Real America’s Voice: American Sunrise Early Edition
Episode Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Jake Novak
Key Guests: Jarrett Stepman (Daily Signal), Emily Finn (RAV Contributor), Matt Tardeo (Former Green Beret), David Brody (Co-host)
Main Theme:
A hard-hitting breakdown of key political, cultural, and current events through a conservative, America-first lens. From ongoing political investigations to controversial new policies and culture war flashpoints, the episode zeroes in on stories shaping the national conversation – aiming to cut through mainstream narratives and highlight issues of free speech, security, and American values.
Episode Overview
This episode, hosted by Jake Novak, focuses on a mix of major breaking news, in-depth analysis, and opinion. Signature stories include updates on the FBI investigation into the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a controversial Trump administration warning about Tylenol use in pregnancy, political culture clashes over gender and immigration, and a pointed critique of the United Nations’ General Assembly. Throughout, the tone is punchy, skeptical of mainstream media, and highly focused on exposing perceived threats to American security and culture.
Key Topics & Discussion Points
1. FBI Investigation into the Charlie Kirk Assassination
Timestamp: 04:00 – 12:30
Guest: Jarrett Stepman
- Details: The FBI, under Director Kash Patel, is probing deeper into online radical groups possibly connected to Kirk’s assassination.
- Particularly, groups active on Discord (often used by gamers, but also now radical groups), and odd Discord message exchanges between the assassin and his “transitioning boyfriend.”
- Stepman raises questions about whether some messages were planted to exonerate the boyfriend or if they point to a wider network (“Was this essentially a planted message? Was this something that was planned ahead of time in a way to try to exonerate the boyfriend in this case?” – Jarrett Stepman, 05:52).
- Concern about a potentially broader Antifa-based online movement recruiting and indoctrinating young men, with ties possibly indicated by coded language found on shell casings.
- The importance of discovering any network’s funding sources and the possibility of prosecution.
- Memorable Quote:
“If there’s one group like this, there’s likely more, given the heated rhetoric around the country.”
— Jarrett Stepman (07:02)
2. Virginia Governor's Race and the Gender Policy Controversy
Timestamp: 12:30 – 16:45
- Focus: Democrat candidate Abigail Spanberger’s “evasive” answer to the issue of transgender access to locker rooms and sports. Jake and Jarrett criticize the avoidance as evidence that Democrats lack a coherent response (“Reminds me of when you’re a kid in high school and you don’t know the answer...so you write 17 sentences and hope you get partial credit. She got no credit for that answer.” – Jake Novak, 15:57).
- Significance: Host suggests this issue was a key driver in Glenn Youngkin’s gubernatorial victory and remains a “political third rail” for Democrats.
3. H1B Visa Abuse in American Industries
Timestamp: 16:45 – 19:55
- Guest: Jarrett Stepman
- Topic: Trump’s imposition of a fee on H1B visa positions and the argument that such visas have been widely abused, not only in tech but in hospitals, banks, and especially media company back offices.
- Insight: “Most people think about tech, but this is dramatically impacting entire industries, making it so a lot of Americans can’t get their foot in the door into jobs that they would certainly do and that they have the skills for.” — Jarrett Stepman (18:31)
4. Democratic Legislation to Block Drug Boat Attacks
Timestamp: 19:55 – 23:00
- Story: Democratic Senators Kaine and Schiff propose a bill to block the Trump administration from attacking drug boats, labeled by hosts as defending drug cartels.
- Quote:
“What American voter is against the idea of blowing up these gunboats, these drug boats? They’re not coming to supply CVS, they’re coming to supply drug dealers on the streets. This is insane.”
— Jake Novak (20:41) - Analysis: Stepman and Novak suggest this makes no political sense, alleging Democrats are “digging deeper” into political self-sabotage.
5. Jimmy Kimmel Suspension Controversy
Timestamp: 23:50 – 25:10
Guest: Emily Finn
- Story: ABC lifts Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension; reactions from politicians like Zoran Mamdani, NYC Communist mayoral candidate.
- Discussion:
- Ridicule of politicians for championing Kimmel, rather than using public events to address weightier issues like political violence.
- The irrelevance of late-night television for younger audiences, supplanted by social media clips:
“The late night shows are dead. My kids have never watched it.”
— Jake Novak (25:10) - Critique of Kimmel as a “hill Democrats want to die on,” referencing past controversies.
6. Market Reactions & Business Headlines
Timestamp: 29:20 – 32:10
- Market Recap:
- Stock market opening flat due to Rosh Hashanah, gold at record highs, crude oil tame.
- Tylenol Autism Study: Trump admin and RFK Jr. issue warning based on contested studies. Johnson & Johnson’s spinoff Kenview stock down 7% post-announcement.
- Pfizer acquires Metcera to re-enter weight loss drug market; Pfizer shares up.
- Beer Wars: Michelob Ultra (Anheuser-Busch InBev) becomes #1 beer in America, replacing Bud Light after consumer backlash.
- Key Insight:
“Did Johnson & Johnson spin out Tylenol to another company two years ago because they knew something like this was coming?”
— Jake Novak (31:45)
7. UN General Assembly Critique
Timestamp: 41:40 – 43:50 & 56:25 – 61:00
Guest: David Brody
- Main Points:
- The General Assembly is described as a “Legion of Doom” (with jokes about the Joker, Riddler, Lex Luthor).
- Critique of annual “bashing Israel,” questioning why conservative US presidents even address the UN.
- US financial contributions highlighted (suggestion for Trump to threaten further funding cuts for reforms).
“I don’t know if there’s a concentration of more evil in one place than there is when we have the UN General Assembly.”
— Jake Novak (56:40)- Brody questions the rationale for “playing nice” at the UN, suggesting only tough transparency speeches are justified.
8. Gaza Aid Trucks: Alleged Weapon Smuggling
Timestamp: 44:23 – 51:22
Guest: Matt Tardeo
- Report: Aid trucks into Gaza, monitored at Israeli checkpoints, are allegedly being used to smuggle weapons, chemicals, and contraband.
- Tardeo describes direct evidence (“I argued back and forth until finally this official…agreed to take me into a room and showed me contraband. And wouldn’t you know, hydrochloric acid happened to be one of the things on the table. Uniforms and equipment was some of the other stuff…” – Matt Tardeo, 46:30).
- Explains how Hamas allegedly controls and diverts humanitarian aid, with the UN and WFP infiltrated and complicit, intentionally prolonging conflict and controlling the narrative.
- Host’s Reaction:
“The UN General assembly today is going to have a bunch of people who basically are working with Hamas to prolong the war. It feels like the rest of the world just doesn’t want to let Hamas go.”
— Jake Novak (47:43)
9. Internal GOP “Stolen Valor” Dispute
Timestamp: 51:22 – 53:33
- Nancy Mace vs. Cory Mills:
- Accusations of “stolen valor” (military honor misrepresentation) after Mills’ vote against censuring Rep. Ilhan Omar.
- Tardeo calls for nuance, suggesting that error in award citations are not always personal fault, and notes Mills may be defending First Amendment principles, though host and guest caution some types of speech do require censure.
10. Assorted Industry & Culture Updates
Timestamp: 32:10 – 44:23
- AM Radio in Cars: Bill moves to require AM radio in new vehicles for eight years, described as crucial for right-wing talk’s survival.
- Automotive News:
- Porsche drops all-electric plans for the Cayenne SUV; the market is swinging away from EVs.
- Nissan’s new push for self-driving technology for accessibility.
- Auction Highlight:
- Steve McQueen’s 1952 Hudson Wasp to be sold at Sotheby’s—a lighthearted culture note.
Notable Quotes
“What a terrible non-answer. I think it’s because she ultimately has no answer... Democrats, not just in Virginia but across the country, can’t escape this issue.”
— Jarrett Stepman on Abigail Spanberger’s stance, 15:25
“When the American people learn the extent of the abuse of this entire [H1B visa] program, they’re going to get angrier about this than they are right now.”
— Jake Novak, 17:42
“I can understand them saying, ‘Hey, we want more pre-notice,’... but what American voter is against the idea of blowing up these gunboats, these drug boats?”
— Jake Novak, 20:42
“The left went crazy about how there’s no proof. There are actually a couple of studies... nothing 100% definitive, but boy, why take chances?”
— Jake Novak, discussion on Trump’s Tylenol warning, 30:55
“They [the UN] can take and they can recover their own weapons and equipment that they’ve been using to fight this war off those humanitarian shipments.”
— Matt Tardeo, 46:52
“If I were on President Trump’s staff, I would say, here’s the speech where you delineate every misdeed of the UN... and threaten more funding cuts unless it’s fixed.”
— Jake Novak, 59:45
Timestamps for Key Segments
- FBI/Charlie Kirk Investigation — 04:00 – 12:30
- Virginia Gender Policy — 12:30 – 16:45
- H1B Visa Controversy — 16:45 – 19:55
- Democrats & Drug Boats — 19:55 – 23:00
- Jimmy Kimmel Suspension — 23:50 – 25:10
- Market & Business Headlines — 29:20 – 32:10
- UN General Assembly Critique — 41:40 – 43:50 & 56:25 – 61:00
- Gaza Aid Trucks/Smuggling — 44:23 – 51:22
- GOP Infighting – Stolen Valor — 51:22 – 53:33
Summary Takeaway
The episode provides listeners with a rapid-fire briefing on current political battles, culture war issues, controversial legislation, and international relations, with a focus on criticizing Democratic and UN leaders, highlighting government and media failings, and promoting skepticism of both global institutions and mainstream narratives. The commentary is direct, laced with sarcasm, and pitched to an audience that wants “real conversations” about threats to freedom and American-based solutions.