Podcast Summary: Real America’s Voice – Breaking Point with David Zier

Date: January 3, 2026
Host: David Zier (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode Theme:
The episode, airing at the dawn of 2026, focuses on the intersection of politics, veteran welfare, military policy, New York State governance, and national economic trends. With a diverse array of guests—including representatives from the Warrior Ranch Foundation, military analyst L. Todd Wood, Nassau County Executive and gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, and Hugo Gordon (Editor-in-Chief, Washington Examiner)—the show provides both on-the-ground stories and broad political analysis, all through a lens emphasizing American values, freedom, and a critical stance on mainstream narratives.

Episode Overview

• Main Theme:
  In this New Year's edition, host David Zier explores pivotal issues for 2026—veteran support and therapy, military leadership and accountability, New York’s looming state elections, energy and economic policies, and the state of the national economy as the midterms approach.
• Tone:
  Patriotic, candid, critical of current mainstream and progressive policies, and optimistic about an economic rebound and restoration of “American values.”
• Major Guests:
  • Eileen Shanahan & Daniel Altobrando (Warrior Ranch Foundation)
  • L. Todd Wood (CDM Press, former military special operator)
  • Bruce Blakeman (Nassau County Executive, NY gubernatorial candidate)
  • Hugo Gordon (Washington Examiner)

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Warrior Ranch Foundation: Equine Therapy for Veterans

Guests: Eileen Shanahan (Founder/President), Daniel Altobrando (Media Specialist)
Segment: [00:16]–[10:20]

• Mission & Origins:
  • Provides horse-interaction therapy for veterans and first responders to foster healing and well-being ([01:54]).
  • Inspired by Eileen’s military family background and love for animals:

    "It's really simple. I love my country and I love horses. ...I've always been taught to give back to the country."
    — Eileen Shanahan, [02:25]

  • Over 500 veterans and first responders helped to date, now on six acres in Calverton, Long Island.
• Therapeutic Approach:
  • Equine therapy leverages the horse’s prey-animal nature—hyper-vigilance and sensitivity—mirroring PTSD symptoms in veterans.

    "There is almost an immediate bond when you work with horses. What you learn from horses... it's the beginning of self-awareness."
    — Eileen Shanahan, [06:30]

  • Confidence-building and leadership through groundwork with horses, as well as the “twofold mission” of also rescuing horses.
• Organizational Structure & Impact:
  • Funded by donations, grants, and corporate support.
  • Seeks to expand nationally.
  • Veterans often help build and maintain the ranch.
• Resources:
  • Website: WarriorRanchFoundation.org
  • Documentary: “Warrior Films” ([10:08])

2. Defense Policy, Military Accountability, and Culture Wars

Guest: L. Todd Wood (CDM Press, military expert)
Segment: [12:50]–[23:41]

• Pentagon Policy & Technology:
  • Discusses the ROTOR Act and implications for helicopter and aviation safety/transponder tech ([13:48]).
• Vaccine Reinstatement for Troops:
  • Updates on efforts to reinstate benefits for thousands of service members discharged over vaccine orders:

    “I think we really did make an impact by bringing it up in the briefings... there was a lot of obstruction to that effort.”
    — L. Todd Wood, [15:43]

  • Calls for accountability for officers who enforced “unlawful orders” and the psychological toll on young service-members ([16:49]–[17:36]).
• Culture, DEI, and Leadership:
  • Strong critique of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the military and Obama-era leadership changes:

    “When I was in, nobody cared what color you were... It's no more, because they've enforced this identity politics.”
    — L. Todd Wood, [18:17]

• Military Faith & Chaplaincy:
  • Importance of spiritual leadership; critique of de-emphasizing religious support for troops ([19:43]).
• Navy Modernization & Industrial Capacity:
  • Discussion on shipbuilding, the Golden Fleet, and need for private sector collaboration for military readiness ([21:01]).
• Resources:
  • News: cdm.press
  • X: @ELToddWood, @CDMPress ([23:02])

3. New York State: Election, Economy, and Energy

Guest: Bruce Blakeman (Nassau County Executive, GOP gubernatorial candidate)
Segment: [24:49]–[35:53]

• Political Landscape:
  • Blakeman confident about winning GOP and Conservative nominations, sharply criticizes Gov. Hochul:

    “New York state is in the state of shambles. Governor Hochul has been a miserable failure for people of this state.”
    — Bruce Blakeman, [25:15]

• Campaign Strategy:
  • Aggressively fundraising and campaigning statewide, highlighting exodus of residents/businesses due to taxation and regulation ([26:49]–[28:03]).
  • Focus on reducing taxes, inviting business, easing regulations, and cheap/abundant energy:

    “I haven’t raised taxes in four years… we have to reduce the tax burden. We’ve got to produce cheap energy.”
    — Bruce Blakeman, [28:47]

• Energy Policy:
  • Critique of Hochul's renewable energy plans and offshore wind as “a green energy scam.”
  • Advocates for fracking, domestic natural gas, and nuclear minibars for clean, plentiful energy ([30:33]–[32:40]).
• Immigration & Public Safety:
  • Strong criticism of New York’s “Green Light Law,” recounting a criminal case involving an unvetted driver’s license issuance:

    “We need to get serious about making sure that the government identification that we give out is given to people who have been thoroughly vetted.”
    — Bruce Blakeman, [34:13]

• Resources:
  • Website: blakemanfornewyork.com

4. Economy, Midterms & National Politics

Guest: Hugo Gordon (Editor-in-Chief, Washington Examiner)
Segment: [36:49]–[47:45]

• House Midterms Outlook:
  • GOP’s seven-seat majority is at risk; Democrats kitchen-table “affordability” message is resonating ([36:51]–[37:26]).
• Affordability, Inflation, and Trump Track Record:
  • Democrats are framing economic issues as affordability first, responding to polls.
  • National economy growing at 4.3%, but challenge remains: even as inflation cools, prices stay high:

    “When the rate of inflation comes down, it doesn't mean the prices come down. It just means the rate of price increases slows down.”
    — Hugo Gordon, [38:11]

• Democratic vs. Republican Solutions:
  • Critique of Democratic plans (Obamacare subsidies, more spending) as inflationary and market-distorting.
  • Calls for deregulation, more housing, permitting reform, and local-federal coordination.
  • Questions whether Trump/GOP can take enough credit for economic rebound before early voting:

    “You can't keep telling people that they're not suffering when they're feeling they are suffering.”
    — Hugo Gordon, [39:13]

• Challenges for GOP:
  • Historically, the party in power often loses seats in the midterms. Gordon skeptical about GOP holding the House:

    "I would say it's more likely that they will lose the House than that they will retain it."
    — Hugo Gordon, [46:31]

• Resources:
  • washingtonexaminer.com
  • X: @HGurden
  • YouTube: Washington Examiner (quarter million+ subscribers)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• "It's really simple. I love my country and I love horses....I've always been taught to give back to the country.”
  —Eileen Shanahan ([02:25])
• "There is almost an immediate bond when you work with horses...it's the beginning of self-awareness.”
  —Eileen Shanahan ([06:30])
• "When I was in, nobody cared what color you were... It's no more, because they've enforced this identity politics.”
  —L. Todd Wood ([18:17])
• “Nassau county is larger than eight to ten states in the United States. Our gross domestic product is larger than 126 nations in the United Nations.”
  —Bruce Blakeman ([28:47])
• “When the rate of inflation comes down, it doesn't mean the prices come down. It just means the rate of price increases slows down.”
  —Hugo Gordon ([38:11])
• "You can't keep telling people that they're not suffering when they're feeling they are suffering."
  —Hugo Gordon ([39:13])
• “I would say it’s more likely that they will lose the House than that they will retain it.”
  —Hugo Gordon ([46:31])

Important Timestamps and Segments

• Warrior Ranch Foundation & Equine Therapy:
  [00:16] – [10:20]
• Military Technology, Policy, and DEI Debate:
  [12:50] – [23:41]
• NY Gubernatorial Election, Economy, and Energy:
  [24:49] – [35:53]
• 2026 Midterms, House Outlook, and National Economy:
  [36:49] – [47:45]

How to Connect & Learn More

• Warrior Ranch Foundation:
  warriorranchfoundation.org
• Warrior Films Documentary:
  warriorfilms.org
• L. Todd Wood & CDM Press:
  cdm.press
• Bruce Blakeman:
  blakemanfornewyork.com
• Washington Examiner:
  washingtonexaminer.com

This episode ties together real-world grassroots veteran support innovations, sharp criticism of evolving military culture, the high-stakes New York gubernatorial race, and honest commentary on national economic themes and the crucial 2026 midterm elections—all delivered in a brisk, conversational, and patriotic style.