Hour 3: Louisiana Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack calls for reform after an audit found the City of New Orleans has paid out $429 million in accrued leave

BONUS: ICE suspends vehicle stops after killing, FBI searches Lindsey Graham's house and another child dies in a hot car

The death of a Maine man changed policies for the Department of Homeland Security. We bring you the latest on that, plus why the FBI searched Sen. Lindsey Graham's house after he died following a trip to Ukraine, and a warning about the heat as a 3-yeear-old dies in a hot car in Louisiana.

Full Show 7/14/2026: The DOJ issued a sweeping warning letter to election officials; Dems cry "public intimidation"

On today's show, Newell talks about Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon sending formal warning letters to top election officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, threatening them with criminal prosecution if they knowingly allow non-U.S. citizens to vote or remain on voter rolls. Operating as the head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Dhillon demanded that states outline their specific compliance and voter roll maintenance procedures. Then, Newell has on Dr. Linda Lee Tarver, Project 21 Ambassador and Mentor to the Project 21 Freedom Fellows at the National Center for Public Policy Research, to break down the ruling by a federal judge on a controversial settlement in President Trump’s IRS lawsuit, Daphine Barnes, Executive Director of Workforce at GNO, Inc., joins to discuss the Greater New Orleans Innovation Internship Program, which recently wrapped up another successful summer by placing 45 college students with 39 companies across the region and developing tomorrow’s workforce and keeping top talent in Southeast Louisiana, Mayor of Gretna Belinda Constant to discuss major redevelopment projects, including the 5th Street Revitalization Project, Gretna Marketplace, and the city’s continued investment in infrastructure and economic development, and Louisiana Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack to discuss his call for reforms after an audit found the City of New Orleans has paid out $429 million in accrued leave over the past decade.

Hour 3: Louisiana Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack calls for reform after an audit found the City of New Orleans has paid out $429 million in accrued leave

This hour, Newell is joined by Mayor of Gretna Belinda Constant to discuss major redevelopment projects, including the 5th Street Revitalization Project, Gretna Marketplace, and the city’s continued investment in infrastructure and economic development. Then, Louisiana Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack joins the show to discuss his call for reforms after an audit found the City of New Orleans has paid out $429 million in accrued leave over the past decade.

An audit found New Orleans paid out $429 million in accrued leave over the past decade; should the city change how it manages employee leave?

Mike Waguespack, Louisiana Legislative Auditor, joins Newell to discuss his call for reforms after an audit found the City of New Orleans has paid out $429 million in accrued leave over the past decade.

The new and improved Gretna Festin' is set to return in 2027

The Westbank is growing, and Gretna is at the center of it. Gretna Mayor Belinda Constant joins Newell to discuss major redevelopment projects, including the 5th Street Revitalization Project, Gretna Marketplace, and the city’s continued investment in infrastructure and economic development. Mayor Constant explains the changes to Gretna Fest, why the current construction will pay off in the long run, what’s driving new business growth downtown, and what residents will see over the next several years.