Just Ask the Question Podcast

In this episode of Just Ask the Question, host Brian Karem sits down with 22-year Army combat veteran, On Democracy podcast host, and Missouri Congressional candidate Fred Wellman for an unvarnished discussion on military strategy and economic reality. Wellman delivers a sharp critique of current Pentagon leadership and the administration’s handling of the war in Iran, raising alarms over drone warfare unpreparedness, strategic errors, and a troubling lack of transparency surrounding troop casualties. Shifting to domestic policy, Wellman addresses America's worsening affordability crisis, exposing how Washington politics and billionaire tax breaks continue to leave working-class families behind in a K-shaped economy. He outlines his campaign for Missouri's 2nd Congressional District, highlighting a pragmatic approach centered on protecting individual freedoms, revitalizing local infrastructure, and restoring accountability to Capitol Hill.

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In our latest episode Brian and the guys discuss Trump’s speech, the Iran war, the latest ICE killings and much more…

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In this high-stakes episode of Just Ask the Press, host Brian Karem, national security expert Mark Zaid, and journalism professor Dr. Nolan Higdon tackle a chaotic week in American politics triggered by the sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham and the mysterious public absence of Mitch McConnell. The panel breaks down the massive midterm implications of losing these two Republican juggernauts before diving into the Trump administration's escalating crackdowns on democratic norms. The conversation covers the alarming DOJ subpoenas issued to four New York Times reporters over an Air Force One safety exposé, the administration's quiet dissolution of the bipartisan federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and the ongoing, grinding military conflict with Iran.

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Brian Karem is joined by national security expert Mark Zaid and journalism professor Nolan Higdon on Just Ask the Press to dissect a week of unprecedented political scandals, press freedom battles, and unchecked executive overreach. The panel uncovers the stark contrast of Donald Trump's McCarthy-esque Fourth of July speech targeting  communists while white nationalists march on the National Mall, leading Senator Mike Lee to push a bizarre conspiracy theory that the masked neo-Nazis were actually Antifa. The discussion shifts to blatant financial corruption, highlighting Trump's massive $2.2 billion profit windfall and his stunning admission of loving "insider trading," alongside his bizarre, thumb-on-the-scale phone call to FIFA to overturn a World Cup red card. Finally, the team shines a light on critical civil liberties under threat, exposing a quiet ICE surge rounding up 10,000 individuals over five days, the federal overreach of a ten-year felony charge for peeling paint at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, and the Supreme Court's devastating blow to investigative journalism by upholding an $800-a-day fine against reporter Catherine Herridge.

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In this episode of Just Ask the Press, Brian Karem, Mark Zaid, and Nolan Higdon dive into the week's most volatile headlines, questioning the stability of American democracy and the effectiveness of our current political leadership. The panel dissects the U.S. government’s "go-it-alone" approach to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, the escalating tensions in the Middle East—including the breakdown of the Iran ceasefire—and a barrage of controversial Supreme Court decisions that have left legal experts and citizens alike reeling.

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This week we cover a wide range of current political and international issues, including the Iran deal, Trump's G7 appearance, Supreme Court decisions, and more. Join us for an in-depth analysis of these critical topics and their implications for the future.

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This week on Just Ask the Press, Brian Karem is joined by national security and FOIA expert Mark Zaid and journalism professor Nolan Higdon to unpack an incredibly chaotic week in news, politics, and media.

The trio kicks off the episode reacting to Elon Musk officially becoming the world’s first trillionaire after SpaceX went public on the NASDAQ. They delve into his sci-fi aspirations for Mars and debate whether his staggering wealth is inherently dangerous for democracy or a catalyst for taking risks that governments won't.

Next, the panel breaks down blockbuster reporting exposing a high-level, secret Situation Room meeting from the summer of 2025. Trump administration officials scrambled to manage damning, unreleased Epstein files, sparking an internal civil war over transparency—and a rogue strategy proposed by JD Vance.

Later, Mark Zaid guides us through a packed week in the legal system, detailing the dramatic, eleventh-hour removal of Donald Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center, a federal judge definitively halting a $1.776 billion "slush fund," and why a last-minute lawsuit failed to stop a massive UFC extravaganza on the White House lawn.

Finally, the team scrutinizes the "on-again, off-again" war in Iran, the Department of Justice's controversial approval of the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, and how the New York Knicks managed to win it all—despite a potential "Trump jinx."

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Welcome back to another episode of Just Ask the Press!  Brian is joined by national security expert Mark S. Zaid and journalism professor Nolan Higdon to dissect a chaotic week in American politics, global conflicts, and government restructuring.  We kick things off with Donald Trump’s explosive, rainy interview on Meet the Press with Kristen Welker, followed by his historic—and heavily booed—appearance at the NBA Finals in Manhattan. Plus, a massive institutional cover-up regarding Havana Syndrome is reaching a breaking point as Tulsi Gabbard prepares to exit the ODNI.  We also break down the legal fallout of John Bolton's impending felony plea deal and explain how recent DOGE budget cuts just brought a dangerous, cattle-killing parasite back to the American workforce—and what it means for your grocery bill.

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Danica Roem  joins our host Brian Karem to discuss Virginia's redistricting, the impact of court decisions, and the broader implications for democracy and upcoming elections. She emphasizes the importance of voter turnout, strategic campaigning, and the need for electoral reforms like ranked choice voting.

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Join us as we dissect the tumultuous week behind headlines involving Donald Trump’s legal battles, Congressional investigations into Epstein, and recent government actions on immigration and national security. 

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