Just the News No Noise with John Solomon and Amanda Head, March 5th, 2026

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Just the News No Noise with John Solomon & Amanda Head

Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Date: March 5th, 2026 (Published March 6th, 2026)
Hosts: John Solomon & Amanda Head

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into breaking developments in U.S. politics and foreign policy, with a strong emphasis on the recent military action against Iran, changes within the Trump administration, the shifting geopolitics of the Americas, and the domestic impact of these global events. The show features interviews with Congressman Marlin Stutzman, Col. Rob Manus, and congressional candidate George Moridis, along with conversations about homeownership, education controversies, and economic protection strategies amid global uncertainty.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. War Powers, Iran, and Trump Administration Shifts

[02:55 – 16:36]

Congressional Support for Presidential War Powers

• John Solomon reports that Congress handed President Trump a “second victory in two days” regarding the prosecution of military operations against Iran.
• The House rejected Democrat efforts to require additional congressional authorization for presidential military action, with a narrow majority.
• Over 50 Democrats also did not support a resolution labeling Iran as the world’s leading terror sponsor.

Notable Quote:

“Fifty-three Democrats voted against a resolution stating that Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism. … It's right to do this. President Trump is leading again. That's part of what America first means to me.”
— Congressman Marlin Stutzman, [11:42]

Homeland Security Shakeup

• Kristi Noem is leaving her post as Secretary of Homeland Security to take on a diplomatic role as Special Envoy for the "Shield of the Americas."
• Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin tapped as new Homeland Security Secretary. Trump calls him a “MAGA warrior” and lauds his toughness and alignment with the America First agenda.

Ongoing Diplomacy and Evacuations

• State Department cited for helping 20,000+ Americans leave Middle Eastern conflict zones. Charter flights and special task forces are in operation.

Immigration Policy (Virginia Case Focus)

• Discussion of Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s refusal to turn a violent illegal immigrant over to ICE, igniting debate over Democratic immigration policies.
• John Solomon speculates that DOJ could begin enforcing the Alien Harboring Act even against public officials and police who ignore federal retainer requests.
  Quote:

“There's a lot as it get talked about, but it's called the Alien Harboring act. And I have a funny feeling the Justice Department is going to begin reinforcing that, including against police departments, prosecutors and governors who don't honor retainers.”
— John Solomon [09:08]

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2. Guest Interview: Rep. Marlin Stutzman (Indiana)

[10:05 – 18:34]

Support for Trump’s Foreign Policy

• Reiterates that Trump, unlike prior administrations, combines restraint with assertiveness—“no new wars” but also precision and resolve, as seen in Venezuela and Iran.
• Operation "Midnight Hammer" cited as deterrence: U.S. B-2 bomber strike on Iranian nuclear facility.

Homeland Security Leadership Change

• Praises Kristi Noem’s performance under difficult circumstances, acknowledges fishers not fully her fault, and predicts Markwayne Mullin will bring a tough, middle-America approach to immigration enforcement.

Regulatory Agencies and Accountability

• Stutzman calls for accountability of self-regulatory agencies that “fall below the radar” but affect Americans’ daily lives without sufficient oversight. Praises Trump’s focus on “customer service” and bureaucratic responsibility.

Tribute to Lou Holtz

• Stutzman recognizes passing of Lou Holtz, legendary Notre Dame coach and “great American.”
  Quote:

“He just spoke so simple but yet so profound to us as Americans … truly a remarkable human being.”
— Rep. Marlin Stutzman [18:34]

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3. Military Campaign Against Iran: Analysis with Col. Rob Manus

[22:38 – 33:53]

Length and Progress of the Iran Conflict

• Reports suggest hostilities may extend through September, far beyond the original 4–5 week timeline.
• Col. Manus explains that the unpredictability of war (evolving targets, need for multiple strikes) makes any set timeframe speculative.
• U.S. weapon capability (JDAMs, Tomahawks, B-1/B-52/B-2 bombers) and air/sea dominance highlighted.

Notable Quotes:

“We won’t risk non-stealth high value assets like the B1 and B52 unless we have complete air dominance and we've established that … Admiral Cooper briefed that 33 of their navy combat ships are out, all at the bottom of the sea.”
— Col. Rob Manus [25:36]

• Countering concerns over U.S. missile and munitions supplies: JDAM production robust; U.S. able to sustain campaign and replenish stocks as needed.

Iranian Forces' Deteriorating Command & Control

• Manus claims Iranian leadership is largely cut off from its military, resulting in scattered, uncoordinated responses.
• Example: Accidental damage to Azerbaijani interests due to loss of centralized command.

Quote:

“The Iranian leadership actually said it out loud three days ago that they're not in touch with their military forces … another big indicator of the success [of the U.S. campaign].”
— Col. Rob Manus [31:40]

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4. Shifting Dynamics in the Americas: Cuba & Venezuela

Guest: George Moridis, former Navy submariner and congressional candidate
[37:38 – 44:58]

Cuban and Venezuelan Transitions

• Assert Cuban regime is on verge of collapse, population wants freedom and Western integration.
• Trump’s oil blockade on Cuba pressing regime, causing ripple effects for Russian and Chinese influence in the hemisphere.
• Discussion of high enthusiasm among Florida’s Cuban community, including public displays calling for U.S. action on Cuba:
  Quote:

“People desperately want to see that island come back into the fold, into the Western hemisphere.”
— George Moridis [40:52]

Domestic Policy: Home Affordability

• Homeownership now increasingly out of reach, with median homebuyer age up to 42.
• Moridis advocates for insurance reform, national windstorm pools, property tax changes, and reducing federal spending to lower interest rates.

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5. Economic Trends Amidst Global Instability:

Interview: Shannon Davis, CEO, American Alternative Assets
[47:40 – 54:14]

Gold, Oil, and Market Security

• Gold surges beyond $5,100/oz as Middle East hostilities and oil disruptions roil markets.
• Davis notes central banks globally are stockpiling gold for its status as “tier one asset” and safe-haven appeal.
• Suggests investors can shift 401k or IRA funds into precious metals, including silver, which may offer better value for smaller investors.

Quote:

“Central banks have bought more gold last year than any year on record. … They own more gold than Treasuries right now. And it's because it's a tier one asset. It's money. It's real money and it always has been.”
— Shannon Davis [52:18]

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6. Hot Topics: Education, Immigration, and Public Policy

[57:09 – 62:30]

Virginia’s Political Landscape

• Debate on whether Gov. Spanberger’s progressive record marks a step too far for Virginia, historically a moderate state.
• Prediction that voters may recoil from policies perceived as extreme.

School Curriculum Controversy

• Amanda and John voice objection to gender-identity-based lesson plans (e.g., “tips for being non-binary”) in Maryland public schools, claiming it is ideological rather than educational.

Commercial Driver Licenses & Immigration

• Rep. Matt Van Epps (Tennessee) sharply criticizes lowered CDL standards and illegal immigrants obtaining commercial licenses leading to fatal accidents, blames “cheap labor” priorities:
  Quote:

“When even one unqualified driver is handed a commercial driver's license, the danger does not stop at a state line. It puts every highway and every family on the road at risk ...”
— Rep. Matt Van Epps [60:56]

Broader Social Commentary

• The hosts riff on label-identity trends, the need for parental oversight in schools, and the displacement of “salt of the earth” American truckers by lax labor standards.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Trump Administration’s Resolve:

  “America is going to be the strongest country in the world, and President Trump is doing that day after day.” — Rep. Marlin Stutzman [11:15]

• On Impact of U.S. Action Abroad:

  “There's a sense of optimism and hope among the Venezuelan people that they have an opportunity to get back to where they were before with a strong economy.” — Doug Burgum, Interior Secretary [07:51]

• On Iran Military Campaign:

  “We have complete air dominance and we've established that … their navy combat ships are at the bottom of the sea.” — Col. Rob Manus [25:36]

• On School Indoctrination:

  “It doesn't belong in the classroom, it doesn't belong without a parent's vetting. … If you have a kid in a school and that happens, pull your kid and find some other school.” — John Solomon [60:27]

• On Homeownership Crisis:

  “The age of the median Homebuyer right now in the United States for a first time home is 42 years old. … We need to make homes more affordable again.” — George Moridis [43:13]

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Episode Flow & Segment Timestamps

• [02:55] — Show proper starts: Headlines on Iran vote, Trump administration changes
• [05:35] — Amanda's birthday & light banter
• [06:35] — Updates on American evacuation efforts in the Middle East
• [08:29] — Immigration enforcement controversy in Virginia
• [10:05 – 18:34] — Interview: Rep. Marlin Stutzman
• [22:38 – 33:53] — Interview: Col. Rob Manus on the Iran campaign’s trajectory and military analysis
• [37:38 – 44:58] — Interview: George Moridis, Cuban-American politics, home affordability
• [47:40 – 54:14] — Interview: Shannon Davis, financial strategies, gold/silver
• [57:09 – 62:30] — Rapid-fire discussion: Virginia politics, public education controversies, truck driver licensing, and social identity trends

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Tone and Style

• Direct, assertive, frequently critical of Democratic policies
• Patriotic, emphasizing American strength, security, and traditional values
• Interviews blend policy wonkishness with folksy anecdotes and strong opinions
• Hosts often interject personal stories and humor

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Takeaway

This episode of "Just the News No Noise" is focused on critical U.S. policy moves under the Trump administration: enhanced presidential war powers in Iran, a sweeping shakeup at Homeland Security, the ripple effects of America’s renewed assertiveness in the Americas, and a domestic lens on policy as it relates to security, immigration, and economic wellbeing. Through expert and political interviews, the hosts frame current events as a clash between an assertive America First agenda and perceived progressive policy failures on immigration, education, and regulation.

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Transcript

[Amanda Head]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Public Podcast Announcer]

Guaranteed Human support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc, SEC Registered Advisor. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures [e-mail]

[Kristen Davis]

hi, it's Kristen Davis from Are you a Charlotte Podcast? I just had the most epic girls day cruising around LA with my friend Heather Graham and thanks to Hyundai we even recorded a special episode for you. Sex and the City got me into

[Amanda Head]

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[Kristen Davis]

The last time we did a Hyundai film we went to the Magnolia. We sat on the bench. My new episode is out now presented by the all new Hyundai Palisade Hybrid make every day Epic.

[George Moridis]

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[John Solomon]

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[George Moridis]

to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail]

[Kristen Davis]

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[Amanda Head]

month plan equivalent to $15 per month Required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra fee full [e-mail] I need to be healthy every day to survive it and go through the next chemo round and the next chemo round. So it's important that work was part of that to keep my mind busy

[Kristen Davis]

for 89 hours and then I had

[Amanda Head]

to go back and face the reality I had a goal and the goal is to survive.

[John Solomon]

Research shows there is a significant connection between the ability to continue to work and cancer recovery. We can make work a better place

[Amanda Head]

for healing, learn more and sign the [e-mail].

[John Solomon]

Good evening, America. Happy Thursday. Welcome to the latest edition of Just THE News. No noise. I'm your host John Solomon reporting to you as always from the nation's capital, where just a few moments ago the United States House of Representatives handed President Trump a second victory in two days in Congress when it comes to prosecuting the operation, the military operation against Iran. The House rejecting an effort led by Democrats to strip the power of war power from the president, require him to get authorization of Congress to carry out this operation. Almost all Republicans weighed in on the side of the president. It's a very narrow majority that's important. They had another vote. And over 50 Democrats ready for this. Over 50 Democrats refused to vote in favor of resolution calling Iran the nation's worst terror sponsor in the world. Just think about that. The evidence is overwhelming. Fifty Democrats couldn't even agree with that. Well, we got a lot more of that over atjust the news.com. go check it out. Meanwhile, a big shakeup in the Trump administration with the president announcing just a few hours ago that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will be leaving the building. She'll be going to a brand new diplomatic post that will oversee the efforts to create a security blanket, a golden dome over our allies across the world. And she will be replaced at Homeland Security Department by Oklahoma Senator Mark Wayne Mullet, who's quite a character, by the way, an MMA guide, longtime senator from the state of Oklahoma. That was a really big moment. It came after reports that President Trump was frustrated a little bit with Noem for telling Congress he had signed off on her $200 million ad campaign featuring her. Apparently, he didn't think that was the case. Well, in case he did express gratitude for the secretary for her work and the two and a half million illegal aliens she was able to get out of the country during her 14 months, actually closing in about 2.7 million. Keeps growing. She'll now be special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, part of a new security initiative the administration is set to announce this Saturday, something we've been reporting on for a couple of weeks. President Trump also praised Senator Mullen, calling him a MAGA warrior, a former undefeated professional MMA fighter. He also stated that Mark Wain truly gets along well with people and knows the wisdom and courage required to advance an America first agenda. A lot of people excited about that fact. We're going to talk about that with our first guest in a few seconds, one of the congressmen who just voted to protect the president's war powers. But before we get to that, I want to do a little this day in history, because this day in history, just a very few short years ago, a very prominent American was born, someone that I hold dear to my heart. It was in the great state of Alabama. You know her as an Auburn fan. You also know her as my co host, Amanda had. And today is her birthday, a very young birthday, that it is. And I just want to wish her a happy birthday as I bring her in. Happy birthday, colleague.

[Amanda Head]

Thank you very much. I can't think of a place I would rather be than right here reporting on the news with you.

[John Solomon]

Well, I'm lucky to have you here every day. I just feel so lucky.

[Amanda Head]

Thank you so much.

[John Solomon]

You take it from here.

[Amanda Head]

Speaking of Senator Mark Wayne Mullen, I was just looking on Twitter and I saw a quote from Louisiana Senator John Kennedy, who is always very humor and asked about the appointment of Senator Mullen, he said something to the effect of, I like him, he's very smart. And even if I didn't believe that, I would say it because he could kick my.

[John Solomon]

Sounds like John Kennedy.

[Colonel Rob Manus]

Exactly.

[Amanda Head]

Exactly. Okay, I have a few other stories and developments that I do want to get to tonight. So as tensions remain high in the Middle east following the strikes against the Iranian regime, the State Department says that they are actively working to help Americans return home. From the Officials say that thousands of Americans have already been able to leave as the government continues working to get people out safely. But here's principal deputy State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott explaining what's underway.

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

That's why it's so important that people call that number that we've been saying that.

[Public Podcast Announcer]

Plus 1202501 44, 44 because each country is different.

[John Solomon]

So for example, where airspace is closed,

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

we're looking at options and have options

[Public Podcast Announcer]

and have been helping Americans move from

[John Solomon]

areas where space is close to where it's open.

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

The current numbers as of now are

[Public Podcast Announcer]

that over 20,000Americans have been able to

[John Solomon]

return to United States since this began,

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

including the provision of direct assistance to nearly 10,000Americans by our 247 task force.

[Public Podcast Announcer]

Charter flights, as you mentioned, are also underway.

[Amanda Head]

Now, of course, while these developments are unfolding, some officials say that the United States wouldn't be in this position without President Trump's leadership. United States Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum states that recent discussions about Venezuela are a result of strategic decisions made by the president earlier this year. And he notes that Venezuelans are optimistic due to President Trump's decisive actions against their former leader, Nicolas Maduro. Take a listen.

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

Kudos to President Trump.

[Public Podcast Announcer]

We wouldn't be here right now having these discussions without President Trump's bold, decisive

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

and creative, you know, courageous leadership.

[Public Podcast Announcer]

Back on January 3rd, that was game changing. There's a sense of optimism and hope

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

among the Venezuelan people that they have

[Public Podcast Announcer]

an opportunity to get back to where

[Colonel Rob Manus]

they were before with a strong economy.

[Public Podcast Announcer]

I mean, understand, 25 years ago, their economy was almost four times larger than it is today. They see that they have a chance

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

to get back in that game thanks to President Trump.

[Amanda Head]

Secretary Bergam emphasizing his support of President Trump's decision, saying that they positioned our country and the Venezuelan people to win. And back here at home, immigration policy is once again front and center. Virginia State Senator Bill Stanley is calling out their new governor, Abigail Spanberger, after a violent illegal immigrant accused of killing a Virginia mother was not turned over to ICE custody. Here is his response.

[John Solomon]

Governor Spanberger in her response basically said, you can come and get this guy who just murdered Stephanie Minter if you have a judicial warrant, which she very well knows, having been a federal officer herself, is not a tool in immigration's toolbox. So what she's basically saying is, no,

[Public Podcast Announcer]

you can't have immigration.

[Amanda Head]

Goodness gracious. Seems like we are seeing this over and over again. That for Democrats, protecting violent illegal immigrants at the cost of the American, at the cost of American lives, that's, that's what they stand for. John, it's unfortunate to see, but Congressman

[John Solomon]

Rob Whitman on the podcast tomorrow, the former ICE director is also on the show. And both of them said that Spamberger knows that this is a red herring, that there are no judicial warrants. And by the way, you know, there's a lot as it get talked about, but it's called the Alien Harboring act. And I have a funny feeling the Justice Department is going to begin reinforcing that, including against police departments, prosecutors and governors who don't honor retainers. That could be a big moment. Just as the vote ended a couple hours, just about 40 minutes ago, we had a chance to catch Marlin Stutzman coming off the floor. Congressman from Indiana. He had a lot to say about the war powers vote and everything else going on in Congress, including the big shakeup of the Homeland Security Department. Have a watch. All right, folks, joining us now, fresh off the floor where that vote just occurred on the War Powers act, protecting the president's ability to continue to prosecute the operation against Iran. A congressman for the great state of Indiana, great friend of the show, Congressman Marlon Stutzman. Sir, good to have you on the show, John.

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

Amanda, great to be with you. Thanks for having me on.

[John Solomon]

Yeah. This is an important day. So, yesterday, the Senate preserved the president's ability to prosecute this operation. Today, the House, a pretty epic moment. And Democrats also put on a pretty tough vote as part of this.

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

They did. But, you know, again, President Trump's doing the right thing. And the fact that we were able to get this, you know, in support of President Trump on the House today was really important. You know, it was really remarkable to see that there were still 53 Democrats that voted against a resolution stating that Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism. 53 Democrats voted against that. And so, you know what? It's. The moment is the right. It's right to do this. President Trump is leading again. That's part of what America first means to me, is that President Trump is going to be sure that America is. Is safe and that it's leading in the world. And we're not going to be letting China or Russia wag the dog. America is going to be the strongest country in the world, and President Trump is doing that day after day.

[Amanda Head]

Well, and, Congressman, it kind of seems like whether you agree with him or not on other issues, President Trump has proven himself trustworthy when it comes to, you know, no new wars during his first term. That precision surgical strike in Venezuela. So it seems like the American people who you guys are hearing from, they see strikes like that and they trust that when he says, we're not starting a new war, you know, this is going to be very, very limited and not protracted. They believe him.

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

Yes, they do. No, this is the conclusion of a war. The Iranians have declared war on the west for 40 some years. You know, when they chant from the regime leading the chant, death to Israel, Death to America, you have to believe that. I was actually just watching a speech from 2015 by Marco Rubio on the Senate floor, Senator Marco Rubia then, and he was talking about the cash that President Obama had just sent to the Iranian regime and what they were going to do with that. And he was exactly right. They were going to build up their weapons systems. They were going to invest in missiles that could reach further than their particular region. They had a mission to destroy America and destroy the West. And, you know, President Trump was patient with them. You know, the big message that was sent was last year during Operation Midnight Hammer, when President Trump sent our B2 bombers over with the bunker busters to take out their nuclear facility. That should have been their signal to them right there. Okay, President Trump means business. Let's sit down and negotiate. Let's find a path forward. But they were so blinded by their religious ideology that they were going to continue to march right to their death. And that's what they did. But this is a good day for the American people in our safety, but it's also a great day for the Iranian people because they are going to now have an opportunity to rebuild their country. And I hope it's a democratic country that can then flourish like it has in the past. History.

[John Solomon]

So important. It'd be an incredible moment. So many things have changed. Syria, Iran, Cuba on the brink of falling. Venezuela in more friendly hands. Not perfect, but in more friendly hands. Today we got a switch at the top of the deck at the Homeland Security Department. Senator Mullen is going to come in. Kristi Noeman is going to exit and go to a diplomatic job. Your thoughts on that change and what it could mean for the Deportation 2.0 work that lies ahead?

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

Yeah. Well, first of all, I'll just say thanks to Kristi Noem. I served with her in Congress before. She was a great governor in South Dakota. She took on a very tough job. And the, the job that she did, she performed remarkably well. But you know what? Some of the mishaps that happened weren't all her fault. They were one of those situations where they were a little bit out of her control. And I think that she did the best she could, and I wish her the very best as she moves into another role for the Trump administration. That is probably. I was talking to some other members as we were walking to the floor a little bit ago, and it's like, that's got to be the toughest job in this administration right now, because President Trump made that one of his key points in his campaign platform, and he's going to follow through with it. Just like we were talking about President Trump being a man of his word and that he's going to follow through on what he says he's going to do. President Trump is going to do that. And, you know, Senator Mullen's going to be just as strong and, you know, great at that job that, you know, as he carries out, you know, as you mentioned, 2.0, I think that Senator Mullen, he's tough. He's from the middle of the country, understands the threat that illegal immigration was to our country. And he's going to be sure that those who are here illegally and with criminal backgrounds are going to be processed and prosecuted accordingly.

[Amanda Head]

Yeah. Secretary Noem was certainly right for the moment. She made some remarkable strides and checked off a lot of President Trump's campaign promises. If Senator Mullens is confirmed, which we assume he will be because he will be confirmed amongst his own once he becomes secretary, what do you want to see from him that Republicans in the House and the Senate frankly can kind of piggyback off of to run campaigns going into November?

[John Solomon]

Yeah.

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

Well, you know, first of all, we want to see that DHS gets funded. That's one job that we need to finish here in Congress. So that way whoever the leader is and the director is over at DHS can be sure that, you know, our law enforcement agents are getting their paychecks to keep this, keep our country safe. Especially considering the moment what's going on in Iran. And you know, I am sure and confident there are terrorist sleeper cells that are still out there across our country in certain places. You know, what I'm hoping to see from Senator Mullen is that he's going to be tough and that he's not going to back down. He's going to continue to stand strong. You know, we see Democrats and how weak they want to be on immigration policy and you know, they're more willing to defend illegals in this country than they are to defend and protect the citizens that they are elected to do. And so I think that Mark Wayne is going to be the right person for the job. And I'm sure you know that it's going to continue to be difficult. But I know he's got tough shoulders just like Christie did as well.

[John Solomon]

Sir, before I let you go, you were in the Financial Services Committee for a hearing. You said something pretty profound. And I think it's one of the great truisms that doesn't get talked about. There are all these self regulatory agencies that are having an enormous impact on our life at the cost of the dinner table and they fall below the radar. We get epa, you see what Lee Zeldin does at epa, you fix that. But there's a lot of downstream from that. They put a lot of burden on Americans and they're never held accountable. Is this a unique moment in history where those agencies for the first time get looked at with a real scrutinization?

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

Yeah. You know, again, that's one of the things I'm so grateful for the Trump administration. You know, back during the Obama days, we didn't see anything like this. You know, we couldn't even get calls back from the agencies as members of Congress. We would call and, you know, have a problem for a constituent, and we couldn't even get a call back from the Obama administration. It's so refreshing to see how the Trump administration, they understand customer service. President Trump comes from the hospitality industry. He knows how to take care of customers, and that's how he treats the American people, as customers. And he wants to be sure that these bureaucrats, these agencies that are quasi government agencies are held accountable and that it's not the Fox watching the henhouse, which unfortunately has been the case for far too long. And so these directors that President Trump puts in place, I was just with Sean Duffy today over at Department of Transportation. He's doing a phenomenal job in saving money and making sure that all these agencies are held accountable and that these bureaucrats don't just spend money without any regard for the American taxpayer. And that's why we're, that's why Washington is a mess. That it is, because we've had Democrats in charge too long that didn't care where taxpayer dollars went, and they would just continue to pad the pockets of friends and their allies.

[Amanda Head]

Yeah.

[John Solomon]

Oh, very true. Congressman, always a great honor. Before we let you go, just real quickly, the Hoosiers lost a great legend in sports, Lou Holtz, larger than life. Your thoughts on the great coach from Notre Dame.

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

Oh, boy. There was no one. There's no one like Lou Holtz. And in fact, I just did a small speech on the floor honoring his life. I went to Notre Dame games as a kid. And, you know, he just spoke so simple but yet so profound to us as Americans. And he had so many great jokes that some I can't say on tv, but they were ones that I'll remember because he was truly a great American. And of course, Defense Extended Life, was a man of faith and was truly a remarkable human being.

[John Solomon]

Yeah. So well said. And I'm sure that tribute today will be remembered by a lot that you just did on the floor. Congressman, great to have you on the show as always. Thanks for joining us.

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

Thank you, John. Thank you, Amanda.

[John Solomon]

Yeah, thank you so much. What a great thing. Right off the floor right after vote. How about that? That's pretty cool. All right, coming up right after the break, the conflict with Iran continues with their friends Russia and China nowhere in sight. Oh, there is a limit to Chinese and Russian friendship. I think Iran's beginning to understand that. We'll have a great conversation about that next with Colonel Rob Maintenance right after these messages.

[Public Podcast Announcer]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc, SEC Registered Advisor. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures [e-mail] Disclosures hi, it's Kristin

[Kristen Davis]

Davis from Are youe a Charlotte Podcast. I just had the most epic girls day cruising around LA with my friend Heather Graham and thanks to Hyundai we even recorded a special episode for you. Yes, I have a good 90s story of Fred Siegel.

[Shannon Davis]

What?

[Kristen Davis]

I saw Alanis Morissette there one time.

[Amanda Head]

It was so exciting.

[Kristen Davis]

I was with my girlfriend Melanie.

[Amanda Head]

She saw you so that's like good.

[Kristen Davis]

She was very it was like the height of Alanis time and she was with this beautiful man and I had a golden retriever puppy and the beautiful man wanted to say hi to the golden retriever puppy. We were eating at that little cafe there at the Santa Monica one and Alanis hung back in a way that made me wonder what was happening. Like who wouldn't want to pet this beautiful puppy.

[Amanda Head]

I was like oh my God, it's Alanis.

[Kristen Davis]

And then I was like try to breathe, try to breathe, try to breathe because I love her so much. My new episode is out now, presented by the all new Hyundai Palisade Hybrid make every day Epic.

[Amanda Head]

I need to be healthy every day to survive it and go through the next chemo round and the next chemo round. So it's important that work was part of that to keep my mind busy for 8, 9 hours and then I had to go back and face the reality. I had a goal and the goal is to survive.

[John Solomon]

Research shows there is a significant connection between the ability to continue to work and cancer recovery. We can make work a better place

[Amanda Head]

for healing, learn more, and sign the [e-mail]. Welcome back, everybody, to just the news. No noise. The conflict with Iran continues and a new report says that the war could last all the way through September. Now that report coming as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has said that the United States is, quote, just getting started with those strikes. So what's coming next and what, if anything, do our other geopolitical foes like Russia and China do about it? Here to discuss it all is retired colonel and host of the Rob Mana Show. He's also the founder of Gator Pacific, Colonel Rob Manus. Colonel, thanks so much for being with us.

[Colonel Rob Manus]

Good evening, Amanda. John, good to be here.

[Amanda Head]

Good to have you. I think for most Americans, they are more willing to support these strikes in Iran if it is abbreviated and it lasts through that initial timeline that they set out, four to five weeks. But with this report, I don't know, now we're on the long end of six or seven months. What does it look like to you?

[Colonel Rob Manus]

I'm not sure where the reporting is coming from, but I've always said since the very beginning of this, this is a minimum of at least a 30 day air campaign and a Navy campaign and it could go longer. I wasn't surprised that initially the president stated five weeks outright. But here's what happens in warfare. The target set for this country is over 20,000, the known targets. But as you go along and you strike these targets, you don't always destroy them to the satisfaction. So you have to restrike them. And guess what happens? You have other targets become discovered as you move along. So that adds to the numbers. So it's very, very suspicious. If an expert is trying to say the war will end on X date or in this amount of time, all we can do is say, here's what we've seen before and in the past in the run up to Operation Desert Storm, to the ground war, the war was about a month using weapons that we had and forces that we had in those days. Today the weapon technology has increased 10 or 20 fold. The capabilities that we have with the aircraft and the ships and our special operations forces are all dramatically different and improved. None have fallen backward. So we're doing a good job at meeting these timelines, but you never know what's going to happen. I won't expect the leadership like Secretary Hegseth or Admiral Cooper or the President to explicitly state when it's going to end because they know and they've been briefed by the professionals from my colleagues, ex colleagues, that you cannot predict adequately when something is going to end once you start it. That's why it's such a difficult decision to make to start this.

[John Solomon]

Yeah, that's a great point. Comes with a heavy burden when you start something like this. Colonel, the President and Marco Ruby both said to Iran, you ain't seen nothing yet. Meaning that there's some heavy armaments coming. It seems like once we have full air superiority with the traditional things we use Tomahawks and bomb bombing runs, that maybe some of the bigger weapons that can take out large stashes of missiles or cheap drones, because those are the two things that can be a protagonist for a long time that you come in and use the bigger stuff. Is that the likely progression here, that we go after the air defenses and the big stuff and then we come in and get rid of those little drone factories that could be have a large, vast amount of equipment in them?

[Colonel Rob Manus]

Yeah, we have the facts together that says that that's already started happening. When you saw reporting, accurate reporting by Centcom that B1 bombers and then the next night B52 bombers were striking ballistic missile targets. Those targets are hardened and deeply buried targets in the mountains and deep inside Iran, away from Western armed forces. So we won't risk non stealth high value assets like the B1 and B52 unless we have complete air dominance and we've established that we have air dominance, we've got sea dominance both on the surface, in the air and under the sea. I think Admiral Cooper briefed that 33 of their of their navy combat ships are out, all at the bottom of the sea. And the latest thing we hit was another drone carrier and it's on fire right now. So we are slowly and systematically taking apart their big ability to reach out and touch all of the region and even into Europe. They've even tried to fire some into Cyprus and Turkey and tried to get something even into Southern Europe there. So that is what's happening and it's predictable. The good news is, you know that the weapons that the inventories have been being built back up on like Tomahawk missiles, our Himars missiles that we used a lot of in the Ukraine, given to Ukraine and those kind of things, those production Lines have been ramped back up under the Trump administration, but we no longer need them for this fight. We started, you know, on day three with B1s and then B52s on day four. That tells us that we're using joint direct attack munitions. And those come in two variants. One is a penetrator variant and the other is a conventional high explosive bomb variant. And the penetrator variants. The admiral brief at the briefing today that the B2 was dropping penetrator JDAMs on deeply buried missile launchers because they put their missile launchers underground, which is a tactic and technique that they got from the North Koreans that use their mountains to put elevator style missile launchers inside them. So we're targeting those now with not only the B1s, B52s, but also the B2s. We're going after their manufacturing ability, which is hardened and deeply buried, their launch ability, which is hardened and deeply buried, and their storage ability for ballistic missiles. We've done that with their air force. It's completely decimated. I would be very surprised if any of their air forces are able to pull off a real attack successfully anytime in the near future. Most of those vehicles have been destroyed or they've been hidden away so they can't be destroyed. The drone shots are a little bit more difficult because it's so easy to, to launch these things from almost any location. But we have practiced for years and years and years, all the way since back in Desert Shield, we practiced doing what was called Scud hunting. You probably heard that term before. So our air force and the Israeli Air Force has been practicing and perfecting the techniques to hunt launchers like that, and we'll slowly do that. And then of course our combat air capability, our counter air capability, which is our fighter aircraft, have a shield up to protect the Arab countries and Israel, plus our forces in the region to shoot down any of those drones. Said it's, it's not quite a turkey shoot or shooting fish in a barrel, but it's pretty close when you put an advanced fighter up against a shahed drone.

[Amanda Head]

Yeah, Colonel, a lot of President Trump's critics and skeptics say, you know, we're getting into this war and we don't have the missile supply. We're deploying depleted, we're getting, we're getting close to depleted. But President Trump, neither President Trump nor Secretary Hegs has strike me as the type of folks who are going to do any type of military action without knowing that they've got the backup supply. What do you make of these concerns?

[Colonel Rob Manus]

Well, the air campaign and naval campaign goes in cycles. And you saw at the beginning when we were attacking the command and control of communications, the integrated air defense system and the leadership targets, those were using stealthy aircraft and they're using stealthy weapons like the joint standoff missile, the Tomahawk stealth missile that we have now. And the reason why we're no longer using those is we've established that air dominance. So now we're into the jdam. And the JDAM production has been up for a long, long time. JDAM is a kit that's strapped onto a gravity bomb, either a penetrator or a high explosive bomb. And those kits, we have any inventory in the millions of those. So we have plenty. That's what Secretary Haig said. Look, we have the ability to go almost in perpetuity now that we've taken down their air defense system and we have total air dominance. And we can focus on reproducing and upping production where we haven't already done that on our weapons like our Himars missiles, our Tomahawk missiles and those kinds of things. So I don't have a problem with the inventory now that we've seen this played out. I was concerned about it at the beginning because I wasn't sure exactly how they were going to do this and what their plans were. But now that we've seen it play out, we're using JDAMs now we have more than enough of those and we're building time and space for us to produce the missiles and Tomahawk missiles and Himars missiles and the counter, the counter missile battery missiles like the Thaad to reproduce those and get them back out into the field. And as far as I know, there have been no problems with reloads either on the ships for the Thads or at the ground on the ground stations for Patriots or Thaads. So the counter missile shield is still

[John Solomon]

up before we let you go. So you got about a minute left. There is a significant concern or amusement about Iran's response. It seems sporadic, non strategic dragging in other enemies to this. Make more who want to join the coalition of the willing. What do you make of Iran's command and control? And is it a sign that maybe people aren't in control as much as they would want?

[Colonel Rob Manus]

Oh, it definitely is. And this is another mark of our success. The B52s and B1s going in now and using JDAMs, that's a mark of our success. This is another big indicator of the success that you don't have to rely on, on the head of CENTCOM or the president or anybody else. The Iranian leadership actually said it out loud three days ago that they're not in touch with their military forces. Those military forces are shooting at preplanned targets. I call them last stand targets that they're told to shoot at if communications is lost with their headquarters. And that's exactly what's happened. They are not in control of those. And there's another big indicator of that, John, and that is the Azerbaijan incident. I don't know if you saw what the president of Azerbaijan did. He said, hey. The Iranians called him and said, hey, we'll get your people out of Lebanon. I know you don't have any airplane. We won't even charge you for it. And then an hour later, they attacked Azerbaijan. And he put a statement out saying, well, we've had enough of this. We're going to respond to you. No, we're not going to help you anymore. So. So that tells you that their command control and communication is completely decimated. They're not in control of their forces. They may have some communication with some of the IRGC ground force leadership. There's indications that they still have that. Because you're still hearing about picking the ayatollah and that the IRGC is insisting they get it done fast on a specific individual, I think Khomeini's son. But as far as, like, widespread ground forces, if there is a ground operation by the Kurds, supported by the Israelis or somebody else that link up with the resistance forces already in the country, now's the time to do it. And if the IRGC does try to do a counteroffensive on any ground force that goes in there, then they'll have to mass out in the open. And our air forces and the Israeli air forces are the best. Yeah, when they're massing, we'll decimate them. Just ask the Iraqi forces that tried to do that in the sandstorm in 2003.

[John Solomon]

That's right.

[Amanda Head]

Yeah. I mean, not even allies, just countries who are willing to subliminally support Iran. That group is getting smaller and smaller and smaller. Retired colonel and host of the Rob Manus Show. He's also the founder of Gator pac. Colonel Rob Manus. Thanks so much for being with us today.

[Colonel Rob Manus]

Thank you all. Appreciate what you do.

[Amanda Head]

Absolutely. All right, everybody. Coming up next, Cuba is facing growing international internal chaos. So what does that mean for the United States? More on that up next.

[John Solomon]

Hey, folks, the takedown of El Mento just threw Mexico into chaos and US Iran military tensions are escalating faster than anything we've seen in years. When the world starts shaking like this, people lose faith in the system, right? There's no there's one asset that always surges alongside the chaos. Gold. The world's biggest central banks are stockpiling it at the fastest rate in recorded history. They're not buying stocks, they're not buying bonds. They're buying gold. And here's what most people don't know. You can take your existing 401k or IRA and move it into physical gold without paying a single dollar in taxes or penalties. It's simpler than you think. There's a free report called the Global Crisis Playbook that walks you through exactly how to do it. Visit johnlikesgold.com that's my site to download your free copy or call 855-GOLD-340 to request one by mail. That's johnlikesgold.com or 855-GOLD-340

[Public Podcast Announcer]

support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It also starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S P500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures [e-mail] Disclosures hi, it's Kristen

[Kristen Davis]

Davis from Are youe a Charlotte Podcast? I just had the most epic girls day cruising around LA with my friend Heather Graham and thanks to Hyundai we even recorded a special episode for you. Yes, I have a good 90s story of Fred Siegel. What I saw Alanis Morris at the one time.

[Amanda Head]

It was so exciting.

[Kristen Davis]

I was with my girlfriend Melanie.

[Amanda Head]

She saw you so that's like, good.

[Kristen Davis]

She was very. It was like the height of Alanis time and she was with this beautiful man. And I had a golden retriever puppy and the beautiful man wanted to say hi to the golden retriever puppy. We were eating at that little cafe there at the Santa Monica one, and Alanis hung back in a way that made me wonder what was happening. Like, who wouldn't want to pet this beautiful puppy?

[Amanda Head]

I was like, oh, my God, it's Alanis.

[Kristen Davis]

And then I was like, try to breathe, try to breathe, try to breathe because I love her so much. My new episode is out now, presented by the all new Hyundai Palisade hybrid. Make every day epic.

[Amanda Head]

I need to be healthy every day to survive it and go through the next chemo round and the next chemo round. So it's important that work was part of that to keep my mind busy

[Kristen Davis]

for eight, nine hours.

[Amanda Head]

And then I had to go back and face the reality. I had a goal, and the goal is to survive.

[John Solomon]

Research shows there is a significant connection between the ability to continue to work and cancer recovery. We can make work a better place

[Amanda Head]

for healing, learn more and sign the [e-mail].

[John Solomon]

Welcome back, America. You saw earlier this week that there was a historic moment in military action as part of our effort to degrade the Iranian forces that have been attacking Americans for decades. We sunk an Iranian battleship with a torpedo from a US submarine. First time. And I think 80 years now, 70, 80 years, I believe it was historic moment. It's a reminder of just how lethal and capable our submarine men and women are. And today we're joined by one of them, a former, one former submarine officer in the U.S. navy. He's now a congressional candidate to replace Jared Moskowitz in the great state of Florida. He is George Meridus, and he joins us right now. George, great to have you on the show.

[George Moridis]

Thank you, John. Amanda, it's great to be on the show with you.

[John Solomon]

Yeah, very exciting. All right, so you've had this extraordinary career. You served your country in the military. You served your constituents in the state legislature and now Congress. What, what tipped you into doing this?

[George Moridis]

Well, it's important to advance President Trump's agenda by retaining the House. We haven't had Republican leadership in our county, in the Congress. And gosh, almost 16 years since Allen West. This is a very close seat. You know, Governor Ron DeSantis won it by a percent. President Trump almost, almost won the seat in terms of performance. So this is very right. Jeremias Goods is Right. For a chance to flip the seat, Red.

[Amanda Head]

Well, and Jerry Moskowitz has some policy issues. When you compare that to the greater policy interest of Florida, it's a very pro Second Amendment state. But Jared Moskowitz, on that issue alone, does not have a great score.

[George Moridis]

No, he does not. He's. He's very anti Second Amendment, and he's not really been pro tax cuts. He's not been pro keeping men out of women's sports. He's not been pro, frankly, our district. So that's. Again, we're ready for a change.

[John Solomon]

Yeah, there's no doubt about it. While this is going on, the world is changing around us. Venezuela in much more friendly hands. All of a sudden. Not perfect, but friendly hands. Cuba on the brink of a collapse. Iran under extraordinary bombardment. It could collapse to the world that you could be running in when election day comes around in November, could be significantly different, particularly Cuba, which has been right off of Florida's coast. What do you think that could potentially. How could that potentially impact the election?

[George Moridis]

Well, I think it could. You know, I would say that for a long time, Cuba has been a failed state. You know, I remember I was driving in a cab about 10 years ago, and it was a man that had just come over from Cuba, and he said, I said to him, well, how is it over there? He said, listen, if you don't have money coming from outside of the country, like, basically someone giving you money as a gift, you're going to starve to death. So the people are ready for freedom. They're ready for a new age, to get back to trading with the world and being a participant. You know, the. The Dominican Republic is a very successful country. Cuba should be doing a lot better. The people who come from Cuba to our country have done incredibly successful in South Florida particularly, no doubt.

[Amanda Head]

I got to ask you, because you're there on the ground in Florida, a state that has a very high Cuban population. And in the wake of Iran, we've seen a lot of pictures. Now, this is in the world of AI So who knows what's real and what's not, But a lot of pictures of Cubans both in Cuba and here in the United States, holding signs that say, president Trump do Cuba next. Is that accurate? Are you hearing that from Cubans in Florida?

[George Moridis]

They're definitely excited. The opportunity to turn over the regime. And of course, you know, the easiest way to do it at this point, I mean, President Trump's got the blockade going for the oil, which, you know, ultimately just sustains the military. It is putting pressure on the island like you mentioned, John. It's putting a lot of pressure on him. And Amanda, you're right. I mean, there are people who desperately want to see that island come back into the fold, into the Western hemisphere.

[John Solomon]

Yeah, it's interesting. I think a lot of Americans understood that Cuba has always been sort of the outsourced intelligence agency for our enemies across the globe with Russia, Iran, Venezuela, obviously, and then Venezuela in the last 20 years was sort of a trafficker of particularly oil and energy around the world. Their flagships would do things. Taking those two frenemies enemies in our hemisphere and potentially turning them around actually has a downward shift all the way to China, I suspect is. It seems like the world is realigning in a pretty significant way if this momentum continues.

[George Moridis]

Well, what I really like is President Trump brings a fresh perspective to a lot of things that seemed in transient. Like we always thought Cuba would just go on forever as a communist country. And efforts were made. I remember I went to Washington D.C. when then Senator Rubio sponsored a visit with a. It was an activist rather than Cuba antunes. And he, I asked him, I said, you know, is it better to open Cuba up and let people, you know, look, trade and give some opportunities that. George, every dime that comes into this country from that sort of thing, from tourism and trade, just goes right to the military to keep oppressing the people. So he was for keeping up the pressure back then, of course, you know, Obama and Biden, you know, they both tried to open the country up just to really perpetuate the oppression. So President Trump finally has brought a fresh perspective. So we're not going to keep coddling this in our hemisphere. Plus, as you mentioned, John, they are a haven for Chinese and Russians spying on the United States, harboring enemies again, not to mention Venezuela with the terrorists and the criminals and the drugs they're funneling into our country. I completely agree with what we're doing and putting pressure on Cuba and changing the regime in Venezuela.

[John Solomon]

George, before we let you go, you've had a very detailed agenda. You have got a very clear vision. Usually when you're trying to take over or flip a district. Big ideas are a big part of convincing the public to change things. What are the big ideas that are most resonating of the things that you want to do? What most resonates with your constituents right now?

[George Moridis]

Well, it's just not just my constituents. I think it's the entire country, John. You know, the median home price, I'm sorry, the age of the median Homebuyer right now in the United States for a first time home is 42 years old. You know, that's, that's a tragedy for a country that's founded on building the American dream. People from coming from all over the world legally to come own their own home. I remember I'm a real estate closing attorney. Years ago I met with a person from Germany and she said, I said, oh, do you own your house in Germany? What do you do? She said, we rent. The only people who own homes in Germany are rich. That's never been true of our country and it's increasingly true. And so that's a big thing for me, making homes more affordable. I have a daughter that just moved back to south Florida. It's very difficult for her to buy a home with her, with her fiance when she gets married with her husband.

[Amanda Head]

She.

[George Moridis]

So that's a big thing for me is insurance reform could be a national windstorm pool to help our state and lower our costs and spread the risk. Lowering property tax, that's more of a state issue. But I definitely support that. Shrinking the size of the federal government and the borrowing that we're doing so that again, there's less demand on the money so that the interest rates can come down. That helps home affordability. So there's a lot of things we can do. Facilitating home building, that to me is probably really one of my top priorities for our constituents in our country is just making homes affordable again for people in this country.

[John Solomon]

Yeah. So important. George, before we let you go, people watching, hearing about you for the first time, what's the best way for them to stay in touch with your campaign or get involved with it?

[George Moridis]

Well, the best way is to get our website, thegeorgethenumber4congress.com or on Twitter George Rmoritis. Just want to thank you, John and Amanda for having me on the show and for all you do for the cause. Definitely big admirers and I really appreciate you having me on today.

[John Solomon]

A lot of fun, great conversation. Really appreciate it. We'll get you on again before election day. Good to do. Thanks, sir. Good to have you on.

[George Moridis]

Thank you both again. Appreciate it.

[John Solomon]

Yeah. All right, folks, coming up next, as the war against Iran continues, gold and oil prices have skyrocketed. We'll take a look at what it means for your retirement and savings. That's an important issue for all of us. More on that next.

[Public Podcast Announcer]

Support for the show comes from public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks bonds, options, crypto and now Generated Assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc, SEC Registered Advisor. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures [e-mail] Disclosures hi, it's Kristen

[Kristen Davis]

Davis from Are youe a Charlotte Podcast. I just had the most epic girls day cruising around LA with my friend Heather Graham and thanks to Hyundai we even recorded a special episode for you. Yes, I have a good 90s story of Fred Siegel. What I saw Alanis Morris at there one time.

[Amanda Head]

It was so exciting.

[Kristen Davis]

I was with my girlfriend Melanie.

[Amanda Head]

She saw you so that's like good.

[Kristen Davis]

She was very it was like the height of Alanis time and she was with this beautiful man and I had a golden retriever puppy and the beautiful man wanted to say hi to the golden retriever puppy. We were eating at that little cafe there at the Santa Monica one and Alanis hung back in a way that made me wonder what was happening. Like who wouldn't want to pet this beautiful puppy.

[Amanda Head]

I was like oh my, it's Alanis.

[Kristen Davis]

And then I was like try to breathe, try to breathe, try to breathe because I love her so much. My new episode is out now, presented by the all new Hyundai Palisade Hybrid. Make Every Day Epic.

[Amanda Head]

I think when you're diagnosed with cancer you crave a semblance of normalcy and control and so work allowed me to be me. So I think it's really important that companies stay flexible. Cancer in a diagnosis can be all consuming, but it doesn't have to be.

[John Solomon]

Research shows there is a significant connection between the ability to continue to work and cancer recovery. We can make work a better, better place for healing.

[Amanda Head]

Learn more and sign the [e-mail]. Welcome back, everybody, to Just the News. No noise. The United States is at war with Iran, effectively. Airstrikes have hit over 1700 targets and gold just blew past $5100 per troy ounce. And oil prices are surging. If you've got money in the market right now, you need to hear this. Joining us now is the CEO of American Alternative Assets. Returning to the show, Shannon Davis. Shannon, great to have you.

[Shannon Davis]

Great to be with you guys again. Happy Thursday.

[Amanda Head]

Nothing happening in the world, especially nothing happening in the Middle East. Of course, I say that in jest. I have full confidence that this is going to disrupt what's happening in our money system, particularly physical assets like gold.

[Shannon Davis]

Definitely, yeah. This is exactly the kind of crisis most people aren't prepared for. John and Amanda, you mentioned that we've got the US And Israel forces striking targets in Iran. Iran's firing back on bases in Kuwait and the ua and, well, people have to understand the oil, the Strait of Hermos, that is a choke point for oil. And when they choke point and they suffocate that oil from coming in, what people feel is higher costs, they explode. People that are driving cars, heating homes, have cash in the bank, 401ks. This is all tied to the market and it feels it immediately. So we're seeing some, some massive change right now in the markets. And gold is staying steady above $500, $100, $5100. It's amazing.

[John Solomon]

That's amazing.

[Shannon Davis]

Yeah.

[John Solomon]

Gold is such an interesting asset because in times of crisis like now, it's going to go up. And then when it's peaceful, it holds its value, then it goes up again. It's one of the few things that, you know, when you look at the last 30 years, it has this extraordinary arc. Why does it hold when we calm down? And then why does it go up every time that we have, you know, some instability in the world?

[Shannon Davis]

Yeah, well, the instability when we have that, you know, people are getting out of risk. I mean, yeah, big, big money's always getting out of risk. They're putting their money in a safe place. They're letting the dust settle. You know, you're talking about Iran right now. They've got the largest ballistic missile arsenal out there and we're firing back. I mean, this isn't Venezuela, so it's going to take a little bit for us to get in there and take this place over. But that in that, that uncertainty, people go to safety. And when it's, when it's not like this, because times obviously aren't always like this. Gold always holds its value because it's very linear and it's very linear. It doesn't trade day to day. People aren't buying it today and trying to sell it tomorrow and make a profit on it. It's strictly about just having a liquid asset and preserving their wealth for their legacy. That's what it's really about.

[Amanda Head]

Now I want to ask you for people who want to own something physical, they want to have some type of precious metal that they can hold in their hand, they can put in a safe, but maybe they don't have five grand to throw down on a troy ounce of gold. I know that there are, you know, there's a half ounce, there's a tenth of an ounce, but also sterling silver is a good option as well.

[Shannon Davis]

100%. Yeah, I think, I think that's probably one of the cheapest investments out there. It's, it's, it's severely underpriced. Silver is an industrial commodity. You know, all this AI boom. We're seeing all these data centers that they're building that are two blocks. I mean that they're dumping silver into those data centers, solar panels, you know, with what, what happened right now. Warheads, missiles, I mean they have 500 ounces in their heads. Silver is something that can not only, you know, give you some preservation, but tremendous growth over time and very inexpensive to purchase. If you've got $5,000. Do the math. If silver's priced at 85 an ounce, you're getting a lot more for your dollar. And you could hold that in your house, right next to your bed, in your safe, safe and sound. And you can spend it anywhere.

[John Solomon]

That's really smart. All right, I got two questions that have come in from viewers since the last time you're on. I always love when I get these. So first one is why have the central banks been so aggressive in continuing to buy up gold? It's been a two or three year run and then two if I've already maxed out on my 401k contribution or my IRA competition. Is there a way to develop gold into the non tax free gold but retirement strategy?

[Shannon Davis]

Yeah, well, you know, central banks, I mean right now, if you, if you take a look at it, when, when oil surges, when, when the dollar gets squeezed from every direction. There's a reason gold is trading above $5,100 an ounce. And central banks have bought more gold last year than any year on record. Physical precious metals, they're not tied to any government ability to keep shipping lanes open. It's not tied to any currency that's being inflated away by funding the military operations. But they are putting their money in a safe place right now. They own more gold than Treasuries right now. And it's because it's a tier one asset. It's money. It's real money and it always has been. And the growth has been tremendous over the last couple of years. And so that's why they're holding it just like everybody else.

[John Solomon]

Yeah, no doubt.

[Amanda Head]

And for the CEO of American, I

[Shannon Davis]

was just gonna say. And for the 401k, if you've maxed out your contributions at the end of the year and you have actual cash, it's just like we were talking about earlier. Give us a call. We, we not only help individuals roll their retirement accounts over into gold and silver, but cash purchases. You know, a lot of people are taking some losses right now in the market. They have a brokerage account, so they're taking some of their profits or minimizing some of their losses, selling their positions, getting cash, buying gold and silver, and we're shipping it directly to their home. No different than the individual with his 401k. If he's no longer able to contribute to that because he's maxed it out, which is great, he can buy gold and silver cash and get it shipped directly to his house. We do it every day.

[Amanda Head]

Considering how much gold has been going up lately, that is a solid, solid investment with a quick return. CEO of American Alternative Assets, Shannon Davis, always a pleasure. Thanks for being with us.

[Shannon Davis]

Thanks for having me. Have a great day. Thanks so much.

[Amanda Head]

You too. Absolutely. All right, everybody. And to our viewers, download the free guide right now. It's called the Global Crisis playbook. Go to johnlikesgold.com to get your copy or call 855-GOLD-340, that's johnlikesgold.com or 855-GOLD-340. All right, everybody, we've got a few more stories that we want to hit on the other side of this break. We'll be right back.

[Public Podcast Announcer]

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[Kristen Davis]

Davis from Are youe a Charlotte Podcast? I just had the most epic girls day cruising around LA with my friend Heather Graham and thanks to Hyundai we even recorded a special episode for you. Yes, I have a good 90s story of Fred Siegel.

[Shannon Davis]

What?

[Kristen Davis]

I saw Alanis Morissette there one time.

[Amanda Head]

It was so exciting.

[Kristen Davis]

I was with my girlfriend Melanie.

[Amanda Head]

She saw you so that's like good.

[Kristen Davis]

She was very. It was like the height of Alanis time and she was with this beautiful man and I had a golden retriever puppy and the beautiful man wanted to say hi to the golden retriever puppy. We were eating at that little cafe there at the Santa Monica one and Alanis hung back in a way that made me wonder what was happening. Like who wouldn't want to pet this beautiful puppy.

[Amanda Head]

I was like, oh my God, it's Alanis.

[Kristen Davis]

And then I was like, try to breathe, try to breathe, try to breathe because I love her so much. My new episode is out now presented by the all new Hyundai Palisade hybrid. Make Every Day Epic.

[Shannon Davis]

When I was diagnosed, all I wanted

[John Solomon]

to do was get back to work. I wanted to get back to that

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

trajectory that I was on prior to the cancer.

[Colonel Rob Manus]

I always felt like I had value. I had a place on the team

[Congressman Marlin Stutzman]

to just be treated with dignity.

[George Moridis]

It means everything.

[John Solomon]

Research shows there is a significant connection between the ability to continue to work and cancer recovery. We can make work a better place

[Amanda Head]

for healing, learn more and sign the [e-mail] Foreign. Welcome back everybody. John, I want to ask your opinion of something that just recently broke in the news because it is your state of Virginia, your new governor, Abigail Spamberger. As we were just talking, you know, she ran on a campaign of being a moderate for caring about the American people working on the intelligence side of things. Absolutely. But it was phony baloney. And this person that was released from prison.

[John Solomon]

We've seen lots of states drift to the left. California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and keep going on and on. Virginia is such a unique state because it's where our country was ultimately born. It is a country or a state that has an awful lot of intelligence and law enforcement and military people. And it's always been sort of a more moderate. It's been drifting to the left, but a more moderate left, left. And this is probably going to. She's going to be a bridge too far. And I think people are going to say, you said X and you're doing what you said X and your Y. And when the doing why comes with bodies, comes with increased taxes. I think she could be one of the most consequential boomerangs that the Democrats have put out there. AOC is going to survive New York because they love that. Virginia, I don't think is ready for an aoc. And that's basically the early record that she's rolling up.

[Amanda Head]

Yeah, it's unfortunate to see. And that spring back. I think you're right. I think for a lot of people, they say that sprung a little too far back in the other direction. Speaking of the dmv, the M for Maryland. Maryland middle school students were given tips on how to handle being non binary during a lesson on Transgender Awareness Week. Check this out. Today we are actually talking about tips for being non binary. This again is a question that I often get in my DMs on Instagram. Do you have any tips for being non binary? So my advice about this is to, if, you know, if you feel like a label will be helpful for you, then go ahead and attach yourself to that label. But don't feel like you have to stick to it and you're able to change.

[Kristen Davis]

You can evolve.

[Amanda Head]

I have had that experience myself in my own journey. And the non binary thing also came around in an odd way because I always kind of identified as this androgynous person and I sort of evolved to feel, okay, this androgynous word is the right word for me. But then I was like, oh, the new word that the kids are using these days is non binary. And I think, like, that makes more sense. John, I would like to attach the label of a 5 foot 11 supermodel to myself. Should I sign up for Ford Model Agency and reap in half a million dollars for campaign?

[John Solomon]

I don't know what that has to do with education, when you watch it, what does that, I mean, how does that make a kid? Do math, science, be ready for a job, know the history of their country, which is all that we asked our schools to do. It's pure indoctrination. It doesn't belong in the classroom, it doesn't belong without a parent's vetting. And these states are just, they're, they're, you know, we have these transgender shooters. We've had all these things. We're confusing our kids because we're taking the lessons of their parents and distorting them when their parents aren't with them. And I just, you know, if you have a kid in a school and that happens, pull your kid and find some other school or take them home, for God's sakes. That doesn't make them a student.

[Amanda Head]

Also remove their Instagram account if they're sending messages like this. Absolutely absurd. Yeah, just slap whatever label on yourself you want. Moving on. So a lot of folks, when the interstate system was incepted, a lot of people saw some of the dangers of that, of having such cross state commerce and issues surrounding that. Well, Fast forward to 2026 and Tennessee Representative Matt Van Epps has called out states like my former one, California, who refused to enforce driver's license standards. Check it out.

[Colonel Rob Manus]

When even one unqualified driver is handed a commercial driver's license, the danger does not stop at a state line. It puts every highway and every family on the road at risk. And the reality is this is not about a single single reckless driver. It is about tens of thousands operating nationwide. Last year in my home state of Tennessee, the Biden administration granted a non English speaking illegal alien work authorization allowing him to obtain a commercial driver's license. This man went on to cause a multi vehicle crash, killing one and injuring two others.

[Amanda Head]

So John, for many years my dad was a consultant in the transportation industry, particularly trucking. And so I used to go to a lot of conventions with him. And truckers used to be salt of the earth people. But a lot of those folks, Americans who, you know, passed their CDL with flying colors, have driven faithfully down the 20 and the 40 across this country for decades. They have been pushed out because of cheaper labor.

[John Solomon]

Yeah, listen, you see the stories that we've done recently with Steven Richards about this Illinois guy that's approving the licenses. He's getting all the money from the trucking industry. So the trucking industry is paying these guys big donations so they could lower the standards and get cheaper labor just so they can improve their margins. The trucking companies have to be part of the consequence here. And I think that that's sort of where I think Sean Duffy goes next. I would be watching for a transportation DOJ inquiry pretty soon. I think that's coming down the pike.

[Amanda Head]

All right, John, so if you could slap any label on yourself, as that woman in that video suggested, what would you slap on yourself outside of journalism?

[John Solomon]

Just a guy.

[Amanda Head]

Just a guy. You're a great guy. You're a husband, you're a dad.

[John Solomon]

Yeah, it's okay to be a guy. Absolutely.

[Amanda Head]

Especially in this day and age. All right, everybody that's going to do it for us tonight, have a great evening. We'll see you tomorrow.

[Kristen Davis]

Hi, it's Kristin Davis from Are youe a Charlotte Podcast? I just had the most epic girls day cruising around LA with my friend Heather Graham. And thanks to Hyundai, we even recorded a special episode for you. Sex and the City got me into

[Amanda Head]

Magnolia Bakery cupcakes, which I'm obsessed with with.

[Kristen Davis]

The Last time we did a Hyundai film, we went to the Magnolia. We sat on the bench. My new episode is out now, presented by the all new Hyundai Palisade hybrid. Make every day epic.

[Amanda Head]

People at work supported me while I

[George Moridis]

was going through treatment. By not treating me like somebody who

[Amanda Head]

was going through treatment. Treatment sucks.

[John Solomon]

Cancer sucks.

[Kristen Davis]

Being engaged with work really helped to

[Amanda Head]

oh, I just knew I was going to beat this thing.

[John Solomon]

Research shows there is a significant connection between the ability to continue to work and cancer recovery. We can make work a better place

[Amanda Head]

for healing, learn more and sign the [e-mail] this is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.