In Hour 3 of The Charlie James Show on August 3, 2026, host Charlie James prepares for the upcoming South Carolina U.S. Senate primary debate by analyzing candidate platforms and taking caller feedback on key national and local issues. James and several callers scrutinize candidate Darline Graham, questioning her focus on "affordability"—arguing Senators have little control over everyday consumer prices—while examining her past involvement in a controversial Fort Jackson land deal. Callers also voice frustration over rising gas prices, potential military conflict with Iran, and Dr. Anthony Fauci's pandemic response. Throughout the hour, James emphasizes that voters must demand transparency, accountability, and strong foreign policy expertise rather than relying on political rhetoric or familiar family names.

In Hour 3, Segment 2 of The Charlie James Show on August 3, 2026, host Charlie James fields calls regarding foreign policy, inflation, and federal accountability. Caller Jamie from Belton expresses concern over rising gas and diesel prices tied to Middle East tensions, leading James to detail the geopolitical calculations involving Donald Trump, Iran, and Saudi Arabia's oil fields. Larry from Cleveland County questions candidate Darline Graham's focus on food prices over foreign policy, while Michael from Simpsonville debates whether Dr. Anthony Fauci's Fifth Amendment plea signaled a rejection of his presidential pardon. Finally, Lou from Campobello compares economic sacrifices from high gas prices to the national security imperative of stopping a nuclear Iran.

In Hour 3, Segment 1 of The Charlie James Show on August 3, 2026, host Charlie James previews the upcoming South Carolina U.S. Senate primary debate and questions how much power a U.S. Senator actually possesses over consumer prices and "affordability," a central campaign platform for candidate Darline Graham. Callers Cassandra from Greenville and Joe from Hickory join the broadcast to critique Graham's campaign messaging and express intense anger over pandemic-era health mandates, vaccine policies, and Dr. Anthony Fauci's role in COVID-19 guidance. James agrees with caller concerns regarding ventilator overuse and nursing home policies during the pandemic while reflecting on the loss of local activist Pressley Stutts.

Full Transcript

Charlie James: Well, we're about two hours away from the Senate debate. Uh debate, what have we got? We got Darline Graham, we got Ralph Norman, we got Mark Lynch, we got Russell Fry, we got Mark Sanford on stage tonight. I want to know, you guys send me a text, let me know what questions would you really like to ask? Now, one of the things that Darline Graham is running on is affordability. But I got a question for you: What control, what power does a sitting Senator have over affordability? That's what I want to know. What—what can a Senator do to make something more affordable? What can a Senator do to make something, I don't know, um like the price of eggs, or the price of tomatoes, or the price of uh corn beef, what can a Senator do to make prices go down? Let's go to Cassandra in Greenville. Cassandra, welcome.

Caller (Cassandra): Hi Charlie, congratulations! We're all so happy! Congratulations.

Charlie James: Oh, thank you. Thank you.

Caller (Cassandra): You know, I'm—I'm I—I need because I just heard Graham talking and I—I need to comment quickly on that, but I I I need to follow up with Fauci stuff because um I don't want it to die. I I think that, you know, they'll drag out ridiculous stories and something this important, they're already cutting off, you don't hear much. But first of all with with uh Graham with her affordability, that's the word I wrote down immediately before when you were talking. To me, that's just her her sign to the Democratic Party that um that she's going to take care of them. I I'm like, what—why is she talking about buying steak on sale? What the heck is that?

Charlie James: Well, she wants you, she wants you to know that she came from very meager, humble beginnings.

Caller (Cassandra): Yeah. Well, we all—

Charlie James: Right? Like nobody like, oh like, we're all out here just like, "No, you know what? No, I'm not getting the steak, it's on sale. I'll wait till tomorrow," you know, when they raise the prices back up.

Caller (Cassandra): Yes, I know! And and it's like, I—I'm sorry, that's not our country's big problem. The SAVE Act is the problem, we need fair elections. But if I may for for Fauci because it's been driving me crazy, um he's responsible for the murder of millions of people. And when he was doing his testifying with his Fifth Amendment, I—I kept waiting for some one of the Senators to hear word of, them saying, "Why aren't you finishing that statement with 'on the grounds that it might incriminate me'?" And I—I mentioned this to a a friend who had a younger a high school kid, and and he said, "Oh, I never heard that." I said, "No, you didn't." He made sure to make his statement without the final line of it. Anyway, that drove me crazy. But also, few a few things here, Webster Dictionary had to change the definition of vaccine. Give me a break. Um, my husband was in the hospital with heart surgery and I was not allowed to visit. So, um, yeah. Um, I met my new grandchild from my front door. They were not allowed to walk up my walk all the way to the to the house. That's how I met, and I wasn't allowed to go to the hospital.

Charlie James: Wow.

Caller (Cassandra): Um, yeah. And when I was in hospital rehab during that period, my child ...

In Hour 2 of The Charlie James Show on August 3, 2026, host Charlie James criticizes Senate Republican leadership and presses South Carolina U.S. Senate candidates on their willingness to push conservative priorities like the SAVE America Act. He contrasts Democratic opposition to voter ID laws with New York City’s municipal grocery initiative requiring identification, predicting the program will succumb to widespread theft. James also clarifies the eligibility rules for voting in the South Carolina Republican special primary—answering caller inquiries about crossover voting limits—and concludes the hour by calling out mainstream media figures like CNN’s Dana Bash for historically defending Dr. Anthony Fauci without question during the pandemic.

In Hour 2, Segment 2 of The Charlie James Show on August 3, 2026, host Charlie James criticizes Democratic arguments against voter ID requirements, contrasting them with new policies for municipal programs in New York City. James highlights plans for city-owned grocery stores offering discounted food to residents, pointing out the irony that access requires a "library card-esque" form of identification while Democrats simultaneously argue voter ID laws are restrictive and discriminatory. He predicts the subsidized stores will face widespread theft and financial failure before taking a call from Lucy in Greenville, who shares her experience needing a marriage license to update her driver's license for travel, agreeing that identification requirements are standard practice despite political claims to the contrary.

In Hour 2, Segment 1 of The Charlie James Show on August 3, 2026, host Charlie James opens with a musical montage including the Pledge of Allegiance and "America the Beautiful" before taking on national and state political maneuvering. He addresses a text line glitch before criticizing GOP leadership—specifically Senators John Cornyn, Tom Tillis, and John Thune—demanding they use leverage and tough committee assignments to push through conservative priorities like the SAVE America Act. Callers join the broadcast to voice frustration with Senate leadership and question whether appointed Senator Darline Graham will vote according to her constituents or follow her late brother's establishment mold. Finally, James informs viewers where to watch that evening's televised South Carolina U.S. Senate Republican primary debate across local TV affiliates.

In Hour 1 of The Charlie James Show on August 3, 2026, host Charlie James focuses on the upcoming South Carolina U.S. Senate special primary debate and fields lively responses from listeners regarding the crowded candidate field. James heavily criticizes candidate Darline Graham for relying on her brother Lindsey Graham's legacy, avoiding press questions, and playing up her family budget credentials. Callers weigh in on candidates attempting to "out-poor" each other in campaign ads, while James leads a broader discussion on controversial SCGOP primary qualification rules, arguing that voters rather than party elites should decide who appears on the ballot. Finally, James addresses listener texts defending candidate qualifications and plays a clip from Bill Maher to warn against far-left political figures openly advocating Marxist principles on primary ballots across the country.

In Hour 1, Segment 2 of The Charlie James Show on August 3, 2026, host Charlie James takes calls from listeners reacting to the South Carolina U.S. Senate candidates and campaign tactics. Callers mock candidates like Russell Fry and Darline Graham Nordone for attempting to "out-poor" each other in ads, while criticizing Graham for avoiding press questions and relying on name recognition. James also discusses recent South Carolina GOP rule changes regarding primary candidate qualifications, arguing that the voters—rather than party leaders—should decide who can run for office, while callers compare the open Senate seat battle to historic political races.

In Hour 1, Segment 1 of The Charlie James Show on August 3, 2026, host Charlie James kicks off the broadcast by previewing the upcoming South Carolina Republican U.S. Senate primary debate featuring five candidates: Darline Graham, Rep. Russell Fry, Mark Lynch, Rep. Ralph Norman, and former Rep. Mark Sanford. James focuses heavily on candidate Darline Graham, questioning her qualifications and criticizing her reliance on her brother Lindsey Graham's legacy, her Trump endorsement, and her avoidance of local media. He takes a call from listener Mark in Liberty, who humorously compares Graham to "Aunt Bee," while also briefly touching on legal challenges surrounding candidates omitted from the ballot.

Host Charlie James fields calls from listeners discussing the dynamics of South Carolina's U.S. Senate special primary. Caller Wayne in Greenwood shares his thoughts on candidate options, noting he received campaign literature from Darlene Graham (listed as Darlene Nardone) and plans to vote for Ralph Norman in hopes that non-Graham candidates unite in a potential runoff. James examines the political maneuvering surrounding Graham's candidacy, questioning her close ties to Katrina Shealy and discussing how party leadership navigated placeholder expectations. Caller Tom in Union County asks about Russell Fry simultaneously running for Congress and Senate, leading James to reflect on the likelihood of a special election if Fry wins the Senate seat. Finally, James takes a fun turn to give golf advice to a caller asking how to fix a severe drive slice.