Breaking Battlegrounds

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we're diving into global strategy, national security, child protection, and the economy. First, Ryan Berg, Director of the Americas Program and head of the Future of Venezuela Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins the show to break down why Venezuela matters beyond narcotics and migration, the geopolitical stakes of regime change, and the implications of U.S. policy options under a potential Trump administration. Then, Mark "Oz" Geist—Benghazi hero, former Marine, and co-chair of the Protect Our Children initiative—discusses his mission to enact common-sense protections for kids and combat child sex trafficking in Colorado and across the country. Finally, financial expert Gary Gygi returns to unpack why gold prices are surging and what it reveals about global trust in central banks.

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Sam is joined by guest host Seth Leibsohn, who opens the show with Robert McClure, President and CEO of The James Madison Institute, to dive into Florida's model for election integrity, tracing the course from Bush v. Gore through to the 2025 reforms and exploring how Florida's verification systems, voting infrastructure, and transparency protocols have become a benchmark for other states. Then, Congressman Addison McDowell of North Carolina's 6th Congressional District joins to break down the government shutdown, expose what Democrats are holding out on, and point out that this is a continuing resolution they have voted for 13 times under President Joe Biden. Tune in now!

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds we're doing something different with one guest for the full show, our friend Patrick Byrne, founder and former CEO of Overstock.com. We open with a conversation on education, from school choice to teacher unions, and how Mississippi made the leap from 50th to top 10 in the nation in education. From there, we dive into Patrick's new docuseries The Enemy Within, exploring his journey from being hailed as a Wall Street prophet to resigning in 2019 after claiming he was a covert government asset caught in political espionage. We close with Kiley's Corner, where Kiley unpacks the disturbing case of Christopher Scholtes, a father accused of leaving his two-year-old to die in a hot car while he spent three hours watching adult entertainment, as a judge now approves his request to vacation in Hawaii. You won't want to miss this episode!

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck and Sam are first joined by Jon Levine of the Washington Free Beacon to discuss the latest from Israel, including rising regional tensions and the role of U.S. aid, as well as developments with USAID and the New York City mayor's race. Then journalist and media creator Sagnik Basu shares his journey to the U.S. and unpacks his Pirate Wires piece, "I'm Sorry But You Have to Assimilate." Finally, Jennifer Sey, former national gymnastics champion and CEO of XX-XY Athletics, talks about the Colorado ballot initiative to protect girls' sports and ensure fairness and opportunity for the next generation. Tune in now! www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote www.breakingbattlegrounds.news Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@breakingbattlegrounds Show sponsors: Santa Has A Podcast - This episode of Breaking Battlegrounds is brought to you by Santa Has a Podcast — a show for the whole family filled with kindness challenges, North Pole stories, elf updates, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic all year long. Listen now at SantaHasAPodcast.com. Invest Yrefy - investyrefy.com Old Glory Depot Support American jobs while standing up for your values. OldGloryDepot.com brings you conservative pride on premium, made-in-USA gear. Don't settle—wear your patriotism proudly. Learn more at: OldGloryDepot.com Dot Vote - With a .VOTE website, you ensure your political campaign stands out among the competition while simplifying how you reach voters. Learn more at: dotvote.vote

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck and Sam welcomed a powerhouse lineup of guests covering it all. Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho joined to discuss the 58 Democrats who voted against cracking down on political violence (with another 38 Dems voting "present"), President Trump's push to make D.C. safer, and his work on the House Appropriations Committee. Veteran media insider Ken LaCorte weighed in on the FCC's removal of Jimmy Kimmel, what the agency's responsibility should be, and the inside story of the Murdoch family succession deal. Former NFL kicker and now congressional candidate for Arizona's 5th District, Jay Feely, sat down in studio to talk about the rise of political violence, Arizona's energy future, and his campaign to represent the district. Financial expert Gary Gygi broke down the looming shortage of wealth advisors as America faces a historic wave of retirements and generational wealth transfer. And to close the show, Kiley's Corner explored the wild theories surrounding the body found in singer D4VD's car. Tune in now! www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote www.breakingbattlegrounds.news Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@breakingbattlegrounds Show sponsors: Santa Has A Podcast - This episode of Breaking Battlegrounds is brought to you by Santa Has a Podcast — a show for the whole family filled with kindness challenges, North Pole stories, elf updates, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic all year long. Listen now at SantaHasAPodcast.com. Invest Yrefy - investyrefy.com Old Glory Depot Support American jobs while standing up for your values. OldGloryDepot.com brings you conservative pride on premium, made-in-USA gear. Don't settle—wear your patriotism proudly. Learn more at: OldGloryDepot.com Dot Vote - With a .VOTE website, you ensure your political campaign stands out among the competition while simplifying how you reach voters. Learn more at: dotvote.vote

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Sam Stone is joined by Sean Noble, host of Light Beer, Dark Money, who filled in for Chuck Warren. First, independent video creator turned accidental journalist Matt Orfalea exposes Big Tech censorship, from the removal of the Charlie Kirk assassination to platforms censoring the Kyle Rittenhouse footage. Next, Noah Rothman, senior writer at National Review, breaks down escalating tensions as Russian drones cross into Poland and whether they may be preparing for direct involvement. Finally, in Kiley's Corner, Kiley shares a tragic hit-and-run case and the astonishing discovery in New Zealand of three children found alive nearly four years after being abducted by their father. www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@breakingbattlegrounds Show sponsors: Santa Has A Podcast - This episode of Breaking Battlegrounds is brought to you by Santa Has a Podcast — a show for the whole family filled with kindness challenges, North Pole stories, elf updates, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic all year long. Listen now at SantaHasAPodcast.com. Invest Yrefy - investyrefy.com Old Glory Depot Support American jobs while standing up for your values. OldGloryDepot.com brings you conservative pride on premium, made-in-USA gear. Don't settle—wear your patriotism proudly. Learn more at: OldGloryDepot.com Dot VoteWith a .VOTE website, you ensure your political campaign stands out among the competition while simplifying how you reach voters. Learn more at: dotvote.vote

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck and Sam are first joined by friend of the show Alexander Raikin, Visiting Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, to discuss how America has abandoned suicide safeguards and the lessons from Canada's MAID program. Next, David Robinson, a leading voice for Western Canadian independence, breaks down the crises north of the border, from economic instability to cultural tensions, and what they could mean for America. Then, seasoned financial expert Gary Gygi returns to analyze the latest jobs report and what it reveals about the health of the U.S. economy. And stay tuned for Kiley's Corner, as she dives into the latest drama in the small town of London, Kentucky—from a torture chamber investigation to ongoing clashes with the city council. www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@breakingbattlegrounds Show sponsors: Santa Has A Podcast - This episode of Breaking Battlegrounds is brought to you by Santa Has a Podcast — a show for the whole family filled with kindness challenges, North Pole stories, elf updates, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic all year long. Listen now at SantaHasAPodcast.com. Invest Yrefy - investyrefy.com Old Glory Depot Support American jobs while standing up for your values. OldGloryDepot.com brings you conservative pride on premium, made-in-USA gear. Don't settle—wear your patriotism proudly. Learn more at: OldGloryDepot.com Dot VoteWith a .VOTE website, you ensure your political campaign stands out among the competition while simplifying how you reach voters. Learn more at: dotvote.vote

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, hosts Chuck and Sam are joined by Anna Giaritelli, Washington Examiner reporter covering homeland security, immigration, and border issues. Anna shares her personal story of being assaulted in Washington, D.C. and later discovering that the attack was never recorded in police crime stats. She also discusses her latest reporting on ICE training facilities, DHS policy changes, and border security. We then hear from J.B. Simko, Chief Civil Society and Underage Prevention Officer at Philip Morris International U.S., about the company's new campaign to prevent underage access to nicotine products, their 10-point youth prevention plan, and their long-term vision for a smoke-free future. To close, in Kiley's Corner, she shares updates on Wisconsin husband and father Ryan Borgwardt's sentencing after faking his disappearance to run away with a woman in Eastern Europe and the latest in former Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor's battle to regain his job amid mounting scrutiny over his role in multiple cases, including the high-profile Karen Read case. www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@breakingbattlegrounds Show sponsors: Santa Has A Podcast - This episode of Breaking Battlegrounds is brought to you by Santa Has a Podcast — a show for the whole family filled with kindness challenges, North Pole stories, elf updates, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic all year long. Listen now at SantaHasAPodcast.com. Invest Yrefy - investyrefy.com Old Glory Depot Support American jobs while standing up for your values. OldGloryDepot.com brings you conservative pride on premium, made-in-USA gear. Don't settle—wear your patriotism proudly. Learn more at: OldGloryDepot.com Dot VoteWith a .VOTE website, you ensure your political campaign stands out among the competition while simplifying how you reach voters. Learn more at: dotvote.vote

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we kick things off with U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt to discuss his new book, The Last Line of Defense: How to Beat the Left in Court. Senator Schmitt also shares his perspective on President Trump bringing peace around the world and highlights his success in securing a historic FBI investment to combat violent crime in St. Louis. Next, Mariam Wahba of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies unpacks Egypt's war against the world's oldest Christian monastery, the country's record-setting gas deal with Israel, and the rising threat of antisemitic attacks to U.S. national security. Then, Matthew Putnam of the National Taxpayers Union joins to discuss his article, Don't Undermine 40 Years of Success with Tax Hikes. We wrap up with financial expert Gary Gygi, who breaks down today's markets and what comes next. It's an episode you won't want to miss. www.breakingbattlegrounds.vote Twitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_Battle Facebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegrounds Instagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegrounds LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@breakingbattlegrounds Show sponsors: Santa Has A Podcast - This episode of Breaking Battlegrounds is brought to you by Santa Has a Podcast — a show for the whole family filled with kindness challenges, North Pole stories, elf updates, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic all year long. Listen now at SantaHasAPodcast.com. Invest Yrefy - investyrefy.com Old Glory Depot Support American jobs while standing up for your values. OldGloryDepot.com brings you conservative pride on premium, made-in-USA gear. Don't settle—wear your patriotism proudly. Learn more at: OldGloryDepot.com Dot VoteWith a .VOTE website, you ensure your political campaign stands out among the competition while simplifying how you reach voters. Learn more at: dotvote.vote 4Freedom MobileExperience true freedom with 4Freedom Mobile, the exclusive provider offering nationwide coverage on all three major US networks (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) with just one SIM card. Our service not only connects you but also shields you from data collection by network operators, social media platforms, government agencies, and more. Use code 'Battleground' to get your first month for $9 and save $10 a month every month after. Learn more at: 4FreedomMobile.com About our guest: U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt is a sixth-generation Missourian who grew up in a working-class family in Bridgeton, Missouri. Inspired by his father's work ethic and his son Stephen's health challenges, Schmitt entered public service to fight for families like his own. He has served as State Senator, State Treasurer, Attorney General, and now as U.S. Senator for Missouri. As Attorney General, he launched initiatives to combat violent crime, address the opioid crisis, and bring justice to victims of sexual assault. In the Senate, Schmitt serves on the Judiciary, Armed Services, and Commerce Committees, where he continues to focus on protecting free speech, securing the border, and strengthening American energy independence. - Mariam Wahba is a research analyst at FDD focused on Egypt and minorities in the Middle East. Previously, she served with FDD's communications team where she booked experts and helped stand up FDD's Arabic X and Instagram accounts. Before coming to FDD, Mariam was the associate director of advocacy with the Philos Project, a Hertog political science fellow, a Tikvah Fund journalism fellow, and a policy associate at In Defense of Christians. She graduated from Fordham University with a BA in Middle East studies, Arabic, and Jewish studies. Born and raised in Egypt, she is a Coptic Christian and an advocate for the persecuted church. Mariam is also the co-founder of American-ish, a digital platform aimed at highlighting ethno-religious minorities of the Middle East and promoting American values. - Matthew Putnam is an Associate of External Affairs with National Taxpayers Union and National Taxpayers Union Foundation. In this role, he works with donors and on strategic partnerships. Originally from Florida, Matthew attended Florida State University and graduated with bachelor's degrees in international affairs and history. Prior to working at NTU, Matthew worked with a small tech-startup based in Washington, DC. Outside of NTU, Matthew also works at the DC institution Red Derby. He enjoys cooking and both watching and playing soccer in DC and Virginia. - Mr. Gary Gygi was hired by the Investment firm Dean Witter (became Morgan Stanley) after college and worked for the firm for about 15 years. During this time he achieved the position of First Vice President, Investment and branch manager of the Midvale, Utah office. Mr. Gygi won numerous sales awards and held the position of Branch Managed Money Coordinator and Branch Insurance Coordinator. Mr. Gygi left Morgan Stanley in 2003 to join the Investment management firm of Smoot Miller Cheney (later became SMC Capital) as a Senior Vice President. Mr. Gygi holds a dual registration so while affiliating with Smoot Miller Cheney; he also was a registered rep with Independent broker/dealer WBB Securities, LLC. In 2008, Mr. Gygi left SMC Capital to found Gygi Capital Management as President and CEO. Gygi Capital serves the Institutional and individual marketplace with investment management solutions. Gygi Capital is a State regulated Registered Investment Advisory firm located in Cedar Hills, Utah. Gygi affiliates with Union Capital Co. which is an independent broker/dealer firm.

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we kick things off with Northwestern University's Gary Saul Morson, co-author of Cents and Sensibility, joins us to explore why revolutions never truly end, Dostoevsky's warnings about nihilism, and what economist Friedrich Hayek might think about artificial intelligence. We wrap up with Satya Thallam, senior advisor at Americans for Responsible Innovation, for an inside look at the political and national security implications of AI policy, from the White House's export control changes to the GOP's divide over state regulation, and what it all means for the future of innovation in America.