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

Bill Cassidy Attacks Trump's Iran Deal — Invoking Ronald Reagan

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

Is This a Poll... or a Political Attack Ad?

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

$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!