Real America’s Voice: American Sunrise Early Edition

Episode Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Jake Novak
Featured Guests: Gerard Felitti (Lawfare Project), Emily Finn, Jason Dussaud (Intellistic CEO)

Episode Overview

This episode of "American Sunrise Early Edition" dives into hot-button topics shaping the American political and economic landscape, including an alleged seditious video by six Democratic lawmakers, U.S. economic trends as the holiday season kicks off, the state of law enforcement in New York City, and the capitalist roots of Thanksgiving. True to the show's style, it combines sharp-edged commentary, moments of humor, and a critical approach to mainstream narratives, all through the lens of American values and freedom.

Key Discussion Points

1. The “Military Sedition” Video Scandal

(Segment begins at 05:03)

• Background: Six Democratic members of Congress, including Sen. Mark Kelly and Rep. Elissa Slotkin, are under FBI scrutiny for releasing a video allegedly sowing division and disunity within the U.S. armed forces.
• Jake Novak’s Take: Questions the video's origins: "I want to know who wrote the script for that video. There’s only two possibilities...someone who was working in the offices of those senators or…some anti-American PAC…likely funded by a foreign country." (05:38)
• Legal Dimensions (with Gerard Felitti, Lawfare Project):
  • Investigation is needed to identify who funded and produced the video.
  • "This is a group of members of Congress who are treating soldiers and sailors like incompetent buffoons who don’t understand the law...they’re creating a substantial risk of disorder in the military." (08:14)
  • Discussion about the potential for criminal charges, including talk of court martial for sitting Senator Mark Kelly.

Notable Quote:

"Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely they should be. I said it three times. They should be accused of this at least, and it should be something that they look into."
— Jake Novak (07:19)

2. Legal System Critique: Comey, DOJ, and Bureaucratic Entrenchment

(Segment begins at 09:40)

• Context: Discussion about recent legal decisions affecting high-profile political figures and the entrenched nature of federal agencies.
• Gerard Felitti’s Analysis:
  • "Whatever we want to call it—a deep state or ingrained failures...the President needs to clean house." (11:59)
  • Criticizes the perceived unequal enforcement of the law by the DOJ; emphasizes need for sweeping personnel changes.
• Jake Novak’s Point:
  • Decries the lionization of career bureaucrats and politicians, arguing they often work for personal gain, not public service.
  • “Please stop calling them public servants. They’re not public servants. They want you to be their servants.” (13:15)

3. New York City and Law Enforcement

(Segment begins at 13:05)

• Issue: Concerns over New York Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani’s appointments of “infamous opponents of the police” to senior staff roles.
• Legal Recourse?:
  • Felitti notes it’s “nearly impossible to sue a government…to do its job,” unless civil rights violations can be proven due to targeted animus against minority groups. (14:34)
• Novak’s Worry:
  • Warns of public safety consequences and calls out the silence of the Police Benevolent Association (PBA).

4. Tennessee Special Election: Afton Ben Controversy

(Segment begins at 21:39, main discussion ~23:00)

• Background: Coverage of Tennessee Democrat nominee Afton Ben, who has made viral videos expressing contempt for Nashville and its culture.
• Emily Finn’s Perspective:
  • Expresses shock and concern: "If this woman does truly still win, then I have absolutely zero faith of the voters in the Nashville area." (24:48)
• Novak’s Analysis:
  • Critiques “Democrat voter suppression” in special elections, where only the most motivated (or extreme) voters turn out on obscure dates.
  • Humorous quip: “Next time I park in a dicey neighborhood, I’m going to put Afton Ben on the hood because she's got a very—she’s really…that’s a good alarm.” (26:50)

5. U.S. Economy and Retail Trends

(Segment begins at 33:55, detailed at 47:50)

• Market Update:
  • Stocks have experienced a multi-day rally; gold and oil prices are stable; bitcoin remains below its all-time high.
  • Google is entering the AI chip market, challenging Nvidia—a development Novak finds exciting, describing AI compute as "the new oil." (50:11)
• Retail Optimism:
  • Retailers like Kohl’s, Best Buy, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Gap report stronger-than-expected quarters and upbeat holiday forecasts.
  • Novak: "If these retail chains are doing well, then there’s a lot of good things going on in the economy. ...If you’re going to report about the economy, you’ve got to give people the full picture." (36:03)
• Guest: Jason Dussaud (Intellistic CEO):
  • Emphasizes importance of competition in AI and the evolving tech sector.
  • Offers tempered optimism: “The economy is always changing and this current administration inherited a lot of issues…It is improving.” (52:18)
  • On bitcoin: “Bitcoin’s here to stay. It’s here forever…The future is decentralized.” (54:01)

Notable Quote:

“I'm a very long term supporter of bitcoin and currently I believe that you should always be buying bitcoins, but certainly today you’re getting it at a discount.”
— Jason Dussaud (54:54)

6. Thanksgiving as a Capitalist Holiday

(Segment begins at 55:29)

• Host’s Argument:
  • Challenges common narratives about Thanksgiving, emphasizing its roots in private property and capitalism.
  • "The first year...they lived in a collectivist farm...That’s why they almost starved...[Then] they gave everyone their own parcel of land...and suddenly they had a surplus."
  • Calls Thanksgiving “an incredibly important capitalist holiday...the greatest anti-starvation program in the history of the world.” (56:09)
• Jason Dussaud’s Agreement:
  • “Self responsibility and ownership creates and drives prosperity...But Thanksgiving...isn’t just about economics. It’s about getting together with your family, it’s about supporting your community and...feeling grateful.” (57:41)

7. Historic Parallels: Bolshevik Tactics and Dr. Zhivago

(Segment begins at 65:36)

• Literature/Film Comparison:
  • Novak draws a parallel between the “Seditious Six” video and Bolshevik tactics depicted in Dr. Zhivago—deliberately undermining the military to trigger revolution.
  • "This is exactly the Bolshevik playbook. Infiltrate the military, make them confused, use their confusion...to sow the seeds of discord. This is an old playbook..." (66:36)
• Guest David Brody (brief):
  • Expands on the dangers of such tactics in the modern context.
  • Rules for Radicals referenced as another example of similar political strategies.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jake Novak:

  • "Please stop calling them public servants. They're not public servants. They want you to be their servants." (13:15)
  • “Thank you for carving out a little bit of time before you carve out your turkey. See how I did there?” (47:50)

• Gerard Felitti:

  • "...the President needs to clean house...massive personnel changes. There need to be consequences for people who leak, for people who don’t follow orders, or for people who sabotage investigations..." (11:59)

• Emily Finn:

  • "If this woman does truly still win, then I have absolutely zero faith in the voters in the Nashville area..." (24:48)

• Jason Dussaud:

  • “AI compute is the new oil, and as many competitors you can get in there, the better.” (50:11)
  • “Self responsibility and ownership creates and drives prosperity.” (57:41)

Highlighted Timestamps for Key Segments

• The “Seditious Six” Video Scandal: 05:03–09:40
• Legal System Entrenchment; Deep State: 09:40–13:05
• NYC Policing Debate: 13:05–15:36
• Afton Ben/Nashville Election Segment: 21:39–27:06
• Retail & Economic Trends: 33:55–42:50
• AI Competition & Bitcoin: 49:33–55:29
• Thanksgiving as a Capitalist Holiday: 55:29–58:54
• Historical Communist Parallels (“Dr. Zhivago”): 65:36–68:26

Tone & Style

The hosts and guests employ a sharp, occasionally sarcastic tone with frequent asides and humor (e.g., jokes about Nashville culture, long movies, and self-deprecation about news monotony). The conversation is highly opinionated, skeptical of mainstream media, and consistently returns to themes of American values, personal responsibility, and skepticism of government institutions.

Summary for New Listeners

If you missed the episode, “American Sunrise Early Edition” delivers a feisty analysis of current affairs—from alleged political scandal and media skepticism to retail optimism and the ideological significance of American holidays. The show offers strong opinions, sharp critiques of politicians and the media, and both lighthearted and serious moments as it encourages viewers to question mainstream narratives and embrace timeless American ideals.