Joey Hudson / Just The Truth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson How do you go from the execution chamber to the emergency room? That's exactly what happened in Tennessee after the state attempted to execute convicted murderer Christa Pike. Pike was sentenced to death for the brutal 1995 torture and murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. Wednesday night, Tennessee attempted to carry out that sentence using its one-drug lethal injection protocol. But something went terribly wrong. Pike received two doses of pentobarbital. And she didn't die. Witnesses reported that Pike continued breathing and could be heard snoring long after the drugs were administered. Her attorneys say the execution team had difficulty accessing her veins, and Pike reportedly complained that her arm hurt during the procedure. Eventually, the state could go no further under its execution protocol. And then came the extraordinary scene: The woman the state had just attempted to execute was loaded into an ambulance and rushed to a hospital. Her attorneys say she was in critical condition and receiving life-saving medical care. Think about that sentence. The state tried to end her life. Then medical personnel had to try to save it. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has now halted the state's remaining executions for the year and ordered a comprehensive independent review of what happened. The Tennessee Department of Correction says its execution team followed the state's established protocol. Pike's attorneys strongly disagree and are raising serious constitutional questions about what happened inside that execution chamber. We'll walk you through the timeline, explain how the execution failed and look at what happens next in one of the strangest death-penalty cases we've ever seen. ✝️ CHRISTIAN GROUPS SUE VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY Two Christian student ministries are suing Virginia State University over a new campus ministry policy they say discriminates against Christian organizations. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Women of Victory and Bethel Campus Fellowship. The groups allege that Virginia State stripped them of their status as registered student organizations and subjected Christian ministries to oversight by a university-appointed campus minister and advisory board. The lawsuit also alleges that Christian ministries are prohibited from maintaining the same kind of relationship with their national parent organizations that they previously enjoyed. Here's where the constitutional argument gets interesting. The plaintiffs say non-Christian religious organizations—including Muslim student groups—aren't subjected to the same requirements. Their attorneys argue that a public university cannot impose one set of rules on Christian organizations and another set of rules on other religious groups. Virginia State University had not publicly responded to the allegations when the lawsuit was initially reported. And that's important. These are allegations in a federal lawsuit, not a court finding that Virginia State violated the Constitution. We'll explain exactly what the Christian organizations say happened, what the disputed policy requires and why they believe their First Amendment rights were violated. 👶 IS MS. RACHEL GETTING TOO POLITICAL FOR TODDLERS? Millions of parents know Ms. Rachel. Her real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, and she built an enormous following with videos designed to help babies and toddlers learn language, songs and early childhood skills. She now has more than 21 million YouTube subscribers. But Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich says parents should understand that Ms. Rachel has also become an outspoken political activist. Accurso has publicly advocated on issues including Gaza and Palestinian children, immigration detention and LGBTQ issues. Descovich argues that parents who put on a Ms. Rachel video expecting songs and early-learning content may not realize how politically active the person behind the children's programming has become. Ms. Rachel and her supporters see it differently. Accurso has said her advocacy is motivated by concern for children and has defended speaking publicly about humanitarian and social issues. So here's the question for parents: Does a children's entertainer's political activism matter if that activism isn't necessarily part of every educational video your child watches? And how much should parents know about the people and organizations producing the content their toddlers consume? This isn't about telling parents what their children should or shouldn't watch. It's about knowing what's behind the screen and making that decision for yourself. We'll give you the background and let you decide. 🚨 MASSIVE I-95 PILEUP OVER LAKE MARION And finally, an incredible scene on Interstate 95 in South Carolina. What was initially reported as a pileup involving more than 30 vehicles turned out to be much larger. Officials now say nearly 70 vehicles were involved in the crashes along I-95 over Lake Marion. Dense fog blanketed the bridge Thursday morning when cars and tractor-trailers began colliding. Vehicles were scattered across the interstate. At least one vehicle caught fire. Dozens of people were taken to area hospitals. And Interstate 95—the major north-south artery along the East Coast—was shut down for hours. The scene stretched across the bridge between Clarendon and Orangeburg counties. We'll have the latest numbers, what authorities believe contributed to the crashes and an update on the people who were injured. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily national news, South Carolina stories, politics, faith, culture and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #ChristaPike #Tennessee #DeathPenalty #BreakingNews #VirginiaStateUniversity #ReligiousFreedom #FirstAmendment #ChristianStudents #MsRachel #MomsForLiberty #Parents #SouthCarolina #I95 #LakeMarion #SCNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Check your mailbox. The Trump administration is sending out nearly half a billion dollars in $500 refund checks to more than 950,000 Americans. And South Carolina is one of the states where eligible residents will receive them. The Treasury Department began sending the payments to people in 30 states who purchased health insurance through the federal Affordable Care Act marketplace. But the check isn't arriving by itself. President Donald Trump is also sending recipients a signed letter explaining why they're receiving the money. The administration says the federal ACA exchange collected more in user fees than was necessary to operate HealthCare.gov, and those costs were ultimately passed along to consumers through their insurance premiums. Trump says that surplus belongs to the people who paid it. Most of the recipients paid most or all of their insurance premiums without federal premium assistance. So who qualifies? Why is the federal government sending the money back now? Why are residents in only 30 states eligible? And if you live in South Carolina, could there be a $500 check headed to your mailbox? We'll explain exactly what's happening. 🇺🇸 A MASSIVE NEW MILITARY BASE — COULD SOUTH CAROLINA GET IT? Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has announced plans for what the Pentagon is calling the “Next Great American Base.” And this isn't going to be a small installation. The proposed base would house approximately 15,000 to 25,000 military personnel and occupy hundreds of thousands of acres. Hegseth says the installation would be built from the ground up using modern technology. It would generate its own power. It would be capable of operating independently from the commercial electrical grid. It would incorporate autonomous systems and advanced air defenses. And it would serve as a major hub for military operations, command-and-control and cyber and technological capabilities. Here's where this gets interesting for South Carolina. The Pentagon plans to hold a nationwide competition. Governors and state adjutants general will be invited to pitch their states directly to military leadership. So here's the obvious question: Could South Carolina compete for it? Think about what South Carolina already has. Fort Jackson. Shaw Air Force Base. Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. Joint Base Charleston. The Naval Nuclear Power Training Command. A growing aerospace and defense industry. The Port of Charleston. And a state with a long military tradition. There are plenty of unanswered questions. Where would you find hundreds of thousands of acres? What infrastructure would be required? How much would the project cost? And what would a base housing potentially 25,000 troops mean for housing, roads, schools and the economy of the community that gets it? But governors are going to get an opportunity to make their case. So should South Carolina throw its hat into the ring? We'll look at what Hegseth announced and what the Pentagon says it's looking for. 🛂 RUBIO: MORE THAN 250,000 VISAS REVOKED Secretary of State Marco Rubio's State Department says it has now revoked more than 250,000 U.S. visas since President Trump returned to office. The administration says the revocations involve a wide range of cases. That includes foreign nationals accused of committing crimes, violating the terms of their visas, committing fraud, abusing the immigration system, supporting terrorism or posing national-security concerns. The total also includes approximately 2,300 visa revocations connected to so-called “birth tourism”—foreign nationals allegedly traveling to the United States specifically to give birth so their children receive U.S. citizenship. The administration says the crackdown is part of a much larger effort to continuously vet foreign nationals who have been granted permission to enter the United States. The State Department's message is simple: A visa is a privilege—not a right. We'll look at how the program works, why visas are being revoked and what this tells us about the Trump administration's broader immigration strategy. 🌴 AMERICA'S ECONOMIC CENTER OF GRAVITY IS MOVING SOUTH And finally, as America celebrates its 250th anniversary, something significant is happening to the country's economy. The economic center of gravity continues moving south. A new analysis estimates that the American South has grown into a roughly $6 trillion regional economy, with population, businesses and investment continuing to migrate toward Southern states. And South Carolina is right in the middle of that story. South Carolina led the nation in inflation-adjusted GDP growth in 2024 at 4.2%. The state tied for first in 2025 with 3.1% growth. And South Carolina ranked first in the country in population growth during 2024-25. Think about what's driving it: BMW and the automotive industry in the Upstate. Boeing and aerospace in the Lowcountry. The Port of Charleston. Advanced manufacturing. Defense. Logistics. Foreign investment. And hundreds of thousands of people who continue moving South. But growth comes with challenges. Housing. Traffic. Energy. Infrastructure. Schools. And making sure the workforce can keep pace with employers. South Carolina isn't just benefiting from America's move South. In many ways, we're becoming one of the clearest examples of it. We'll look at the numbers and what this growth could mean for South Carolina's economy over the next decade. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina stories, consumer news and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #TrumpChecks #500DollarCheck #Obamacare #ACA #PeteHegseth #USMilitary #MilitaryBase #SouthCarolina #SCNews #MarcoRubio #Immigration #Visa #Economy #SouthCarolinaEconomy #GreenvilleSC #CharlestonSC #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Did the Trump administration just back away from its mass-deportation policy? That question is creating a major debate among some of President Trump’s strongest immigration supporters after reported guidance instructed some ICE offices to pull back on arrests of illegal immigrants who did not have additional criminal histories. The reaction was immediate. Immigration hawks accused the administration of sending mixed signals and potentially retreating from one of President Trump’s biggest campaign promises. But then came another twist. The guidance was rescinded within hours. President Trump says his policy has NOT changed. The White House says ICE continues to prioritize the “worst of the worst,” but that does not mean other people who are in the country illegally are exempt from arrest. So what happened? Was this an actual change in policy? Was it a miscommunication inside ICE? And why did it produce such a strong reaction from some of Trump’s own supporters? We’ll separate what was actually ordered from the political reaction surrounding it. 💰 FBI SAYS $17 BILLION SEIZED IN GLOBAL SCAM CRACKDOWN Then we have an extraordinary number from FBI Director Kash Patel. $17 BILLION. Patel says that is roughly how much the FBI has seized in assets tied to massive overseas scam operations targeting Americans. The effort is called Operation Blackout. And these aren’t necessarily scammers sitting alone behind a laptop. The FBI describes sprawling scam compounds operating in places including Southeast Asia, the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. Some operate almost like cities. The criminal networks use sophisticated investment scams, cryptocurrency schemes and online relationship scams to convince victims to hand over enormous amounts of money. Older Americans are frequently targeted. And there’s another disturbing side to this story: Some of the people carrying out these scams are themselves victims of human trafficking, forced to work inside compounds controlled by criminal organizations. The FBI says Operation Blackout combines overseas raids, asset seizures, disruption of communications networks, rescue efforts involving trafficked workers and attempts to recover stolen money for victims. If you have parents or grandparents who spend time online, this is a segment you may want to share with them. We’ll explain how these scams work, what warning signs families should recognize and what the FBI is doing to shut them down. 🏊‍♀️ RILEY GAINES’ NCAA LAWSUIT DISMISSED Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines has suffered a major setback in her lawsuit against the NCAA. A federal judge granted summary judgment to the NCAA on the remaining Title IX claims brought by Gaines and more than a dozen other current and former female college athletes. But there’s an important distinction in this ruling. The judge did NOT decide whether the NCAA’s former transgender-athlete policy discriminated against female athletes. Instead, the case turned on a technical but crucial legal question: Does the NCAA itself receive federal financial assistance? That matters because Title IX applies to education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. The athletes argued that the NCAA qualified through its relationship with federally funded institutions and a concussion-research partnership involving the Department of Defense. U.S. District Judge Tiffany Johnson disagreed. She concluded that the evidence did not establish that the NCAA itself received federal funds. Without that connection, she ruled that the plaintiffs’ Title IX claims against the NCAA could not proceed. Gaines says this fight isn’t finished. She and the other plaintiffs plan to appeal the ruling to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Meanwhile, the NCAA policy at the center of the original lawsuit is no longer in effect. The organization changed its participation rules in February 2025 following President Trump’s executive order on women’s sports. We’ll explain what the judge actually decided, what she did NOT decide and where the case could go next. ⚠️ DISTURBING SOUTH CAROLINA CASE INVOLVING TWO CHILDREN And finally, a horrific story out of Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Authorities say a mother stabbed her two young children dozens of times during an attack inside their home. The children are just 6 and 3 years old. Investigators say the two suffered roughly 50 stab wounds combined. According to authorities, some of the wounds were so severe they reached bone. The 6-year-old reportedly faces the possibility of losing fingers and possibly an arm because of the extent of his injuries. Police discovered the children after the older child reportedly called his grandmother and told her he was hungry. That prompted a welfare check. Officers arrived to find the children alone, badly injured and covered in blood. Their mother, 35-year-old Taylor Gosnell, returned to the house shortly afterward. Authorities say she was eventually taken into custody. Gosnell is charged with two counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. She has been denied bond. These are allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The good news in an otherwise horrific story is that both children were reported in stable condition and are expected to survive. We’ll have the latest details on the investigation. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina stories, consumer alerts and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #ICE #Immigration #MassDeportation #BorderSecurity #KashPatel #FBI #OperationBlackout #Scams #Fraud #RileyGaines #NCAA #TitleIX #WomensSports #SouthCarolina #Spartanburg #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson A stunning twist in the murder of a New York Times executive. Jonathan McKinsey, a 40-year-old director of engineering for New York Times Games, was shot multiple times Saturday afternoon in the parking lot of a sports complex in Dublin, California. And police say the two people arrested on suspicion of killing him were his wife’s parents. Michael and Pamela Sheafe, both 77 years old, were taken into custody within minutes of the shooting. Police have not publicly announced a motive. So what happened in that parking lot? What led investigators to McKinsey’s in-laws so quickly? And what do we know about the relationship between the victim and the two suspects? We have the latest details on this unusual murder investigation. 🏛️ SENATE REPUBLICANS SCRAP THEIR EARLY EXIT FROM WASHINGTON With the midterm elections approaching, Senate Republicans aren’t heading home quite as early as originally planned. Senate Majority Leader John Thune is keeping senators in Washington as Republicans try to finish legislative business before lawmakers scatter across the country for the final campaign push. The decision comes with control of Congress at stake in November. Republicans want to use their remaining time in the majority to advance legislation and other priorities while senators facing competitive races also want to get home and campaign. That creates an interesting political balancing act. Every additional day in Washington is another day incumbents aren’t campaigning back home. But every day the Senate remains in session is also another opportunity for the majority to move its agenda. We’ll explain why Thune changed the schedule and what senators are trying to accomplish before leaving Washington. 🚀 SPACEX STARSHIP REACHES ORBIT FOR THE FIRST TIME SpaceX has just achieved a major milestone. Starship reached Earth orbit for the first time. The massive rocket lifted off from Starbase, Texas, on its 14th test flight and successfully deployed 26 next-generation Starlink satellites. That was a major first for the Starship program. But everything didn’t go according to plan. The spacecraft had been scheduled for a much longer mission involving multiple trips around the Earth. Instead, an engine problem forced SpaceX to end the flight early. Even with the shortened mission, reaching orbit and deploying an actual payload represent important milestones for a rocket system SpaceX hopes will eventually replace much of its existing Falcon fleet. Starship is also central to Elon Musk’s long-term plans for the Moon and eventually Mars. We’ll explain what went right, what went wrong and why this flight could be one of the most important Starship tests yet. 🗳️ SOUTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATS TARGET ALL 124 STATE HOUSE DISTRICTS While much of the political attention is focused on control of Congress, South Carolina Democrats are trying something they haven’t accomplished in more than half a century. They recruited Democratic candidates for all 124 seats in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Every single district. Republicans currently hold a large majority in the State House, so Democrats face a substantial challenge. But Democratic Party leaders argue that simply putting candidates on the ballot everywhere gives voters a choice and forces Republicans to defend seats they might otherwise take for granted. Republicans can point to their existing strength in the chamber and their success with South Carolina voters in recent elections. So does having a candidate in every district translate into additional Democratic seats? We won’t know until voters have their say. But the strategy itself represents a significant change. Instead of conceding heavily Republican districts without a challenger, Democrats are putting someone on the ballot everywhere. We’ll look at the numbers, the history and why the battle for the South Carolina State House deserves attention alongside the races for Congress, governor and U.S. Senate. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics, consumer stories and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #JonathanMcKinsey #NewYorkTimes #TrueCrime #DublinCalifornia #BreakingNews #SpaceX #Starship #ElonMusk #Starlink #SouthCarolina #SCPolitics #Midterms2026 #SouthCarolinaDemocrats #JohnThune #USSenate #Election2026 #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Republican Senator John Kennedy says it’s time for President Donald Trump to explain directly to the American people what the plan is for the war with Iran. Appearing on CBS’s Face the Nation, Kennedy said Americans are worried about two things that are increasingly connected: The cost of living. And the war in Iran. Kennedy says he wants President Trump—or Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine—to give the country a straightforward explanation of why the United States went into Iran, what victory looks like and, most importantly, how America gets out. Kennedy is not calling for the United States to immediately abandon the conflict. He says sanctions and the blockade should continue. But his message to the administration is clear: Explain the strategy to the American people. We’ll show you what Kennedy said and look at the growing debate in Washington over the future of the Iran war. 🇺🇸 ARE REPUBLICANS CHANGING THEIR MESSAGE ON MASS DEPORTATION? Immigration was one of Donald Trump’s signature issues in the 2024 presidential campaign. But with the 2026 midterms approaching, some Republican candidates in competitive congressional districts are adjusting how they talk about immigration enforcement. Rather than emphasizing the broad phrase “mass deportation,” some candidates are focusing their message on deporting people who have committed serious crimes. Colorado Republican Congressman Gabe Evans has said enforcement should prioritize “gangbangers, not grandmas.” Florida Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar has also publicly criticized aspects of the administration’s immigration crackdown and says some Hispanic voters who supported Trump now feel betrayed. Does this represent a Republican retreat from Trump’s immigration policies? Not necessarily. Republican campaigns continue spending heavily on immigration messaging and generally support stronger border enforcement. But in some competitive districts, the language is changing. We’ll look at what Republican candidates are saying and why immigration could become a complicated issue for both parties in November. 🇺🇦 UKRAINE’S UNEXPECTED SOURCE OF WAR REVENUE: PORN Here’s a headline I never expected to read. Ukraine is considering decriminalizing pornography—and supporters say one benefit could be additional tax revenue to help finance the country during its war with Russia. Producing and distributing adult pornography involving consenting adults is currently criminalized under Ukrainian law. But enforcement has created an unusual situation. Some Ukrainian adult-content creators have been paying taxes on their income while simultaneously facing the possibility of criminal prosecution for producing the content that generated that income. A bill before Ukraine’s parliament would decriminalize the production of pornography involving consenting adults and its distribution to adult audiences. At the same time, the legislation would strengthen penalties involving child sexual abuse material. The bill passed its first reading in July by an overwhelming vote of 231 to 8, with three abstentions. Supporters argue that legalizing and regulating adult content could eliminate opportunities for police corruption and allow the government to collect additional tax revenue from an industry that already exists. And in a country trying to finance an expensive war, supporters say every source of tax revenue matters. We’ll explain what the legislation actually does—and why Ukrainian lawmakers are considering it now. 🗳️ NEW SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE POLL: GRAHAM 43.4% — ANDREWS 42.3% Finally, we have a new poll in South Carolina’s special U.S. Senate election. And these numbers are worth examining. A new Trafalgar Group survey of likely South Carolina voters finds Republican Senator Darline Graham with 43.4% support. Democrat Annie Andrews is at 42.3%. That’s a difference of just 1.1 percentage points. Another 5.9% selected another candidate, while 8.5% remain undecided. And here's the important polling context: The difference between Graham and Andrews is smaller than the survey’s roughly three-point margin of error. That means this poll does not establish a clear leader. It is also only one poll—a snapshot of likely voters at a particular moment, not a prediction of what will happen on Election Day. But it comes after other surveys have also shown varying degrees of competitiveness in the race. An InsiderAdvantage survey earlier in September showed Graham ahead by roughly two points. An August Impact Research poll commissioned by the Andrews campaign showed the candidates tied. So what should we make of these numbers? We’ll break down the new Trafalgar survey, who was polled, how many voters remain undecided and what we can—and cannot—conclude from one poll with Election Day approaching. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national and international news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #JohnKennedy #DonaldTrump #Iran #IranWar #MarcoRubio #Immigration #MassDeportation #Midterms2026 #Ukraine #RussiaUkraineWar #SouthCarolina #SCSenate #DarlineGraham #AnnieAndrews #TrafalgarPoll #Election2026 #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took direct aim at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a fiery address before the United Nations—telling the mayor that “many Jews no longer feel safe in New York.” Netanyahu accused Mamdani of antisemitism and attacked the mayor over his criticism of Israel and previous statements about arresting Netanyahu if he came to New York. Mamdani fired back, accusing Netanyahu of spreading “baseless lies” and again accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza—an allegation Israel strongly denies. So how did a speech by the prime minister of Israel before the United Nations turn into a direct confrontation with the mayor of New York City? And what does the available data tell us about antisemitism and hate crimes against Jewish New Yorkers? We have the details. ⛽ COULD TRUMP’S MEETING WITH XI HELP LOWER GAS PRICES? President Donald Trump is meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast says Trump has an opportunity to address something millions of Americans are feeling every time they pull into a gas station. High gas prices. Mast argues that China’s support for Iran is contributing to instability in the Middle East and putting additional pressure on global energy prices. His argument is that if President Trump can persuade Xi to reduce Chinese support for Tehran, it could reduce instability surrounding the Strait of Hormuz—one of the most important oil shipping routes in the world. Would that actually translate into lower gasoline prices for Americans? It’s not quite that simple. Crude oil prices are a major factor in what we pay at the pump, but refinery capacity, inventories, distribution costs, taxes and other factors matter too. We’ll explain what Mast is asking Trump to do—and whether it could eventually make a difference at your neighborhood gas station. 🇺🇸 TRUMP BUTLER RALLY SHOOTING VICTIM JAMES COPENHAVER DIES We also have sad news involving one of the victims of the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt against Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. James Copenhaver has died after continuing to suffer complications from the injuries he sustained that day. Copenhaver was seriously wounded when gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on Trump’s campaign rally. Corey Comperatore was killed. Copenhaver and David Dutch were wounded. And Donald Trump was struck in the ear. Copenhaver survived the initial shooting but underwent multiple surgeries and reportedly continued living with serious medical complications from his wounds. His death is a reminder that the consequences of what happened in Butler continued long after the television cameras left Pennsylvania. 🏠 TEXAS HOMEOWNER BEATS HER HOA—AND THE HOA PRESIDENT PAYS TOO Have you ever been frustrated with your homeowners association? Wait until you hear this story. A Texas homeowner spent nearly three years fighting her HOA over rental restrictions and what she claimed was improper interference with her property. She eventually took the case to court. And she won. The total judgment exceeded $33,000. But here’s the part that should get the attention of HOA board members everywhere: The HOA president was held personally liable for $12,500 for interfering with the homeowner’s rental contract. So how did what started as a neighborhood dispute turn into a three-year legal battle—and a judgment against both the association and its president? We have the details. 🔎 FBI DEFENSE-CONTRACTOR INVESTIGATION HAS A SOUTH CAROLINA CONNECTION And finally, a major investigative report involving a Hawaii defense contractor, political contributions, federal contracts and the FBI has a South Carolina connection. The company was Navatek, a Hawaii-based defense contractor that expanded operations around the country while pursuing federal research contracts. Navatek’s former CEO, Martin Kao, eventually pleaded guilty in federal cases involving campaign-finance violations and COVID loan fraud. According to a ProPublica investigation, Kao later cooperated extensively with federal investigators and made allegations about relationships between his company, political donations and government contracts. One major focus was Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins. Collins denies wrongdoing, and the FBI says an earlier investigation found nothing implicating Collins or her campaign. But ProPublica reports that investigators later opened another inquiry based on information Kao provided. And this is where South Carolina enters the story. Navatek had targeted South Carolina for expansion. The company opened operations in Columbia and partnered with the University of South Carolina on Navy research. According to ProPublica, FBI investigators eventually began asking questions about Navatek’s South Carolina activities and a steak dinner involving Kao and the late Senator Lindsey Graham. That does not establish wrongdoing by Graham, Collins or anyone else. It means federal investigators were examining allegations involving a defense contractor that was making political contributions while pursuing federal business. We’ll explain what Navatek was doing in South Carolina, what investigators were reportedly looking at and what remains allegation rather than established fact. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national and international news, South Carolina stories and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #Netanyahu #ZohranMamdani #Israel #NewYorkCity #UnitedNations #NYC #DonaldTrump #XiJinping #China #GasPrices #Iran #JamesCopenhaver #ButlerPA #TrumpRally #HOA #SouthCarolina #SusanCollins #Navatek #LindseyGraham #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Iran’s president stood before the United Nations and declared that his country has been a “victim of terrorism.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian used his UN General Assembly address to accuse the United States and Israel of attacking his country and to portray Iran as the victim in the ongoing Middle East conflict. That statement immediately raises an obvious question: How does Iran reconcile that argument with its long history of supporting armed proxy groups throughout the Middle East? The United States has designated Iran a state sponsor of terrorism for decades, and U.S. government reports have documented Iranian support for Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and other armed groups. So we’ll look at exactly what Pezeshkian said—and put those remarks into historical context. Then former Vice President Kamala Harris is back on the campaign trail. While campaigning in Detroit with Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, Harris declared that an attack on diversity, equity and inclusion—DEI—is also an attack on maternal care. Her argument centered specifically on racial disparities in maternal health, particularly the higher maternal mortality rates experienced by Black women. So what does DEI have to do with pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care? We’ll explain the argument Harris is making and why her comments are generating debate. Then—parents, you may not be the only ones who need to put down the phone. There’s growing concern about how older Americans are using social media, short-form video and artificial intelligence. Researchers and experts say seniors are increasingly spending significant amounts of time online and may be especially vulnerable to addictive algorithms, misinformation and AI-powered scams. So maybe somebody needs to check on Grandma and Grandpa’s screen time too. And finally, a major abortion-policy battle is heating up here in South Carolina. Women Speak Out PAC, a partner of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, says it is launching a $1 million campaign aimed at Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Annie Andrews and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jermaine Johnson. The organization says its campaign will focus on the candidates’ abortion positions and will use digital advertising, voter mail, text messages and phone calls. We’ll explain who is behind the campaign, what the group is saying and where Andrews and Johnson stand on abortion policy. 🇮🇷 IRAN’S PRESIDENT SAYS IRAN IS A “VICTIM OF TERRORISM” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian took the stage at the United Nations General Assembly with a very different description of his country’s role in the Middle East than the one Americans frequently hear. Pezeshkian said Iran has been the victim of terrorism and accused the United States and Israel of responsibility for attacks against his country. Iran has suffered terrorist attacks on its own soil over the years. But there is another side to this story. The United States has designated Iran a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984. U.S. government reports have documented Iranian support for Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Houthis and Iran-aligned militias operating in Iraq and Syria. That support has included money, weapons, training and technology. So we’ll look at Pezeshkian’s remarks in context and explain why Iran’s definition of terrorism differs dramatically from that of the United States and many of its allies. 🏥 KAMALA HARRIS: ATTACK ON DEI IS ATTACK ON MATERNAL CARE Former Vice President Kamala Harris made headlines in Detroit while campaigning alongside Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Harris said: An attack on diversity, equity and inclusion is, by definition, an attack on maternal care. What was she talking about? Harris was speaking during a discussion focused on Black maternal health. She argued that programs designed to address racial disparities in healthcare are part of the broader DEI framework and that eliminating those programs could undermine efforts aimed at improving outcomes for Black women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care. There are documented racial disparities in maternal health outcomes in the United States. The debate is over whether DEI programs are an effective or necessary way to address those disparities. Harris says they are connected. Critics of DEI policies argue that healthcare should focus on individual medical need rather than race-based frameworks. So we’ll break down what she actually said and what the disagreement is about. 📱 GRANDMA’S DOOMSCROLLING TOO? We spend a lot of time worrying about children and technology. TikTok. Instagram. YouTube Shorts. Video games. Artificial intelligence. But researchers are increasingly studying what all of this technology is doing to older adults too. Nine out of ten Americans over 50 now use some form of social media. Adults over 65 are estimated to spend more than 100 minutes a day on social platforms. And artificial intelligence use among older Americans is growing rapidly. Experts say older users may be particularly vulnerable to several problems: Addictive short-form content. Misinformation. Algorithm-driven political content. And increasingly sophisticated AI scams. But there’s an important caveat. Researchers do NOT yet have enough evidence to say that seniors universally have worse technology habits than teenagers. The research is still developing. What we can say is that problematic and excessive technology use is no longer just a youth issue. Apparently doomscrolling doesn’t come with an age limit. 🗳️ $1 MILLION ABORTION CAMPAIGN TARGETS SOUTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATS Abortion is becoming a major issue in South Carolina’s November elections. Women Speak Out PAC, which partners with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, has announced a $1 million campaign targeting Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Annie Andrews and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jermaine Johnson. The organization describes both candidates’ abortion positions as extreme. That is the PAC’s characterization. The campaign reportedly includes digital advertising, mail, text messages and phone calls directed toward voters across South Carolina. Women Speak Out PAC is supporting Republican candidates who oppose abortion and says abortion policy will be a major focus of its turnout effort. Andrews and Johnson support abortion rights to varying degrees and have criticized Republican restrictions on abortion access. So we’ll look at what the PAC is spending, what each candidate has actually said about abortion and how the issue is shaping the South Carolina campaign. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national and international news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #Iran #UnitedNations #MasoudPezeshkian #MiddleEast #KamalaHarris #DEI #MaternalHealth #ArtificialIntelligence #SocialMedia #Doomscrolling #SouthCarolina #AnnieAndrews #JermaineJohnson #Abortion #Midterms2026 #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Thousands of Iranian Americans and supporters of the Iranian opposition gathered outside the United Nations in New York Tuesday with a message for world leaders: Stop the executions in Iran. The demonstration took place as leaders gathered for the United Nations General Assembly. Organizers with the National Council of Resistance of Iran are calling for an end to executions of political prisoners and for a transition to a democratic, secular republic. The protest comes amid continuing international concern over Iran’s use of the death penalty against protesters, dissidents and people accused of political offenses. We’ll show you what happened outside the UN and explain why Iran’s execution policies are receiving renewed attention. Then we turn to Washington. Vice President JD Vance says the Trump administration has identified hundreds of thousands of allegedly fraudulent or ineligible Obamacare enrollments. The administration says approximately 750,000 to 760,000 people are being removed from Affordable Care Act exchanges and estimates the move will save taxpayers about $2.2 billion. Officials say hundreds of thousands more enrollments are undergoing additional verification. But critics are raising questions about whether legitimate enrollees could also lose coverage. We’ll explain exactly what the administration says it found and what happens next. Then—speaking of fraud—a federal grand jury in Minnesota has indicted an Indian national accused of falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen in order to vote in the 2024 election. The Justice Department says Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari signed a voter certificate affirming that he was a U.S. citizen and cast a ballot on November 5, 2024. Those are allegations. Chaudhari has been indicted but has not been convicted, and under our legal system he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The case comes as the Justice Department increases enforcement involving allegations of unlawful voting and false citizenship claims. And finally, we bring the story home to South Carolina. A major international investigation has identified nearly $271 million in American real estate linked to dozens of current and former Nigerian officials, their relatives, associates and affiliated companies. And some of those properties are right here in South Carolina—including Aiken and Spartanburg. The investigation identified hundreds of properties purchased over several decades. Many of the Nigerian officials named have faced public corruption accusations or investigations, but being linked to a property does not by itself establish that the property was purchased with illegal funds. We’ll look at what investigators found, how foreign money moves into American real estate and why South Carolina properties ended up in the investigation. 🇮🇷 THOUSANDS RALLY OUTSIDE THE UNITED NATIONS OVER IRAN Thousands gathered across from UN headquarters in Manhattan Tuesday during the United Nations General Assembly. The demonstration was organized by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. Their message: End political executions. Release prisoners. And support democratic change inside Iran. Human-rights organizations have documented continuing concerns over executions in Iran, particularly involving protesters, dissidents and people convicted on national-security charges after proceedings that critics say failed to meet international fair-trial standards. So while the politics surrounding Iran’s opposition groups can be complicated, the broader concern over executions is well documented. We’ll look at what the protesters are demanding and why they chose the UN General Assembly to make their case. 💰 VANCE ANNOUNCES OBAMACARE FRAUD CRACKDOWN Vice President JD Vance says his White House anti-fraud task force has uncovered widespread problems involving Affordable Care Act insurance enrollments. The administration says roughly three-quarters of a million people identified as fraudulent, nonexistent or otherwise ineligible are being removed from Obamacare exchanges. Officials estimate that will save taxpayers approximately $2.2 billion in subsidy payments. Another group of enrollees is undergoing additional verification involving citizenship, immigration status, income or other eligibility requirements. The administration says some insurance brokers improperly enrolled people in plans in order to collect commissions or trigger federal subsidy payments. Critics argue that the administration needs to make sure legitimate consumers aren’t swept up in the crackdown. So how widespread was the fraud? How were these enrollments approved? And how did federal tax dollars continue flowing to questionable accounts? We’ll break down what the administration says it found. 🗳️ NONCITIZEN VOTING CASE IN MINNESOTA The Justice Department has brought a federal case involving the 2024 election. A grand jury has indicted Indian national Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari. Prosecutors allege that Chaudhari falsely claimed to be a United States citizen when he signed a voter certificate in Minnesota and then cast a ballot in the November 2024 general election. He faces two federal counts. If convicted, each count carries a potential maximum sentence of five years. But this is important: An indictment is an accusation—not a conviction. The government will have to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The case also raises a broader policy debate over voter-registration safeguards and how election officials verify citizenship. Minnesota election officials maintain that noncitizen voting is extremely rare and that state law already makes such voting illegal. So we’ll look at what prosecutors allege happened in this specific case without using one prosecution to make claims about the overall prevalence of noncitizen voting. 🏠 $271 MILLION IN U.S. REAL ESTATE—AND SOME OF IT IS IN SOUTH CAROLINA And finally, this is an extraordinary investigation. Researchers identified 284 U.S. properties worth nearly $271 million linked to 61 current and former Nigerian officials, their family members, associates or affiliated companies. The purchases stretch back to the early 1990s. The investigation found that more than half of the properties—worth roughly $177 million—were acquired while the officials were serving in government. And some of those holdings were located here in South Carolina, including properties in Aiken and Spartanburg. The investigation focused on the risks of politically exposed persons moving wealth into American real estate. That does not mean every property identified represents stolen money. And public accusations of corruption against an official are not the same thing as a criminal conviction. But the findings raise important questions about how easily foreign wealth can enter American real-estate markets and whether U.S. disclosure requirements are strong enough to identify the true owners behind some transactions. We’ll dig into the South Carolina connection and explain what investigators found. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national and international news, South Carolina stories and conversations about the issues affecting American families. 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Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson President Trump’s feud with some of America’s biggest news organizations has escalated dramatically. Trump announced that CNN, Politico and MS NOW were being banned from the White House. Now those organizations are fighting back in court. But there’s another twist. The major television networks—including Fox News—are standing together in a dispute over White House television pool coverage. ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC have suspended participation in the White House TV pool after CNN was prevented from fulfilling its scheduled pool assignment. That doesn't mean these networks have stopped covering President Trump or his administration. But it does mean something unusual is happening with the system television networks have traditionally used to provide shared coverage of presidential events. And on Monday, viewers saw the consequences. President Trump held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new White House helipad—but without normal television pool coverage, viewers watching the White House feed couldn't properly hear his remarks. So what exactly is happening? What did Trump ban? Why did Fox News join the other networks? And do CNN, Politico and MS NOW have a constitutional case against the White House? We’ll explain it. Plus, if you've considered buying a condo because a traditional single-family home has become too expensive, there's another number you need to look at before signing anything: The HOA fee. Rising HOA dues, insurance costs and enormous special assessments are creating serious problems for some condo owners—and in some cases they're making the units difficult to sell. Then Colin Kaepernick is back in the news. The former NFL quarterback is once again defending his controversial comparison between the NFL Combine and the slave trade. And South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick joins us with an update on the SCGOP's federal lawsuit challenging South Carolina's open-primary system and what the party is doing ahead of November. 📺 TRUMP vs. THE MEDIA—AND FOX NEWS JOINS THE PROTEST The relationship between President Trump and several major news organizations has reached another breaking point. Trump announced that CNN, Politico and MS NOW were banned from the White House. Reporters from those organizations subsequently had their access revoked. Now CNN, MS NOW and Politico have gone to federal court, arguing that the White House violated their First Amendment and due-process rights. The Trump administration maintains that it has the authority to control access to the White House and says these organizations have engaged in false reporting. But Monday brought another development. CNN was scheduled to handle television pool coverage of President Trump. The White House wouldn't allow CNN to perform that assignment. And the other television networks refused to step in and replace CNN. That includes ABC. CBS. NBC. And yes—Fox News. The television pool has now suspended its coverage of events designated for pool coverage. And that created an unusual scene during President Trump's ribbon cutting for the new White House helipad. Without normal television pool coverage, the White House provided its own feed. Viewers could see President Trump speaking—but couldn't properly hear what he was saying. So now this fight isn't simply Trump versus CNN. It's raising much broader questions about presidential press access, the First Amendment and whether a White House can exclude particular news organizations because it objects to their coverage. We'll look at what both sides are arguing and where this legal fight goes next. 🏢 THINK A CONDO IS THE AFFORDABLE OPTION? LOOK AT THE HOA Buying a condo has traditionally been one way to get into homeownership for less money. But increasingly, there's another number buyers need to examine just as carefully as the mortgage payment. The HOA fee. Condo owners around the country are reporting rapidly increasing HOA dues. Others are getting hit with major special assessments. Then there's insurance. Aging buildings can be expensive to insure, and if a condominium association loses adequate insurance coverage, buyers may have trouble obtaining conventional financing. That can create a vicious cycle. HOA expenses increase. Fewer buyers can afford the unit. Financing becomes more difficult. And an owner who needs to sell suddenly discovers that the supposedly affordable condo isn't so easy to sell. Nationally, median HOA fees have increased substantially since 2019, and some individual communities have experienced far larger increases. So if you're shopping for a condo, don't just ask: “What's my mortgage payment?” Ask: What's the monthly HOA fee? How much money is in the association's reserves? Are major repairs coming? Have there been recent special assessments? Is the building adequately insured? And are more assessments likely? A condo can still make financial sense. But the sticker price doesn't necessarily tell you what living there will actually cost. 🏈 COLIN KAEPERNICK DOUBLES DOWN ON NFL-SLAVERY COMPARISON Colin Kaepernick is back in the news. And he's revisiting one of his most controversial arguments. During a conversation with former NFL player and ESPN commentator Ryan Clark, Kaepernick defended the comparison he previously made between the NFL Combine and slave auctions. Kaepernick says the Combine creates a power dynamic in which prospective players are measured, examined and evaluated by teams before the NFL Draft. He described the experience as a “meat market” and argued that there are parallels between that process and slave auctions. Kaepernick acknowledges an obvious difference: NFL players can make millions of dollars. But he argues that what he considers the underlying power dynamics and intentions behind the evaluation process have similarities. His critics strongly reject that comparison, pointing to the enormous difference between voluntary, highly compensated professional sports and the forced ownership and exploitation inherent in slavery. So we'll let you hear what Kaepernick actually said and put his argument into context. 🗳️ DREW McKISSICK JOINS US South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick joins us with an update on a legal fight that could eventually change the way South Carolina conducts its primary elections. The SCGOP has been challenging South Carolina's open-primary system in federal court. The party argues that Republican voters and the Republican Party should have the ability to determine who participates in choosing Republican nominees. Opponents of closed primaries argue that South Carolina's current system gives voters flexibility and allows citizens who don't formally affiliate with a political party to participate. So where does the federal lawsuit stand? What would a victory by the SCGOP actually change for South Carolina voters? And with November approaching, what is the party doing to encourage Republican voters to participate in the midterm elections? We'll get an update directly from SCGOP Chairman Drew McKissick. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #Trump #CNN #FoxNews #Politico #MSNOW #WhiteHouse #Media #FirstAmendment #ColinKaepernick #NFL #Condo #HOA #HousingMarket #SouthCarolina #SCGOP #DrewMcKissick #SCPolitics #Midterms2026 #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson TRUMP CUTS CAMP DAVID WEEKEND SHORT President Trump returned unexpectedly to the White House after cutting short a weekend at Camp David. The White House did not immediately give a public explanation for the schedule change. But it came during a significant escalation in the Middle East. The United States has warned that renewed hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen could escalate rapidly. A Houthi ballistic missile was launched toward Riyadh, marking a significant expansion of the renewed conflict. The State Department has also issued new warnings to Americans traveling through the region. So we'll look at what happened, what we know about the President's unexpected return and what we should be watching next. 🇺🇦 UKRAINE LAUNCHES MORE THAN 1,000 DRONES AT RUSSIA Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine just saw an extraordinary escalation of its own. Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones toward targets across Russia overnight. Hundreds were directed toward Moscow in what Russian officials described as the largest drone attack ever launched against the capital. The attack came as Russia was completing the third and final day of parliamentary voting. Russian officials reported deaths and injuries, and Moscow's oil refinery was among the facilities damaged. Russia says it intercepted enormous numbers of drones. Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian oil, energy and military infrastructure as it attempts to weaken Moscow's ability to sustain its war effort. We’ll take a closer look at what happened and why the timing of this attack is getting so much attention. 💰 THE IRAN WAR: AT LEAST $43.6 BILLION—AND COUNTING How much is America's war with Iran costing taxpayers? We finally have a better idea. U.S. Central Command has provided Congress with a new estimate putting the military cost at approximately $43.6 billion through September 3. The biggest expense? Weapons. About $28 billion of the estimate is associated with replacing munitions used during the conflict. Billions more have gone toward military operations and equipment that has been lost or damaged. Additional fuel costs reported separately push the overall figure closer to $45 billion. But here's the important part: Even that may not be the final bill. The estimate does not fully account for rebuilding or repairing American military facilities damaged during Iranian attacks. There is also the question of replenishing America's missile and interceptor inventories. And the war is continuing. So $43.6 billion isn't necessarily the price tag for the war. It's closer to a snapshot of the bill through early September. We'll break down where the money has gone and what additional expenses could still be coming. 🏗️ A $3 BILLION “MINOR” DEVELOPMENT? And finally, we come home to Spartanburg County. A legal fight is underway over the massive Valara data center project on South Pine Street. The basic question sounds simple: Is this a major development or a minor development? But the answer has enormous consequences. Residents represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center argue that Spartanburg County improperly treated the project as separate minor developments. Why does that matter? Because under the county's process, a major development receives Planning Commission review and greater public scrutiny. A minor development can be handled administratively without that same process. The residents argue a project of this size and scope should have gone through the major-development process. Spartanburg County and Valara dispute that interpretation and argue the classification depends on the specific language of the county ordinance—not simply the project's price tag or physical size. And there's another development. South Carolina's Department of Environmental Services has now approved an air construction permit allowing Valara to construct and operate 11 simple-cycle combustion turbines. So this debate isn't simply about whether somebody thinks a project “sounds” major. It's about what Spartanburg County's ordinance actually requires and whether the county followed that ordinance. We'll look at what both sides are arguing and why a judge is now being asked to sort it out. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national and international news, South Carolina news and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #MiddleEast #SaudiArabia #Houthis #Iran #IranWar #Ukraine #Russia #Moscow #Putin #IranWarCost #CENTCOM #DataCenters #SpartanburgSC #SouthCarolina #Valara #ArtificialIntelligence #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson September 22 marks another painful anniversary for the family of Tucker Hipps. Tucker was a 19-year-old Clemson University student who died in 2014 after joining fraternity members and pledges on an early-morning run. His body was later found beneath the Highway 93 bridge over Lake Hartwell. More than a decade later, questions remain about exactly what happened that morning. In this conversation, I sit down with Tucker's mother, Cindy Hipps, to remember the young man behind the headlines. Cindy shares memories of her son, talks about the impact his death has had on her family, and explains why she has devoted so much of her life to raising awareness about the dangers of hazing. We also discuss the culture of silence that can surround hazing, what parents need to know before their children join fraternities, sororities and other organizations, and what students should do if they witness dangerous behavior. Cindy and her husband, Gary, have worked to make sure Tucker's life continues to have an impact through the Tucker W. Hipps Memorial Foundation, which supports scholarships, charitable organizations and hazing-awareness efforts. Tucker's story is heartbreaking, but his legacy is about much more than how he died. It's about how he lived—and a family's determination to help protect other young people. Learn more about Tucker and the work of the Tucker W. Hipps Memorial Foundation at TuckerGives.org. Please share this interview with parents, grandparents and college students. It may start a conversation that could save a life. If you have information that may lead to the TRUTH about what happened that morning please contact Oconee Crime Stoppers online or call 1-844-71CRIME. Subscribe for more conversations about the people and issues affecting South Carolina and our country.

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson You don't have to drive to Atlanta or Charlotte to see some great live entertainment. Some big names are coming right here to the Upstate! Mark Thompson from the Walhalla Performing Arts Center joins Joey Hudson to preview an exciting fall lineup featuring country, bluegrass, Christian music, comedy, tribute acts and holiday entertainment. We talk about the artists coming to Walhalla, why some shows are selling out, the experience of seeing nationally known performers in an intimate venue, and how the Walhalla Performing Arts Center has become a destination for live entertainment in Upstate South Carolina. Mark also explains what goes into booking these performers and why audiences—and the artists themselves—enjoy the unique atmosphere of this historic venue. 🎟️ See the complete concert schedule and ticket information at the Walhalla Performing Arts Center website. Be sure to LIKE this video, SUBSCRIBE to the channel and SHARE it with someone who loves live music. And tell us in the comments: Who would YOU like to see perform at the Walhalla Performing Arts Center? #WalhallaSC #WalhallaPerformingArtsCenter #UpstateSC #SouthCarolina #LiveMusic #CountryMusic #Bluegrass #Concerts #ThingsToDoSC

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson President Trump got plenty of attention at the Republican convention in Dallas when he promised a $5,000 “Trump dividend” to every adult American citizen if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in November. Five thousand dollars sounds pretty good. But now some Republicans in Congress are asking the obvious question: Where are you getting the money? The proposal could cost more than $1 trillion, and several Republican lawmakers are questioning whether the federal government can afford it when the national debt has already surpassed $40 trillion. Others are looking for ways to make Trump's proposal work. So today we’re going to follow the money. How much would these checks actually cost? Could tariff revenue pay for them? Would Congress have to approve them? And what would sending that much money into the economy mean for inflation and the national debt? Plus, parents—you’re going to want to hear this next story. A father says his 9-year-old son managed to spend $118,000 promoting his Minecraft and Roblox videos on YouTube. And it apparently started after Dad showed him how to run a $20 advertising campaign. Talk about a marketing lesson getting expensive! Then we come home to South Carolina. The Palmetto State continues adding people at an extraordinary rate. But voter-registration numbers aren't keeping pace with that population growth. So here's my question: Where are all these new South Carolinians when it comes time to register to vote? And finally, today is one of my favorite days of the year. It's Law Enforcement Appreciation Day—LEAD Upstate. Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis joins us to talk about something incredibly simple that can mean an awful lot to the men and women who put on that badge every morning: Thank you. 💰 REPUBLICANS QUESTION TRUMP’S $5,000 DIVIDEND President Trump made a very big promise in Dallas. If Republicans maintain control of the House and Senate in November, Trump says every adult American citizen will receive a $5,000 dividend. Now comes the hard part. Paying for it. Estimates suggest the program could cost somewhere around $1.2 trillion. And some Republican members of Congress are raising concerns. South Carolina Congressman Ralph Norman is among those questioning the proposal and asking where the money would come from. Other Republicans are more receptive but say Congress would need to be involved. Trump has argued that revenue generated from tariffs can help fund the payments. Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno has proposed legislation that would use what he calls “market access fees” on foreign goods to finance the checks. So there are several big questions still unanswered. Is there enough tariff revenue? Would the payments add to the deficit? Would Congress approve them? And could putting more than a trillion dollars into consumers’ hands put additional pressure on inflation? Forget the slogans for a moment. Let's do the math. 💳 A 9-YEAR-OLD SPENDS $118,000 ON YOUTUBE ADS?! Parents, this story should get your attention. A father says he wanted to teach his 9-year-old son a little about marketing. The boy had a YouTube channel featuring Minecraft and Roblox videos and was disappointed that he wasn't getting many views. So Dad showed him how YouTube advertising works. They created a small campaign with a budget of about $20. Apparently the 9-year-old learned the lesson a little too well. According to his father, the boy later returned to the advertising system and started creating campaigns himself. And the credit card attached to the account? It wasn't Dad's personal card. It was his company credit card. Three weeks later, Dad says he was called into a meeting with company officials and shown the total: $118,000. Apparently the young man figured more advertising meant more views. Technically, he wasn't wrong. Some of the videos reportedly reached around 200,000 views. But I don't think Dad was planning on a $118,000 marketing budget! There is a serious lesson here for every parent and grandparent. Check what credit cards are saved on your devices. Use parental controls. Set spending limits. And don't assume a child understands that clicking a button on a screen is actually spending real money. 🗳️ SOUTH CAROLINA IS GROWING—SO WHERE ARE THE NEW VOTERS? South Carolina continues to be one of America's fastest-growing states. People are moving here. New neighborhoods are being built. Traffic is increasing. Schools are growing. Businesses are expanding. You can see the growth practically everywhere. But here's something interesting: Our voter-registration rolls haven't been growing at anything close to the same pace. And that raises a pretty simple question. Why? Are newcomers waiting before registering? Are many keeping registrations in their former states? Is the population growth concentrated among people who aren't eligible to vote? Or are thousands of eligible South Carolinians simply choosing not to register? This isn't about telling anyone how to vote. It's about participation. If you're eligible to vote and South Carolina is now your home, registering is how you gain the ability to participate when Election Day arrives. So with all these people moving into the Palmetto State, where are the new voters? 🚔 TODAY IS LEAD DAY Finally, today is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day—LEAD Upstate. Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across Greenville County will come together at the Greenville Downtown Airport. And the purpose really couldn't be simpler. Thank you. Thank you for putting on the uniform. Thank you for missing dinners with your family. Thank you for working holidays. Thank you for answering the call when the rest of us are running away from danger. And thank you for serving communities that sometimes forget just how difficult that job can be. Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis joins us to talk about LEAD and why those two simple words—thank you—can mean so much to a law enforcement officer. We'll also talk about morale, recruitment, retention and what ordinary citizens can do to show officers that their service is appreciated. Sometimes support doesn't require a big speech. Sometimes it just requires two words. Thank you. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #TrumpDividend #5000Check #Congress #Republicans #Midterms2026 #SouthCarolina #SCPolitics #VoterRegistration #YouTube #Parenting #OnlineSafety #LEADUpstate #LawEnforcement #SheriffHobartLewis #GreenvilleSC #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson There’s a fascinating new story about what may have been happening behind the scenes inside the Democratic Party during those chaotic weeks of the 2024 presidential campaign. Former Democratic fundraiser Lindy Li says Democrats conducted secret polling as questions mounted about whether President Joe Biden could remain the party’s nominee. And according to Li, Vice President Kamala Harris finished last among the potential Biden replacements tested in that polling. If her account is accurate, it raises some fascinating questions about what Democratic insiders knew before Biden withdrew—and how Harris ultimately became the nominee. We’ll separate what has been documented from what is being alleged and look back at one of the most extraordinary periods in modern presidential politics. Plus, there will NOT be a House vote this week on Congressman Thomas Massie’s articles of impeachment against Secretary Pete Hegseth. Why? House leaders sent everybody home. We’ll explain what happened. Then, disturbing video from a New York college campus shows a violent confrontation that left three students stabbed and two people in custody. And if you were hoping interest rates were finally about to come down, the Federal Reserve had other plans. The Fed raised rates by a quarter point Wednesday—the first increase since 2023. And here in South Carolina, lawmakers are providing hundreds of thousands of dollars to expand Flock license-plate cameras even as communities around the country debate privacy concerns surrounding the technology. WHAT DID DEMOCRATS KNOW ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS IN 2024? We all remember those extraordinary weeks in the summer of 2024. President Biden’s debate performance intensified questions about whether he could continue as the Democratic nominee. Democratic leaders were debating what to do. Donors were nervous. Potential replacements were being discussed. Eventually Biden withdrew, and Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee. But now former Democratic fundraiser Lindy Li is describing what she says was happening privately. Li says secret polling tested Harris against other possible Biden replacements—and she says Harris finished last among the alternatives. That claim could become part of the discussion surrounding Harris if she considers another presidential campaign in 2028. But there is an important distinction: The underlying poll has not been publicly released, so this is Li’s account of what Democratic insiders were seeing—not independently verified public polling. We’ll look at what she says happened and how it compares with what was publicly known during those chaotic weeks in 2024. 🏛️ NO HEGSETH IMPEACHMENT VOTE—HOUSE LEAVES WASHINGTON Remember Congressman Thomas Massie’s effort to force a House vote on eight articles of impeachment against Secretary Pete Hegseth? That vote isn’t happening this week. House Republican leaders abruptly ended the chamber’s legislative week Wednesday, sending members home ahead of the November midterms. That means Massie’s effort to force lawmakers to vote on his impeachment resolution has been interrupted. Massie isn’t happy. He argues that Congress should have remained in Washington and voted. House leadership says lawmakers have completed their scheduled business and are returning home. We’ll explain what happened and what it means for Massie’s effort against Hegseth. 🚨 THREE STUDENTS STABBED ON COLLEGE CAMPUS What is happening on our college campuses? Disturbing video captured a violent confrontation at Westchester Community College in New York that left three students injured. Authorities say two people were taken into custody following the incident. Video from the scene appears to show students fighting as the confrontation escalates. Three students suffered stab wounds. We’ll look at what authorities say happened, what the video shows and what we know about the investigation. 💰 THE FED JUST RAISED YOUR INTEREST RATE If you were waiting for the Federal Reserve to start lowering interest rates, you’re going to have to wait a little longer. The Fed went in the opposite direction Wednesday. Policymakers unanimously raised the federal funds target rate by a quarter percentage point to 3.75% to 4%. It is the first Federal Reserve interest-rate increase since July 2023. Why? Inflation. The Fed says inflation remains too high and that higher rates are necessary to move inflation back toward its 2% target. But there’s a cost. Higher rates can mean higher borrowing costs on credit cards, auto loans, business loans and other variable-rate debt. And there may be more coming. Federal Reserve projections indicate policymakers expect another quarter-point increase before the end of the year. We’ll explain what this means for your wallet and why the Fed is raising rates when so many Americans were expecting them to come down. 📸 SOUTH CAROLINA PUTS MORE MONEY INTO FLOCK CAMERAS There’s an interesting debate happening over automated license-plate readers. Some communities around the country have restricted or reconsidered Flock cameras because of privacy concerns. But South Carolina lawmakers are moving in another direction. The state budget includes $365,000 for four South Carolina law-enforcement agencies to add automated license-plate readers or expand their existing camera networks. The money is going to agencies in Cameron and Florence and McCormick and Marlboro counties. Supporters say these cameras can be valuable tools for finding stolen vehicles, locating suspects and solving crimes. Critics worry about how much information is being collected, how long it's stored and who can access it. So where should the line be? How do we give police useful technology without creating a surveillance network that tracks innocent people? That’s a conversation worth having. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #KamalaHarris #JoeBiden #Democrats #Election2024 #Election2028 #PeteHegseth #ThomasMassie #Congress #FederalReserve #InterestRates #Inflation #FlockSafety #FlockCameras #SouthCarolina #Privacy #CollegeCrime #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson There was plenty of drama on Capitol Hill Tuesday. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has filed articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over the continuing war with Iran. Massie accuses Hegseth of committing “high crimes and misdemeanors” and says the administration has continued military operations without the congressional authorization required by the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. The administration disputes that argument. And now Massie is seeking a House vote. We’ll explain exactly what Massie is accusing Hegseth of doing, what the administration says in response and why this fight goes far beyond one cabinet secretary. At the heart of it is a constitutional question Americans have debated for decades: Who ultimately has the power to take America to war? Plus, Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters had a heated exchange with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over the Trump administration’s approach to artificial intelligence. Waters says America may be moving too quickly. The Trump administration says America cannot afford to fall behind its global competitors. We’ll get into that debate. Then we have a story that proves golf apparently isn’t always the gentleman’s game we thought it was. A Kansas man ended up in the hospital—and then jail—following a wild altercation on a Wichita golf course. And finally, the Justice Department has announced a massive nationwide crackdown on COVID-era fraud. Federal prosecutors took enforcement actions involving more than 160 defendants and approximately $245 million in alleged intended losses to taxpayers. 🏛️ REPUBLICAN MOVES TO IMPEACH PETE HEGSETH Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie is once again challenging the Trump administration over the war with Iran. This time, he’s going after Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Massie filed eight articles of impeachment accusing Hegseth of violating the Constitution and federal law through his role in carrying out military operations against Iran. Massie argues that Congress has not authorized the continuing war and says Hegseth should be held accountable for carrying out those operations. The administration disputes that interpretation of the War Powers Resolution and has defended Hegseth’s leadership. So this is about much more than Thomas Massie and Pete Hegseth. It raises one of the oldest constitutional debates in Washington: Congress has the constitutional power to declare war. The president is commander in chief. But where does one power end and the other begin when American military operations continue for months? We’ll look at what Massie is alleging, what the administration says and what happens next. 🤖 MAXINE WATERS vs. SCOTT BESSENT OVER AI Artificial intelligence continues to create some interesting political alliances. Congresswoman Maxine Waters challenged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over the Trump administration’s AI policies, arguing that Washington needs to take warnings about rapidly advancing artificial intelligence more seriously. And she isn’t alone in raising concerns. Some of the very people developing advanced AI systems have warned that the technology is advancing faster than our ability to understand all of the potential consequences. The Trump administration has emphasized another risk: What happens if America slows down while China keeps going? That gives us a fascinating debate. Which poses the greater risk to America? Moving too quickly? Or falling behind? We’ll take a look at both sides. ⛳ WHEN GOLF BECOMES A CONTACT SPORT And now for something completely different. Apparently golf can be a contact sport. A Kansas man spent the weekend in jail after a golf course altercation in Wichita got completely out of hand. Police say 52-year-old Scott Denning was involved in an altercation with other golfers after an errant shot. At some point, authorities say, a golf club became a weapon. Denning reportedly ended up with serious facial swelling, went to the hospital—and eventually landed in jail. All this over a round of golf. I always thought the most dangerous part of golf was standing too close to somebody with my backswing. Apparently I was wrong. 💰 DOJ CRACKS DOWN ON COVID FRAUD Remember the hundreds of billions of dollars Washington rushed out the door during the COVID pandemic? Federal investigators are still trying to figure out where some of it went. The Justice Department has announced the results of a nationwide enforcement surge targeting fraud involving pandemic-era small-business programs. The numbers are staggering. Enforcement actions involved more than 160 criminal defendants and approximately $245 million in intended losses to American taxpayers. Nearly 80 defendants were newly charged. Others pleaded guilty or were sentenced as part of the broader enforcement effort. The allegations include fabricated businesses, false payroll and revenue claims, identity theft and other schemes designed to obtain pandemic relief money. And five years after those programs were created, investigators are still tracking down people accused of stealing taxpayer money. We’ll look at what prosecutors uncovered and why COVID-era fraud remains such an enormous issue years after the pandemic. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #PeteHegseth #ThomasMassie #DonaldTrump #Iran #IranWar #Impeachment #Congress #WarPowers #MaxineWaters #ScottBessent #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #COVIDFraud #PandemicFraud #DOJ #Golf #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson There’s a major battle developing over the future of artificial intelligence. And the dividing lines may surprise you. Some of the biggest names in AI are now warning that the technology is advancing so rapidly that it may be time to slow down, strengthen safety measures and make sure we understand what these increasingly powerful systems are capable of doing. President Donald Trump has a very different concern. Trump says the United States is leading China in artificial intelligence—and he doesn’t want America to surrender that advantage. His message is essentially this: Whoever wins AI wins. So which is the bigger risk? Moving too quickly with technology we may not fully understand? Or slowing down while China keeps moving forward? We’ll get into that debate. Plus, questions are being raised about Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding after reports revealed that a Russian oligarch with close ties to Vladimir Putin paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward the lavish celebration. Don Jr. and his wife say there’s a straightforward explanation: the man is a friend and the spending was a wedding gift. We’ll tell you what is known, what isn’t known and why the relationship is attracting scrutiny. Then, South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick joins us to talk about last week’s Republican National Convention, the November midterms and South Carolina’s traditional role in choosing Republican presidential nominees as attention slowly begins turning toward 2028. And there’s another interesting development in South Carolina’s U.S. Senate race. A grassroots effort encouraging voters to write in Congressman Ralph Norman continues—even though Norman himself has endorsed Republican nominee Senator Darline Graham. Could enough Republican voters participate to affect the November contest? We’ll look at what this independent movement is actually doing and where Congressman Norman himself stands. 🤖 TRUMP VS. AI LEADERS: SHOULD AMERICA SLOW DOWN? Artificial intelligence is advancing at a breathtaking pace. And now some of the very people building this technology are telling us we need to be careful. Leading figures in the AI industry have expressed support for slowing the development of cutting-edge systems long enough to strengthen safeguards and allow independent researchers greater ability to evaluate what these systems can do. President Trump isn’t buying the argument that America should hit the brakes. His concern is China. Trump says the United States currently leads China in artificial intelligence and argues that slowing American innovation could allow Beijing to catch up—or potentially move ahead. And that sets up a fascinating debate. We know artificial intelligence could transform medicine, education, manufacturing, national defense and virtually every part of the American economy. But we also know there are legitimate concerns about jobs, cybersecurity, misinformation and increasingly autonomous AI systems. So where is the balance? How do we stay ahead of China without moving faster than our ability to understand the technology we're creating? 🇷🇺 WHO HELPED PAY FOR DONALD TRUMP JR.’S WEDDING? There are new questions surrounding Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding to Bettina Anderson earlier this year. Reports say Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward their elaborate wedding celebration in the Bahamas. Kremlev is president of the International Boxing Association and has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to reporting on the event, Kremlev helped cover major expenses, including renting one of the private islands used for the celebration and an elaborate fireworks display. Don Jr. and his wife have confirmed that Kremlev helped pay for the festivities and describe him as a friend whose contribution was a generous wedding gift. That doesn't by itself establish wrongdoing. But given Kremlev’s relationship with Putin and Donald Trump Jr.’s relationship to the sitting President of the United States, the arrangement is drawing scrutiny. So we’ll give you the facts that have been reported, explain who Kremlev is and let you draw your own conclusions. 🇺🇸 DREW McKISSICK JOINS US South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick joins us for a conversation about where Republicans stand heading toward November. We’ll get his firsthand perspective on the Republican National Convention and the enthusiasm he saw among activists and delegates. We’ll also discuss the issues Republicans are emphasizing in the midterm elections and what he believes South Carolina voters are focused on. And yes—we’re already beginning to hear the first whispers about 2028. South Carolina has traditionally played an enormously influential role in the Republican presidential nominating process. So what does McKissick expect South Carolina’s role to look like in the next presidential primary? 🗳️ WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH “WRITE-IN RALPH”? There’s an unusual grassroots political effort underway in South Carolina. Supporters of Congressman Ralph Norman are encouraging voters to write his name in for U.S. Senate in November. But there’s an important fact voters need to understand: Ralph Norman himself has endorsed Senator Darline Graham. Graham defeated Norman in the Republican runoff and is now the Republican nominee. The “Write-In Ralph” effort describes itself as an independent grassroots project and specifically says it is not authorized, operated, endorsed or coordinated with Norman or his campaign. So how much support does the movement actually have? Could it attract enough voters to affect the Senate race? And what does Norman’s endorsement of Graham mean for voters who are still considering writing his name on the ballot? We’ll take a look at the movement, what its organizers are saying and what we actually know about its support. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #DonaldTrump #Trump #China #BigTech #DonaldTrumpJr #Russia #VladimirPutin #UmarKremlev #DrewMcKissick #SCGOP #SouthCarolina #RalphNorman #DarlineGraham #SCSenate #Midterms2026 #Election2026 #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Could President Donald Trump face another impeachment fight if Democrats take control of the House in November? House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday and was asked directly whether impeachment would be on the table if Democrats win the House. Jeffries did not rule it out. We’ll look at exactly what he said, what he didn’t say, and why the question of impeachment is already becoming part of the conversation surrounding the November midterms. Plus, diesel fuel has now surged past $6 a gallon nationally, setting another record as disruptions from the Iran war and other global supply problems continue putting pressure on fuel markets. And remember: diesel isn’t just about truck drivers. Diesel moves America. Trucks, farms, construction equipment and much of the machinery that keeps the economy moving depend on it. When diesel goes up, those additional costs can eventually show up in the prices consumers pay for everything from groceries to building materials. We also have a major development in Mississippi, where police have arrested a 51-year-old man on a murder charge following the death of Tasia Fortune, the 29-year-old mother of four who was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned home. And LaDonna Ryggs joins us with a firsthand report from last week’s Republican midterm convention in Dallas. 🏛️ JEFFRIES WON’T RULE OUT TRUMP IMPEACHMENT House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” where George Stephanopoulos asked him about what Democrats would do if they regain control of the House. And one word inevitably came up: Impeachment. When asked whether impeachment would be on the table, Jeffries did not rule it out. That does not mean Democrats have formally announced an impeachment effort, nor does it mean articles of impeachment have been introduced as part of this discussion. But it does mean the Democratic leader is leaving the possibility open. We’ll listen closely to what Jeffries actually said and discuss what another potential impeachment battle could mean for Washington following the November elections. ⛽ DIESEL BLOWS PAST $6 A GALLON This is one of those stories that affects people who never buy a gallon of diesel. The national average price of diesel has now climbed above $6 per gallon, setting a record as global fuel supplies remain under pressure. And this matters far beyond the trucking industry. The food at your grocery store gets there on a truck. The packages delivered to your home spend time on trucks. Farmers use diesel. Construction companies use diesel. Manufacturers and distributors depend on diesel-powered transportation. Those businesses don't simply absorb higher fuel costs indefinitely. Eventually, those costs can work their way through the supply chain. We’ll look at what is driving this record increase, how the Iran war and other global disruptions are affecting supplies, and what Americans should be watching in the weeks ahead. 🔎 ARREST IN DEATH OF TASIA FORTUNE There has been a major development in the disturbing case of Tasia Fortune. Fortune was a 29-year-old Black mother of four whose body was discovered hanging from a tree behind a vacant home in Jackson, Mississippi, last month. The circumstances surrounding her death generated national attention and intense speculation. Now the Mississippi state medical examiner has ruled Fortune’s death a homicide, and Jackson police have arrested 51-year-old Jarques Ratliff on a murder charge. Police say Ratliff had an association with Fortune, but authorities have not publicly explained the nature of that relationship or announced a motive. Police also say the investigation is continuing and additional arrests could be coming. That makes this an important reminder about cases that explode across social media before investigators have completed their work. We’ll look at what we actually know, what remains unknown and where the investigation goes from here. 🇺🇸 INSIDE THE REPUBLICAN MIDTERM CONVENTION And finally, we’re going inside last week’s Republican midterm convention in Dallas. LaDonna Ryggs has been involved in Republican politics for years and has attended national conventions before. She joins us to give us a firsthand account of what it was like inside the convention. What was the mood? Which speakers generated the strongest reaction in the room? What issues were Republican activists talking about when the cameras weren’t rolling? And what did she hear from grassroots delegates about the November midterm elections? We’ll get her firsthand perspective from Dallas. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #HakeemJeffries #Impeachment #Democrats #Congress #Midterms2026 #Election2026 #DieselPrices #GasPrices #Iran #IranWar #Inflation #TasiaFortune #Mississippi #RNC #Republicans #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson What happens when a woman facing an unexpected pregnancy feels frightened, overwhelmed and unsure where to turn? Carolina Pregnancy Center is working to make sure she doesn't have to face that moment alone. In this interview, I talk with Alexia Newman of Carolina Pregnancy Center about the organization's mission to protect unborn life while providing practical help, encouragement and support to mothers, fathers and families. We discuss pregnancy testing and ultrasounds, parenting education, material assistance, support for fathers, and the role faith plays in helping women facing difficult decisions. We also preview Babies, Barbecue & Bluegrass, a special Southern pig pickin' fundraiser benefiting Carolina Pregnancy Center. 📅 Saturday, October 10, 2026 ⏰ 4:00–6:00 PM 📍 1108 Charisma Drive, Spartanburg, SC 🎟️ General Admission: $25 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Package: $40 Come enjoy barbecue, live bluegrass music and an afternoon with friends and family while supporting a ministry working every day to help mothers, fathers and their unborn children. Learn more about the mission, services, volunteering and ways to give at Carolina Pregnancy Center. If you believe women facing unexpected pregnancies deserve compassion, support and real choices, share this interview with someone who needs to hear about this ministry. And tell us in the comments: What more can churches and communities do to support mothers who choose life?

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson President Trump certainly got people talking at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas. And it wasn’t just about Iran, inflation or the economy. Trump announced what he called a “Trump dividend” — a proposed $5,000 payment to adult American citizens if Republicans maintain control of both the House and Senate in November. Five thousand dollars. Obviously, we have some questions. Where would more than a trillion dollars potentially needed for these payments come from? Would Congress have to approve it? Who exactly would qualify? And could injecting that much money into the economy affect inflation? We’re going to talk about it. Plus, there are new revelations from jurors in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial, Nike is being removed from the S&P 100 after losing more than $200 billion in market value from its peak, and today we pause to remember September 11, 2001—25 years after the day that changed America forever. 💰 TRUMP PROPOSES A $5,000 “DIVIDEND” President Trump made one of the biggest announcements of the Republican midterm convention when he proposed sending $5,000 to adult American citizens if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate. Trump compared the idea to a successful corporation distributing dividends to its shareholders. There’s one other proposed requirement: the money would have to be spent in the United States. Sounds pretty good when somebody says they want to send you five thousand dollars. But there are some enormous questions. Where does the money come from? Would Congress authorize it? Who qualifies? How would a requirement that the money be spent in America actually work? And with Americans already concerned about prices, what could a massive infusion of money into the economy mean for inflation? We’re going to separate the political promise from the practical details and discuss what it could mean for American taxpayers. ⚖️ NEW LINDSAY CLANCY JURY REVELATIONS More jurors are speaking publicly following the mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy case. Now one juror is describing a disturbing moment inside the deliberation room involving the lone holdout on the 12-person panel. According to the juror, the holdout wrapped one of the exercise bands involved in the deaths around a water bottle in an apparent attempt to recreate the strangulations. The account provides another glimpse into what reportedly happened during the tense deliberations that ultimately ended without a unanimous verdict. The jury was reportedly divided 11-1. We’ll discuss what these jurors are saying, why the panel couldn’t reach a verdict and what could happen next in this extraordinarily difficult case. 👟 WHAT HAPPENED TO NIKE? For nearly two decades, Nike was part of the S&P 100—the group of some of America’s largest blue-chip companies. Now it’s coming out. At its peak in 2021, Nike was worth more than a quarter-trillion dollars. Since then, more than $200 billion in market value has disappeared. Nike has struggled with declining sales, weakness in China, competition from brands like HOKA and On, and strategic decisions involving its relationships with traditional retailers. The company has also repeatedly found itself at the center of America’s cultural and political debates. So what really happened to one of the most powerful brands in American sports? Was Nike distracted from its core customer? Did its business strategy simply fail? Did competitors outmaneuver it? Or was it some combination of all of those things? We’ll look at the numbers and let you decide. 🇺🇸 25 YEARS LATER — REMEMBERING 9/11 And finally, today is different. Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, 2001, America changed forever. Nearly 3,000 innocent people went to work, boarded airplanes, responded to emergency calls or simply began an ordinary Tuesday morning—and never came home. Most Americans who were old enough to remember that day can still tell you exactly where they were when they heard the news. We remember the people trapped inside the World Trade Center. We remember those at the Pentagon. We remember the passengers and crew of Flight 93. And we remember the firefighters, police officers, paramedics and ordinary Americans who ran toward danger when every instinct told them to run away. Twenty-five years later, an entire generation of Americans has now grown up knowing September 11 only as history. That makes our responsibility even greater. Tell the stories. Remember the heroes. Remember the families. Remember what happened. And never forget. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #TrumpDividend #Midterms2026 #Congress #Economy #Nike #SP100 #LindsayClancy #September11 #September11Attacks #911Anniversary #NeverForget #Election2026 #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson President Trump is acknowledging something Americans may not want to hear: the war with Iran may not be over before the November midterm elections—and relief from higher fuel prices may not come anytime soon. We’ll look at what the President said, what’s happening with oil and gasoline prices, and why the Strait of Hormuz remains so important to American consumers. Plus, a federal appeals court has handed the firearms industry an important legal victory in its challenge to New Jersey’s gun-industry liability law. Apple has finally entered the foldable phone business—and you’d better get your checkbook ready. The new iPhone Duo starts at $1,999. And finally, we remember our friend and fellow broadcaster Charlie Kirk, assassinated one year ago while speaking at Utah Valley University. 🇺🇸 TRUMP: DON’T EXPECT THE IRAN WAR TO END BEFORE THE MIDTERMS President Trump is setting expectations for Americans about the continuing war with Iran. The President acknowledged that the conflict may continue through the November midterm elections and that oil and fuel prices may remain elevated longer than many Americans had hoped. That matters because the war isn’t simply a foreign-policy story. Americans are seeing the consequences every time they pull into a gas station, buy groceries, purchase products transported by truck or pay for an airline ticket. We’ll look at what Trump said, why the Strait of Hormuz remains so important to global energy markets and what the continuing conflict could mean for American families. ⚖️ FEDERAL APPEALS COURT REVIVES CHALLENGE TO NEW JERSEY GUN LAW An 18-month legal battle has taken an important turn involving New Jersey’s attempt to hold firearm manufacturers and sellers legally responsible under the state’s “reasonable controls” law. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the National Shooting Sports Foundation now has standing to challenge the law and that the federal court should not have abstained from hearing the case simply because New Jersey had already begun enforcement actions against firearm companies. That does not mean the appeals court struck down the New Jersey law. But it does mean the firearms industry’s constitutional challenge can move forward. We’ll explain what happened, why New Jersey’s enforcement actions changed the legal landscape and what comes next. 📱 APPLE’S $1,999 FOLDABLE iPHONE Well, Apple finally did it. The company has introduced its first foldable iPhone. It’s called the iPhone Duo, and when you unfold it, you get a 7.6-inch inner display designed for videos, gaming and running multiple apps. Pretty impressive. Then you see the price. $1,999—and that’s where it starts! Apple also introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max along with new Apple Watches and other updates. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the Pro Max starts at $1,299. So the question is pretty simple: Would you pay two grand for a folding iPhone? We’ll take a look at what Apple is offering and whether this is enough to convince people to replace the traditional smartphone. 🇺🇸 REMEMBERING CHARLIE KIRK — ONE YEAR LATER Finally today, we remember Charlie Kirk. One year ago, on September 10, 2025, Charlie was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University. For me, this story is also personal. Charlie and I were both talk show hosts with Salem Media, and while we approached broadcasting from our own perspectives and experiences, Charlie never hesitated to talk openly about the things he believed mattered. His faith. His country. The next generation. And his belief in speaking openly and debating ideas. Whatever someone's politics, the assassination of a person for engaging in political speech is something Americans should reject unequivocally. Charlie left behind his wife, Erika, his family, friends, colleagues and a movement that continues today. So one year later, we remember Charlie Kirk—not simply for the headlines surrounding his death, but for the life he lived, the faith he professed and the conversations he started. We’ll take some time today to remember our friend. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #Iran #IranWar #GasPrices #OilPrices #StraitOfHormuz #SecondAmendment #GunRights #NewJersey #Apple #iPhoneDuo #iPhone18Pro #FoldableiPhone #CharlieKirk #RememberingCharlieKirk #TurningPointUSA #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson There’s a major congressional election fight unfolding in Missouri, and the situation became even more complicated when Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh denied the state’s emergency request to use its revised congressional map in November. That means Missouri is now preparing to hold the general election using its older 2022 congressional districts—even though voters participated in the August primary using the newer map. We’ll explain how Missouri ended up in this extraordinary situation, why the state Supreme Court blocked the revised map, and what happens to candidates and voters between now and November. Plus, the U.S.-Canada trade war has escalated dramatically. President Trump has announced bans on imports of Canadian alcohol, dairy products and motorcycles after Canada imposed new retaliatory tariffs on American goods. We’ll look at what each country is doing and, most importantly, what another round of trade restrictions could mean for consumers and businesses on both sides of the border. Then, three jurors from the Lindsay Clancy murder trial are speaking publicly after the case ended in a mistrial. They say the jury was divided 11-1 and that one holdout prevented a unanimous verdict. And here in South Carolina, we have what may be one of the most unusual constitutional lawsuits of the year. A Greenville-area entrepreneur wants to operate a mobile beauty salon, but South Carolina law permits mobile barbershops while restricting many cosmetology services to fixed locations. She says that distinction violates her constitutional rights. 🗳️ MISSOURI’S CONGRESSIONAL MAP MESS Missouri voters went to the polls in August and selected congressional nominees using a Republican-backed map approved in 2025. But the Missouri Supreme Court later ruled that the newer map never legally took effect because a voter-backed referendum suspended the law. Missouri asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who handles emergency applications from the Eighth Circuit, denied the request without comment and did not refer it to the full Court. The result is extraordinary: Missouri is now set to use its 2022 congressional districts for November after holding its primary under different district lines. We’ll explain what happened, why the courts reached this point and what it means for voters and candidates. 🇺🇸🇨🇦 TRUMP ESCALATES THE TRADE WAR WITH CANADA The U.S.-Canada trade fight has entered another phase. President Trump announced restrictions on imports of Canadian alcohol, dairy products and motorcycles after Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on billions of dollars of American products. Canada’s tariffs cover a broad range of U.S. goods, while the Trump administration says its new restrictions are a response to Ottawa’s actions. Whatever your view of tariffs, there’s a practical question Americans will be asking: What does this mean for prices? We'll look at the products affected, why both governments are escalating the dispute and what consumers and businesses should watch next. ⚖️ LINDSAY CLANCY JURORS BREAK THEIR SILENCE Three people who served on the jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial are talking publicly after last week’s mistrial. Clancy was charged in the deaths of her three young children and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury ultimately could not reach a unanimous verdict after days of deliberations. Jurors who have now spoken publicly say the panel was divided 11-1 and that one holdout prevented them from reaching a verdict. We’ll look at what the jurors say happened inside the deliberation room and what could come next in this closely watched case. 💇‍♀️ A SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTIONAL FIGHT…OVER A BEAUTY SALON? Here’s a South Carolina lawsuit with an unusual premise. Greenville entrepreneur and licensed esthetician Brandi Rosemond wants to operate a mobile beauty salon. South Carolina law allows licensed mobile barbershops. But many cosmetology and esthetician services are restricted to traditional fixed-location salons. Rosemond and the Institute for Justice have filed a federal lawsuit arguing that the distinction violates her constitutional right to pursue her occupation. The state has not yet had the final word, and the lawsuit will have to work its way through federal court. But it raises an interesting question: If a barber can legally operate from a mobile shop, why should differently licensed beauty professionals be treated differently? 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #Missouri #SupremeCourt #BrettKavanaugh #Redistricting #Election2026 #DonaldTrump #Canada #Tariffs #TradeWar #LindsayClancy #SouthCarolina #GreenvilleSC #Constitution #SmallBusiness #SCPolitics #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Happy Labor Day! We have a new immigration number today that deserves a lot more attention than it's probably going to receive. New estimates indicate the migrant population in the United States has fallen by nearly 3 million people during President Donald Trump's second term. That's a remarkable shift—and we're going to break down what's behind it, including deportations, voluntary departures and changes in the number of migrants entering the country. Then there's a number that may be even more remarkable: 89% of Americans now believe government corruption is widespread. Republicans have expressed that concern for years, but a new poll shows Democrats' concerns have surged as well. Apparently, government corruption may finally be an issue capable of bringing the country together! Plus, imagine ordering dinner from DoorDash, hearing a knock at your door and discovering your delivery driver is wearing absolutely nothing. Yes, apparently that happened. And finally, another federal judge has blocked President Trump's latest attempt to restrict birthright citizenship, setting up another major constitutional battle for the administration. 🇺🇸 NEARLY 3 MILLION FEWER MIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES? Let's start with the number that caught my attention. The total migrant population in the United States is estimated to have declined by nearly 3 million people since President Trump returned to office. If accurate, that would represent a significant reversal after years of growth in the foreign-born population. So how did it happen? How much can be attributed to deportations? How much involves people voluntarily leaving the country? And how much comes from dramatically fewer migrants entering in the first place? We're going to break down the numbers because immigration policy isn't simply about what politicians say they're doing. The numbers tell us whether it's actually working. 🏛️ 89% OF AMERICANS SAY GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION IS WIDESPREAD Here's a statistic that ought to concern everybody in Washington. A record 89% of Americans now say corruption in government is widespread. Think about that. Nine out of ten Americans. What's particularly interesting is that the increase is being driven partly by Democrats, whose concerns about government corruption have risen dramatically. Republicans and Democrats may disagree about who is responsible for the problem and what constitutes corruption, but increasingly they're reaching the same conclusion: They don't trust the government. We'll look at what's driving this extraordinary collapse in confidence and why it should concern politicians in both parties. 😳 THE DOORDASH DELIVERY NOBODY ASKED FOR Now for something completely different. A Houston-area family says their DoorDash order arrived—but apparently the driver's clothes didn't. According to reports, the delivery driver showed up completely naked. Imagine checking your doorbell camera expecting to see your dinner sitting on the porch and seeing...well...something else entirely. How did this happen? What did the family do? And perhaps the most important question: Did they still eat the food? You're going to want to hear this one. ⚖️ JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP'S BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ACTION And once again, President Trump's attempt to restrict birthright citizenship has run into a federal judge. A federal court has halted the administration's latest executive action while the larger constitutional fight continues. The Trump administration argues that the traditional interpretation of the 14th Amendment is too broad and should not automatically grant citizenship in every circumstance involving children born in the United States to noncitizen parents. Opponents argue that more than a century of constitutional interpretation and Supreme Court precedent protects birthright citizenship. This fight is far from over. And ultimately, the biggest question may be: Is this an issue that the Supreme Court will finally have to settle once and for all? 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #Trump #Immigration #IllegalImmigration #BorderSecurity #Deportations #BirthrightCitizenship #14thAmendment #GovernmentCorruption #GovernmentTrust #DoorDash #LaborDay #Politics #Election2026 #Midterms #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson When you hear “YMCA,” do you immediately think about a gym, swimming pool or basketball court? There is a whole lot more happening at the YMCA. I sat down with Trey Oakley of the YMCA of Greater Spartanburg to talk about the organization’s mission, its Christian foundation and the work being done every day to strengthen children, families and the Upstate community. The YMCA of Greater Spartanburg has roots going all the way back to 1869, and today its work includes youth development, after-school programs, summer camps, swimming and water safety, programs for cancer survivors, opportunities for adults with learning differences or physical limitations, efforts to address food insecurity and financial assistance for families who otherwise might not be able to participate. Trey and I also discuss what the YMCA means when it talks about putting Christian principles into practice, the challenges facing families today and how people can get involved through membership, volunteering and financial support. If you think the YMCA is simply a place to work out, I think this conversation may surprise you. 👍 LIKE this episode if you support organizations working to strengthen our local communities. 💬 COMMENT BELOW: What does the YMCA mean to you and your family? 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more conversations about the people, organizations and issues making a difference in our community. #YMCA #SpartanburgSC #Spartanburg #SouthCarolina #UpstateSC #Community #ChristianValues #YouthDevelopment #TreyOakley #JoeyHudson

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson There’s a new restaurant taking off in Greenville—and the location is unlike just about anything else in town. I sit down with longtime Greenville restaurateur Trish Ballentine  and Lauren Good to talk about their newest venture, Hangar 28 Kitchen & Events, located at the Greenville Downtown Airport. I’ve known Trish for many years and have watched her own and operate restaurants throughout the Greenville area. In this conversation, we talk about what brought her back into the restaurant business, why she chose this unique airport location, and what she’s learned after years in Greenville’s rapidly changing restaurant scene. We also get into the food at Hangar 28, the emphasis on scratch cooking, weekend breakfast, cocktails and the restaurant’s unique aviation atmosphere. And Hangar 28 isn’t just about food. Trish tells us about the approximately 3,500-square-foot event venue overlooking the airport and her plans for private events, corporate gatherings, fundraisers, live music and more. If you live in the Upstate—or you just enjoy discovering unique locally owned restaurants—this is one you'll want to check out. 👍 LIKE this episode if you enjoy discovering local Greenville businesses. 💬 COMMENT: What's your favorite locally owned restaurant in the Upstate? 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more conversations about the people, businesses and issues shaping Greenville, the Upstate and South Carolina. #GreenvilleSC #Hangar28 #GreenvilleRestaurants #YeahThatGreenville #GreenvilleFood #UpstateSC #SouthCarolina #LocalBusiness #GreenvilleDowntownAirport #JoeyHudson

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Three stories today that raise some fundamental questions about politics, justice and accountability in America. The House has passed legislation aimed at cutting off certain federal funding to colleges that boycott Israel—but the overwhelming majority of House Democrats voted against it. Then, nearly 25 years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed—the accused architect of 9/11—still has not been tried and sentenced. How is that possible? And here in South Carolina, the state Supreme Court has ruled that a civil rights organization cannot be punished for releasing certain information about the state's execution process that had already been made public. 🇮🇱 HOUSE PASSES BILL TARGETING COLLEGE BOYCOTTS OF ISRAEL The House of Representatives has passed legislation aimed at preventing certain federal funds from going to colleges and universities that participate in boycotts of Israel. Most House Democrats opposed the legislation. We'll look beyond the political rhetoric and examine what the bill actually does, why Republicans supported it and why so many Democrats voted against it. The vote also comes amid continuing disagreements within the Democratic Party over Israel. Is this simply a disagreement over how the federal government should respond to boycotts? Or does the vote reveal something larger about how the Democratic coalition's relationship with Israel is changing? We'll dig into it. 🇺🇸 25 YEARS AFTER 9/11 — WHERE IS THE JUSTICE? Think about this. We are approaching the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. Nearly 3,000 people were murdered. America went to war. We spent trillions of dollars. Thousands of American military families sacrificed during the wars that followed. And yet Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the September 11 attacks, still has not faced a completed criminal trial. How can that be? The case has been consumed by years of legal disputes involving his treatment in CIA custody, the admissibility of evidence and confessions, plea agreements, military commissions and endless courtroom battles. Now another ruling involving Mohammed's confession has once again complicated the prosecution. We'll walk through how we got here and ask the question many Americans—especially families who lost loved ones on 9/11—may be asking: How can the American justice system take a quarter-century to resolve one of the most consequential terrorism cases in our nation's history? ⚖️ SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT RULES IN EXECUTION RECORDS CASE Here in South Carolina, the state Supreme Court has issued an important ruling involving the state's execution process, government secrecy and the First Amendment. The dispute involved information about executions that the state argued was protected by South Carolina's shield law. But there was a significant complication: Some of the information had already been made public. The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that a civil rights organization could not be punished for sharing certain execution-related information that was already publicly available. We'll explain what information was involved, why the state wanted to restrict its release and what the ruling could mean for future disputes over South Carolina's execution secrecy law. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #Israel #Congress #Democrats #Republicans #Antisemitism #CollegeCampus #September11 #September11Attacks #911Anniversary #KhalidSheikhMohammed #GuantanamoBay #SCOTUS #SouthCarolina #SCSupremeCourt #DeathPenalty #SCPolitics #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson It was a remarkable day in Congress. House Democrats helped defeat an effort to advance a constitutional amendment that would permanently cap the U.S. Supreme Court at nine justices. The vote comes as some Democrats continue advocating for expanding the Court. Then another vote is getting plenty of attention: 192 House Democrats voted against a resolution condemning the Democratic Socialists of America and denouncing socialism. We’ll look beyond the headlines and tell you what these measures actually said—and how members of Congress voted. Plus, the Justice Department wants answers about skyrocketing beef prices, an emotional congressional hearing puts a human face on the immigration debate, and one South Carolina city has just been named among America’s best towns to visit. ⚖️ THE BATTLE OVER THE SIZE OF THE SUPREME COURT Should the Supreme Court permanently remain at nine justices? Republicans attempted to move forward with a constitutional amendment that would cap the number of Supreme Court justices at nine. The effort failed. This comes as prominent Democrats—including South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn—have discussed expanding the Court. Clyburn recently said he believes 13 justices would be a “pretty good number.” Supporters of expanding the Court argue that Congress has changed its size before and say reform is justified. Opponents call the idea court packing and argue that expanding the Court for political reasons could create a cycle in which whichever party controls Washington simply adds more justices. We’ll explain what happened and why this debate could become increasingly important. 🗳️ 192 DEMOCRATS VOTE AGAINST ANTI-SOCIALISM RESOLUTION Another House vote is generating controversy. A resolution condemning the Democratic Socialists of America and denouncing socialism received significant Republican support, but 192 House Democrats voted against it. Rather than stopping with the headline, we’re going to look at what the resolution actually said. What exactly were members being asked to condemn? What reasons did opponents give for voting against it? And what does this vote tell us about the continuing debate over democratic socialism inside American politics? 🥩 DOJ INVESTIGATES SOARING BEEF PRICES If you’ve bought steaks, hamburger or just about any other cut of beef lately, you already know this story. Beef is expensive. Now the Justice Department is investigating eight major grocery retailers as well as the nation’s four largest meatpackers as the government examines competition and pricing throughout the beef supply chain. The key question is straightforward: Why are consumers paying so much? Is this primarily a supply-and-demand problem caused by America’s historically small cattle herd? Are processors and retailers contributing to higher prices? Or is it some combination of factors? The DOJ wants answers—and so do American consumers. 🇺🇸 FATHER DELIVERS EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY ON IMMIGRATION One of the most emotional moments on Capitol Hill this week came from Marcus Coleman, whose daughter was permanently disabled following a crash involving a truck driver described in congressional testimony as being in the country illegally. Coleman appeared before a House subcommittee and accused Democratic lawmakers of “grandstanding” when discussing illegal immigration. Whatever your politics, his testimony brings the immigration debate away from statistics and political arguments and back to the real people whose lives can be permanently changed. We’ll show you what he told Congress and discuss the larger debate surrounding immigration enforcement and public safety. 🌴 ONE OF AMERICA’S BEST TOWNS IS RIGHT HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA Finally, we’ll end with some good news from the Palmetto State. CNN has named a South Carolina community one of the best towns to visit in America. And no—it’s not Charleston this time! Which South Carolina town made the list? We’ll reveal it and explain why it’s getting national attention. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #SupremeCourt #SCOTUS #Socialism #Congress #Democrats #Republicans #DonaldTrump #CourtPacking #BeefPrices #GroceryPrices #DOJ #Immigration #BorderSecurity #SouthCarolina #SCPolitics #Election2026 #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson President Trump is rolling out additional prescription drug discounts that he says could save Americans more than $600 billion over the next several years. Today, we’ll look at what the administration is proposing, who could benefit, and whether those projected savings will actually show up at the pharmacy counter for everyday Americans. Plus, Michelle Obama is getting attention online after a surprisingly candid comment about her daughters leaving home, another alleged abuse of Flock license plate camera technology raises serious privacy questions, and a federal appeals court ruling could force South Carolina lawmakers to rethink part of the state’s mail-in voting law. 💊 TRUMP TAKES AIM AT PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES President Trump announced additional prescription drug discounts this week and says the changes could produce more than $600 billion in savings over the next several years. That is an enormous number. But the question most Americans really care about is much simpler: Will I actually pay less for my prescriptions? We’ll break down what the administration is proposing, where the projected savings come from, which medications could be affected and what consumers should watch for as the changes are implemented. 👋 MICHELLE OBAMA: “I DON’T MISS THEM” Michelle Obama is getting plenty of attention online after talking about what happened when daughters Malia and Sasha finally left home. She says former President Barack Obama cried. Michelle? Not so much. She joked that her reaction was essentially: “BYE!” The comment came during a podcast conversation with Jon Stewart and has generated plenty of discussion online. Parents everywhere may have an opinion about this one. 📸 ANOTHER FLOCK CAMERA ABUSE CASE And we have another troubling allegation involving Flock automated license plate readers. A former Indiana sheriff’s deputy has been charged after authorities say he abused access to the system to track his girlfriend for more than a year. Investigators allege he conducted more than 2,000 searches for her license plate. Two thousand. This is exactly the type of case fueling the growing debate over automated license plate readers. Supporters say the technology is an incredibly useful crime-fighting tool. Critics say databases containing the movements of millions of innocent Americans create enormous potential for abuse when proper safeguards aren’t in place. We’ll look at what authorities say happened and ask the larger question: Who is watching the people who have access to these systems? 🗳️ SOUTH CAROLINA MAIL-IN VOTING LAW FACES COURT CHALLENGE A federal appeals court has ruled that South Carolina’s absentee voting rules for older voters discriminate against younger voters. South Carolina law has allowed voters age 65 and older to vote absentee based solely on their age, while younger voters generally must qualify under another approved reason. The court’s decision raises an obvious question for the General Assembly: What happens now? Will lawmakers expand no-excuse absentee voting to younger South Carolinians? Will they change the senior provision? Or will the state continue fighting the decision in court? We’ll examine what the ruling says and what it could mean for South Carolina elections going forward. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can also leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #PrescriptionDrugs #DrugPrices #Healthcare #MichelleObama #BarackObama #FlockCameras #Privacy #LicensePlateReaders #SouthCarolina #SCPolitics #MailInVoting #ElectionLaw #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Today's show starts with another Supreme Court victory for the Trump administration as construction of the White House ballroom is allowed to continue while the legal battle plays out. Then we're tackling a question you may have heard from friends, family members or President Trump's critics: “What has Donald Trump actually accomplished during his second term?” We're going through 25 examples you can examine for yourself. Plus, an astonishing amount of money is pouring into the 2026 midterm elections. The 20 biggest donors have reportedly contributed a combined $1.2 BILLION so far. And South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick joins us to discuss what comes next now that the GOP's November ballot is set. 🏛️ SUPREME COURT ALLOWS WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION TO CONTINUE The Supreme Court has once again sided with the Trump administration, allowing construction on President Trump's White House ballroom project to continue while litigation proceeds in the lower courts. It's an important distinction: the Supreme Court's action doesn't necessarily resolve the underlying legal dispute. But for now, construction can continue. We'll talk about the legal challenge, what the administration argues and why this project has generated such a heated political and legal fight. 🇺🇸 WHAT HAS TRUMP ACCOMPLISHED? LET'S LOOK AT 25 EXAMPLES This may be today's most useful segment. You've probably heard someone ask: “What has Donald Trump actually accomplished since returning to the White House?” Instead of simply responding with political rhetoric, we're going to examine 25 specific actions and accomplishments from Trump's second term. We'll look at the economy, immigration and border security, energy, foreign policy, government spending, regulation and other major areas. Get your notepad ready. Whether you're a Trump supporter, a critic or somewhere in between, these are 25 examples worth knowing so you can decide for yourself how the administration's record stacks up. 💰 $1.2 BILLION — WHO'S FUNDING THE 2026 MIDTERMS? Think there's too much money in politics? Wait until you hear these numbers. The 20 largest donors in the 2026 midterm election cycle have reportedly poured approximately $1.2 BILLION into House and Senate races so far. We're going through the list. It includes some of America's wealthiest individuals, major technology interests, cryptocurrency money and powerful political organizations trying to influence who controls Congress. But here's the larger question: How much influence does $1.2 billion buy in American politics? And when you follow the money, what does it tell you about the priorities of the people and organizations writing these enormous checks? 🗳️ DREW MCKISSICK: WHAT'S NEXT FOR SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICANS? The primaries are finished. The runoff is over. The Republican ticket is set. So what happens now? South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick joins us to talk about the party's strategy heading toward November. We'll discuss voter turnout, party unity after some hard-fought Republican primaries, the races the GOP will be watching most closely and what South Carolina Republicans need to do between now and Election Day. The campaign doesn't end when the primary ends. In many ways, that's when the next campaign begins. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com and subscribe to the Joey Hudson YouTube Channel. Follow Joey on Facebook and X. 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. #DonaldTrump #Trump #TrumpAdministration #SCOTUS #SupremeCourt #WhiteHouse #Election2026 #Midterms #CampaignFinance #PoliticalDonors #SouthCarolina #SCPolitics #DrewMcKissick #SCGOP #Republicans #Congress #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Today's show starts with a growing feud between President Donald Trump and one of Canada's most prominent political leaders. Then we'll look at Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's controversial new requirements for city contractors, examine whether the developing U.S.-Canada trade war could raise prices for American families and create political problems ahead of the midterms, and discuss Congressman James Clyburn's call to expand the U.S. Supreme Court from nine justices to thirteen. 🇨🇦 DOUG FORD TAKES ON PRESIDENT TRUMP Ontario Premier Doug Ford clearly isn't thrilled with President Trump these days. Appearing on ABC's This Week, Ford criticized Trump's executive order renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America.” The dispute may sound humorous—and there's certainly plenty to have fun with—but it comes amid a much more serious deterioration in the relationship between the United States and Canada. And that brings us to the bigger question: How far is this feud going to go, and who ultimately pays the price when two of the world's largest trading partners start putting tariffs on each other's products? 🌆 CHICAGO'S NEW CONTRACTING RULES Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order requiring companies doing business with the city to disclose information about the demographics of their leadership. Contractors will also be asked to disclose certain relationships with federal law enforcement agencies, including ICE. Johnson says Chicago should use the enormous purchasing power of city government to advance the city's priorities. But this raises an interesting question about the proper role of government contracting. Should the city be choosing the best company at the best price—or should political and social considerations also determine who gets taxpayer-funded contracts? And what happens when a company's relationship with federal law enforcement becomes part of that calculation? We'll dig into what the order actually requires. 💰 COULD THE CANADA TRADE WAR HIT YOUR WALLET? This may ultimately be the biggest political story of the day because it affects something Americans deal with every single day: prices. New tariffs involving Canada could affect industries ranging from manufacturing and automobiles to construction materials, agriculture and consumer goods. Tariffs aren't paid by some mysterious government account. Depending on how businesses respond, at least some of those additional costs can eventually work their way through the supply chain and reach consumers. So we're going to look beyond the political rhetoric and ask the practical question: What could this developing trade war actually cost the average American household? And there's a political question attached to it. If voters begin seeing higher prices in competitive states because of the dispute with Canada, could Republicans pay a price at the ballot box in the upcoming midterm elections? We'll look at which industries and states could be particularly vulnerable. ⚖️ CLYBURN WANTS 13 SUPREME COURT JUSTICES South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn appeared on NBC's Meet the Press Sunday and endorsed expanding the Supreme Court. Clyburn says he'd like to see the current nine-member court expanded to 13 justices, calling thirteen a “pretty good number.” Supporters of expansion argue that Congress has changed the size of the Supreme Court before and that the current political and judicial environment warrants significant reform. Opponents call it court packing and warn that once one party expands the Court to gain an ideological advantage, the other party could simply do the same thing when it returns to power. And that's the question we'll discuss: If Democrats expand the Court to 13, what stops Republicans from eventually making it 15—or Democrats from later making it 17? Where does it end? 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com and subscribe to the Joey Hudson YouTube Channel. Follow Joey on Facebook and X. 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. #DonaldTrump #Canada #DougFord #Tariffs #TradeWar #Inflation #Midterms #BrandonJohnson #Chicago #ICE #JamesClyburn #SupremeCourt #SCOTUS #SouthCarolina #SCPolitics #Election2026 #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Goodwill is getting into the hardware business! Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina has launched Retool & Supply, a new specialty hardware concept located inside its Pelzer, South Carolina store. So what exactly can you buy there? Think tools, hardware, lawn and garden equipment, supplies and plenty of potential bargains for DIYers, homeowners and weekend warriors. I sat down with Chunsta Miller of Goodwill Industries to find out how the idea for Retool & Supply came about, where the merchandise comes from and why Goodwill decided to launch the concept here in the Upstate. But there's another side to this story that sometimes gets overlooked. Goodwill isn't simply selling donated merchandise. Revenue generated through its stores helps support career training, employment services and programs designed to help people develop skills and get back into the workforce. We talk about that mission, Goodwill's growing number of specialty stores and what happens when you donate something as simple as an old power tool that's been sitting unused in your garage. And, of course, we find out what kind of bargains you might discover at Retool & Supply. 📍 Retool & Supply Inside the Goodwill store in Pelzer, South Carolina For more information about Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina, visit GoodwillSC.org. Subscribe for more conversations about the people, businesses and stories making news across South Carolina and the country. #Goodwill #RetoolAndSupply #GreenvilleSC #SouthCarolina #UpstateSC #DIY #Tools #ThriftStore #GoodwillFinds #HomeImprovement #PelzerSC #JoeyHudson

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Fall is almost here, and Travelers Rest, South Carolina, has plenty happening! I’m joined by Lacey Keigley of Travelers Rest Here to get a preview of the events, food, outdoor activities and community happenings you’ll want on your calendar this fall. One event we're especially excited about is the annual Farm-to-Table Dinner benefiting The Farmer Fund. This is about as local as it gets: money raised in the community goes directly to local TR Market farmers through a hyper-local grant program. No complicated bureaucracy — local people helping local farmers. We also talk about what makes Travelers Rest such a great fall destination, the role local restaurants and businesses play in the community, the Farmers Market, outdoor activities and some of Lacey's favorite ways to spend a fall day in TR. Whether you live in Travelers Rest, Greenville or anywhere in the Upstate, this is your preview of what's coming this fall. 👍 LIKE this episode if you love supporting local businesses and farmers. 💬 COMMENT: What's your favorite thing to do in Travelers Rest? 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more conversations about the people, places and stories that make the Upstate special. More from Travelers Rest Here #TravelersRest #TravelersRestSC #GreenvilleSC #UpstateSC #SouthCarolina #FarmToTable #SupportLocal #LocalFarmers #FallEvents #SwampRabbitTrail #JoeyHudson

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Today's show covers an escalating election-integrity fight between the Republican National Committee and New Jersey, new information about the catastrophic disaster in Nepal and Tibet, additional FEMA firings involving allegations of discrimination against Trump supporters—and a controversy involving South Carolina's largest health system and advice reportedly being provided to immigrants regarding encounters with ICE. 🗳️ RNC THREATENS LEGAL ACTION OVER NEW JERSEY VOTER ROLLS The Republican National Committee is escalating its fight with New Jersey election officials over access to voter-roll records. The RNC is seeking information surrounding noncitizens reportedly identified on the state's voter rolls and is now threatening legal action to obtain additional records. How did noncitizens end up on the rolls? Were they actually casting ballots—or merely improperly registered? And what steps are being taken to remove ineligible registrations? We'll separate what we know from what remains unanswered. 🏔️ NEW CLUES ABOUT THE DEADLY NEPAL-TIBET DISASTER Scientists believe they may now understand what triggered the catastrophic flooding that killed hundreds of people and left widespread devastation across parts of Nepal and Tibet. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, evidence points toward an enormous glacier collapse and debris flow powerful enough to register as a magnitude 5.2 landslide. We'll examine how an enormous mass of ice and rock could trigger such devastating flooding—and what scientists are learning about the disaster. 🚨 MORE FEMA WORKERS FIRED OVER TRUMP-SIGN CONTROVERSY The Department of Homeland Security has fired three additional FEMA employees following an inspector general's investigation into allegations that disaster-relief crews skipped homes displaying Trump campaign signs following Hurricane Milton. This controversy initially centered on whether one employee had acted independently. Now investigators say the problem went further. We'll discuss what the inspector general uncovered, who's being held accountable and the fundamental question this raises: Shouldn't every American receive disaster assistance regardless of the political sign sitting in their front yard? 🏥 PRISMA HEALTH, ICE AND A CONTROVERSIAL SIGN And we have a developing story right here in South Carolina. Former state representative Adam Morgan says a sign was posted inside a Prisma Health doctor's office advising immigrants about their rights when dealing with immigration authorities. A photograph supplied by Morgan appears to show a notice containing statements including “you don't have to open your door” and other information about encounters with ICE. The photograph gives us more information than we previously had—but there are still important questions we cannot independently answer from the image alone. Was the sign officially approved by Prisma Health? Was it posted by an individual employee or physician? How widespread was it? And does Prisma have a policy concerning political or immigration-related materials displayed in its medical offices? Those are questions worth asking before drawing conclusions. We'll show you what we have, explain what we can verify, and discuss why this is generating controversy in South Carolina. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com and subscribe to the Joey Hudson YouTube Channel. Follow Joey on Facebook and X. 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. #ElectionIntegrity #RNC #NewJersey #VoterRolls #FEMA #DonaldTrump #HurricaneMilton #PrismaHealth #ICE #Immigration #SouthCarolina #SCPolitics #Nepal #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Today's show covers a federal court victory for the Trump administration involving a Democratic member of Congress, controversial comments about President Trump's new White House ballroom, a massive settlement involving Meta and allegations of social-media addiction among children, and $350 million in new legislator-sponsored spending here in South Carolina. ⚖️ BIDEN-APPOINTED JUDGE SIDES WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION A federal judge appointed by former President Joe Biden has refused to dismiss the criminal case against a Democratic member of Congress accused of assaulting federal immigration officers. The ruling allows the case to move forward and gives the Trump administration a significant court victory. We'll examine exactly what the Democrat is accused of doing, the argument for dismissing the charges and why the judge rejected it. And it's worth emphasizing: this ruling does not determine guilt or innocence. But politically, the fact that a Biden-appointed judge rejected the effort to throw out the case certainly makes this one more interesting. 🏛️ PHILADELPHIA DA: “AFTER WE ALL BLOW IT UP” Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner is facing criticism over comments involving President Donald Trump's new White House ballroom. Krasner joked that he'd like to keep a piece of the ballroom as a paperweight after “we all blow it up.” Was it obviously political hyperbole—or does a public official, particularly a prosecutor, have a responsibility to be more careful when joking about blowing up part of the White House? We'll talk about it. 📱 META'S MASSIVE SOCIAL-MEDIA SETTLEMENT Meta has agreed to pay as much as $17.1 BILLION and make significant changes to teen accounts to resolve claims that its social-media platforms were deliberately designed to keep children hooked. The litigation centered on allegations involving Facebook and Instagram and claims that Meta misled parents and the public about potential dangers to young users. The larger question goes beyond one company: What responsibility should social-media companies have when their products are being used for hours every day by children? And where does parental responsibility fit into the equation? 💰 SOUTH CAROLINA LAWMAKERS APPROVE $350 MILLION IN LOCAL SPENDING And here in South Carolina, lawmakers are spending some money. The General Assembly has approved approximately $350 million in legislator-sponsored projects across the state. The list includes parks, building renovations, water and sewer projects, first-responder equipment and a wide variety of other local initiatives. Some of these projects may be worthwhile investments that communities genuinely need. But whenever lawmakers approve hundreds of millions of dollars in locally directed spending, taxpayers should be asking some basic questions: Who requested the money? Where is it going? How were the projects selected? And are taxpayers getting $350 million worth of value? We'll dig into the list and let you decide. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com and subscribe to the Joey Hudson YouTube Channel. Follow Joey on Facebook and X. 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Your texts are always welcome, and you can leave a voice message that could be aired on a future podcast. #Trump #ICE #Immigration #Meta #Facebook #Instagram #SocialMedia #SouthCarolina #SCPolitics #GovernmentSpending #WhiteHouse #BreakingNews #Politics #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson What a news day. President Donald Trump scores a major victory at the U.S. Supreme Court involving mail-in voting, South Carolina Republicans have chosen their nominee for U.S. Senate, America is mourning the loss of country music legend Dolly Parton—and we have the incredible story of an electrician who thought he was going to die while trapped 130 feet in the air. ⚖️ TRUMP WINS AT THE SUPREME COURT President Trump is celebrating a major Supreme Court victory involving mail-in voting restrictions just months before the November midterm elections. The ruling could have significant implications for how states handle ballots and election deadlines heading into November. Supporters are calling it an important victory for election integrity. Critics argue the decision could make it more difficult for some legitimate ballots to be counted. We'll break down exactly what the Supreme Court decided, what it did NOT decide and what the ruling could mean as America prepares for another consequential national election. 🗳️ DARLINE GRAHAM WINS SOUTH CAROLINA GOP SENATE RUNOFF South Carolina Republicans have made their choice. Interim U.S. Senator Darline Graham has defeated Congressman Ralph Norman in the Republican runoff and will now seek a full term in November. Graham entered this race under extraordinary circumstances following the sudden death of her brother, longtime Senator Lindsey Graham. She was appointed to temporarily fill his seat, earned the endorsement of President Trump and then decided to ask South Carolina voters to give her a full term of her own. Now she's cleared the Republican primary. We'll examine the results, where Graham won, where Norman performed well, what ultimately decided this race and what the outcome tells us about the Republican electorate in South Carolina. 🎤 REMEMBERING DOLLY PARTON America has lost one of its most beloved entertainers. Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. From her humble beginnings in the mountains of East Tennessee to becoming one of the most recognizable entertainers in the world, Dolly's story was uniquely American. She wasn't simply a singer. She was a songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist whose Imagination Library put hundreds of millions of books into the hands of children. We'll remember Dolly Parton's extraordinary career, her faith, her generosity and the remarkable legacy she leaves behind. 😨 ELECTRICIAN THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DIE 130 FEET IN THE AIR And finally, imagine going to work one morning and wondering whether you'll ever see your family again. An electrician became trapped for more than six hours inside a massive 130-foot gas station sign in Illinois. At one point, believing rescuers might not reach him in time, he recorded what he feared could be a final message to his wife and children. We'll tell you how he became trapped, the extraordinary rescue effort and what he said after finally making it safely back to the ground. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #SCOTUS #SupremeCourt #ElectionIntegrity #DarlineGraham #RalphNorman #SouthCarolina #SCSenate #DollyParton #CountryMusic #Election2026 #Midterms #SCPolitics #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson President Trump wants to bring down the price of beef—but some Republicans are warning that his solution could create an entirely new problem for American cattle producers. Plus, the billionaire owner of the San Francisco 49ers is facing an embarrassing legal situation, South Carolina authorities announce dozens of indictments connected to an investigation involving Mexican cartels, and the Justice Department will be watching tomorrow's closely contested South Carolina Republican U.S. Senate runoff. 🥩 TRUMP WANTS CHEAPER BEEF—BUT AT WHAT COST? American families are paying historically high prices for beef, and President Donald Trump wants to do something about it. One proposal involves allowing significantly more foreign beef into the United States in an effort to increase supply and bring grocery prices down. Sounds simple enough. But Republican senators from cattle-producing states are warning the White House that flooding the market with imported beef could hurt American ranchers precisely when the country needs them to rebuild the shrinking U.S. cattle herd. So which comes first? Lower prices for consumers today—or protecting American cattle producers so we have a reliable domestic beef supply tomorrow? And with the midterm elections approaching, the political stakes could be every bit as significant as the economic ones. 🏈 BILLIONAIRE 49ERS OWNER ARRESTED San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York is facing headlines for something that has absolutely nothing to do with football. According to court records cited in media reports, York was arrested in Ohio in connection with an alleged prostitution solicitation. York's family is reportedly worth billions of dollars—but the alleged transaction at the center of the case involved just $140. We'll walk through the allegations, what police say happened and the details emerging from the case. 🚔 “OPERATION LAST STAND” — MAJOR SOUTH CAROLINA DRUG BUST More than 30 people have been indicted following a major South Carolina law enforcement investigation authorities say has connections to Mexican drug cartels. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the indictments Monday as part of Operation Last Stand. Authorities say the investigation involved a major drug trafficking network operating inside South Carolina. We'll look at what investigators seized, who has been charged and what the case tells us about the reach of international drug cartels into communities right here in the Palmetto State. 🗳️ DOJ WATCHING SOUTH CAROLINA'S SENATE RUNOFF And tomorrow is Election Day in South Carolina. Republicans Darline Graham and Congressman Ralph Norman face one another in the special U.S. Senate runoff—and now the federal government will be watching part of the election. The Department of Justice plans to monitor election procedures in Charleston County. Why Charleston County? What exactly will federal monitors be watching? And is this routine election oversight—or is there more to the story? We'll break down what we know as South Carolina Republicans prepare to choose their nominee for November. Remember: Polls are open tomorrow. Make your voice heard and VOTE. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and interviews with the people making the news. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #BeefPrices #Inflation #GroceryPrices #JedYork #49ers #AlanWilson #SouthCarolina #DrugCartels #OperationLastStand #RalphNorman #DarlineGraham #SCSenate #Election2026 #SCPolitics #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson A White House construction project that's ahead of schedule AND under budget? President Trump says that's exactly what's happening with his new White House ballroom project. We start the week with the latest on the White House construction battle, an illegal immigrant who's now been removed from the United States multiple times, one of the strangest parenting stories you'll hear all week—and President Trump's big push in South Carolina ahead of tomorrow's U.S. Senate runoff. 🏛️ TRUMP: WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM AHEAD OF SCHEDULE President Donald Trump says construction of the new White House ballroom and East Wing project is moving faster than expected—and coming in under budget. The announcement follows a legal battle over the project that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. We'll look at what's being built, how it's being funded, the legal challenges surrounding the project and Trump's latest update on construction. And let's face it: “under budget and ahead of schedule” aren't words we hear very often when we're talking about Washington, D.C.! 🇺🇸 DEPORTED AGAIN—ICE SAYS THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT Immigration officials in California have arrested a man who authorities say repeatedly entered the United States illegally after being removed from the country multiple times. ICE says this latest arrest should finally end the cycle. We'll look at how someone repeatedly removed from the country was able to return and what the case tells us about the continuing challenges facing America's immigration enforcement system. 🗻 DAD LEAVES HIS 7-YEAR-OLD ON MOUNT FUJI?! Here's one that's hard to believe. A father in Japan decided to take his two sons on what should have been an unforgettable family adventure—climbing Mount Fuji. Well, it certainly became unforgettable. When his 7-year-old son became tired and didn't want to continue climbing, Dad reportedly told him to wait while he continued toward the summit with his older son. Yes. On Mount Fuji. What happened next brought police and rescue officials into the picture—and raised a fairly obvious question: What in the world was Dad thinking?! 🗳️ TRUMP MAKES HIS FINAL PITCH IN SOUTH CAROLINA President Trump traveled to Myrtle Beach Friday night as South Carolina's Republican U.S. Senate runoff enters its final stretch. Trump used the rally to make his case for Darline Graham as Republican voters prepare to return to the polls. Early voting has ended, and Election Day is tomorrow. We'll have highlights from Trump's Myrtle Beach appearance and the latest developments heading into the runoff. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #DonaldTrump #WhiteHouse #WhiteHouseBallroom #ICE #Immigration #MountFuji #SouthCarolina #DarlineGraham #SCSenate #MyrtleBeach #Election2026 #SCPolitics #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Greenville is growing at an incredible pace — but that growth is also creating challenges many people never see. The Salvation Army of Greenville is undertaking a major campaign called “Rebuilding Hope, Restoring Lives” to transform its aging Rutherford Street campus and dramatically increase its ability to serve people experiencing homelessness. I sit down with Major Michael Harris, Area Commander for the Salvation Army serving Greenville, Pickens and Oconee counties, to discuss the proposed new Center of Hope, why the current facilities can no longer meet the community's needs, and why homelessness increasingly includes families and people who are working but still can't afford a place to live. The proposed project would increase shelter capacity from 93 to 143 beds, provide additional transitional housing, improve security and accessibility, and create accommodations designed to help keep families together. We also discuss the fundraising challenge. The Salvation Army has raised millions toward the project, but still needs the community's help to get across the finish line and begin construction. Major Harris also explains how the Salvation Army's Christian mission goes beyond providing someone with a bed for the night — focusing on helping people rebuild their lives and ultimately become self-sufficient. LISTEN, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE for more conversations about the people and issues affecting Greenville, the Upstate and South Carolina. Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com.

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson We did it, America! The United States has officially crossed the $40 TRILLION national debt mark. Of course, that's not exactly a milestone worth celebrating. Today we're asking the question Washington has avoided for decades: How in the world do we ever pay this money back? 💰 AMERICA'S $40 TRILLION DEBT PROBLEM Think $40 trillion is just another big Washington number? Put it into perspective. That's more than $100,000 in federal debt for every man, woman and child in America—and the number continues climbing. Republicans blame runaway spending and the growth of government. Democrats frequently argue that revenues and tax policy have to be part of the solution. Meanwhile, Washington continues borrowing enormous amounts of money. So where does this end? Can Congress realistically balance the budget? What would have to be cut? What happens to Social Security and Medicare? Do taxes eventually have to increase? And how much of the federal budget could eventually be consumed simply by interest payments on the debt? We'll dig into the numbers and discuss what $40 trillion really means for American taxpayers. ⚖️ WHO WILL BE SOUTH CAROLINA'S NEXT SUPREME COURT JUSTICE? South Carolina lawmakers are accepting applications to fill the state Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice John Few's resignation. We'll explain South Carolina's unusual judicial selection process, take a look at the candidates who have already entered the race and discuss why the person ultimately chosen could influence South Carolina law for years to come. 🗳️ LT. GOV. PAMELA EVETTE JOINS US South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette joins us as Republicans prepare for next week's special U.S. Senate election. We'll talk about what she's watching as voters prepare to make their choice, what happens after the primary battle is over and perhaps most importantly—can Republicans come back together for November? With control of Congress on the line, party unity could become every bit as important as who wins the nomination. 🇺🇸 CONGRESSWOMAN SHERI BIGGS JOINS US Congresswoman Sheri Biggs is also with us to recap this week's Salute to Liberty celebration. We'll talk about the event, some of the memorable moments and the message she hopes attendees took away from it. We'll also get an update on Washington. Members of the House may technically be on their summer recess—but what does congressional recess actually mean? We'll talk with Congresswoman Biggs about the work taking place back home in the district, constituent services and the issues waiting for lawmakers when Congress returns to Washington. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and interviews with the people making the news. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #NationalDebt #40Trillion #GovernmentSpending #FederalBudget #SouthCarolina #PamelaEvette #SheriBiggs #SCSenate #SupremeCourt #SCPolitics #Congress #Election2026 #BreakingNews #Politics #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Could a major economic blow finally push Iran toward ending the war? Today we're looking at a dramatic move by the United Arab Emirates, Derek Chauvin's latest attempt to overturn his murder conviction, Nancy Mace's surprising look at life after Congress—and the South Carolina Senate debate moment that went viral nationwide. 🇮🇷 IRAN JUST LOST A CRITICAL ECONOMIC LIFELINE The United Arab Emirates has suspended trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran after accusing Tehran of firing ballistic missiles toward maritime traffic. This could be a major development. The UAE has been one of Iran's most important commercial partners and a crucial connection to the international financial system. If that economic door closes, how much additional pressure does it put on Tehran? President Trump has repeatedly argued that economic pressure can accomplish what military force alone cannot: force Iran back to the negotiating table. Could this be the pressure point that finally changes the course of the war? We have our latest Iran update. ⚖️ DEREK CHAUVIN WANTS HIS MURDER CONVICTION THROWN OUT Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is making another attempt to overturn his state murder conviction in the death of George Floyd. Chauvin has filed a new petition challenging his conviction—and this time he has a very prominent supporter. Elon Musk wrote on X: "Derek Chauvin was unjustly convicted of murder, therefore he should be freed." We'll examine the arguments Chauvin is making, the evidence his attorneys say deserves another look and what would have to happen for his conviction to actually be vacated. 🇺🇸 NANCY MACE REVEALS WHAT'S NEXT—AND NINE TATTOOS?! South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace is preparing for life after Congress—and apparently we're learning a few things about her along the way. Mace has revealed that she has nine tattoos and discussed some of their personal meanings as she prepares to leave the House. We'll talk about the tattoos, what Mace says she's planning next and why the outspoken South Carolina congresswoman continues to generate headlines. 🎤 THE QUESTION GRETA VAN SUSTEREN WISHES SHE HADN'T ASKED And then there's the moment from Tuesday night's South Carolina U.S. Senate debate that has gone national. Sen. Darline Graham and Congressman Ralph Norman were participating in a Newsmax debate when moderator Greta Van Susteren asked a question that produced an answer almost immediately destined to go viral. Now Van Susteren says she regrets asking it. We'll play the moment, talk about what happened and discuss whether one awkward answer should really matter when voters are choosing their next United States senator. With South Carolina's special Republican Senate runoff approaching, this race suddenly has a whole lot more national attention. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #Iran #Trump #UAE #DerekChauvin #GeorgeFloyd #ElonMusk #NancyMace #GretaVanSusteren #RalphNorman #DarlineGraham #SouthCarolina #SCSenate #SCPolitics #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Today's show covers Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' warning about ideological intolerance at some of America's most prestigious universities, the continuing national debate over transgender athletes competing in women's sports, and the developing race for a seat on the South Carolina Supreme Court. ⚖️ CLARENCE THOMAS NAMES NAMES Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas says there are elite American institutions where prominent conservatives essentially understand that they're not welcome. And Thomas isn't speaking in generalities—he named names. During a discussion hosted by the Hoover Institution, Thomas specifically talked about Stanford Law School and his experiences with other elite universities. Thomas said there are certain places that are simply considered "presumptively off limits" to conservative speakers. Think about that. Universities are supposed to be places where competing ideas are debated, challenged and defended. So what happens when students are increasingly exposed only to viewpoints that professors and administrators find acceptable? We'll examine Thomas' comments and the larger question of whether America's universities still value genuine intellectual diversity. 🏃‍♀️ AMERICA REMAINS DIVIDED OVER TRANSGENDER ATHLETES The battle over transgender athletes competing in women's sports continues across America. Fox News Digital recently spoke with Americans who offered sharply different opinions on whether biological males who identify as transgender women should be permitted to compete against female athletes. Supporters argue it's an issue of inclusion and equal treatment. Opponents argue there's a fundamental issue of competitive fairness because of the physical advantages associated with male puberty. We'll hear the arguments and discuss a question that's increasingly being decided by legislatures, athletic organizations and the courts: Can America protect opportunities for female athletes while also treating transgender Americans with dignity and respect? 🏛️ WHO WILL JOIN THE SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT? The race for a seat on South Carolina's highest court is taking shape. At least five judges have filed as candidates, including two sitting South Carolina Court of Appeals judges and the former wife of a late Republican state representative. Unlike most states, South Carolina voters don't directly elect Supreme Court justices. Members of the General Assembly ultimately choose them. We'll look at who's running, how the process works and why the selection of a state Supreme Court justice matters to every South Carolinian. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #ClarenceThomas #SupremeCourt #FreeSpeech #Stanford #Conservatives #TransgenderAthletes #WomensSports #TitleIX #SouthCarolina #SCSupremeCourt #SCPolitics #BreakingNews #Politics #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Today's show covers the soaring price of beef and its potential impact on the November midterm elections, a New York socialist lawmaker's controversial comments about shoplifting, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's fight over proposed Muslim washing facilities at DFW Airport, and the latest developments surrounding the Alex Murdaugh retrial. 🥩 WHY IS BEEF SO EXPENSIVE? Relief from record-high beef prices may depend on something America can't fix overnight: rebuilding the nation's shrinking cattle herd. America entered 2026 with one of its smallest cattle inventories in decades, putting continued pressure on the price of hamburger, steaks and other beef products. And this isn't simply an agriculture story anymore—it's becoming a political story. When voters walk into a grocery store, they don't need an economist to tell them whether they can afford dinner. With affordability already a major issue, could stubbornly high beef prices become another problem for Republicans heading into November's midterm elections? 🛒 A "BIOLOGICAL NEED" TO SHOPLIFT? A socialist New York state lawmaker is facing criticism after arguing that some people steal because of what she described as a "biological need." We'll put those comments into context and discuss the larger debate over shoplifting, crime, poverty and personal responsibility. If stealing merchandise can be justified as meeting a biological need, where exactly does society draw the line? ✈️ GREG ABBOTT STEPS INTO DFW AIRPORT CONTROVERSY Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is challenging plans involving Islamic wudu washing facilities at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Abbott argues that a government-owned airport cannot provide preferential treatment to one religion and has ordered a review of state funding involving major Texas airports. Is this about religious accommodation—or government giving one faith special treatment? We'll examine both sides of the debate. ⚖️ THE ALEX MURDAUGH SAGA ISN'T OVER The Alex Murdaugh case is once again dominating headlines as preparations begin for his new murder trial. After the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Murdaugh's murder convictions over issues involving former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill, attention now turns toward the retrial. What will prosecutors do differently? What will the defense argue? And can prosecutors convince another South Carolina jury beyond a reasonable doubt? The world watched the first trial—and there's little doubt they'll be watching again. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #BeefPrices #Inflation #MidtermElections #Shoplifting #GregAbbott #Texas #DFWAirport #AlexMurdaugh #MurdaughTrial #SouthCarolina #SCPolitics #Election2026 #BreakingNews #Politics #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Today's show covers a new federal Medicaid fraud crackdown in Pennsylvania, the possibility of a dramatically larger progressive "Squad" in Congress, Senator Tommy Tuberville's unusual ChatGPT habit, and growing questions over a $150 million cost overrun involving South Carolina's Scout Motors project. We begin with taxpayer fraud. The Justice Department's expanded anti-fraud effort has produced a sweeping series of Medicaid fraud cases in Pennsylvania. Some of the allegations bear striking similarities to fraud schemes uncovered in Minnesota involving government-funded social service programs. But there's an important difference between what's happening in Pennsylvania and what happened in Minnesota—and we'll explain why that difference matters. Then there's the battle for control of Congress. Could the progressive group of House Democrats known as "The Squad" be about to get much bigger? The New York Post is calling it the "Super Squad," reporting that a wave of progressive candidates winning Democratic primaries could potentially double the group's numbers following November's midterm elections. We'll look at who could be joining the group, what they believe, and what a larger progressive bloc could mean for the Democratic Party and the next Congress. And apparently I'm not the only person talking to ChatGPT! Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville says he sometimes talks with ChatGPT to pass the time during long drives across Alabama. What exactly does a United States senator talk about with an AI chatbot? We'll have some fun with that one—and discuss how rapidly artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday American life. Finally, we head back to South Carolina. The state is facing questions over a reported $150 million cost overrun connected to preparing the Richland County site for Scout Motors' new electric vehicle manufacturing plant. Lawmakers have now put potential additional funding on hold while the South Carolina Legislative Audit Council investigates what happened. How does a project end up $150 million over its original projections? Who knew what—and when? And ultimately, could South Carolina taxpayers be asked to pick up the tab? Those are questions lawmakers are now demanding be answered. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American taxpayers. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #MedicaidFraud #Pennsylvania #TheSquad #Congress #TommyTuberville #ChatGPT #ScoutMotors #SouthCarolina #SCPolitics #GovernmentSpending #TaxpayerMoney #DOJ #BreakingNews #Politics #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Two Upstate organizations are changing lives in very different—but equally important—ways. On today’s show, Joey Hudson talks with Jacob Edmisten of Miracle Hill Ministries about Miracle Hill AutoWorks, a program designed to provide job training, work experience and new opportunities for people working to overcome homelessness and other difficult circumstances. Then, Tim Drew with the Outdoor Dream Foundation joins Joey to talk about the organization’s mission of providing unforgettable outdoor adventures for children and young people facing serious illnesses. Tim also previews the upcoming Outdoor Dream Foundation auction and explains how the community can help support these families. It’s a reminder that some of the best stories in our community are about neighbors helping neighbors—and giving people hope when they need it most. In this episode: • How Miracle Hill AutoWorks combines job training and opportunity • Helping people move toward independence and stability • The mission of the Outdoor Dream Foundation • Creating outdoor adventures for children facing serious illnesses • How the upcoming auction supports the foundation’s work 👍 If you enjoy stories about the people and organizations making a difference, LIKE this video and SUBSCRIBE for more interviews and conversations from across South Carolina. Visit Joey Hudson online and join our mailing list at joeyhudson.com. #MiracleHill #MiracleHillMinistries #OutdoorDreamFoundation #GreenvilleSC #SouthCarolina #UpstateSC #Community #Nonprofit #JoeyHudson

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Today's show covers a disturbing California murder case that's reigniting the sanctuary-state debate, a remarkable new development in a surrogate pregnancy dispute, another battle over President Trump's name at the Kennedy Center, and the question millions of Americans are asking: If inflation is getting better, why doesn't it feel like it? We begin in California, where 36-year-old Marcos Iriarte-Valdez is accused of fatally stabbing 68-year-old Todd Stewart during a residential burglary—just one day after Iriarte-Valdez had been released from custody. The Department of Homeland Security says Iriarte-Valdez is a Venezuelan national who is in the United States illegally and has sharply criticized California's sanctuary policies. We'll examine the timeline, what happened before his release, and the questions being raised about whether this tragedy could have been prevented. Then, there's a new development in the extraordinary case involving a surrogate mother who refused the biological parents' request that she abort the child after serious medical problems were detected during the pregnancy. The dispute raises difficult questions about parental rights, surrogacy contracts, the rights of the woman carrying the child, abortion, disability, and ultimately—who gets to decide whether an unborn child lives or dies? We'll bring you the latest. President Donald Trump's name could also be headed back to the Kennedy Center. The board of trustees has again voted to add Trump's name following an earlier court fight over whether such a change can legally be made without congressional approval. We'll explain what's happening and why this fight over the name of one of America's premier cultural institutions isn't over yet. And finally—are you feeling better about the economy? Former Trump economic adviser Steve Moore says America has "turned the corner" on inflation, pointing to the latest consumer and wholesale inflation reports as evidence that price pressures are finally moving in the right direction. The numbers may be improving—but that's not necessarily the same thing as prices going back down. Americans are still paying dramatically more for groceries, housing, insurance, utilities and many everyday necessities than they were several years ago. So today we're asking a simple question: If economists say inflation is improving, are American families actually feeling the improvement? We'll separate the inflation rate from the actual cost of living and talk about why affordability remains such an important issue for millions of Americans. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #Trump #Inflation #Immigration #California #BorderSecurity #SanctuaryState #KennedyCenter #Surrogacy #Abortion #Economy #CostOfLiving #BreakingNews #Politics #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Today's show covers a new warning about Iran, a surprise departure from the Trump White House, the growing frustration with automated customer service, and finally—a new $15 billion budget for South Carolina. Retired Gen. Jack Keane is warning that Iran could become increasingly aggressive as the conflict enters a new phase. Keane argues Tehran may believe President Donald Trump will be reluctant to launch major new military operations with the midterm elections approaching. Is Iran preparing to test the President? We have our latest Iran update. Meanwhile, President Trump made a surprise announcement involving one of the most recognizable faces in his administration. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of the month to spend more time with her family. We'll discuss the announcement and what's next for the White House communications operation. Then we're getting personal. Have you noticed how difficult it's becoming to simply TALK TO A HUMAN BEING when you need customer service? My 88-year-old mother recently lost her AT&T landline service following a thunderstorm. She called for help and thought she was talking to a woman who wanted to text her information. The problem? There wasn't a woman on the other end—it was an automated system. For younger customers who live on their smartphones, maybe that's an inconvenience. For an 88-year-old who depends on her telephone, it's an entirely different matter. When companies take our money every month, don't they have an obligation to provide customer service their customers can actually access? We'll talk about whether automation, AI and cost-cutting are leaving older Americans behind. And finally, South Carolina has a budget! Six weeks after the fiscal year began, state lawmakers approved a roughly $15 billion spending plan. The final agreement eliminates legislator-requested earmarks while maintaining increased property tax relief for older homeowners. We'll break down what made it into the final budget, what was left out, and what South Carolina taxpayers need to know. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Subscribe for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics and conversations about the issues affecting American families. Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #Trump #Iran #KarolineLeavitt #CustomerService #ATT #ArtificialIntelligence #SouthCarolina #SCBudget #PropertyTaxes #SCPolitics #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Today's show covers a sweeping new abortion law in Massachusetts, newly released Anthony Fauci text messages, extraordinary details about a secret security operation involving President Trump in Turkey, and the results of South Carolina's special Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed legislation changing the state's abortion laws and eliminating its previous gestational limit in certain circumstances. Supporters celebrated the measure as an expansion of reproductive rights, while pro-life advocates say Massachusetts has adopted one of the most permissive abortion policies in America. We break down what the new law actually says and why it's generating national attention. Also today, Dr. Anthony Fauci is facing renewed scrutiny following the release of text messages concerning COVID-19, vaccines, and the government's response to the pandemic. The messages have prompted Sen. Roger Marshall and others to call for a special counsel investigation with the authority to pursue criminal charges if warranted. We'll examine what the texts reveal and the questions investigators want answered. Then there's an extraordinary story involving President Donald Trump's security. The New York Post reports that video appears to show President Trump secretly being transported inside a catering truck at a Turkish airport before boarding a military aircraft following the NATO summit. Meanwhile, Air Force One reportedly remained in place as a decoy—with members of the press and even some White House personnel apparently unaware of the operation. If that's accurate, it's a remarkable glimpse into the extraordinary security precautions surrounding a sitting president facing credible threats. And here in South Carolina, the votes are counted in the special Republican primary to fill the U.S. Senate seat held for decades by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. Who came out on top? Who is headed to the August 25 runoff? And what do the results tell us about what Republican voters want from their next U.S. senator? We have the results, analysis, and what's next in today's show. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Subscribe to the channel for daily political analysis, breaking national news, South Carolina politics, and interviews with the people making the news. FOLLOW JOEY Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson #Trump #AnthonyFauci #Massachusetts #Abortion #MauraHealey #SouthCarolina #SCSenate #Election2026 #LindseyGraham #BreakingNews #SCPolitics #JustTheTruth

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Two major political stories are making headlines today. First, former Vice President Kamala Harris is facing criticism after warning Americans that the SAVE Act would require citizens to prove their identity before voting. Conservatives argue that her criticism actually strengthened support for the bill by highlighting its focus on election security and citizenship verification. Then we turn to Michigan, where Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed appeared to acknowledge that a Medicare-for-All system would require Americans at all income levels to pay higher taxes. We'll break down the facts, examine the arguments from both sides, and discuss what these stories could mean heading into the midterm elections. What do you think? Should voter identification requirements be strengthened? And would you be willing to pay higher taxes in exchange for government-funded healthcare? Join the conversation in the comments. Subscribe for more daily political analysis, breaking news, and interviews. 📌 Join our mailing list: JoeyHudson.com 📌 Facebook: Joey Hudson on Facebook 📌 X: Joey Hudson on X #KamalaHarris #SAVEAct #ElectionIntegrity #MedicareForAll #MichiganPolitics #Politics #Congress #Midterms #DonaldTrump #FoxNews #News #JoeyHudson

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Today's show covers the latest developments involving Iran and Israel, a security incident involving fighter jets over New Jersey, a growing controversy in women's basketball, and the latest developments in South Carolina's race to replace Senator Lindsey Graham. According to reports from Axios, President Donald Trump is signaling that he is in no hurry to launch additional military strikes against Iran, believing that economic pressure and ongoing negotiations could ultimately force Tehran back to the bargaining table. At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a new proposal aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas fully disarms. We'll also examine an unusual security situation in New Jersey after the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced that F-16 fighter aircraft intercepted multiple civilian planes that entered restricted airspace near President Trump's golf club in Bedminster. In the world of sports, another controversy has erupted in the WNBA after Sophie Cunningham criticized DiJonai Carrington following a hard foul and a subsequent social media dispute involving accusations of racial bias and privilege. Finally, South Carolina Republicans head to the polls as political observers continue debating an important question: Are voters looking for someone who will follow the path laid out by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, or are they seeking a different direction? 🎯 In Today's Show President Trump's latest strategy regarding Iran. Israel's response to a new Gaza proposal. NORAD fighter jets intercept aircraft near Bedminster. Sophie Cunningham and DiJonai Carrington's escalating dispute. The latest news from South Carolina's Senate race. What voters could decide tomorrow. 📩 Join our mailing list at JoeyHudson.com 📱 Text the Firmin Ford text line at 864-477-JOEY (5639) Follow Joey: Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson Subscribe for daily political analysis, South Carolina news, interviews, and discussions about the issues shaping America. #Trump #Iran #Israel #Gaza #NORAD #SophieCunningham #DiJonaiCarrington #LindseyGraham #SouthCarolina #Politics #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth #SCPolitics #WNBA

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Greer Mayor Rick Danner joins Just the Truth to discuss the new Prisma Health Performance Center, a major investment that city leaders believe will strengthen the local economy, attract visitors from around the region and create new opportunities for residents of all ages. The 200,000-square-foot facility is expected to become a centerpiece of recreation, entertainment and community engagement in one of South Carolina's fastest-growing cities. In this interview, we discuss: ✔️ The vision behind the new complex ✔️ How the project will benefit local residents ✔️ The expected economic impact on Greer and the Upstate ✔️ Future plans for growth and development ✔️ Why the city believes this investment is important for generations to come If you enjoy this content, please like the video, subscribe to the channel and share it with others. 🌐 Website: joeyhudson.com 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joeyhudsononline/ ✖️ X: https://x.com/joeyhudson

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson Today's show covers President Trump's defense of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a heartbreaking story involving an American father facing years in prison in Jamaica, another controversy involving Flock license plate reader technology, and a growing debate surrounding the removal of Miss North Carolina USA. President Donald Trump is pushing back against reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could soon be replaced. The president dismissed the speculation and publicly reaffirmed his support for Hegseth as questions continue to circulate in Washington. Also on today's program, we'll bring you the remarkable story of Igor Andrusceak, a metro Atlanta businessman whose family vacation to Jamaica turned into a nightmare after authorities discovered ammunition magazines in his luggage. Although no firearm was found, Jamaican law imposes severe penalties for weapons-related offenses, and he now faces the possibility of spending years behind bars. We'll also discuss another controversy involving Flock license plate recognition technology after a law enforcement officer was accused of improperly accessing information to monitor her boyfriend's former wife. Critics argue the incident raises additional concerns about privacy, oversight, and accountability. Finally, organizers of the Miss North Carolina USA competition have removed the reigning titleholder after alleging violations involving racism, homophobia, and transphobia. The decision has generated intense debate, particularly because organizers have not publicly released detailed information about the allegations. 🎯 In Today's Show President Trump addresses rumors surrounding Pete Hegseth. The latest developments in the Jamaica ammunition case. Questions surrounding the use of Flock license plate readers. The controversy involving Miss North Carolina USA. Privacy concerns and public accountability. The latest political headlines from Washington and beyond. 📩 Join our mailing list: JoeyHudson.com 📱 Firmin Ford Text Line: 864-477-JOEY (5639) Follow Joey: Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline X: @joeyhudson Subscribe for daily political analysis, South Carolina news, interviews, and conversations about the issues affecting America. #Trump #PeteHegseth #Jamaica #FlockSafety #MissNorthCarolina #Politics #BreakingNews #SouthCarolina #Crime #News #JustTheTruth #TrendingNow #CurrentEvents