The Joe Pags Show

Pags goes back to Nancy Pelosi's own words from 2007 about illegal immigrants and welfare—and compares them to today's Democratic Party, asking how the party moved THIS far in less than two decades. Then there's a stunning new twist in the Fang Fang saga as Eric Swalwell makes an admission Pags says deserves serious attention. Pags also takes on the Democratic Socialists of America, arguing you don't have to slap labels on anyone when they're proudly labeling themselves, before turning to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and the growing ideological fight inside the Democratic Party. But Pags says Republicans and conservatives have their own divisions to solve, too: How does either side bring its coalition back together? The phones light up with Americans weighing in before Pags ends with a painfully awkward viral moment involving the Minneapolis mayor, a dance and what Joe calls some truly embarrassing political pandering.

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Pags tackles the question at the center of the Iran conflict: Who actually owns the Strait of Hormuz—and can ANY country claim control over one of the most important waterways on Earth? Then the 2028 conversation heats up. Who should Republicans nominate after Trump, why is Pete Hegseth suddenly making waves, and could President Trump seriously pursue a third term? Pags wants to know who YOU want at the top of the ticket. He also digs into rising gas prices and why drivers who rely on certain types of fuel are getting hit even harder. Then NewsNation's Robert Sherman joins Pags LIVE from Doha, Qatar, with an on-the-ground look at the Strait of Hormuz. Does Iran have any legitimate claim to the entire waterway? Is it actually open or closed right now? How does this confrontation end? And what are the Iranian and Persian people themselves saying as the pressure builds? Sherman cuts through the competing claims and breaks down what's really happening in the region.

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Pags and the crew start off having some fun—from Canadian bacon and shrimp to Joe admitting his name may have been dropped to police once or twice over the years—before remembering ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard following his death at 77 and celebrating the incredible legacy he leaves behind. Then President Trump posts a map labeling the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory, and Pags says the presidential troll is officially on a roll. Things somehow get even stranger when a Massachusetts mayor facing fraud charges goes viral over questions about his ability to speak English—and the crew can't help themselves when he attempts to prove the critics wrong. Then NewsNation's Robert Sherman joins Pags from Doha, Qatar, for an incredible firsthand look at the Middle East. Who really has rights to the Strait of Hormuz? Is it open or closed? How does this conflict actually end, and what's happening with the Iranian people behind the headlines? Sherman also pulls back the curtain on what everyday life is really like in Qatar, giving listeners a fascinating perspective you don't normally hear from someone actually there.

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Pags reacts to President Trump's late-night Truth Social post questioning America's support for South Korea—and this time, Pags has a real problem with what the president is saying. South Korea is an important U.S. ally, so what exactly is Trump trying to accomplish? Pags brings you Trump's own explanation before another jaw-dropping moment: the president floats the idea of making the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory. Could that even happen? Then Trump gets into a fiery back-and-forth with a CNN reporter and weighs in on the growing controversy surrounding Flock surveillance cameras. Finally, former Deputy National Security Adviser Victoria Coates joins the program to cut through the noise on the biggest foreign-policy questions of the moment. Why is Trump suddenly talking this way about South Korea? Is America actually defeating Iran—economically, militarily, or both? And after weeks of conflicting claims, is the Strait of Hormuz OPEN or CLOSED? Coates gives Pags a definitive answer and reveals where the Iran conflict goes from here.

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Pags asks whether President Trump's controversial ballroom project can actually move forward—and digs into the legal and political fight surrounding it. Then, what's going on with Candace Owens and Andrew Wilson, and why was Owens reportedly asking for $300,000 to debate? Pags breaks down that drama before getting into Nancy Mace's latest viral moment that's setting the internet on fire. Then Joe turns his attention to James Talarico—and he does NOT hold back. Pags challenges Talarico's claims about the SAVE America Act, accuses him of misleading voters about what the legislation actually does, and asks whether Democrats genuinely believe some of the arguments they're making. The phones light up as listeners weigh in, while Pags explains why he believes Talarico is an entirely different political animal—and one Republicans shouldn't underestimate.

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Pags wants an answer to a question that isn't going away: Where is Mitch McConnell, and what's the real update on his condition? Then Pags breaks down another Supreme Court setback for President Trump in the $5 million E. Jean Carroll case before absolutely unloading on reports that Iran is offering $30,000 bounties for killing American troops. From there, things get bizarre: Google is reportedly spending $10 million on Spirit Airlines' old data to train its AI—yes, really—and Nancy Mace is showing off new tattoos while launching a YouTube show after her political career took a dramatic turn. Finally, Kay Hill joins Pags for a wide-ranging look at the state of the conservative movement. Why is comedian Shane Gillis suddenly part of the political conversation? What's really happening inside the so-called deep state? And are Trump's numbers with young Americans flashing a warning sign for Republicans? Pags and Kay connect the dots in a conversation that goes places you won't expect.

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Pags dives into the stunning Luigi Mangione development after Mangione pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges and openly admitted in court that he shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Pags GOES OFF: If he's admitting to the killing, how are we talking about stalking charges—and what happens now with the separate New York murder case? The callers have plenty to say before Free Speech Friday takes a hilarious detour into traveling, food and the crew just having some fun. Then Pags tackles a wild new concern out of Washington: AI chatbots are increasingly being used to help do the work of Congress, but who's actually watching the machines? Finally, President Trump hits Long Island alongside FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Todd Blanche to tout newly released FBI numbers showing violent crime fell sharply in 2025. Pags brings you his favorite moments as Trump, Patel and Blanche make the case that the administration's crime strategy is working—and Trump has plenty to say about just how much safer he believes America is becoming.

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Pags dives into the Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White WNBA controversy, finding plenty of hilarity in a debate that raises a very serious question about the future of women's sports. The phones light up as listeners say they've had enough of institutions bending over backward to accommodate a tiny percentage of the population. Then YouTuber, reporter and storyteller Alessi Allaman joins Pags for a disturbing deep dive into Flock cameras and America's rapidly expanding surveillance network. What exactly are these cameras collecting? Why are some positioned near parks and swimming pools? Who has access to the data? And what about allegations of law-enforcement officers misusing surveillance systems to track women? Allaman reveals what he's uncovered, what Americans aren't being told, and why the cameras popping up seemingly everywhere deserve a much closer look.

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Pags reacts to the arrest of a suspect in the vandalism at Washington's World War II Memorial and asks whether America desperately needs to rethink how it handles people suffering from severe mental illness. He then has the latest on the USS Abraham Lincoln as the carrier prepares to return home amid controversy over living conditions aboard the ship. Pags also unloads after Rep. Joaquin Castro receives the Hispanic Heritage Award for Public Service and turns his attention to President Trump's push for the SAVE America Act. Joe isn't convinced Republicans will actually get it passed—and listeners call in asking why the GOP talks about fighting but so often fails to deliver. Then YouTuber, reporter and storyteller Alessi Allaman joins Pags for a disturbing deep dive into Flock cameras. Why are these surveillance cameras seemingly everywhere—including near parks and pools? Who can access what they record? And are some law-enforcement officers actually abusing the technology to track women? Allaman reveals what he's uncovered about the surveillance system quietly expanding across America—and why you may want to start paying much closer attention.

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Pags asks a question a lot of Texas parents are probably thinking: Why are we sending kids back to school in the middle of brutal summer heat? As Texas lawmakers revive a push for later start dates, Pags and the crew debate why school calendars vary so wildly across the country—and whether having football players and other student athletes practicing outside in extreme August temperatures makes any sense at all. Then, why is the WNBA suddenly dominating headlines? A league task force is reportedly examining its policies surrounding transgender athletes, potentially forcing the WNBA to confront one of the biggest questions facing women's sports. The crew jumps into the debate, the phones light up, and listeners from across America have PLENTY to say.

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