Podcast Summary: American Sunrise Early Edition – November 18, 2025

Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Host: Jake Novak (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode: November 18, 2025

Episode Overview

The November 18th episode of American Sunrise Early Edition explores major national issues from an unabashedly conservative lens, prioritizing "Real America’s Voice" ideals—faith, freedom, and American values. Host Jake Novak delivers rapid commentary and interviews on breaking stories, focusing on the escalation over illegal immigration enforcement in North Carolina, developments in the SNAP food stamps program, and the intersection of economics, tech, and markets. The show is punctuated by segments with local political figures, policy commentators, and market analysts, offering both news and strong editorial viewpoints.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. North Carolina as the New Immigration Flashpoint

Segment begins: [03:38]

A. Framing the Issue

• Jake Novak declares Charlotte, NC as the new focal point in what he calls "the new American Civil War" over illegal immigration enforcement.
• He links rising conflict to both activism on the ground and political rhetoric from Democratic officials.

B. Interview with Margaret Akis (North Carolina Republican Executive Committee)

• Akis: Labels Charlotte as a major human trafficking hub and criticizes Democratic officials for not protecting citizens.
  • "Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina, is the biggest trafficking, human trafficking point between Atlanta, coming from Texas up." [05:01]
• On Governor Josh Stein's Video Statement:
  • Stein accuses ICE of "targeting American citizens based on their skin color... going after landscapers, simply decorating a Christmas tree..." [06:01]
  • Novak and Akis characterize the governor's remarks as inflammatory and dangerous.
  • Novak: "This is outrageous. ICE agents killed." [06:33]
• Both dismiss Stein’s concerns, arguing that those arrested have existing warrants or criminal histories.
  • Novak: "It turns out they have a ridiculous rap sheet of terrible, terrible crimes..." [07:19]
• Akis blames taxpayer costs on undocumented immigrants and asserts the DMV is aiding voter fraud.
  • "We know that the dmv, who has got a bunch of leftists in it, are taking in illegals and putting on their applications for a driver's license, that they're an American citizen." [11:12]

C. Community and Political Ramifications

• Novak emphasizes “compassion” should include affected communities, not just undocumented immigrants.
• Akis highlights the burden on schools, referencing 21,000 Charlotte schoolchildren reportedly absent due to immigration raids. [09:19]

D. Electoral Stakes

• With Senator Thom Tillis stepping down, the upcoming NC Senate race becomes a battleground between Republican hopefuls Don Brown and Michael Watley, and Democrat Roy Cooper.
  • "It's going to be a dogfight here." [13:49]

Notable Quote:

• Jake Novak: "North Carolina is becoming such a flashpoint for this... I fear it could be a full on battle. And when I say that, I mean that word, battle." [14:23]

2. Food Stamp Policy Shakeup

Segment begins: [17:39]

A. New Reapplication Mandate

• Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins proposes requiring all current SNAP (food stamp) beneficiaries to reapply, aiming to purge fraudulent claims after benefits reinstated post-government shutdown.

B. Panel Discussion with Emily Finn

• Finn supports stricter verification, contending that Democrats "do have a ton of responsibility on their plate for letting this [shutdown] go on for so long." [19:13]
• Jake and Emily discuss ongoing fraud—everything from misuse of SNAP EBT cards by store owners to college students applying while having family support.
  • Finn: "There were college kids that were getting, you know, all of this extra money from their parents, but they were applying for benefits like this..." [20:44]
• Novak draws comparisons with European welfare reforms, suggesting time limits and ceilings encourage recipients to get off aid.
  • "Right when the benefits run out, that's when people go and get a job and get off the dole." [21:12]

3. Market & Tech Updates

Segment begins: [23:40]

A. Stock Market and Tech Sector Moves

• Markets trending downward; Nvidia’s upcoming earnings report is the focus as its performance drives much tech-sector volatility.
  • "Bitcoin is all the way down to 91,000... it's skittishness about that company, Nvidia..." [23:40]
• Discussion of Tim Cook’s impending retirement at Apple and impact on shares.
• Berkshire Hathaway's large investment in Google parent Alphabet is a rare tech foray for Buffett.

B. Industry News Highlights

• Ford to allow used vehicle sales on Amazon—major potential disruption for Carvana and CarMax.
• Tesla, like GM, tells suppliers to stop using Chinese-made components for U.S.-assembled vehicles.
• Nissan’s new 3-row hybrid SUV is based on the Mitsubishi Outlander, reflecting industry consolidation.

4. Economic Pressures & Housing Market

Segment begins: [34:54]

A. Special Guest: AML Global Founder / Tech Expert

• Concerns about over-concentration in tech investing—too much reliance on Nvidia for U.S. and global markets.
  • "You don't want to have a single point of failure... Nvidia is years ahead of every other company..." [36:20]
• Economic reality check: daily life remains expensive; inflation continues to bite, affecting all communities.
  • "Everything everywhere is expensive... things are really difficult for people that work really hard." [38:43]
• Mortgage rates are discussed—massive increase from 2–3% under Trump to 6–7% under Biden, explicitly blamed on Biden administration's spending policies.

B. Bill Ackman’s Housing Proposal

• Hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman to unveil a plan for merging Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to lower mortgage costs; guest and host question whether supply constraints, not just financial infrastructure, are the root issue.
  • "If you want to lower the price of something that everyone wants... we got to increase supply." [41:32]
  • Proposal for "portable mortgages" to allow moving homeowners to keep low interest rates and stimulate market movement.

Notable Quote:

• AML Expert: "We have to unfreeze the market... create a market... If you got a house and you're under 3%, why would you move to go buy one that's three times expensive and three times the rate?" [41:32]

5. Justice System & James Comey Case

Segment begins: [47:46]

A. Magistrate Judge Criticizes Prosecutors

• Prosecutorial misconduct in the James Comey classified information case might derail trial—David Brody and Jake Novak fear it sends a dangerous signal to “career bureaucrats.”
  • Novak: "If James Comey gets off on this... that's going to be a big green light for more of these jerks to do this kind of stuff." [47:46]
  • Brody: "The devil here seems to be in the details. Look, I mean, this is all about Lindsey Halligan, let's be honest." [49:06]

Notable Quotes (by Timestamp)

• [06:33] Jake Novak: "This is outrageous. ICE agents killed. Go ahead, Margo."
• [09:19] Margaret Akis: "Yesterday, 21,000 children in Charlotte schools did not go to school. What's that tell you? Tells you we're spending a lot of money on kids that may not belong here."
• [13:49] Margaret Akis: "So it's going to be a dogfight here."
• [14:23] Jake Novak: "North Carolina is becoming such a flashpoint for this... I fear it could be a full on battle."
• [20:44] Emily Finn: "There were college kids that were getting, you know, all of this extra money from their parents, but they were applying for benefits like this, and it was like, oh, my gosh, come on."
• [41:32] AML Global Founder / Tech Expert: "If you want to lower the price of something that everyone wants... we got to increase supply."
• [49:06] David Brody: "The devil here seems to be in the details. Look, I mean, this is all about Lindsey Halligan, let's be honest..."
• [47:46] Jake Novak: "If James Comey gets off on this... that's going to be a big green light for more of these jerks to do this kind of stuff."

Important Timestamps

• 03:38 – Start of main North Carolina discussion; introduction of Akis
• 06:01 – Governor Josh Stein’s ICE statement aired
• 11:12 – Akis details DMV/voter fraud allegations in NC
• 17:39 – Food stamp program and fraud segment with Emily Finn
• 23:40 – Market update, Nvidia/Apple/Buffett discussion
• 34:54 – Economic/tech analysis with AML Global guest
• 41:32 – Housing market, mortgage, and portability discussion
• 47:46 – James Comey prosecution/prosecutorial misconduct

Tone & Style

The episode is brisk, unapologetically conservative, urgent in tone, and often combative regarding perceived political adversaries. Host Jake Novak frequently editorializes, and interviewees are provided space for detailed, similarly pointed commentary. Economic and market segments remain grounded in real-life concerns like inflation and housing access, but with a clear partisan framing.

Summary for the Uninitiated

This episode of American Sunrise Early Edition establishes North Carolina as the epicenter of escalating conflict over immigration enforcement, aligning that struggle with national stakes in law, political culture, and the coming elections. The show also spotlights federal aid policy shifts, market tremors driven by tech, and the challenge of high costs for Americans. Legal troubles for James Comey are discussed, with concern for broader bureaucratic accountability. Throughout, the program’s tone is populist, urgent, and rooted in conservative perspectives—offering a comprehensive tour of the issues animating the right heading into late 2025.