Against all odds, U.S. House Republicans finally united around the Senate-revised “big, beautiful bill” and passed it in a 218-214 vote Thursday afternoon, sending the multitrillion-dollar budget reconciliation package to the president’s desk. President Donald Trump traveled to Florida Tuesday to visit ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ the new, quickly constructed immigrant detention center that will hold up to 5,000 foreign nationals facing deportation. In a victory for President Donald Trump, the Universi...
Jul 05, 2025•48 min•Ep. 90
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Thursday that the U.S. gained nothing from its strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. President Donald Trump heads home from the NATO summit in the Netherlands touting a slew of international successes, including the member nations committing to more than doubling their defense spending. It’s budget season in Pennsylvania, and legislators are feeling the squeeze of potential cuts from the federal government, so are the state’s leading universitie...
Jun 27, 2025•48 min•Ep. 89
President Donald Trump said he will decide on whether to engage in military action against Iran within the next two weeks. Federal stalking and murder charges have been filed against 57-year-old Vance Boelter in a 20-page charging document on Monday in what was described as the “stuff of nightmares.” As the ink dries on the U.S. Steel merger with Japanese competitor Nippon, one state lawmaker breathes a deep sigh of relief on behalf of thousands of workers, most of whom she’s never met. And more...
Jun 20, 2025•48 min•Ep. 88
California Gov. Gavin Newsom held a formal address Tuesday to the state, blaming President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard late Saturday night after two days of riots and destruction for Sunday and Monday’s more violent escalation. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that U.S. talks with China in London resulted in a tentative deal that still needs China's President Xi Jinping's final approval. The House barely passed a controversial rescissions package Thursday, pulling billions in a...
Jun 13, 2025•48 min•Ep. 87
After an explosive and unprecedented day between President Donald Trump and former head of the Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk, tensions seem to have cooled some. The man charged in Sunday’s terrorist attack in Boulder told law enforcement that he had no regrets for his actions and would “do it again” if released. What’s next for U.S. Steel after its $14 billion merger? It’s either the golden age or a clever mirage, depending on who gets asked. And more... Support this podcast: htt...
Jun 06, 2025•48 min•Ep. 86
Republicans’ behemoth budget reconciliation bill still faces major hurdles after passing the U.S. House last week, with multiple senators raising concerns about the legislation’s cost. In another blow to Harvard University, the Trump administration has moved to cancel federal contracts with the Ivy League school. More than 500 Christians gathered outside Seattle City Hall Tuesday evening to protest what they say are the anti-faith policies of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and the Seattle City Coun...
May 30, 2025•48 min•Ep. 85
Leaders in both political parties are showing former President Joe Biden their support after Biden announced he is dealing with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. The Trump administration is moving forward with his Golden Dome missile defense system that is similar to Israel's. The budget bill containing many of President Donald Trump’s fiscal priorities and campaign promises narrowly passed the House of Representatives early Thursday morning in a 215-214 vote, and now the White House is “su...
May 23, 2025•48 min•Ep. 84
Federal authorities are investigating whether a message posted on social media by former FBI Director James Comey was meant to be a threat against President Donald Trump. A skeptical high court grilled state officials this week about whether the money it wants to collect from a regional anti-pollution pact constitutes a fee or a tax. U.S. stocks soared Monday after the world's two largest economies reached a temporary trade deal to significantly lower tariffs while talks continue. And more... Su...
May 16, 2025•48 min•Ep. 83
As the final House committees prepare to markup the lion’s share of the budget reconciliation package, nearly three dozen fiscally conservative lawmakers are reminding party leaders to fulfill their spending reduction promises. A visit to Springfield Wednesday by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is sparking debate over Illinois’ migrant sanctuary policies. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday that travelers without Real ID-compliant cards will still be a...
May 09, 2025•48 min•Ep. 82
President Donald Trump delivered remarks at a rally in Michigan Tuesday evening, his 100th day in office of his second term. A plurality of Americans feel the country’s immigration policies have improved since President Donald Trump took office, according to a new poll. The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended a Milwaukee judge facing two federal charges for allegedly trying to help a man illegally in the country escape from immigration officials. And more... Support this podcast: https://secure.an...
May 02, 2025•48 min•Ep. 81
Americans aren’t thrilled with how President Donald Trump is handling the economy, despite the economy and immigration being his top-performing issues in polls leading up to the election. President Donald Trump's goals for the Department of Government Efficiency remain even as leader Elon Musk prepares to spend less time on government matters and more time with electric vehicle maker Tesla. The California Legislative Analyst’s Office reports the state’s drug spending has doubled since 2018, with...
Apr 25, 2025•48 min•Ep. 80
While motive remains unclear, the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office has released the criminal complaint and affidavit charging Cody Balmer of Harrisburg, 38, with setting fire to the Governor’s Residence in the early hours of last Sunday morning. As Americans filed their taxes leading up to April 15th, the federal debt – and Americans’ federal debt burden – continues to grow. A nonprofit public-interest litigation firm filed a lawsuit Monday alleging President Donald Trump's "Liberation ...
Apr 18, 2025•48 min•Ep. 79
President Donald Trump shifted from a global trade war to a high-stakes showdown with China by pausing tariffs on scores of countries and raising them on the world's second-largest economy as he seeks a trade deal with Beijing. Following a nail-biter budget resolution vote in the House Thursday that unlocked the next steps in the budget reconciliation process, top Republican lawmakers are now faced with finding the promised spending cuts demanded by fiscal hawks. The massive crackdown on illegal...
Apr 11, 2025•48 min•Ep. 78
President Trump rolled out his reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday. Susan Crawford won the highly contested Wisconsin Supreme Court race Tuesday night. A flurry of lawsuits have been filed around the country in recent years attempting to make oil and gas companies pay for the costs of climate change, but critics of these lawsuits say that they are on tenuous legal ground. And more... Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_...
Apr 04, 2025•48 min•Ep. 77
Nearly two weeks after a reporter was erroneously looped into a Signal messaging chat between top national security officials, the White House said it is "making changes" to address the issue. President Donald Trump Thursday called for defunding National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service, two partially federally funded groups under scrutiny in the DOGE era. Boeing earned a contract to build the U.S. Air Force's top air dominance fighter, the F-47 and the service has plenty of options ...
Mar 28, 2025•48 min•Ep. 76
In a move that will undoubtedly incite legal challenges, President Donald Trump dismantled the U.S. Department of Education via executive order Thursday, sending education policy back to the state level. The cost to bring home a pair of stranded astronauts that have spent most of a year in space aboard the International Space Station could be as much as $150 million. U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts criticized President Donald Trump's move to impeach judges who have ruled against th...
Mar 21, 2025•48 min•Ep. 75
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday he would suspend the province's 25% tariff on U.S.-bound electricity after getting a meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and hours after President Donald Trump threatened to double tariffs on Canada. A California father was shocked when the bill for an ambulance for his daughter doubled after adding his insurance, which he says is because of a new state law that punishes him for having coverage. The U.S. House voted Tuesday evening to advanc...
Mar 14, 2025•48 min•Ep. 74
President Donald Trump addressed both the House and Senate Tuesday evening in a wide-ranging speech at about the six week-mark into his second term in office. Four sanctuary city mayors who spent millions of state and federal taxpayer dollars to accommodate illegal immigrants denied that blocking federal agents from deporting criminal migrants violated federal law at a committee hearing Wednesday. Stocks sunk Thursday afternoon despite President Donald Trump's decision to grant major exceptions ...
Mar 07, 2025•48 min•Ep. 73
President Donald Trump’s tax cuts, border, defense, and energy promises are one step closer to enactment after the U.S. House narrowly passed its $4.5 trillion budget resolution Tuesday night, officially kickstarting the budget reconciliation process. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Fiscal Review Committee has voted to place the city of Bogalusa under fiscal administration, citing severe financial distress. California lawmakers have proposed a bill restricting self-defense, mandating “retrea...
Feb 28, 2025•48 min•Ep. 72
The month-old Department of Government Efficiency led by billionaire Elon Musk has saved American taxpayers $55 billion, according to the latest update from the group. Washington Democrats on Tuesday passed a bill out of the Senate Government, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee, dubbed by critics to be the “initiative killer.” In the first 10 days of the Trump administration, apprehensions dropped by 85% between ports of entry at the southwest border, according to new data published by U...
Feb 21, 2025•48 min•Ep. 71
Billionaire Elon Musk joined President Donald Trump in the oval office Tuesday as the president signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to work with Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE. Border Czar Tom Homan says information indicates the FBI may have a leak after details of an immigration enforcement operation were leaked to the media. President Donald Trump has promised to lower prices and open up domestic energy production, but his recent tariff threats have...
Feb 14, 2025•48 min•Ep. 70
Major markets pared some losses after President Donald Trump paused his plans for 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada while starting talks with China on a 10% additional tariff over fentanyl smuggling. The National Transportation Safety Administration says the Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines jet over the Potomac River last Wednesday was flying at about 300 feet at the time of the collision, above the permitted flight ceiling. Foreign aid has become the ...
Feb 07, 2025•48 min•Ep. 69
President Donald Trump on Wednesday rescinded a memo that put a freeze on federal grants and loans after confusion spread throughout the nation, but didn't back off his order. Florida lawmakers passed an immigration bill that was panned by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Within a week of President Donald Trump being sworn into office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers working with multiple federal agencies are arresting nearly 1,000 people every day set to be deported. And more... Support thi...
Jan 31, 2025•48 min•Ep. 68
President-elect Donald Trump addressed the nation from the Capitol Rotunda Monday as his first act as president. Commuter traffic is about to see an uptick in the Washington, D.C. metro area as President Donald Trump issued an executive order ending remote work for federal employees. Trump signed a slew of executive orders upon assuming office. And more... Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Read more: G...
Jan 24, 2025•48 min•Ep. 67
President-elect Donald Trump is expected to take a wide range of actions on his first day in office. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Monday that he supports adding conditions to any federal aid to California over the Los Angeles wildfires, citing his position that state and local leaders were “derelict in their duty.” Pete Hegseth, Pam Bondi, Doug Burgum, Marco Rubio, and other nominees began their confirmation hearings in the Senate this week. And more... Support this podcast: ht...
Jan 17, 2025•48 min•Ep. 66
Wildfires erupted across Los Angeles as a windstorm created fire conditions the National Weather Service said are “as bad as it gets.” President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday that U.S. economic security depends on controlling Greenland and the Panama Canal. The nation's first congestion pricing system got underway in New York over the weekend after a last-ditch legal challenge failed to block the controversial new tolling program. And more... Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/fra...
Jan 10, 2025•48 min•Ep. 65
The FBI has identified the driver of a truck that plowed into a crowd of people celebrating New Year's on Bourbon Street early Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 35. A winter storm carried off the end of the Santa Cruz wharf two days before Christmas, indefinitely shutting down the tourist attraction that houses 17 stores and restaurants. The late President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday, will be honored with a state funeral at Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 9, 2025. And mo...
Jan 03, 2025•48 min•Ep. 64
The Center Square's 2024 Year in Review including the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, his ensuing political comeback, wars abroad, & more. In Pennsylvania we say headlines on the election, big legislative accomplishments, & the potential buyout of U.S. Steel. In Illinois, the trial of former Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan began, Trump made gains in the election, gun ban case were litigated, & more. Keep up with all of the national and state news in 2025 at The Center Squar...
Dec 27, 2024•48 min•Ep. 63
The House has overwhelmingly voted against the stopgap bill presented to the House floor Thursday evening by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., after a last-minute scramble. When Gov. Jay Inslee took office in 2013 after stating in the 2012 election race that new taxes weren’t “the right direction," the state Legislature approved a $38.4 billion budget for the biennium. With less than a month before stepping down from office, Inslee is proposing a $78.8 billion operating budget that comes with $4 bill...
Dec 20, 2024•48 min•Ep. 62
The manhunt for the person who gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan sidewalk on December 4th ended at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pa. Described as a “vigilante” jaded by the commercial health insurance industry, Gov. Josh Shapiro said online support for the accused, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, leaves him sickened. President-elect Donald Trump’s deportation strategy will include targeting so-called sanctuary jurisdictions, his new border czar, Tom Homan, says. The latest fe...
Dec 13, 2024•48 min•Ep. 61
