Afleveringen
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You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 7, 2026.
We open with a question that's becoming harder to ignore: have we become so politically tribal that we've stopped judging people by their actions? We examine the bizarre case of a volunteer with the effort to recall Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry who is accused of carjacking a vehicle and shooting a truck driver—and why the case also raises serious questions about Louisiana's justice system after Attorney General Liz Murrill was given a bond four times higher over an unrelated legal dispute.
In our Top 3, we cover Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux qualifying for reelection by petition, Governor Jeff Landry's trip to Washington to promote President Trump's new Trump Accounts—including a plan to provide them to children in Louisiana's foster care system—and Baton Rouge becoming the first city in Louisiana to receive Amazon drone deliveries.
We also dig into an investigation that found several New Orleans restaurants serving imported shrimp while claiming it was local Gulf shrimp, and explain why protecting Louisiana's reputation is about far more than seafood—it's about preserving one of the state's most valuable brands.
In our Digging Deep segment, we break down encouraging new census and workforce data showing Louisiana's population is growing again after years of decline, with young adults leading the turnaround. We discuss what that says about jobs, opportunity, and whether the state's economic direction is finally changing.
We also revisit the growing controversy surrounding Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Plattner, why Democrats are now scrambling to replace him, and what the episode reveals about the ideological direction of today's Democratic Party.
Finally, we tackle the conflicting reports surrounding Senator Mitch McConnell's health. With Senate leadership insisting he's actively engaged while other reports paint a far different picture, we ask a simple question: how much transparency do elected officials owe the people they represent?
May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.
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You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for July 6, 2026.
On this episode of American Ground Radio, we kick things off with a tough conversation about crime, repeat offenders, and the responsibility of business owners, law enforcement, and elected officials after a Shreveport police officer was shot outside a nightclub. Is the problem the location—or the people creating the chaos?
We also cover the Louisiana Supreme Court's decision to halt the politically charged prosecution of Attorney General Liz Murrill, new LEAP test scores showing continued improvement in Louisiana schools, and a federal judge ordering DeSoto Parish to redraw its district lines.
From our trip to Washington, D.C., we bring you our exclusive interview with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. We discuss the new Working Families Tax Cut, school choice, energy policy, border security, birthright citizenship, and why he believes the fight between capitalism and democratic socialism will define America's future.
Plus, we examine Gavin Newsom's latest proposal targeting election investigations, highlight the international celebrations marking America's 250th birthday, explore President Trump's new "Trump Accounts" initiative to encourage saving and investing for the next generation, play a patriotic game about the highest peaks in all 50 states, and wrap up with a conversation about celebrity weddings, Adam Sandler, and why some traditions are still worth protecting.
May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 30, 2026.
We open with one of the biggest Supreme Court decisions of the year as the justices strike down President Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship. We explain why the debate centers on just four words in the 14th Amendment—"subject to the jurisdiction thereof"—and why we believe those words were never meant to create automatic citizenship for anyone born on American soil.
In our Top 3 Things You Need to Know, we cover the federal prison sentence handed down in Louisiana's Wildlife and Fisheries bribery scandal, the guilty pleas in a decade-long visa fraud scheme involving law enforcement officers, and the cancellation of a controversial carbon capture project beneath Lake Maurepas.
We also discuss what's next for Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming following his Senate primary loss, whether history makes it harder for candidates to bounce back after an unsuccessful run for higher office, and the political dynamics that could shape his future.
Later, we break down another major Supreme Court ruling affirming that states can preserve women's sports for biological females. We discuss why the decision reinforces the original purpose of Title IX, what it means for fairness in athletics, and why the broader cultural debate is far from over.
We also take a look at New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's latest housing proposal, why economic incentives matter more than political slogans, and react to the latest example of celebrity hypocrisy as Rosie O'Donnell and Kathy Griffin arrive in style while claiming to represent "the resistance."May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.
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You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 29, 2026.
We kick things off with a look at Louisiana's Senate runoff and what the results say about voter turnout, Republican unity, and the growing influence of President Trump's endorsement. Was this election decided by enthusiasm, strategy, or something else entirely?
From there, we break down Governor Jeff Landry's teacher pay plan, a lawsuit over eliminated judgeships in New Orleans, and what both stories reveal about the ongoing legal and political battles shaping Louisiana.
Then we turn our attention to Louisiana's congressional races with an interview featuring State Representative Mike Echols, who explains why he's running for Congress, how the new district maps have changed the race, and why he believes business experience—not political experience—is what Washington needs.
Later, we zoom out to America's 250th birthday and ask why so many Americans seem divided over the nation's founding principles. Authors Tony Williams and David Bob join us to discuss their new book, Divided Over the Declaration, and why the Declaration of Independence still matters in today's political debates.
We also tackle a Supreme Court ruling on mail-in ballots after Election Day, discuss why the meaning of words matters in constitutional law, react to a surprising poll about how Americans view their own country, and wrap up with a conversation about faith, culture, and the ongoing debate over gender and biblical truth.
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You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 26, 2026.
This episode covers everything from Louisiana politics to the future of the Democratic Party—and the stakes couldn't be higher.
We start with Governor Jeff Landry's latest moves to reshape LSU, including new appointments to the Board of Supervisors and what they could mean for free speech, university leadership, and the direction of Louisiana's flagship university. Then we break down this weekend's Louisiana Senate runoff, why the campaign between John Fleming and Julia Letlow turned so ugly, and what voters should expect heading into Election Day.
Moon Griffon joins us to explain why he publicly backed John Fleming, what pushed him to speak out, and why he believes outside money transformed the race into one of the nastiest Republican contests Louisiana has seen in years.
We also discuss Landry's new executive order aimed at protecting Louisiana ratepayers from rising electricity costs tied to massive AI data centers, the latest developments in St. Tammany Parish's sheriff vacancy, vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool, and why some Democrats are openly questioning whether Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries should remain the party's leaders.
Plus, we examine Congressman Brandon Gill's pointed questions about SNAP benefits and corporate influence, reveal which parts of America are seeing the highest birth rates—and what those communities have in common politically—and wrap up with another unbelievable case of pandemic fraud that proves some people will go to extraordinary lengths to steal from taxpayers.
All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.
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You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 25, 2026.
We open with Governor Jeff Landry sending what can only be described as a fiscal message to New Orleans — vetoing more than $12 million in state construction funding tied to city projects, including a new city hall, an early learning center, and Habitat NOLA housing infrastructure. We explain why this isn't punishment so much as accountability — New Orleans is in a continuing cash flow crisis of its own making, burned through one-time COVID money by applying it to permanent programs, and has been fighting the state on policing, courts, and governance since Landry took office. If you can't manage the money you already have, why should the state give you more? We also cover Landry's broader veto list for the week — six bills killed, including one adding the Atlantic tarpon to the state game fish list and several others with no funding attached to them.
In our Top 3 Things You Need to Know, Landry's other vetoes include bills for economic development districts, fresh food programs in food deserts, and elderly retirement education — plus his earlier veto of the wrongful conviction compensation increase. Then the former police chief of Greenwood, Louisiana — 75-year-old Glenn Mazur, arrested earlier this month on rape and sexual battery charges — was found unresponsive in his jail cell and pronounced dead at the hospital, with an autopsy finding natural causes. And former New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell — the first sitting mayor in New Orleans history to be indicted by a federal grand jury — will be honored at the Essence Festival on the 4th of July alongside Jasmine Crockett, who just lost her Senate primary in Texas. The theme of the event is the power of restoration. We let that sit there for a moment.
We sit down with Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry for an update on Saturday's Senate runoff election — where early voting turnout is running below the May primary levels, driven by vacation season, the weather, and the later-in-the-year calendar shift. Nancy explains that Louisiana is ranked fourth in the nation in election integrity, that results typically come in by midnight, and that new voting machines are on track for a pilot program rollout to select parishes in 2027. She also makes a direct appeal to listeners in their 40s and 50s — the state desperately needs poll workers, the average age of current workers is 67, young people aren't stepping up, and you get paid for the day.
We revisit the Supreme Court's 6-3 TPS ruling — and connect it to the real-world consequences of the Biden administration's mass placement of Haitian migrants into specific communities like Springfield, Ohio, where 10,000 migrants were brought into a small city that wasn't prepared to absorb them. We make the case that this isn't about race — it's about culture, trust, and what happens when you mass-import people from low-trust societies without any plan for integration.
We also cover Graham Plattner — the Maine Democratic Senate candidate with the SS tattoo — who released a video claiming that conservative opposition to men competing in women's sports is actually just a distraction funded by billionaires who don't want a wealth tax. We respond with data: the men's 100-yard dash world record is nearly a full second faster than the women's, the volleyball net is seven inches higher for men than women, and there is exactly one woman in recorded human history who has run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds. There are thousands of men who have. The opposition to men in women's sports has nothing to do with taxes — it's about fairness to women, and any politician who can't acknowledge that is gaslighting his own base.
We also talk Hollywood — specifically the new Supergirl movie, which needs $450-500 million worldwide to break even and is projected to open to $40-50 million domestically. We invoke Jerry Seinfeld's rule about comedy — the audience is always right. Wonder Woman succeeded because it was a great movie. The last three Star Wars films failed because the audience said they were awful. Snow White failed because the audience said it was awful. And when Hollywood refuses to learn from this and blames the fans instead, it will keep losing hundreds of millions of dollars on films nobody asked for while The Chosen keeps finding new viewers without a single Hollywood executive.
And we close with the observation that the most repeated lie in modern American life is the phrase your call is very important to us — because if it were, they'd be picking up the phone right now.
May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.
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You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 24, 2026.
Fresh off our trip to Times Square, we return home with a renewed appreciation for Louisiana after a conversation with a family that recently relocated from Washington, D.C. Their enthusiasm for Shreveport raises a simple question: have we become so focused on our state's problems that we've forgotten what makes it special? We discuss why sometimes it takes an outsider to remind us of the things we take for granted.
We also break down the latest developments in Governor Jeff Landry's effort to provide teachers with a one-time stipend, why the plan remains tied up in court, and what it says about Louisiana's ongoing struggle to properly fund education. Plus, Planned Parenthood announces its return to Louisiana, and we examine what services the organization plans to offer and why its arrival is already generating controversy.
Later, we discuss the resignation of St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith following his guilty plea in an assault case and what leadership accountability should look like when public officials break the law.
We also take a closer look at Senator Bill Cassidy's latest clash with President Trump after Cassidy joined Democrats on a War Powers resolution targeting the administration's actions toward Iran. Has Cassidy once again put himself at odds with Louisiana Republicans, or is this simply a constitutional disagreement over executive authority?
Then we tackle two very different stories involving faith and public life. First, we react to a Louisiana pastor arrested after allegedly assaulting a neighbor and explain why using scripture to justify bad behavior damages the Christian witness. Then we examine a Texas politician's claim that Christianity is the most violent religion in history and debate whether that argument survives even a basic review of historical facts.
Plus, a new election integrity fight emerges as the U.S. Postal Service threatens to withhold mail-in ballot delivery from states that refuse to comply with federal voter verification requirements, and the Department of Justice announces what it calls the largest healthcare fraud crackdown in American history.
All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.
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You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 23, 2026.
Broadcasting from the heart of Times Square, we take a step back from the daily headlines to reflect on what makes America unique as the nation approaches its 250th birthday. Surrounded by people from every corner of the world, we discuss the enduring promise of the American Dream, the power of free markets, and the responsibility each generation has to preserve and improve the freedoms we've inherited.
We also break down the latest developments in Louisiana's U.S. Senate race as early voting numbers reveal Republicans dominating turnout while the battle between Julia Letlow and John Fleming grows increasingly bitter. Does low turnout favor one candidate over the other, and has either candidate truly given voters a reason to support them?
Later, we examine Governor Jeff Landry's stalled teacher pay proposal, the Caddo Parish Commission's decision to reject a Pride Month resolution, and the failure of a $280 million New Orleans drainage system during Tropical Storm Arthur.
We also look at California's latest gun restrictions and ask why lawmakers continue targeting legal gun owners for crimes that are already illegal. Plus, we react to another round of Kamala Harris word salad, discuss Major League Baseball's decision not to punish players for displaying Bible verses during Pride Night events, and explore the growing tension between sports, faith, and politics.
And from Times Square itself, we share our observations about America's greatest city, test our knowledge of New York's most iconic landmarks, and celebrate the optimism, opportunity, and freedom that continue to define the American experiment.
All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.
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You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 19, 2026.
We open with Louisiana's ongoing teacher pay raise battle and the growing debate over who should control education funding. Governor Jeff Landry says teachers deserve more money, a judge says the Constitution says otherwise, and local school districts are stepping in where state government has stalled. We break down the legal fight, the politics behind it, and what it means for teachers across Louisiana.
We also discuss a startling report from LSU Health Shreveport showing Caddo Parish wastewater contains some of the highest levels of methamphetamine byproducts ever recorded, raising questions about drug abuse, public health, and even a surprising connection to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill's efforts to challenge abortion pill regulations.
Later, we look at a WalletHub ranking that claims Louisiana is one of the worst states in America for working fathers and ask whether national rankings miss what really matters about family, fatherhood, and quality of life. Plus, we celebrate Father's Day by discussing the often-overlooked role dads play in shaping families and creating generational success.
We also dive into Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s latest battle over food dyes, why your favorite M&M colors may be disappearing, and what that says about the growing Make America Healthy Again movement.
Then we welcome Douglas Carswell of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy for a fascinating conversation about Mississippi's economic turnaround, why the state's GDP per capita now exceeds that of the United Kingdom, and what America's free-market system still gets right while much of the world moves in the opposite direction.
And finally, we examine a poll showing a surprising number of Democrats believe America is worse than average compared to other countries, rank America's favorite holidays, and react to Hunter Biden's challenge to Donald Trump Jr. for a cage fight.
All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio. -
You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 18, 2026.
We open with a creative legal challenge from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and a coalition of states asking whether the abortion drug mifepristone should be studied under the Safe Drinking Water Act. We break down the argument, the science, and the debate over whether concerns about pharmaceuticals in the environment are being ignored—or overstated.
From there, we cover the aftermath of Tropical Storm Arthur in South Louisiana, remember two service members with Louisiana ties who were killed in a California B-52 crash, and discuss 50 Cent's growing investment in Shreveport as he breaks ground on his ambitious G-Dome project.
We also dive into Governor Jeff Landry's new "Behind the Counter Protection Act" and ask whether tougher penalties for assaulting retail workers solve a real problem or simply add another law to the books. Plus, Louisiana moves to crack down on Medicaid fraud before Washington comes knocking, and we examine why rooting out waste protects both taxpayers and those who truly need assistance.
Later, we discuss a Texas Senate candidate whose financial disclosures raised questions about independence and adulthood, explore a former Clinton adviser’s warning about the growing popularity of socialism among young voters, and examine a new UCLA report showing diversity numbers falling in Hollywood streaming productions. Is Hollywood becoming less diverse—or are audiences simply choosing entertainment over ideology?
And we wrap up with another round of criticism from The View aimed at President Trump, the New York Knicks' White House visit, and the ongoing debate over who is really trying to rewrite American history.
All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio.
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You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 17, 2026.
We open with Senator Bill Cassidy taking another shot at President Trump, this time over the new Iran peace agreement. Cassidy invokes Ronald Reagan, claiming the former president would be "rolling over in his grave" over the deal. We examine whether that comparison holds up, revisit Reagan's famous "trust but verify" approach to foreign policy, and discuss why Trump supporters argue the Iran negotiations only happened because of military leverage.
We also cover breaking Louisiana news, including new questions surrounding the federal prosecutor involved in the indictment of former New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, a major teacher pay raise approved by the Caddo Parish School Board, and a record-setting $1.1 billion verdict in a Louisiana sexual assault case.
Later, Richard Nelson, president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, joins us to discuss the growing demand for skilled trades, why technical education is booming, and how Louisiana is preparing workers for billions of dollars in new economic development projects across the state.
We dive into the backlash comedian Nate Bargatze faced simply for attending a UFC event at the White House, discuss Vice President J.D. Vance's comments on patriotism and partisan politics, examine an obituary that turned political even in death, and reveal which fast-food chain just ended Chick-fil-A's 11-year reign atop America's customer satisfaction rankings. All that and more on this episode of American Ground Radio. May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.
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You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 16, 2026.
We open with a look at one of Louisiana's most contentious political races as a new Senate runoff poll raises questions about whether it's measuring voter opinion or trying to shape it. We break down the survey, the increasingly bitter battle between Julia Letlow and John Fleming, and why some Republicans are worried that the campaign is creating divisions that could last long after the election is over.
We also cover LSU's new partnership with Hyundai Steel as the company prepares to build a $5.8 billion plant in Louisiana, why environmental activists are already protesting the deal, and the arrest of an Australian citizen accused of illegally voting in multiple American elections after allegedly lying about her citizenship status.
Then we turn to homeschooling, where a comment from Louisiana's Department of Children and Family Services sparked outrage among parents across the state. We discuss the claim that homeschooled children are "often abused," why words matter when government officials speak, and the broader debate over parental rights, educational choice, and government oversight.
We also examine Hillary Clinton's latest criticism of Joe Biden's 2024 campaign, revisit how Democrats ultimately selected Kamala Harris without a competitive primary, and ask whether any Democrat could have realistically defeated Donald Trump.
Plus, two New York congressional candidates reveal who they're rooting for in the World Cup—and neither picked the United States. We discuss patriotism, national identity, and why voters might reasonably expect candidates seeking federal office to cheer for Team USA.
Later, we take a nostalgic trip through the rise of Pizza Hut, why investors are betting billions on bringing back the classic red-roof experience, and what the company's comeback strategy says about American business. We also look at new gas price data showing a sharp divide between red and blue states and what it may reveal about energy policy.
And we close with a developing story involving an alleged plot to attack a UFC event at the White House using explosive drones, raising serious questions about domestic extremism, political violence, and the threats facing the country today. May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.
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You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 15, 2026.
We open with a 2028 presidential conversation nobody expected — Louisiana Senator John Kennedy has not ruled out a run for president, and people are approaching his donors about it. We debate whether Kennedy's legendary Senate skills translate to executive leadership, invoke the Peter Principle, compare him to Ronald Reagan's path through the California governorship, and ultimately ask who's pushing him into this race and why they aren't already on board with J.D. Vance or Marco Rubio. We also cover J.D. Vance's CBS interview, in which he says the president brings up 2028 a lot and that he and Usha will sit down after the midterms to decide. We lay out the math — if Vance runs, Rubio doesn't, which means the vice president effectively has first choice of the nomination. And we make the case that a Vance-Rubio sequential ticket could be the most dominant political force America has seen since the 1830s.
In our Top 3, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrell filed a joint motion with the Bossier Parish School Board and the U.S. Department of Justice to remove Bossier Parish from a desegregation order dating back to 1964 — arguing the district has fully complied and it is long past time to return power to locally elected representatives. Then the former chief of police for Greenwood, Louisiana was arrested on two counts of first-degree rape and five counts of sexual battery — the investigation coordinated with the Gingerbread House, which typically handles assaults on minors. And a B-52 Stratofortress crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California with as many as eight crew members aboard — military officials said the crash was unsurvivable — and we pause to honor men and women who climb into 70-year-old aircraft and push them to their limits so our military remains the finest fighting force in the world.
We sit down with Matt Wolfe, Chief Marketing Officer for Greater New Orleans, Inc., to talk about what's actually happening at the Port of New Orleans and why it matters to the entire state and nation. A new partnership between UTC Transoceanic and the Port of New Orleans is integrating AI — built on Palantir's Foundry platform — into the port's intermodal transportation network, connecting all six Class 1 railroads in North America with real-time routing for massive cargo components. We also learn that the company that built the unmanned drone that rescued the two Apache helicopter pilots shot down over the Strait of Hormuz — Saronic — is based in Louisiana. And we look ahead to the Louisiana International Terminal, which will allow ships three to four times larger than what currently docks in New Orleans to use the port — unlocking a level of commerce the state has never seen.
We also discuss Meta's $27 billion investment in Richland Parish — and the staggering result for local teachers, who are receiving year-end bonuses of $50,000, effectively doubling many of their annual salaries. We connect it to the broader story of private investment transforming Louisiana communities — from Amazon's data centers in northwest Louisiana to Hyundai steel in Ascension Parish to manufacturing expansion along I-20 in Monroe.
In our Say What segment, J.D. Vance addresses the 2028 question on CBS, and we discuss the historic possibility of a secretary of state becoming president for the first time since Martin Van Buren — a streak that runs through Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy Adams. Could Marco Rubio be the sixth?
We also cover the tragic death of a 21-year-old woman in Brazil who died bungee jumping when employees threw her off a cliff without attaching the bungee cord — and use it as a serious reflection on what happens when people stop paying attention to the details of the jobs that other people's lives depend on.
And we close with the New York Knicks winning their first NBA championship in over 50 years — and the celebrations in Times Square that included a 16-year-old shot in the foot, multiple stabbings, looting, and street-long brawls. We ask what it says that three Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl victories in the 1990s produced exactly zero riots, and we speak directly to the celebrants in question. May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.
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You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 12, 2026.
We open with a controversy that may be a preview of the future of American politics. An AI-generated campaign video has exploded into the Louisiana Senate runoff, drawing condemnation from Governor Jeff Landry, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and others. We examine the difference between creating content and sharing it, whether candidates are responsible for AI-generated material they amplify, and how artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the rules of political campaigning. As AI tools become more powerful and more accessible, we ask a larger question: how will voters separate truth, parody, persuasion, and deception in the elections ahead?
In our Top 3 Things You Need to Know, Governor Jeff Landry signs legislation designed to protect Louisiana's energy industry from climate-related lawsuits, supporters argue the law will prevent the state from becoming the next target of costly litigation campaigns aimed at oil and gas producers. We also discuss the ongoing effort to close an underutilized Lafayette Parish high school and preview early voting for Louisiana's June runoff elections, where several high-profile races are beginning to heat up.
We also take a closer look at the increasingly negative tone of the Louisiana Senate runoff between Congresswoman Julia Letlow and State Treasurer John Fleming. While both candidates are well-known conservatives, the race has become dominated by attacks, accusations, and outside messaging. We discuss why negative campaigning often discourages voter participation and whether candidates would be better served spending more time explaining what they plan to do rather than tearing down their opponents.
Later, we examine one of the biggest contradictions in modern American politics. Democrats frequently position themselves as champions of working-class Americans while simultaneously enjoying overwhelming support from many of the nation's wealthiest individuals, corporations, universities, and elite institutions. Using former President Barack Obama's nearly billion-dollar presidential center as a jumping-off point, we discuss the tension between anti-wealth rhetoric and the lifestyles often enjoyed by political leaders who promote it.
We also celebrate the uniquely American spirit of innovation and risk-taking. Following a major SpaceX milestone that created a new generation of millionaires, we revisit Elon Musk's vision of making humanity a multi-planetary species and discuss why many of America's greatest achievements—from the Wright brothers to Henry Ford to modern technology pioneers—came not from government programs but from individuals willing to take enormous risks in pursuit of extraordinary goals.
Plus, we break down the latest rankings of the world's wealthiest individuals, discuss what separates wealth creation from wealth redistribution, and explore why American prosperity has historically been driven by entrepreneurship, innovation, and private enterprise.
And finally, we cover efforts to permanently cut off taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood, as pro-life advocates urge Congress to extend and expand recent restrictions on federal dollars flowing to the nation's largest abortion provider.
May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.
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You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 11, 2026.
We open with a local idea that could help solve a national problem. With law enforcement agencies across Louisiana struggling to fill vacancies, officials in Shreveport and Caddo Parish are launching an effort to recruit military police officers leaving Barksdale Air Force Base directly into local law enforcement. We discuss why the concept makes perfect sense, the challenges of competing with police salaries around the country, and how years of anti-police rhetoric have contributed to today's recruitment crisis.
In our Top 3 Things You Need to Know, we examine the growing controversy surrounding major construction projects in New Orleans' French Quarter as businesses continue to close while roadwork drags on with no clear completion date. We also cover new student discipline policies coming to Natchitoches Parish schools, including tougher restrictions on vaping and cell phone use, and we recognize the life and service of newly elected Abbeville Councilman Neal Richard following his unexpected passing.
We also highlight one of Louisiana's fastest-growing communities. New census data shows Carencro leading the state in population growth, and we explore why so many families are choosing smaller communities that offer affordability, stability, and something increasingly rare in modern America—a genuine sense of community.
Later, we discuss President Trump's approach to Iran and why his critics continue to misunderstand his negotiating style. While opponents have long portrayed Trump as reckless, recent developments show a strategy built around strength, leverage, and restraint. We examine how demonstrating the willingness to act can often be the key to avoiding larger conflicts.
We also dive into the growing controversy surrounding Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, whose past statements, extremist views, and Nazi-linked tattoo have sparked criticism from within his own party. We discuss the Democratic Party's struggle to reconcile its own internal factions, the irony of party leaders calling for anti-democratic solutions, and what the controversy reveals about the modern political landscape.
Plus, we spotlight First Lady Melania Trump's new initiative to help foster children build financial stability as they transition into adulthood. We discuss why foster youth are often overlooked in public policy debates, the importance of creating opportunities rather than dependency, and how the program reflects a broader commitment to supporting vulnerable children and families.
And finally, we compare police salaries across the country, explore what it takes to recruit and retain qualified officers, and ask whether states that pay the most actually offer the best environment for law enforcement professionals.
May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776! -
You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 10, 2026.
We open with two major election integrity reforms taking effect in Louisiana that supporters say will strengthen confidence in the voting process. One law eliminates provisional ballots for voters who fail to provide proper identification, while another requires voter registration information to be cross-checked with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure only eligible citizens remain on the rolls. We discuss why election confidence matters, the debate over voter ID requirements, and whether critics are still relying on the same tired arguments Americans have been hearing for years.
In our Top 3, Governor Jeff Landry signs legislation reducing the number of judges in New Orleans, sparking debate over whether fewer judges will improve efficiency or make existing court backlogs even worse. We also cover a growing infrastructure problem in New Orleans as officials warn that rusted pumping stations could create serious risks during hurricane season, and we examine the Trump administration's push for hospital price transparency as dozens of Louisiana hospitals face potential penalties for failing to disclose healthcare costs.
We also highlight a major economic development announcement in northeast Louisiana. An $80 million manufacturing investment in Ouachita Parish is bringing new jobs and expanding the region's role in supporting the growing technology and data center economy. We discuss how large-scale investments create momentum that attracts even more businesses and why economic success tends to build on itself.
Later, we're joined by Shannon Johnson of SoundWords and Vision and Ventures to discuss an innovative Louisiana-developed educational curriculum built around aquaponics. Combining agriculture, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the program gives students hands-on experience growing plants and raising fish while learning real-world STEM skills. With schools already adopting the curriculum and interest spreading beyond Louisiana, we explore how practical learning can help prepare students for future careers.
We also examine new polling showing that a majority of Americans continue to support deporting immigrants who entered the country illegally, despite years of media narratives attempting to frame the issue differently. We discuss the distinction between legal and illegal immigration, the importance of citizenship, and why public opinion on border enforcement has remained remarkably consistent.
In our Digging Deep segment, we react to comments from Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett following the murder conviction of Carmelo Anthony, who stabbed fellow teenager Austin Metcalf at a Texas track meet. We discuss the role of race in public discourse, the danger of politicizing tragedy, and why serious conversations about violent crime should focus on facts rather than rhetoric.
We also celebrate a life saved through Iowa's Safe Haven law after a newborn baby was safely surrendered and placed on a path toward adoption. We discuss why these laws matter, the alternatives they provide for parents in crisis, and the importance of creating life-affirming options for vulnerable children.
Plus, a new study ranks the states with the worst road rage, we break down Peter Schweizer's provocative question about election integrity in California, and we ask whether making questionable election practices legal somehow makes them trustworthy.May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776! -
We open with a Louisiana education funding decision that has a June 23rd deadline — Governor Landry's executive order to redirect $168 million from non-instructional school dollars into one-time stipends for teachers and support staff, preventing a de facto pay cut that kicks in July 1st. We work through the complications — the voters rejected the constitutional amendment that would have funded permanent raises, the legislature has to approve this by a two-thirds vote through an online ballot process, and nobody has yet explained what that $168 million was actually going to be used for before it got redirected. We also take a moment to acknowledge last year's legislative session, which produced insurance reforms that are now showing real results — 40 companies have asked to lower auto insurance rates, and 19 new companies have entered the Louisiana market. That's what impact looks like.
In our Top 3, the Louisiana OMV experienced massive computer outages statewide after a software upgrade described as switching from a 1972 Pinto to a 2026 McLaren — problems expected to be resolved by Wednesday. Then the city of Shreveport approved Providence House's expansion in downtown, including a four-story apartment building and four single-family homes for people getting back on their feet after homelessness — with support from neighboring arts organizations. We call it exactly the right way to address the problem — nonprofits, not government programs. And the former mayor of Deridder was sentenced to 90 days in jail after being convicted of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile — two charges that each carried up to 17 years in prison but no minimum sentence. She said at sentencing she had made a lot of promises to put Deridder on the map. Not this way.
We also cover a local story that could only happen in Louisiana — or possibly Florida — where a man pulled over on Interstate 310 on suspicion of DWI decided his best option was to leap off an elevated highway into a Louisiana swamp. A gator was waiting. The man survived both the bridge jump and the alligator attack, was eventually apprehended, and we offer this as a public service announcement — in Louisiana, the swamp is not an escape route. It is a food chain. And those odds come with teeth.
We dig into Seattle's latest attempt to solve homelessness — a $16,000 tiny home program where residents are not required to be sober, not required to enter addiction treatment, and not required to participate in recovery programs of any kind. We contrast this with Habitat for Humanity, which requires sweat equity and sobriety because they understand basic psychology — people value what they work for and free housing without accountability enables the very addiction that created the homelessness in the first place. We also note that Seattle added a 10% income tax on households earning over $1 million this year, ensuring the people most likely to invest in the city will be the ones most motivated to leave it.
We also push back hard on Ann Coulter's claim that the Iran conflict is starting to look exactly like the Iraq War. We run the numbers — 248,000 U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq versus zero in Iran, 139 American military personnel killed in the first phase of the Iraq invasion versus 13 in the first phase of the Iran conflict, and zero casualties since the first 48 hours of the Iran operation compared to steady ongoing losses throughout the Iraq campaign. The goal in Iraq was regime change. The goal in Iran is a negotiated nuclear deal. These two things are not the same, and saying they are is either sloppy or dishonest.
We also cover the Carmelo Anthony verdict — guilty of murder in the stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Texas track meet — and contrast it with a North Carolina case where the man accused of brutally murdering an innocent Ukrainian immigrant on a train has been found incompetent to stand trial. We ask the question the victims' families are asking — when does the system focus on the people who were killed rather than accommodating the people who killed them?
And in a development that genuinely surprised us, Whoopi Goldberg defended President Trump's right to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden — arguing he earned it as a lifelong Knicks fan. We accept the defense while pointing out that the president of the United States doesn't need to have been a fan of the team to attend a sporting event in his own country. He needs a ticket. That's it. -
You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 8, 2026.
We open with a Louisiana law that raises an obvious question: why did it take so long? After the Orleans Parish jailbreak exposed a stunning 10-hour delay in notifying the public that violent inmates had escaped, Governor Jeff Landry signed legislation requiring correctional facilities to immediately alert the public when dangerous inmates are inadvertently released. We discuss why public safety should always come before public relations, why communities deserve timely information, and how the debate over crime, incarceration, and race often ignores the people who suffer most from violent crime.
From there, we examine Louisiana's new Streets to Success Act, which would make unauthorized camping on public property a crime while creating the possibility of specialized homelessness courts. We explore the difficult balance between compassion and accountability, why simply allowing permanent homeless encampments is not a humane solution, and whether the state is prepared to provide the addiction treatment and mental health services needed to make the policy work.
We also highlight one of Louisiana's biggest success stories. New education data shows dramatic improvements in reading proficiency among young students, continuing a trend that has made Louisiana one of the nation's leaders in post-COVID academic recovery. We break down the numbers, discuss the science-of-reading approach championed by State Superintendent Cade Brumley, and explain why getting children reading proficiently by third grade may be one of the most important investments a state can make.
Later, we turn to energy policy and rising gas prices. As President Trump proposes suspending the federal gas tax, we welcome oil and gas expert Jay Young, CEO of King Operating Corporation, to explain what is really driving fuel costs, why events in the Middle East affect prices at American gas pumps, how refinery limitations complicate domestic energy production, and why the global oil market is far more interconnected than most people realize.
And finally, we take a lighter turn with a conversation about President Trump's planned appearance at the NBA Finals, the criticism it has generated, and why presidents attending major sporting events has long been part of American culture. Along the way, we celebrate underdog stories, from teachers who invest in their students beyond the classroom to basketball legend Spud Webb, whose determination and perseverance embodied the belief that in America, people can accomplish extraordinary things despite the odds.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776! -
You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 5, 2026.
We open with Governor Jeff Landry's first veto of the legislative session — and it's a surprising one. A bill that passed both chambers of the Louisiana legislature unanimously, with zero opposition votes, would have increased compensation for wrongfully convicted and later exonerated citizens from $400,000 to $600,000 and extended the payout period from 10 to 15 years. The governor vetoed it, citing concerns about double recovery and the cost to taxpayers at a time when teacher raises went unfunded. We examine both sides — the legitimate conservative concern about safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and the equally legitimate conservative principle that it is better for a guilty person to go free than an innocent one to rot in prison. We also explain Louisiana's unusual veto override process, and ask whether the legislature will actually show up for a session to override it.
In our Top 3 Things You Need to Know, the governor vetoed the wrongful conviction compensation increase. Then DeSoto Parish Schools approved a 6.8% pay raise for all full-time employees — making northwest Louisiana suddenly the most interesting real estate market in the state for teachers looking for districts that want to keep them. And a bill sitting on the governor's desk would retroactively wipe out an ethics fine for Democratic state Representative Steven Jackson of Shreveport, who has racked up thousands of dollars in fines for repeatedly failing to file required financial disclosures on time. We suggest the governor decline to sign that one too.
We dig into the economic case for data centers in Louisiana — specifically Amazon Web Services building a data center just north of Benton in Bossier Parish that is expected to generate $12 million a year in water revenue alone, with Amazon also agreeing to help fund upgrades to the city's aging infrastructure. We make the case that data centers are the railroads of the 21st century — not because they're glamorous but because they generate enormous private investment in communities that might otherwise be waiting for government bonds and tax hikes. We also address the fear that data centers will take jobs and destroy the economy, and explain why every new technology in history, from the factory to the computer, created more jobs than it displaced.
We sit down with Dr. Keith Abloh — author and AI expert — for one of the most important conversations we've had on this show. His central warning: AI is not just a productivity tool. It is gradually coaxing us to deposit ourselves into machines, to stop thinking for ourselves, to outsource our judgment, our direction, our creativity, and eventually our identity to systems that have no soul. He talks about the GPS problem — we don't navigate anymore and we've lost the capacity — and how AI is doing the same thing to our minds at a much larger scale. He says the first signs are already visible in younger people with shorter attention spans and less willingness to think critically. His prescription: get to the gym, get to church, get grounded in something real, because the alternative is evaporating into a chatbot. KeithAbloh.com.
The Chicago Bears have voted to move forward with a stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana — just across the Illinois border — after the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois failed to offer meaningful incentives to keep them. Mayor Brandon Johnson says it's not a done deal, but we disagree. We also explain why this is not a football story — it's an economic story about what happens when you run a city in a way that makes businesses want to leave.
We also get into the World Cup arriving in the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the first time in history the tournament has been co-hosted by three countries simultaneously. We work through which professional soccer leagues have the most players in this year's cup — English Premier League at 165, Bundesliga at 90, France's Ligue 1 at 79, La Liga at 76, Serie A at 65, and MLS at 44 — and make the case that Major League Soccer has arrived as one of the top six leagues on the planet. The last time the U.S. hosted a World Cup, we didn't even have a professional league.
And a freshman Democrat congresswoman from Arizona has called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked against President Trump — because in a video he appeared to have his eyes briefly closed while someone else was speaking at his desk. We ask whether she ever called for the 25th Amendment against Joe Biden. We already know the answer.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776! -
You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for June 4, 2026.
We open with a Louisiana bill sitting on Governor Landry's desk that sounds great on the surface and is actually terrible policy — Senator Beth Mizell's bill to ban retail surcharges on debit card transactions. We explain why this is not a conservative principle, why it will not save consumers a single dollar, and why all it will actually do is raise the price of everything for everyone, hurt the small businesses least able to absorb the cost, and prove once again that Milton Friedman was right — there is no free lunch, there is only a free lunch you can't see the bill for.
In our Top 3, Louisiana AG Liz Murrell announced the arrest and indictment of two women — including a state Department of Health employee — for a $156,000 Medicaid and SNAP fraud scheme involving reinstating benefits for someone who had been kicked off the program for lying about her income and marital status. The DOH employee is now a fugitive. Then St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith was arrested for second-degree battery and disturbing the peace after allegedly attacking a frequent critic at a steakhouse in Madisonville — and we say if the allegations are true, he should resign. And the deadline to register for Louisiana's upcoming Senate runoff elections is Saturday online only — so if you haven't registered, go to la.sos.gov or download the GoVote app right now.
We also discuss another bill on the governor's desk — the Streets to Success Act — which criminalizes homelessness and allows someone sleeping on a park bench to be arrested and jailed for up to six months. We explain why we have serious problems with this bill, why designating public encampment zones is exactly the policy that turned Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco into disaster zones, why homelessness is fundamentally a mental illness and substance abuse crisis rather than a housing problem, and why a bill with no funding for the programs it creates is not a solution — it's a sentence.
We dig into the Louisiana governor's recall petition — Louis was just interviewed about it by a local TV station — and we walk through each of the three stated grounds for the recall. Undermining fair representation? The governor was doing what the Supreme Court ordered him to do. Misaligned priorities? The legislature votes on the budget. Emphasis on punishment over root causes? Crime in Louisiana has gone down in every major city since Landry took office and focused on incarceration. We apply the principle that you don't recall a governor for doing what they were elected to do — you recall them for doing the opposite.
We sit down with Sarah Standiford, author of Citizens Pray, whose son was killed when a semi truck driver watching TikTok live — going 68 miles per hour — slammed into the vehicle he was a passenger in. The truck burned for four hours. The driver was not convicted of distracted driving. Sarah took on the trucking company, the state of Arizona, and the legal system — and has written about all of it. We talk about why enforcement of distracted driving laws is nearly impossible, why she believes the accountability has to come from phone carriers and social media platforms themselves, and why a road in Arizona where 500 people died in six years still hasn't been fixed.
That conversation leads us into a broader discussion about why no law can substitute for character — why the more people govern their own behavior, the less government they need, and why the inverse is also true. If you want government out of your life, you have to be the kind of person who can be trusted to run it.
We also cover an illegal immigrant from Brazil who was driving the wrong way on a Massachusetts highway while allegedly intoxicated, crashed into a state trooper, and was back on the street in two days because of Massachusetts sanctuary state law. And a British Labour Party lawmaker is suing Elon Musk because someone used Grok to generate an AI image of her in a bikini — we discuss why the complaint, if legitimate, is against the person who created the image and not against the platform, and why Britain's hostility toward Musk has far more to do with his criticism of the British government's silence on a recent murder than it does with artificial intelligence.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776! - Laat meer zien
