Category: Smaller Government

16-28 Some Battles You May Not Realize You Won — Title IX at the Supreme Court, and Climate Hysteria’s Retreat

16-28 Some Battles You May Not Realize You Won — Title IX at the Supreme Court, and Climate Hysteria’s Retreat

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Some Battles You May Not Realize You Won — Title IX at the Supreme Court, and Climate Hysteria’s Retreat

Aired  July 11–12, 2026
Runtime  Added Monday
Host  Mark Anderson
Guests  Kimberly Hermann & Craig Rucker
Listen  See our network of stations, areas, times and livestream options

Listen to this episode (Available Monday after airing on our network of stations)


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About this episode

A landmark Supreme Court ruling on Title IX came down the same season as the birthright citizenship fight — and got almost completely buried. We dig it back out. Then we turn to a run of quiet climate-policy retreats that add up to more than any one headline suggests.

On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in West Virginia v. B.P.J. (consolidated with Little v. Hecox) that states may reserve girls’ and women’s school sports for biological females — and, in a 9–0 holding that got even less attention, that doing so does not violate Title IX at all. Kimberly Hermann, President of the Southeastern Legal Foundation, joins Mark to unpack what the ruling actually does (and doesn’t do), how Title IX went from guaranteeing women equal access to being used to justify men in women’s locker rooms, and why she says the Court just handed litigators like her the roadmap to sue the 23 states and the school districts in all 50 that are still allowing it. Along the way: her own daughter’s school assignment, the Obama-era memos that quietly rewrote Title IX’s definition of sex, and a quick bonus take on the Court’s birthright citizenship ruling.

Then the show turns to energy and climate with returning guest Craig Rucker, Co-Founder and President of CFACT. Renowned climate skeptic Dr. Judith Curry just shut down her influential blog, Climate Etc., declaring “victory against climate stupidity” — Craig explains why that may be true, and why it may also be premature. From there: New York quietly gutting its own landmark climate law, a new study on why blue-state electricity bills are climbing faster than red-state bills, and why Duke Energy just walked away from a major offshore wind lease in favor of nuclear and natural gas.


In this episode

00:00
01

The Title IX Ruling You Probably Missed

Kimberly Hermann on the Supreme Court’s June 30 ruling in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox — a 6–3 win on equal protection and a unanimous 9–0 win on Title IX itself — why some analysts call it narrow, and the roadmap it opens for lawsuits in the 23 states still allowing boys in girls’ sports.

00:00
02

How Title IX Got Hijacked

Hermann untangles the 6–3 and 9–0 numbers — the Title IX question was decided unanimously, while the Equal Protection reasoning split the Court 6–3 across two consolidated cases — then walks through a Title IX complaint SLF just filed for a mother whose special-needs daughter was required to share a restroom with a male classmate. Also: Justice Thomas’s concurrence on gender dysphoria, drag-show content aimed at children, and cases in California and Colorado where parents have lost custody disputes over refusing gender-transition treatment for their kids..

00:00
03

Bonus: The Birthright Citizenship Ruling

A quick final take from Hermann on the Court’s separate 5–4 ruling on birthright citizenship — closer than most expected, and, in her view, far from the end of that fight either.

00:00
04

RIP Climate Etc.

Craig Rucker on Dr. Judith Curry closing her 16-year climate blog and declaring “victory against climate stupidity” — her path from mainstream climate scientist to skeptic, the funding gap between well-funded green groups and the skeptic side, and whether the retreat in media climate coverage is really about audience interest or dried-up federal marketing dollars.

00:00
05

New York Guts Its Own Climate Law

How New York quietly rewrote its 2019 climate law’s hard 2030 mandate into an unenforceable 2040 goal, the wave of blue states walking back net-zero mandates, and a new study tying blue-state electricity price hikes directly to renewable and net-zero policy choices — plus a look ahead at Oregon’s own Climate Protection Program.

00:00
06

Duke Walks Away From Offshore Wind

Duke Energy’s $129 million federal buyout to abandon its Carolina Long Bay offshore wind lease in favor of nuclear and natural gas, what the underperforming Vineyard Wind project says about the technology, and what practical climate adaptation — forest management, dams and reservoirs, and the urban heat island effect — could look like instead.

Links & resources mentioned

Kimberly Hermann & Southeastern Legal Foundation

Craig Rucker & CFACT

About the guests

Kimberly Hermann
President  ·  Southeastern Legal Foundation

Kimberly Hermann is President of the Southeastern Legal Foundation, a national nonprofit constitutional litigation firm founded in 1976 with an 80% win rate at the U.S. Supreme Court. She has been with SLF since 2009 and represented Moms for Liberty and Young America’s Foundation in the 2024 Kansas federal court case that halted the Biden administration’s Title IX rewrite. She attended President Trump’s February 2025 White House signing of the executive order protecting women’s sports, and is a recurring guest on I Spy Radio on Title IX and constitutional litigation.

slfliberty.org

Craig Rucker
Co-Founder & President  ·  CFACT (Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow)

Craig Rucker co-founded CFACT with David Rothbard in 1985 and currently serves as its President. He is co-producer of the films Climate Hustle (2016) and Climate Hustle 2 (2020), has attended roughly 30 United Nations climate conferences as an observer, and is a frequent commentator on Fox News and OANN. Craig is a recurring guest on I Spy Radio, last appearing the week of May 28, 2026.

cfact.org

Full transcript ▸

Transcript posts Monday, once the compiled episode audio is finalized and timestamps are added. Check back after the show airs on our full station network.

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I Spy Radio  —  Keeping an Eye on Big Government

 

Illustration of a taxpayer shining a flashlight into a ledger titled "State Taxpayer Accounts & Funding" while the state government attempts to keep the book closed. Text reads "Who's looking at the books? The fight for state accountability" featuring Jonathan Williams.
16-23 Digging Into and Exposing State Government Fraud & Waste

16-23 Digging Into and Exposing State Government Fraud & Waste

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Digging Into and Exposing State Government Fraud & Waste

Release Date: June 6, 2026

Duration: 47:55

Host: Mark Anderson

Guests: Jonathan Williams

About This Episode

Government agencies are supposed to protect taxpayer dollars, so why are some states resisting efforts to examine spending records, voter rolls, and public assistance programs? And what happens when government agencies don’t want anyone looking at the books? On this episode, Mark Anderson sits down with Jonathan Williams, president and chief economist of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), to examine fraud, waste, and accountability in government spending.

They discuss ALEC’s Government Efficiency Coalition, major fraud investigations, improper Medicaid payments, and why some states are resisting efforts to verify public records and benefit programs. The conversation also explores how artificial intelligence, audits, and greater transparency could help uncover billions in waste and protect taxpayer dollars.

Could the fraud already uncovered be only the beginning? And what would it take for states like Oregon to truly clean up their fiscal house?

Show Notes

  • 00:00 – Why complexity makes fraud easier to hide
  • 11:05 – ALEC’s Government Efficiency Coalition and its work with state lawmakers
  • 18:01 – How AI is being used to uncover waste and abuse
  • 25:11 – The Minnesota fraud scandals and lessons for other states
  • 32:56 – Why improper payments cost taxpayers billions
  • 40:53 – Practical reforms states can implement to improve transparency and accountability

Transcript

(Opener)

Mark:

If your intention is to commit fraud — there is an easy, simple way to do it: make things complicated. The more complicated something is, the easier it becomes to hide what’s actually happening — with a lot of moving parts, interrelated systems, and, the number one means: make it hard for people to look. Make it complicated to look.

Because if there is no fraud, they would welcome your scrutiny. Here’s the checkbook! Take a look. And if you find fraud for heaven’s sakes let us know! We have a sacred duty to protect taxpayer dollars.

But they don’t do that they make things complicated and say you can’t look.

Take for example our voting rolls. Right now there are multiple lawsuits where states are pushing back against the federal government which is asking states to provide basic information about who is on the voter rolls. That should be simple. How many people are in your state? How many people are citizens — and of those citizens how many are registered to vote? Because we have a sacred duty to protect our elections and to make sure that only citizens vote. And only vote once. And only vote in one state.

But states are pushing back because they don’t want to provide that simple, straightforward data. They act as if the federal government has no right to obtain it — no right to look. Imagine telling the IRS ohh you can’t look at our books — everything is fine. You’ll just have to trust us.

When you complicate It’s something that ought to be simple — like a database — it opens the door to fraud even if that is not your intention. Allegedly not your intention.

Because here’s how voter rolls ought to work. Simply. The federal government maintains a single database of every person living in the United States. The various columns would include their name, their SS #, whether someone is a citizen yes or no. The address where they live. And the state where that address is.

States can then access that database and append data to. This person with this Social Security number has this voter ID and they live at this address in our state — or they’re currently living overseas — serving in the military, and so on.

Problem solved. We know where everybody lives we know where everybody ought to be voting and if there are multiple instances of that person then guess what — there’s your problem. Simple.

Government, like businesses using shell companies, can further complicate things by hiding the end recipient of money by hiding it behind a shield of nonprofits. You, the taxpayer, can see money going in but you can’t see who a “non-profit” getting 100s of millions of taxpayer dollars then gives that money to.

And even if they opened their books just a little, it’s still complicated because they can say ohh that $1,000,000 we got from the taxpayers we spent that on office space and utilities — we didn’t spend $1,000,000 on activists. We used our own funds for that. sure

But. Where government is uniquely positioned to help people commit fraud is the bureaucracy within government.

Again, it’s complicated, Multiple agencies multiple departments all getting money comingling it and shoving money out the door. Add to that, the layer of inherent laziness by far too many people in government.

For example so much fraud could have been prevented if bureaucrats handing out cash had just asked questions. Like looking up business addresses on google maps.

But that would depend on people taking initiative. And from where I sit far too many people in government don’t bother to ask questions about where that money comes from or where it goes.

To talk about fraud I’d like to welcome back Jonathan Williams to the show…

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Additional Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

  • Jonathan Williams’ organization is ALEC – the American legislative Exchange Council. Visit them at alec.org. &the ALEC Coalition
  • ALEC helped push states like Oregon to put their spending online. Oregon’s attempt at spending transparency can be found at Oregon.gov/transparency
  • Co-founder of ‘green’ bank gets 14 years for defrauding lenders, investors (Courthouse News Service, June 1, 2026)
  • State of Oregon Statewide Single Audit Report, March 2025 (PDF)
  • Oregon audit flags OHA and ODOT errors, including OHP Bridge eligibility problems (KATU, Apr 1, 2026) *“The audit also identified holes in the Highway Planning and Construction Program, administered by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Auditors said they could not gather enough evidence to verify compliance” with the law and federal regulations.
  • Audit: California Lost Track of $24 Billion Spent to Combat Homelessness (Breitbart, Apr 12, 2024)
  • “Illegal aliens & foreign fraudsters steal BILLIONS yearly from American taxpayers.” (White House via X, Jun 3, 2026)
  • The Joe Rogan interview with Elon Musk in February 2025 discussing social security as the fraud gateway (Joe Rogan Experience, Episode 2281)

 

Oregon economic outlook and election integrity Discover why Oregon ranks 40th in economic outlook. We discuss the 19th edition of Rich States, Poor States, potential energy price hikes, and the battle for Oregon’s election integrity.
16-18: They’re Hoping You Won’t Notice the Numbers

16-18: They’re Hoping You Won’t Notice the Numbers

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Show Summary

In this episode, we dive into the economic divide between “rich states” and “poor states” with Jonathan Williams, Chief Economist at ALEC. As Oregon falls to 40th in national economic outlook, we explore the data behind why tax-heavy, high-spending states are falling behind and the looming 300% natural gas price spike facing Oregonians. We also shift gears to election integrity with Dr. Douglas Frank and Judicial Watch to discuss the recent removal of 800,000 names from Oregon’s voter rolls. From the intent of our Founding Fathers to the transparency of our local ballots, this episode uncovers the numbers and policies shaping Oregon’s future.

Air Dates: May 2nd & 3rd, 2026 | Guests: Jonathan Williams & Dr Douglas Frank

About This Episode

On Show 16-18, is your state building wealth — or quietly destroying it? This week we sit down with Jonathan Williams, President and Chief Economist  of ALEC and co-author of the just-released 19th edition of Rich States, Poor States. Nineteen years of data. One consistent lesson: the states that tax less, spend smarter, and keep government accountable consistently outperform the rest — and the gap is widening.

Oregon economic outlook and election integrity Discover why Oregon ranks 40th in economic outlook. We discuss the 19th edition of Rich States, Poor States, potential energy price hikes, and the battle for Oregon’s election integrity.
Click for full image

Oregon ranks 40th in Economic Outlook and shows how bleak our economic future is. Jonathan breaks down what that means, why it matters for your wallet right now, and what’s coming. Especially if Phase 2 of Oregon’s Climate Protection Program hits in 2028 — potentially spiking natural gas costs by 300%.

We also dig into what happens when state agencies become too disorganized to audit, what the labor market is actually signaling, and — on the eve of America’s 250th birthday — what the founders actually intended when they designed the relationship between states and the federal government.

This is the economic conversation Oregon needs to hear.

Dr. Frank is visiting every county in Oregon. Coming up May 4th through 6th: Portland, Salem, and Canby. Head to Secure Our Elections Now to find a Dr. Frank event near you.

Also this week, election integrity expert Dr. Douglas Frank joins us on Oregon’s elections integrity — who’s really controlling Oregon’s elections, and what’s the state of our rolls? Plus, Judicial Watch’s landmark settlement forced Oregon to address 800,000 names that shouldn’t have been on voter rolls. A step forward — but is it enough?

Tune in because what Oregonians don’t know about its own numbers is exactly what some are counting on.

Catch Live the Show or Podcast

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Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

  • Jonathan Williams is the president and chief economist organization at American Legislative Exchange Council. Find out more at ALEC.org.
      • Encourage your representatives to join ALEC! There are state and city memberships. Help elected officials understand economic problems and the real solutions available to get out of them. Send them this link: https://alec.org/membership/.
      • And you too can join as a private-sector member!
      • Follow Jonathan on Twitter at @TaxEconomist.
  • Head to Rich States, Poor States to see how your state is doing — .

Dr. Frank Election Integrity Events

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15-51 If the Fraud Happened There, It is Happening Here

15-51 If the Fraud Happened There, It is Happening Here

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Show 15-51 Summary:  This week we bring back Rep. Ed Diehl to discuss the success of the No Gas Tax referendum movement. And what that success means for ODOT, an agency that oozes overspending and waste. And for the Democrats who pushed this bill on Oregonians. ODOT is a prime example of a government agency abusing the taxpayer. We are seeing fraud, waste, and abuse exposed at every level of government. But it turns out there’s a lot more fraud out there happening the more we look. We drill down into the Somali fraud in Minnesota because there are patterns now emerging in other states where additional fraud is being uncovered. And those are very similar patterns to fraud that Ed is looking into from Oregon’s Health Authority.

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, seven times over the weekend, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on our network of stations.

Air Dates: December 20th & 21st, 2025 | Guest: Rep. Ed Diehl

This Week – Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

Did it occur to anyone the reason why Oregon democrats shoved through the Gas Tax Bill is because throwing more money at ODOT makes it easier to cover up fraud, waste, and abuse? With big spending has come expansive, and expensive fraud. And we’ve only just started to see this exposed.

We welcome back Rep Ed Diehl to talk about the phenomenal success of the No Gas Tax signature gathering to put the referendum on the November election. They needed over 78,000 qualified signatures but have already turned in 193,000. Talk about room for margin of error.

Why not congratulate Oregon Freedom Coalition for their outstanding work? Head to OregonFreedom.com to drop them a Christmas gift to help them build on that success in 2026. Plus, as a registered 501(c)4 and PAC, Oregon residents get a $50 tax credit ($100 per couple) for political donations.

Somali Fraud Framework Here in Oregon?

We’ve said Oregon is the Wuhan Lab of Leftist policies. And that’s true.  They try out policies here, do some gain of function (trial and error, improve processes, persuasion points, marketing, funding, etc.,), and then export it to other states. Fraud happens that same way.

Someone schemes up something, they figure a way to make it work, then others in other states replicate it. And that’s what has happened with the Somali fraud. Which is being uncovered in other states.

It requires an expansive and overly generous social benefit program. Like welfare, Medicaid, food stamps, rental assistance, etc. And, in places like Oregon, they throw a whole bunch more of it under the umbrella of “health care.”

By having such massive amounts of money fly out the door, fraud becomes harder to find, despite there being more of it. It’s one thing to to find a single needle in a haystack. But a haystack the size of a barn can hide a lot more needles. Even worse: use illegal immigrants so anyone who looks can be labelled a “racist” to stop potential investigations in their tracks.

Don’t think that works? It did. In Minnesota, merely suggesting racism was enough to stall investigations. And now at least $1 billion was stolen from Minnesota. And some are saying it’s as high at $9 billion .

We talk with Ed about a fraud scandal through Oregon’s Health Authority. Which is so eager to create a football-field sized haystack they include things like Climate Change as “healthcare.” Literally anything can now be called healthcare.

But what to do about? Those are our questions too.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Due to changes in Apple podcast, we now need to post the podcast separately. Listen to 15-51’s podcast here.

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

  • Ed Diehl’s organization is Oregon Freedom Coalition. Head to OregonFreedom.com to learn more. And please donate to reward them for their success—and to grow it in 2026!

Somali Fraud

  • Not familiar with the Somali Fraud? Here’s a Minnesota Somali Fraud Summary via Perplexity AI (Perplexity, Retrieved December 17, 2025)
  • Could Minnesota officials have stopped Feeding our Future fraud sooner? (Star Tribune, October 28, 2022)
  • Many millions lost. Is the Walz administration taking fraud and waste seriously enough? (Star Tribune, July 12, 2024)
  • The Somali Fraud Story Busts Liberal Myths (City Journal, December 2, 2025)
  • Federal investigators warn Minnesota welfare fraud may have helped fund Al-Shabaab (Fox Baltimore, November 21, 2025)
  • How Fraud Swamped Minnesota’s Social Services System on Tim Walz’s Watch (NY Times, Nov. 29, 2025)
  • Government watchdog says evidence in Minnesota fraud cases ‘overwhelming’ (Fox Baltimore, December 4, 2025)
  • ‘It makes me want to knee someone in the groin,’ Senator says of $1B Somali fraud scheme (KOMO News, December 6, 2025)
  • Fear of being called ‘racist’ was key factor in Minnesota’s fraud scandal, expert reveals (Fox News, December 9, 2025)
  • Luxury cars and private villas: See how Minnesota fraudsters spent millions intended for hungry kids (CBS News, December 11, 2025)
  • Expert reveals key factor that led to massive Minnesota fraud scheme (Fox News, Dec 9, 2025)
  • ‘Schemes stacked upon schemes’: $1B public benefits fraud fuels scrutiny of Minnesota’s Somali community (Fox News, Dec 7, 2025)
    • In 2021, when the Minnesota Department of Education grew suspicious and tried to stop the flow of funds, Feeding Our Future sued, alleging racial discrimination. A judge ordered the state to restart reimbursements — a ruling prosecutors said enabled the scheme to escalate.
    • That case has now grown to 78 defendants

Oregon Fraud

  • Health Authority withheld plea for “scrutiny” of Uplifting Journey (Jeff Eager, Substack, Dec 14, 2025)
    • An Oregon Health Authority contracts manager emailed senior leaders in May about a “circuitous” bunch of businesses tied to $60M Arizona Medicaid fraud case
    • OHA paid Uplifting Journey $2.3 million in drug and alcohol treatment Medicaid reimbursements
    • State Rep. Ed Diehl triggered the investigation when he asked OHA whether Uplifting Journeys had ever received state or federal funding.
    • Diehl wanted to know after The Post Millennial reported police responded to 17 calls at the Lake Oswego house operated by Uplifting Journey and alleged gang ties

Related

  • Fraud at the highest levels — inside the White House: “Trump Administration Moves To Expose Autopen Presidency Records Biden Tried To Hide” (Trending Politics, Dec 17, 2025)

 

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15-49 Democrats Starting to Panic? No Gas Tax Blowing up Oregon Dems

15-49 Democrats Starting to Panic? No Gas Tax Blowing up Oregon Dems

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Show 15-49 Summary: We talk with Oregon State Rep., Ed Diehl, about the phenomenal No Gas Tax petition effort to get insight on why it’s been so successful, with nearly double their goal and well ahead of schedule. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at what insiders said why it would never work, and the dirty tricks unions, Democrats, and Governor Kotek used to try to derail it — and could still use to derail it. Plus, some scandals in other blue states that almost certainly have happened here, and how they are doing it. Thanks to the fraud gateway Elon Musk uncovered.

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Air Dates: December 6th & 7th, 2025 | Guest: Representative Ed Diehl

No Gas Tax Signatures Explode Beyond Wildest Expectations

How can you tell when elected Democrats start to panic? When they blame someone else for the problems they created. How can you tell when elected Democrats aren’t starting to panic? When they blame someone else for the problems they created.

This week, we talk with Rep. Ed Diehl (HD-17) about the phenomenal signature gathering effort to get insight on why it’s been so successful. As of our interview, they already have more than double their goal and way ahead of schedule. It has been a true grassroots effort, with zero paid signature gatherers.

Haven’t signed yet? Visit NoTaxOR.com

We also get a behind-the-scenes look at what insiders were saying why it would fail—and the dirty tricks unions, democrats, and Governor Kotek used to try to derail it. And dirty tricks they could still use to derail it. So much for Democrats being for “democracy,” right?

And then there are the scandals in other blue states that almost certainly have happened here, ones we already know happened here, and how they are doing it. Plus, the Far Left’s political strategy on “affordability” and the “fraud gateway” that Elon Musk’s DOGE uncovered.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

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15-44 How to Win (and NOT to Win) Oregon

15-44 How to Win (and NOT to Win) Oregon

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Show 15-44 Summary: .When it comes to Republicans’ chances in Oregon for statewide races, they don’t need Democrats to defeat them. Because Republicans can, and all too often are, their own worst enemies. After Christine Drazan’s announcement this week that she is officially running once again for governor, there is already a slew of social media posts by Republicans saying they will never vote for her. Which is a great way not to win. So how do Republicans win? We talk with a long-time Republican consultant and a a recent “outsider” Oregon political activist to get their thoughts.

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Air Dates: November 1st & 2nd, 2025 | Guests: Greg Leo & Chuck Wiese

This Week – Can Oregon Republicans Not Kill Their Chances?

Republicans can save Oregon but they have to save each other first. And that means stop savaging each other in the primaries.

Primaries are different than general elections. In general elections, you are voting for who wins. In primaries, you are voting for who competes. You are selecting your team while the other parties select their team.

But all too often, Republicans—more so than the sheep-like Democrats who will vote for anyone (or anything) with a “D” in front of their name—savage and tear down the other Republican candidates in favor of their choice. They announce they will never vote for “the other guy” that their Republican teammates chose.  And proceed to savage the other candidates, tearing them down. And inadvertently planting seeds why no one should vote for them in the general.

Is it more important to win the election? Or that your candidate wins?

Don’t discourage. Encourage.

Republican “Insider” and “Outsider” Views

Christine Drazan officially entered the race for Oregon’s governor this week. (Which as no surprise. No serious person thought she wouldn’t.) Up until then, Danielle Bethell, a Marion County Commissioner, was the only legitimate candidate. But what immediately obvious was the hateful comments — not by Democrats. But by Republicans.

Danielle  Bethell’s campaign website – daniellebethellforgovernor.com
Christine Drazan’s campaign website – christinefororegon.com

We talk first to Greg Leo, a long-time political communications expert who got his start in the Reagan White House. He also spent a lot of time working within and for in the Oregon Republican Party as their communications director. Now, he’s a political consultant. We get his take on Christine Drazan entering the race, how to stop Republicans from spoiling their fellow Republicans’ chances, and what Republicans can do to actual win. That means wooing Democrats and non-affiliated voters. Could an actual conservative Republican do that?

Then we talk with Chuck Wiese, a conservative Republican. But someone who is not involved in Republican party politics. But Chuck is becoming more and more of a political activists, having supported and been part of multiple lawsuits against Oregon, focusing especially on election integrity.

We know Chuck is no fan of Drazan, base don how she ran last time. To get his vote, what does she have to do different this time? How can she prove herself to him—one of her biggest doubters? And can Republicans put aside their differences and preferences to focus on winning the general election?

Because Oregon really and literally cannot afford another Democrat governor.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

  • Greg will be speaking at the Capital City Republican Women’s luncheon on Nov. 13th. Meeting runs from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm. Lunch is optional but is $14.00 if you’d like to eat. To attend, please RSVP by sending an email to ccrwsalem@reagon.com.
  • Learn more about America’s 250th! Head to America250.org for events, state pages, and how you can get involved!
  • Danielle  Bethell’s campaign website – daniellebethellforgovernor.com
  • Christine Drazan’s campaign website – christinefororegon.com

 

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15-40 What Now, Cash Cow? | Democrat Spending and Grift Hits a Pothole

15-40 What Now, Cash Cow? | Democrat Spending and Grift Hits a Pothole

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Show 15-40 Summary: This week we look at Democrat spending  and grift. Some of Democrats’ taxpayer-funded spending spree is being cut off. Trump made it clear at his U.N. speech, the climate change hysteria money spigot from the U.S. is being turned off. So what will Democrats do now? And Oregon Democrats who are determined to spend at all costs, voters be damned, shoved through the ODOT spending spree. So what can voters do now?

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, seven times over the weekend, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on our network of stations.

Air Dates: October 4th & 5th, 2025 | Guests: Craig Rucker & Rep. Ed Diehl

This Week – Democrat Spending and Grift

Since our very first year on air, 2011, we have said if you want to stop the far-left, then take away the money they get from taxpayers.

Yes, it is that simple.

Thankfully, someone got the idea of that to President Trump. Because he is pulling the plug on green energy and Climate Change* funding. This is billions upon billions flowing from taxpayers to democrat-affiliated “environmental” organizations, studies at far-left universities to publish papers “proving” climate change and to find better ways to spread Global Warming* propaganda fear to keep the funding going. And that money comes back to democrats who vote for more Climate Change money. That does nothing for the environment. But does keep far-left activism funded.

* We capitalize Climate Change and Global Warming because they are a religion, not science

We welcome back Craig Rucker, the president of CFACT, to talk about Trump’s UN speech, and what the far-left and democrats will do now that taxpayer money is being cut off. And there is nothing a far-leftist hates more than to be forced to spend their own money. Or do something to earn it.

Plus, there’s a new danger from “green” energy that many people may not have heard yet: PFAS. These are the “forever chemicals” we’re discovering in so many of the things we buy. And it’s leeching into our food and water supplies.

PFAS may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals, including cancer, developmental issues, liver disease, low fertility, and hormone problems among others.

It turns out, not too surprisingly, that PFAS are in some solar panels and may be leeching into the ground when it rains. And where is the new craze to slap up solar panels? On farm land.

ODOT Spending Spree Becomes Law – Now What?

Despite overwhelming public outcry against the ODOT tax increase, Oregon Democrats spending continues unabated. And unnecessarily so. The Republicans’ plan would have not raised any taxes and instead forced ODOT to live within its means and reprioritize its existing spending.

But why do that when Democrats are hungry for money. Unions need money. And Democrats need unions. That’s why. And while they say they are all for “democracy,” even that’s a lie. Republicans put forward an amendment to simply ask the voters to decide whether to pass the ODOT tax. But Democrats rejected it.

We talk with Rep. Ed Diehl (R-17) about the Democrats’ unquenchable thirst for more money and the timeline of the ODOT bill roll out. There is already a referendum being put together but there are a lot of games Democrats can play to derail it. Tune in to find out what — and what you can do to help. (Hint: visit NoTaxOR.com to find out more.)

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. Mondays, after our network of radio stations have aired the show, I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite podcasting platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

  • Craig Rucker’s organization is CFACT
  • Visit NoTaxOR.com, to help stop the ODOT $4.5 billion spending spree bill from going into effect. We need to hit the ground running!
  • Regulators weigh billion-dollar utility takeovers as bills rise for consumers (Fox17, Sep 27, 2025)
    • “Private equity giants like BlackRock and Blackstone are buying local utilities to power AI-driven data centers, sparking ratepayer and regulator concerns”
  • Ford CEO expects EV sales to be cut in half after end of tax credits (CNBC, Sep 30, 2025)
    • “…the industry learned that ‘partial electrification,’ such as hybrids, are easier for customers to accept for the time being.”
  • Trump administration to expand coal leasing, fund coal plant upgrades (CNBC, Sep 29, 2025)
  • Trump’s fiery UN speech targets immigration, climate change and global conflicts (National Security News, Sept 25, 2025)

 

Find your legislators in Oregon
15-34 Showdown: HB2025 Special Session, ODOT Tax Increase

15-34 Showdown: HB2025 Special Session, ODOT Tax Increase

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Show 15-34 Summary: Oregon Democrats are at it again. This week, it’s about prepping for the big special session coming up Friday, August 29th, to stop the Democrats from trying to ram through a massive tax increase disguised as ODOT funding in HB 2025. But is the ODOT tax increase really necessary? We talk with representative Alek Skarlatos about what’s happening and things he has seen as a freshman representative. Including some mismanagement at ODOT he personally knows about.

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Air Dates: August 23 & 24, 2025 | Guest: Alek Skarlatos

This Week – ODOT Tax Increase Special Session

Okay. Let’s start off with the most important thing about this week’s show: take action. Don’t be silent.

Submit your testimony to the legislative committing hearing HB 2025. And don’t forget to contact your legislators personally. Contact info for representatives is here and for senators is here.
Not sure who your legislators are? We’ve got you covered: use this map (search by address is in the top left).
And it wouldn’t hurt to let squishy Republican representatives Cyrus Javadi and Kevin Mannix know you want them to vote no.

Massive Oregon Tax Increase: ODOT Will Penalize Everyone

Some taxes you can avoid. Like sales taxes (and, yes, Oregon has sales taxes, just not on everything). But the ODOT tax increase will impact everyone. If you buy anything, it arrives on a truck. And often, it involves multiple trucks. At each stage, each of those trucks will be paying more. So you will be paying more. If you go to the store in a car, you get personally hit.

And it’s unnecessary. Oregon Republicans came up with a plan to make sure ODOT was fully funded — without raising taxes. Just force ODOT to prioritize its current spending. And stop ODOT”s wasteful spending.

Shouldn’t all wasteful spending in government come to a screeching halt?

ODOT Mismanagement

We welcome back Alek Skarlatos, a freshman representative from Oregon’s HD-4 in Oregon’s southwest. Alek is seeing the session through fresh eyes and it’s not always pretty. We talk about the upcoming special session. And we talk about reforming ODOT. There’s no question it wastes money. And there is even evidence of fraud. (See “fraud” in the show notes below.)

But perhaps the answer to Oregon’s Department of Transportation isn’t in Oregon. It’s across the ocean.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. Mondays, after our network of radio stations have aired the show, I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite podcasting platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

  • Don’t be silent. And don’t wait! Get your comments in before Friday’s special session!
  • As of our interview with Alek Thursday afternoon, the latest version of HB 2025 hadn’t even been released yet. But it is now. Read the latest draft of HB2025 (PDF).
  • Looks like fraud: ODOT retroactively changes bids to hide its overspending. “Unaccountable: ODOT covers up cost overruns” (City Observatory, May 22, 2025)
    • “ODOT also has a practice of “re-baselining” a project—retroactively altering the initial cost estimate to conceal cost increases. …ODOT permits itself to change the baseline construction budget—”re-baselining”— after a project has started construction. This practice allows ODOT staff to retroactively change the base budget for the project, allowing it to claim that the cost of the project hasn’t increased, and hiding cost overruns.”
    • How is that even legal? If a private business cooked their books like that, it’s hard to imagine how everyone involved not ending up in jail. Pretty sure an accountant would lose their license if they changed budgets after the fact to hide overruns.

More Reasons ODOT Needs a Full Audit

 

 

The I Spy Radio Show Logo, 2025. © Copyright January 2025. All rights reserved.
15-30 Russia Collusion Hoax Declassification Reality Check | What Now?

15-30 Russia Collusion Hoax Declassification Reality Check | What Now?

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Show 15-30 Summary: Finally, the real truth comes out about the Russia Collusion Hoax. Newly declassified documents from Director of Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, confirm what we have been saying. The evidence finally and truly reveals Obama’s deep involvement in the Russia hoax. But what do the documents actually say? Did he actually direct it? Or just some minions under him? We ask Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project, about things to get a reality check. And what now? The word treason is being thrown around. What would it take to get there? And if not treason, what can Obama and his co-conspirators be charged with? Or will democrats once again attack democracy and get away with it?

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Original Air Dates: July 26th & 27th, 2025 | Guest: Mike Howell

This Week – Russia Collusion Hoax Exposed

The Russia collusion hoax evidence was declassified. On one level, it’s not new news. We knew the Obama administration, working with the Hillary Clinton campaign, created and entirely false disinformation campaign to smear candidate Donald Trump with “Russia collusion” to steal the 2016 presidential election.That’s been known since Congressman Devin Nunes went to the White House with the evidence he had seen.And that broke the scandal wide open.

Rather than “Russia collusion” it was quite the opposite. At a White House meeting in July 2016, CIA chief, John Brennan shared what the CIA had learned from Russian sources. Hillary Clinton, in an attempt to distract from her email scandal, planned to smear Trump with “Russia collusion.” Obama, Biden, Susan Rice, and the heads of the intelligence committees leaped into action to give credibility to the smear. Despite knowing that it was a political smear and a lie, James Comey launched the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation into Trump three days after that meeting. And the Russia collusion hoax was born.

If you heard our previous shows on disinformation you know this is how disinformation works. There must be a a grain of truth — meaning a grounding in reality. By opening the investigation. Obama, Comey, and their minions in the intelligence community gave that grain of truth to Hillary’s smear. Without which it never would have worked. Think about it. Who in their right mind would trust anything Hillary had to say.

Learn more about disinformation. Democrats and their Desperate Disinformation Ploy (Disinformation, Part 1) and Disinformation in Action: Recognize it, Fight it (Part II)

But an FBI investigation into Trump-Russia collusion? And judges issuing FISA warrants? And multiple intelligence agencies all working hard to stop the Russians from interfering in our elections? Suddenly, the dynamics change. Maybe Hillary is on to something. Maybe she’s telling the truth. And maybe she’s a hero, trying to save democracy.All that rather than what it really was. A complete lie. And an attack on democratic elections. Led by democrats.

But what does the declassification and release of all this evidence for conspiracy mean in reality? What now? Trump and Gabbard are both throwing around the word “treason.” Does this rise to treason? If so, what then? If not, what does this conspiracy rise to?

Tune in to find out!

Oversight Project – Russia Hoax Reality Check

We talk with Mike Howell, the president of the Oversight Project. Check out the great work they do to expose corruption at www.itsyourgov.org.

What do the declassified emails and documents actually say? (You can read them yourself; see the links in the show notes section, below.) There is talk of treason.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. Mondays, after our network of radio stations have aired the show, I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite podcasting platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

  • Mike Howell is the president of the Oversight Project. They were the ones who exposed Biden’s autopen scandal, a phone associated with Butler shooter tracking to a building with an FBI office, and more. Check out Oversight’s other great investigations at ItsYourGov.org
  • THIS: We have been saying this for years. John Brennan’s hand written notes revealed everything you need to know about the Russia collusion hoax. It was a lie. And everything that followed from that WH Meeting was a lie.
  • DNI Release: “Americans will finally learn the truth about how in 2016, intelligence was politicized and weaponized by [Obama]” (Tulsi Gabbard X Post, via Thread Reader, July 18. 2025)
    • “For months preceding the 2016 election, the Intelligence Community shared a consensus view: Russia lacked the intent and capability to hack U.S. elections. But weeks after President Trump’s historic 2016 victory defeating Hillary Clinton, everything changed.
    • Read the declassified info and reports:
      • Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, declassified Evidence from 2016 Russia collusion hoax showing Obama’s direct involvement: DNI, July 18 2025 (PDF)
      • Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, declassified House Intelligence Report: DNI, July 22, 2025 (PDF)
      • Timeline of the Russia Hoax based on newly declassified evidence from DNI Tulsi Gabbard: DNI, July 18, 2025 (PDF)
  • Read Hans von Spakovsky’s article mentioned during the show: Could Obama Be Prosecuted Over the Russian Hoax? A Look at the Law (The Daily Signal, July 23, 2025)

Other Voices Discussing the Russia Collusion Hoax

15-28 The Big Beautiful Bill is the Beginning Not the End

15-28 The Big Beautiful Bill is the Beginning Not the End

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Show 15-28 Summary: Not to sound too much like Nancy Pelosi but now that the One Big Beautiful Bill passed, we know what’s in it. It was making a lot of people lose their minds perhaps because they didn’t understand the bill and what could or could not be in it. It’s clear they didn’t read it and listened to the wrong analysts. Which is why it will make people like Elon Musk and his very public temper tantrum look very foolish.

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Air Dates: July 12th & 13th, 2025 | Guest: Jonathan Williams

This Week – The Big Beautiful Bill Passed — Now What?

Nancy Pelosi famously said about Obamacare that “We have to pass it to find out what’s in it.” And now that we have the final version of the Big Beautiful Bill, we do know what’s in it.

But leading up to its final passage, it made a lot of people lose their minds. Legislators should know better but a lot of grassroots did not understand what a reconciliation bill was and how limited they are — just to budget items that affect federal spending or revenue. Which is why it could never be “the one bill” to accomplish everything America First that everyone wanted. So why didn’t the people who ought to have known better say that? Rather than try to sabotage it?

Perhaps they had their own agenda. And, as typical, they wanted something other than what they were saying.

Elon Musk — The Spoiled Kid in the Grocery Store

Spoiled brat Elon Musk throws temper tantrum over the One Big Beautiful Bill
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By definition, a reconciliation is limited. Not only in terms of what can or can’t be in it but also what budgetary items it can cut. It doesn’t take much to understand that. So someone as smart as Elon had to know that. Which implies then that he wanted something else. And his public shrieking tantrum was calculated. He had to know they couldn’t make the massive cuts he said he wanted. So it’s clear he either didn’t read the bill or listened to the wrong analysts. Or made the calculated move to get attention, blame people, and offer the solution. A third party with the goal to selectively to pick off vulnerable Republicans to be the key swing votes in Congress.

But Elon Musk’s temper tantrum gambit will look pretty foolish when the Big  Beautiful Bill succeeds. He’ll not only look like the spoiler but what he is. Spoiled.

How do we know? Hint: everyone was predicting the end of the economic world after Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. Now they’re admitting they were wrong.

The Big Beautiful Bill Reality

Now that the bill was passed and signed, the fury has died down—mostly—we welcome back Jonathan Williams, the president and chief economist at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to get some truth and reality about what was in it. No. It wasn’t perfect. Yes we would have liked more spending cuts.

But while the shrieking and tantruming was happening the detractors missed a key part of the bill. It codified 28 of Trump’s exectutive orders. They’re no longer executive orders, easily undone by the next president with a pen. Now they are law. And, even better, for those demanding more cuts, once the bill was passed and signed, President Trump used his executive power to rescind (cut) spending on key points. Like stopping the green energy credits and Global Warming spending. 

But. And here’s the biggest and most overlooked aspect of the Big Beautiful Bill. It doesn’t end here. It’s the beginning.

Did you feel the political ground under you shift? Because unlike so many other big gigantic bills, this was about cutting spending, cutting taxes, and cutting the size and scope of government. And some actual entitlement reforms. When is the last time that happened? Maybe in the 1990s with Newt Gingrich?

And this isn’t some deep red state doing it. This is Washington DC. And it’s just the beginning. There are already plans in the works for two more bills like it to make further cuts and to push more of the America First agenda.

And that’s why, with the Trump Train rolling, people like Elon Musk standing on the platform shrieking about what is not on the train  will look pretty foolish as the train pulls away without them.

Rich States, Poor States. Poor Oregon.

We  also talk with Jonathan about Oregon’s latest ranking in the 18th edition of Rich States, Poor States. Jonathan is one of its co-authors. For anyone who lives in Oregon, it will come as no surprise that we dropped one point from last year.

But Oregon made some recent economic bungles that have come to light? How bad would it have been for Oregon’s ranking if these had come to light before the latest edition had been released?

Related:
Show 15-23 with Jennifer Hamaker  – Oregon’s Climate Protection Plan’s planned devastation to Oregon’s economy — conveniently phased in after the 2026 election
Show 15-25 with Ed Diehl  Oregon’s HB2025, the ODOT tax bill, which would have been the biggest tax increase in Oregon’s history

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. Mondays, after our network of radio stations have aired the show, I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite podcasting platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

  • Jonathan is the president and chief economist organization at American Legislative Exchange Council. Find out more at ALEC.org.
    • Encourage your representatives to join ALEC! There are state and city memberships. Help elected officials understand economic problems and the real solutions available to get out of them. Send them this link: https://alec.org/membership/.
    • And you too can join as a private-sector member!
    • Follow Jonathan on Twitter at @TaxEconomist.
  • Head to Rich States, Poor States to see how your state is doing.
  • See the list: Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill codifies 28 executive orders and actions
  • Steve Moore: Trump just scored the biggest conservative victory in three decades (Fox News, July 10, 2025)
    • “What isn’t well known is that this new law doesn’t just change tax policy. It includes dozens of other long-sought policy goals – what I call ‘hidden gems’.”
  • Conservatives say Trump won their megabill votes by promising crackdown on renewable energy credits (Politico, July 3, 2025)
    • “Hard-line House conservatives said President Donald Trump assured them his administration would take action to constrict wind or solar projects that qualify for Inflation Reduction Act tax credits — a pledge that ultimately persuaded them to back the party’s megabill.” → A promise kept with Trump’s rescission package.
  • Johnson says megabill will be ‘jet fuel’ for economy; teases 2 future bills within next year (Fox News, July 6, 2025)
    • Johnson said the BBB is just the first step in a three-tier strategy. Johnson expects a second reconciliation bill by fall and a third by spring before the end of the current Congress. “You’ll see more of us advancing these common-sense principles to deliver that American First agenda”
  • Trump says U.S. struck trade deal with Vietnam that imposes 20% tariff on its imports (CNBC, July 2, 2025)
  • U.S. Supreme Court Greenlights Trump’s Federal Government Purge (GWP, July 8, 2025)
  • Supreme Court allows Trump to implement plans (Scotusblog, June 8, 2025)
    • In an 8 to 1 ruling the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Clinton-appointed judge’s ruling that temporarily stopped Trump to do mass layoffs. Now his administration can immediately move forward

Sorry Democrats. The BBB Does NOT End Social Security

  • Social Security letter on taxes sends confusing message, some experts say (Washington Post, July 4, 2025)
  • Megabill does not eliminate taxes on Social Security — But it does increase the standard deduction for seniors.
    • Tax exemption for Social Security goes from 64 percent to 88 percent.
  • Does the “big, beautiful bill” eliminate taxes on Social Security? (CBS News, July 8, 2025)

The One Big Beautiful Bill is the Start, Not the End

Green Energy isn’t So Green Anymore

Funny how Global Warming believers suddenly change their beliefs when they aren’t paid to believe them any more.

Oregon’s Economic Outlook Not Looking Good