The Dawn Show For May 18 2026

South Philly Demands Justice For Billy Schmidt Jr. As Hooded Suspects Escape Media Outrage

Welcome to The Dawn Stensland Show. We open with a heavy heart for the family of Billy Schmidt Jr., the 22-year-old Penn State senior whose life was senselessly taken just steps from his South Philly home. Anthony Giordano, co-founder of Stand Up South Philly and Take Our Streets Back, joins the show to discuss the massive community vigil and the growing public frustration with rising local crime. We press city leadership on the blatant hypocrisy of a new local law that restricts law enforcement from wearing masks while violent criminals roam our streets completely covered in 92-degree weather. We shift our focus to the global stage as President Trump meets with world leaders at the G7 summit in Evian, France. Dawn details the massive economic implications of securing an initial 60-day ceasefire agreement with Iran and the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Vice President JD Vance breaks down the fine print of the deal on his media tour, confirming that the United States is firmly in the driver's seat of global energy history without spending a single cent of American taxpayer money. Later, bestselling author and investigative journalist David Zweig stops by to review the devastating residual effects of extended public and private school closures. We analyze the stark differences in lower test scores across the country, exposing how lockdown policies severely harmed children from underprivileged backgrounds. Finally, we catch a glimpse of JD Vance’s fiery appearance on The View as he corrects Whoopi Goldberg on historical exhibits and addresses economic affordability, before checking in with Dom Giordano to confront Mount Holly's shocking decision to cancel their July 4th celebrations.

The Massive PA Supreme Court Spanking Of Larry Krasner With Guest Linda Kearns

We break down a monumental shift in Pennsylvania justice after an extraordinary Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling directly rebukes Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. Joined by attorney Linda Kearns, we react to the high court's conclusion that Krasner's office misled judges while aggressively attempting to vacate historic murder convictions. The crew analyzes how this landmark decision places direct oversight into the hands of state Attorney General Dave Sunday, forcing an independent review before any more prosecutorial concessions are made in the city. The crew shifts focus to cultural trends and massive summer events, detailing an upcoming Hollywood signature auction featuring iconic cinematic props like Star Wars lightsabers and original Willy Wonka wardrobe pieces. We dive into a new national index ranking New Jersey as America’s most ice cream-obsessed state, prompting a hilarious debate over boardwalk culture and our favorite local flavors. Later, Smithsonian Undersecretary for Science and Research Ellen Stofan stops by the studio to preview the grand nationwide "Shared Future" initiative celebrating America's 250th birthday with interactive tech exhibits and historical treasures across the country. We conclude the day with an essential political and security reality check. The team dissects JD Vance's ongoing media blitz and the surrounding fallout regarding his past campaign trail commentary on the political establishment. Finally, we look closely at emerging tracking reports from federal intelligence agencies regarding the disruption of sophisticated domestic plots, tracing how young online actors move from public platforms to encrypted messaging networks to organize real-world political violence.

Inside JD Vance’s Cool Reaction To Ana Navarro, Plus Dr. Michael Busler’s Inflation Reality Check

We kick off The Dawn Stensland Show breaking down JD Vance’s appearance on The View, where he coolly managed the crossfire from Sunny Hostin, Ana Navarro, and Whoopi Goldberg. Vance stayed perfectly calm while setting the record straight on the Jeffrey Epstein files, noting that Donald Trump threw Epstein out of his club and reported him to law enforcement. The crew looks at Vance's folksy, middle-of-America style and how he handled relentless interruptions, even delivering a smooth reality check to Ana Navarro about her old-guard ties. Meanwhile, the team rallies around Dan as he fights through a sudden stomach flare-up, prompting Dawn to offer up the classic BRAT diet approach. Senator Kim Ward joins us to highlight how Pennsylvania ratepayers are getting played by a PJM grid price cap that bails out neighboring states. As a massive energy exporter sitting on a gold mine of resources, Pennsylvania is stuck bailing out blue states like Maryland and New Jersey for their own green climate agendas. We address the dynamic where these democratic governors get political cover while local electric bills soar, and we layout a direct call to action for listeners to swamp the governor's office and demand a fairer deal. Later, Dr. Michael Busler from Stockton University joins us to break down new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's choice to hold interest rates steady amid a 4.2% inflation rate. We look at the potential economic relief on the horizon if the current Iran deal holds, which could open the Strait of Hormuz, bring oil prices well under $75 a barrel, and pull gasoline prices down further. We wrap up with a warning about clinging, stinging jellyfish invading local Jersey rivers, Dan's unconventional sting remedies, and a handoff to Dom Giordano as he previews a Supreme Court gun ruling and a minor league baseball uniform controversy in York.

Stolen Car Chaos, The AG's Passive-Aggressive Police Probe, And Trump's "Unconditional Surrender" Iran Exclusive

Welcome to The Dawn Stensland Show. We kick off this gorgeous Friday ahead of Father's Day weekend by tackling the upside-down reality playing out in Ewing Township, New Jersey. Uniformed officers doing their jobs in a marked vehicle pursued juveniles driving a stolen Kia, resulting in a tragic crash that took the life of a 13-year-old girl. Yet, the sanctuary state's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability chooses to publicize and investigate the officers instead of charging the juveniles as adults. We react to the incredibly calm demeanor of the officers on the radio transmissions and detail how New Jersey's lack of its own major television news market leaves local departments defenseless against out-of-state media narratives that imply guilt before the facts are even fully verified. We shift our focus to Washington, where Vice President JD Vance took to the White House podium to deliver a comprehensive update on the fragile peace talks with Iran. Despite mainstream media claims attempting to compare this Memorandum of Understanding to the Obama-era deal, Vance makes it clear that the United States hasn't given up a single cent of American money. With gas prices officially dropping below $4 a gallon and 12.5 million barrels of oil moving safely through the Strait of Hormuz, Vance explains how the administration maintains an economic chokehold on Tehran. We break down the stark internal divisions between Iranian pragmatists and radicals, and why compliance remains the only path forward for their crumbling economy. Finally, we look at President Trump’s exclusive, hard-hitting interview with Axios just before his weekend departure for Camp David. Trump insists the newly signed interim agreement amounts to an "unconditional surrender" by Tehran, boasting about the raw military capability of our B-2 bombers and the absolute enforcement of the naval blockade. We also check in on the geopolitical balance with Israel, as Trump asserts his strong relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will keep the region stable and prevent a wider escalation in Lebanon. To wrap up the hour, we pivot to some lighthearted lifestyle talk, checking out the rising social media craze over anti-aging copper peptides

South Philly Rises Up Against Juvenile Masked Violence After the Tragic Loss of Billy Schmidt Jr.

We open this stretch by centering on our local community during a devastating season. Anthony Giordano joins the show to discuss the heavy cloud hanging over South Philly following the horrific, senseless gunning down of 22-year-old Penn State senior Billy Schmidt Jr. The crew shines a spotlight on the grassroots response, including a massive neighborhood vigil organized by Stand Up South Philly and Take Our Streets Back to demand accountability from city leadership. We dig into the infuriating reality of juveniles roaming our streets in full hoodies and surgical face coverings during 92-degree weather, pointing out the absolute lack of criticism from city officials regarding criminal use of masks even as strict laws target local enforcement agents. We also look at how this rising tide of violence continues to choke enrollment at institutions like Temple University, forcing families to flee to the suburbs. Switching gears to the national stage, Kayal and Company breaks down Donald Trump’s confident posturing at the G7 summit in Evian, France, where world leaders are reacting to the historic 60-day ceasefire deal with Iran. We analyze JD Vance’s media blitz defending the agreement against hyper-partisan news outlets that are actively recirculating IRGC talking points. The crew evaluates how the opening of the Strait of Hormuz effectively dismantles OPEC, paving a prosperous highway for Pennsylvania energy sectors. We also examine Vance's rapid political rise, his deep faith-centered book, and the endless speculation surrounding a potential 2028 presidential run while he prepares for a highly anticipated, high-stakes panel confrontation. Finally, we track the immediate, chaotic fallout from that media appearance on ABC. We react to the audio of JD Vance completely dismantling biased narratives pushed by Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin, and Joy Behar. The discussion turns intensely local as we dissect Whoopi's incoherent rambling regarding a federal judge blocking Trump's order to revamp a worn-out slavery exhibit right here on Independence Mall. We cap off the morning reacting to Dom Giordano’s fiery preview of local towns like Mount Holly completely surrendering to fear by canceling their historic July 4th festivities instead of implementing common-sense security.