Midterm Politics and Local Budget Challenges (Hour 3)

This full show covers a wide spectrum of news and analysis. Hour 1 and 2 touch on local St. Louis issues, including County Councilman Mike Archer breaking down an $80 million deficit and plans to streamline government services, while also exploring the upcoming county executive election. Hour 3 highlights a University of Oklahoma student facing academic retaliation for expressing her religious beliefs on gender, sparking discussion about free speech in higher education. Hour 4 shifts to national politics, with Mark Cox dissecting media coverage of Trump-era pardons, debates over Ilhan Omar, and political controversies. Guests Shannon Bream and Griff Jenkins provide deep dives into high-profile legal battles, including the SCOTUS First Amendment case involving New Jersey pro-life pregnancy centers, border enforcement issues, and military defense operations. The show also sprinkled in lighter segments, including Guns N’ Roses ticket giveaways and commentary on Candace Owens’ ongoing live stream drama with Turning Point USA.

Hour 4 dives into media scrutiny of Trump-era figures and political controversies, starting with Pete Hegseth and presidential pardons, before transitioning to giveaways and live events. Shannon Bream joins to discuss the Supreme Court case on New Jersey’s prosecution of crisis pregnancy centers, highlighting First Amendment implications. Griff Jenkins reports on border enforcement, energy policy, and U.S. defense operations, offering updates on ICE actions and drug interdiction. The hour closes with Turning Point USA inviting Candace Owens to a live stream to address her controversial claims regarding Charlie Kirk, raising questions about conspiratorial narratives and public perception.

Griff Jenkins joins Marc Cox to discuss the rollback of Biden-era emissions standards, the U.S. auto industry’s fines, and the introduction of the Toyota Hilux to the American market. He also covers immigration enforcement challenges, including ICE operations and legal pushback from judges and Democrats, and provides an update on the Venezuelan drug boat interdiction, highlighting how legal oversight and military decisions affect U.S. border security and anti-narcotics operations.

Marc Cox speaks with Shannon Bream about the Supreme Court case involving New Jersey’s pro-life pregnancy centers, highlighting Justice Clarence Thomas’s sharp questioning and the First Amendment implications of donor subpoenas. They also discuss January 6th defendants seeking refunds of fines, Trump’s revocation of Biden-era auto-pen pardons, and the Pentagon watchdog report on Pete Hegseth, clarifying media misreporting and contextual inaccuracies. Shannon previews deeper coverage on Fox News Sunday, including upcoming defense discussions at the Reagan Forum.

Marc Cox’s 3rd hour covers the RNC co-chair KC Crosby discussing the recent Tennessee special election, emphasizing Republican wins and the impact of President Trump’s economic policies. County Councilman Mike Archer detailed St. Louis County’s $80 million budget deficit, outlining cuts and efficiency measures without raising taxes. The hour also examined a University of Oklahoma student who stood by her religious beliefs on gender in an assignment, prompting her instructor’s leave and sparking debate over academic bias and free expression.

County Councilman Mike Archer breaks down the $80 million St. Louis County budget shortfall, explaining efforts to cut nonessential programs and streamline operations, including reallocating police clerical tasks to civilians. He details plans for relocating county offices to Northwest Crossings, the potential for a Southwest satellite office, and clarifies that County Executive Sam Page cannot veto the budget. Archer emphasizes a bipartisan council coalition working to control spending without raising taxes.

KC Crosbie, RNC co-chair, joins to discuss the recent Tennessee special election, emphasizing that Republican victories reflect expected margins despite media spin. She explains on-the-ground campaigning challenges, the impact of inflation messaging, and how President Trump’s economic agenda positions the party for 2026. Crosby also details RNC fundraising efficiency, prioritizing voter outreach and election security, and highlights coordinated efforts to secure Republican wins in the midterms.

Marc Cox opens with traffic and a preview of Tom Ackerman covering the Indiana vs. Ohio State game. They discuss the Tennessee special election and political context with Casey Crosby. Marc delivers the bourbon raffle to Cindy and talks about her son’s reaction. He covers media spin on a military strike and Tulsi Gabbard’s comments about pre-2016 election intelligence. Tom Ackerman talks college sports, NIL for mid-majors, and the Big Ten matchup. Other topics include Olive Oil health trends, the $9 million Superman comic, and St. Louis County budget concerns with Councilman Mike Archer.

Tom Ackerman joins the show to discuss his experiences covering SLU women’s basketball and the broader college sports landscape. He explores how mid-major programs like SLU navigate NIL rules, the pressures of recruiting against powerhouse schools, and the influence of big conferences on NCAA tournament bids. The conversation then shifts to the highly anticipated Indiana vs. Ohio State football matchup, with Ackerman highlighting the stakes, the excitement of the city, and the Hoosiers’ potential Cinderella story, while also touching on Kentucky basketball and his loyalty as an alum.

Marc Cox opens the first hour with icy weather updates and MODOT’s road prep before turning to national headlines, defending Trump’s decisive military response against drug smugglers and blasting media hypocrisy. The conversation shifts to Halle Berry’s public takedown of Gavin Newsom over women’s health, then to “Kim on a Whim,” where Kim St. Onge unpacks Candace Owens’ controversial accusations against TPUSA following Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The hour closes with a candid look behind the mic—how Marc, Kim, and Ethan juggle timing, cues, and chaos in the studio.