The Rob Maness Show

You just saw it—veterans are a Trump priority. But priorities only matter when they turn into results. Today we’re talking about two pieces of unfinished business that every American who wears the uniform—or loves someone who does—needs to know about: Taking Care of America’s Veterans, and the Major Richard Star Act. Joining me live are two men who’ve lived the cost of service and are still fighting the fight. First, David Star. Retired Army First Sergeant. He served in secure communications, supported Secret Service missions, finished as a First Sergeant in the National Guard, then put in 25 years with the FBI. His younger brother, Army Major Richard Star, was the namesake of the bill that would finally end the Wounded Warrior Tax—the unfair offset that docks combat-injured retirees’ earned military retirement when they also receive VA disability. Richard died in 2021. David picked up his brother’s last mission and has not put it down. And William Brooks. Mississippi Army National Guard. Deployed to Iraq in 2005. On March 29th of that year a roadside bomb took both of his legs above the knee. Thirteen months at Walter Reed, then medical retirement. He’s been living the consequences of that policy every single day since. These two aren’t lobbyists. They’re the reason this legislation exists. Today we’re going to hear exactly where the Major Richard Star Act stands, what TCAVA would do, and why Congress still hasn’t gotten it across the finish line.Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

A Mississippi town has put a Muslim judge on the bench who wears the hijab - not as a private expression of faith, but as a public badge of Sharia compliance. That is not diversity. That is not religious freedom. That is soft jihad in real time. Sharia is not the Ten Commandments. It is a comprehensive legal and political system that places Islamic law above all other laws including the U.S. Constitution, subordinates women, and criminalizes the very freedoms we take for granted. When a judge signals allegiance to it from the bench, every American who walks into that courtroom is being told the rules have changed. This is how the soft jihad advances - quietly, through appointments, symbols, and the steady normalization of values that are incompatible with a free republic. No bombs. No headlines. Just one courtroom or city council chamber at a time. We are the last line of defense and everyone that wants to use the First Amendment to support this appointment, I remind you, the Constitution is not a suicide pact. Joining me now to break this down is Pastor Dan Carr, host of Freedom Frontline and a citizen of Mississippi.Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

What you just saw was local news reporting from back on July 6th when 18-year-old Nolan Wells first went missing after a Fourth of July boat trip to Horn Island with friends. Tragically, two days later Nolan’s body was recovered on the island, known for its dangerous rip currents. The initial assessment is drowning with no obvious signs of trauma. Since then this story has drawn national attention, with Ben Crump and Al Sharpton now heavily involved and talk of a grand jury investigation. We’ll look how the questions are unfolding given we now know about the boat’s GPS data. An exclusive interview of Nolan’s friend by Brandon Tatum, who came to Mississippi himself shows the evidence doesn’t match the racial narrative being pushed and that the young men who were with Nolan that day deserve to have their full stories heard without the spin. At the end of the day, though, the bottom line is simple: a family and an entire community are grieving the loss of this young man, and our prayers are with them. To cut through the noise and get the real facts from someone who was part of the search for Mr. Wells on Horn Island, we’re joined right now by Brian Trascher of the United Cajun Navy.Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

For generations, the Daughters of the American Revolution have stood as a proud symbol of American patriotism. Their motto, God, Home, and Country, and their mission of historic preservation, education, and patriotism have guided them for over a century. But today, the DAR is facing serious accusations of going woke. Members who simply want to preserve the organization’s traditional standards are being intimidated, blackballed, and suppressed by national and state officers. Chapters that push back are reportedly cut off from new member referrals and genealogical support. The group is in a full-blown governance crisis. Chapter-proposed bylaw amendments have been rejected by the board for three years straight. Now the National Board of Management is trying to make it almost impossible to challenge them, proposing to raise the number of chapters needed to call a special meeting and the number needed to propose bylaws by 1200 percent! At the recent 135th Continental Congress, attempts to address these problems were blocked: livestream access was denied, procedural maneuvers limited debate, and a key resolution failed amid reports of voting irregularities. Fighting back is a growing group called Daughters Advocating for Restoration. They now have over 100 chapters signed on for a special meeting this October, and they have support in Congress through Representative Ben Cline’s DAR Integrity Act, which would amend the congressional charter to clearly define the word “woman.”Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

These are disturbing reports but not surprising: China is now likely providing Iran with targeting intelligence used to attack our forces in the region. The CCP is actively helping the Iranian regime go after Americans, that is a serious escalation we cannot ignore. But the United States is hitting back with precision and purpose. In recent days our military has conducted strikes targeting bridges, roads, and key infrastructure around Iran’s critical port of Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz. The goal is clear: isolate the IRGC, cut off their supply lines, and break their grip on one of the world’s most important chokepoints. At the same time, we are making it crystal clear that commercial ships in international waters will not be attacked, peaceful agreement or not. Freedom of navigation must be protected. As Secretary Rubio said, Iran is a rich country. Yet this regime takes every dollar it gets, from oil or anywhere else, and pours it into Hezbollah, Hamas, and other terrorist proxies instead of building a future for its own people. That is why Iran is in shambles. Folks, enough is enough. It is time to finish the job and eliminate the IRGC threat once and for all. To break all of this down with unmatched authority is my guest today: Senior Geopolitical Strategist, Drone Expert, Author of Veritas Vincent: A Soldier’s Perspective on Truth, Faith, Family, And Freedom, and Retired Army Lt Col and Helicopter Pilot Darin Gaub. Colonel Gaub has spent years in Middle East combat zones and brings the real-world expertise we need right now.Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

Welcome to Truth Thursday, everyone. You just watched that clip. A company built over years... families’ lives turned upside down... branded guilty before a single fact was heard. That’s the story of today’s guest. At just 27 years old, Stephen L. Keller founded Kelco and changed an entire industry. He pioneered viatical settlements, giving terminally ill patients a way to access their life insurance money when they needed it most. He co-founded the industry’s first association, then in 1998 launched the life settlement industry itself. He brought the first securitized bundles of life insurance policies to the New York Stock Exchange, captured 65% of the global market, now a 30-billion-a-year business, and raised 13 billion on Wall Street. He even helped write the regulations that still govern the industry today. Then came the high-profile FBI investigation... the federal trial... the international manhunt. Arrested by Interpol in the jungles of Panama, extradited to the United States, and he served nine years in federal prison. More than a decade later, Stephen Keller is back in South Florida, building businesses, consulting, serving his church and community, and running a scholarship foundation for young entrepreneurs from his hometown in eastern Kentucky. And now, with his powerful new memoir Pay to Play, he’s telling the full story. Today we’re asking the question the majority leader once asked him: ‘Have you learned your lesson yet?’ Was this justice... or was it the weaponization of the DOJ and federal power against a disruptor who challenged powerful interests? We’re about to find out — straight from the man himself.Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

If that clip from Ann Vandersteel hit you the way it hit me, you’re already seeing the pattern: the little guy is being robbed by DOJ and SEC weaponization. Michael Castillero, Brian Martinsen, and Francine Lanaia launched Straight Path Venture Partners under the Trump administration’s pro-growth policies. Their goal was simple, give thousands of mom-and-pop investors real access to high-upside pre-IPO shares in companies like Palantir, Airbnb, and others. Not just billionaires. Regular Americans. They were positioned for generational wealth right as opportunities like the SpaceX IPO were exploding. Then, in 2022, the Biden administration froze their fund. Asset seizures followed, backed by a disputed narrative that shut the entire operation down. The result? Michael Castillero sentenced to 8 to 11 years in prison. This is textbook regulatory lawfare against Trump-aligned voices in finance, and the real victims are the everyday investors who lost everything.Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

Folks, you just heard Charlie Kirk say it straight: “When people stop talking, that’s when violence happens... that’s when civil war happens.” He was right. Bad things happen when we stop talking to each other. Right now our country is drowning in a screaming culture — constant shouting, canceling, and radical ideologies like Marxism, socialism, and communism being pushed on our young people every single day. Real conversation has become rare, and the division is getting worse by the minute. But there is hope — and it’s coming from the next generation. Today I’m excited to welcome a young man who is stepping up with a powerful message and a brand-new book that cuts right to the heart of the problem: “Make America Talk Again: How to Save Humanity from a Screaming Culture.” Please welcome Brilyn Hollyhand — bestselling author, political commentator, and at just 20 years old, one of the brightest voices rising in America today. His book is dedicated to his mentor, the late Charlie Kirk, and it’s a bold call for Gen Z to reject the screaming, think for themselves, and bring real dialogue back to this country — especially as we head toward America 250.Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

Today we’re exposing the weaponization of the DOJ and VA against one of America’s true heroes. As you just saw, even the VA itself put Jeremy Harrell on their show because of the powerful work he was doing helping veterans heal. Jeremy Harrell is an Iraq combat veteran who came home with severe PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. The VA rated him permanently disabled at 70% plus individual unemployability. His own VA mental health providers encouraged him to volunteer as part of his therapy. In 2019 he founded Veterans Club Incorporated, a faith-based nonprofit helping thousands of veterans and first responders overcome PTSD, TBI, substance abuse, and homelessness. He served as the unpaid volunteer CEO. No salary. No paycheck. Just a disabled veteran giving everything he had to help his brothers and sisters. For that service he was named Kentucky Veteran of the Year, inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame, honored in the Congressional Record by Senator Rand Paul, and personally congratulated by President Trump. But the Biden DOJ came after him. They indicted this disabled veteran for “theft of government funds”, simply for receiving his VA disability benefits while volunteering full-time. He was convicted, sentenced to six months in federal prison, six months of home confinement, and ordered to pay 207,000 in restitution he cannot afford. This is what weaponization looks like: targeting a combat veteran for volunteering too much. Jeremy is also a Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplain and a strong conservative voice.Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

Today I’m honored to welcome Emmy Award-winning actress, producer, and author Martha Byrne. Martha has enjoyed a legendary career on daytime television, As the World Turns, General Hospital, but for the last several years her most important role has been fighting for her husband. For more than 30 years Martha has been married to retired NYPD Sergeant and highly decorated Detective Michael McMahon, a man who spent his career protecting the people of New York with honor and distinction. Then the Biden Department of Justice came after him. They weaponized the full power of the federal government against this decorated cop. Michael committed no crime. He was given no fair due process. And he was sentenced to 18 months in a federal penitentiary. Martha refused to stay silent. She launched a relentless battle to save her husband and expose the truth. That fight is documented now in her powerful book, In the Interest of Justice. This story is bigger than one family. It involves Chinese police connections, a Wuhan fugitive, and Clinton Foundation ties. It is yet another clear example, beyond January 6th, of the previous administration’s lawfare, corruption, incompetence, and contempt for the rule of law. Martha, thank you for your courage in this fight.Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

Just days after we celebrated 250 years of American independence, we’re reminded exactly what July 4th is really about: freedom, and the unbreakable spirit of a people willing to fight for it. That’s what we fight for — every single day. On this More War Monday, the battles are right in front of us. Antifa domestic terrorists attacking patriots in their own homes. Politicized crimes inside our military under the UCMJ. And the evil of human trafficking that preys on the innocent. I’m honored to have live with me right now one of the hardest-hitting voices in this fight: Chad Caton, Chad is a Navy veteran, National Field Director for the Conservative Caucus, Trump Campaign Media Surrogate, and the man behind some of the most powerful, no-BS content on the internet. Chad’s been on fire a lot lately with videos that hit home — that epic, most American display of coordinated firepower on the 4th of July showing exactly why our enemies should think twice… exposing Antifa’s latest home-invasion terrorism… calling out politicians who encourage dissent inside our ranks… and his boots-on-the-ground work in Belize highlighting real solutions to stop human trafficking at the source.Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

"You just saw President Trump laying into Senate Republicans — calling out the RINOs and making it clear he’s fed up with the dysfunction in that chamber. That frustration is real, and it’s not just about one meeting or one bill. It goes much deeper. The United States Senate was never designed to be just another popularly elected body like the House. The Founders created it as a deliberative body to represent the sovereign states, with Senators chosen by state legislatures, not by direct popular vote. That structure was meant to protect federalism, check federal power, and keep the Senate focused on the long-term interests of the states. In 1913, the 17th Amendment changed all of that. Since then, Senators have become more responsive to national donors, party leaders, and the D.C. machine than to the states they’re supposed to represent. The result is exactly what we’re seeing today: gridlock, broken promises, and a Senate that often feels completely disconnected from the American people and the Constitution. My guest today has been digging into this issue for years. He’s a highly respected attorney who specializes in investigating public corruption and racketeering, the same kind of institutional failures we see in Arizona and across the country. He’s currently a graduate student and researcher in Public Administration and teaching political science. He’s the co-author, with James R., of the new book Restoring the Senate.Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

You just saw that clip. Royce White laid it out plain: there are no real party lines anymore. It’s truth versus narrative. Loyalty to the Constitution versus loyalty to power. Patriot or non-patriot. Builder or destroyer. Truth-teller or mouthpiece. That’s the kind of straight talk this country has been starving for. My guest today is exactly that fighter: Minnesota U.S. Senate candidate Royce White. Royce White is a champion professional basketball player and an MMA fighter, born in 1991. He was named Minnesota Mr. Basketball in 2009, starred at Iowa State University, and was selected 16th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2012 NBA Draft. Mr. White is active in advocacy issues but has also firmly entered the political arena, winning the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota in 2024. He’s running again in 2026 because he refuses to play the broken two-party game. He’s here to call out the fraud no matter who’s side it’s on.Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

We just watched that Vatican News clip that hints the Vatican is flirting with Marxism through a globalist world view and policies but folks, that’s not a question anymore — it’s a warning. Last October in Rome, the fifth World Meeting of Popular Movements was hosted under Vatican leadership. Pope Leo himself stood before these groups and declared, 'I am here. I am with you!' He called their struggles 'legitimate and necessary' and praised them as 'social poets.' But a new 144-page report from the Lepanto Institute rips the mask off. Many of these so-called popular movements are steeped in Marxism — openly celebrating Karl Marx, pushing socialist revolution, and demanding abortion and radical LGBT policies. And it gets darker. Part Two of the investigation shows several of these organizations are also practicing outright paganism: Mayan shamans invoking spirits and Nawales, Candomblé rituals with spirit possession and offerings to Orixás, and 'mistica' ceremonies worshiping Mother Earth as divine. One group even gifted the Holy Father a tapestry honoring a pagan spirit. All of this is being brought inside the Church under the banners of 'synodality' and 'accompaniment.' Is the Church reaching the poor... or is Marxism and paganism reaching the Church?

Today we’re cutting through the noise on the biggest story in the world: real efforts for peace in the Middle east and to stop the killing in Ukraine while the wars continue to rage across multiple fronts. From Switzerland, where Vice President JD Vance laid out what the U.S. accomplished at the Lake Lucerne Summit — Iranians agreeing to let IAEA inspectors back into the country as a major first step toward ending their nuclear weapons program. Four big accomplishments negotiated in one day. We’ll also examine what that deal means for Lebanon and whether Hezbollah is getting a lifeline out of these talks. Then we shift to President Trump’s own words — now that the Iran piece appears wrapped up, he’s turning his full attention to Ukraine. He told Macron he’s had good conversations with both Putin and Zelensky, and both leaders are open to a deal. “Maybe we can do something,” the President said. And we cannot ignore the brutal reality on the ground: the battle over energy and infrastructure. Russian drones just struck a cargo ship in the Black Sea and killed civilians in Ukraine as Moscow continues using every weapon in its arsenal — including energy leverage and sanctions warfare. To break all of this down with no spin and no filter is a man who’s been there — retired Special Operations pilot, CDM Press President and CEO, patriot, and fearless truth-teller — L. Todd Wood.

Loose lips sink ships. That World War II warning still rings true today — except now the danger isn’t just enemies listening in. It’s loose lips even with our allies. We just watched that chilling clip: Israel’s Prime Minister reportedly had a direct hand in writing Section 224 of this year’s NDAA. Think about that — a foreign leader shaping America’s defense law. That’s not partnership. It’s something else. We’re going to ask the hard questions today: Should we be merging our industrial base and fusing our intelligence with allies? Or are we handing over the keys to our own house? We’ll look at the reports that President Trump is furious with Israel right now — and what that tells us about the state of the alliance. And Iran? It’s still all about the nukes. The mullahs have never stopped racing for the bomb, and every day we pretend otherwise is another day we’re playing with fire. President Trump is close on a deal, even with the nuclear weapons, with Iran and he should be angry that an ally is disrupting that. To cut through the noise and give us straight talk from the inside, I’m joined right now by retired CIA officer, intelligence expert, and publisher of AND Magazine — Sam Faddis.

Folks, today we’re bringing you a story that should shake every American to the core — a true January 6th story of corruption, persecution, survival, and ultimate victory. Our guest is retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Thomas Caldwell — a decorated veteran who honorably served our nation for nearly two decades, mostly in the Intelligence Community. He’s a former radio personality, humorist, artist, and conservationist who, until that fateful day, lived a quiet life with his wife Sharon on their family farm in Berryville, Virginia, deep in the Shenandoah Valley. But two weeks after January 6th, 2021, the peace of that idyllic farm was shattered. Armored vehicles and federal agents showed up to arrest an innocent, elderly, disabled veteran — a man the government knew had committed no crime. Tom was charged with conspiracy, falsely accused of leading an insurrection as part of the Oath Keepers. Prosecutors demanded he spend the rest of his life in prison. For nearly two months he endured solitary confinement, denial of medicine and medical care, physical abuse, and total isolation — while his farm was raided, credit cards canceled, retirement and health coverage stripped away. Four long years of lawfare followed. Yet through it all, Tom’s unshakeable Christian faith, his wife’s steadfast love, and the power of prayer carried him through. He was acquitted outright of four felony charges and received a full presidential pardon from President Donald J. Trump in March of 2025. He tells the whole story in his powerful book, The Mouths of the Wicked — an eyewitness account that serves as both a warning and a testament to the indomitability of faith. Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.DISCLAIMER: Some elements of this podcast may include AI-generated content, such as cover thumbnail images, show descriptions and some background audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Millions of Americans are pissed off about health insurance — premiums through the roof, deductibles higher than ever, and coverage that feels like it’s shrinking every single year. It often seems like the deck is stacked against working families and small businesses. Today we’re pulling back the curtain on what’s really driving your costs. We’re going to show you how hospitals have become a major problem through massive consolidation. We’ll expose how the entire system isn’t designed to treat patients over the long term, it’s built around treating symptoms only, keeping you coming back for more. And we’re going to dig into how Big Pharma and Pharmacy Benefit Managers are quietly contributing to these skyrocketing prices through hidden payments and preferred drug lists. Joining me today is Chris Hamilton, a Partner at Hotchkiss Insurance in Texas. Chris leads their employee benefits consulting practice. He specializes in managing healthcare and insurance costs to improve benefits coverage, reduce expenses, and deliver better employee health outcomes. With over a decade of experience in corporate finance, he’s advised clients across private equity, oil & gas, and more.Discover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

Today we’re exposing a jaw-dropping scandal straight out of the Biden-era military: an Air Force doctor, Lt. Col. Josh Smalley, appeared to reassure military medical officers and civilian employees that they couldn’t be sued for performing sex-change procedures on minors. According to an explosive Daily Caller exclusive, Smalley—who once ran the Air Force’s Transgender Medical Health Unit—shared multiple sets of documents in 2023 telling doctors: don’t worry about lawsuits, the Department of Defense has your back when it comes to “gender-affirming care” on children. Taxpayer-funded mutilation of minors, protected from legal accountability. This is the radical gender ideology that was rammed into our armed forces under Biden—prioritizing politics over science, readiness, and the well-being of kids. But it didn’t stay hidden. The Center to Advance Security in America—led by our guest today—fought through FOIA requests and a lawsuit to drag these documents into the light. Joining me right now is James Fitzpatrick: Army veteran, former Trump 45 administration appointee, Director of CASA, and the man who helped break this story. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit colrobmanessret.substack.com/subscribeDiscover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.

Today, we’re confronting a disappointing reality: Why did Mississippi GOP State Senators kill President Trump’s school choice policy in less than two minutes with no debate? Mississippi has celebrated the 'Mississippi Miracle' in public education improvements, and that’s fantastic progress. But many families still struggle to find the right fit for their children. School choice would empower parents to select public, private, charter, or home schools using education savings accounts or vouchers. Critics raised concerns that were and are being answered today again: things like using taxpayer dollars for non-public schools, whether private institutions meet rigorous academic standards, and whether HB2 truly delivers choice since private schools aren’t required to accept all students and public schools can deny transfers due to capacity. However, 18 states—including every state bordering Mississippi—have proven universal education freedom works. It doesn’t hurt public schools; it drives improvement across the board by introducing competition and parent empowerment. To help us unpack this and explore how Mississippi can join these successful states, I’m pleased to welcome our special guest, Leah Ferretti, Director of Mississippi Ready and a Mom who decided to take her children’s education into her own hands. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit colrobmanessret.substack.com/subscribeDiscover other shows on the Talk Red Podcast Network, and get your daily fix of news, sports, and entertainment at https://TalkRed.com.