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.

Facebook: facebook.com/joeyhudsononline
X: @joeyhudson

#Iran #FreeIran #UnitedNations #UNGA #IranProtests #PoliticalPrisoners #JDVance #Obamacare #ACA #HealthcareFraud #ElectionIntegrity #Minnesota #NoncitizenVoting #Nigeria #Corruption #RealEstate #SouthCarolina #Spartanburg #Aiken #BreakingNews #JustTheTruth