American Sunrise – February 18, 2026

Podcast: Real America’s Voice / iHeartPodcasts
Hosts: Dr. Gina, David Brody, Terrence Bates
Date: February 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of American Sunrise delivers a fast-paced, unfiltered take on the current news cycle, exploring high-profile stories around the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the ongoing fallout from the Epstein files (including new Clinton commentary), current political maneuvering on Capitol Hill, and religious observances marking Ash Wednesday. The hosts, joined by reporters and faith leaders, also dissect hot-button cultural and legal issues, calling for transparency, deeper investigations, and a return to American values and faith.

Key Topics & Insights

1. The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie

Timestamps: 03:15, 25:53, 62:22

• Case Summary:
  Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for nearly a month. A search in Tucson, Arizona has produced a series of dead ends, the most recent being DNA from a glove found near her home, which failed to match any entries in the FBI's database.

• Latest Developments:

  • The investigation has over 400 officers working thousands of leads.
  • Multiple ransom notes have been received, but authorities (and expert Sheriff Richard Mack) remain skeptical of their legitimacy.
  • FBI analysis determined the glove’s DNA was from an unknown male (5’9”–5’10”), but it does not match the perpetrator from home evidence.
  • Family and associates continue to be considered as possible suspects due to the statistical likelihood in such cases.

• Expert Analysis:

  • Sheriff Richard Mack bluntly assesses the case:

    “Very unlikely that she’s alive. Very unlikely. And so the case is going to get cold really quick and it seems like it already is.” (30:31, Sheriff Mack)

  • He highlights the low probability of recovery and criticizes law enforcement for early missteps in securing the crime scene.

• Coverage Critique:

  • Hosts note the disproportionate attention connected to media figures, versus the lack of coverage for broader child trafficking—and urge a more balanced, compassionate approach.
  • Dr. Gina passionately stresses the need to focus on children at risk through trafficking and ritual abuse:

    “We owe it to those children to find them, to investigate every single… to leave no leaf unturned.” (107:58, Dr. Gina)

2. Epstein Files, Clinton Connections & Political Accountability

Timestamps: 06:32, 83:29, 104:39

• Clintons Respond to Epstein Allegations:

  • Hillary Clinton denies any improper connection, stating:

    “We have a very clear record that we’ve been willing to talk about, which my husband has said he took some rides on the airplane for his charitable work. I don’t recall ever meeting him [Epstein].” (82:24, Clinton via Dr. Gina)

  • She emphasizes focus should be on Epstein and Maxwell’s crimes against girls and women—and is open to transparency.

• Host Reactions & Demands for Transparency:

  • Dr. Gina and David Brody demand full public investigation, transparency, and unredacted release of files, emphasizing the need for justice for all victims, including boys:

    “I don’t disagree with anything Hillary said about this… All I care about is that the crime rings… that these are thoroughly investigated…” (83:39, Dr. Gina)

• Political Ramifications:

  • New Mexico forms a Truth Commission with subpoena power to further probe Epstein’s Zorro Ranch, amid suspicion that prior state and federal investigations were insufficient or politically influenced. (67:23, Angie Wong interview)
  • High-profile resignations in business and politics (e.g. Tom Pritzker, Brad Karp, international figures) are linked to revelations from the just-released DOJ Epstein records.

• Skepticism Regarding Accountability:

  • Hosts express little hope in seeing true justice, citing bipartisan establishment interests.

    “I have zero confidence that there are going to be any perp walks from this DOJ. Zero confidence.” (108:03, David Brody)

3. Capitol Hill News: DHS Funding, Immigration, Foreign Policy

Timestamps: 10:24, 13:19

• Homeland Security Funding Stalemate:

  • Ongoing political impasse puts federal law enforcement/welfare employees at risk of not being paid.
  • Rep. Mark Harris blames Senate Democrats for putting public security at risk for political leverage.
  • Specific points of contention: ICE policy, sanctuary cities, transparency over law enforcement identification, and campaign incentives to prolong negotiations.

• Russia-Ukraine & Iran Negotiations:

  • The Trump administration is pushing for diplomatic solutions with both, but skepticism remains about meaningful results.

    “President Trump is always interested in using diplomacy first… But Russia has not responded…” (14:10, Mark Harris)

4. Law, Protests, & “Woke” Legal Culture

Timestamps: 44:39

• Harvard-trained Lawyer Representing Columbia Activist:
  • Jonathan Wallace, a Jewish but secular lawyer, sparks controversy for defending Hamas in comparisons with WWII French resistors and for allegedly supporting “clever” tactics of hiding weapons among civilians in Gaza.
  • Hosts debate authenticity of religious identity and question conflation of faith and ideology.

5. Faith, Prayer & Ash Wednesday

Timestamps: 38:41, 52:58

• Power of Short Prayers:

  • Pastor Jensen Franklin shares his philosophy, advocating for “short prayers with great passion” over ritual or wordy prayers.

    “Short prayers with great passion can produce great miracles in people’s lives.” (38:49, Jensen Franklin)

  • Daily, heartfelt prayer is emphasized as spiritually vital.

• Ash Wednesday & Biblical Roots:

  • Bible History Guy Jim Moseley explains Ash Wednesday’s origins in biblical symbolism of dust and ashes as a sign of repentance.

    “Ash Wednesday may not be scriptural, but dust is, repentance is, mortality is.” (55:56, Jim Moseley)

6. Crime & Weather Updates

Timestamps: 17:27, 21:12

• Crime Statistics:

  • New data shows a significant drop in crime—including murder—to pre-pandemic levels in 2025.

• ICE Abuse Allegation:

  • Minnesota incident under investigation for possible excessive force by ICE, fueling public scrutiny of immigration enforcement.

• Extreme Weather:

  • Dangerous “brownout” causes major traffic pileup in Colorado.
  • Fire risk and avalanches affect multiple states; meteorologist provides regional forecasts. (21:12, Tracy Anthony)

7. Redistricting and Election Issues

Timestamps: 69:33

• Utah & National Redistricting:
  • Redistricting battles continue, with Democrats poised to gain ground in deeply red Utah, offsetting GOP gains in states like Texas and possibly Florida.
  • Expert guest Angie Wong details the strategies, stakes, and tight timeline leading up to November’s elections.

8. Media, Censorship, and Civil Discourse

Timestamps: 90:35, 91:15

• Stephen Colbert vs. CBS & the FCC:
  • Colbert accuses his network of censoring an interview with Senate candidate James Talarico, blaming the FCC’s equal time rule—though CBS denies explicitly blocking the appearance.
  • Discussion centers on media partisanship and the decline of genuine “equal time” in broadcasting.

9. Cultural Commentary, Christian Nationalism & Societal Change

Timestamps: 96:13, 98:52, 101:49

• Rise of Christian Nationalism:
  • Pastor John Amanchukwu argues the left’s platform is “Marxist, atheist, and anti-family” and calls for bold Christian advocacy in public and political life.

    “We have to be comfortable with being Christian nationalists. We have to be comfortable with taking the gospel into the marketplace.” (101:49, Pastor John)

  • Critiques the passage of pride symbolism in public space, contending it is anti-biblical.

Notable Quotes

• “We owe it to the children to find them, to investigate every single... to leave no leaf unturned.” — Dr. Gina (107:58)
• “Very unlikely that she’s alive... and so the case is going to get cold really quick and it seems like it already is.” — Sheriff Richard Mack (30:31)
• “Short prayers with great passion can produce great miracles in people’s lives.” — Jensen Franklin (38:49)
• “We have to be comfortable with being Christian nationalists. We have to be comfortable with taking the gospel into the marketplace.” — Pastor John Amanchukwu (101:49)

Key Segment Timestamps

• Nancy Guthrie Case Coverage & Analysis: 03:15–06:13, 25:53–33:17, 62:22–64:36
• Epstein/Clinton Discussion: 06:32–10:24, 83:29–86:13, 104:39–109:53
• Capitol Hill Politics (Funding, Immigration, Foreign Policy): 10:24–15:07
• Crime and Weather Reports: 17:27–23:26
• Law Enforcement Scrutiny/ICE: 18:08, 21:12
• Redistricting/Election Analysis: 69:33–71:11
• Faith, Prayer, Ash Wednesday: 38:41–42:13, 52:58–56:08
• Media, Colbert, FCC: 90:35–94:59
• Christian Nationalism & Culture Critique: 96:13–102:36

Tone & Language

The show’s hosts maintain a passionate, direct, and sometimes irreverent tone—mixing gravitas on crime and faith with combative, humorous banter. Language is urgent and colloquial, aiming to rally listeners around American families, transparency, and constitutional values.

Memorable Moments

• Sheriff Mack’s no-nonsense breakdown of the Guthrie case (“Very unlikely that she’s alive…”).
• Dr. Gina’s intense emotional plea on behalf of sexually abused children, invoking Tim Tebow’s activist message.
• Hillary Clinton’s on-air pushback against the Epstein allegations and the hosts’ demand for an unredacted investigation (“If I were in the Epstein files… please investigate me, because I’m innocent.” — Dr. Gina, 07:15)
• Colbert’s aired spat with CBS over supposed interview censorship, and the panel’s take on “media whining.”

Summary for Listeners

This episode of American Sunrise features deep dives into ongoing mysteries (like Nancy Guthrie), scathing critiques of establishment cover-ups (Epstein, Clintons), high-adrenaline news on law enforcement and politics, and moments of spiritual reflection for Ash Wednesday. The hosts push relentlessly for accountability, national dialogue across divides, and a renewed focus on faith in public life — all delivered in the show's signature passionate, opinionated style.