February 16, 2026

SummaryHappy Presidents' Day, everyone! Today on the show, John talks more about his trip to Mar-a-Lago at the end of last week, as well as his participation in an Alexandria parade to honor George Washington this past Saturday. Tim Anderson rejoins the show to discuss the Virginia Supreme Court's refusal to intervene regarding the Democrats' irregular redistricting referendum, and immigration expert Rosemary Jenks returns to the podcast to react to ICE's withdrawal from Minneapolis/Minnesota. Enjoy!Sound Bites"Republicans are animated right now.""Democrats are encouraging this behavior.""We have to get Democrats to vote no."Chapters00:00: Introduction and Reflections on Mar-a-Lago02:46: Gerrymandering and Political Tensions in Virginia06:09: The Role of the Supreme Court and Legal Implications09:04: The Impact of Gerrymandering on Rural Voters11:58: Democratic Strategies and Republican Responses14:52: The Importance of Voter Engagement and Messaging18:08: The Financial Landscape of Political Campaigns21:04: Historical Context and Reflections on Leadership24:02: Conclusion and Future Considerations53:55: Optimism in Immigration Policy57:50: Worksite Enforcement and Its Implications01:00:53: The Importance of Law Enforcement Cooperation01:04:19: Concerns About Cultural Assimilation01:09:01: Defining American Culture01:11:29: Cultural Appreciation vs. Cultural Critique01:13:39: The Impact of Immigration on American Society