
Hosted by Audacy · EN

The May 13, 2026 edition of The Marc Cox Morning Show delivers a fast-moving mix of political controversy, economic pressure points, and international tension. Hour 1 centers on escalating scrutiny of St. Louis County Executive Sam Page amid allegations of outside anesthesiology work despite rules barring dual employment, alongside a major legal challenge to the U.S. Census Bureau over counting illegal immigrants in population totals and a broader debate on student loan debt and its impact on younger Americans. Hour 2 shifts into Missouri politics and culture, highlighting a Supreme Court ruling upholding the state’s congressional map, ongoing police funding battles in St. Louis, and a mix of national market updates and lighter cultural headlines including entertainment and sports-related news. Hour 3 features in-depth interviews on political accountability and ideology, including criticism of DEI policy persistence, scrutiny of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Illinois’ rising gas tax structure, and viral public reaction to a poll about perceptions of Donald Trump. Hour 4 expands to global and national stakes with the president’s China summit talks, inflation and fuel tax debates, a volatile Los Angeles mayoral race centered on homelessness and policing policy, San Francisco regulatory disputes, and a sharp Washington confrontation over a federal shooting case. Across all four hours, the show weaves together local governance battles, national economic strain, cultural conflict, and geopolitical uncertainty into a tightly packed political and economic snapshot of the day. Hashtags: #SamPage #MissouriPolitics #Census #GasPrices #Inflation #China #LAMayorRace #DEI #Illinois #WashingtonDC #Politics #FullShow**

Hour 4 blends international and domestic political flashpoints, opening with coverage of the president’s high-profile trip to China and the broader implications for energy markets, inflation, and geopolitical leverage. The discussion moves through rising gas prices and renewed debate over federal and state fuel taxes, framed against concerns about household costs and political accountability. Domestically, attention turns to the Los Angeles mayoral race, where outsider challenger Spencer Pratt is gaining traction by attacking homelessness spending, policing policy, and union influence, sparking backlash from establishment-backed opponents. The hour also highlights San Francisco’s push for stricter public behavior regulations, contrasted with ongoing struggles around homelessness and urban disorder. It closes with a tense Washington exchange over a federal shooting case, underscoring deeper political divisions over law enforcement, culpability, and public trust in institutions. Hashtags: #China #GasPrices #Inflation #Politics #LAMayorRace #Homelessness #SanFrancisco #WashingtonDC #Energy #PublicPolicy

Charles Payne joins the show to unpack the economic ripple effects of rising geopolitical tensions, especially concerns around Iran, oil supply shocks, and inflation pressures tied to energy markets. He pushes back on extreme price predictions, arguing that while volatility is real, prior forecasts of catastrophic oil spikes haven’t materialized thanks in part to U.S. production strength and fracking. The discussion shifts into the broader economy, including recent market volatility followed by a strong V-shaped rally, which Payne frames as part of a larger structural shift in innovation and investing opportunities. He highlights emerging themes like crypto regulation—specifically the “Clarity Act” and stablecoins—as a potential catalyst for mainstream adoption and lower transaction costs, while emphasizing that major gains are happening in under-the-radar sectors like AI infrastructure and space-related industries. Hashtags: #CharlesPayne #OilPrices #Iran #Inflation #StockMarket #Crypto #ClarityAct #Economy #EnergyMarkets #Investing

Jimmy Failla joins the show reacting to rising gas prices, the president’s trip to China, and the broader geopolitical backdrop involving Iran and energy markets. The conversation turns into a sharp, comedic breakdown of a YouGov poll claiming large shares of Democrats believe they could beat Donald Trump—or even that an eight-year-old could win a fight against him—prompting Failla to frame it as projection and political group-think rather than reality. He and the host also dig into the idea that gas tax relief is more symbolic than structural, while real price pressure is tied to global conflict and supply strategy. The segment mixes political analysis with humor, including commentary on media framing, cultural polarization, and how Trump’s political style continues to drive public reactions. Hashtags: #JimmyFailla #GasPrices #Trump #China #Iran #Politics #YouGovPoll #Media #ElectionTalk #FoxNews

Hour 3 opens with St. Louis County Councilman Dennis Hancock discussing allegations that County Executive Sam Page violated rules by working outside his official duties, with pressure mounting for further legal review and potential removal proceedings. The hour then shifts to Stefan Padfield from the Heritage Foundation, who breaks down ongoing DEI policy battles in corporations and universities, warning that rebranding efforts are masking continued ideological influence, while also addressing scrutiny of the Southern Poverty Law Center and related legal and organizational controversies. Later, Dylan Sharkey of the Illinois Policy Institute details Illinois’ escalating gas tax structure, including automatic annual increases, layered local taxes, and rising fuel costs that continue to pressure drivers despite large existing transportation funds. The hour closes with a viral YouGov poll discussion questioning whether Americans believe they could beat Donald Trump in a fight, breaking down partisan responses and highlighting how politically charged perceptions distort even absurd hypothetical scenarios. Hashtags: #Hour3 #MissouriPolitics #SamPage #DEI #HeritageFoundation #Illinois #GasPrices #TaxPolicy #YouGov #DonaldTrump #TalkRadio #PoliticalDebate

Dylan Sharkey from the Illinois Policy Institute breaks down how Illinois drivers are hit with some of the highest gas taxes in the country, driven by the 2019 tax hike and automatic annual increases that continue regardless of legislative votes. He explains how state leaders have access to billions in road funds yet still raise fuel costs, and how layered taxes from state, county, and local levels push prices near or above $5 per gallon in parts of Illinois. The discussion also touches on broader budget practices, toll increases, and how policy decisions in Springfield continue to squeeze drivers despite claims of affordability and infrastructure investment. Hashtags: #Illinois #GasPrices #TaxPolicy #IllinoisPolicyInstitute #DylanSharkey #EnergyCosts #Pritzker #Inflation #Transportation #BudgetPolicy

Stefan Padfield of the Free Enterprise Institute and Heritage Foundation joins to discuss ongoing corporate and institutional responses to DEI policy rollbacks, arguing that while some progress has been made in scaling back diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, many organizations are simply rebranding rather than eliminating them. The conversation expands into concerns about ideological persistence in institutions, the risk of political complacency, and the broader cultural “whack-a-mole” effect of policy enforcement. Padfield also addresses scrutiny surrounding the Southern Poverty Law Center, referencing recent legal and fraud-related allegations while framing the organization as part of a longer-running pattern of ideological and institutional controversy. Hashtags: #DEI #FreeEnterpriseInstitute #HeritageFoundation #CorporatePolicy #CultureWar #SPLC #LegalScrutiny

The segment centers on St. Louis County Councilman Dennis Hancock outlining the council’s allegations that County Executive Sam Page violated a charter rule barring outside employment, citing SSM work records and reimbursement data as evidence of outside activity beyond his official role. Hancock argues the council has referred the matter to prosecutors and the attorney general after concluding Page’s “volunteer work” explanation does not align with employment documentation, raising the possibility of removal from office depending on legal findings. The discussion also touches on broader concerns about transparency, compensation structures, and whether the ongoing legal pressure could accelerate Page’s political exit. Hashtags: #StLouisCounty #SamPage #DennisHancock #CountyPolitics #GovernmentOversight #LegalInvestigation #MissouriPolitics

Hour 2 opens with lighter conversation about Journey announcing a so-called final tour, sparking debate over farewell tour marketing tactics and nostalgia-driven ticket sales, along with discussion about changing concert culture and digital-only ticketing. The hour quickly pivots into politics and local controversy, including the Missouri Supreme Court upholding the Republican-backed congressional map and rejecting claims of unconstitutional gerrymandering, which Marc frames as a major win for GOP representation. Tensions in St. Louis politics are also highlighted as Mayor Cara Spencer clashes with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department board over funding demands and budget priorities tied to public safety and infrastructure. The show also revisits controversy surrounding Sam Page and allegations involving outside medical work while in office. Later segments shift into national and economic news with “Nicole Murray,” covering markets, inflation concerns, rising mortgage rates, corporate earnings shifts, Uber’s new “Eats on the Way” feature, and growing debates over alcohol delivery services and verification systems. The hour closes with “In Other News,” including a canceled Disney Cruise in Singapore, a viral armadillo encounter, World Cup tourism revenue expectations in Kansas City, and surprise discussion of Olympian Ryan Lochte taking a coaching job at Missouri State University, blending global headlines, local stories, and lighter cultural moments into a fast-moving second hour. Hashtags: #Journey #MissouriPolitics #StLouis #SamPage #Markets #UberEats #WorldCup2026 #DisneyCruise #RyanLochte #StLouisNews

In the “St. Louis Morning Brief,” Marc breaks down the Missouri Supreme Court decision upholding the Republican-backed congressional map, pushing back on media framing that labeled it gerrymandered while emphasizing the ruling strengthens GOP positioning in future elections. The discussion then turns to escalating tension between Cara Spencer and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department board over police funding, with Spencer warning that increased spending demands could drain city reserves and force cuts elsewhere, while Marc argues the city has repeatedly mismanaged priorities affecting public safety and infrastructure. The segment closes with the update on Ahmad Hardy being shot after a Mississippi concert, highlighting concerns about athlete safety, NIL-era exposure, and the risks young players face off the field.