Capital Beat with Rep. Eric Burlison on DHS Funding Chaos, FISA Surveillance Reform Fight, CBDC Warning, Iran War Powers Debate, and Healthcare Overhaul Plan

So much news this week and we dive in with the latest in Iran, plus the Supreme Court decision on Louisiana minority districts, King Charles' White House visit and James Comey's second indictment.

The show opens on May Day protests across St. Louis and the country, with criticism of socialist-leaning rallies, union-led walkouts, and a Chicago school district arrangement sending students to protest events. Early discussion also includes local political friction involving Cori Bush and broader debates over activism, labor policy, and cultural influence in public institutions. Hour 2 features Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe discussing Amendment 3 timing, state ballot strategy, budget negotiations, vehicle inspection reform, and a proposed highway speed limit increase, alongside national political reactions to Supreme Court rulings and emerging redistricting debates. Hour 3 expands into national security with Pete Hegseth’s Senate clash, escalating Iran tensions, and analysis from Steve Bucci on potential U.S. military strategy and pressure points, followed by Missouri infrastructure policy and a major focus on declining child literacy rates, including discussion of the “Book It” reading incentive program. Hour 4 centers on White House messaging with Kush Desai outlining economic indicators, jobless claims data, interest rate policy disputes, and a federal retirement savings initiative, while also covering Supreme Court Voting Rights Act fallout and its redistricting implications. The show closes with a lighter in-studio segment featuring Joe Maui and Kenny Gales previewing a Missouri bourbon and spirits festival in Augusta benefiting the Hero Network, blending community fundraising with local business promotion. Hashtags: #MayDay #CoriBush #MikeKehoe #MissouriPolitics #Amendment3 #Redistricting #SupremeCourt #VotingRightsAct #TrumpEconomy #KushDesai #IranCrisis #SteveBucci #PeteHegseth #EducationCrisis #BookItProgram #JoeMaui #KennyGales #HeroNetwork #MorningShow #PoliticalTalkRadio

Hour 4 opens with commentary on May Day protests and criticism of Chicago schools facilitating student participation in union-led demonstrations. The show then pivots to economic coverage highlighting strong jobless claims data and broader claims of continued U.S. economic strength. Kush Desai from the White House joins to discuss economic indicators, Trump administration retirement account reforms aimed at expanding wealth-building access, rising gas prices tied to global tensions, and Federal Reserve interest rate policy debates. The hour also covers reaction to the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act decision and its potential impact on redistricting and the upcoming election cycle. It closes with an in-studio segment featuring Joe Maui and Kenny Gales promoting a Missouri bourbon and spirits festival in Augusta benefiting the Hero Network. Hashtags: #MayDay #SupremeCourt #VotingRightsAct #TrumpEconomy #FederalReserve #JoblessClaims #KushDesai #JoeMaui #KennyGales #HeroNetwork #MissouriPolitics #MorningShowWrap

Marc Cox is joined in studio by Joe Maui of Maui’s Liquor and Kenny Gales of The Barrel Room Bourbon Club to preview an upcoming bourbon and spirits festival in Augusta, Missouri, benefiting the Hero Network. The event, set for May 30, will feature more than 40 vendors offering bourbon, wine, THC beverages, food trucks, live music, and family-friendly activities including bounce houses and a golf simulator. The guests highlight the festival’s unique mix of adult and family entertainment, VIP perks like valet parking and early access, and its goal of expanding bourbon culture in Missouri wine country. They also promote ticket deals tied to mentions of the show and outline how listeners can get free admission through local purchases or visits. Hashtags: #JoeMaui #KennyGales #HeroNetwork #AugustaMissouri #BourbonFestival #MauiLiquor #BarrelRoomBourbonClub #MissouriEvents #WineCountry #LocalFundraiser

Marc Cox is joined by White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai to highlight recent economic indicators the administration argues show continued strength, including low jobless claims, steady GDP growth, rising business investment, and wage gains. Desai emphasizes the administration’s view that economic momentum remains strong despite what he describes as temporary disruptions tied to Iran and energy markets. The discussion shifts to President Trump’s new retirement savings initiative aimed at expanding access to federal-style investment accounts for lower-income Americans, which Desai frames as a major wealth-building reform. Cox and Desai also address rising gas prices, interest rate policy under the Federal Reserve, and the administration’s push for a new Fed chair to lower rates and stimulate investment. The segment closes with reaction to the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act decision and its potential impact on redistricting and upcoming midterm elections. #KushDesai #WhiteHouse #TrumpEconomy #JoblessClaims #FederalReserve #InterestRates #VotingRightsAct #Redistricting #EconomicPolicy #Midterms

Marc Cox is joined by author and journalist Molly Hemingway to discuss her new book on Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, focusing on his influence, legal reasoning, and underrecognized role in shaping major conservative victories. Hemingway highlights Alito’s sharp performance in oral arguments, particularly in immigration-related cases, and explains why she believes he is one of the most consequential justices currently on the court. The conversation also dives into allegations surrounding the Dobbs decision leak, including claims of internal delays, tensions among justices, and concerns over the integrity of the Supreme Court’s handling of the fallout. Hemingway further connects Alito’s authorship in key Voting Rights Act rulings to ongoing political battles over redistricting and judicial legitimacy. Hashtags: #MollyHemingway #SupremeCourt #SamuelAlito #SCOTUS #DobbsLeak #VotingRightsAct #Redistricting #ConservativeLegalMovement #JudicialPolitics #LegalAnalysis

Hour 3 opens with May Day protests in St. Louis tied to socialist and labor activism, including criticism of Cory Bush’s rally and broader political messaging around work stoppages and union-driven demonstrations, alongside commentary on cultural and workplace trends reflected in corporate messaging like Starbucks. The hour then shifts to national security, featuring Pete Hegseth’s Senate clash over military priorities and a broader discussion of rising tensions in Iran. Missouri-focused segments highlight proposed legislation to raise highway speed limits to 75 mph and potentially reduce vehicle inspection requirements, alongside alarming road rage incidents and local public safety concerns. The show also features business and consumer updates with Nicole Murray, including market trends and surging gas prices. A national security interview with Steve Bucci explores potential U.S. military options against Iran, targeting IRGC capabilities and strategic pressure points in the Strait of Hormuz, along with Ukraine war dynamics. The hour closes with a deep dive into Missouri’s literacy crisis, where fourth-grade reading proficiency remains critically low, prompting discussion of school accountability and a revival of Pizza Hut’s “Book It” program to encourage childhood reading. Hashtags: #MayDay #StLouis #CoriBush #LaborProtests #IranCrisis #IRGC #NationalSecurity #MissouriPolitics #RoadRage #HighwayBill #VehicleInspections #GasPrices #SteveBucci #KimOnAWhim #ChildLiteracy #BookItProgram #EducationCrisis #PodcastRecap

Congressman Eric Burlison blasts the Senate and GOP leadership over the DHS funding package, arguing it stripped leverage and forced Republicans into a weak negotiating position while leaving border security funding unresolved. He lays into FISA reauthorization, calling continued surveillance authority without stronger warrant protections a threat to Americans’ civil liberties, and criticizes the failure to advance the Save America Act. Burlison also raises alarms about central bank digital currency, warning it could give government sweeping control over personal transactions. The discussion shifts to the Iran war powers timeline, where he questions the interpretation of the 60-day rule and supports economic pressure strategies over direct escalation. He closes by outlining his “Great American Healthcare Plan,” centered on expanded Health Savings Accounts, tax advantages for medical spending, and shifting healthcare purchasing power directly to consumers. Hashtags: #EricBurlison #DHSFunding #FISAReform #SaveAmericaAct #CBDC #IranPolicy #WarPowersAct #BorderSecurity #HealthCareReform #HSAs

Hour 3 continues with Steve Bucci of the Heritage Foundation stepping in for J.J. Carafano to break down escalating tensions with Iran and the likelihood of renewed U.S. military operations. Bucci argues Iran is not negotiating in good faith and says pressure should be directed at the IRGC leadership and maritime operations in the Strait of Hormuz, including targeting small boats used for military or covert activity. He outlines how U.S. special operations forces could be used for precision missions behind enemy lines but cautions that recovering buried nuclear material would require full engineering and stabilization efforts, not just special forces raids. Bucci also discusses broader strategy, suggesting Iran should be addressed first before shifting full attention to Ukraine, and agrees that global conflicts are interconnected but may be better handled sequentially. The segment closes with analysis of how Iran impacts Russia’s war strategy and the broader geopolitical balance involving the United States, China, and allied nations. Hashtags: #SteveBucci #Iran #IRGC #MilitaryStrategy #SpecialOperations #HeritageFoundation #Geopolitics #UkraineWar #StraitOfHormuz #NationalSecurity #MarcCox

Hour 2 opens with a full lineup preview before diving into a wide-ranging political hour anchored by Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe’s interview. Kehoe discusses Route 66’s 100th anniversary, Billy Long’s upcoming ambassador role, and the major decision looming on whether Amendment 3, initiative petition reform, and income tax changes will land on the August or November ballot. He also weighs in on a Missouri House proposal to raise interstate speed limits to 75 mph and reduce vehicle inspection requirements, stressing safety concerns and legislative tradeoffs while acknowledging frustration with current inspection processes. The conversation extends into state budget negotiations, spending reductions, and assurances that sales tax fears tied to income tax reform are overstated. The hour also touches national political tension, including commentary on rhetoric, political violence concerns raised by Erica Kirk, and criticism of media responses to controversial public statements. It closes with reaction to the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act ruling and speculation about Missouri’s congressional map and potential redistricting shifts. Hashtags: #MikeKehoe #MissouriPolitics #Route66 #Amendment3 #IncomeTax #MissouriBudget #SpeedLimit #VehicleInspections #Redistricting #VotingRightsAct #MarcCox