Podcast Summary: The Josh Hammer Show
Episode: Dem Shutdown Chaos Continues
Date: March 23, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Josh Hammer tackles the ongoing chaos caused by the partial government shutdown, focusing specifically on the impact at America’s airports due to stalled TSA funding. Hammer attributes the shutdown’s consequences to Democratic obstruction, particularly amid heated debates over funding for agencies like TSA and ICE. He also explores the unfolding U.S.-Iran conflict and its political ramifications, delves into the situation in Cuba with a high-profile leftist ‘solidarity’ trip, analyzes a major Supreme Court case on election law, and discusses a leak in a prominent Jewish-Christian WhatsApp chat. The episode is packed with Hammer’s trademark incisive and polemical commentary on politics, law, and culture.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Airport Crisis & Shutdown Politics

[00:29 – 12:44]

• Hammer opens with a brief March Madness shout-out, then pivots sharply to the airline crisis, blaming it squarely on Democrats—especially Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
• TSA Crisis: Major staffing issues at U.S. airports with ~400 TSA employees quitting since the shutdown began, leading to “catastrophic wait times.”
  • “America's airports continue to just be an utter disaster thanks to Chuck Schumer and the obstinate obstructionist Schumer-Jeffrey Democrats.” (Josh Hammer, 01:54)
• Many travelers showing up hours early; Hammer himself is about to travel for CPAC and notes widespread concern.
• ICE Deployments: Trump admin sends ICE agents to help at airports, sparking outrage from Democratic lawmakers who refuse to fund TSA but complain about alternative federal support.
  • “If you don’t want ICE to serve the airports, maybe just fund the TSA...” (Josh Hammer, 05:32)
• Senate Votes: John Fetterman stood as the only Democrat to vote to fully fund TSA and DHS in the recent Senate “vote-a-rama.”
  • Hammer suggests this is a potent midterm ad angle for Republicans, especially against Dems like Jon Ossoff (GA).
  • “There should be billboard signs… blasting that Jon Ossoff refuses to fund TSA. Frankly, if the NRC is not paying attention to that… they’re not doing their job.” (Josh Hammer, 06:23)
• Notable Quote:
  • "We're incredibly grateful... for ICE support to help alleviate the challenges that our officers are facing, that the traveling population is facing..." (Adam Stahl, TSA Deputy Administrator, 07:10)
• Media Blame: Hammer lambastes media for supposedly misattributing shutdown blame to Trump and Republicans, asserting again that funding for these agencies is already secured through the fiscal year.

Timestamps for Key Segments:

• Airport/TSA Shutdown Crisis: [00:29 – 12:44]
• Notable Adam Stahl Quote: [07:01 – 07:31]

2. U.S.-Iran War Update

[13:02 – 23:46]

• Nearly a month since the U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran began; recent missile attacks in southern Israel, including an apparent attempt to hit Dimona (rumored Israeli nuclear facility).
• Iran also targets Diego Garcia (U.S.-UK base, 2400+ miles from Iran), showing greater-than-expected missile reach.
  • “Iran did something that a lot of these so-called experts swore they couldn’t do… they actually flew missiles at locations over 2,000 miles away from Tehran.” (Josh Hammer, 19:47)
• Hammer is critical of “cowardly” Arab allies such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE for not joining the coalition.
• Pressure on Iran: Trump issues a 48-hour ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on Iran's power network, but later puts strikes on hold as negotiations progress.
  • “Trump saying in very clear language, you have 48 hours to open this Strait or else we are going to strike your power plants.” (Josh Hammer, 16:29)
• Trump Statement on Talks:
  • “We have had very, very strong talks. We’ll see where they lead. We have points, major points of agreement, I would say almost all…” (Donald Trump, 17:50)
• Hammer emphasizes the distinction between tactics and ultimate objectives in foreign policy, argues Trump's approach is focused on neutralizing the Islamic Republic as a threat—to be contrasted with what Hammer sees as Obama/Biden’s diplomacy-for-its-own-sake.
• Notes rumors of possible direct U.S.-Iran summit talks in Pakistan, with JD Vance as possible U.S. rep.

Timestamps:

• Iran War Segment: [13:02 – 23:12]
• Trump on Iran Talks: [17:45 – 18:12]

3. Cuba Blackout and Leftist Solidarity Visit

[27:35 – 35:18]

• National blackouts in Cuba; Hammer attributes this to U.S. sanctions and declining Venezuelan/Russian oil.
• Leftist activists—Greta Thunberg, Hasan Piker, Ilhan Omar’s daughter, Code Pink—organize the “Nuestra America convoy” to Cuba, allegedly in five-star hotels amid the blackout.
  • “These are limousine liberal champagne socialists… Hasan Piker…a man who would have fit in quite well with the Hitler Youth back in the 1930s…” (Josh Hammer, 27:57)
• Hammer rails against their hypocrisy: living in luxury while ordinary Cubans suffer, and for their anti-U.S./anti-Israel rhetoric.
• Legal Angle: Claims Piker and others are admitting to violating U.S. law by lodging at prohibited properties in Cuba.
  • Suggests U.S. authorities should consider charges against “these idiots…these moral putrid, ah, little piece of garbage. Hasan Piker, Greta Thunberg…”

4. Supreme Court Case: Watson v. RNC

[35:19 – 40:37]

• Supreme Court hears challenge about whether Mississippi can accept mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but received after it.
  • Unique case pits state (Mississippi) against the RNC and federal government; both sides represented by leading conservative lawyers.
• Hammer’s view:
  • Favors uniform rules but opposes all forms of early/mail-in voting except limited exceptions (military, bedridden, etc.).
  • Proposes a political compromise: Make Election Day a national holiday (Dem ask) in exchange for eliminating widespread early/mail-in voting (GOP ask).

5. Leaked Jewish–Christian WhatsApp Chat Scandal

[40:38 – 43:58]

• Discusses a high-profile WhatsApp group created by Charlie Kirk for Jewish-Christian relations; the chat was leaked to Candace Owens.
• Revelation:
  • Source of the leak is revealed to be Joe Kent (according to Rabbi Pesach Wolicki and Andrew Colvett).
• Trump’s Reaction:
  • “Look, I’m not a fan of the guy… he put us in danger by leaking that chat to a deranged psychopath by Candace Owens. I know because I’ve been facing death threats from it.” (Donald Trump, 42:32 & Josh Hammer, 43:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Josh Hammer [01:54]: “America's airports continue to just be an utter disaster thanks to Chuck Schumer and the obstinate obstructionist Schumer-Jeffrey Democrats.”
• Adam Stahl (TSA) [07:01]: “We are certainly grateful… for ICE support. They’re going to be conducting non specialized security support…we’re incredibly grateful again for their support…”
• Josh Hammer [06:23]: “There should be billboard signs… blasting that Jon Ossoff refuses to fund TSA. Frankly, if the NRC is not paying attention…they’re not doing their job.”
• Donald Trump [17:50]: “We have had very, very strong talks. We’ll see where they lead. We have points, major points of agreement, I would say almost all…”
• Josh Hammer [19:47]: “Iran did something that a lot of these so-called experts swore they couldn’t do…they actually flew missiles at locations over 2,000 miles away from Tehran.”
• Josh Hammer on Cuba [27:57]: “These are limousine liberal champagne socialists… Hasasn Piker…a man who would have fit in quite well with the Hitler Youth back in the 1930s…”
• Josh Hammer [35:19]: “Early voting is absolutely terrible. Early voting is garbage. Why? Because it literally defeats the purpose of holding a national election day.”
• Donald Trump [42:32]: “Look, I’m not a fan of the guy… If you look at his truths or whatever he went on, if it’s X or truth, if you look at his truths or his statements, he was all for everything. All of a sudden he wasn’t...”
• Josh Hammer [43:26]: “He put us in danger by leaking that chat to a deranged psychopath by Candace Owens. I know because I’ve been facing death threats from it…”

Important Segment Timestamps

• Airport/TSA Crisis & Shutdown Politics: [00:29 – 12:44]
• Adam Stahl (TSA) on ICE help: [07:01 – 07:31]
• U.S.-Iran War Update: [13:02 – 23:12]
• Donald Trump on Iran Negotiations: [17:45 – 18:12]
• Cuba Blackout & Leftist Convoy: [27:35 – 35:18]
• Supreme Court Mail-in Ballot Case: [35:19 – 40:37]
• WhatsApp Chat Leak Scandal: [40:38 – 43:58]

Summary Notes

• The episode is characterized by intense partisanship, starkly blaming Democrats for the continuing shutdown and airport woes.
• Hammer’s foreign policy take is hawkish, lauding Trump’s military posture toward Iran and mocking European and Arab allies he deems weak.
• Scorn is directed at leftist activists for their alleged hypocrisy in Cuba.
• Hammer expresses skepticism about early/mail-in voting and proposes a partisan compromise.
• The WhatsApp leak story is given personal resonance, with Hammer connecting leaked messages to personal threats.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode is a rapid, opinion-heavy overview of current hot-button topics from an unapologetically conservative and combative perspective. Expect sharp critiques of Democrats on domestic policy, a hawkish defense of Trump’s foreign policy, salvos at leftist activists, and an inside-baseball revelation about a national security leak. The show provides both news analysis and actionable talking points for conservative listeners ahead of the 2026 midterms.