Trump's Japan Trade Deal, Virginia GOP's Bleak Forecast, Where's the Wildfire Relief Money?

Join Jim and Greg for the Tuesday 3 Martini Lunch. Today, they applaud President Trump for ratcheting up the pressure on Vladimir Putin and scold him for refusing to allow the president of Taiwan to visit the U.S. And they examine the arrest of the illegal alien serving as a police officer in Maine. First, after noting the passing of Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg, they cheer President Trump for giving Putin a firm 10–12 day deadline to end the war in Ukraine. Trump appears to be losing patience with Putin’s broken promises and ongoing escalations. Jim and Greg also explore how Trump might respond if Putin ignores the warning, and they question America’s continued dependence on adversaries like Russia and China for materials vital to national security.Next, they slam Trump’s refusal to let Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te stop in New York City en route to Latin America. While the move may be tied to sensitive trade talks with Beijing, Jim argues the U.S. should never let China dictate who can enter our country. They also examine how this decision may embolden the Chinese government. Finally, they break down the arrest of an illegal immigrant in Maine who was not only trying to buy a gun but was already working as a local police officer. While officials claim to have used E-Verify to confirm his status, Jim notes the system can’t verify whether applicants actually own the documents they present.Please visit our great sponsors:No missed calls, no missed customers with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://Openphone.com/3ml Keep your skin looking and acting younger for longer. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code 3 ML at https://www.oneskin.co/

Join Jim and Greg for Monday’s 3 Martini Lunch as they dig into the steep drop in violent crime in Baltimore, President Trump’s new trade deal with the European Union, and a bizarre lawsuit blaming the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels for terrorizing a cat in its final days.First, they examine the dramatic decrease in Baltimore’s murder rate since voters ousted soft-on-crime prosecutor Marilyn Mosby in the 2022 Democratic primary. Her replacement, Ivan Bates, pledged a return to aggressive prosecutions, and the numbers show it’s working. Under Mosby, there were 334 murders in 2022. Last year, the total dropped to 202, and the city has recorded just 68 homicides so far in 2024. Jim and Greg argue it’s no mystery what’s driving the improvement.Next, they dissect President Trump’s trade agreement with the European Union, which includes lowered tariffs and major commitments from Europe to buy U.S. energy and weapons. Jim says this deal is a significant relief given what would have happened later this week without a deal. But he's still concerned that American consumers will end up paying more for a lot of things.Finally, they lambaste the crazy cat lady, who decided to sue the Blue Angels for disturbing the final days of her cat, as it died from heart disease. Jim is flabbergasted that anyone could blame the progression of heart disease on noise from planes. He's also greatly annoyed that the lady is referred to as that cat's "human mother" in news reports.Please visit our great sponsors:No missed calls, no missed customers with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://Openphone.com/3ml Keep your skin looking and acting younger for longer. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code 3 ML at https://www.oneskin.co/

Join Jim and Greg as they stock the Friday 3 Martini Lunch with four stories. They discuss Democrats trying to blame President Trump for record-high grocery prices, young men supporting Republicans far more than just a few years ago, the U.S. withdrawing from Middle East ceasefire talks, and the loss of three hugely prominent celebrities this week who were household names for kids of the 1980's.First, they get a good laugh as the Democrats post a graph of grocery prices since 2019 showing how prices are at a record high. The Democrats captioned the graph "Trump's America." The backlash was immediate as the graph clearly showed the vast majority of the inflation took place in the Biden years - as we all know.Next, they welcome new numbers from the Pew Research Center showing male voters aged 18-29 now favor Republicans by a 52-34 percent margin. Men of every age group prefer Republicans by double digits and women over 50 are split pretty evenly. Women under 50 strongly side with the Democrats, and Jim offers a cultural explanation for the gender gap.Then, they roll their eyes as French President Emanuel Macron announces France will recognize a Palestinian state when the United Nations General Assembly opens in late September. Meanwhile, ceasefire talks have ended after the latest Hamas counteroffer was so ridiculous that the mediators would not even pass it along to the U.S. negotiators.Finally, they reflect on the deaths of '80s legends Hulk Hogan, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and Ozzy Osbourne. They explain what a cultural phenomenon Hogan was back then. They also remember Warner's very memorable years on The Cosby Show, and how Osbourne's reputation shifted from heavy metal music to a quirky dad once his family got a reality show.Please visit our great sponsors:Upgrade your skincare routine with Caldera Lab and see the difference.  Visit https://CalderaLab.com/3ML and use code 3ML at checkout for 20% off your first order.

Join Jim and Greg for Thursday’s 3 Martini Lunch as they examine whether anyone from President Obama’s administration will be held accountable for concocting and executing the bogus Trump-Russia collusion narrative, Democrats scoring a major recruiting win in North Carolina’s Senate race, and what Ghislaine Maxwell might reveal today in her DOJ interview about the Epstein scandal.First, they react to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard explaining how President Obama and his national security team fabricated intelligence to undermine Donald Trump's first term. They also discuss why it's probably going to be very difficult to prosecute or convict members of the team for their actions.Next, they wince as Democrats in North Carolina reportedly succeed in convincing former Gov. Roy Cooper to run for the Tar Heel State's open U.S. Senate seat. They explain what makes Cooper a tough opponent for the GOP and size up likely Republican candidate and current Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley.Finally, they wonder what Justice Department officials are hoping to learn from Ghislaine Maxwell today as they interview her about Jeffrey Epstein's repulsive exploitation of girls and other people who were involved. They also address reports that Maxwell is expecting a pardon or commutation for cooperating with the DOJ.Please visit our great sponsors:Upgrade your skincare routine with Caldera Lab and see the difference.  Visit https://CalderaLab.com/3ML and use code 3ML at checkout for 20% off your first order.Manage your workplace stress with Betterhelp. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at https://BetterHelp.com/3ML

Join Jim and Greg for Wednesday's 3 Martini Lunch as they welcome President Trump's big trade deal with Japan, cringe at the GOP's electoral prospects in Virginia this year, and ask where the $100 million in wildfire relief donations went?First, they're glad to see President Trump complete a massive trade deal with Japan, with reciprocal tariffs at 15 percent and Japan pledging to invest more than half a trillion dollars in the U.S. Jim says more deals like this and fewer tariff announcements on social media will be good for economic stability and growth.Next, they groan as the prospects are looking pretty grim thus far for Virginia GOP gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears. While GOP nominee Winsome Earle-Sears remains a solid conservative, she trails badly in the polls and fundraising against Democrat Abigail Spanberger. And the Republican running for lieutenant governor is bogged down in controversy that is dividing the party.Finally, they highlight an effort to track the $100 million that was donated to California wildfire victims in a star--studded benefit concert earlier this year. It turns out the money was given to non-profits but there's not a lot of evidence yet that displaced homeowners are seeing much, if any, money or assistance.Please visit our great sponsors:Upgrade your skincare routine with Caldera Lab and see the difference.  Visit https://CalderaLab.com/3ML and use code 3ML at checkout for 20% off your first order.

Join Jim and Greg for Tuesday’s 3 Martini Lunch as they dig into President Trump urging the Senate to cancel its summer recess, Democrats in Minnesota endorsing a socialist for mayor of Minneapolis, and Hunter Biden’s blistering attack on high-profile Democrats.First, they welcome President Trump's call for Senate Majority Leader John Thune to scrap the Senate's August recess so Republicans can push through dozens of judicial and executive nominations. They highlight how Democrats are using procedural tactics to stall confirmations and delay Trump’s personnel and judicial selections from taking office.Next, they react to Minnesota Democrats formally endorsing socialist State Sen. Omar Fateh in the Minneapolis mayoral race. Fateh supports defunding the police and the Mamdani approach to "affordable" housing. Greg suggests Democrats have no problem with socialists, unless they're worried those socialists might lose. Jim says there doesn't seem to be anything that's too far left for more and more Democrats.Finally, they go through Hunter Biden's profanity-laced podcast interviews, in which he rips the Democrats who encouraged and forced his dad to abandon his re-election bid. Hunter Biden took aim at Nancy Pelosi and her daughter, George Clooney, James Carville, David Axelrod, Jake Tapper, the Pod Save America guys and more. They point out that a decent amount of what Hunter said was true but he's the worst possible person to deliver the message.Please visit our great sponsors:Upgrade your skincare routine with Caldera Lab and see the difference.  Visit https://CalderaLab.com/3ML and use code 3ML at checkout for 20% off your first order.Manage your workplace stress with Betterhelp. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at https://BetterHelp.com/3ML

Join Jim and Greg for Monday’s 3 Martini Lunch as they dissect the liberal media’s persistent fantasy of a blue Texas, the horrifying massacres of Christians and Druze in Syria, and the left’s conspiracy-laced outrage over CBS canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.First, Jim calls out Politico for spotlighting Texas State Rep. James Talarico as the latest Democratic hope to flip Texas for the Democrats. Talarico, who recently appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast, is seen as someone who could connect with Christian conservatives. But Talarico isn’t even running statewide, and Jim says there’s no real evidence Democrats are on the brink of flipping the Lone Star State.Next, they react with horror to reports that more than 700 people have been brutally murdered in Syria in recent days, including Christians and Druze targeted by Sunni Islamist militants. Jim explains what's happening in Syria, the impact of the U.S. lifting sanctions not long ago, and whether the new leader in Syria (who was formerly with ISIS) is incapable or unwilling to stop the bloodshed.Then, they get a kick out of the left's meltdown over CBS cancelling The Late Show. From Sen. Chris Murphy to former NPR CEO Vivian Schiller, the lefties are convinced President Trump made axing Colbert a condition for approving Paramount's pending merger and we are entering a "bone-chilling" era of censorship. These activists seem uninterested in the fact Colbert's show was losing CBS $40 million per year.Finally, Jim and Greg pay tribute to Ed Feulner, the founder and longtime president of the Heritage Foundation, who died on Friday, after decades of work in the conservative movement.Please visit our great sponsors:Upgrade your skincare routine with Caldera Lab and see the difference.  Visit https://CalderaLab.com/3ML and use code 3ML at checkout for 20% off your first order.Manage your workplace stress with Betterhelp. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at https://BetterHelp.com/3ML

Join Jim and Greg for Friday's 3 Martini Lunch as they explain how much they won't miss The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Zohran Mamdani's inability to understand why we need prisons, and a Philadelphia high school’s attempt to cancel Benjamin Netanyahu..First, while they don't celebrate job losses, Jim and Greg welcome the news that CBS is shutting down The Late Show next year. They explain how Colbert and his peers poisoned late night television with relentless left-wing politics. The move comes the same day Congress officially defunds PBS and NPR, a major conservative goal for decades.Next, they react to Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, who questions whether prisons serve any real purpose and suggests people only support them for emotional reasons. And don't look now, but more and more mainstream Democrats are embracing Mamdani. Jim and Greg also laugh at GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa’s brutally honest take on the legacies of Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo..Finally, they shake their heads as Cheltenham High School near Philadelphia considers a student petition to remove a picture of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the school's hall of fame. This leads Jim and Greg into a conversation about high school halls of fame and what criteria should be required for getting removed from a hall of fame.Please visit our great sponsors:If your business can’t adapt in real-time, you’re in a world of hurt.  Get the free e-book “Navigating Global Trade: 3 Insights for Leaders” from NetSuite by Oracle.  Download today at https://NetSuite.com/MARTINI No missed calls, no missed customers with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://Openphone.com/3ml

Join Jim and Greg for Thursday’s 3 Martini Lunch as they assess a strong outlook for House Republicans in the 2026 midterms, Gov. Gavin Newsom's scheme to gerrymander California’s congressional map, and Hunter Biden’s ridiculous excuse about why Democrats suffered major losses in 2024.First, they are pleasantly stunned to see that House Republicans are predicted to pick up seats in next year's midterm elections. While there is a long way to go before the 2026 elections, the GOP is in a much better position that the last two times it faced midterms with a president of their own party. The Democrats are also contributing to this trend thanks to their staggering levels of unpopularity.Next, they react to Gov. Newsom once again worrying about national politics and his own political future instead of the many problems in his state. Newsom is now planning to gerrymander the state's congressional map - especially if Texas Republicans do the same. He doesn't seem bothered by the fact such a move would violate the California constitution.Finally, they roll their eyes as former DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison launches a new podcast and has Hunter Biden as one of his first guests. They also laugh as Biden suggests Democrats lost so badly last year because they "did not remain loyal to the leader of the party." Jim has choice comments about why both Harrison and Hunter Biden are not worth our time. Greg explains what would have actually made the conversation worth listening to.Please visit our great sponsors:Stop putting off those doctors’ appointments and go to https://zocdoc.com/3ML to find and instantly book a top rated doctor today.  If your business can’t adapt in real-time, you’re in a world of hurt.  Get the free e-book “Navigating Global Trade: 3 Insights for Leaders” from NetSuite by Oracle.  Download today at https://NetSuite.com/MARTINI No missed calls, no missed customers with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://Openphone.com/3ml

Join Jim and Greg for Wednesday's 3 Martini Lunch as they examine Major League Baseball’s return to Atlanta for the All-Star Game four years after Democrats pressured the league to pull the event over Georgia’s election integrity law. They also dig into the ridiculously slow wildfire recovery efforts in Los Angeles County and break down what could be a wild U.S. Senate race in Texas next year.First, they're glad to see the all-star game back in Georgia, where it was originally scheduled in 2021 before Commissioner Rob Manfred moved it under political pressure. Democrats claimed Georgia’s election law was “Jim Crow 2.0,” but two election cycles later, record turnout disproves those claims. Jim and Greg ask whether Manfred, the media, or top Democrats will ever acknowledge how wrong they were, or apologize to Gov. Brian Kemp for likening him to segregationists and the confederacy?Next, they fume as little more than a hundred building permits have been issued in Los Angeles County in the six months since the devastating wildfires. Jim says this is a perfect example of how the blue state, big government approach to problems grinds progress to a halt and how Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom have failed. Greg offers insights on why the media won't criticize Newsom and Bass over this.Finally, they look ahead to the 2026 Texas U.S. Senate race, where new polling suggests Rep. Jasmine Crockett could dominate the Democratic primary if she runs. The GOP primary has plenty of its own drama as Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton battle for the nomination. Many in the MAGA base are disappointed in Cornyn but Paxton brings his own baggage, including a very public divorce that was just announced.Please visit our great sponsors:Stop putting off those doctors’ appointments and go to https://zocdoc.com/3ML to find and instantly book a top rated doctor today.  If your business can’t adapt in real-time, you’re in a world of hurt.  Get the free e-book “Navigating Global Trade: 3 Insights for Leaders” from NetSuite by Oracle.  Download today at https://NetSuite.com/MARTINI No missed calls, no missed customers with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://Openphone.com/3ml