Ryan Schmelz Breaks Down Rand Paul’s Festivus Report and DC Safety

The show combined holiday fun with serious local and national issues. Hour 1 opened with listener interactions and commentary on current events, followed by a discussion about law enforcement and accountability. Hour 2 focused on community updates, local politics, and notable personalities making headlines. Hour 3 covered a Pennsylvania bus driver controversy and children’s discipline, highlighting broader societal issues. Hour 4 centered on holiday festivities, including a gift exchange, and two major stories: Christian Kirk’s Tesla vandalism case, which used surveillance footage to secure harassment charges, and Ryan Wiggins’ update on the extremely potent and dangerous drug carfentanil, prompting St. Louis County’s response with Narcan vending machines. The show balanced humor, listener engagement, and serious news, ending with festive well-wishes.

Hour 4, Segment 3 features Ryan Wiggins discussing a new, extremely potent drug called carfentanil, which is reported to be 100 times stronger than fentanyl. Wiggins explains the risks of overdose, its national spread including St. Louis, and the county’s response with Narcan vending machines. The conversation also touches on the influence of foreign sources in flooding U.S. streets with dangerous substances and the link to policy and border control. The segment ends with lighthearted banter about an odd listener question and holiday programming updates.

Hour 3 covers a mix of holiday reflections, expert commentary on Second Amendment rights, and a heated discussion on student behavior. The hour opens with Mark Cox talking about the holiday rush and Costco chaos, then features Todd Piro sharing insights on year-end reflections and personal anecdotes. The spotlight moves to 2A Tuesday with Mark Walters, discussing ongoing legal battles over gun rights in DC, the Virgin Islands, and travel-related firearm mishaps. The hour closes with a deep dive into a Pennsylvania bus controversy, exploring the challenges of disciplining bilingual students and the limits of school and bus policies.

On this 2A Tuesday segment, Mark Walters from Armed American Radio discusses ongoing Second Amendment issues, including the DOJ suing Washington D.C. over delays in registering firearms and efforts to uphold gun rights in blue states. Walters emphasizes the importance of compliance with Supreme Court decisions and highlights cases like the Virgin Islands’ gun restrictions. He also shares practical advice for travelers carrying firearms, warning against mixing range bags and travel luggage to avoid hefty fines or legal trouble, drawing on personal and anecdotal examples. The segment underscores both the legal and practical challenges faced by gun owners nationwide.

Hour 2 opens with Marc and Kim reflecting on holiday prep and the reality of local vs. network news glamor. The discussion shifts to political insights, including the TPUSA AmericaFest straw poll, where JD Vance overwhelmingly led the GOP 2028 presidential preference. Ryan Schmelz joins to preview Rand Paul’s Festivus report, highlighting government waste cuts and the limitations of the Doge effort, plus a discussion on crime trends in Washington, D.C. The hour closes with “In Other News,” covering quirky and topical stories: job smugness, a bourbon surplus, Gen Z slang, odd local behavior, sports suspensions, and a preview of DOJ legal action on semi-automatic firearms. #Politics #FestivusReport #GovernmentWaste #TPUSA #InOtherNews

Ryan Schmelz joins Marc to preview Rand Paul’s annual Festivus report, highlighting federal waste cuts like funding for bug-eating programs, binge-drinking ferrets, and climate lessons abroad. They discuss the challenges of codifying cuts through rescission packages and the limitations of omnibus spending bills. Schmelz also gives an update on DC crime, noting that residents generally feel safer despite recent high-profile incidents, and reflects on the political implications of Mayor Muriel Bowser stepping down. #FestivusReport #FederalWaste #RyanSchmelz #DCSafety

Marc opens the show fuming over another early-morning McDonald’s disaster before shifting gears to a packed lineup featuring Todd Pyro, Mark Walters, and an update on the Tesla vandalism case. He then shares a powerful story of generosity—a $1,000 Christmas tip for a hardworking single mom—followed by Kim’s “On a Whim” segment on the Pennsylvania bus driver fired for banning Spanish to stop bullying, sparking a fiery debate over discipline and DEI overreach. The hour closes with Marc’s sharp defense of America’s First Amendment freedoms, warning that nations like Australia and the U.K. are sliding into thought control. #MarkCoxShow #FreeSpeech #ChristmasKindness #SchoolBusControversy #McDonaldsFail

In Kim on a Whim, the crew dives into the story of a Pennsylvania bus driver fired for posting a sign banning Spanish on her bus. Kim breaks down the controversy, explaining the driver’s claim that it was about stopping bullying, not discrimination. Marc and Kim debate whether the punishment fit the “crime,” calling out weak school discipline, zero-tolerance nonsense, and the breakdown of authority in classrooms and buses. Listeners chime in with their takes—some backing the driver, others suggesting cameras or better oversight. The takeaway: rules mean nothing when schools won’t enforce them. #KimOnAWhim #SchoolBusControversy #DisciplineCrisis #MarkCoxShow

Today’s show covered a wide spectrum of stories and commentary, starting with San Francisco’s power outage that exposed the limitations of autonomous vehicles and the broader implications for driverless cars coming to St. Louis. Hour 2 tackled local and national headlines, including immigration, court rulings, and public safety issues. Hour 3 focused on the rise of self-driving cars and public skepticism, followed by political insight with Kurt Schwab on Texas District 33 and the impact of redistricting. The final hour blended holiday lifestyle, travel plans, college sports challenges with NIL rules, Blues hockey updates, and political discourse surrounding JD Vance, Nick Fuentes, and the state of the conservative movement. The show wove together technology, politics, sports, and community engagement, offering listeners a full look at current events and cultural commentary.