Ashley Smith Thomas Breaks Down Trump’s Asia Tariff Strategy and Russia Policy Outlook

Marc & Kim react to Trump’s Butler rally shooting with praise for his defiance and criticism for media outlets ignoring the attempted assassination. Kim questions a new Lake St. Louis PD “safety sticker” program while blasting anti-police narratives. Marc torches AOC and Debbie Wasserman Schultz for lying about immigration “cages” and exposes a professor’s meltdown over ICE. Tucker Carlson’s claim that Epstein was tied to Israeli intelligence triggers outrage, while Trump’s call to “move on” gets rejected by 82% of listeners. Pam Bondi and Dan Bongino get grilled for broken promises. Guest Ashley Smith Thomas breaks down Trump’s looming Russia sanctions, and Scott Warman analyzes the Cardinals’ shocking draft pick of fiery pitcher Liam Doyle.

The Marc Cox Morning Show fires on all cylinders as Marc, Kim, and Ethan dive into explosive developments. The Cardinals stun fans by drafting Liam Doyle at No. 5—an aggressive, fiery pitcher already drawing comparisons to the Mad Hungarian, Al Hrabosky. Guest Scott Warman breaks down Doyle’s potential and what the team needs to stay competitive post–All-Star break. Meanwhile, Tucker Carlson lights a match with his theory that Epstein operated as an Israeli intelligence asset, possibly protected by the Trump administration. Marc slams the media blackout and calls out Pam Bondi for her false promises to release “the list.” A listener Twitter poll reveals 82% demand the Epstein list be made public, ignoring Trump’s call to “move on.” Dan Bongino’s credibility takes a hit as questions swirl about his silence. The team warns: this cover-up isn’t going away.

Marc interviews Tie Lasater, CEO of Lasater Capital, about growing frustration with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell amid rising calls for his resignation. They highlight Powell’s failure to accurately predict inflation and the unexpected boost tariffs have given the U.S. economy. Tie breaks down housing market challenges, including high interest rates pricing out 77% of Americans from homeownership and the shift in younger generations preferring rental flexibility over buying. Both agree a Fed leader aligned with Main Street economic realities—not career politicians—is crucial. The discussion closes with skepticism about mortgage rates falling even if the Fed cuts interest rates, emphasizing that housing supply remains a critical bottleneck.

In this hour, Ashley Smith Thomas joined to discuss President Trump’s anticipated shift on Russia policy and the possibility of harsh economic sanctions to pressure Putin amid the Ukraine conflict. She highlighted Secretary Rubio’s recent diplomatic tour in Asia, stressing Trump’s no-nonsense tariff threats on over 20 countries and the complex trade negotiations underway with key partners like Japan and South Korea. The show then turned to Kim Auto West and Jason breaking down the Biden autopen controversy—questioning whether Biden actually authorized the surge of pardons, including Anthony Fauci’s. They debated Biden’s cognitive decline, the legal implications for these pardons, and Fauci’s potential exposure if pardons are invalidated. The hour closed teasing an upcoming chat with Scott Warman on the Cardinals’ MLB draft pick.

Political strategist Ashley Smith Thomas joins the Marc Cox Morning Show to discuss the anticipated shift in President Trump’s Russia policy and Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent diplomatic trip to Asia. Thomas explains Trump’s firm stance on ending the Ukraine war amid frustration with Putin’s aggression and rumors of severe new economic sanctions. She details Rubio’s efforts to reassure Southeast Asian nations amid looming tariffs set to kick in August 1, warning countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan that punitive levies could reach 40%, with Japan and South Korea facing 25% tariffs. Thomas highlights Trump’s negotiation style of pushing deadlines to force concessions and praises Rubio’s diplomatic balancing act in a critical region. The conversation also touches on the complexities of trade deals and global trust. Thomas is founder of Freedom Fund USA, advocating for global freedom and economic strength.

State Representative Trisha Byrnes joins the show to lay out the harsh reality behind Missouri’s long battle to get federal compensation for radiation-linked cancers from Coldwater Creek and Weldon Spring. Byrnes, who personally knows the pain as a mother of a cancer survivor, details how officials ignored cancer clusters for years and how the recently passed RECA fund barely scratches the surface—covering only certain ZIP codes and 21 cancers. She warns survivors and families that compensation is capped and legal options are limited. Byrnes announces a regional town hall on August 9 to help people understand eligibility and paperwork. This is about holding the government accountable for poisoning communities and finally getting some justice.

Marc & Kim slam Big Tech’s censorship and Democrat lies about Texas floods, exposing the real failures. Epstein’s secret list scandal triggers firestorms as politicians backtrack. The dating world’s a mess—ghosting and no respect, plain and simple. Trump’s slapping tariffs on the EU and Mexico, oil prices spike, and the Fed chair’s job is on the line. Wild stories break—from mountain lions stalking Chicago streets to an 86-year-old skydiver defying age, plus Jack White finally caving to a cellphone. Deion Sanders demands college football get serious about safety with tougher uniform rules. And crucial relief fund updates hit for St. Louis radiation victims.

The crew kicks off with a throwback to Sweet Brown’s viral fire alert, then moves into the bizarre sighting of a mountain lion roaming a Chicago neighborhood—complete with eyewitness testimony and a baseball bat for protection. Next, they celebrate an 86-year-old skydiver aiming for 1,000 jumps, sharing the thrills and challenges of the sport. In pop culture, Jack White finally joins the cell phone era at 50, sparking laughs about modern tech reliance. The tone shifts with a tragic ultra-marathon death in Colorado, a sobering reminder of endurance risks. On a lighter note, meet the “pastrami queen” building nationwide meetups for deli meat lovers, proving passion comes in all forms. Finally, football legend Deion Sanders calls for stricter uniform rules in college football to protect players’ knees. The show wraps teasing upcoming details on relief funds for radiation exposure victims in the St. Louis area.

Hans von Spakovsky, senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, breaks down the misinformation campaign around ICE arrests, dismissing the absurd claims that law enforcement “kidnaps” illegal immigrants. He highlights the hypocrisy of activists and academics twisting legal enforcement into a narrative of oppression while ignoring due process. Hans explains the complex legal reasons behind the secrecy of the Epstein list, cautioning against dragging innocent names through the mud without solid evidence. On a separate front, he exposes the controversy surrounding President Biden’s use of the autopen for official signatures, questioning the legitimacy of pardons and the health disclosures coming from the White House. The conversation reveals the deep dysfunction and cover-ups in Washington, while reinforcing the necessity of law and order.

Marc & Kim bring the heat this hour, starting with Trump’s powerful remarks on divine protection following the Butler rally shooting—an emotional reflection on patriotism and providence. The team slams the mainstream media’s disgraceful headlines downplaying the attempted assassination, reading CNN, MSNBC, and WaPo coverage that ignored clear gunfire and Trump’s injury. In "Kim on a Whim," Kim dives into Lake St. Louis PD’s new safety sticker program—meant to help officers respond to special needs calls—but questions its real-world usefulness while pushing back on years of anti-police sentiment stoked by Democrats. Later, Marc unleashes on Debbie Wasserman Schultz and AOC for recycling tired lies about "cages" and detention facilities—built under Obama—as if Biden’s disastrous border isn’t worse. A California professor’s meltdown over ICE arrests gets roasted, with Marc and Kim torching leftist academia’s delusion that federal agents enforcing immigration law are “kidnapping” people. The show ends with praise for Tom Homan, who challenges a protester to “settle it” after being heckled, showing the grit our law enforcement desperately needs.