American Sunrise Early Edition – October 22nd, 2025

Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Host: Jake Novak (iHeartPodcasts)
Date: October 22, 2025

Overview

This episode of American Sunrise Early Edition dives deep into the tight political races in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York, examines the economic climate under President Trump, addresses controversies in women’s sports, covers breaking news in both international and domestic affairs, and challenges cultural and political narratives. Host Jake Novak, joined by contributors like Emily Finn, Jason Dussaud, and David Brody, delivers “real news, honest views”—unpacking complex current events with a focus on faith, freedom, and American values.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

National and Off-Year Election Landscape

[03:48 – 08:05]

• Off-Year Election Context:

  • Explains the historical trend of off-year elections being tough for the party in power, but suggests "that should no longer be the tradition anymore" as Virginia and New Jersey governors' races are now highly significant.
  • Calls for Trump supporters in these states to mobilize, noting turnout was low in previous cycles without Trump on the ballot.
  • Quote: "It is really getting down to the wire right now in a number of these off year elections." (Jake Novak, 03:52)

• New York Mayoral Race Controversy:

  • Notes a newly surfaced video of Zoran Mamdani ("raging against New York and its people"), shared by Jack Posobiec.
  • Discusses Curtis Sliwa’s refusal to drop out despite mounting pressure; compares Sliwa’s lack of evolution to Giuliani’s strategic preparation between campaigns.
  • Ponders if Trump will explicitly ask Sliwa to withdraw, stating, "It will be interesting to see if President Trump explicitly comes out and says that Curtis Lewis should drop out." (Jake Novak, 05:33)

Obama’s Presence and Democratic Identity Politics

[08:05 – 13:30]

• Obama’s Campaigning in NJ & VA:

  • Obama to stump for Mikey Sherrill (NJ). Novak claims the election hinges on clandestine or overt Trump supporters turning out.
  • Sharp criticism of Dems for lack of serious Black male candidates since Obama: "Since Barack Obama has left office, there’s been exactly zero serious black male Democratic candidates in any significant race." (Jake Novak, 10:35)
  • Contends the Dem party "thinks it owns black voters," and suggests Obama enjoys remaining the party’s singular Black male figurehead.

• Identity & Republican Opportunity in VA:

  • Republican candidate Winsome Earl Sears, an African American woman, is within “striking distance” in polls.
  • Argues a Sears victory would "devastate" Dem identity politics: "It would end a narrative that they annoy us with for years about how the Republicans are anti woman and anti black." (Jake Novak, 12:14)

U.S. Foreign Policy and Israel/Gaza

[14:23 – 15:14]

• VP Vance in Israel:
  • Novak provides an update on Vice President J.D. Vance’s trip to Israel, affirming President Trump’s promise of "no US boots on the ground in Gaza."
  • Suggests possibly involving Indonesia’s troops in Gaza could serve as a moderating influence.

Women’s Sports and Gender Debate

[18:05 – 23:51]

• Sam Ponder’s Dilemma:
  • Former ESPN host and women’s sports advocate Sam Ponder faces her daughter competing against a boy in middle school basketball.
  • Emily Finn discusses the unfairness and risks, expressing sadness:
    • "The only thing worse than having to be subjected to competing against men in women's sports is to watch your daughter have to be subjected to this." (Emily Finn, 19:54)
  • Novak highlights how, on Long Island, girls’ sports are vital for college scholarships, making inclusion of boys a serious issue for opportunity and fairness.
  • Finn praises the role of team sport in girls’ development and laments "the experience is going to be ruined" if gender rules aren’t enforced.

Economic Analysis: Markets, Tariffs, and Trump’s Policies

[28:13 – 31:36, 43:11 – 52:56]

• Markets at Historic Highs:

  • All major indices at/near all-time highs; gold remains the top-performing trade; oil prices historically low; Bitcoin down—likely due to profit-taking.
  • General Motors stock "up 15%" after strong earnings and minimal tariff impact, confirming previous predictions by Novak.

• Trump’s Economic Record:

  • Novak and guest Jason Dussaud argue that Trump’s business background drives economic confidence:
    • "It's amazing what happens when you have a businessman in the White House who’s working every single day and working real hard." (Jason Dussaud, 45:38)
  • Dussaud attributes “trickle up” effects to the doubled standard tax deduction and generous small-business write-offs, decrying the lack of recognition for these policies even among Trump supporters.
  • Novak rebukes the mainstream focus on billionaires: "This guy has actually helped blue collar America more than any president in our history." (Jake Novak, 47:14)

Cryptocurrency and the Global Digital Race

[49:01 – 52:54]

• Generation Z & Crypto:
  • Dussaud: "43% of Generation Z owns crypto, compared to only 8% of boomers."
  • Notes Trump’s proactive stablecoin policies are positioning the U.S. to compete with China’s digital yuan push.
  • Warns of the threat posed by authoritarian digital currencies, calling for American leadership in digital finance.

Media Industry Shifts

[31:36 – 33:36]

• Media Mergers and CNN’s Fate:

  • Warner Bros. Discovery actively seeking a buyer (Paramount/Skydance increasing offer).
  • Novak predicts CNN will soon cease to exist as a distinct news entity:
    • "They will fold them into each other, and CNN as we know it will go away." (Jake Novak, 30:39)

• Netflix’s “Weird” Earnings:

  • Novak dismisses Netflix's tax dispute with Brazil as a "dog ate my homework" excuse for underperforming profits (31:37).

Real Estate Scam Concerns

[33:36 – 36:27]

• Luxury Rental Fraud in Atlanta:
  • Reports suggest up to half of Atlanta’s luxury rentals are “rented” fraudulently due to online, non-local ownership.
  • Warns that corporate losses from scammers will ultimately raise rents for honest renters.

International: UK, Antisemitism & Law and Order

[57:13 – 60:53]

• Birmingham bans Israeli soccer fans:
  • British authorities prevent Maccabee Tel Aviv’s fans from attending a match due to "security risk," labeled as capitulation to Islamist threats.
  • Novak: "You don’t need hate crime laws... What you need is simple law and order." (Jake Novak, 58:27)
  • David Brody: "The anti-Semites win. Congratulations, Birmingham. You know, we'll send you a pin in the mail." (David Brody, 59:28)
  • Both condemn the UK’s surrender to intolerance and criticize official silence (e.g., King Charles "saying things like, Britain is Muslim").

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Black Voters and Dems (10:35):

  • "Since Barack Obama has left office, there’s been exactly zero serious black male Democratic candidates in any significant race... I think he (Obama) loves the fact that he’s still the only serious black male candidate to run and win for a major office in this country."

• On Women’s Sports (19:54):

  • "The only thing worse than having to be subjected to competing against men in women's sports is to watch your daughter have to be subjected to this." – Emily Finn

• On GOP Diversity in Virginia (12:14):

  • "Imagine if the first black woman to win a governor's race in America is a Republican. What would that do to the Democrats and their identity politics? It would devastate them."

• Economic Praise for Trump (45:38):

  • "It's amazing what happens when you have a businessman in the White House..." – Jason Dussaud

• On Law, Order, and Antisemitism (58:27):

  • "You don’t need hate crime laws or special rules... you should just have a society where law and order is enforced." – Jake Novak

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Election Deep Dive: 03:48 – 13:30
• VP Vance/Israel Update: 14:23 – 15:14
• Women’s Sports Controversy: 18:05 – 23:51
• Economy & Markets: 28:13 – 31:36, 43:11 – 52:56
• Media Mergers: 31:36 – 33:36
• Real Estate Fraud: 33:36 – 36:27
• International – UK/Britain News: 57:13 – 60:53

Tone & Style

Jake Novak and his guests maintain a conversational, direct, sometimes sardonic tone, consistently favoring robust debate and strong opinions over moderation or neutrality. They emphasize contrarian positions to mainstream narratives, focusing on themes of faith, freedom, anti-establishment perspectives, and law and order.

Conclusion

This episode offers a comprehensive, opinionated snapshot of the America First worldview in 2025: skeptical of the mainstream media, critical of both major parties’ orthodoxy, highly invested in cultural flashpoints, and eager to highlight economic wins and challenges as legacies of specific policy choices. Guests amplify the host’s themes, creating a brisk, commentary-driven recap for listeners wanting an alternative perspective on the day’s news.