Cassidy's Last Stand: Will Louisiana Republicans Forgive a Betrayal?

$50,000 Teacher Bonuses, a B-52 That Won't Come Home, and 2028 Math Nobody Wants to Do Yet

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. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

The AI Election Has Arrived

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. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!

The Police Recruitment Plan Every City Should Copy

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!

Making Fraud Legal Doesn't Make It Legitimate

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!

Louisiana's Teacher Pay Deadline, Seattle's Sober-Free Tiny Homes, and the Gator That Ended One Man's Escape Plan

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.