The Marc Cox Morning Show

Hour 1 centers on escalating tensions surrounding Iran and the possibility of renewed U.S. military action, paired with broader geopolitical analysis of shifting alliances and national security risks. Hour 2 features a standout interview with Lt. Col. Matt Oldy, an F-15 pilot, who details the complexity and intensity of a real-world combat rescue operation in Iran and reflects on military culture,...

Hour 4 moves from breaking international coverage of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks at a NATO summit in Sweden, where he defended U.S. force posture adjustments and highlighted Sweden’s strengthened role within the alliance, into a detailed look at the National Memorial of Military Ascent in Grafton, Missouri, honoring Army Rangers who scaled Pointe du Hoc on D-Day. The hour then shifts...

Sue Thomas joins the program with updates on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s comments from a NATO summit in Sweden, where he emphasized Sweden’s strengthened role in the alliance and pushed back on questions about U.S. force posture and global commitments. The conversation shifts to a major local history project in Grafton, Missouri—the National Memorial of Military Ascent—featuring 12 life-size...

Master Sgt. Nick Connery of the Missouri Army National Guard breaks down a notable rebound in recruiting across the St. Louis and St. Charles regions, highlighting how his team surpassed annual enlistment goals for the first time in years and is on pace to repeat the performance. He points to COVID-era restrictions as a major disruption that limited school access and community outreach, while expl...

Hour 3 opens with breaking geopolitical tension as discussion turns to potential renewed U.S. action toward Iran and the broader Middle East strategy, setting the stage for a deep national security conversation. Lieutenant Colonel Matt Olde of the U.S. Air Force joins to break down the high-risk rescue mission that recovered downed pilots in Iran, explaining the scale of coordination required and...

Andrew Harding of the Heritage Foundation breaks down the national security stakes behind potential U.S. policy shifts toward Cuba, focusing on its strategic proximity to Florida, historical use as a staging ground for adversarial influence, and its continued ties to Russia and China. He explains how Cuba remains a geopolitical foothold for intelligence activity and how changes in leadership or po...

Lt. Col. Matt Olde, an active-duty U.S. Air Force F-15 pilot, breaks down the intensity and coordination behind modern combat search-and-rescue missions following the Iran shootdown incident, describing the massive, rapid-response system designed to recover downed aircrew from hostile territory. He explains the operational confidence such missions give pilots, the complexity of executing recoverie...

Hour 2 opens with a heated breakdown of the proposed “anti-weaponization” compensation fund, framed as a broader argument over political targeting, legal precedent, and whether government actions against Trump and January 6 defendants justify a payout structure. The conversation escalates into a pointed critique of political figures and federal agencies, setting a combative tone for the hour. The...

Discussion centers on the long-awaited demolition of the Millennium Hotel and the massive redevelopment plan tied to it, alongside riverfront improvement funding proposals. The segment questions whether public investment can truly revive downtown St. Louis without addressing safety concerns, policing levels, and private sector hesitation. Hashtags: #StLouis #Downtown #RealEstate #Riverfront #Devel...

Hour 1 opens with Mark Cox returning from a bourbon barrel pick trip to Missouri’s Ben Holladay Distillery before quickly pivoting into a heated breakdown of Missouri’s looming ballot fight over Amendment 3 and initiative petition reform, warning about outside money, abortion politics, and constitutional changes driven by billionaire-backed campaigns. The hour’s Shortlist segment tackles Trump jok...

A Colorado middle school student was reportedly denied permission to present a slam poem defending pro-life views, with the teacher labeling it “too political” and potentially unsafe for classmates. The segment escalates into a broader argument about perceived classroom bias, where other political topics like LGBTQ and immigration are reportedly allowed, while abortion-related viewpoints are restr...

The show opens with Hour 1 focused on culture war and political flashpoints, including debate over women’s sports, conservative activism, and a heated discussion about Illinois politics and the Chicago Bears potentially leaving the state over taxes and economic decline, alongside consumer issues like AI-driven social media manipulation and rising skepticism toward government policy ideas like tax...

Hour 4 opens with a heated St. Louis policy debate over proposed water rate increases tied to aging infrastructure funding and the controversial use of Rams settlement money, framed as a broader conflict over fiscal priorities, downtown decline, and whether investment or public safety should drive urban recovery. The hour then shifts to national legal and political pressure points as Shannon Bream...

Griff Jenkins joins ahead of the Indy 500 broadcast from Turn 1, previewing race-day coverage, driver storylines, and the intensity of racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including past interviews with racing legends and the challenges facing top contenders. The conversation shifts into a broader Memorial Day reflection, with Jenkins emphasizing the importance of remembering fallen service memb...

Shannon Bream outlines a packed Supreme Court docket involving executive power cases, election law disputes, and the high-profile birthright citizenship challenge, noting skepticism from the bench and suggesting the administration may face an uphill ruling based on oral arguments. The conversation also touches on broader geopolitical issues, including potential legal action tied to Cuba’s leadersh...

Hour 3 opens with Missouri political and cultural discussion, including the growing “tarps off” fan trend at Busch Stadium and how it has spread into a designated stadium section phenomenon. The conversation then shifts to the rollout challenges facing autonomous vehicles from Waymo, including regulatory uncertainty and public skepticism about driverless transportation. Local economic pressure bec...

Mark Denzler breaks down growing concerns over the federal 340B drug pricing program, arguing that a policy originally designed to help low-income and rural patients has expanded far beyond its intent and is now driving up employer and taxpayer health care costs. He explains that hospitals purchase outpatient drugs at steep discounts but often bill insurers at full price, with the spread increasin...

Former U.S. Senator Jim Talent breaks down escalating U.S. pressure on Iran, arguing that recent military strikes combined with economic throttling are aimed at forcing control over strategic maritime routes rather than full-scale escalation. He suggests the next phase could involve further targeted strikes designed to secure passage through key waterways, while coalition concerns among Gulf allie...

Hour 2 opens with Dan Buck, Kim St. Onge, and Ethan Bright discussing a Missouri Lottery winner and the broader question of whether large jackpot recipients should be publicly identified, sparking debate over privacy, transparency laws, and the potential use of trusts to shield identities. The conversation then shifts into consumer frustration around retail “round-up” donation prompts and skeptici...

Dan Buck, Kim St. Onge, and Ethan Bright are joined by Ross Marchand, executive director of the Taxpayer Protection Alliance, for a deep dive into rising auto insurance premiums and the role of litigation tied to ride-sharing services. The discussion centers on what Marchand describes as a “tort tax,” where attorneys pursue lawsuits against companies like Uber and Lyft even when individual drivers...

The “St. Louis Morning Brief” opens with the viral “tarps off” trend at Busch Stadium, where fans in a designated upper-deck section are encouraged to go shirtless after the stunt originated with a visiting Texas team and quickly became a stadium-wide marketing moment embraced by the Cardinals organization. The discussion then shifts to the rollout of autonomous vehicles, focusing on Waymo testing...

Hour 1 opens with Dan Buck, Kim St. Onge, and Ethan Bright filling in for Marc Cox and immediately diving into culture war flashpoints surrounding women’s sports, abortion politics, and conservative activism following a Missouri Right to Life event featuring Riley Gaines. The conversation highlights Gaines’ warning against conservative complacency while also celebrating Jordy Bahl as an example of...

In “Kim on a Whim,” Kim St. Onge and Dan Buck dive into the growing world of manufactured internet popularity, breaking down how viral trends, influencer fame, political engagement, and even music success are increasingly driven by coordinated advertising disguised as organic content. The segment centers around a company called Floodify, allegedly built to flood social media platforms with paid en...

Hour 4 opens with a broad discussion of declining customer service and changing expectations in everyday consumer interactions, using retail and food service experiences to explore how workplace culture has shifted toward more transactional exchanges. The hour quickly pivots into national political territory, focusing on election integrity concerns, voter registration systems, and disputes over ma...

Hour 4 continues with economist Taylor Riggs breaking down the tension between government intervention and free-market outcomes, responding to critiques of big-government policy by highlighting inefficiencies in public systems like transit, postal services, and permitting processes. The discussion shifts into New York’s transit labor disputes, where union leadership pay structures and political pr...