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The Erick Erickson Show

The Erick Erickson Show cuts through the chaos with bold clarity and biblical conviction. Broadcasting live each weekday, Erick tackles the stories that matter - from Washington to Wall Street to your backyard - with fearless analysis rooted in Christian truth and conservative principles. No tribal talking points. No partisan spin. Just straight talk from a host who believes in the sovereignty of God, the greatness of America, and the importance of holding everyone accountable - right or left.

Hosts:
Erick Erickson
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Episode length: 37m

S15 EP185: Hour 1 - Inflation, Gas, and a World on Fire

Erick Erickson opens with a hot September CPI inflation report, a 3.7% annual rate, gas up 9.1% in a month and a 3.6% Social Security COLA for 2027, and argues the unfinished Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz tanker attacks are driving it. He then walks the global fire: Houthi strikes on Saudi Aramco, a drone attack off Bulgaria, protests shaking India's Modi, Ethiopia and Eritrea heading toward war, and the Starlink shutoff in Ukraine, all with midterm warnings for the White House and Republicans. CPI inflation report: 3.7% annual rate, core CPI at 2.6%, gasoline up 9.1%, real wages falling, and Erick's tariff "I told you so" on farmers and bankruptcies Social Security COLA 2027 of 3.6%, Fannie Mae mortgage rates near 7.5%, and talk of an October Federal Reserve interest rate hike Iran war fallout: six tankers hit in the Strait of Hormuz, Brent crude at $106, and why the Pentagon's 15 more days of bombing never happened Trump's Russian diesel deal, Argentine beef imports, and why Canada is the obvious supplier, plus farm country and midterm danger for Republicans World on fire: Houthi attack on Saudi Aramco, Bulgaria drone strikes, India protests against Modi, Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the Starlink cutoff in Ukraine

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP185: Hour 2 - Why Ukraine Builds 5 Million Drones and America Cannot

Erick Erickson takes a furniture store owner's call on how tariffs and fuel costs are squeezing Main Street, then makes the case for Anduril and Palmer Luckey: Ukraine will build five million drones this year while America builds fewer than a hundred thousand, and Patriot missile output and the Houthi missile threat show why defense procurement needs a shake-up. He also reacts to Shane Gillis, Dan Levy, and The View, plus a Bill Gates farmland call and a warning about population decline. Tariffs and inflation on Main Street: Woodchuck's Furniture owner Doug in Jacksonville on tariffs, fuel costs, mortgage rates, and why bringing manufacturing back would take five years and a labor force America does not have Anduril and Palmer Luckey: Erick wishes he could buy Anduril stock, and explains how World War II style manufacturing, General Motors Patriot missile work, and cheap drones like the Roadrunner could fix defense procurement Ukraine drones versus American drones: Ukraine will build five million drones this year while the US builds under a hundred thousand, plus the Houthi effort to build Iranian style ballistic missiles with Chinese parts and AI help Population decline, socialism, and hope: why Trump administration equity stakes in companies look like socialism to Erick, and why neither party is selling a hopeful message Shane Gillis fallout: Dan Levy on The View, the Cornell Seven comments, and Erick's take on comedy, outrage, and victimization culture, plus a caller on Bill Gates and farmland

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP184: Hour 1 - Abdul El-Sayed’s Muslim Brotherhood Ties

Erick Erickson opens by fact checking Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed after his Meet the Press denial of any Muslim Brotherhood ties, walking through his family history, his donors, and the Holy Land Foundation court record. Then a new White House press secretary debuts, Kimberly Guilfoyle is out as ambassador, and Erick makes the case against live streaming the Nidal Hasan execution after the fatal Goliath accident at Six Flags Over Georgia. Abdul El-Sayed on Meet the Press with Kristen Welker: the Muslim Brotherhood denial, his half sister's 2012 posts, and his mother's Islamic American Relief Agency ties El-Sayed's 2012 letter backing Mohamed Morsi, his donors tied to CAIR, and the Holy Land Foundation trial, plus the Michigan Senate race against Mike Rogers New White House press secretary's first briefing, and Kimberly Guilfoyle's resignation as ambassador Six Flags Over Georgia Goliath roller coaster death: Charles Cooke on how safe coasters really are, and the video spreading on social media Why Erick opposes live streaming the Nidal Hasan execution while still backing the death penalty, with a caller and a nod to Rick Jackson coming up in hour two

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP184: Hour 2 - Why Ken Paxton May Cost Republicans the Senate

Erick Erickson sounds the alarm on the 2026 Senate map as Republican donors scramble to defend Nebraska, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, and South Carolina, and blames the Ken Paxton scandals in Texas for draining money from Mike Rogers in Michigan and handing James Talarico a path to the Senate. Georgia governor candidate Rick Jackson joins by phone to take on Keisha Lance Bottoms, with plans on affordability, data centers, mental health beds, and a Mississippi style push on third grade reading. Erick also plays Democratic candidates promising to abolish ICE, Vivek Ramaswamy's Ohio rally pitch against Sherrod Brown, and a pro-Trump Ohio voter, with Shane Gillis and the SNL monologue outrage teed up next. Senate panic: Republican outside groups spending in Nebraska for Pete Ricketts, plus Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, and South Carolina, and why Erick thinks the GOP internal polling must be bad Ken Paxton scandal in Texas: the Wall Street Journal report on Dubai, the Trump endorsement, James Talarico, and why Erick says saving the Senate matters more than saving Texas Democrats who "abolish ICE": Angie Nixon in Florida, Maxwell Frost, and a Hassan Piker interview, plus impeachment talk if Democrats win the House Rick Jackson interview: Georgia governor race against Keisha Lance Bottoms, affordability, data center rules for local counties, 500 new mental health beds, and reading by third grade Vivek Ramaswamy in Youngstown against Sherrod Brown in the Ohio governor's race, an Ohio voter on Iran, and the Shane Gillis SNL monologue backlash preview

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP184: Hour 3 - Shane Gillis and the Woke Meltdown Over SNL

Erick Erickson takes on the outrage over Shane Gillis and his Saturday Night Live monologue, explains the Streisand effect, and says the left cannot take a joke as Democrats close in on power. Then Erick breaks with President Trump over buying Russian diesel, arguing that Russia and China are helping Iran and that the money could get Americans killed, before a sober three week check on the midterms, the Senate map, Ken Paxton, James Talarico, and Ohio. Also: prayers for the Pope after lung surgery, the Greta Gerwig Magician's Nephew Narnia trailer, and golf with two NFL quarterbacks. Shane Gillis SNL monologue: the gym joke, the Streisand effect, the Hollywood Reporter and TikTok backlash, and why Erick says woke one was Lenin and woke two is Stalin Trump and Russian diesel: Scott Bessent, Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio, and John Ratcliffe say Russia and China help Iran, the Lindsey Graham sanctions bill, Canadian diesel, Argentine beef, and America First meets tariffs Midterm election warning three weeks out: GOP consultants in doomsday mode, Ken Paxton versus James Talarico in Texas, Vivek Ramaswamy and Sherrod Brown in Ohio, and Pete Ricketts in Nebraska JD Vance and the socialism debate, plus Democrats who still want to abolish ICE and impeach Trump if they win the House Pope has lung surgery, Greta Gerwig's Magician's Nephew Narnia trailer and Aslan casting, a golf round with two NFL quarterbacks, and a family knife forging trip to North Carolina

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP183: Hour 1 - As I Predicted

Erick opens a Columbus Day edition of the show with a told-you-so on Democratic midterm polling slipping after its Labor Day peak, then takes apart the viral rumor that Texas Senate candidate James Talarico was hiding in an Ohio mental hospital. He digs into Elon Musk's $276 million midterm push for Republicans, Speaker Mike Johnson's claim the GOP will hold the House, the federal search of Ilhan Omar's home, and the heated Fox News clash over Trump buying Russian diesel while Zelensky's drones hit Russian refineries. Midterm elections 2026: Democratic polling slides after its Labor Day peak, Brian Kilmeade and Kristen Soltis Anderson weigh in, and why the party in power usually struggles James Talarico, Ken Paxton, and the Texas Senate race: the Ohio mental hospital rumor falls apart on the timeline Elon Musk's $276 million Republican midterm rescue mission, Senate Leadership Fund, America PAC, and Speaker Mike Johnson's House prediction Federal agents search Ilhan Omar's home, the immigration form investigation, and why Erick says to let the evidence and due process decide Trump, Russian diesel, Zelensky, and Putin: Kilmeade vs. Rachel Campos-Duffy, the Lindsey Graham sanctions law, and Iran drone support from Russia and China

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP183: Hour 2 - The Islamic Take Over of the Democrats

Erick spends the hour on the Muslim Brotherhood and what he calls the soft jihad strategy, starting with a Wall Street Journal report on the little-known donors powering the Democratic Socialists of America, Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan Senate bid, and Zohran Mamdani. He reads from Michael Youssef's book The Unholy Alliance, takes a caller who left Salafism, and argues the answer is exposure and not a strongman on the right. He also covers Kimberly Guilfoyle's shaky ambassadorship to Greece, Hasan Piker, a Ukrainian strike on a Russian data center and the drop in bot traffic, and warning signs under the surface of the stock market. Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan Senate race, and the Meet the Press exchange over his family's alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties, with Erick citing the Washington Free Beacon Wall Street Journal on the unknown donors behind the new left: Democratic Socialists of America, Alex Soros, Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, Chris Rabb, and the anti-AI super PAC American Priorities Muslim Brotherhood history from Hassan al-Banna to Egypt's Morsi and Sisi, Qatar and Al Jazeera, the 1987 Explanatory Memorandum, Tariq Ramadan, and EPIC City in Texas Caller who left Salafism on why Islamic countries reject the Brotherhood, plus Erick on Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Hasan Piker, and the Iranian revolution's lesson about communist allies Kimberly Guilfoyle's future as ambassador to Greece, a Ukrainian strike on a Russian data center and the collapse in bot traffic, and why most S&P 500 stocks are down despite a bull market

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP183: Hour 3 - Skeptical of Noah’s Ark and Worried About Tariffs

Erick starts with why he does not believe the Durupinar site in Turkey is Noah's Ark, then turns to the Federal Reserve numbers showing one in five families behind on loan payments, trucking bankruptcies, and the Trump tariffs backlash from Howard Miller clocks to Bombardier in Kansas, with callers pressing him on where the tariff money went. He also covers Trump's Friday rally in Dalton for Georgia Senate candidate Mike Collins, why the Nidal Hasan execution should not be live-streamed, and Keisha Lance Bottoms and her "this city literally was burning" line. Noah's Ark, the Durupinar formation in Turkey, Jeremiah Johnson, Scott Stripling, and Wes Huff: no released radar data, no peer review, $1,100 to $3,600 tours, and why Erick says to feed the homeless instead Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances: one in five American families behind on loans, trucking bankruptcies tied to diesel prices, and a Wall Street Journal look at even wealthy spenders pulling back Trump tariffs and the midterm elections: Howard Miller clocks, Bombardier jobs in Kansas, Canada losing 68,000 jobs, the New York Fed data, and the Supreme Court tariff refunds, with callers Cesar and Thomas Why the 1950s nostalgia pitch alienates women and Black voters, with C.S. Lewis and The Screwtape Letters on living in the past Trump rally in Dalton, Georgia for Mike Collins, Keisha Lance Bottoms and the burning of Atlanta, and Erick's case against live streaming the Nidal Hasan execution as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia raise oil prices

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP182: Hour 1 - Good Mike, Bad Mike, and the Debates

Erick breaks down a brutal debate night in the 2026 midterms: Mike Rogers presses Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed on whether Israel or Iran is the bigger threat, his mother's ties, his friendship with Hasan Piker, and his Dubai property, while Susan Collins lands her sharpest blow yet on Maine's Troy Jackson. Erick also explains why Mike Collins is sinking in Georgia against Jon Ossoff, why you must vote all the way down the ballot, and remembers Chicago Bears legend Mike Ditka, who passed away today. Mike Rogers vs. Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate debate: Israel or Iran, Hasan Piker, the Muslim Brotherhood question and Leland Vittert's viral follow-up Susan Collins vs. Troy Jackson in Maine, plus the Vermont Lieutenant Governor race and the family farm migrant worker controversy Why Mike Collins is dragging down Georgia Republicans against Jon Ossoff, and Erick's struggle over leaving a line blank Vote down the ballot, become a poll watcher, and the Peruvian candidate named Hitler Mussolini who just won an election Coach Mike Ditka dies, a Gulf Coast hurricane heads for Mobile and Pensacola, and the Not Safe Radio Show at Gas South Theater

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP182: Hour 2 - Rubio’s Acropolis Speech

Erick welcomes State Department deputy spokesman Luke Ortega to unpack Secretary Marco Rubio's Acropolis speech defending Western civilization, the new Greenland deal with Denmark, and the 250,000 visas revoked under President Trump. Then Erick breaks down the New York ICE shooting of Oscar Bergall, Mayor Mamdani's attack on federal agents, and the Obama-appointed federal judge who blocked his deportation. Plus Tommy Tuberville's 7 to 0 win at the Alabama Supreme Court, Iranian AI influence operations, a rant on "super intelligence," and the White Sox in the playoffs. State Department deputy spokesman Luke Ortega on Marco Rubio's Acropolis speech in Greece, the Iceland, Greece and Portugal trip, and the call for Europe to rebuild its industry and defense The Greenland deal with Denmark: two new US defense areas, a bar on adversary bases and critical minerals investment, and no expiration date Over 250,000 visas revoked, why tourist, work and student visas are pulled, and the new travel.state.gov visa fraud tip portal ICE agents shot Oscar Bergall after he rammed federal vehicles, Mayor Mamdani's response, and a federal judge's order blocking his removal Alabama Supreme Court rules 7 to 0 it cannot hear the Tommy Tuberville residency challenge in the governor's race, plus Iran's OpenAI fake journalist campaign and Erick's refusal to say "super intelligence"

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP182: Hour 3 - Why Nidal Hasan’s Public Execution Is a Mistake

Erick makes the case, as a Christian who supports the death penalty, against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's plan to stage a public, live-streamed execution of Fort Hood terrorist Nidal Hasan, citing Army regulations, Tertullian, Augustine, Ezekiel 33:11 and the risk of turning a paraplegic terrorist into a martyr for Islam. Erick also explains how his faith has changed his politics, takes on progressives who twist scripture and conservatives who ignore the refugee on immigration, and then turns to TV: Slow Horses, 24, Silo, Severance, Game of Thrones and how pornography and gratuitous language coarsen the soul. Plus the Cornell seven text message, the Not Safe Radio Show, Hurricane warnings for the Southeast and a Friday round of golf.

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP181: Hour 1 - The Question El-Sayed Does Not Like

Erick makes the case that the Republican midterm bloodbath is overstated, backing Ken Paxton over James Talarico in Texas and Mike Rogers over Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, with a look at Senate races in Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio and North Carolina. He then digs into the new CBS News report on the Iranian attack on Camp Buehring in Kuwait, the aircraft losses the Pentagon downplayed, and word that President Trump wants a plan to finish the Iranian regime before the midterms. Texas Senate race: Ken Paxton versus James Talarico, the new UMass poll putting Paxton ahead, Texas suburban voters, Greg Abbott, and why Erick still thinks Paxton can pull it off Michigan Senate race: Abdul El-Sayed's silence on October 7th, his refusal to say whether Israel or Iran is the bigger threat, Mike Rogers, and the eight-point polling miss on Republicans in Michigan Midterm elections 2026: Alan Lichtman's 52 Senate seats prediction, Michelle Tafoya in Minnesota, Ashley Hinson in Iowa, North Carolina and Ohio, and Erick's call of a 50-50 Senate with JD Vance as the tiebreaker Iran war: CBS News video of the attack on Camp Buehring in Kuwait, more than 80 aircraft lost or damaged, Jack Keane on Hamas rebuilding in Gaza, three carrier groups, Marco Rubio's Acropolis speech, and Trump's push to finish Iran Lighter moments: the zigzag yellow line Orange County, Florida spent $150,000 on, the Atlanta Braves loss to the Dodgers and defending manager Walt Weiss, and Saturday's Not Safe Radio show at Gas South Theater

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP181: Hour 2 - The Tariff Price Hike Economy

Erick opens with a Gulf Coast hurricane warning for Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, then breaks down the New York Fed report showing tariffs raised prices on 67 categories of goods by 2.9 percentage points, plus Morgan Stanley data on the stock market slump and an AI boom holding up the economy. He defends Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent against a Wall Street Journal hit job, takes on the Kimberly Guilfoyle stories, and warns Republicans that corruption is now a top midterm issue. Gulf Coast hurricane: category two storm headed for Gulf Shores, Alabama and Pensacola, hurricane warning from Ocean Springs, Mississippi to Gulf County, Florida, flooding risk through Meridian, and the Georgia and Alabama game in Tuscaloosa Tariffs and prices: the New York Federal Reserve study of 67 categories of goods, the 2.9-point price hit, 26 percent pass-through to consumers, Erick's case that tariffs are 1950s protectionism, and the comparison to modern monetary theory under Biden Stock market and AI boom: Morgan Stanley data showing 89 percent of stocks down more than 10 percent since June 1, autos and semiconductors hit hardest, banks holding up, and Nvidia and data centers carrying GDP growth Iran sanctions and oil: Trump says no attack before the midterms, Treasury sanctions 17 shadow fleet tankers, West Texas crude near $90 and Brent at $103 Scott Bessent, Kimberly Guilfoyle and corruption: the Wall Street Journal hit job on Bessent, Howard Lutnick's orbit, the Guilfoyle Greece ambassador stories, why corruption is a top three midterm issue, and Erick's call for Republicans to clean house, plus the listener stress test of his new website

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP181: Hour 3 - America’s Low Trust Problem

Erick turns a left-lane road rage story, complete with his Claude voice assistant joking about driver stereotypes, into a sermon on America as a low-trust society, from McDonald's free refills to razor blades locked behind glass, with Jeff Bezos on Fox News defending success. He also takes on the code enforcers threatening a San Jose pastor's food pantry with $ 20,000-a-day fines, Delta's Wi-Fi meltdown and the Starlink feud with Elon Musk, and the Wall Street Journal report on rogue pilots and intentional airline crashes. Joe Rogan's new Spotify deal and Marco Rubio's warning to Europe round out the hour.

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP180: Hour 1 - The Anniversary of Horror

On the third anniversary of the October 7th Hamas massacre, Erick Erickson takes on the genocide in Gaza propaganda campaign, the rise of antisemitism on Ivy League campuses and in the West, and the real history of Judea and the Jewish homeland. Former Israeli ambassador Michael Oren joins to discuss Hamas, Iron Dome, the Abraham Accords, Saudi Arabia, and why the Iran war and the Trump naval blockade have to be seen through. October 7th attack, three years later: Hamas paragliders, the hostages, Reuters running a photo of Gaza rubble, and Erick on why there was no genocide in Gaza Antisemitism in the West: Ivy League campuses, Boulder, the New York City mayor's remarks, Abdul El-Sayed, and Erick's warning that hatred of Jews is the canary in the coal mine Michael Oren interview: 365,000 Israeli reservists, Hamas's 450 miles of tunnels, Iron Dome, and the pager attack on Hezbollah Abraham Accords and the Gulf: Israeli Iron Dome crews in the UAE, Dubai and Tel Aviv flights, and the path to a Saudi Arabia deal Iran war and the Trump naval blockade: Iraqi airspace, gas prices, and Oren's case for finishing the job against the Iranian regime

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP180: Hour 2 - Evil is Spreading

Erick opens with Marco Rubio's Acropolis speech on the anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto and October 7th, then covers breaking news from the Minnesota U.S. Attorney on an arrested ISIS-inspired plot to attack the Mall of America. He argues that a wave of parents killing their children is a sign of evil on the march, that pastors should preach repentance instead of partisan politics, and previews the midterm elections, Ken Paxton in Texas, and the polling unknowns. Battle of Lepanto and October 7th: Erick on why Hamas chose the anniversary of the 1571 Holy League victory over the Ottoman Empire, and Marco Rubio's speech at the Acropolis calling the West to unite against tyranny and the radical mullahs of Iran Mall of America ISIS plot: U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen announces charges against an American-born man of Somali descent, accused of buying an AK-47 and 200 rounds to attack Minnesota's Mall of America, and Erick on assimilation and Minnesota Somali gang violence Evil on the march: a grim run of headlines about mothers and fathers killing their children, Lindsay Clancy copycats, and Erick's case that violence against children is the hallmark of a society in spiritual crisis Church and politics: Erick on the Southern Baptist Convention, why pastors should preach repentance and the gospel instead of telling people how to vote, Catholic Charities, and Jewish voters and the Democratic Party Midterm elections preview: the known unknowns, Republicans refusing to talk to pollsters, whether the GOP bloodbath is overstated, Ken Paxton's chances in Texas, and the Maine and Georgia debates

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP180: Hour 3 - The Known Unknown in Polling

Erick digs into the 2026 midterms and the CNN bloodbath polling, arguing that Republicans who refuse to talk to pollsters could leave the Democratic wave overstated, with Susan Collins, Troy Jackson, Abdul El-Sayed, Mike Rogers, and the Ohio and Georgia races in focus. He also covers the launch of Trump accounts for 70 million kids, the Michael Dell gift, and why the George W. Bush Social Security privatization plan still matters, then ends with a housekeeping note on ericerickson.com and the new text ERICK to 33777 landing page. Midterm elections 2026 polling: CNN's Harry Enten and John Berman on a Republican bloodbath, Trump voters slipping in Senate and House races, and Erick on why Republicans who skip pollsters make the polls unreliable (the known knowns, known unknowns and unknown unknowns) Senate and governor races: Susan Collins versus Troy Jackson in Maine, Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers in Michigan, Vivek Ramaswamy and John Husted in Ohio, Rick Jackson versus Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, plus Elissa Slotkin's Saddam Hussein comparison and the Karen Bass and Anderson Cooper segment Trump accounts: the IRS chief, Ted Cruz and President Trump on investment accounts for 70 million children, the Michael and Susan Dell $250 gift, and Erick's case for dividend stocks, compound interest and teaching kids capitalism Social Security privatization: the 2005 George W. Bush plan Erick says would have made Americans far richer, and why Trump accounts begin to fix what both parties got wrong Housekeeping: ericerickson.com, the Substack merge, and text ERICK to 33777 for show notes, the 24/7 live stream and each hour's podcast

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP179: Hour 1 - Don’t Fall for the Outrage Machine

Broadcasting on location through a hotel hotspot, Erick defends President Trump's "let them take out Los Angeles" Nebraska remark in context, then warns that Democrats have 28 days of maximum outrage planned, from Karen Bass to the attack on Annie Andrews in South Carolina. Rick Scott on socialism and Abdul El-Sayed, the real story behind the France riots, Somali gang violence in Minnesota, and why America needs a melting pot, not a salad bowl. Trump in Nebraska, Los Angeles and San Diego, Iran, and Karen Bass calling the remarks irresponsible: Erick on context versus outrage season Annie Andrews, Lindsey Graham's South Carolina Senate race, and the Truth Social post that fed the 28-day Democratic outrage strategy Rick Scott on Fox: socialism, Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race, balancing the budget, and the GOP message for November France riots: school protests, the viral firefighter photo, population decline, and what overspending and failed assimilation could mean for America Immigration and assimilation: Somali gang violence in Minnesota, Michelle Tafoya's Senate race, Ilhan Omar, and the melting pot versus the salad bowl

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP179: Hour 2 - Russia’s Plague Scare and the Cornell Seven Fallout

Broadcasting from a secret location, Erick breaks down Russia's mysterious pneumonic plague outbreak at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute in Siberia, from Marco Rubio's warning to the MIT bioweapon theory, and explains why panic is just herd mentality. He tells the foster care to 7-Eleven to postseason story of Atlanta Braves pitcher Ray Kerr, weighs in on the Cornell Seven fraternity case with Michelle Cottle, Letitia James and Byron York, and covers the diesel shortage with Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Topics: Russia pneumonic plague outbreak: Marco Rubio, the Irkutsk lab worker, Kevin Esvelt's MIT bioweapon theory, antibiotics going to the Ukraine front, and why Erick says do not panic Midterm elections 2026: polling overstating Democrats by about 3 points, House lost but Senate saved, Ken Paxton versus James Talarico in Texas, and Mike Collins in Georgia Ray Kerr, Atlanta Braves lefty: foster care, 7-Eleven and community college to the Phillies and Dodgers postseason, plus Erick on foster parenting and adoption reform Cornell Seven fraternity case: Michelle Cottle at the New York Times, Letitia James reopening the investigation, consent law in New York, and Erick's time as chief justice of his university Diesel shortage: Energy Secretary Chris Wright on the Russia Ukraine conflict, China's diesel export ban, and why a US diesel export ban would backfire

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP178: Hour 1 - The Midterm Debacle

Erick, broadcasting from a hotel on assignment, tells listeners the midterm polling is bad but not as bad as the headlines, breaking down Steve Kornacki's NBC News poll on Hispanic voters (a 24-point Democratic lead on the generic ballot versus 22 points in 2022) and the cost of living and corruption problems dragging down Republicans. He then reports that James Talarico is now favored over Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race and that Paxton's campaign is being run from Washington, and he explains the fight between President Trump and Senator Tom Cotton over permanent daylight saving time.

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP178: Hour 2 - Onward Christian Soldiers

Erick reacts to Southern Baptist Convention president Willy Rice telling Fox News that Christians need to step up in politics, and argues that believers cannot play team sport for the Republican Party while corruption is the number two issue for voters. Using the book of Lamentations, the Psalm 51 repentance of King David, and the 2000 Bush election and PEPFAR, he makes the case that Christians can be a prophetic voice to both parties, and that sitting out a race like Ken Paxton's Texas Senate contest can be a vote for better. A Braves upset of the Dodgers, a candidate quality warning for Mike Collins in Georgia and Max Miller in Ohio, and a Siberian plague rumor round out the hour.

Episode length: 37m

S15 EP178: Hour 3 - Odd Happenings With Iran

Erick opens with breaking news that the US has cleared Iraqi airspace for Israeli aircraft after pulling American troops out of Iraq — armed skirmishes spread inside Iran, oil falls to $100 Brent, and B-1 bombers leave RAF Fairford after a foiled terror plot. He argues the carrier group and 10,000 Marines headed to the Middle East are there to contain a destabilization campaign. Erick then pushes back on Nate Silver's call that Georgia's governor's mansion flips, with Rick Jackson, Keisha Lance Bottoms, and Jon Ossoff in the mix. The hour also covers the Supreme Court's new term, Justice Samuel Alito, a University Heights, Ohio prayer meeting case, birthright citizenship, and the Cornell fraternity case.
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