Joey Hudson / Just The Truth

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.

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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.

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📱 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.

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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.

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📱 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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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