You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for November 17, 2025. 

0:30 We dive into President Trump’s newly floated idea of a $2,000 “tariff dividend” for Americans earning under $100,000—and the heated debate it’s sparked. We break down the real numbers behind U.S. tariff revenues, the crushing weight of a $38 trillion national debt, and why handing out checks may feel good politically but won’t fix decades of fiscal irresponsibility. We explore who this proposal is aimed at, the working-class voters both parties are fighting to win back, and whether this is genuine relief or just another election-year strategy. 

9:30 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. 

• The Federal Aviation Administration lifted all restrictions on flights, airlines and airports over the weekend that were put in place during the Government Lockdown.
• Interim Director of FEMA David Richardson resigned Monday morning.
• Democrat Senator John Fetterman released a picture of himself on social media over the weekend, showing the bruising and scarring on his face after he took a fall on Friday.

12:30 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20.

13:30 We break down President Trump’s call for a full, no-holds-barred congressional vote to release every remaining Epstein file—and why the timing matters. We discuss Democrats’ attempts to weaponize selectively released emails, the media’s eagerness to push a narrative, and why even those emails ultimately undercut the left’s accusations rather than support them. The hosts explore Trump’s reasoning for demanding total transparency, including his belief that dragging out the Epstein saga has become yet another political distraction—“Russia hoax 3.0”—aimed at diverting voters from Democratic failures on the border, inflation, and public safety. 

16:30 American Mamas respond to a listener’s question: “Why are you enforcing your beauty standards on Black women and forcing them to straighten their hair?” The discussion centers on recent comments from former First Lady Michelle Obama, who suggested at a public event that Black women often straighten their hair to conform to white beauty standards. The Mamas question whether hair maintenance is a racial issue or something all women deal with. And they point out that Michelle Obama has the right and platform to wear her hair however she wants, noting that she's been highly praised by media and public audiences. 

If you'd like to ask our American Mamas a question, go to our website, AmericanGroundRadio.com/mamas and click on the Ask the Mamas button.

23:00 Under Trump, the U.S. didn’t enter any new wars—unlike past administrations that oversaw conflicts in Iraq, Libya, and beyond. Trump’s foreign-policy wins, from the historic Abraham Accords to renewed regional cooperation in the Middle East, even citing Kazakhstan’s recent involvement as a sign of growing diplomatic momentum.

24:00 We sit down with three special guests from Ukraine—Alla Yatsentsuk, her son Daniello, and advocate Katya Pavlich—to share a firsthand account of Russia’s forced deportation of Ukrainian children. Alla recounts the terrifying moment Russian forces occupied her city and ordered children, including her 12-year-old son, to attend a so-called “rest camp” in Crimea. When the children weren’t returned, Alla learned the truth: the Russians had no intention of sending them home. With the help of the organization Save Ukraine, Alla embarked on a months-long, near-impossible journey to retrieve her child—navigating destroyed infrastructure, occupied territory, and deliberate obstruction from Russian forces. Daniello was one of the fortunate ones. Thousands of Ukrainian children are still missing, with fewer than 2,000 returned out of nearly 20,000 known abductions. Katya, representing Razom for Ukraine, explains how her organization is working to support hospitals, strengthen civil society, combat Russian disinformation, and advocate for abducted children on the world stage. She emphasizes a shared American and Ukrainian value: children are never bargaining chips.

Visit razomforukraine.org to learn more. 

32:00 Get TrimROX from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20.

32:30 We break down fresh speculation surrounding Senator Ted Cruz and the possibility of a 2028 presidential run. Known for being anything but subtle, Cruz is doing little to quiet the rumors—allowing buzz about his intentions to build. We discuss Cruz’s political instincts, noting he has long kept one eye on his future ambitions. But whether he should run is another question. With JD Vance widely seen as the strongest Republican contender for 2028, we weigh whether Cruz would strengthen or divide the party.

36:00 Plus, Republican states stand by Biblical, pro-life values after the Dobbs decision, and that's a Bright Spot. We break down a new report from Americans United for Life ranking the most—and least—pro-life states in the country. With the Dobbs decision returning the issue to the states, the AUL assessment goes beyond abortion to examine each state's protections for life from conception to natural death, including bioethics, end-of-life care, conscience protections, and the legal status of the unborn. Their findings reveal a stark divide: the top 10 pro-life states—led by Arkansas, Louisiana, and Indiana—are overwhelmingly Republican, while the 10 least protective states, from Oregon to New Mexico, are all governed by Democrats. Stephen and Lewis argue this split highlights the deepest cultural divide in America today.

40:00 We unpack the escalating feud between Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and President Trump—a clash that finally erupted publicly over the weekend. Greene’s new slogan, “America First, America Only,” and her attacks on Trump over Israel policy and the Epstein files sparked a forceful response from the former president, who labeled her a “lightweight,” a “traitor,” and even a RINO. Right now Republuicans could be winning everything, but we're attacking one another instead. We've gotta say, "Whoa." 

41:30 And we finish off with Michelle and Vaughn Pohl, a couple who decided who nearly doubled the size of their family when they decided to adopt four children in need. When the family's car broke down, and Secret Santa stepped in to help the family showing that the Christmas Spirit is alive and well. 

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