fuel supplies remain under pressure. And this matters far beyond the trucking industry. The food at your grocery store gets there on a truck. The packages delivered to your home spend time on trucks. Farmers use diesel. Construction companies use diesel. Manufacturers and distributors depend on diesel-powered transportation. Those businesses don't simply absorb higher fuel costs indefinitely. Eventually, those costs can work their way through the supply chain. We’ll look at what is driving this record increase, how the Iran war and other global disruptions are affecting supplies, and what Americans should be watching in the weeks ahead. 🔎 ARREST IN DEATH OF TASIA FORTUNE There has been a major development in the disturbing case of Tasia Fortune. Fortune was a 29-year-old Black mother of four whose body was discovered hanging from a tree behind a vacant home in Jackson, Mississippi, last month. The circumstances surrounding her death generated national attention and intense speculation. Now the Mississippi state medical examiner has ruled Fortune’s death a homicide, and Jackson police have arrested 51-year-old Jarques Ratliff on a murder charge. Police say Ratliff had an association with Fortune, but authorities have not publicly explained the nature of that relationship or announced a motive. Police also say the investigation is continuing and additional arrests could be coming. That makes this an important reminder about cases that explode across social media before investigators have completed their work. We’ll look at what we actually know, what remains unknown and where the investigation goes from here. 🇺🇸 INSIDE THE REPUBLICAN MIDTERM CONVENTION And finally, we’re going inside last week’s Republican midterm convention in Dallas. LaDonna Ryggs has been involved in Republican politics for years and has attended national conventions before. She joins us to give us a firsthand account of what it was like inside the convention. What was the mood? Which speakers generated the strongest reaction in the room? What issues were Republican activists talking about when the cameras weren’t rolling? And what did she hear from grassroots delegates about the November midterm elections? We’ll get her firsthand perspective from Dallas. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #HakeemJeffries #Impeachment #Democrats #Congress #Midterms2026 #Election2026 #DieselPrices #GasPrices #Iran #IranWar #Inflation #TasiaFortune #Mississippi #RNC #Republicans #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

   September 14, 2026·42min
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   Number 5: Trump Promises $5,000 Checks After Midterms — But There’s a Catch (Ep 835)

   Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson President Trump certainly got people talking at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas. And it wasn’t just about Iran, inflation or the economy. Trump announced what he called a “Trump dividend” — a proposed $5,000 payment to adult American citizens if Republicans maintain control of both the House and Senate in November. Five thousand dollars. Obviously, we have some questions. Where would more than a trillion dollars potentially needed for these payments come from? Would Congress have to approve it? Who exactly would qualify? And could injecting that much money into the economy affect inflation? We’re going to talk about it. Plus, there are new revelations from jurors in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial, Nike is being removed from the S&P 100 after losing more than $200 billion in market value from its peak, and today we pause to remember September 11, 2001—25 years after the day that changed America forever. 💰 TRUMP PROPOSES A $5,000 “DIVIDEND” President Trump made one of the biggest announcements of the Republican midterm convention when he proposed sending $5,000 to adult American citizens if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate. Trump compared the idea to a successful corporation distributing dividends to its shareholders. There’s one other proposed requirement: the money would have to be spent in the United States. Sounds pretty good when somebody says they want to send you five thousand dollars. But there are some enormous questions. Where does the money come from? Would Congress authorize it? Who qualifies? How would a requirement that the money be spent in America actually work? And with Americans already concerned about prices, what could a massive infusion of money into the economy mean for inflation? We’re going to separate the political promise from the practical details and discuss what it could mean for American taxpayers. ⚖️ NEW LINDSAY CLANCY JURY REVELATIONS More jurors are speaking publicly following the mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy case. Now one juror is describing a disturbing moment inside the deliberation room involving the lone holdout on the 12-person panel. According to the juror, the holdout wrapped one of the exercise bands involved in the deaths around a water bottle in an apparent attempt to recreate the strangulations. The account provides another glimpse into what reportedly happened during the tense deliberations that ultimately ended without a unanimous verdict. The jury was reportedly divided 11-1. We’ll discuss what these jurors are saying, why the panel couldn’t reach a verdict and what could happen next in this extraordinarily difficult case. 👟 WHAT HAPPENED TO NIKE? For nearly two decades, Nike was part of the S&P 100—the group of some of America’s largest blue-chip companies. Now it’s coming out. At its peak in 2021, Nike was worth more than a quarter-trillion dollars. Since then, more than $200 billion in market value has disappeared. Nike has struggled with declining sales, weakness in China, competition from brands like HOKA and On, and strategic decisions involving its relationships with traditional retailers. The company has also repeatedly found itself at the center of America’s cultural and political debates. So what really happened to one of the most powerful brands in American sports? Was Nike distracted from its core customer? Did its business strategy simply fail? Did competitors outmaneuver it? Or was it some combination of all of those things? We’ll look at the numbers and let you decide. 🇺🇸 25 YEARS LATER — REMEMBERING 9/11 And finally, today is different. Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, 2001, America changed forever. Nearly 3,000 innocent people went to work, boarded airplanes, responded to emergency calls or simply began an ordinary Tuesday morning—and never came home. Most Americans who were old enough to remember that day can still tell you exactly where they were when they heard the news. We remember the people trapped inside the World Trade Center. We remember those at the Pentagon. We remember the passengers and crew of Flight 93. And we remember the firefighters, police officers, paramedics and ordinary Americans who ran toward danger when every instinct told them to run away. Twenty-five years later, an entire generation of Americans has now grown up knowing September 11 only as history. That makes our responsibility even greater. Tell the stories. Remember the heroes. Remember the families. Remember what happened. And never forget. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #TrumpDividend #Midterms2026 #Congress #Economy #Nike #SP100 #LindsayClancy #September11 #September11Attacks #911Anniversary #NeverForget #Election2026 #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

   September 11, 2026·42min
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