Podcast Summary: Real America’s Voice – "Just the News No Noise" with John Solomon

Date: February 19, 2026
Host: John Solomon
Notable Guests: Rep. Randy Weber (TX), TN Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, FL Congressional Candidate Keith Gross, Anthony LaBruna (American Principles Project), Mike Howell (Oversight Project)

Episode Overview

This episode of "Just the News No Noise" dives into pressing current events and policy discussions rooted in American values. Topics include public health leadership under the Trump administration, border and licensing issues, social media safety for children, shifting approaches to transgender medicine, affordability in Florida, America’s fatherhood crisis, and lingering legal repercussions from the Biden administration. The episode features in-depth interviews and expert commentary, with a recurring focus on government accountability and family-centered values.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Headline Updates & Trump’s Administration News

[01:26–06:07]

• Dual Roles for Health Leaders:
  • Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is named acting director of the CDC in addition to leading NIH under the Trump administration.
  • This is expected to align agency actions and streamline the federal public health response.
• Illegal Immigration and Public Safety:
  • A new federal audit reveals that 1 in 5 commercial driver’s licenses issued by Illinois to non-residents were done so illegally. These licenses were often given to illegal aliens lacking required proficiency and residency, contributing to deadly traffic incidents.
  • Illinois has less than 30 days to rectify or risk losing $200M in federal highway funds.
• Rising Tensions with Iran:
  • Increased speculation about a possible U.S. military strike as Vice President J.D. Vance and other cabinet members suggest Iran remains unserious in negotiations.
  • U.S. military positioning in the Middle East for potential rapid response.

2. Pipeline Security, American Industry, and Election Integrity

Guest: Rep. Randy Weber (TX) [06:07–16:01]

Cybersecurity for Pipelines [06:12–07:55]:

• Rep. Weber emphasizes the need for legislation to protect energy and waste pipelines from cyber attacks.
• Pipelines are vital for both energy transports and sewage management; America needs to fortify this infrastructure.

"Pipelines are a safe, safe way to move product, to move waste, as we found out. Why our friends on the left are against that is beyond me, John."
– Randy Weber [06:45]

Maritime & Critical Minerals [08:25–11:11]:

• Trump administration's push to revitalize American shipbuilding—icebreakers to be built in TX, boosting local economy and national security.
• Creation of a critical mineral reserve to break U.S. dependency on China, with Texas positioned as a production leader.

"Critical minerals are, well, for lack of a better term, very, very critical."
– Randy Weber [10:17]

IL Commercial Licensing & Election Security [12:05–15:59]:

• Criticizes blue states (notably Illinois) for lax commercial licensing regulations putting all drivers at risk.
• Discusses the SAVE America Act and real ID modernization to streamline citizenship verification for voters.

“85% of white voters, 82% of Latino voters and 76% of black voters support photo ID laws. My gosh, who doesn't carry around in their bill for a driver's license a picture of maybe their girlfriend or their favorite dog or whatever it might be.”
– Randy Weber [14:25]

3. Protecting Kids Online & Shifting Medical Policies

Guest: TN Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti [18:43–31:34]

Online Safety & Legislation [19:29–24:35]:

• Tennessee has led in passing and defending age verification laws for social media to limit kids’ exposure.
• Advocates for Congress to pass the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) to set a nationwide standard.

"You don't want to have a bunch of different standards out there. The companies need to have the uniformity so they can clearly target where they need to land."
– Jonathan Skrmetti [23:30]

Transgender Care & Mass Shootings [25:41–28:39]:

• Skrmetti links recent mass shootings to individuals in gender transition, questioning the evidence and motives behind rapid medicalization.
• Notes that both the AMA and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons have reversed course, now opposing gender surgeries for minors.

"This is an ideologically pushed medical trend... more about politics and... philosophical commitments than about hard medical evidence."
– Jonathan Skrmetti [26:25]

Birthright Citizenship Debate [29:19–31:16]:

• Skrmetti argues the Supreme Court should revisit the constitutional definition of birthright citizenship, stressing its implications for national self-determination and security.

4. Florida's Affordability Crisis & Restoring American Strength

Guest: Keith Gross (FL Congressional Candidate) [33:04–39:34]

Housing, Wages, and Security [33:56–39:39]:

• Cost of living remains a top concern; Gross ties this to inflation, stagnant wages from offshoring, and a need to bring jobs and manufacturing back.
• Emphasizes local agricultural strength and food security as critical to national security.

"Farmers are our national security, because without food, we don't have national security."
– Keith Gross [35:27]

Military Strength & Foreign Policy [37:07–39:12]:

• Praises Trump for restoring “peace through strength” and details effective U.S. actions in Venezuela.
• On future Iran intervention: “No one wants a war if it can be avoided. If anyone can avoid that war, it is Donald Trump.” [38:47]

5. America’s Fatherhood Crisis & Addressing Transgender Medical Harm

Guest: Anthony LaBruna (American Principles Project) [42:17–48:52]

Mass Shootings, Transgender Policy, and Cultural Response [42:45–46:36]:

• LaBruna highlights a surge in mass shootings involving transgender individuals, attributing it partly to the expansion of the "trans industry."
• Applauds recent medical organizations’ shift against surgical and hormonal interventions for minors.

"It's a $4.2 billion industry, and it's looking to cause harm to everyday Americans."
– Anthony LaBruna [43:18]

Fathers Wanted Documentary [46:49–48:21]:

• The upcoming film "Fathers Wanted" explores the importance of fatherhood and faith, told through the lens of Terry Schilling (American Principles Project).

"The greatest excitement for us is to raise our families, to raise our children. And that's what we're truly called for."
– Anthony LaBruna [47:07]

6. The Biden "Auto Pen" Scandal & Legal Fallout

Guest: Mike Howell (Oversight Project) [50:23–54:53]

On The Release of Violent Offenders [50:53–53:30]:

• Biden’s use of auto pen (mechanically signed commutations without personal review) faces further scrutiny as a repeat violent offender, Oscar Fowler, is set to be released in Florida.
• Urges immediate DOJ action to halt releases tied to controversial pardons.

"The auto pen still rules the day."
– Mike Howell [51:38]

Justice Department Accountability [53:30–54:53]:

• Stresses need for DOJ to align its actions with President Trump’s directives and ensure such releases are reversed.

"The American people are kind of over it. They want to see a conviction and actually accountability opposed."
– Mike Howell [54:05]

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• Dual health agency leadership:
  "Dr. Jay Bhattacharya... has been named also the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control, the cdc."
  – John Solomon [01:26]

• On pipeline security:
  "Pipelines are a safe, safe way to move product, to move waste, as we found out."
  – Rep. Randy Weber [06:45]

• On illegal licensing and public risk:
  "If Illinois doesn't clean this up instantly, it's going to lose all of its federal highway funding, which is a big ticket to lose."
  – John Solomon [13:18]

• Photo ID for voting statistics:
  "85% of white voters, 82% of Latino voters and 76% of black voters support photo ID laws."
  – Rep. Randy Weber [14:25]

• On protecting children online:
  "If you don't know that the users are kids, you can't have the heightened standards to protect them."
  – AG Jonathan Skrmetti [21:07]

• On shifting transgender medicine:
  "It's an ideologically pushed medical trend... more about politics... than about hard medical evidence."
  – AG Jonathan Skrmetti [26:25]

• Military readiness:
  "The American military is and always will be the greatest on this planet."
  – Keith Gross [38:09]

• Fatherhood’s role:
  "You need fathers and you need faith. You need to bring those back into the home."
  – Anthony LaBruna [47:07]

• Auto pen fallout:
  "The auto pen still rules the day."
  – Mike Howell [51:38]

Important Timestamps

• [01:26] Headlines and Trump’s Administration updates
• [06:07] Interview – Rep. Randy Weber on pipelines, shipbuilding, critical minerals, election integrity
• [18:43] Interview – TN Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti on online safety and transgender policies
• [33:04] Interview – Keith Gross (FL): Affordability, military, food security
• [42:17] Interview – Anthony LaBruna (American Principles Project): Mass shootings, fatherhood film
• [50:23] Interview – Mike Howell: Biden “auto pen,” ongoing legal ramifications

Episode Tone & Delivery

• The episode maintains a tone of urgency and concern, aiming to be both informative and provocative.
• John Solomon and his guests use humor and critique, particularly when discussing policy failures or partisan divides.
• There is a theme of restoration: restoring common sense, family structures, security, and American industry.

Conclusion

This episode captures the current flashpoints in U.S. politics: federal-state disputes over policy, public safety, the role of technology in kids’ lives, the evolving transgender medical debate, economic challenges, and accountability for executive actions. Listeners gain context and commentary tying frontline policy debates to broader themes of American identity and responsibility.

For deeper dives, follow the guests' organizations and referenced resources such as "JustTheNews.com," "FathersWanted.org," and social media handles mentioned throughout the episode.