This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we take on three of the biggest issues shaping America’s future: national security, education, and taxes. First, Dr. Meg Reiss, founder and CEO of SolidIntel, joins the show to explain how American red tape is strengthening China’s dominance over rare earth minerals. Then, National Emmy winning investigative reporter Chris Papst of Fox45 Baltimore joins to discuss his book Failure Factory, which uncovers America’s public education crisis, including how billions in taxpayer dollars are spent while student outcomes stagnate and what parents nationwide should be watching for in their own school districts. Finally, Matthew Putnam of the National Taxpayers Union explains how Truth in Taxation laws offer a proven solution to runaway property taxes, highlighting successful reforms in states like Utah, Kansas, and Nebraska and why lawmakers across the country are paying attention.
Dusty Johnson on U.S.-China Trade, Noah Rothman on Political Violence, Chuck Flint Takes on the IRS, and Lou Perez Breaks Down a Shocking Surrogacy Case
Breaking Battlegrounds
This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone are joined by Congressman Dusty Johnson to discuss U.S.-China trade, rare earth minerals, energy policy, gas prices, South Dakota agriculture, data centers, and his campaign for governor. Then, Noah Rothman joins the show to discuss his new book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, and explains why he believes left-wing political violence has often been downplayed, excused, or mischaracterized in American discourse. Next, Chuck Flint, President and CEO of the Alliance for IRS Accountability, breaks down a...
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Ilya Shapiro on SCOTUS | Corey DeAngelis Exposes Education Failures | Mark Lamb for Congress
Breaking Battlegrounds
On this episode of Breaking Battlegrounds, Sam Stone and Chuck Warren dive into the biggest legal, education, and border security stories shaping America today. First, Ilya Shapiro of the Manhattan Institute joins the show to break down the Supreme Court’s major 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Calais and what it means for race-based redistricting, judicial independence, and the future of constitutional law. The conversation also explores Justice Clarence Thomas’s influence on the Court, upcoming landmark cases involving birthright citizenship and presidential powers, and why public confidence...
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Mamdani's Manufactured Crisis, World Cup Price Gouging, and Trump's Middle East Revolution
Breaking Battlegrounds
This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck Warren and Sam Stone are joined by Manhattan Institute Cities policy analyst Santiago Vidal Calvo and Washington Free Beacon editor and Middle East Forum junior fellow Alex Welz, plus a special radio edition of B's Corner true crime. Santiago Vidal Calvo Born in Caracas and now leading the Manhattan Institute's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) efforts, Santiago opens with an on-the-ground report from Venezuela following the capture of Maduro — including the first American Airlines flight back to Caracas in nearly a decade — and explains...
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Mollie Hemingway on Alito | Andy Biggs for Governor | Bob McClure on Election Reform
Breaking Battlegrounds
This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we cover everything from Supreme Court power struggles and election reform to the Arizona governor’s race and the policies shaping America’s future. We start with Robert McClure, President and CEO of the The James Madison Institute, who breaks down Florida’s rising property taxes and the reforms being considered to rein in local government spending, including homestead exemptions, levy caps, and truth-in-taxation laws. He also discusses a proposal requiring 50% voter turnout for tax increases, the impact of Florida’s SAVE Act on voter ID and...
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War Powers, Filibuster Chaos & Standing Up for Women’s Sports
Breaking Battlegrounds
This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we dive into the growing power struggle between Congress and the presidency, the future of the filibuster, and one of the most heated debates in sports today. Jason Willick (Washington Post columnist) joins us to break down his latest piece on military funding and war powers. Should Congress use its power of the purse to limit how military force is used? We discuss the constitutional challenges, the failures of the War Powers Act, and why the current system may actually encourage rushed military decisions—especially when it comes to Iran. X: Washington...
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Bad Policy, Real Consequences: Taxes, Crime & Economic Risks
Breaking Battlegrounds
Is America facing the consequences of bad policy? From mass migration out of high-tax states to rising concerns about crime, government overreach, and economic instability, this episode of Breaking Battlegrounds breaks down the biggest issues shaping the country right now. We’re joined by top guests to unpack the real-world impact. In this episode: Chuck Flint – President & CEO of the Alliance for IRS Accountability, former Senate Chief of Staff We discuss the growing exodus from high-tax states like California, Washington, and Colorado, the failure of “tax the rich” policies,...
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Is the Narrative Broken? Plus Arizona’s Legal Battles & What the Polls Are Really Saying
Breaking Battlegrounds
This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we’re joined by three heavy-hitting voices breaking down media narratives, legal fights in Arizona, and what the data is really telling us about the political landscape heading into 2026. Ken LaCorte, former Fox News executive and host of Elephants in the Room, joins us to unpack how mainstream narratives take hold, and why his fact-based YouTube documentaries are resonating with hundreds of thousands of viewers. From the complexities of America’s historical decisions to today’s evolving debates on Israel and Iran, Ken challenges conventional thinking...
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Is Canada Falling Apart? Plus Iran, War Strategy, and U.S. Stakes
Breaking Battlegrounds
Is Canada falling apart? From Canada’s internal fractures to rising tensions with Iran—and what it all means for the U.S.—this episode connects the dots on the challenges ahead. Journalist Elie Cantin-Nantel joins the show to break down the growing instability in Canada, from the surprising resurgence of Quebec separatists to a serious push for independence in Alberta. He explains how economic decline, rising crime, and a disconnect between voters and reality are reshaping the country—and why many Canadians still aren’t seeing it. We also get into the role media and outside...
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Arizona Politics, Border Security, DEI Battles & Government Waste
Breaking Battlegrounds
This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck Warren and Sam Stone bring together a powerhouse lineup of guests to break down the biggest political, economic, and cultural issues shaping Arizona and the nation. Kicking things off, congressional candidate and former NFL kicker Jay Feely joins the show following a major endorsement from President Trump and backing from national Republicans. He also recently received the NRCC’s endorsement as part of a select group of candidates in key battleground districts. With Arizona’s 1st Congressional District seen as a key battleground for control of the...
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Cuba Negotiations, the CIA, and Trump Derangement Syndrome in the media
Breaking Battlegrounds
On this episode of Breaking Battleground, hosts Sam Stone and Chuck Warren talk with a diverse lineup of guests for a wide-ranging discussion covering Cuba and the recent announcement of negotiations, the CIA and conspiracy theories, growing distrust of government, and what they describe as Trump Derangement Syndrome in the media. Carrie Filipetti, Executive Director of the Vandenberg Coalition, discussed the situation in Cuba and the recent announcements regarding negotiations. She noted that a democratic transition in Cuba would represent a major victory...
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