AGR - Louisiana Edition

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for August 20, 2026.We open with a defense of local police departments turning to the public for help solving crimes, using a post from Shreveport Police Department spokesman Chris Bortolon to make the case that asking for tips isn't a failure but the foundation of constitutional policing, especially with only 400 officers covering a city of 180,000. We tie that into a broader conversation about the "snitches get stitches" culture that lets crimes go unsolved and argue that communities get the policing culture they're willing to participate in.From there we hit the top three things you need to know: three Baton Rouge judges suing the Landry administration over a decades-old voting rights case tied to redrawn judicial districts, a ruling that keeps judges on the bench for the Capital Area Transit System corruption trials despite the Attorney General's objections, and strong signs that SpaceX is negotiating with Governor Jeff Landry to build a new spaceport along the Vermilion Parish coast.We Dig Deep into a disturbing story out of Caddo Parish, where a former substitute teacher is accused of sending five false active-shooter alerts to local schools after she stopped getting called for work, and we praise the district for not rehiring her in the first place. We stay in Shreveport for a look at the city's new police drone pilot program, which arrived at calls before officers 74 percent of the time, weighing the efficiency gains against privacy concerns and the staffing costs of managing the fleet.We break down Nike's roughly 80 percent stock slide since 2021, debating how much of that is tied to the brand's shift into cultural and political messaging versus its decision to cut ties with retailers like Foot Locker. We discuss Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's on-camera conversation with his daughter Paloma about why he won't let her attend Harvard, and the larger question of how much influence elite universities have over students raised with strong family values. We cover the falling-out between Alan Dershowitz and Larry David, once close friends on Martha's Vineyard, now estranged after Dershowitz left the Democratic Party over its drift on antisemitism and his opposition to Trump's impeachment. We play a lighthearted guessing game around the Archbridge Institute's ranking of state occupational licensing burdens, with Oregon topping the list. And we close out discussing ActBlue co-founder Matt DeBergalis pleading the Fifth during closed-door congressional testimony, amid allegations of fraudulent donations funneled through the platform.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776. 

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for August 19, 2026.We open with a live, in-studio moment as Caddo Parish Commissioner Greg Young joins us on the heels of controversy over telling law enforcement to "escort this man from my building" during a commission meeting. We dig into why that language matters, breaking down the difference between institutional authority and personal ownership, and why elected officials are stewards of public power rather than owners of it. In the top three things you need to know, we cover a Louisiana Legislative Auditor's report finding New Orleans isn't charging enough for garbage collection to cover its costs, the Shreveport Police Department's new $10,000 sign-on bonuses to combat officer shortages, and a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's deputy fired for misusing Flock camera data to track his ex-fiancée.We Dig Deep into Louisiana State Senator Alan Seabaugh's run for Caddo Parish District Attorney and his claims about repeat offenders and prosecutorial aggressiveness, weighing the jury trial data against his critique. From there we cover Los Angeles's taxpayer-funded campaign matching program benefiting Mayor Karen Bass, South Carolina Senate candidate Sheri Biggs (Lindsey Graham's sister) stumbling on a national security question during a debate, and President Trump personally walking reporters through White House construction projects. We also run through a state-by-state breakdown of where it's most and least affordable to live comfortably, and close with Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz's surprising rejection of the Democratic Socialists of America.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776. 

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for August 18, 2026.We open on the overcrowding crisis at Caddo Correctional Center, where more than 1,700 inmates are packed into a facility originally designed for 1,050 and now sits roughly 60% over capacity, well past the fire marshal's 1,500-person limit. We press on Sheriff Henry Whitehorn's silence on the issue and question why the Caddo Parish Commission hasn't prioritized jail expansion over projects like a proposed $60 million sports complex and a $10 million pickleball facility.We run through our Top 3 stories you need to know: Orleans Parish Chief Judge Juana Lombard's disqualification from reelection over unfiled 2023 state income taxes, Amazon's additional $6 billion investment in its Shreveport-Caddo data center footprint on top of its earlier $12 billion commitment, and a construction delay on the new DeSoto Parish Sheriff's detention facility after its general contractor filed for bankruptcy.We then bring on Caddo Parish Commissioner Chris Crackman, who confirms the sheriff has never formally requested funding from the commission to expand jail space and argues that money earmarked for recreational projects would be better spent adding beds to the correctional center and juvenile justice facility.From there we turn to the disparity between Dr. Fauci's unconditional pardon and his former senior advisor David Morens, who at 78 pled guilty to conspiracy charges tied to evading Freedom of Information Act requests during the COVID era, the same conduct we argue Fauci himself engaged in.We play a Say What clip of Senator Rick Scott arguing that Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer have already capitulated to the Democratic Socialists of America on issues like open borders, court packing, and policing, and we walk through each of those policy areas ourselves.We discuss the Trump administration's plan to deploy roughly 1,000 DOJ election monitors for the November 2026 midterms, historic in scale but consistent with monitoring practices under past administrations of both parties, alongside recent reporting on foreign hacking attempts targeting U.S. elections.We play a guessing game around the Washington Post's ranking of the best college football towns in America, working our way through Fargo, Boulder, Austin, and more.We close by talking Rosie O'Donnell's guest-hosting stint on Jimmy Kimmel Live, her jokes about Trump, and what it says that he still occupies so much space in her head years after she left for Ireland and came back.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776. 

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for August 17, 2026.We open by digging into a legislative auditor's report on the Shreveport city marshal's office, which spent nearly $10,000 on lodging for four employees at a Destin, Florida conference, well above the rates state judges and city employees are actually capped at, and we make the case for why "permissible" isn't the same as right when it comes to public money.From there we run through the headlines you need to know, covering the Port of New Orleans' major expansion into St. Bernard Parish, a lawsuit from Calvin Duncan over the elimination of the New Orleans criminal clerk of court position, and the end of six decades of federal oversight over desegregation in Bienville Parish schools.We dig into Louisiana's ongoing jail capacity problem, arguing that no politician's tough-on-crime promise means anything until they answer where the criminals are actually going to be held, and we touch on a Natchitoches Parish lawsuit over inmate transfers between jails. We also cover reports of 400% food price inflation hitting ordinary Iranians under the ayatollahs, the Democratic National Committee's "big tent" comments out of its Austin meeting and what we think it reveals about the party's lack of a coherent standard, and a CBS News/YouGov poll on Democrats' favorable views of socialism.We play a game guessing which states have the most Fortune 500 company headquarters, and close with CNBC hosts pushing back on Democrats' economic doom-and-gloom in light of low unemployment and cooling inflation. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776. 

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for August 14, 2026. We open with a look at Louisiana's new law extending citizenship and immigration verification requirements to NGOs administering taxpayer-funded public benefits, and make the case for why charity funded by taxation isn't really charity at all. From there we run through the headlines you need to know, covering reports of talks between the state of Louisiana and SpaceX over a possible launch pad in Vermilion Parish, the arrest of a Grand Coteau assistant police chief on malfeasance charges, and an extended FEMA deadline for Tropical Storm Arthur disaster assistance.We dig into Louisiana's crime debate and the uncomfortable question nobody wants to answer: where do you actually put criminals if you get tough on sentencing but don't build more jail space? In our Digging Deep segment, we break down the DNC's new "Southern State Resources Hub" and why we think the party misunderstands why the South is thriving in the first place.We also tackle President Trump's declaration that he intends to claim the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory, walking through the legal impossibility of the claim and making the case that it's really trolling aimed at Iran, with a nod to how Reagan used humor as a political weapon.We cover the sentencing of an illegal immigrant convicted of voter fraud and passport fraud, play a game guessing which states have the cheapest gas in the country, and close by revisiting Bernie Sanders' refusal to endorse a Democratic Socialist candidate in Wisconsin and what it reveals about the limits of his own ideology. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776. 

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for August 13, 2026. We open by digging into the standoff over the Stateline Road data center construction in Caddo Parish, where early-morning construction noise has neighbors calling the sheriff's department, and we weigh the tension between a $12 billion economic investment and residents' right to peace and sleep, including a call for transparent construction schedules and noise mitigation plans.In our Top 3, we cover New Orleans firefighters suing the city over unpaid added duties, Shreveport City Council member Grayson Butcher dropping out of the city marshal race to focus on police and firefighter pay, and a North Carolina man's release after a Louisiana grand jury declined to indict him on terrorism charges tied to an alleged Jazz Fest plot.We dig deep into the LSU Riley Center and PAR's 2026 Louisiana Common Ground Survey, questioning whether its finding that Louisianans are unusually engaged in politics holds up given the survey's stated goal of reducing polarization. We also touch on polling showing global warming ranking low among midterm voter priorities, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise's comments on the growing gap between the parties, a Connecticut school board member's remarks on teacher pay and race, a rundown of the top countries for solo travel, and a discussion of Sharia law and Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's past comments on it.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776. 

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avalone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for August 12, 2026.We open with a deep dive into the new report on Congresswoman Julia Letlow's stock trading activity, examining the timeline between her signing a non-disclosure agreement tied to Meta's Richland Parish data center project and a subsequent Merrill Lynch account purchase of Meta and Nvidia stock months later. We walk through her office's response, the broader context of her January disclosure filing, and why we think the reporting glosses over an explanation she'd already given months earlier. In our Top 3, we cover the Lafayette DA declining to file charges over the Como High School closure decision, St. George's move to stand up a part-time volunteer police force, and the reopening of Shreveport's Fire Station 20 after a three-year closure for environmental hazards.We return to the Letlow story to unpack who's behind the reporting and the politics swirling around it, then Dig Deep into St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper's veto of a zoning change that would have cleared the way for 800 new homes, using it as a jumping-off point for a broader conversation on housing affordability and regulation.From there we look at Mike Lindell's second-place finish in the Minnesota Republican gubernatorial primary despite President Trump's endorsement, and what his stance on immigration amnesty may have cost him. In Say What, we play a clip of Senator John Kennedy blasting the socialist wing of the Democratic Party on Fox News. We also break down the stunning primary loss of Wisconsin Democratic Socialist candidate Francesca Hong, whose call to cancel Thanksgiving may have sunk her campaign despite a big polling lead.We lighten things up with a quick game guessing the deadliest animal in each U.S. state, before closing out the hour with Senator Ron Johnson's claims that Dr. Fauci deleted contacts from his phone to obscure his texting activity, and the unsettling vaccine miscarriage data tied to it.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776. 

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avalone and Stephen Parr.This is the full show for August 11, 2026. We open with Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy breaking with President Trump over a new executive order reshaping childhood vaccine recommendations, and why Stephen thinks Cassidy has lost credibility to lecture anyone on "trusting the experts" after his record during COVID. In our Top 3 Things You Need to Know, we cover Orleans Parish Sheriff Michelle Woodfork's new oversight council for New Orleans jails, a Lafayette City Marshal's Office employee arrested for embezzlement, and a state audit finding most of Louisiana's weigh stations aren't operational, letting overweight trucks tear up local roads unchecked.We dig into New Orleans' use of AI to help handle overflow 911 calls and why we think that's a dangerous place to cut corners. We're Digging Deep on the Shreveport mayor's race, breaking down Tom Arsenault's path to reelection and whether fellow Republican John Paul Young's entry into the race helps or hurts him. Plus, Zoran Mamdani's crackdown on e-bike retailers in New York City, AOC's "woke one" versus "woke two" comments about fellow socialist Francesca Hong, and Minnesota AG Keith Ellison's praise for socialists pushing the Democratic Party to "debate ideas."We play a game of Say What with state-by-state alcohol consumption data, and close out the hour with the State Department revoking over 175,000 visas from foreign nationals arrested for crimes while in the U.S.

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for August 10, 2026.We open with qualifying now closed for Louisiana races, and a hard truth about local politics: any district attorney candidate talking tough on crime who isn't also calling for more jail space is just making noise. We dig into the Caddo Parish jail overcrowding crisis, the state's decades-long retreat from building correctional facilities, and how the Caddo Parish Commission is prioritizing a $70 million pickleball and sports complex over jail beds.We run through the Top 3: the Fifth Circuit upholding New Orleans' right to restrict short-term rentals, the Caddo Parish Commission's search for a new sports complex site ahead of a November bond vote, and Louisiana's crowded congressional races now that qualifying has ended. In Digging Deep, we break down the biggest DA races across the state, from Caddo's Stewart-vs-Sabaugh showdown to open seats in Monroe and Hiller Moore's first contested race in Baton Rouge since 2008.Jay Young, founder of King Operating Corporation and host of The Jay Young Show, joins us to explain why the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is at a 45-year low, what it means for gas prices, and how U.S. oil production is reshaping our energy independence. We also cover newly revealed text messages showing Dr. Fauci knew the COVID vaccine posed miscarriage risks to pregnant women while continuing to push it. We play a game with DoorDash's cheapest cheeseburger combo cities across the country, and we call out Sports Illustrated for framing a flagrant, violent foul on Sophie Cunningham as "karma."May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776! 

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for August 7, 2026.We open with a heartfelt look at Drew Brees' Pro Football Hall of Fame induction and what it means for New Orleans, tracing the parallel between his comeback story and the city's recovery after Hurricane Katrina, plus how his career stacks up against the game's other greats. We hit our Top 3 stories you need to know: Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy backing AG nominee Todd Blanche, the New Orleans City Council's takeover of the Sewerage and Water Board, and another New Orleans police officer arrested for payroll fraud.We talk about why foster care and adoption are essential parts of a pro-life ethic, and dig into Louisiana's new statewide platform, Home Ready, designed to make it easier for good families to become foster parents.We dig deep into Louisiana's candidate qualifying deadline, running through the Senate, congressional, and Speaker's races, plus the crowded and increasingly interesting Fifth and Sixth District fields now that Blake Miguez has jumped into the mix.We break down former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom's tongue-in-cheek declaration for the 2027 WNBA draft, what it exposes about the debate over transgender athletes in women's sports, and WNBA player Gabby Williams' comments welcoming trans athletes into the league.We play a game guessing the most common school names in America, then cover former First Lady Jill Biden's interview with Kelly Ripa and her comments about Kamala Harris and the prospect of a female president.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776! 

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for August 6, 2026.We open with Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s push to uncover what really happened behind the now-dismissed indictment against her, asking whether political power was used to weaponize the justice system and why the public deserves answers. From there, we cover the end of decades-long federal oversight of Bossier Parish Schools, New Orleans’ worsening budget crisis, and Shreveport’s major traffic enforcement operation aimed at reducing deadly crashes.We also examine the growing investigations surrounding Dr. Anthony Fauci, including a multi-state effort seeking records tied to his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic and Rand Paul’s push to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress. Plus, we break down the corruption indictment of East Baton Rouge Schools Superintendent Lamont Cole, allegations involving COVID relief funds, and what the case could mean for public trust.Later, we discuss Mitch McConnell’s recovery, whether Congress really works as little as critics claim, the most common jobs across America, and the latest speculation surrounding the 2028 presidential race after reports that President Trump has privately backed Vice President J.D. Vance as his preferred successor.All that and much more on this episode of American Ground Radio.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for August 5, 2026.Louisiana is having a moment — SpaceX is reportedly eyeing Vermilion Parish for a new spaceport, and we break down what that could mean for jobs, industry, and the state's identity beyond oil and gas. We also make a prediction: how fast will the lawsuits fly once Governor Landry makes it official?In our Top 3, Chevron asks a federal court to move its $744 million coastal erosion case out of state court, East Baton Rouge School Superintendent Lamont Cole is indicted on bribery and money laundering charges, and two Lafayette men are arrested for tearing down a Flock license-plate-reading camera.New Orleans is staring down a $125 million budget deficit, and we dig into a story that should worry every resident: three fire stations went dark for half a Saturday because the city doesn't have enough firefighters certified to run the trucks — and hasn't offered the training classes needed to fix it. We walk through how a spending problem, not a revenue problem, turned into a public safety crisis.Plus, we take on Zohran Mamdani's government-run grocery store plan in New York City, the ID card controversy behind it, and the media's attempt to rebrand it as a "loyalty card." CNN's Van Jones tells Abdul El-Sayed he has a "tremendous opportunity" to soften his anti-Israel positions for voters — we ask what that says about honesty in politics. And El-Sayed makes headlines again after commenting on the content his Instagram algorithm serves him.We close out the show debating what actually makes a president "effective," running the numbers on landslide re-election wins, and drawing a comparison to Steve Jobs' turnaround at Apple — a reminder that doing what's right isn't always what's popular.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for August 4, 2026.We start with Louisiana's new House Bill 102, passed after the mall shooting in Baton Rouge that killed 17-year-old Martha Odom. The law elevates certain intentional killings and dangerous public shootings to first-degree murder — but we dig into the harder, less comfortable question underneath it: what good are tougher laws if the courts, jails, and prisons don't have the capacity to actually enforce them?In the news roundup, we cover Louisiana AG Liz Murrill's standoff with Pornhub over the state's online age verification law, a police corporal arrested for leaking law enforcement database info to a known drug dealer, and the start of qualifying for November's elections, including the Shreveport mayor's race.We take on Pornhub's argument that tech companies — not adult sites — should bear responsibility for keeping minors away from their content, and why we think that logic falls apart. For Digging Deep, we push back on a Shreveport Times piece hyping "heat domes" and record heat, walking through why the meteorology (and the death toll comparisons) don't hold up.We also talk about Tom Selleck's refreshingly restrained comments on politics during a CNN interview at the Reagan Library, and pick apart Kamala Harris's answer when asked to name the most effective presidents in history — an answer that left out a few notable names. Plus, we revisit COVID-era lockdown policy through a resurfaced comment from Dr. Deborah Birx, and connect it to the loss of one of our own American Mamas, Denise Arthur. We close with a heavily armed man arrested near Trump National Golf Course ahead of the president's visit, and a discussion of what's really driving threats against Trump.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for August 3, 2026.Before diving into the day's biggest political headlines, we open with two heartbreaking tragedies in Shreveport that claimed the lives of two young people. We have an honest conversation about where responsibility begins, debating whether these incidents reflect failures in parenting, gun safety, culture, or something even deeper. From there, we cover the failed recall effort against Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards, a troubling financial audit in St. Mary Parish, and the Louisiana law that appears to benefit only one state legislator by wiping away an ethics fine.We also examine Attorney General Liz Murrill's push to investigate Dr. Anthony Fauci over his COVID-era testimony, explosive allegations that New Orleans judges ignored repeated ankle monitor violations that preceded violent crimes, and why confidence in the justice system depends on accountability.Nationally, we discuss former Vice President Mike Pence backing President Trump's tougher stance on Iran, Stephen A. Smith publicly apologizing to Kyrie Irving over the COVID vaccine debate, rising antisemitic attacks in New York City, and what those numbers say about the city's leadership.Plus, we wrap up with some lighter moments, including which states give students the longest summer vacations and the unbelievable story of a man who somehow survived jumping from the Brooklyn Bridge.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for July 31, 2026.We open with Louisiana's bid to become the nation's leader in nuclear energy after being selected by the U.S. Department of Energy as a finalist for a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus. We break down what the project could mean for the state's economy, jobs, energy future, and why Louisiana may have the political advantage over the other finalists.From there, we cover the Louisiana Supreme Court's decision allowing the elimination of three Orleans Parish judgeships, the latest state employment numbers, and Governor Jeff Landry's appointment of a new state fire marshal.Later, we debate whether winning free beer for a year is really a prize for a Louisiana fisherman, discuss the challenges former inmates face finding work after prison, and explain why private businesses—not government reports filled with political jargon—may hold the real solution.We also take a closer look at the growing questions surrounding Senator Mitch McConnell's extended hospitalization and whether elected officials owe the public greater transparency about their health. Plus, we react to the American Federation of Teachers embracing gender-affirming care policies, count down the most valuable sports franchises in America, and examine why Anthony Fauci continues to face public scrutiny years after the COVID pandemic.All that, plus plenty of laughs, spirited debate, and the stories shaping Louisiana and the nation.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for July 30, 2026.We open with Louisiana's new Streets to Success Act and ask whether the state has found a better way to address homelessness or simply created another political flashpoint. We explore the balance between compassion, accountability, public safety, and whether leaving people on the streets is truly a humane solution.From there, we cover the latest Louisiana headlines, including a lawsuit over mandatory overtime at the Shreveport Police Department, New Orleans taking greater control of its troubled water system, and the resignation of Cullen's mayor amid financial turmoil.Later, we dig into one of the biggest challenges facing Louisiana's future: the decline of two-parent households. We discuss why family stability matters, the "success sequence" that could dramatically reduce poverty, and why strengthening families may be one of the most important policy conversations the state can have.We also examine the case of an illegal immigrant in Connecticut who allegedly killed a police officer and his girlfriend while driving intoxicated—and the revelation that she had reportedly voted in multiple elections. That leads into a broader discussion about election integrity, immigration enforcement, and border security, including the growing migrant crisis unfolding in Spain.In the second hour, we discuss New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, the debate over his role in future 9/11 commemorations, the rising cost of raising children across America, and why red states continue to be the most affordable places for families. We wrap up with Senator Rand Paul's move to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt after he invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during congressional testimony.All that and much more on this episode of American Ground Radio.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for July 31, 2026.We open with a debate over transparency versus strategy as Louisiana lawmakers question the use of nondisclosure agreements tied to the state's aggressive push for AI data centers. We discuss where the line should be drawn between protecting competitive negotiations and giving taxpayers the transparency they deserve.From there, we cover New Orleans' latest effort to revitalize Canal Street, police pay raises in Natchitoches, and another candidate entering an already crowded Shreveport mayoral race.We also take a closer look at Louisiana's new "I Voted" sticker and ask a bigger question: should government be spending money encouraging civic participation with stickers, or should voting itself be motivation enough? It's a conversation about civic responsibility, informed voters, and whether participation without understanding ultimately strengthens—or weakens—our republic.Nationally, we examine President Trump's blunt warning to Iran after a failed missile attack on U.S. forces and debate whether forceful rhetoric projects strength or undermines presidential leadership. We also break down Dr. Anthony Fauci's repeated Fifth Amendment pleas before the Senate, the legal questions surrounding his sweeping pardon, and what lawmakers say could happen next.Later, we challenge the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings that placed Louisiana dead last despite recent improvements in education, questioning whether the methodology reflects reality. We wrap up with the Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates steady, what rising energy prices could mean for inflation, and why September may bring another major economic decision.Join us for another fast-paced conversation covering Louisiana politics, national headlines, economics, and the stories shaping America's future.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for July 28, 2026.We begin in Louisiana, where Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy find themselves in rare agreement over the Trump administration's handling of Iran. While both oppose abandoning the mission, they argue Congress deserves a clearer picture of what victory looks like and what comes next. We break down where they agree, where they differ, and why it matters.We also cover a developing corruption investigation involving East Baton Rouge Schools, Louisiana's new guidance on the governor's teacher pay stipend, and New Orleans' attempt to compensate businesses devastated by years of road construction. Plus, Louisiana's new ban on releasing balloons takes effect this week, and the Crescent City is raising parking fines while searching for new revenue.Later, we take a closer look at Senator Bill Cassidy's latest comments on the SAVE Act and why his proposed changes have sparked sharp criticism. We also examine newly released notes from Dr. Anthony Fauci that raise fresh questions about school closures during the COVID pandemic and the role he played behind the scenes.In the second half of the show, we discuss the Democratic Socialists of America's platform and what its leaders openly say they want to change about the American system of government. We also examine New York City's plan to open taxpayer-funded grocery stores, the lawsuit from small business owners fighting back, and the growing controversy in New Jersey after thousands of non-citizens were mistakenly registered to vote.If you enjoy straightforward conversations about politics, policy, and the stories shaping America—both nationally and right here in Louisiana—you’re in the right place.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 27, 2026.In this episode of American Ground Radio, we dive into the latest political battles shaping Louisiana and the nation. We break down Cleo Fields' decision to return to the Louisiana Senate, the ongoing debate over race, political division, and what the Supreme Court's congressional map ruling means moving forward.We also cover the escalating feud between Governor Jeff Landry and former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, reveal why one in six Louisianans could have money waiting to be claimed, and discuss the unusual lawsuit pitting one Cajun Navy against another.Plus, we honor a beloved New Orleans institution, question whether taxpayer dollars should be subsidizing horse racing, examine media claims about America's military readiness, and discuss the latest developments involving Iran, the Democratic National Committee's financial troubles, and even which states have the most backyard swimming pools.Join us for another fast-paced conversation covering the stories, politics, and headlines that matter most—from Louisiana to Washington, D.C.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 24, 2026.The race for Louisiana's open U.S. Senate seat is already taking shape, and we break down why Rep. Julia Letlow's massive fundraising advantage may have Democrats looking elsewhere in 2026. We also take a closer look at the ongoing investigations surrounding ActBlue and ask whether anyone will ever be held accountable.Plus, we cover a string of Louisiana headlines—from payroll fraud investigations at a Lafayette charter school and the New Orleans Police Department to a new Shreveport mayoral candidate entering the race. We also discuss Louisiana's new law requiring immediate public notification when violent inmates are mistakenly released and why the state is leading the nation in cleaning up voter rolls.Later, we react to comments from The View about the SAVE Act, Elon Musk's defense of free speech in a tense interview with The Economist, new questions surrounding Ilhan Omar's family connections, and the latest polling on the 2028 presidential race. We wrap up with a discussion about fraud in higher education and what it says about the growing erosion of accountability in America.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 23, 2026.On this episode of American Ground Radio, we dive into Louisiana's push to bring classic literature back into every classroom and why reading the great books matters for preserving our culture, history, and critical thinking. We also discuss President Trump's plan to protect families from higher utility bills driven by AI data centers, the latest developments in Louisiana politics, and James Carville's surprising agreement that Democrats should stop fighting voter ID laws.Plus, we examine what makes legal immigration successful through the story of a South African refugee who found freedom and opportunity in America, unpack troubling reports of non-citizens appearing in Michigan's jury and voter systems, and take a closer look at the real-world consequences of socialism and communism—from New York politics to Cuba's continuing population collapse.It's a conversation about education, citizenship, personal responsibility, and the ideas that shape America's future.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 22, 2026.We kick things off with a major legal victory for Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill as all 16 felony charges against her are dismissed, raising serious questions about how the prosecution began and what happens next. We also dig into the growing political fallout in New Orleans and why this story may be far from over.From there, we examine New Orleans' debate over banning new data centers, the latest on Tropical Storm Bertha as it moves across Louisiana, and an FBI arrest tied to a massive $547 million healthcare fraud scheme. We also discuss new teacher pay incentives, Congressman Cleo Fields' decision to leave Congress for the Louisiana Legislature, and what his departure says about the state's congressional map.Later, we tackle a viral incident at Wrigley Field that sparks a debate over patriotism, free speech, and where the line should be drawn. We also break down New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's admission that he cannot arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite earlier promises, and what that reveals about political messaging.Plus, we explore why so many working Americans still rely on government assistance despite having jobs, the unintended consequences of welfare benefit "cliffs," and why Democrats are once again fighting voter ID requirements—even as showing an ID is required for something as simple as redeeming an Olive Garden pasta pass.All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 21, 2026.Artificial intelligence is changing politics, elections, and even the courtroom—and Louisiana is responding. We break down the new AI laws taking effect August 1, including tougher penalties for AI-generated explicit images, new disclosure requirements for political deepfakes, and how AI-generated evidence could be used in court.We also track Tropical Storm Bertha as it approaches Louisiana, discuss what homeowners need to know about insurance before severe weather strikes, and examine Congressman Cleo Fields' decision to leave Washington and return to state politics.Plus, we dive into surprising new data showing Caddo Parish leading Louisiana in criminal jury trials, a New Jersey voting software failure that allowed non-citizens to register and vote, and another round of political rhetoric that leaves us asking whether some elected officials actually understand the words they're saying.And before we're done, we lighten things up with a look at America's favorite cocktails—and why a bottle of tequila is apparently a terrible bribe.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 20, 2026.In this episode of American Ground Radio, we dive into a new State Department report alleging that Cuba has spent decades building a network of influence inside the United States through activist organizations, radical movements, and ideological allies. We examine what the report claims, why it matters, and what it could mean for America's future.We also discuss the latest developments in the Middle East following the deaths of three U.S. service members, President Trump's response to growing tensions with Iran, and why the administration believes Americans understand the difference between avoiding endless wars and confronting real threats.Plus, we break down New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's comments about arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, explore why the art of small talk may be disappearing in modern America with our American Mamas, and take a look at surprising polling that suggests many younger Americans support free markets while opposing capitalism.We wrap up with an encouraging archaeological discovery in Jerusalem that adds new evidence supporting the biblical account of Solomon's Temple, along with the latest headlines from around the country.All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 17, 2026.In this episode of American Ground Radio, we tackle a proposal that could hit Louisiana families where it hurts most—their electric bills. We break down Entergy's request to spend billions on power grid upgrades tied to massive AI data centers and ask the question everyone should be asking: who should actually pay the bill?We also cover the Louisiana Supreme Court's fast-tracked fight over New Orleans judgeships, a federal indictment involving millions of dollars allegedly stolen from a Baton Rouge-area charter school, and Shreveport Regional Airport's push to become an international gateway.Plus, we discuss whether legislative performance matters more than demographic representation, why Louisiana's new law making it easier for teens to get a first job is a win for families, and the irony of Olive Garden requiring photo ID for unlimited pasta while some still oppose voter ID laws.In the second half of the show, we examine a bizarre U.S. Senate candidate debate in Maine, react to Karen Bass's controversial comments about homelessness and meth use, explore America's most-visited national parks, and discuss whether Congress should ban members from having relationships with staff.All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 16, 2026.We open with the debate surrounding Meta's data center expansion in Richland Parish — now growing from two gigawatts to five gigawatts and representing a $50 billion investment in northeast Louisiana before the facility is even fully built. We take on the fear-mongering from the Alliance for Affordable Energy, which is warning that ratepayers could eventually get stuck with higher utility bills — based on what happened in states that tried to power data centers with solar and wind. We explain why Louisiana is different, why Governor Landry and Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis are confident the commitments will hold, why natural gas and nuclear are the right fuels for these facilities, and why the Louisiana Public Service Commission exists precisely to hold Meta and Entergy accountable if they don't deliver. The teacher salaries in Richland Parish have already doubled. That's not speculation. That's a fact. We'll monitor, we'll enforce, and we'll stop pretending failure is inevitable before anything has actually failed.In our Top 3, an illegal alien from Honduras with three prior deportations — including a felony domestic abuse conviction in Bossier — was convicted of illegal reentry in Bossier City after a routine traffic stop flagged a federal warrant. He has been sentenced to a year in prison and will be deported for the fourth time. Then Shreveport Mayor Tom Arsenault fulfilled another campaign promise — opening the city's third police substation, this one at Cedar Grove Park near I-49 and 70th Street, with Chief Wayne Smith calling it an ideal location to mentor young people in the community. And the Concordia Parish School District has been released from federal desegregation oversight dating back to a 1965 lawsuit — the third Louisiana district freed from consent decree supervision this year, following Bossier Parish and DeSoto Parish. Louisiana in 2026 is not Louisiana in 1965.We dig into a ruling that has left us genuinely baffled — a state judge ordered Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrell to pay nearly $245,000 in legal fees to the Caddo Parish Commission after she sued the commission for violating the Open Meetings Law. The violation in question: a minority of commissioners signed a resolution welcoming Bernie Sanders without holding an open public meeting. Judge John Davidson called the lawsuit frivolous. We call the ruling a misreading of the Open Meetings Law so fundamental that a first-year law student should have caught it. If a government body can produce official documents without ever holding a meeting, the Open Meetings Law has no meaning — and neither does any resolution that body has ever issued. We expect this to be overturned on appeal to the Second Circuit.We also cover the IRS migration data showing that the 10 counties with the largest net losses of taxpayers in the country are all located in California and New York — while Florida, Texas, Tennessee, and increasingly Louisiana are absorbing the people, the businesses, the investments, and the tax dollars that blue state policies are driving away. More than 26% of New York City residents were already considering leaving before Zoran Mamdani won. Every moving truck headed out of Manhattan or Los Angeles takes not just furniture but future.In our Say What segment, we play Secretary of State Marco Rubio's speech on the resurgence of political terrorism — specifically his rebuke of communism that we call one of the best we've ever heard. Rubio's argument: communism doesn't even look good on paper. From each according to their ability, to each according to their need — meaning you give everything you have and get back only the bare minimum to survive. The world communism envisions is small, flat, gray, and drained of everything good in the human soul. No creativity, no ambition, no heroes, no God. Russia led the arts in the 1800s. Then the communists took over. The buildings stopped being beautiful. The composers stopped writing. Individual initiative disappears when the government owns everything and all you get for your labor is survival.We play our CNBC cost-of-doing-business game — and even CNBC's left-leaning methodology can't hide the truth. The 10 most expensive states for business: Hawaii, Massachusetts, Alaska, Washington, California, Rhode Island, Maryland, Oregon, Delaware, and New York — nine blue states and one remote red state. The 10 least expensive: Ohio, Indiana, Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas, Missouri, Louisiana, Iowa, Tennessee, and Kentucky — eight red states and two purple states, zero blue. The people voting with their feet and the companies voting with their headquarters are all reading the same scoreboard.We also cover the DHS and DOT jointly investigating 75 commercial driver's licensing schools for allegedly helping non-citizens fraudulently obtain CDLs — putting improperly trained, potentially illiterate drivers behind the wheels of 80,000-pound vehicles traveling at highway speed. This isn't a paperwork problem. It's a public safety crisis.And we close with a Memphis pizza restaurant owner who refused to serve Tennessee National Guard troops deployed to reduce the city's murder rate — a rate that has dropped since their arrival. We note that most murder victims in Memphis are Black men, that the National Guard is keeping some of them alive, and that refusing to serve the people protecting your community while claiming to love it is not a political statement. It's cowardice with marinara sauce. May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 15, 2026.Should Louisiana finally get its fair share? We kick things off with a look at a bipartisan effort to expand Louisiana's control over offshore waters—and the billions of dollars in energy royalties that could come with it. We explain why Texas and Florida have enjoyed a decades-long advantage and why lawmakers say it's time to level the playing field.We also cover the latest headlines from around Louisiana, including flooding in New Orleans caused by human error, a Baton Rouge councilman facing corruption charges, and Louisiana's swift water rescue teams deploying to help flood victims in Texas.Later, we discuss teacher pay raises in St. Tammany Parish, why local economic growth may be the key to better schools across the state, and how Meta's investment in Richland Parish is already delivering life-changing bonuses for educators.Plus, we react to Joe Biden's upcoming memoir, debate whether politics is keeping some parents from taking advantage of new investment accounts for their children, examine the Pentagon's new testosterone screening policy for service members, and discuss President Trump's latest comments on Iran and what they could mean for America's role in the Middle East.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 14, 2026.Louisiana may be on the verge of a once-in-a-generation economic transformation, and we break down why Governor Jeff Landry says the state is embracing the next industrial revolution. We examine Meta's staggering $50 billion investment in northeast Louisiana, what it could mean for jobs, infrastructure, and the future of AI, and why some critics are sounding the alarm.We also discuss the tragic death of a U.S. Deputy Marshal in Alexandria, Louisiana, new record-breaking employment numbers across the state, and why 50 Cent is hinting he may scale back part of his investment in Shreveport.Later, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill joins us to explain why she's appealing a judge's ruling in the Caddo Parish open meetings case after being ordered to pay nearly $250,000 in legal fees. We unpack what the case could mean for government transparency and accountability.Plus, we debate President Trump's proposal—and subsequent reversal—on charging cargo ships for protected passage through the Strait of Hormuz, discuss Mexico's complaints about U.S. immigration enforcement, celebrate the remarkable longevity of the U.S. Constitution, and react to Senator Raphael Warnock's claim that a Fourth of July thunderstorm was divine intervention.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 13, 2026.We open with a Tax Foundation report confirming what Louisiana families and business owners have lived for decades — Louisiana has the highest combined state and local sales tax burden in America at 10.13%. We explain why the trade-off made by the legislature two years ago — broadening the sales tax base in exchange for cutting the income tax — was the right move philosophically, because an income tax is a tax on liberty while a sales tax is a tax on consumption. But we also make clear that complacency is not an option. Tennessee has zero income tax and the second highest sales tax in the nation — and Tennessee is doing gangbusters. Louisiana's competition isn't theoretical. It's right next door, and Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas are all racing their income taxes toward zero. Louisiana cannot fall behind in that race.In our Top 3, Meta has announced it is expanding its AI data center in Richland Parish from two gigawatts to five gigawatts — before the facility is even fully built — raising Meta's total investment in northeast Louisiana to $50 billion and creating more jobs than originally forecast. Then human error shut down all three water pumps at New Orleans Pump Station 7 during the heaviest rainfall of the weekend, causing water levels to rise six feet in 20 minutes and triggering widespread flooding in Lakeview, Mid-City, and around City Park — which is exactly why Governor Landry is skeptical of sending the city more money. And the race for Louisiana's 5th Congressional District is taking shape, with multiple candidates from both parties beginning to qualify — though the status of Trump-endorsed candidate Blake Miguez remains unclear.We revisit the life and legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham — and play the audio that may represent the highest point of his Senate career. During the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, Graham stood up among colleagues he called his friends and delivered a speech that stopped the chamber cold — calling the process the most unethical sham he had witnessed in his political career, apologizing directly to Kavanaugh for what his family was being put through, and saying plainly to the Democratic majority: you're looking for a fair process — you came to the wrong town at the wrong time. We also note that Cory Booker's tribute this week — crediting Graham as the colleague who made his criminal justice reform bill possible — says everything about the kind of senator he was. Graham could fight hard and still work across the aisle, and that combination made his Kavanaugh speech land harder than it ever would have coming from someone further to the right. We also discuss Governor McMaster's appointment of Graham's sister Darlene Graham Nardone to fill his seat, the long American tradition of widow's succession opening doors for women in public office, and the photo of Mitch McConnell in his hospital room — which looks staged, which proves nothing, and which still hasn't produced a single quotable word from the senator himself.We cover the New Orleans Decatur Street construction project — where Governor Landry is demanding a full audit after a project to replace 1906-era water mains has stretched on for years, closing French Quarter businesses and driving some permanently out of existence. The city's response to the audit request was to announce $200,000 in business relief grants — roughly $2,500 to $5,000 per affected business, which may cover a utility bill but won't bring back a restaurant that ran out of customers two years ago.In our Digging Deep segment, we go deep on CNBC's ranking of the worst states in America to live in — all ten of which are red states, and all ten of which gained population from other states in 2024. Texas, the second worst state according to CNBC, had the largest net inflow of any state in the country. Tennessee, the worst state in America according to CNBC, added 36,000 new residents. We then examine the methodology — which rewards states for high minimum wages, mandatory union participation, gender ideology in law, abortion access without restriction, and no voter ID requirements. We conclude that CNBC has not produced a quality of life ranking. It has produced a Democratic National Committee platform checklist. The American people are voting with their feet. CNBC is voting with its politics.We also cover a man in Caddo Parish arrested for his seventh DWI — with five of those arrests made by Shreveport Police — and ask the only logical question: why is this man still on the road? The police have done their job five times. The fault here rests squarely with a DA's office that has failed to protect the people of Caddo Parish.We also weigh in on European leaders lecturing President Trump about immigration enforcement while their own streets tell a completely different story. In Germany, foreign nationals make up 15% of the population but 53% of gang rape suspects. In Ireland, 85% of women murdered last year were killed by foreign nationals. Every crime committed by an illegal alien in this country is a failure of government to do its most basic job — securing the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for its own citizens.And we close with Mick Jagger offering what may be the most useful piece of career advice in the music industry right now — that a singer's job is to sing and a performer's job is to entertain, not to lecture a paying audience about politics. Bruce Springsteen, apparently, was not in the room. May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 9, 2026.We open with the growing showdown between Governor Jeff Landry and New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno as the fight over the city's finances reaches a boiling point. We break down why the governor says New Orleans is treating Louisiana taxpayers like an ATM, what the city's budget crisis means going forward, and the latest developments in Attorney General Liz Murrill's legal battle with Orleans Parish officials.We also discuss the largest jailbreak in Louisiana history and the criminal case against former Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, plus a major federal research grant awarded to ULM and a new Louisiana education initiative that ties tutoring companies' pay directly to student success.Also in today's show: a Baton Rouge pastor sues after being fired over preferred pronouns, a massive Medicaid fraud scheme uncovered in New York, President Trump's efforts to restore safety in Washington, D.C., the naming of a new airport in his honor, and why the president says he's already given instructions for how America should respond if Iran ever succeeds in carrying out its assassination threats.All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 9, 2026.We open with the rapidly evolving race for Louisiana's 5th Congressional District as State Senator Stuart Cathey officially enters the contest following the state's court-ordered redistricting. We break down how the new map has reshaped the race, who's in, who's still a question mark, and what it means for voters across North Louisiana.We also cover the latest developments in the legal battle surrounding Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill as the state Supreme Court appoints a new judge to oversee the politically charged case against her. Plus, New Orleans backs away from requesting another state bailout, and we discuss what the city's financial troubles could mean going forward.Then we're joined by Mark Rohde of Cumberland Ministries to talk about the life-changing impact fathers have on families, the ministry's work transforming one of the toughest neighborhoods in the Ark-La-Tex, and how a simple seasoning brand is helping spread hope throughout the community.Also in today's show: another political corruption case out of Illinois, the Democratic Party's scramble to replace its Senate candidate in Maine, why China suddenly wants Iran to honor its ceasefire agreement, a look at the world's biggest oil importers, and a troubling free speech confrontation between Christian street preachers and police officers in Fort Worth.All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 8, 2026.We open with the stunning legal battle surrounding Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, where every criminal court judge in Orleans Parish has recused themselves from hearing the politically charged case against her. We break down why it happened, what's really behind the indictment, and what it means for the rule of law in Louisiana.Then Senator John Kennedy joins us to discuss the escalating conflict with Iran, President Trump's response, the future of sanctions, and whether the Senate can finally get the SAVE Act across the finish line.Also in today's show: a Louisiana state senator passes away unexpectedly, a criminal investigation into financial misconduct at UL Lafayette, an Australian citizen is charged with voting illegally in Louisiana elections, and we examine why election integrity remains a national issue.Plus, we discuss RFK Jr.'s push to improve hospital food, New York City's half-million-dollar plumber, whether Democrats are abandoning their own voters in Maine, President Trump's call for NATO allies to strengthen their militaries, and Bishop Robert Barron's warning about the growing influence of socialism and what it could mean for America's cultural future.All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 7, 2026.We open with a question that's becoming harder to ignore: have we become so politically tribal that we've stopped judging people by their actions? We examine the bizarre case of a volunteer with the effort to recall Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry who is accused of carjacking a vehicle and shooting a truck driver—and why the case also raises serious questions about Louisiana's justice system after Attorney General Liz Murrill was given a bond four times higher over an unrelated legal dispute.In our Top 3, we cover Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux qualifying for reelection by petition, Governor Jeff Landry's trip to Washington to promote President Trump's new Trump Accounts—including a plan to provide them to children in Louisiana's foster care system—and Baton Rouge becoming the first city in Louisiana to receive Amazon drone deliveries.We also dig into an investigation that found several New Orleans restaurants serving imported shrimp while claiming it was local Gulf shrimp, and explain why protecting Louisiana's reputation is about far more than seafood—it's about preserving one of the state's most valuable brands.In our Digging Deep segment, we break down encouraging new census and workforce data showing Louisiana's population is growing again after years of decline, with young adults leading the turnaround. We discuss what that says about jobs, opportunity, and whether the state's economic direction is finally changing.We also revisit the growing controversy surrounding Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Plattner, why Democrats are now scrambling to replace him, and what the episode reveals about the ideological direction of today's Democratic Party.Finally, we tackle the conflicting reports surrounding Senator Mitch McConnell's health. With Senate leadership insisting he's actively engaged while other reports paint a far different picture, we ask a simple question: how much transparency do elected officials owe the people they represent?May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 6, 2026.On this episode of American Ground Radio, we kick things off with a tough conversation about crime, repeat offenders, and the responsibility of business owners, law enforcement, and elected officials after a Shreveport police officer was shot outside a nightclub. Is the problem the location—or the people creating the chaos?We also cover the Louisiana Supreme Court's decision to halt the politically charged prosecution of Attorney General Liz Murrill, new LEAP test scores showing continued improvement in Louisiana schools, and a federal judge ordering DeSoto Parish to redraw its district lines.From our trip to Washington, D.C., we bring you our exclusive interview with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. We discuss the new Working Families Tax Cut, school choice, energy policy, border security, birthright citizenship, and why he believes the fight between capitalism and democratic socialism will define America's future.Plus, we examine Gavin Newsom's latest proposal targeting election investigations, highlight the international celebrations marking America's 250th birthday, explore President Trump's new "Trump Accounts" initiative to encourage saving and investing for the next generation, play a patriotic game about the highest peaks in all 50 states, and wrap up with a conversation about celebrity weddings, Adam Sandler, and why some traditions are still worth protecting.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 30, 2026.We open with one of the biggest Supreme Court decisions of the year as the justices strike down President Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship. We explain why the debate centers on just four words in the 14th Amendment—"subject to the jurisdiction thereof"—and why we believe those words were never meant to create automatic citizenship for anyone born on American soil.In our Top 3 Things You Need to Know, we cover the federal prison sentence handed down in Louisiana's Wildlife and Fisheries bribery scandal, the guilty pleas in a decade-long visa fraud scheme involving law enforcement officers, and the cancellation of a controversial carbon capture project beneath Lake Maurepas.We also discuss what's next for Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming following his Senate primary loss, whether history makes it harder for candidates to bounce back after an unsuccessful run for higher office, and the political dynamics that could shape his future.Later, we break down another major Supreme Court ruling affirming that states can preserve women's sports for biological females. We discuss why the decision reinforces the original purpose of Title IX, what it means for fairness in athletics, and why the broader cultural debate is far from over.We also take a look at New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's latest housing proposal, why economic incentives matter more than political slogans, and react to the latest example of celebrity hypocrisy as Rosie O'Donnell and Kathy Griffin arrive in style while claiming to represent "the resistance."May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 29, 2026.We kick things off with a look at Louisiana's Senate runoff and what the results say about voter turnout, Republican unity, and the growing influence of President Trump's endorsement. Was this election decided by enthusiasm, strategy, or something else entirely?From there, we break down Governor Jeff Landry's teacher pay plan, a lawsuit over eliminated judgeships in New Orleans, and what both stories reveal about the ongoing legal and political battles shaping Louisiana.Then we turn our attention to Louisiana's congressional races with an interview featuring State Representative Mike Echols, who explains why he's running for Congress, how the new district maps have changed the race, and why he believes business experience—not political experience—is what Washington needs.Later, we zoom out to America's 250th birthday and ask why so many Americans seem divided over the nation's founding principles. Authors Tony Williams and David Bob join us to discuss their new book, Divided Over the Declaration, and why the Declaration of Independence still matters in today's political debates.We also tackle a Supreme Court ruling on mail-in ballots after Election Day, discuss why the meaning of words matters in constitutional law, react to a surprising poll about how Americans view their own country, and wrap up with a conversation about faith, culture, and the ongoing debate over gender and biblical truth.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 26, 2026.This episode covers everything from Louisiana politics to the future of the Democratic Party—and the stakes couldn't be higher.We start with Governor Jeff Landry's latest moves to reshape LSU, including new appointments to the Board of Supervisors and what they could mean for free speech, university leadership, and the direction of Louisiana's flagship university. Then we break down this weekend's Louisiana Senate runoff, why the campaign between John Fleming and Julia Letlow turned so ugly, and what voters should expect heading into Election Day.Moon Griffon joins us to explain why he publicly backed John Fleming, what pushed him to speak out, and why he believes outside money transformed the race into one of the nastiest Republican contests Louisiana has seen in years.We also discuss Landry's new executive order aimed at protecting Louisiana ratepayers from rising electricity costs tied to massive AI data centers, the latest developments in St. Tammany Parish's sheriff vacancy, vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool, and why some Democrats are openly questioning whether Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries should remain the party's leaders.Plus, we examine Congressman Brandon Gill's pointed questions about SNAP benefits and corporate influence, reveal which parts of America are seeing the highest birth rates—and what those communities have in common politically—and wrap up with another unbelievable case of pandemic fraud that proves some people will go to extraordinary lengths to steal from taxpayers.All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 25, 2026.We open with Governor Jeff Landry sending what can only be described as a fiscal message to New Orleans — vetoing more than $12 million in state construction funding tied to city projects, including a new city hall, an early learning center, and Habitat NOLA housing infrastructure. We explain why this isn't punishment so much as accountability — New Orleans is in a continuing cash flow crisis of its own making, burned through one-time COVID money by applying it to permanent programs, and has been fighting the state on policing, courts, and governance since Landry took office. If you can't manage the money you already have, why should the state give you more? We also cover Landry's broader veto list for the week — six bills killed, including one adding the Atlantic tarpon to the state game fish list and several others with no funding attached to them.In our Top 3 Things You Need to Know, Landry's other vetoes include bills for economic development districts, fresh food programs in food deserts, and elderly retirement education — plus his earlier veto of the wrongful conviction compensation increase. Then the former police chief of Greenwood, Louisiana — 75-year-old Glenn Mazur, arrested earlier this month on rape and sexual battery charges — was found unresponsive in his jail cell and pronounced dead at the hospital, with an autopsy finding natural causes. And former New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell — the first sitting mayor in New Orleans history to be indicted by a federal grand jury — will be honored at the Essence Festival on the 4th of July alongside Jasmine Crockett, who just lost her Senate primary in Texas. The theme of the event is the power of restoration. We let that sit there for a moment.We sit down with Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry for an update on Saturday's Senate runoff election — where early voting turnout is running below the May primary levels, driven by vacation season, the weather, and the later-in-the-year calendar shift. Nancy explains that Louisiana is ranked fourth in the nation in election integrity, that results typically come in by midnight, and that new voting machines are on track for a pilot program rollout to select parishes in 2027. She also makes a direct appeal to listeners in their 40s and 50s — the state desperately needs poll workers, the average age of current workers is 67, young people aren't stepping up, and you get paid for the day.We revisit the Supreme Court's 6-3 TPS ruling — and connect it to the real-world consequences of the Biden administration's mass placement of Haitian migrants into specific communities like Springfield, Ohio, where 10,000 migrants were brought into a small city that wasn't prepared to absorb them. We make the case that this isn't about race — it's about culture, trust, and what happens when you mass-import people from low-trust societies without any plan for integration.We also cover Graham Plattner — the Maine Democratic Senate candidate with the SS tattoo — who released a video claiming that conservative opposition to men competing in women's sports is actually just a distraction funded by billionaires who don't want a wealth tax. We respond with data: the men's 100-yard dash world record is nearly a full second faster than the women's, the volleyball net is seven inches higher for men than women, and there is exactly one woman in recorded human history who has run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds. There are thousands of men who have. The opposition to men in women's sports has nothing to do with taxes — it's about fairness to women, and any politician who can't acknowledge that is gaslighting his own base.We also talk Hollywood — specifically the new Supergirl movie, which needs $450-500 million worldwide to break even and is projected to open to $40-50 million domestically. We invoke Jerry Seinfeld's rule about comedy — the audience is always right. Wonder Woman succeeded because it was a great movie. The last three Star Wars films failed because the audience said they were awful. Snow White failed because the audience said it was awful. And when Hollywood refuses to learn from this and blames the fans instead, it will keep losing hundreds of millions of dollars on films nobody asked for while The Chosen keeps finding new viewers without a single Hollywood executive. And we close with the observation that the most repeated lie in modern American life is the phrase your call is very important to us — because if it were, they'd be picking up the phone right now.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 24, 2026.Fresh off our trip to Times Square, we return home with a renewed appreciation for Louisiana after a conversation with a family that recently relocated from Washington, D.C. Their enthusiasm for Shreveport raises a simple question: have we become so focused on our state's problems that we've forgotten what makes it special? We discuss why sometimes it takes an outsider to remind us of the things we take for granted.We also break down the latest developments in Governor Jeff Landry's effort to provide teachers with a one-time stipend, why the plan remains tied up in court, and what it says about Louisiana's ongoing struggle to properly fund education. Plus, Planned Parenthood announces its return to Louisiana, and we examine what services the organization plans to offer and why its arrival is already generating controversy.Later, we discuss the resignation of St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith following his guilty plea in an assault case and what leadership accountability should look like when public officials break the law.We also take a closer look at Senator Bill Cassidy's latest clash with President Trump after Cassidy joined Democrats on a War Powers resolution targeting the administration's actions toward Iran. Has Cassidy once again put himself at odds with Louisiana Republicans, or is this simply a constitutional disagreement over executive authority?Then we tackle two very different stories involving faith and public life. First, we react to a Louisiana pastor arrested after allegedly assaulting a neighbor and explain why using scripture to justify bad behavior damages the Christian witness. Then we examine a Texas politician's claim that Christianity is the most violent religion in history and debate whether that argument survives even a basic review of historical facts.Plus, a new election integrity fight emerges as the U.S. Postal Service threatens to withhold mail-in ballot delivery from states that refuse to comply with federal voter verification requirements, and the Department of Justice announces what it calls the largest healthcare fraud crackdown in American history.All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 23, 2026.Broadcasting from the heart of Times Square, we take a step back from the daily headlines to reflect on what makes America unique as the nation approaches its 250th birthday. Surrounded by people from every corner of the world, we discuss the enduring promise of the American Dream, the power of free markets, and the responsibility each generation has to preserve and improve the freedoms we've inherited.We also break down the latest developments in Louisiana's U.S. Senate race as early voting numbers reveal Republicans dominating turnout while the battle between Julia Letlow and John Fleming grows increasingly bitter. Does low turnout favor one candidate over the other, and has either candidate truly given voters a reason to support them?Later, we examine Governor Jeff Landry's stalled teacher pay proposal, the Caddo Parish Commission's decision to reject a Pride Month resolution, and the failure of a $280 million New Orleans drainage system during Tropical Storm Arthur.We also look at California's latest gun restrictions and ask why lawmakers continue targeting legal gun owners for crimes that are already illegal. Plus, we react to another round of Kamala Harris word salad, discuss Major League Baseball's decision not to punish players for displaying Bible verses during Pride Night events, and explore the growing tension between sports, faith, and politics.And from Times Square itself, we share our observations about America's greatest city, test our knowledge of New York's most iconic landmarks, and celebrate the optimism, opportunity, and freedom that continue to define the American experiment.All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 19, 2026.We open with Louisiana's ongoing teacher pay raise battle and the growing debate over who should control education funding. Governor Jeff Landry says teachers deserve more money, a judge says the Constitution says otherwise, and local school districts are stepping in where state government has stalled. We break down the legal fight, the politics behind it, and what it means for teachers across Louisiana.We also discuss a startling report from LSU Health Shreveport showing Caddo Parish wastewater contains some of the highest levels of methamphetamine byproducts ever recorded, raising questions about drug abuse, public health, and even a surprising connection to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill's efforts to challenge abortion pill regulations.Later, we look at a WalletHub ranking that claims Louisiana is one of the worst states in America for working fathers and ask whether national rankings miss what really matters about family, fatherhood, and quality of life. Plus, we celebrate Father's Day by discussing the often-overlooked role dads play in shaping families and creating generational success.We also dive into Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s latest battle over food dyes, why your favorite M&M colors may be disappearing, and what that says about the growing Make America Healthy Again movement.Then we welcome Douglas Carswell of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy for a fascinating conversation about Mississippi's economic turnaround, why the state's GDP per capita now exceeds that of the United Kingdom, and what America's free-market system still gets right while much of the world moves in the opposite direction.And finally, we examine a poll showing a surprising number of Democrats believe America is worse than average compared to other countries, rank America's favorite holidays, and react to Hunter Biden's challenge to Donald Trump Jr. for a cage fight.All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 18, 2026.We open with a creative legal challenge from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and a coalition of states asking whether the abortion drug mifepristone should be studied under the Safe Drinking Water Act. We break down the argument, the science, and the debate over whether concerns about pharmaceuticals in the environment are being ignored—or overstated.From there, we cover the aftermath of Tropical Storm Arthur in South Louisiana, remember two service members with Louisiana ties who were killed in a California B-52 crash, and discuss 50 Cent's growing investment in Shreveport as he breaks ground on his ambitious G-Dome project.We also dive into Governor Jeff Landry's new "Behind the Counter Protection Act" and ask whether tougher penalties for assaulting retail workers solve a real problem or simply add another law to the books. Plus, Louisiana moves to crack down on Medicaid fraud before Washington comes knocking, and we examine why rooting out waste protects both taxpayers and those who truly need assistance.Later, we discuss a Texas Senate candidate whose financial disclosures raised questions about independence and adulthood, explore a former Clinton adviser’s warning about the growing popularity of socialism among young voters, and examine a new UCLA report showing diversity numbers falling in Hollywood streaming productions. Is Hollywood becoming less diverse—or are audiences simply choosing entertainment over ideology?And we wrap up with another round of criticism from The View aimed at President Trump, the New York Knicks' White House visit, and the ongoing debate over who is really trying to rewrite American history.All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 17, 2026.We open with Senator Bill Cassidy taking another shot at President Trump, this time over the new Iran peace agreement. Cassidy invokes Ronald Reagan, claiming the former president would be "rolling over in his grave" over the deal. We examine whether that comparison holds up, revisit Reagan's famous "trust but verify" approach to foreign policy, and discuss why Trump supporters argue the Iran negotiations only happened because of military leverage. We also cover breaking Louisiana news, including new questions surrounding the federal prosecutor involved in the indictment of former New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, a major teacher pay raise approved by the Caddo Parish School Board, and a record-setting $1.1 billion verdict in a Louisiana sexual assault case.Later, Richard Nelson, president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, joins us to discuss the growing demand for skilled trades, why technical education is booming, and how Louisiana is preparing workers for billions of dollars in new economic development projects across the state.We dive into the backlash comedian Nate Bargatze faced simply for attending a UFC event at the White House, discuss Vice President J.D. Vance's comments on patriotism and partisan politics, examine an obituary that turned political even in death, and reveal which fast-food chain just ended Chick-fil-A's 11-year reign atop America's customer satisfaction rankings. All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio. May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 16, 2026.We open with a look at one of Louisiana's most contentious political races as a new Senate runoff poll raises questions about whether it's measuring voter opinion or trying to shape it. We break down the survey, the increasingly bitter battle between Julia Letlow and John Fleming, and why some Republicans are worried that the campaign is creating divisions that could last long after the election is over. We also cover LSU's new partnership with Hyundai Steel as the company prepares to build a $5.8 billion plant in Louisiana, why environmental activists are already protesting the deal, and the arrest of an Australian citizen accused of illegally voting in multiple American elections after allegedly lying about her citizenship status.Then we turn to homeschooling, where a comment from Louisiana's Department of Children and Family Services sparked outrage among parents across the state. We discuss the claim that homeschooled children are "often abused," why words matter when government officials speak, and the broader debate over parental rights, educational choice, and government oversight.We also examine Hillary Clinton's latest criticism of Joe Biden's 2024 campaign, revisit how Democrats ultimately selected Kamala Harris without a competitive primary, and ask whether any Democrat could have realistically defeated Donald Trump.Plus, two New York congressional candidates reveal who they're rooting for in the World Cup—and neither picked the United States. We discuss patriotism, national identity, and why voters might reasonably expect candidates seeking federal office to cheer for Team USA.Later, we take a nostalgic trip through the rise of Pizza Hut, why investors are betting billions on bringing back the classic red-roof experience, and what the company's comeback strategy says about American business. We also look at new gas price data showing a sharp divide between red and blue states and what it may reveal about energy policy.And we close with a developing story involving an alleged plot to attack a UFC event at the White House using explosive drones, raising serious questions about domestic extremism, political violence, and the threats facing the country today. May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 15, 2026.We open with a 2028 presidential conversation nobody expected — Louisiana Senator John Kennedy has not ruled out a run for president, and people are approaching his donors about it. We debate whether Kennedy's legendary Senate skills translate to executive leadership, invoke the Peter Principle, compare him to Ronald Reagan's path through the California governorship, and ultimately ask who's pushing him into this race and why they aren't already on board with J.D. Vance or Marco Rubio. We also cover J.D. Vance's CBS interview, in which he says the president brings up 2028 a lot and that he and Usha will sit down after the midterms to decide. We lay out the math — if Vance runs, Rubio doesn't, which means the vice president effectively has first choice of the nomination. And we make the case that a Vance-Rubio sequential ticket could be the most dominant political force America has seen since the 1830s. In our Top 3, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrell filed a joint motion with the Bossier Parish School Board and the U.S. Department of Justice to remove Bossier Parish from a desegregation order dating back to 1964 — arguing the district has fully complied and it is long past time to return power to locally elected representatives. Then the former chief of police for Greenwood, Louisiana was arrested on two counts of first-degree rape and five counts of sexual battery — the investigation coordinated with the Gingerbread House, which typically handles assaults on minors. And a B-52 Stratofortress crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California with as many as eight crew members aboard — military officials said the crash was unsurvivable — and we pause to honor men and women who climb into 70-year-old aircraft and push them to their limits so our military remains the finest fighting force in the world.We sit down with Matt Wolfe, Chief Marketing Officer for Greater New Orleans, Inc., to talk about what's actually happening at the Port of New Orleans and why it matters to the entire state and nation. A new partnership between UTC Transoceanic and the Port of New Orleans is integrating AI — built on Palantir's Foundry platform — into the port's intermodal transportation network, connecting all six Class 1 railroads in North America with real-time routing for massive cargo components. We also learn that the company that built the unmanned drone that rescued the two Apache helicopter pilots shot down over the Strait of Hormuz — Saronic — is based in Louisiana. And we look ahead to the Louisiana International Terminal, which will allow ships three to four times larger than what currently docks in New Orleans to use the port — unlocking a level of commerce the state has never seen.We also discuss Meta's $27 billion investment in Richland Parish — and the staggering result for local teachers, who are receiving year-end bonuses of $50,000, effectively doubling many of their annual salaries. We connect it to the broader story of private investment transforming Louisiana communities — from Amazon's data centers in northwest Louisiana to Hyundai steel in Ascension Parish to manufacturing expansion along I-20 in Monroe.In our Say What segment, J.D. Vance addresses the 2028 question on CBS, and we discuss the historic possibility of a secretary of state becoming president for the first time since Martin Van Buren — a streak that runs through Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy Adams. Could Marco Rubio be the sixth?We also cover the tragic death of a 21-year-old woman in Brazil who died bungee jumping when employees threw her off a cliff without attaching the bungee cord — and use it as a serious reflection on what happens when people stop paying attention to the details of the jobs that other people's lives depend on.And we close with the New York Knicks winning their first NBA championship in over 50 years — and the celebrations in Times Square that included a 16-year-old shot in the foot, multiple stabbings, looting, and street-long brawls. We ask what it says that three Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl victories in the 1990s produced exactly zero riots, and we speak directly to the celebrants in question. May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 12, 2026.We open with a controversy that may be a preview of the future of American politics. An AI-generated campaign video has exploded into the Louisiana Senate runoff, drawing condemnation from Governor Jeff Landry, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and others. We examine the difference between creating content and sharing it, whether candidates are responsible for AI-generated material they amplify, and how artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the rules of political campaigning. As AI tools become more powerful and more accessible, we ask a larger question: how will voters separate truth, parody, persuasion, and deception in the elections ahead?In our Top 3 Things You Need to Know, Governor Jeff Landry signs legislation designed to protect Louisiana's energy industry from climate-related lawsuits, supporters argue the law will prevent the state from becoming the next target of costly litigation campaigns aimed at oil and gas producers. We also discuss the ongoing effort to close an underutilized Lafayette Parish high school and preview early voting for Louisiana's June runoff elections, where several high-profile races are beginning to heat up.We also take a closer look at the increasingly negative tone of the Louisiana Senate runoff between Congresswoman Julia Letlow and State Treasurer John Fleming. While both candidates are well-known conservatives, the race has become dominated by attacks, accusations, and outside messaging. We discuss why negative campaigning often discourages voter participation and whether candidates would be better served spending more time explaining what they plan to do rather than tearing down their opponents.Later, we examine one of the biggest contradictions in modern American politics. Democrats frequently position themselves as champions of working-class Americans while simultaneously enjoying overwhelming support from many of the nation's wealthiest individuals, corporations, universities, and elite institutions. Using former President Barack Obama's nearly billion-dollar presidential center as a jumping-off point, we discuss the tension between anti-wealth rhetoric and the lifestyles often enjoyed by political leaders who promote it.We also celebrate the uniquely American spirit of innovation and risk-taking. Following a major SpaceX milestone that created a new generation of millionaires, we revisit Elon Musk's vision of making humanity a multi-planetary species and discuss why many of America's greatest achievements—from the Wright brothers to Henry Ford to modern technology pioneers—came not from government programs but from individuals willing to take enormous risks in pursuit of extraordinary goals.Plus, we break down the latest rankings of the world's wealthiest individuals, discuss what separates wealth creation from wealth redistribution, and explore why American prosperity has historically been driven by entrepreneurship, innovation, and private enterprise.And finally, we cover efforts to permanently cut off taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood, as pro-life advocates urge Congress to extend and expand recent restrictions on federal dollars flowing to the nation's largest abortion provider.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 11, 2026.We open with a local idea that could help solve a national problem. With law enforcement agencies across Louisiana struggling to fill vacancies, officials in Shreveport and Caddo Parish are launching an effort to recruit military police officers leaving Barksdale Air Force Base directly into local law enforcement. We discuss why the concept makes perfect sense, the challenges of competing with police salaries around the country, and how years of anti-police rhetoric have contributed to today's recruitment crisis.In our Top 3 Things You Need to Know, we examine the growing controversy surrounding major construction projects in New Orleans' French Quarter as businesses continue to close while roadwork drags on with no clear completion date. We also cover new student discipline policies coming to Natchitoches Parish schools, including tougher restrictions on vaping and cell phone use, and we recognize the life and service of newly elected Abbeville Councilman Neal Richard following his unexpected passing.We also highlight one of Louisiana's fastest-growing communities. New census data shows Carencro leading the state in population growth, and we explore why so many families are choosing smaller communities that offer affordability, stability, and something increasingly rare in modern America—a genuine sense of community.Later, we discuss President Trump's approach to Iran and why his critics continue to misunderstand his negotiating style. While opponents have long portrayed Trump as reckless, recent developments show a strategy built around strength, leverage, and restraint. We examine how demonstrating the willingness to act can often be the key to avoiding larger conflicts.We also dive into the growing controversy surrounding Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, whose past statements, extremist views, and Nazi-linked tattoo have sparked criticism from within his own party. We discuss the Democratic Party's struggle to reconcile its own internal factions, the irony of party leaders calling for anti-democratic solutions, and what the controversy reveals about the modern political landscape.Plus, we spotlight First Lady Melania Trump's new initiative to help foster children build financial stability as they transition into adulthood. We discuss why foster youth are often overlooked in public policy debates, the importance of creating opportunities rather than dependency, and how the program reflects a broader commitment to supporting vulnerable children and families.And finally, we compare police salaries across the country, explore what it takes to recruit and retain qualified officers, and ask whether states that pay the most actually offer the best environment for law enforcement professionals.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 10, 2026.We open with two major election integrity reforms taking effect in Louisiana that supporters say will strengthen confidence in the voting process. One law eliminates provisional ballots for voters who fail to provide proper identification, while another requires voter registration information to be cross-checked with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure only eligible citizens remain on the rolls. We discuss why election confidence matters, the debate over voter ID requirements, and whether critics are still relying on the same tired arguments Americans have been hearing for years.In our Top 3, Governor Jeff Landry signs legislation reducing the number of judges in New Orleans, sparking debate over whether fewer judges will improve efficiency or make existing court backlogs even worse. We also cover a growing infrastructure problem in New Orleans as officials warn that rusted pumping stations could create serious risks during hurricane season, and we examine the Trump administration's push for hospital price transparency as dozens of Louisiana hospitals face potential penalties for failing to disclose healthcare costs.We also highlight a major economic development announcement in northeast Louisiana. An $80 million manufacturing investment in Ouachita Parish is bringing new jobs and expanding the region's role in supporting the growing technology and data center economy. We discuss how large-scale investments create momentum that attracts even more businesses and why economic success tends to build on itself.Later, we're joined by Shannon Johnson of SoundWords and Vision and Ventures to discuss an innovative Louisiana-developed educational curriculum built around aquaponics. Combining agriculture, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the program gives students hands-on experience growing plants and raising fish while learning real-world STEM skills. With schools already adopting the curriculum and interest spreading beyond Louisiana, we explore how practical learning can help prepare students for future careers.We also examine new polling showing that a majority of Americans continue to support deporting immigrants who entered the country illegally, despite years of media narratives attempting to frame the issue differently. We discuss the distinction between legal and illegal immigration, the importance of citizenship, and why public opinion on border enforcement has remained remarkably consistent.In our Digging Deep segment, we react to comments from Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett following the murder conviction of Carmelo Anthony, who stabbed fellow teenager Austin Metcalf at a Texas track meet. We discuss the role of race in public discourse, the danger of politicizing tragedy, and why serious conversations about violent crime should focus on facts rather than rhetoric.We also celebrate a life saved through Iowa's Safe Haven law after a newborn baby was safely surrendered and placed on a path toward adoption. We discuss why these laws matter, the alternatives they provide for parents in crisis, and the importance of creating life-affirming options for vulnerable children.Plus, a new study ranks the states with the worst road rage, we break down Peter Schweizer's provocative question about election integrity in California, and we ask whether making questionable election practices legal somehow makes them trustworthy.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

We open with a Louisiana education funding decision that has a June 23rd deadline — Governor Landry's executive order to redirect $168 million from non-instructional school dollars into one-time stipends for teachers and support staff, preventing a de facto pay cut that kicks in July 1st. We work through the complications — the voters rejected the constitutional amendment that would have funded permanent raises, the legislature has to approve this by a two-thirds vote through an online ballot process, and nobody has yet explained what that $168 million was actually going to be used for before it got redirected. We also take a moment to acknowledge last year's legislative session, which produced insurance reforms that are now showing real results — 40 companies have asked to lower auto insurance rates, and 19 new companies have entered the Louisiana market. That's what impact looks like.In our Top 3, the Louisiana OMV experienced massive computer outages statewide after a software upgrade described as switching from a 1972 Pinto to a 2026 McLaren — problems expected to be resolved by Wednesday. Then the city of Shreveport approved Providence House's expansion in downtown, including a four-story apartment building and four single-family homes for people getting back on their feet after homelessness — with support from neighboring arts organizations. We call it exactly the right way to address the problem — nonprofits, not government programs. And the former mayor of Deridder was sentenced to 90 days in jail after being convicted of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile — two charges that each carried up to 17 years in prison but no minimum sentence. She said at sentencing she had made a lot of promises to put Deridder on the map. Not this way.We also cover a local story that could only happen in Louisiana — or possibly Florida — where a man pulled over on Interstate 310 on suspicion of DWI decided his best option was to leap off an elevated highway into a Louisiana swamp. A gator was waiting. The man survived both the bridge jump and the alligator attack, was eventually apprehended, and we offer this as a public service announcement — in Louisiana, the swamp is not an escape route. It is a food chain. And those odds come with teeth.We dig into Seattle's latest attempt to solve homelessness — a $16,000 tiny home program where residents are not required to be sober, not required to enter addiction treatment, and not required to participate in recovery programs of any kind. We contrast this with Habitat for Humanity, which requires sweat equity and sobriety because they understand basic psychology — people value what they work for and free housing without accountability enables the very addiction that created the homelessness in the first place. We also note that Seattle added a 10% income tax on households earning over $1 million this year, ensuring the people most likely to invest in the city will be the ones most motivated to leave it.We also push back hard on Ann Coulter's claim that the Iran conflict is starting to look exactly like the Iraq War. We run the numbers — 248,000 U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq versus zero in Iran, 139 American military personnel killed in the first phase of the Iraq invasion versus 13 in the first phase of the Iran conflict, and zero casualties since the first 48 hours of the Iran operation compared to steady ongoing losses throughout the Iraq campaign. The goal in Iraq was regime change. The goal in Iran is a negotiated nuclear deal. These two things are not the same, and saying they are is either sloppy or dishonest.We also cover the Carmelo Anthony verdict — guilty of murder in the stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Texas track meet — and contrast it with a North Carolina case where the man accused of brutally murdering an innocent Ukrainian immigrant on a train has been found incompetent to stand trial. We ask the question the victims' families are asking — when does the system focus on the people who were killed rather than accommodating the people who killed them?And in a development that genuinely surprised us, Whoopi Goldberg defended President Trump's right to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden — arguing he earned it as a lifelong Knicks fan. We accept the defense while pointing out that the president of the United States doesn't need to have been a fan of the team to attend a sporting event in his own country. He needs a ticket. That's it.

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 8, 2026.We open with a Louisiana law that raises an obvious question: why did it take so long? After the Orleans Parish jailbreak exposed a stunning 10-hour delay in notifying the public that violent inmates had escaped, Governor Jeff Landry signed legislation requiring correctional facilities to immediately alert the public when dangerous inmates are inadvertently released. We discuss why public safety should always come before public relations, why communities deserve timely information, and how the debate over crime, incarceration, and race often ignores the people who suffer most from violent crime.From there, we examine Louisiana's new Streets to Success Act, which would make unauthorized camping on public property a crime while creating the possibility of specialized homelessness courts. We explore the difficult balance between compassion and accountability, why simply allowing permanent homeless encampments is not a humane solution, and whether the state is prepared to provide the addiction treatment and mental health services needed to make the policy work.We also highlight one of Louisiana's biggest success stories. New education data shows dramatic improvements in reading proficiency among young students, continuing a trend that has made Louisiana one of the nation's leaders in post-COVID academic recovery. We break down the numbers, discuss the science-of-reading approach championed by State Superintendent Cade Brumley, and explain why getting children reading proficiently by third grade may be one of the most important investments a state can make.Later, we turn to energy policy and rising gas prices. As President Trump proposes suspending the federal gas tax, we welcome oil and gas expert Jay Young, CEO of King Operating Corporation, to explain what is really driving fuel costs, why events in the Middle East affect prices at American gas pumps, how refinery limitations complicate domestic energy production, and why the global oil market is far more interconnected than most people realize.And finally, we take a lighter turn with a conversation about President Trump's planned appearance at the NBA Finals, the criticism it has generated, and why presidents attending major sporting events has long been part of American culture. Along the way, we celebrate underdog stories, from teachers who invest in their students beyond the classroom to basketball legend Spud Webb, whose determination and perseverance embodied the belief that in America, people can accomplish extraordinary things despite the odds.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!