4 Things To Know This Afternoon

• Inflation Update: Prices rise 3% - lower than expected but still climbing.   • USS Gerald Ford Moves to the Caribbean: The U.S. shifts its most advanced carrier group from the Mediterranean to pressure Venezuela's Maduro regime. Could this be a step toward regime change? • Private Money to Pay Troops: A Trump ally pledges $130 million in private funds to cover military pay during the government...

• Putin Pushes Back: Russia vows to retaliate after President Trump imposes sweeping sanctions on Russian oil and gas sales. Europe scrambles for energy stability as prices drop in the U.S. • Democrats Block Federal Pay: Congressional Democrats vote to block pay for federal workers, while ensuring their own pay continues during the shutdown.   • Rivian Layoffs Signal EV Trouble: The electric vehic...

• North Carolina Redistricting Battle: Republicans push through new congressional maps to strengthen GOP representation. Democrats vow to challenge it in court, but legal experts say federal judges may not act fast enough to stop the new districts. • Jasmine Crockett's Wild Senate Dream: The outspoken Texas Democrat with $4 million in the bank hints at a Senate run.   • Pentagon Under Fire: Anothe...

• Caribbean Controversy: The Pentagon confirms another U.S. strike on a suspected drug boat, but insiders question whether the targets are really traffickers. A key Central Command leader resigns in protest and the fallout may land on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. • Ukraine and Russia: President Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, then prepares for peace talks with Vladim...

• Democrats Block Military Pay: Senate Democrats vote for the 10th time to keep the government shut down and against paying U.S. troops. The president vows to fund the military anyway, daring Democrats to challenge him in court. • Wall Street Jitters: Markets tumble as regional bank loans come under scrutiny, echoing 2008 fears of a hidden financial crisis.  • Trump's High-Stakes Diplomacy: The pr...

• Judge Halts Trump's Federal Layoffs: A progressive federal judge temporarily blocks the administration's government-wide firings, pausing more than 4,000 layoffs across eight agencies. • Pentagon Scare Abroad: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's plane makes an emergency landing in the UK after a cracked windshield mid-flight.   • CIA Targets Venezuela: President Trump expands covert operations a...

• 25 Years of Marriage: Erick marks his silver anniversary with humor before digging into how leadership, markets, and manufacturing all rely on long-term commitment, just like marriage. • Hamas Defies Peace Plan: Despite returning several hostages, Hamas refuses to disarm and rejects President Trump's Middle East peace framework. Erick explains the complex tribal and political divisions among Pal...

• Historic Peace in the Middle East: President Trump returns home after a landmark trip to Israel and Egypt, hailed by world leaders for brokering peace and securing the release of Israeli hostages. • Market Recovery & China Relations: Stocks rebound after confusion over China's export policies. What looked like a trade war threat turns out to be regulatory noise, calming investors and stabilizing...

• Federal Layoffs Begin: OMB chief Russ Vought launches firings across Health & Human Services and the Department of Education, targeting DEI-focused positions as the government shutdown drags on. • Trade War Escalates: China restricts rare-earth exports, sending the Dow down 600 points as President Trump retaliates with new tariffs and vows to restart U.S. mining. • Sexual-Harassment Scandal at D...

• Comey Pleads Not Guilty — The former FBI director's trial is set for January, but even prosecutors admit the case may fall apart under pressure from the Justice Department. • California Fire Arson Arrest — Authorities charge 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht with intentionally setting the deadly Palisades Fire once blamed on climate change. • Shutdown & Epstein Files Spin — Senate Democrats clai...

• Federal Pay Fight: The Trump administration threatens to withhold back pay from furloughed workers during the shutdown, testing a 2019 law and putting pressure on Democrats to end the standoff. • Gold Surges Past $4,000: Markets react as global investors ditch the dollar and turn to gold amid economic uncertainty and shifting currency reserves. • Supreme Court Skeptical of Conversion Therapy Ban...

• AI Boom or Bubble? Elon Musk's new Memphis data center, OpenAI's chip deals with AMD and NVIDIA, and Wall Street's heavy bet on artificial intelligence could signal economic imbalance. • Farmers Face Shutdown Fallout — 27 million acres in federal conservation programs go unpaid as the shutdown drags on, hurting rural communities across America. • Targeting Blue States — President Trump directs b...

• U.S. Military Strikes Narco Vessel – The American military destroys a drug-running ship off Venezuela, sparking protests from Democrats and the Venezuelan government. • Trump Targets Sanctuary Cities – $2.1 billion in federal funds withheld from Chicago, with Portland possibly next, as the administration cracks down on cities protecting illegal aliens and Antifa activists. • Deadline for Hamas –...

• Russ Vought and the Deep State – Trump signals he may unleash Russ Vought to overhaul the bureaucracy, though deal-making could delay it. • Illegal Alien Case Rejected – A federal judge denies asylum for El Salvadoran ABrego Garcia, showing the administration's tightened immigration stance. • Ukraine Drone Deal – U.S. authorizes Ukraine to use long-range drones and gains access to Ukraine's adva...

• Government Shutdown at Midnight – Democrats demand funding for NPR, PBS, and healthcare for illegal immigrants. Republicans refuse, making Democrats own the looming shutdown. • TrumpRx Launch – The White House unveils TrumpRx.com, a government-backed prescription site with Pfizer onboard, but major questions remain about access and pricing. • Louisiana Crime Crisis – Governor Jeff Landry request...

• Trump & Netanyahu's Gaza Peace Plan – A historic U.S.-Israel-Arab partnership outlines a path for Hamas to release hostages, disarm, and allow redevelopment in Gaza, or face elimination. • Iran Rejects Peace at the UN – As Trump and Netanyahu spoke at the White House, Iran's president attacked Israel at the United Nations, signaling continued defiance. • Government Shutdown Looms – Democrats thr...

• James Comey Indicted – The former FBI Director faces a messy case filled with legal disputes, DOJ precedent issues, and political overreach that could see charges dismissed before trial. • Jimmy Kimmel's Return – Sinclair Broadcasting reverses course, bringing Kimmel back to ABC affiliates after pressure and apologies, though low ratings may still seal his fate. • Trump & Ukraine Weapons Deal –...

• Government Shutdown Fight – Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless healthcare benefits (including coverage for illegal immigrants) are expanded.   • New York Targets Rikers Employee – A corrections officer faces punishment for helping federal officials deport illegal alien inmates, exposing just how far sanctuary policies go in protecting criminals over citizens. • DOJ Investigate...

• Dallas ICE Facility Attack – Two detainees are dead and an ICE agent critically injured after a progressive activist opened fire. This marks the second attack on an ICE facility in Texas this year, raising alarms about left-wing violence. • Apple Cancels The Savant – Apple TV+ shelves its upcoming Jessica Chastain series after the Charlie Kirk assassination, amid concerns it glorified progressiv...

• Ryan Routh Guilty – The would-be assassin of Donald Trump is convicted on five counts in Florida after a courtroom suicide attempt. • Jimmy Kimmel Boycotted – Nexstar joins Sinclair in pulling Kimmel's show from conservative markets, deepening late-night TV's struggles after years of partisan comedy. • Shutdown Showdown – President Trump cancels talks with Democrats as Schumer and Jeffries deman...

• Trump Administration Questions Tylenol Safety – Officials cite disputed studies linking acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy to autism, while also approving a new drug, Leucopore , that shows promise for improving language and behavioral skills in children with autism. • Spirit Airlines Bankruptcy Fallout – Spirit announces 1,500 flight attendant furloughs and scales back routes in a des...

• FTC vs. Ticketmaster/Live Nation – The Federal Trade Commission and 11 states are suing over bots and ticket resales that hurt both fans and artists.   • Trump vs. Lisa Cook – The president asks the Supreme Court to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook amid mortgage fraud allegations.   • Federal Reserve boxed in – After yesterday's quarter-point rate cut, the Fed signals more cuts are poss...

• Constitution Day – The U.S. Constitution turns 238. Erick reflects on its enduring significance, the strength of written law, and why America's founding framework still matters globally. • Federal Reserve rate cut – The Fed lowers interest rates by a quarter point, signaling concern over unemployment despite lingering inflation. More cuts may be on the horizon. • Trump in the UK – President Trum...

• Tyler Robinson charged – Charlie Kirk's assassin faces aggravated murder and six additional counts, with the DA seeking the death penalty. Shocking new details emerge about his background and accomplices. • House Republicans split on tariffs – Speaker Mike Johnson faces rebellion as Republicans resist a plan to block the House from limiting future tariffs, raising the risk of a government shutdo...

• Charlie Kirk's assassin confesses – Tyler Robinson admitted the shooting in a Discord channel, while investigators probe whether others had prior knowledge. • TikTok deal with China – Despite laws that should have shut it down, the app remains embedded in Beijing's strategy, raising new national security concerns. • Soybean farmers in crisis – A Chinese boycott leaves U.S. soybeans unharvested,...