Advertise on podcast: The A.M. Update

Aaron McIntire covers a new memo from Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley alleging that former special counsel Jack Smith's office and the Biden Justice Department obtained data on at least 639,000 Republican voters and donors in the Arctic Frost probe, including buyers of red MAGA hats. He plays Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky telling Piers Morgan he feels betrayed by President Trump's diesel deal with Vladimir Putin and his announced energy ceasefire. Aaron also covers a New York Post report that Rep. Ilhan Omar's staff asked Minnesota officials in 2019 to change her listed birth year from 1981 to 1982, a detail that could matter to her citizenship timeline, though the library says its original 1981 entry was undocumented. He covers HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s announcement that CMS ended Obamacare subsidies for 189,000 duplicate or deceased enrollees, and Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald's claim that fraud costs more than several federal departments' budgets combined. Aaron marks what would have been Charlie Kirk's 33rd birthday and highlights about a dozen Camas, Washington high school girls walking off a cross-country race rather than compete against a teammate who had switched from the boys' team. He closes with Jim Nantz's story about the late Mike Ditka's habit of carrying $100 bills.

Aaron McIntire covers Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer diagnosis after surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro confirming a federal investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar's financial disclosures. President Trump says he is not taking a position on the search of Omar's home, while the Justice Department has not said whether the financial probe is connected to the immigration paperwork investigation, and Omar denies wrongdoing. He covers Vice President JD Vance's Tyler, Texas rally for Ken Paxton, where he announced a Defense Production Act refinery expansion and attacked Democratic nominee James Talarico, and new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia announcing that Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle was asked to resign amid allegations she denies. Aaron also covers Speaker Mike Johnson's claim that polls are undersampling Republicans and the FBI arrest of OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan, a Saudi national accused of planting a hidden recording device in an executive conference room. He closes with a viral Fayette County, Indiana forum clip in which council candidate Jaime West said she would fire all Republicans and ended by saying they have guns too.

Aaron McIntire covers federal agents searching the Washington home of Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, which Fox News, citing anonymous sources, ties to immigration paperwork her father filled out when she was a child. Omar's allies, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, called the search an abuse of power, while the Justice Department says it was carried out under a judicially authorized warrant. He also covers unofficial Border Patrol figures showing September border arrests down nearly 95% from the Biden-era peak, and a federal judge halting tree cutting at East Potomac Golf Course after at least 430 trees were felled over the holiday weekend, saying the government had violated an understanding about advance notice. Aaron plays Texas Senate nominee James Talarico's differing accounts of where he was treated for the flu during his two week absence, and Minnesota Republican Senate nominee Michele Tafoya's new ad calling herself a pro-choice Republican in a race a new Minnesota Poll shows within four points. He closes with a clip of Charlie Kirk and Michael Knowles discussing the death penalty, tied to the debate over the planned execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan.

Aaron McIntire covers President Trump's diesel supply deal with Vladimir Putin, which the White House says will bring more than 300,000 tons of Russian diesel to market with more promised in November, and Trump's suggestion that Ukraine get a new leader. He covers the Pentagon's plan to execute Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan by firing squad on December 3 and livestream it, a proposal drawing bipartisan criticism as Trump says he has not made a final decision on the livestream. Aaron also covers Vice President JD Vance's suspension of Microsoft and seven other companies from the Labor Department's PERM green card program, with Vance alleging abuse of the H-1B system and Microsoft disputing his figures. He plays Trump's Tennessee rally impression of Iranian leaders, the return of Texas Senate nominee James Talarico after a two week absence his campaign blamed on the flu, and the Michigan Senate debate clash between Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed over the October 7 anniversary. Aaron closes with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller's criticism of Democrats on Islamist extremism and refugee policy.

Aaron McIntire covers President Trump saying he doesn't think the suspected plague case at a Siberian lab is a bioweapon, even as Russia says it's under control, and the FBI sting that stopped an alleged ISIS-inspired plot against the Mall of America. Prosecutors say 18-year-old Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud bought an inert AK-47 and about 200 rounds from an undercover agent, and he is charged with receiving a firearm to commit a federal crime of terrorism. He also covers the White House announcement that about 70 million children are now automatically enrolled in Trump Accounts, and an undercover video in which a Talarico campaign organizing manager says most of her coworkers are Marxists. Aaron plays Senator Thom Tillis defending Mitch McConnell's mental sharpness, an Ottumwa, Iowa city council meeting that opened with a Satanic invocation, and Zach Lahn's debate confrontation with Rob Sand over residency attacks. He closes with Secretary of State Marco Rubio's speech in Athens warning that the West faces a choice between renewal and decline.

Aaron McIntire covers President Trump's midterm rally tour, including his line about asking world leaders who thank him for the Iran war when they plan to pay for it, and his Baltimore announcement of a $6.6 billion Navy and Anduril submarine parts factory. He plays Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling on Russia to share more information after a lab worker's death at a Siberian anti-plague institute, and Congressman Brandon Gill's remarks on conserving American culture and heritage. Aaron also covers former senior CIA official David Rush pleading guilty to a $194 million fraud scheme that included 298 gold bars, and newly circulating video of Texas Senate nominee James Talarico telling educators that white supremacy and heteropatriarchy have colonized their minds. He shares a Pennsylvania construction worker's blunt take on data center jobs, then covers Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike, convicted in the 1995 killing of classmate Colleen Slemmer, who her attorneys say is conscious and speaking after surviving a failed lethal injection last week. Aaron closes with Chris Rock's New York Times interview comparing wokeness to the Salem witch trials and asks whether woke is really dead.

Aaron McIntire breaks down the mixed messages from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who downplayed the U.S. bomber withdrawal from RAF Fairford as routine rotation, and President Trump, who said there was a threat, while Vice President JD Vance cited an abundance of caution. He covers Trump blaming refinery shortages for high gas prices before his Nebraska campaign trip, and Vance's Alaska rally for Senator Dan Sullivan in a toss-up race against Mary Peltola. Aaron plays a 2015 clip of Bernie Sanders rejecting open borders alongside his recent call for comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship, then reacts to Paramore singer Hayley Williams calling Christian nationalism the greatest threat to American democracy and Mark Ruffalo's remarks on election cybersecurity at a Hands Off Our Vote rally. He also touches on a poll ranking NFL fan bases by party and closes with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's Axios interview, where he was asked what happened to the golden age after an AP poll found just 17% approve of Trump's handling of the cost of living.

Aaron McIntire covers the U.S. Air Force pulling all of its bombers from RAF Fairford in the UK after a suspected terror plot near the base led to six arrests. He plays Trump's midterm pitch from his Oklahoma rally, Justice Samuel Alito's Fox News Sunday interview on the Dobbs leaker and retirement speculation, and Senator Mark Kelly's Face the Nation answer on lowering costs. Aaron also breaks down Brazil's first round election, where Flávio Bolsonaro advanced to an October 25 runoff against President Lula and Michelle Bolsonaro won a Senate seat, plus new details on the FlyDubai cockpit attack that Israeli media say was aimed at crashing the plane into Ben Gurion Airport. He covers a lab worker's death at a Russian anti-plague institute in Siberia, student protests across France, and Trump's rally aside about aspirin that tied into Bayer's $2.2 billion Ohio investment. Aaron closes with a reflection on why Trump's showman style may never be repeated, whether you love him or hate him

Aaron McIntire covers Vice President JD Vance's candid interview on Air Force Two about the economy, H-1B visa fraud, and being honest with voters about the pace of change, along with new polling showing non-college educated voters shifting away from Republicans. He covers President Trump signaling the administration is adjusting its midterm messaging on prices and inflation. Aaron also covers a unanimous Michigan Supreme Court ruling removing more than 20,000 people, including convicted child abuser Larry Nassar, from the state's sex offender registry over ex post facto concerns, though Nassar remains imprisoned. He touches on Governor Gavin Newsom's latest comments teasing a possible 2028 presidential run, and a new executive order targeting ticks and mosquitoes in Washington, D.C. Aaron closes with Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown sharing his Christian faith after the team's comeback win over Michigan.

Aaron McIntire covers a thwarted hijacking attempt aboard a FlyDubai flight bound for Israel, where a struggle in the cockpit left crew members injured before passengers helped subdue the attacker and the plane landed safely. He covers President Trump's announcement that the last American forces are leaving Iraq, and Senate Democrats blocking bills that would have banned congressional stock trading and required voter ID, the same day a Minnesota grand jury indicted ten foreign nationals for illegal voting. Aaron also covers Vice President JD Vance breaking ground on a new shipyard in Brownsville, Texas, and campaigning for Senate nominee Ken Paxton while criticizing Democrat opponent James Talarico's comments on parental rights. He touches on Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's reduction of general and admiral positions, and closes with his own midterm outlook alongside Spencer Pratt's criticism of Republican political consultants.

Aaron McIntire covers President Trump announcing a 32 day campaign tour ahead of the midterms, along with the White House's relaunch of America.gov as an AI powered government services portal. He covers Senator Eric Schmitt's confrontation with former Special Counsel Jack Smith over text messages about a Hawks game, which Schmitt implied was evidence of contact with Fani Willis, only for it to turn out Smith was likely referring to an Iowa Hawkeyes basketball game. Aaron also covers the Supreme Court allowing the Trump administration to continue rapidly deporting migrants to third countries, and UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's announcement reopening a refugee resettlement program. He closes with a Memphis area Tennessee state house race that had no candidates on the ballot after the lone Democrat contender fell one signature short and later passed away.

Aaron McIntire covers President Trump's announcement that Mesabi Metallics will build the largest steel plant in American history in southeast Iowa, using iron ore from the company's new Minnesota mine. He covers Vice President JD Vance's comments on the All In podcast about blue states like California, Illinois, and New York refusing to cooperate with the administration's fraud task force. Aaron also covers former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey's abrupt resignation as FBI deputy director, the second deputy director to leave in just over a year. He reacts to Texas Senate candidate James Talarico's latest comments framing universal healthcare as a biblical mandate, and closes with TikToker Zach Sage Fox's side by side interviews contrasting Israeli and "Palestinian" attitudes toward peace.

Aaron McIntire covers Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's Fox News interview with Bret Baier, where he was pressed on why no video has surfaced of Supreme Leader Khamenei since the war with the United States began. He covers President Trump hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House, including China's pledge to send two pandas to the Atlanta Zoo and an offer for 100,000 young Americans to study in China. Aaron also covers a powerful campaign ad from David Beamer, father of September 11 hero Todd Beamer, responding to Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's refusal to disavow streamer Hasan Piker's comments about the attacks. He covers a new analysis from Concerned Women for America on the impact of male athletes in women's sports, and Barack Obama's comments on female leadership.

Aaron McIntire covers the confusion around whether the Trump administration will ban diesel exports to lower gas prices, after conflicting reports from Politico and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. He covers undercover video from Blaze Media in which James Talarico's own pastor, Jim Rigby, denies core Christian doctrines including the existence of hell. Aaron covers college softball player Kendall Kotzmacher's Senate testimony on competing against male athletes, and Senator Katie Britt's criticism of Democrats for skipping the hearing. He also covers The View co-host Sunny Hostin revealing she was the lone holdout juror who acquitted a notorious 1990s New York City murder suspect, new data showing roughly 1 in 16 deaths in Canada now involve its assisted dying program, and Iran's new military recruitment drive for boys as young as 12. Aaron closes with Secretary of State Marco Rubio's extended comments on America prioritizing national interest over the international order.

Aaron McIntire covers President Trump's United Nations address on Iran, where he says a deal is more likely after the midterms, plus his criticism of the UN over mass migration and cultural heritage. He covers a new Center for Strategic Politics survey of 683 Democratic voters finding notable shares would react positively to Trump's death or removal by coup, along with Vice President JD Vance's response on Newsmax. Aaron also covers Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins facing criticism for suggesting consumers switch off beef amid high prices, and a hacking group called Shiny Hunters claiming it breached FBI personnel data. He touches on Kamala Harris campaigning for Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, and country singer Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" breaking the record for most weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. Aaron closes with Iowa gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn's comments on the role of the church versus government.