Hour 3 - Gov't Fraud Against You

Summary

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 3 - Gov't Fraud Against You
Date: January 2, 2026
Guest Host: Brian Mudd (in for Clay & Buck)

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Overview

This episode, guest hosted by Brian Mudd, focuses on the widespread abuse and fraud in government-administered programs, particularly COVID-related loans and funding for daycare centers in Minnesota. Mudd connects these incidents to larger issues of government inefficiency, waste, and the importance of political engagement—especially for conservatives—as the country approaches the midterm elections. Throughout, he offers a roadmap for Republicans to avoid repeating the losses of 2018 and capitalize on positive momentum, emphasizing voter turnout and registration trends.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Government Fraud: COVID Loans and the Minnesota Daycare Scandal

• Main Topic: The federal Small Business Administration (SBA) uncovered what it described as widespread suspected fraud in pandemic-era loans, echoing similar scandals like the extensive fraud in Somali-operated daycare centers in Minnesota.
• Details:
  • Loans: Approximately $400 million in questionable PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans tied to suspicious activity.
  • The “Somali daycare fraud” is painted as just the tip of the iceberg—with estimates suggesting up to $8 billion in fraud in Minnesota alone, dating back to 2018.
  • Common defense from those accused: claims of victimization and allegations of racism to deter scrutiny.
• Quote:

  "The potential we've heard for maybe up to $8 billion in fraud that took place going back to 2018. The potential is remarkable." – Brian Mudd [02:32]

2. Systemic Issues in Government Oversight

• Criticism of federal programs: Mudd argues that virtually every federal COVID-era program was ripe for abuse, blaming lack of accountability and inefficient bureaucracy.
• Analogy: Compares exposure of fraud to “peeling an onion: every layer you peel back, it's like, oh, but wait, there's more…” [02:32]
• Blame-shifting Tactics: Accused fraudsters invoking claims of racism when investigated.
• Critique of government size: “There are 430 federal government agencies. …How many do you think members of Congress can name if you put them in a room and took away their phones?” [~29:40]

3. Political Landscape and Voter Trends Toward 2026

• Comparison to 2018 midterms: Mudd claims Republicans are in a much stronger position today:
  • Trump’s average approval rating is 3 points higher than the same stage in 2018. [06:24]
  • Generic congressional ballot: GOP polling 9 points better than in 2018. [06:53]
• Voter Registration Shifts:
  • Democrats lost ground in every state that tracks party registration in 2025; worst performance since 1998.
  • Detailed stats: In swing states (Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, etc.), GOP registration increased while Democratic registration decreased.
• Quote:

  "Democrats lost ground last year in an off election year… It was the worst off election year performance… since 1998." – Brian Mudd [09:38]

4. Turnout Matters: Lessons from 2018

• Voter Turnout Patterns:
  • Only 64% turn out for presidential elections, 48% for midterms, and about 20% for local elections.
• Problem Identified: Many conservative voters stay home during midterms, providing a path for Democrats to win, even in favorable cycles.
  • “That's what this really gets down to is not taking this stuff for granted.” [31:30]
• Call to Action: Mudd urges listeners not to repeat past mistakes by staying home, but to prepare and energize others to vote in every election.

5. Explaining the Federal Funding in Daycare Programs

• Listener Call-in [22:38]:
  • Bob asks: Why are daycares federally funded?
  • Mudd explains the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program channels billions through the states into childcare—creating opportunities for large-scale fraud, especially where oversight is lax.
• Key Statistic:
  • $25 billion spent annually by the federal government on childcare/early education programs. [24:01]
• Quote:

  “That's how… you take a look at the accountability, you take a look at the fraud… So many reasons why it makes sense to cut the federal government, to have limited federal government, but this is one of the biggest right here.” – Brian Mudd [24:40]

6. The Roadmap for Republican Success in 2026

• Factors for GOP Optimism:
  • Improved voter registration and polling status versus 2018.
  • Democratic losses in party registration even in stronghold states.
  • Trump’s higher approval and broader support for Republicans.
• What Could Go Wrong:
  • Complacency and poor turnout by Republican voters, especially in non-presidential years.
• Prescriptive Advice:
  • Get engaged now, not just during election cycles.
  • Educate and mobilize other potential voters.
  • Recognize the importance of local elections as well as federal.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On government waste:

  “What is it the government gets right? What is it that it does well? Not a whole heck of a lot, which is why it’s best when it stays out of our way.” – Brian Mudd [03:54]

• On the fraud’s alleged victims:

  “They're victims. The Somali daycare centers, they're, they are real victims in all of this. …They think you're stupid. They really do think you're stupid.” – Brian Mudd [18:31]

• On the importance of turnout:

  “If this is you, get your head out of the butt. More importantly, if you know people who are like this, educate them, get them informed and engaged, be prepared now.” – Brian Mudd [33:40]

• On GOP opportunity:

  “Control what you can control and this could be a year of unprecedented success.” – Brian Mudd [35:33]

• Closing message:

  “We can do better. The math is there. You're there. Just get this done this time. Make this the fourth year that the President's party adds in a midterm election cycle. Should be a great run and a great year…” – Brian Mudd [41:30]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 02:32 – Deep dive into the scale and mechanics of COVID fraud and Minnesota daycare scandal.
• 06:24 – Positive shift for Trump and GOP in polls versus 2018; what’s different this time.
• 09:38 – Analysis of Democratic Party decline in voter registration.
• 18:31 – Mudd skewers the “victim” narrative and the culture of deflection among those accused of fraud.
• 22:38 – Caller Bob questions federal funding for daycares; breakdown of the TANF program and fraud vulnerabilities.
• 31:30 – The turnout problem: why Republicans often lose midterms despite favorable numbers.
• 35:33 – Urges action: “Control what you can control…”
• 41:30 – Closing rally for conservative listeners to not repeat 2018 and ensure strong results in 2026.

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Tone and Style

Brian Mudd delivers the episode with a tone that is analytical but direct, mixing populist frustration with humor and a consistent call to action. His approach combines storytelling (e.g., the “onion” of fraud), pointed criticism of government inefficiency, and practical political strategy.

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Summary for Non-Listeners

If you missed this episode, Brian Mudd outlined the shocking scope of government fraud in COVID relief and daycare funding, making it a case study for why smaller government is more accountable. He coupled criticism with optimism, presenting strong statistics showing Republican momentum in voter registration and polling. The crux of his message: these gains won’t matter unless conservative voters show up—in midterms and local races—as 2018’s painful lessons proved. Mudd’s roadmap: get informed, get engaged, and don’t let history repeat itself.

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Transcript

[Brian Mudd]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Dr. Charles Stanley]

Guaranteed Human Sometimes we all need to slow down and reconnect with what matters most. Life can feel overwhelming, but encouragement and guidance are closer than you think. At InTouch.org, you'll find biblical teaching, daily devotionals, and timeless sermons from Dr. Charles Stanley. These resources are designed to strengthen your faith, renew your hope, and give you confidence for life. If you're seeking peace, strength, or simply a reminder of God's presence, visit intouch.org today.

[Brian Mudd]

You'll be glad you did did you.

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[Buck Sexton]

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[Dr. Charles Stanley]

Now.

[Buck Sexton]

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[Brian Mudd]

The SBA says it uncovered what it says is widespread suspected fraud in Covid related loans. SBA administrator posting in part quote, in total, these borrowers were approved for 7900 PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loans worth approximately, approximately $400 million. Yeah, that is Fox's Shelley Painter. The Somali daycare fraud in Minnesota, the Onion, where every layer you peel back, it's like, oh, but wait, there's more, you know, round trip. The potential we've heard for maybe up to $8 billion in fraud that took place going back to 2018. The potential is remarkable. It's spectacular. And the Smalleys continuing to hide behind the. We're victims. We're victims in this situation. Including the break in that took place at one of the facilities. Just absolutely ridiculous. So many people that think you're stupid, but we can't give them a reason to think we're stupid. Like letting history repeat itself. Hey there. Brian Mudd here for Klein. Buck. It is always an honor and a pleasure to have the opportunity with you. Happy New Year. I broadcast from my home station WJNO in West Palm beach, not too far from El Presidente in Mar a Lago, where he has been busy straight through the holidays. When he's not in D.C. he's working every bit as hard as when he's in dc. I mean, the folks coming in and out of Mar a Lago nonstop, including Ukrainian President Zelensky last Sunday, and you had Prime Minister Netanyahu in on Monday. And constant work, despite the Wall Street Journal report, hey, Trump's shut his eyes in a meeting once. You know what that means. He's old. He can't get jokers. I mean, just absolute jokers. So a couple of things, couple things as we dive in. One, just specific to what you're hearing, one of the newest revelations about the SBA fraud as part of the whole Somali scheme there. What federal program that administered Covid funds wasn't abused overwhelmingly. Name one. Go. And it's kind of the point about government generally. What is it the government gets right? What is it that it does? Well, not a whole heck of a lot, which is why it's best when it stays out of our way. You know, protect us, make sure that we can live our lives. And otherwise we're pretty good shape. Right. And, and so as you, for example, have people that are saying, well, yeah, but those, those Covid era subsidies, the, the ACA subsidies, they expired. And now that's really Expensive. Well, that's because it always was. The difference is for the people, the 92% of policies that were subsidized, 80% the total cost of of ACA policies, the exchange based policies being paid for by everybody else. That didn't make it okay. It doesn't make it okay. It's just like the socialism getting ready to experience in New York City with mom Donnie. It doesn't make it okay when other people who are having a hard time affording their health care are made to pay for your health care if you're on an exchange based policy too. The crisis always was Obamacare and it's all part of the bigger storyline here. Are we going to continue down the path of success or are we going to repeat history like we did in 2018? Take for granted everything that President Trump was doing was working on and reluctantly back in those days. Republicans too. Republicans, despite the narrow majority, have actually been far more effective through the first 11 plus months of the Trump administration than they were the first time around. But are we going to take it for granted and just let this thing fall apart? So I've got the roadmap here for you about why this does not have to look like 2018, about how if those who voted for Trump simply get their butts out there and vote for those who support more or less Trump's policies, things can really be better than they've ever been. The unprecedented success that I've been talking about throughout the course of today's show. So you have an option. You can let Democrats take control this year and then to January next year in the midterms and then spend two years impeaching Trump and then attempting to screw you and the process too. Or you can control what, you can control what did not happen in 2018. So let me start with the improved news on that note as we take a look at where we had been, where we are today. Now, the first thing is, and you can only read so much into any of this stuff, but it's still an apples to apples comparison. If you take a look at President Trump's average approval rating. So the real clear politics pulling average his approval on this date back in 2018, his approval rating today is 3 points higher than it was. Okay, so that's something. Start from a little bit better of a base there. There are a few more people that are awake at the wheel than were at that point. And if a lot of the three points translated into votes, that would make a difference in a lot of close elections congressionally throughout the course of this year. But wait, there's more, because this is actually the more encouraging element, especially since we're talking about congressional races. On the generic ballot, Republicans are nine points better off than they were on this date in 2018. Okay, so generic ballot. Hey, if you had to vote today, would you go for a Democrat or a Republican? The Real Clear Politics average Republicans are 9 points better off than on this date back in 2018. If you start taking a look at how many elections would have worked out differently during what turned out to basically be a wave election for Democrats back in 2018, things would have looked vastly different if you had a nine point swing across the country. Okay, so this is the first thing just to kind of informationally put in front of you. President Trump is starting from a better position in terms of public perception than he was at the same stage in his first term. Congressional Republicans, despite themselves at times, they've been led well enough by, by Trump that people are like, yeah, I may not like them, but I take a look at those Democrats, man, I certainly don't want to be associated with those people. So in part because Democrats have, have managed to embrace socialism and have, have managed to pretty much suck at life as a party at this point, going, hey, if only Kamala Harris had more time. Here's mom Donnie. Let's travel down this path with our politicians going forward. Gavin Newsom taking the reins and maybe becoming the face of the Democrat party. Republicans 9 points better off generic ballot than 2018. This does not have to be a bad year for Republicans. This doesn't have to be a repeat of what we saw back then. We can take advantage of the unprecedented success that we're set up for. So first thing is, despite the many predictions that you see of a Democrat wave this year, the numbers that are out there right now do tell a different story. You know, a heck of a long way before a lot of these elections are going to be taking place. But again, it's a better base to be operating from. Another really important note, because polls are polls, right? They're worth what you pay for them. But the hard voter registration information, this one to me is the single most instructive read on where we're starting compared to where we have been previously. Favorite stat. Probably just sheer politics 2025. Did you know that Democrats lost ground in every single state that tracks partisan voter registration information? Democrats lost ground last year in an off election year. And one of the things is most people don't pay attention to voter registration information in off election years. For four of the obvious reasons, it's an off election year. But what we have historically seen is that off election year intent, a lot of people will just take a look at the special elections. And Republicans did not perform well. Democrats really outperformed in special elections that took place last year, which is all part of the reason why we can't be stupid this year, because people didn't show up and vote. People voted for Trump, then didn't show up to vote in these special elections last year to Democrats who poured in all kinds of resources, even in local races, ended up really outperforming last year. But when you take a look at the broader electorate after the 2024 performance, the performance that allowed Trump to win his commanding victory, that allowed him to win convincingly the popular vote as well, that allowed Republicans to assume control of Congress, Democrats lost ground after that November performance in 2024, all throughout the course last year to Republicans by way of voter registration in every single state that tracks partisan voter registration information, and you have 11 states that do it pretty actively. You have all in 30 that provide at least some information. And so it's scattered. It's not, but the themes are there. It was true in blue states, it was true in red states, it was true in your big time swing states. And one of the things that is still odd to me as I'm in South Florida, although I predicted that this would always eventually happen, is that being in a place where Florida, my home state, used to be the ultimate swing state and now in the eyes of many, is the ultimate red state, you could track this off election year information, the voter registration information, which Florida updates monthly, and you could really see where things would be heading in a subsequent election cycle. There's always been a connection between the two. So that is a very powerful, very powerful stat that Democrats have lost ground in every single state. That part tracks partisan registration information, which probably means that, hey, if other states had it, that probably would have washed there too. How bad was it for Democrats last year? Okay, so if you take a look at the voter registration information in those states, it was the worst off election year performance, net performance, Democrats, Republicans, that the Democrat donkey has had since 1998. You have to go back to 98 to find the last time that Democrats performed as poorly against Republicans in a single year. And that also helps tell a story. Now, a lot of the historic norms, of course, do favor Democrats heading into this year. The party opposite the president, midterm elections has historically done the best, very rare, only a few times actually, since the advent of the two party system, have you had the president's party gain seats in midterm elections? But again, it has happened a few times. So the base that is better here, the voter registration trends, the polling information both for Trump and for Republicans on a generic ballot compared to Democrat, they're all polling in the same direction. So that is some really encouraging news. And that's the starting point for the encouraging news. I have more of it coming up next. I'm Brian Mudd in for Clay and Buck. Stories of freedom, Stories of America. Inspirational stories that unite us all each day. Spend time with Clay and Buck. Find them on the free iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dr. Charles Stanley]

Sometimes we all need to slow down and reconnect with what really matters most. Life moves quickly, and between responsibilities, stress and distractions, it's easy to lose sight of the things that bring true meaning. That's where intouch.org comes in. It's a place filled with biblical teaching, devotionals and encouragement that speaks directly to your heart. Dr. Charles Stanley's sermons are timeless, offering wisdom that applies to everyday challenges as well as the deeper questions of faith. The resources there are designed to help you live with confidence, strengthen your relationship with God, and experience his presence in a practical way. On the site, you'll find daily devotionals to keep you grounded, articles that inspire reflection, and tools that guide you toward a life of peace and purpose. Whether you're searching for hope, strength, or simply a reminder that you're not alone, intouch.org is there for you. Make it part of your routine visit today and discover the peace, guidance and encouragement you've been looking for.

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[Buck Sexton]

Let me be blunt. Gold is up around 40% this year. That's not speculation, that's reality. If a portion of your savings isn't diversified into gold, you're missing the boat. Here are the facts. Inflation is still too high, our dollar still recovering, and the federal government debt is not going down. This is why central banks are flocking to gold. They're the ones driving prices up to record highs. But it's not too late. I recently bought more gold from Birch Gold Group. And you can get in the door now. Birch Gold will help you convert an existing IRA or 401k into a tax sheltered IRA. In gold, you don't pay a dime out of pocket. Just text my Name Buck to 989898 and claim your free info kit. There's no obligation, just useful information. The best indicator of the future is the past. Gold has historically been a safe haven. I've got gold in my home. Safe gold bars, gold coins. You can too, my friends. Birch Gold Group is who you should contact.

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[Buck Sexton]

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[Brian Mudd]

Unfortunately we saw that there was important documentation, enrollment of the children and also employee documentation that was gone. There were also checkbooks that were ripped from our check papers are from our book. I mean, stunning. Stunning. Oh my gosh. They're victims. The Somali daycare centers, they're, they are real victims in all of this. They are, are not in any way responsible for not only the rampant fraud that is being uncovered that's gone on for years, they're victims because people want to break in and steal records that happened to be the manager of one of the, the daycare facilities. Of course, the, the one robbed. They were robbed. People wanted to get those records. You know, there have been a lot of mean things that were said about the Somali criminals. I'm sorry, these Somalis that were running these, these facilities. And so people wanted to get in there and just not Convenient at all that those records were stolen. And there's a checkbook, too. You know, they took a checkbook because you got to find some kind of motive. Why? So there's got to be a financial angle. I'm sure they got to write out a bunch of checks. It just. They think you're stupid. They really do think you're stupid. But then again, if you're the Smalleys, anytime anybody had shown any kind of critical attention to you for years now what have you done? You're racist. You want to investigate me? You're racist. Oh, okay, you're right. So we'll just let you continue to commit fraud. So I guess they, you know, have been conditioned that enough people are stupid. But that only works in Minnesota, because when you have tampon walls, he might be stupid, his administration might be stupid. Ellison, the AG there might be stupid. They might be complicit to. We'll wait and see. But the rest of us in these states united. Not necessarily stupid, not necessarily maybe screwed. Like if you're in New York City and you've got Mom, Donnie, or if you're in California and you've been successful and you now get subjected to the wealth tax on top of everything else, that has a lot of wealthy people in California thinking, you know what? I need to get out of there this year. Hey there. Brian Mudd in for Klain Buck. And what I have been doing throughout the course of the show today is kind of painting the picture about how we're set up for unprecedented success this year, but also how important it is that we do not take this midterm election year for granted. And we don't wait until the elections are on us and then have people on the right that are scrambling because Trump's name is not on the ballot. And I don't like the. This Republican in my district. He didn't do what I wanted to on this thing. And so I'm going to let a commie get in there instead. I mean, that. That makes sense, taking a look at the roadmap for things to be a lot better. And I've laid out the significant differences that we see over where we were on this date in Trump's first term versus where we are this time, along with a lot more success that we're set up for than even Trump's first term. And as you recall, things ended up being pretty great right before the pandemic. And so as we take a look at a lot of the areas of improvement, one of the most significant happens to be voter registration changes where we have that information. As I like to say, there are two sides of stories, one side of facts. Well, the facts of the matter show that we have had in these states that collect voter registration information, Democrats lose about 1 1.4% of their voters while Republicans have gained just under a half percent new voters in those states. So on top of everything else, the off election year yet about a two point swing in voter registrations to Republicans over where we were coming out of November 2024. The conditions are there. We've got to take advantage of it. Brian Mudd in for Clay and Buck. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on the front lines of truth. Daycares. And this is very sad news that one individual who made a false claim about fraud that is happening in the daycares. How engaged everyone else to come and do this to us. Yeah, there is nothing to see here, folks. Nothing. The, the, the expose of what's happening here, that's what's to blame. You know, you, you have a journalist who takes video of what's actually taking place. You be like the CNN reporter who more interested in, in trying to, to take down an investigative journalist than, than actually massive fraud that's been playing out in the state of Minnesota with the daycare facilities. The, that again, the, the manager of one of the facilities, one that was broken into, allegedly just happened to know where the records were. Just one of the records. That's, you know, who wouldn't break in to a daycare facility to, to get records. I mean that's. Huh. But again, nothing, nothing to see there folks. Nothing at all. And as we say, actually let's see, we got. Before I get back to the roadmap here for 2026, unprecedented success politically. Got Bob, who wants to weigh in on this, on the Somali daycare scandal in Minnesota. Bob, right here in West Palm beach can't be too far away. Welcome to the show. Yes, sir. How you doing today? All good, Bob. How about you? I'm doing pretty good. Since when are daycares federally funded? I've got two twin girls that are registered in daycare and we're paying $800 per child per month and there's probably about 70 to 75 other parents paying the same and that's what funds the daycare. So why are federal funds even being involved, legitimate or not, in the daycares? Well, you just need to get yourself on a federal government program. That's, that's where the issue comes down. Now I hear what you're saying, Bob, and Thank you for the call. So it's through dcf. When you start talking about the government, the federal funding of these types of things, you have the, what is known as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. And that is the lion's share of where this money comes in. And to give you an idea, the most recent year, huge money. Huge money. The federal government spent over $25 billion in these types of programs over the past year. It's one of the reasons. You take a look at Minnesota and you're like, hold on, this is not a particularly big state, and the, the estimates run as high as $8 billion in fraud. You're like, how could that be possible in one not terribly big state, uh, that goes back to 2018, and we'll see where the ball ends. Might not be that high, but how could there be up to $8 billion in fraud in one state over the. The previous seven years? Well, it's because if you take a look at the annualized spending just on these childcare and early childhood education programs that are funded through the federal government, coming in at over $25 billion a year. And that is how. And you take a look at the accountability, you take a look at the fraud. I mean, look, there are so many reasons why it makes sense to cut the federal government, to have limited federal government, but this is, is one of the biggest right here. Because what happens when you have all these unaccountable agencies? You know, there are 430 federal government agencies. 430. And what I've always said is, I would love to get every single member of Congress together, put them in a room, take away their cell phones, okay? So no Internet access. Give them a full day. So you get 535 folks together, or however many are not retired or dead or what have you at any given time, get them all together, the 500 plus that would be there, and let them even converse amongst themselves. I'm fine with that. But no Internet. And if even one member, one member of Congress votes or can even name the government agency, then it states, if even one person could just name the government agency, it would say, how many of the 430 federal government agencies do you think would be gone? So, and that's kind of part of the bigger point. You know, one of the things, as we recently went through the longest partial government shutdown in American history, I mean, had it not been for the issues we ended up having with air traffic control, for the most part, nobody noticed anything. And even then I was doing analysis on that, you know, longest partial government shutdown in American history. You know, what percentage of Americans in even felt it at any point, any aspect of it, it only got up to about 27%. And a lot of that was on the travel side, along with the federal government employees themselves. And so even with the longest partial government shutdown in history, you still didn't even get to a point where 70% of Americans 7 and 10 had any idea was happening if it hadn't been in the news. It gives you an idea about how bloated and ridiculous the federal government is. And my biggest lament about partial government shutdowns is that we haven't done more to try to make permanent. But, yeah, this is the biggest thing we administering all of this money that is funneled by the federal government to states, then states that could be corrupt or unaccountable, like Minnesota, and then down to whoever is supposed to be responsible for these programs that then administer it to the. The individual daycare facilities. That's how all that nonsense ends up going down. And of course, that's true in so many other programs, which is why we have so much fraud and. And especially when you had all that Covid money that is involved. All right, so talking about the roadmap here for this midterm election year to be different than your typical midterm election, which means that the President's party gets waxed typically in those midterm elections, and specifically about how to not repeat the history we had in 2018 when President Trump was setting us up for all kinds of success, that eventually we're like, oh, yeah, this is pretty darn good. Right before the pandemic hit, we're set up for even more success as it will be felt progressively throughout the course of this year and then again next year. How not to take that for granted. Walking through a lot of the voter registration information, in addition to the polling information that's out there, and everything's been pointing in the same direction. Despite how a lot of the special elections went last year, which Democrats had really strong performances, relatively speaking. The problem is ultimately that people that voted for Trump didn't get out there and vote. And that's what this really gets down to is not taking this stuff for granted. So the last thing I left you with was that if you take a look at the on a percentage basis in states where we have voter registration information available, the changes that we saw last year. So this is after the results of the 2024 election cycle. Democrats lost 1.4% of their registered voters. Last year, Republicans added about 3, 10 of 1% to the ranks. So that you net that out and you have a near two point advantage in registered voters for Republicans over where we were this time a year ago. President Trump, his approval rating is the, is three points higher than it was at the same point back in 2018. Very importantly, the generic ballot, Republicans performing 9 points better than Democrats at the same stage in 2018. Then you start taking a look at some of the individual states. So you know, mentioned that really good information only available in and you know, select states. Take a look at places like Arizona for example. Big swing state, right? Republicans net of Democrats about 100,000 voters better off than they were a year ago at this time. Even in California, Republicans over 100,000 voters better off than they were this time a year ago. Colorado, you see a decent sized move for the advantage of the the GOP. My home state of Florida, Republicans are over 300,000 voters better off here than a year ago. You see the same being true with Democrats losing voters and Republicans gaining voters in Nevada, even New York, New York state Republicans added 14,000 voters over the past year. Democrats lost 78,000. You're continually seeing these trends. North Carolina, huge swing state. Republicans big swing. About 100,000 voters swing in their favor. Pennsylvania, massive, close to 200,000 to the GOP advantage. We see similar changes in New Jersey, in Oregon. And so you really have an opportunity here if people follow through and actually vote and actually vote. So when you have these trends in the blue states and the swing states wherever, and it lines up with polling information that's available and then you see all of the things that have been accomplished, many of which haven't been realized fully in the economy that are going to come through. We're set up for unprecedented success. We're set up for a really good year. But about that turnout, and this is what just drives me bad crap crazy at times. So if you take a look at turnout by election type for those that are eligible, you got about 64% of Americans that will turn out to vote for a presidential election. I mean, still remarkable to me that you don't even have a full 2/3 that are that care enough to get out there and vote for a presidential election. But that's what it is, about 64% of those who are eligible. But here is the problem, and this was the problem back in 2018. It'll be the problem this year if Republicans don't get their heads out of their butts. 48% is the turnout for midterm elections. Okay, so 64% for presidential elections, just 48%. And for the life of me, I can't imagine why somebody go, yeah, the presidential election is really important. But then midterm elections, congressional elections, the folks that are there, that ultimately are to work for or against the incumbent press, why you have so many people, you've got 16% that are like, yeah, but not this end. Very important. So I'm not, or maybe I, I don't like the Republican in my district on this particular issue. And I'm a single issue voter, therefore I'm going to let a communist win this district. Let's do that. Very smart. No, it's very dumb. Very dumb. I would say that giving Trump even a rhino would be better than giving them a mom. Donnie. Just saying. And then this is for you at home too, because this factors in, in ways that transcend. It ultimately becomes the bench for parties, local elections. You know, one of the things I've, I've long said is that it's often the elections that happen closest to you that have the biggest impact on daily life. Not always, but often. And anybody who lives, for example, in an overactive HOA knows this. Like, if you've got, you know, really awful HOA situation, boy, the people running, that really matters, right? Every single day you feel that impact. Same is true if you live in a city, doesn't enforce, you know, the law, if you have illegal immigrants everywhere, sanctuary policies, you name it. Turnout for local elections is only 20% on average in this country. So you start to think about the level of commitment, everything we've been given, the greatest country on Earth, we've got a president who's getting the job done. And you have 64% that bothered to turn out for a presidential election, 48% for midterm elections, and then only 20% for local elections. You got way too many people, including a majority at a certain level of people on the right, because we are 20% turnout. You don't have people on the right that are turning out for local elections either. Just do not appreciate what they have enough. They don't care enough. And so one, if this is you, get your head out of the butt. More importantly, if you know people who are like this, educate them, get them informed and engaged, be prepared now. Don't wait until we get into an election cycle and go, oh, no, it looks like, you know, early voting numbers are not good for Republicans in this district. It's too late now. Do it now. Local elections and matters not only to your community. But again, that's also often the bench for parties at the federal level as well. Get involved, get engaged. Who knows, maybe you should become a candidate. These are the things that need to be done differently, the things that were not done in 2018. The conditions are right for things to be a heck of a lot better, but they're not going to be any better if we do the same dumb thing. Like not care enough to turn out and vote. Like not care enough to get out and get engaged. Control what you can control and this could be a year of unprecedented success. I'm Brian Mudd and for Clay and Buck, news and politics, but also a little comic relief. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton. Find them on the free iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dr. Charles Stanley]

Sometimes we all need to slow down and reconnect with what really matters most. Life moves quickly, and between responsibilities, stress and distractions, it's easy to lose sight of the things that bring true meaning. That's where intouch.org comes in. It's a place filled with biblical teaching, devotionals and encouragement that speaks directly to your heart. Dr. Charles Stanley's sermons are timeless, offering wisdom that applies to everyday challenges as well as the deeper questions of faith. The resources there are designed to help you live with confidence, strengthen your relationship with God, and experience his presence in a practical way. On the site, you'll find daily devotionals to keep you grounded, articles that inspire reflection, and tools that guide you toward a life of peace and purpose. Whether you're searching for hope, strength, or simply a reminder that you're not alone, you intouch.org is there for you. Make it part of your routine visit today and discover the peace, guidance and encouragement you've been looking for.

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[Buck Sexton]

Let me be blunt. Gold is up around 40% this year. That's not speculation, that's reality. If a portion of your savings isn't diversified into gold, you're missing the boat. Here are the facts. Inflation is still too high, our dollar still recovering, and the federal government debt is not going down. This is why central banks are flocking to gold. They're the ones driving prices up to record highs. But it's not too late. I recently bought more gold from Birch Gold Group and you can get in the door now. Birch Gold will help you convert an existing IRA or 401k into a tax sheltered IRA. In gold you don't pay a dime out of pocket. Just text my Name Buck to 989-898 and claim your free info kit. There's no obligation, just useful information. The best indicator of the future is the past. Gold has historically been a safe haven. I've got gold in my home. Safe gold bars, gold coins. You can too my friends. Birch Gold Group is who you should contact.

[Dr. Charles Stanley]

Birch Gold makes owning physical gold very easy.

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[Brian Mudd]

Not only is this a massive abuse of taxpayer dollars, but it also was incentivized because of the negligence and the inability of the Biden administration to put in proper financial control. Now that is HUD Secretary Scott Turner talking about the Somali Minnesota daycare fraud and the complicit nature the Biden Administration administration to allow so much of this to happen. And one of the big pieces of the investigation, as you already have close to a hundred arrests that have been made at this point. How much did they know at the state level? How much did Tim Pond know? How much did Ellison the AG in Minnesota know? Was there more to the story than perhaps may initially meet the eye. But there are so many different things that kind of come back to one deal, and that is ultimately you have abuse at so many different levels. When you have a government that is not being managed well, when you have people minding the store that have no business minding the store. And ultimately, who is it that loses? Well, it's you. And so you don't want to be that way. We have the opportunity to have unprecedented success. President Trump has laid the groundwork for all of that. The one big, potentially aesthetically pleasing bill delivered on those promises. And this could be a great year. But you got to turn out, you got to do your part to make sure that every election you're there to vote, that the people around you are too, and that we don't have a reason repeat of what we ended up seeing in 2018. We can do better. The math is there. You're there. Just get this done this time. Make this the fourth year that the President's party adds in a midterm election cycle. Should be a great run and a great year again, aside from maybe New York City and California and a few other situations out there. Hey, the guys are going to be back with you on Monday, so Clay and Buck will be ready to roll on Monday. Thank you so much for taking the time with me today. It is truly an honor and a pleasure being with you. You can always check out the Brian Mudd show podcast wherever you get your podcasts at Brian Mudd Radio Socially, God bless and Happy New Year to you. Brian Mudd in for Clay and Buck Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on the Front Lines of Truth.

[Dr. Charles Stanley]

Sometimes we all need to slow down and reconnect with what matters most. Life can feel overwhelming, but encouragement and guidance are closer than you think. @intouch.org you'll find biblical teaching, daily devotionals and timeless sermons from Dr. Charles Stanley. These resources are designed to strengthen your faith, renew your hope and and give you confidence for life. If you're seeking peace, strength, or simply a reminder of God's presence, visit intouch.org today. You'll be glad you did did you.

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[Brian Mudd]

Shipt since I signed up for target circle360 no price markups when I order same day delivery from tons of local stores or only a handful of alcohol retailers and items don't count. I won't lie, I've had too much fun being like markups on groceries not in my fridge. Markups on pet food not for my dog. Markups on tools, electronics, home goods, meds. Not in my house. Anyway, it's awesome. Order [e-mail] 360 terms apply. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.