American Sunrise Early Edition – September 26, 2025

Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Host: Jake Novak
Guests: David Zier, Emily Finn, Mike McCormick, David Brody
Original Airdate: September 26, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into urgent breaking news stories from the American political landscape on a busy Friday morning. The central theme is the historic indictment of former FBI Director James Comey on charges of lying to Congress and obstruction of justice. Host Jake Novak frames the indictment as a watershed moment, exploring both the evidence and the political implications. The episode also covers President Trump’s high-profile visit to Long Island for the Ryder Cup, the heated New Jersey governor’s race, the ongoing government shutdown standoff, and new revelations about government and DOJ activities. Invited commentators and correspondents provide diverse analysis, with notable segments devoted to Biden family corruption allegations, agency misconduct, and the media's role in these unfolding stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. James Comey Indicted: Evidence, Reaction & Analysis

• Breaking News Summary:
  • The Department of Justice announced that former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by a grand jury for allegedly lying to Congress and obstruction of justice, with claims of “irrefutable evidence” caught on videotape.
  • The charges stem from Comey’s congressional testimony regarding FBI leaks and classified information related to the Clinton and Trump investigations.
• Critical Evidence Discussed:
  • Jake Novak replays excerpts from 2017 Senate testimony where Comey denies being an anonymous source or authorizing others as anonymous sources in news reports – claims now contradicted, according to prosecutors.
• Comey’s Public Response:
  • Comey released a video defending his innocence but focused largely on his opposition to Trump.

  “We will not live on our knees. And you shouldn’t either … I’m innocent, so let’s have a trial and keep the faith.”
  — James Comey (as paraphrased and quoted by Jake Novak at 06:56)

Host Analysis:

• Jake Novak frames Comey’s statement as an “almost admission” of guilt (07:28), observing that Comey only claims innocence as an afterthought.

  “His priority is fighting President Trump. He’s making that clear. … If you’re an FBI profiler, … he basically almost admitted his guilt right there in that soundbite. … It sounds like he’s trying to say he’s innocent, but he throws it in there at the very end, you see what his priorities are.”
  — Jake Novak (08:05)

• The conversation includes speculation on whether Comey’s indictment could be “the first domino” in a larger accountability process for government officials (54:55).

2. President Trump at the Ryder Cup: Political & Cultural Impact

• Correspondent Coverage:

  • David Zier reports live from Bethpage, Long Island, where President Trump is scheduled to attend the Ryder Cup golf tournament.
  • Trump’s appearance is noted as “triumphant,” signaling renewed confidence in challenging traditionally Democratic strongholds like New York.

  “He always turns lemons into lemonade in New York and he has triumphant visits here.”
  — David Zier (11:25)

• The Ryder Cup is contextualized as an “America First” stage, with Trump supporting the US Team and the event bringing economic excitement to the area.

3. Government Shutdown & Political Gambits

• The episode highlights an impending government shutdown, with the Trump administration refusing to concede to Democrat demands and positioning the shutdown as a tool for identifying “non-essential” jobs to eliminate (03:05, 36:24).

• Jake Novak frames the shutdown not as a routine standoff but as a bold leveraging of government structure and priorities.

4. New Jersey Governor’s Race: Scandal and Polls Tighten

• Scandals Emerge:

  • Emily Finn joins to discuss the collapse of Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill’s poll numbers following revelations of involvement in a 1994 Naval Academy cheating scandal.
  • The Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli is running effective ads showing Sherrill stumped by basic questions on local issues.

  “Why run if you don’t even have any policy or any ideas to make the lives of New Jersey’s people better? Then what is the point of this campaign?”
  — Emily Finn (22:39)

5. Biden Family Allegations & Exclusive Interview with Whistleblower Mike McCormick

In-depth segment on Biden corruption accusations with former White House stenographer Mike McCormick (from 39:26).

• Claims & Timeline:

  • McCormick claims to have witnessed crimes committed by then-Vice President Joe Biden during official travel to Ukraine in 2014 (40:08).
  • He alleges a conspiracy involving energy aid to Ukraine benefiting Hunter Biden via Burisma, and details what he calls a statutory countdown for Biden to be indicted before presidential immunity applies.
  • McCormick expresses frustration at being ignored by DOJ investigators and describes media suppression of these allegations.

  “I was an eyewitness to Joe Biden’s crimes. They didn’t want that. They were shielding Joe Biden … There’s four months left to indict Joe Biden for crimes he committed as Vice President.”
  — Mike McCormick (39:29–41:22)

• Broader Implications:

  • Challenges media’s failure to report on alleged Biden corruption.
  • Asserts that the same evidence, were it related to President Trump, “would be the political scandal of a lifetime” and make him a household name (46:32–48:10).

6. Further Analysis: The Comey Indictment Fallout

• David Brody Adds Perspective (from 56:24):

  • Observes that the indictment could be the first in a series against high-profile government officials.
  • Raises concerns about political retribution cycles and potential payback if Democrats regain control – questioning the sustainability and health of this direction for US politics.

  “You wonder if this is a slippery slope that we’re going down. … Do I think James Comey … charges … are warranted? For sure. I’m just concerned that the narrative … is retribution.”
  — David Brody (58:25)

7. Additional Headlines: Economy, Cyberattacks, and Automotive Alerts

• Market and Economic News:
  • Novak discusses a mixed economic outlook, highlighting concerns over CarMax’s weak sales versus overall strong car sales, and warns of pending recalls on the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Navigator 2020 models due to fire hazards (27:38–30:45).
  • Reports that Jaguar Land Rover’s UK factory has produced zero vehicles for a month due to a major cyberattack (31:52).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Comey’s Priorities and Statement:

  “Notice how he waits to the very end to say that he’s innocent. His priority is fighting President Trump. He’s making that clear. … That was almost like an admission from Comey.”
  — Jake Novak (08:05)

• On Political Cycles of Retribution:

  “You wonder if this is a slippery slope that we’re going down. … The narrative out there is retribution.”
  — David Brody (58:25)

• On Media and Information Suppression:

  “It’s amazing how much this has been suppressed from the American public … millions … don’t even know any of these allegations.”
  — Jake Novak to Mike McCormick (46:32)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|--------------------| | 02:38 | Jake Novak announces breaking news: indictment of James Comey | | 05:13 | Playback & analysis of Comey 2017 Senate testimony | | 06:56 | Airing/analysis of Comey’s public response to indictment | | 09:09 | Live report from David Zier on Trump’s Ryder Cup visit | | 12:36 | Discussion: Impact of Ryder Cup for Trump and NY area | | 18:21 | Political analysis: New Jersey governor’s race, Mikie Sherrill scandal | | 27:38 | Economic/market update and Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack | | 36:24 | Recap of main stories and the Comey case | | 39:26 | In-depth interview: Mike McCormick on Biden Ukraine ties | | 56:24 | David Brody joins for analysis of Comey indictment impact | | 58:25 | Discussion on political retribution and future governance |

Tone & Style

• Language:
  The show maintains a conversational, energetic tone with strong rhetorical flourishes. Jake Novak uses humor, skepticism, and sharp critique, especially toward establishment figures and the mainstream media. There is frequent direct address to the audience to drive engagement and "insider" perspective.
• Contributors:
  Each guest brings their own perspective but aligns with the show's overarching skepticism of official narratives and concern with accountability.

Summary Takeaways

• The indictment of James Comey is viewed by the hosts as a landmark event, potentially setting off a cascade of legal and political consequences.
• The episode embraces an “America First” approach, particularly in sports coverage and coverage of Trump’s public reemergence.
• Scandal and declining performance harm Democratic prospects in the New Jersey governor’s race.
• The episode gives prominent space to whistleblower allegations regarding Biden family corruption—a story positioned as systematically suppressed by mainstream outlets.
• Guests and hosts warn about the dangers and possible negative consequences of a governance culture driven by cycles of political payback.

Recommended for listeners seeking in-depth coverage, alternative viewpoints on current American political events, and a focus on accountability at the highest levels of government.