Hour 4: Trump’s Alligator Alcatraz Visit, Illinois Taxes, and Cultural Controversies

The full show kicks off with coverage of the Senate’s ongoing vote-a-rama, with razor-thin margins and controversial amendments on Medicaid work requirements and Planned Parenthood. John Pence joins to advocate for a legislative win aligned with the Trump agenda, while John Lamping provides insight into Missouri’s state budget cuts and the future of the Missouri Freedom Caucus. In Hour 2, Kim and Scott unpack the politics behind the vote-a-rama, Trump’s public letter to Jerome Powell, and a breakdown of new and potential AI regulations. The conversation turns to immigration, border security, and the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” facility in Florida. Hour 3 features Todd Piro from Fox & Friends discussing top headlines, including Trump’s actions and the Senate showdown. Mark Walters joins for 2A Tuesday to address new gun laws, including Colorado’s new firearm instructor regulations and challenges to Supreme Court rulings like Bruen. Scott returns for Scott on the Spot with a look at the NCAA’s historic NIL settlement and how direct athlete payments will reshape college sports. Hour 4 dives into Trump’s visit to the Florida detention facility nicknamed Alligator Alcatraz, along with Dylan Sharkey’s breakdown of Illinois’ sweeping tax increases—from gas to telecom and sports betting. Ryan Wiggins joins to discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling limiting nationwide injunctions, and what it means for Trump’s policy rollout. The hour also explores reduced corporate Pride Month marketing, the impact of the Bud Light controversy, and cultural tensions surrounding JK Rowling’s book boycott. Keywords

In Hour 4, Kim St. Onge breaks down former President Trump’s visit to the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility in Florida, including a humorous take on surviving gator and python territory. Dylan Sharkey joins to explain what’s inside the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” including major Medicaid changes, Elon Musk’s criticism, and Illinois’ sweeping new tax hikes—ranging from gas and sports betting to telecom and short-term rentals. Ryan Wiggins discusses the Supreme Court’s new limits on nationwide injunctions and how that could pave the way for Trump’s policy agenda on DEI programs, voter ID laws, and sanctuary cities. The hour also explores reduced corporate Pride Month messaging following the Bud Light controversy, Illinois’ new gender-inclusive data rules, climate change education mandates, and a San Francisco bookstore’s boycott of JK Rowling over her views on transgender issues.

Ryan Wiggins, host of Wiggins America, joins the Marc Cox Morning Show to break down a new Supreme Court ruling limiting district courts’ ability to issue nationwide injunctions, and how Justice Elena Kagan’s stance has shifted. They explore the potential policy agenda under a second Trump term, including sanctuary city funding cuts, voter ID enforcement, restrictions on DEI programs in public schools, and transgender-related federal funding. The discussion also turns to Trump’s proposed “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility, with some lighthearted commentary on alligator behavior, including their reactions to space shuttle launches.

Dylan Sharkey from the Illinois Policy Institute joins the Marc Cox Morning Show to break down former President Trump’s visit to the controversial 5,000-bed “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility in Florida, stirring both political attention and humorous speculation about surviving with gators and pythons. The conversation shifts to Illinois’ sweeping new laws taking effect July 1, including a gas tax hike to 48 cents per gallon, new taxes on sports betting, rentals, phone and internet services, and mandates for gender-inclusive data collection and climate change education in schools. Sharkey and Marc also discuss the details of a major immigration bill, Elon Musk’s criticism of it, and the ongoing friction between Musk and Trump. The episode closes with analysis on how Illinois’ tax-heavy policy changes may accelerate population decline and spark broader political consequences.

Kim St. Onge hosts Hour 3 of the Marc Cox Morning Show and welcomes Todd Piro of Fox & Friends to discuss Trump’s latest moves, the Senate’s ongoing vote a rama, and political headlines dominating the day. Mark Walters joins for 2A Tuesday to break down new gun laws taking effect July 1, including Colorado’s updated firearm instructor rules, and the legal battles over Second Amendment rights. Scott Jagow joins Kim for Scott on the Spot to unpack the NCAA’s historic NIL settlement, which will allow direct payments to college athletes and reshape the landscape of college sports and sponsorships.

Todd Piro, host of Fox & Friends, joins the Marc Cox Morning Show to talk about Mark’s vacation and current political headlines. The conversation covers former President Trump’s departure aboard Marine One as he heads to Florida, where talk continues around his controversial proposal for a detention facility nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.” The show dives into the ongoing Senate vote a rama, where amendments on Medicaid and Planned Parenthood are sparking intense debate and potential Republican division. JD Vance may play a critical role as a tiebreaker.

The Marc Cox Morning Show dives into the marathon Senate vote-a-rama, with amendments on Medicaid work requirements and Planned Parenthood creating uncertainty around the bill’s passage. John Pence joins the show to express optimism about a legislative win for the Trump agenda while criticizing the parliamentarian’s influence on the process. John Lamping adds perspective on spending cuts and highlights efforts by the Missouri Freedom Caucus to reorganize under Nick Schroer’s leadership. The show also covers Trump’s letter to Jerome Powell, debates over federal spending, and state-level political strategy. In other news, a 5 year old girl falls overboard on a Disney cruise, a lifeguard is impaled by a beach umbrella, and an invasive lizard appears in California. Plus, trending topics like the rise of “rucking” and a minor league baseball team’s rebrand round out the show.

John Lamping joins Kim St. Onge on the Marc Cox Morning Show to break down the nearly 22 hour Senate budget vote, trillion dollar deficit projections, and concerns over health care and tax cuts. He also reacts to Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe’s $511 million in state budget cuts, which hit higher education, flood mitigation, and refugee programs. Lamping discusses the future of the Missouri Freedom Caucus under Nick Schroer’s leadership and the political maneuvering by Republican senators using their votes for leverage in tight negotiations.

John Pence joins the Marc Cox Morning Show to break down the proposed Medicaid reform bill that would impose work requirements for able bodied Americans, remove illegal immigrants from the program, and target fraud and abuse. With a tight Senate vote a rama underway, Pence explains the difficulty in gaining Republican consensus, the influence of President Trump, and the complications with the parliamentarian’s role. They also touch on amendments blocking Planned Parenthood funding and preserving some AI regulations.

Kim St. Onge covers the whirlwind Senate vote a rama with razor thin margins on major legislation, including amendments on immigration, the controversial ICE Block app, and Trump’s proposed detention facility dubbed Alligator Alcatraz. In Scott on the Spot, Scott Jagow joins to explore the booming interest in women’s sports from Caitlin Clark’s growing influence to the expansion of the WNBA and a new sports bar just for women's games. They also discuss game changing NIL payouts for college athletes and the Senate’s vote to allow states to regulate AI, raising questions about the future of tech, media, and sports coverage.