Category: Free Market

15-42 “Real Socialism” hasn’t been Tried…? How About “Real Slavery”?

15-42 “Real Socialism” hasn’t been Tried…? How About “Real Slavery”?

Show 15-42 Summary: There comes a time when you must do something before it’s too late. First, you have to recognize when and why. And then it’s time to take a stand. The UK is lurching—sprinting, really—toward the point of no return to shackle every citizen to the government to control every aspect of their lives. And, closer to home, Oregon is on the path to take even more money from its people. But we can stop it. Find out how.

Map showing the radio stations broadcast areas and air time for the I Spy Radio Show.
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

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 18th & 19th, 2025 | Guests: Rep. Ed Diehl & James Hirsen

This Week – Big Government Speeding toward Slavery

This week we’re talking about big government trying to get bigger. Right here at home in Oregon, it’s about taxing people more than ever after the passage of the ODOT tax and spend bill. Fortunately, there’s a way to stop it before it starts its engine.

We talk with Representative Ed Diehl and the effort to stop the ODOT tax from going into effect? How? By letting the people of Oregon decide, not elected democrats forcing it on people. And make no mistake. Democrats forced this bill by ignoring voters. They passed it despite over 95% opposition.

Now the Democrat governor is playing games by not signing the bill she called an “emergency.” And it’s, once again, to ignore the voice of the people to limit the time signature gatherers will have to get it on the ballot.

We talk with Ed about the rules and the strategies to get around the Democrats’ roadblocks.

Take a stand against big government—get involved! Big government only grows and gets abusive because people don’t say no. The ODOT tax is not just about a five cents tax increase and hundred more in new fees. It is the abusive way it was passed. It’s about forcing government to live inside its income. And it’s just the beginning—unless we stop it now.

Start here: visit NoTaxOregon.com to volunteer, donate(!), and help spread the word.

Real Socialism = Real Slavery

In the second-half of the show we talk with James Hirsen about digital IDs that are already in the process of being implemented over in the UK. Worse, they are paired with central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). This gives the government the ability to quite literally track everything that you do. And it will be even more powerful by using A.I.

Read James Hirsen’s article: “The Mandating of Digital IDs and CBDCs

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared no one will be able to work or buy or sell or get government benefits unless they have a digital ID. For you Christians out there, yes, it sounds remarkably like the “mark of the beast” mentioned in the New Testament’s Book of Revelation.

Because the UK is pairing the digital ID with Central Bank Digital Currencies. No more cash. Which means the government can shut off your money anytime it wants to. Or prevent you from buying things. Or paying your mortgage or rent.

And in case you think that’s just conspiracy theory, remember: it already happened in Canada when the truckers had their bank accounts switched off when they protested the covid lock downs.

Once again. It’s happening now. Because people did not stand up to big government then.

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

  • To stop the ODOT tax increase. Head to NoTaxOR.com to see what you can do. Volunteer signature gatherers, get training, spread the word. They need half a million dollars to save Oregonians $4.3 billion in new taxes. Please donate to help with expenses.
  • All of James Hirsen’s articles can be found at JamesHirsen.com but the one we talked about this week was “The Mandating of Digital IDs and CBDCs

More info:

 

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

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

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.

Map showing the radio stations broadcast areas and air time for the I Spy Radio Show.
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

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: 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
click for full size

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

15-25 Oregon’s HB2025 Tax Hike: Why Businesses Are Fleeing and How to Stop It

15-25 Oregon’s HB2025 Tax Hike: Why Businesses Are Fleeing and How to Stop It

Show 15-25 Summary: While the federal government and other states are busy improving the business climate by cutting spending and taxes. Oregon Democrats are busy going the opposite direction. Oregon already has an unwelcome, punitive business environment. But elected Democrats are finding inventive new ways to make it even worse. They want to pass the largest tax increase in Oregon’s history, which will hit not just businesses everyday Oregonians and their families. You’ll be ready to vote after this show.

Map showing the radio stations broadcast areas and air time for the I Spy Radio Show.
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

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: June 21st & 22nd, 2025 | Guest: State Representative Ed Diehl 

This Week – Democrats Burning Oregon Down to Rule Over the Ashes

A general rule in life is, if you’re in a hole, stop digging. Not for Oregon’s democrats. Oregon has among the worst business environments in the nation. Ranking near the bottom in many key areas and near the top in things like tax burden and regulations. While other states are changing their taxes and cutting spending and regulations, Oregon Democrats are tripling down to chase businesses away.

And we’re talking major businesses, mid-size businesses, and mom-and-pop businesses. Dutch Bros (Oregon’s second most valuable company) is moving its headquarters out of Oregon. As is Tektronix — which had been one of Oregon’s best home-grown success stories. They simply cannot afford to stay in Oregon.

But it’s not just taxes and fees and regulations. It’s the overall climate. And we don’t mean the weather. Not only are businesses being punished for being here. Oregon ranks at or near the bottom in its schools. Dead last ion 4th grade reading and math scores. Second to dead last in 8th grade scores.

Given all that (and it’s just tip of the iceberg) what else could Oregon Democrats possibly do to make this situation worse?

Funny you should ask.

Democrats: We’ve Reached Bottom, Let’s Dig Deeper

Yes. If there’s a way to make the situation worse, Oregon’s elected Democrats will find a way. And it’s the largest tax increase in state history. Even larger than the horrid Corporate Activity Tax in 2021. Which punishes business’s sales, not its profits. You can lose money in Oregon and still be taxed. For the “privilege” of doing business here.

Don’t be silent! Visit NoTaxOR.com to easily send a letter to your representative and senator and demand they stop the insanity of HB2025.

House Republican Caucus press release: Democrats push largest tax increase in Oregon history
Press release: largest tax increase ever (click for full size)

We welcome back Representative Ed Diehl (HD-17) to talk about what’s been happening in Oregon’s disastrous 2025 legislative session. The worst being HB2025, the transportation bill. It will raise at least $15.5 billion over 10 years.  Unless every Oregonian family and business just packs up and leaves.

Maybe that’s Democrats’ goal?

There is some good news. The carbon cap and trade scheme we discussed two weeks ago (Show 15-23, Democrats Assisting Oregon’s Suicide — with Republicans’ Help) is not in HB2025. The three republicans found some common sense again—thank you, I Spy Radio listeners for applying the heat!—and pulled their support.  Make no mistake. That is a major victory.

We also talk with Ed about what will it finally take for everyday Democrats to connect their vote to the ruin that elected Democrats are causing. Can anything? Or are they too willing to die on Woke Hill? Is this a step too far, even for Oregon Democrat voters? Finally?

Maybe. But with Judicial Watch’s voter roll lawsuit against the State of Oregon, along with additional federal scrutiny, that might be changing.

Tune in. You’ll be ready to vote after this show.

Want to know what really happened at the Judicial Watch hearing in Eugene? You can read Mark Anderson’s take on the hearing on this Facebook post. And you can read how the Oregonian got it wrong and mischaracterized what happened on this Facebook post.

Show 15-25 Addendum

Note 1: After our show, Democrat leadership pulled a dirty trick. Senate President, Rob Wagner, yanked Senator Mark Meeks, off his committee because he was against HB2025, and claimed Meek’s seat for himself to pass the bill out of committee. Democrats hate democracy. Here’s one of their leaders not liking how a Democrat would vote so he yanked him to prevent him from voting. Really? That’s how desperate Oregon Democrats are to raise taxes on Oregonians.

Note 2: during the show, host Mark Anderson got his elected positions flipped, referring to Meeks as a representative and Paul Evans as a senator. Those should be vice versa. (He hangs his head in shame.)

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

Links/Articles Mentioned

  • Visit NoTaxOregon.com (aka NoTaxOR.com) to easily send a letter to your representative and senator to demand they stop the insanity of HB2025.
  • Democratic Oregon House members celebrate Black drag performers, as nearly all Republicans boycott (OregonLive, June 19, 2025)
  • Transportation tax: Amendments, cancelled work sessions (Oregon Catalyst, June 20, 2025)
  • Billion $$ transportation tax hike would be rejected by voters (Oregon catalyst, June 17, 2025)
    • Democrat Representative John Lively acknowledged that Democrats’ billion-dollar-per-year transportation tax package would likely fail if put to Oregon voters
  • Ski resorts scramble after major insurer leaves Oregon (OregonLive, June 17, 2025)
  • As Congress struggles to cut spending, states expose Medicaid fraud on steroids (Just the News, June 18, 2025)
  • That Business Survey: Other states are trying to lure Oregon businesses away. A recent study says it’s working (KGW, May 13, 2025)
  • California’s Medicaid shell game steals from U.S. taxpayers and spends proceeds on illegal aliens. Laundering $4 billion/year for free healthcare for Illegals. (Citizen Free Press, May 18, 2025)
  • Oregon Dumps KNOWiNK TotalVote System Four Years Into Contract (Gateway Pundit, June 3, 2025)
    • KNOWiNK, now two years behind schedule to update Oregon’s voting system, ORVIS, and nearly $1 Million dollars over budget, forced Oregon to revert to using its highly unreliable and out of date voter registration system for the 2024 elections, when Oregon’s democrats won super majority
  • Can Any States Using KNOWiNK (Gateway Pundit, Jan 17, 2024)
  • President Trump Calls for Special Prosecutor to Investigate 2020 Election Fraud (The Gateway Pundit, June 20, 2025)

Related

  • Senate President Boots Dissident Senator Off Transportation Committee, Appoints Himself in Bid to Save Bill (Willamette Week, June 202, 2025)
  • ODOT Explains Billion-Dollar Budget Blunder (WWeek, Feb 26, 2025)
  • Controversial Cap and Trade Policy Reemerges (WWeek, May 22, 2025)
  • Oregon moves closer to law requiring carbon neutral public retirement plan (Capital Chronicle, June 16, 2025)* House Bill 2081, a bill to codify Oregon State Treasury’s 2023 “Net-Zero” plan into law, passed the Oregon Senate on Monday June 16th in an 18 to 10 vote with Republican Dick Anderson, voting with Democrats.
  • Oregon May revenue forecast warns “growth recession” ahead (Oregon Catalyst, May 14, 2025)
  • Who let the DOGE out? “Multnomah County Halts Funding for Housing Provider After Fight Over Billing Practices” (Willamette Week, June 17, 2025)
15-24 Scams and Fraud: Superpowers of the Left

15-24 Scams and Fraud: Superpowers of the Left

Show 15-24 Summary: The Left lives off scams and fraud. You don’t have 1,500 staged Defy Democracy protests “spring up” organically. It costs money. Lots of it. Craig Rucker from CFACT discusses the continuing, multi-billion-dollar scams of climate change and green energy that fund the Far Left. So why do people inside the Trump administration want to keep the green spigot open? What you haven’t heard about windmills. And what Biden tried to keep hidden. And then Eric Lee, a senior attorney with Judicial Watch, discusses their upcoming hearing as the state of Oregon seeks to dismiss. Judicial Watch’s case would pry open Oregon’s voter rolls and force them to clean them up. As required by law. Because fraud is how Democrats get elected.

Map showing the radio stations broadcast areas and air time for the I Spy Radio Show.
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

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: June 14th & 15th, 2025 | Guests: Craig Rucker & Eric Lee

This Week – Scams and Fraud

Scams and fraud are how the Left funds itself—and get elected. They are the Left’s true superpowers. Staging 1,000+ protests to Defy Democracy don’t happen in less than a week. With no planning. And no money. Quite the opposite. Do you ever see these massive, widespread protests from the Rigth? No. Because the Right doesn’t get 100s of billions of taxpayer dollars to fund their ideology. But the Left sure does.

It’s time for that to end. And the the Trump administration is working hard to correct these scams and fraud. But is he once again being undermined by people in his own administration?

Craig Rucker: Climate Change and “Green” Energy Scams

First up, we talk with Craig Rucker, President of Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow or CFACT, about some recent revelations that the Biden administration quietly gave waivers to wind farms special waivers, passing along disposal costs to taxpayers. They also removed comments they didn’t like to force an expensive and useless rule change onto natural gas and coal power plants.

And there are more instances of changing data, including outright fraud. Which probably explains why the defendant in a current RICO case in California fled the state. Wait until you hear what else he did besides jimmy the numbers. Craig also discusses the Department of Interior and how Trump’s team may not be in alignment with Trump when it comes to global warming.

Did you catch last week’s show with Jen Hamaker exposing Oregon’s Climate Protection Plan and the latest, it’s carbon cap and trade scheme? It’s Oregon’s democrat-assisted suicide. And with three republicans’ help.

Eric Lee: Dirty Voter Rolls — the Pathway to Election Fraud

Next up is first-time guest, Eric Lee, a senior attorney on Judicial Watch’s election integrity team and a specialist on the National Voting Registration Act. In a much-anticipated lawsuit against Oregon and Oregon’s Secretary of State, oral arguments start Wednesday, June 18th in Eugene’s federal district court as Oregon hopes to get the case dismissed on procedural grounds.

But has Oregon accidentally undermined the credibility of their own case with some public statements? Including admitting just how messy Oregon’s voter database truly is? You’ll hear what Judicial Watch alleges that Oregon’s done and not done, in direct violation of the National Voting Registration Act.  And Judicial Watch’s surprise that Oregon hasn’t entered any filings against the merit of the case.  You’ll hear why they’re here in Oregon fighting the good fight for election integrity — and the reasons why Oregon must clean up its voter rolls.

Sorry Oregon, “trust us” and not letting anyone look isn’t going to fly any longer.

If you want to better understand the Far Left’s operational methods, don’t miss this show!

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: Climate Change & Green Energy Scams

  • Craig’s organization is the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow. Visit them at CFACT.org
  • Check out some of these terrific articles from CFACT
  • A simple exercise in the social cost of climate extremism (CFACT May 30, 2025)
  • Department of Interior emails reveal Biden’s offshore wind waivers (Just the News, May 28, 2025)
  • Offshore wind opponents file lawsuit to stop Empire Wind, arguing feds’ greenlighting violated law (Just the News, June 11, 2025)
  • Biden’s EPA hid comments from Dept. of Energy (Just the News, June 8, 2025)
    • “Energy Secretary Chris Wright confirmed in March, that when a study on liquefied natural gas was completed, the Biden administration didn’t like what the study said, so they set out to produce one that would support the climate policies they wanted.”
    • “Politico reports that Trump plans to sign a trio of resolutions Thursday, June 12th to revoke California’s nation-leading vehicle emissions standards and also impacts a dozen other blue states, including Oregon, who’ve adopted the rules.”
  • RICO defendant flees the state. Press release from Suisun News (via Facebook, June 9, 2025)
  • Fury as Republicans go ‘nuclear’ in fight over California car emissions (Guardian,. May 22, 2025)
  • Senate nullifies California’s electric vehicle mandate, using fast-track authority to bypass filibuster (CNN, May 22, 2025)
  • Trump is about to kill California’s EV rules (Politico, June 10, 2025)

Eric Lee: Judicial Watch Lawsuit against Oregon

  • The Beginning of the End for KNOWiNK? Oregon Dumps KNOWiNK TotalVote System Four Years Into Contract (Gateway Pundit, June 3, 2025)
  • Can Any States Using KNOWink Software Applications Be Confident in Safe and Secure Elections?  (Gateway Pundit, Jan 17, 2024)
  • Justice Department Backs Judicial Watch (Gateway Pundit, June 7, 2025)
  • Justice Department Files Statement of Interest in Oregon Elections Case Concerning States’ Obligations Under the National Voter Registration Act (DOJ, June 6, 2025)
  • Wow! In Washington DC? Democrats voted against illegals voting in U.S. elections? “House Passes Bill to Repeal D.C. Law Allowing Non-Citizens to Vote” (Gateway Pundit, June 11, 2025)
    • “Washington DC Local Resident Voting Rights of 2022” allowed non‑U.S. citizens, including potentially illegal immigrants and foreign agents, to cast ballots in local elections.
15-23 Democrats Assisting Oregon’s Suicide – With Republican Help

15-23 Democrats Assisting Oregon’s Suicide – With Republican Help

Show 15-23 Summary: The Democrats’ latest scheme to steal money from Oregonians to solve imaginary problems will kill businesses and jobs. It’s like watching democrats unplug Oregon’s life support. But why are three Republicans helping to push through a carbon cap and trade scheme? It will, allegedly (maybe), replace the governor’s existing climate protection program currently being phased in. Tune in to hear how and why this will chase even more businesses from Oregon and definitely prevent new ones from moving in.

Map showing the radio stations broadcast areas and air time for the I Spy Radio Show.
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

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: June 7th & 8th, 2025 | Guest: Jennifer Hamaker 

This Week – Democrats Assisting Oregon’s Suicide — With Republican Help?

The Democrats are raising taxes on practically everything. And they are especially hitting hard its businesses and the factors that generate income and economic activity. In other words, they are harming what would normally help a business grow. And let businesses hire new employees. They are demanding businesses and Oregonians pay more when the State refuses to cut back any spending. While that’s no surprise, it is a surprise that three Republicans have decided to help.

It’s like elected democrats are Dr. Kevorkian. And republicans are his aides. Because what they are hatching will kill Oregon businesses.

Get involved! Don’t be silent! It’s easier than ever to let your voice be heard on bad legislation. Head to this page on Oregon Live for contact info for your legislators. Includes a search function if you’re not 100% sure.
Here’s info for the three republicans mentioned supporting carbon cap and trade: Senator Bruce Starr and representatives Kevin Mannix and Jeff Helfrich.

Why the Democrats’ Plan will Kill Businesses

The Ivanpah solar plant was a massive $2.2 billion green energy boondoggle. But wait, it's even worse than it sounds.
WATCH: The Ivanpah solar plant was a massive $2.2 billion green energy boondoggle. But wait, it gets worse.

In our last show, we interviewed Jonathan Williams, the president and chief economist of the American Legislative Exchange Council. We talked about the coming economic boom for America, thanks to trillion dollar deals Trump brought back from the Middle East. Which could generate up to $10 trillion in economic activity. America is being reshaped into a manufacturing-based economy.

But Oregon is likely to see none of that.

In fact, a recent business survey showed one quarter of Oregon’s business had been approached by other states to relocate. And of those two-thirds said they had already relocated or were expanding their presence outside of Oregon.

But when new businesses are created from those trillions, how many will think of Oregon? Few. If any. Why? Because Oregon is increasing fees and taxes and adding punitive regulations. Not just on businesses but on the potential employees of those new businesses. Worse, Oregon democrats want to punish you if you use (in their mind) the wrong kind of energy.

How many businesses don’t use energy? How many farms don’t use fuels for their equipment? Or how many trucks make deliveries without using fuel?

Move to Oregon where you’ll get punished? Or build in another state where they will welcome you with open arms?

Poison Pills: Carbon Cap and Trade vs. Climate Protection Plan

The democrats’ poison has already been administered. Now it’s just a matter of how quickly the patient will die.

We welcome back Jennifer Hamaker, the president of Oregon Natural; Resource Industries, or ONRI, Because it’s not just the democrats. It’s republicans who are helping to unleash this on Oregonians.

In 2019, Oregon made national news when republican senators walked out the capitol to deny quorum. And refused to come back until the democrats’ carbon tax bill was taken off the table. They had to go across state lines because democrat governor, Kate Brown, threatened to send the state troopers after them to arrest them and drag them back to the capitol.

But they held out. And time ran out. So instead, in 2020, Kate unleashed the Climate Protection Program, the same plan but through an executive order. But Oregon’s appeals court threw it out in 2023. Not to be told no when it comes to punishing people and businesses into submission, Oregon’s DEQ relaunched the same plan with a few changes in 2024. We’re in the “gentle phase” of three phases.

The next phase kicks in. And it’s punitive. But not until 2028. Conveniently after the 2026 election. How bad? The fees to use natural gas will be more than the gas itself. And how bad will that be? According to Jen, if you pay $100 a month for your gas bill, it will skyrocket to $300 per month. Just from the fees. For using the “wrong” fuel for energy. You can imagine what they’ll do to gasoline and diesel.

Stupid Republicans Assisting Assisted Suicide

Tune in to hear why Senator Bruce Starr and representatives Kevin Mannix and Jeff Helfrich are considering helping the democrats pass the slightly less poisonous of the two poison pills. Where the Climate Protection Plan will kill businesses quickly, Republicans are willing to swallow the less poisonous (for now) pill of the carbon cap and trade.

It’s a trap.

Don’t take either pill. Oregonians need to feel the full weight of democrat oppression. Let the democrats take the blame. And Republicans should spend the next year talking about what’s coming in 2028. Unless Oregon finally votes for Republicans.

Don’t miss this show. Because if think paying democrats to pretend to solve imaginary problems is bad enough, you haven’t heard where the money will go.

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Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

  • Jennifer’s organization is Oregon Natural Resource Industries. Their website is ONRI.us
  • Don’t be silent! Let the three republicans (and your own legislators!) know what you think about the Climate Protection Plan and the carbon cap and trade legislation. Here’s info for the three republicans mentioned: Senator Bruce Starr and representatives Kevin Mannix and Jeff Helfrich.
  • Watch that video on Ivanpah. California’s extreme green solar plant that failed. After wasting 2.2 billion. And share that! It’s a prime example of a green energy boondoggle coming soon to Oregon. Here’s the link to copy and share: https://way.lop.temporary.site/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ivanpah-Stupid-Idea-and-Waste.mp4
  • Solar Plant Wants to Pay Off Massive Government Loan with Massive Government Grant (Reason, Nov 11, 2014)

Not mentioned but related

Also also related

  • Fury as Republicans go ‘nuclear’ in fight over California car emissions (Guardian,. May 22, 2025)
    • “Senate votes to reverse EPA waiver and prevent state setting own rules”*Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets and updates its own federal standards for all states on smog and emissions from cars and trucks … But for decades, California has been granted the ability to make those rules even stricter”
  • Senate nullifies California’s electric vehicle mandate, using fast-track authority to bypass filibuster (CNN, May 22, 2025)
    • “Republicans were livid when at the end of former President Joe Biden’s term, the Environmental Protection Agency greenlit California’s plan to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, shifting the state towards electric vehicles.”
  • Kash Patel Announces Charges Against Chinese Nationals In Agroterrorism Case (Trending Politics, June 3, 2025)
  • “A Better Way Than Cap and Trade” (Bjorn Lomborgh, Dec 16, 2008).
  • The End of the EU’s Cap-and-Trade Affair (Bjorn Lomborg, Apr 24, 2013)
  • From the true believers: Carbon Markets 101
15-21 Bigger than the Big Beautiful Bill

15-21 Bigger than the Big Beautiful Bill

Show 15-21 Summary: Trump knows what he’s doing long-term with America’s economy and has a strategy to get there. The Big Beautiful Bill is one step toward it. He has other strategies outside of Congress. We discuss the “BBB” and the bigger picture of how Trump is reshaping the whole of America’s economy.  Moody’s downgrade, the not-serious-enough spending cuts, and whether DOGE’s work has all been for nothing. We’ll help fill in the gaps of what you’re not hearing in the left-stream media — and help you better understand what you’re hearing in more reliable media.  Like, why did so many on the right completely miss what Trump was doing with tariffs? Plus some truly worrisome responses to a recent survey of Oregon’s businesses. Hint: everything Oregon’s Democrats are doing will make it worse.

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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: May 24th & 25th, 2025 | Guest: Jonathan Williams

This Week – Bigger than the Big Beautiful Bill 

What’s bigger than the Big Beautiful Bill? Fixing America’s economy itself.

But there are a lot of hurdles to get there. Not least of which is dealing with Republicans in the House and Senate. Not to mention Democrats (and a few Republicans) who would and will do anything to sabotage Trump’s attempts to fix America’s problems.

At the top of the list is America’s massive spending problem. Both parties got us here. And Moody’s recently downgraded America’s credit rating because of the exploding debt. In 2019, In 2019 we spent $4.5 trillion—the last year we had some fiscal common sense. That blew up in 2020 with covid. By 2024 that exploded even more to $6.9 trillion. An increase of over 50%.  In just five years. Worse, we borrowed $2 trillion to spend that $6.9 trillion.

Right now, we borrow every dollar that we use to pay just the interest on our $36.8 trillion national debt. Interest payments alone eat up 20% of all federal income and by 2030 that will rise to 30% of all revenue. Thirty percent. Right off the top of our income. Just to pay interest.

Washington, DC? We have a problem.

And you’re not serious about fixing it.

Fixing the Bigger Problem

While it is true that the Big Beautiful Bill does not go nearly far enough to cut (slash) spending, it is just one step of many to get us to the Big Win. We’re getting there.

We have to remember that this will take time. There are no magic silver bullets. Four years of Biden left the US economy on the brink until Trump was elected, and his approach is backing us away from the economic cliff we were about to go over.

I mean, can you imagine if Kamala and the Democrats would be doing to us right now?

We’ll fill in the gaps of what you’re not hearing in the left-stream media and help you better understand what you’re probably hearing in more reliable media. Trump knows what he’s doing long-term with America’s economy and has a strategy to get there. The BBB is one step toward Trump reshaping the whole of America’s economy.

We welcome back Jonathan Williams, the president and chief economist of the American Legislative Exchange Council. We discuss Moody’s downgrade, the not-serious-enough spending cuts, and whether DOGE’s work has all been for nothing. We’ll fill in the gaps of what you’re not hearing in the left-stream media — and help you better understand what you’re hearing in more reliable media.  Like, why did so many on the right completely miss what Trump was doing with tariffs?

And we can’t have Jonathan on without at least one segment about Oregon. The business image Oregon is projecting to the nation is not good. Plus, you’ll hear some truly worrisome responses to a recent survey of Oregon’s businesses. Hint: everything Oregon’s Democrats are doing will make it worse. Far worse with Far Left policies.

Democrats never learn. Perhaps that’s why Oregon ranks so low in education outcomes.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Note: Articles/videos/sites/etc. specifically mentioned during the show are marked with a red flag ????

  • ???? Jonathan’s organization is the American Legislative Exchange Council, Visit them at ALEC.org. He is also the co-author of ALEC’s , Rich States, Poor States, an annual report on the 50 states’ economic competitiveness and outlook.
  • ???? A great website to find the brutal truth on our nation’s spending, yearly deficit, and total debt is: USA Debt. Look, if you dare.

Our Ballooning Debt and Moody’s Downgrade of America’s Credit Rating

  • ???? Moody’s downgrades United States credit rating, citing growth in government debt (CNBC, May 17, 2025). See paragraph 9. Yikes!
  • ???? Watch this: 4 stunning (and painful) charts from Dave Brat. Interest on the U.S. national debt is now 20% of total federal revenue and rising. We borrow every dollar just to pay interest. (Citizen Free Press, May 17, 2025)
  • Explaining the national debt and deficit: “What is the national debt?” (Fiscal Data, No Date)

DOGE and Spending

  • Vought taking over DOGE from Elon (Daily Mail, May 12, 2025)
  • Why Musk flopped (Globe Opinion, May 18, 2025)*Despite all the hoopla surrounding DOGE, federal spending is actually going up not down. 
  • The Recession is off! Trump economy defies ‘gloom and doom’ expectations (Just the News, May 13, 2025).
  • House Republican plan would force states to pay for a portion of SNAP (Capital Chronicle, May 13, 2025) *This will hit Oregon and California hard.* Entitlement Reform: The first rule of entitlement reform is not mention entitlement reform

The Fight for Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill

Oregon

Related Stories

 

15-20 Judicial Tyranny | Self-Inflicted Wounds

15-20 Judicial Tyranny | Self-Inflicted Wounds

Show 15-20 Summary: This week we’re talking about activist judges, nationwide injunctions, and what could be done. Plus, a look at what is happening here in Oregon in the legislature. The woke is winning which means Oregon will lose billions. Making Oregon’s business environment toxic will repel any chance of landing some of the trillions Trump is bringing back into the U.S. But hating Trump and going woke are the hill the Democrats will die on.

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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: May 17th & 18th, 2025 | Guests: Hans von Spakovsky & Dennis Linthicum

This Week – Injunctions on Trial. Oregon’s Self-Inflicted Wounds

We welcome back Hans von Spakovsky, the manager of the Election Law Reform Initiative and a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, to discuss judicial tyranny. Judges who are in clear violation of the Constitution by intruding into Executive Branch authority.

Fact: The only court established by the Constitution is the Supreme Court

There is no constitutional authority for district courts to reach outside their district. And yet they have been allowed to do so. Presidents do not have to obey these courts, so why have they? The Supreme Court on Thursday heard oral arguments on a case that could impact lower courts (there are 93 federal district courts) and a radical judge’s ability to issue a national injunction. This is a pivotal moment in U.S. history and whether unelected jurists have the power to anoint themselves as supreme leaders.

Then we welcome back former Senator Dennis Linthicum. He lost his seat when Republican senators walked out to deny quorum to stop the horrendous HB2002. The child mutilation bill. Now he’s swapped roles with his wife, who won his seat, and he’s her legislative aide. Does that new role give him new perspectives?

Oregon has a poisonous business environment thanks to taxes, fees, regulations, and other businesses fleeing the state. And this showed up in Oregon’s May revenue report. Democrats control everything at the state level—governor, super majorities in house and senate, all the state-level elected positions, and all the judges. But democrats are blaming Republicans. Really? And now democrats are raising taxes on everything.

Trump just brought back up to $10 trillions in new deals from his Middle East tour. With Oregon’s hatred of Trump and its own businesses, what’s the likelihood of any of those new trade dollars coming to Oregon. Tune in to hear Dennis’s surprising answer.

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

Hans von Spakovsky’s Segments

Dennis Linthicum’s Segments

Not Mentioned but Related to Today’s Show

 

15-19 The Green Brick Road to the Gold City Hits a Dead End

15-19 The Green Brick Road to the Gold City Hits a Dead End

Show 15-19 Summary: Tap your ruby slippers, Dorothy. It’s time to get back to reality. We are on the threshold of ridding ourselves of one of the biggest, most expensive scams in human history. Climate Change and so-called “green energy” (it’s not) are on the ropes, thanks to their bottomless free taxpayer money drying up. It’s amazing how this scam has fooled so many people. But maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise. They billions of dollars flooded the media to spread global warming hysteria and green energy propaganda. which led to hundreds of billions of dollars wasted on high cost, inefficient green energy. So long, goodbye.

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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: May, 2025 | Guest(s): 

This Week – The Wizard of Oz and Other Fantasies 

It was the Green Brick road to the Golden City. And Dorothy and her companions were told they just needed to make it down the path to reach the Gold City and all their greediest dreams would come true. Trillions of dollars waited for them. More wealth than they could ever imagine.

And then Trump got elected.

Now, with the wave of a pen, and dragging a reluctant Congress behind him, Trump is cutting off their funding they need to keep the scam alive. By taking away the billions of free taxpayer money from their marketing and propaganda, green will have to stand on its own. But because it only ever survived through massive subsidies, it won’t. It is more expensive. It is inefficient. And it will never meet the energy needs of tomorrow.

Renewable Green Energy Exposed as the Fraud it is

First up we welcome back Dr. Bonner Cohen, a senior policy analyst at CFACT. so many people have been fooled by Climate Change and Global Warming they believed green energy (it’s not green) would save us from the predictions the world would end.

Scary predictions led places like Spain and Germany and the rest of the EU to spend enormous amounts on inefficient green energy. Just weeks ago, Spain went 100% renewable. For one day. they quickly turned their nuclear plant back on. Which they plan to decommission. but they might want to hold off on that because a funny thing happened. The wind stopped blowing, and the sun stopped shining. And the entire country’s grid went down. A blackout that affected all of Spain, Portugal, and parts of France.

I wonder if anyone sitting in the dark thought that, just maybe, these renewables weren’t such a great idea after all.

We talk about what happened — and the irony of what was happening that same day over in Poland.

Global Warming Programming and Predictions

Next, we talk with Marc Morano, the editor of Climate Depot — fantastic clearing house of real information about the scam of Climate Change. The Doomers have been making catastrophic climate predictions for decades. But none of them come true.

Or, actually, they do come true. Tune in to find out how they do it.

Our prediction: “Green” energy and fake renewables may disappear but in 2170, Climate Change Doomers will still be predicting we only have 10 years to do something. Bank on it.

But now that the public money is drying up for green energy what does that mean for the overall scam of Climate Change? How long will it take to deprogram people who have been fooled but can’t admit they’ve been fooled?

That might become easier now that the propaganda arm of climate change is losing all their billions they got for things like so-called research to prove climate change was real. And that it really will happen — this time. Trust us!

Google, one of the biggest pushers of the climate change scam, is suddenly taking a hard turn away from green energy by going nuclear. And that runs them right up against reality. They can’t keep telling us that green energy is the solution when clearly they themselves are living the opposite.

Tap your ruby slippers, Dorothy. It’s time to get back to reality!

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

  • Both of our guests are with CFACT — Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow. 
  • Marc is editor of ClimateDepot.com, a project of CFACT. Want the reality of Climate Change? Get it at Climate Depot.
  • Google agrees to fund the development of three new nuclear sites (CNBC May 7, 2025)
  • An Inconvenient Truth’s 19th Anniversary (Real Climate Science, May 5, 2025)
  • Energy Budget Blueprint Cuts $19.3 Billion (Epoch Times, May 7, 2025)*Cuts $19.3 billion in dedicated funding for Biden-era “green energy” initiatives.*Increases funding for the National Nuclear Security Administration by 25% — without that bump, it would otherwise be a budgetary cut of 18.2 percent
  • Surprise! Two new studies find ice is rebounding at BOTH poles! ‘Surprising pause’ in Arctic sea ice decline & Antarctica sees ‘record-breaking accumulation of ice’ (Climate Depot, Nay 7, 2025)
  • The secretive government unit planning to dim the sun (The Telegraph, via Yahoo News, May 7, 2025)
  • Dr. Patrick Moore – Carbon and Climate Catastrophe (Steamboat Institute, YT Channel, August 28, 2024)
  • BBC: ‘How the political consensus on climate change has shattered’ – ‘The political climate is very different…reaching net zero is fast becoming a political dividing line’ (Climate Depot, May 8, 2025)
  • U. of Cambridge prof Mike Hulme declares his dissent: ‘I disagree with the doom-mongers’ – ‘Climate change is cited as the sole explanation for everything going wrong in the world. Drought, famine, flooding, wars, racism – you name it’ (Climate Depot, May 8, 2025)
  • LA Times: ‘The high cost of California’s green energy policies’ – ‘Cost of electricity in state is now the highest in the continental U.S.’ – ‘High energy prices are a self-inflicted wound’ (Climate Depot, May 8, 2025)
  • The claim that any species, including mammals, can only survive within a narrow ONE DEGREE range is not just misleading… it’s dangerously pseudoscientific’ (Climate Depot, May 8, 2025)
  • THIS NASA’s GISS Gets the Boot: A Seinfeldian Saga – ‘Climate models churned out by GISS might just be as fictional as a Vandelay Industries’(Climate Depot, May 8, 2025)
15-08 Winning! Dominance! — And the Losers Trying to Stop It

15-08 Winning! Dominance! — And the Losers Trying to Stop It

Show 15-08 Summary: This week we’re looking at some exciting executive orders that, instead of “trickle down,” could be a boulder rolling downhill and cause an avalanche of wealth and economic activity. The National Energy Dominance Council. And then in the second-half of our show, we look at these activist judges that are trying to throw themselves on top of all of President Trump’s executive order grenades. What can be done? Why are democrats determined to fight democracy? Which brings up a bigger question about all that fraud…

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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: February 22nd & 23rd, 2025 | Guests: Craig Rucker & James Hirsen

This Week – It’s Dominance, Baby

Trump did not survive just to surrender. It is win, baby, win. It’s only been just over a month but a new, even more vigorous Trump is in Washington. And this time, his eyes are wide open. And he’s not stopping. The National Energy Dominance Council. It is going to blow up the “green” energy scam.

On the campaign trail, he talked about the Climate Change scam. The “green” energy scam. What he didn’t talk about was how the Climate Change / Global Warming / Green Energy scams were the largest, most expensive funding model for the Far Left. If you thought the tens of billions USAID spent on far-left causes was horrid, just wait until you hear about the trillions spent on Climate Change.

Up first, we welcome back Craig Rucker, the president and co-founder of CFACT — the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow. There have bene some incredible executive orders but the one establishing the National Energy Dominance Council is one of the most exciting. And, naturally, the economically uneducated “media” barely mentioned it.

American dominance. Trump signs executive order establishing the National Energy Dominance Council. Unleash the prosperity!
Click to watch on YT. National Energy Dominance Council begins at 1:19.

This will not be “trickle down” economics. It just pried loose an economic boulder that is going to unleash an avalanche of economic activity and wealth creation. Think about it. If the average family saves $500 a month because of lower electricity, water, and natural gas prices — and lower gasoline prices — that is $6,000 per household.

And, even better, if your family is saving that much, think how much business and industry will save. That means they can lower prices. Saving families even more.

Yeah. No wonder the media is ignoring energy dominance.

American Dominance and the Losers Trying to Stop It

While Trump and the Republicans push American dominance, the Democrats have staked out the rather odd position of opposing it. Which brings up an even bigger question about all that fraud DOGE has been uncovering. But more on that in a bit.

We also welcome back long-time I Spy Radio guest, James Hirsen, to talk about those activist judges. The Obama- and Biden-appointed judges who are throwing themselves on every executive order, American dominance grenade Trump throws out there. Which itself is an odd thing to do. It’s true. When people find fraud, the people yelling stop are the ones doing the fraud.

James is not just the well-known, bestselling author of Tales from the Left Coast, he’s an international attorney. And he has a terrific article that encapsulates the fight against these activist judges trying to stop Trump’s executive orders: “Birthright Citizenship and Five Little Words” on JamesHirsen.com.

Clearly, Trump not only believes birthright citizenship is wrong, he knew it would create a constitutional logjam and force a final ruling from the Supreme Court. How will it do? A lot of people are worried about the two squishiest judges, John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett. But if they follow the Constitution and the clearly original intent of the crafters of the 14th Amendment, those five little words should sway them. But can they put the Constitution ahead of their personal feelings?

And don’t miss that bigger question the discovery of all that fraud raises. Why aren’t the Democrats joining in to find even more fraud? Clearly, there is fraud.  Clearly, DOGE (the Department Of Government Efficiency) is uncovering fraud. Rather than try to stop it, why not help Republicans find even more?

Everybody hates fraud and abuse. Being on the side of fraud and waste means everyone will hate Democrats. Not smart.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Not Discussed but Related

  • Climate lawsuits fail in state courts (Just the News, Feb 10, 2025)
  • Hold by Trump administration includes $52M (OregonLive, Feb 10, 2025)
  • California’s $20 Fast-Food Minimum Wage: Job Losses, Higher Food Prices, Increased Automation (California Globe, Feb 19, 2025)
    • “Berkeley Research Group Study: California’s fast-food restaurants lost 10,700 jobs making it the worst performing year outside of a recession”
15-02 MEGA MAGA | Make Economics Great Again

15-02 MEGA MAGA | Make Economics Great Again

Show 15-02 Summary: You can’t Make America Great Again without MEGA. Make Economics Great Again. This week we take a look at how the new Trump administration can make the economy great again. We do that with Jonathan Williams, the president and chief economist for the American Legislative Exchange Council. We look first at how stupid environmental policies in California have led to the disastrous Los Angeles wildfires. And we look at Trump’s tax plans. Can he really replace income taxes with tariffs? And we look forward to a more efficient government that absolutely must cut spending if we are ever going to get rid of the deficit to start cutting into the debt.

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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: January 11th & 12th, 2025 | Guest: Jonathan Williams

This Week – MEGA: Make Economics Great Again

One of the best things Trump’s MAGA can do is MEGA. Make Economics Great Again.

We welcome back Jonathan Williams, who was recently promoted to president over at ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council. ALEC is all about developing good, common sense, sound policy that they help states implement.

We start our discussion with these stupid environmental policies in California that have led to the disastrous Los Angeles wildfires. The incompetent people in charge are trying to blame climate change for their stupid policies. In part, they are correct. Their religious belief in climate change led them to the stupid policy of not doing forest management.

Let’s be clear: IF you truly believe in climate change, and that the world is getting hotter and drier as a result of global warming, then you should be doing more forest management than ever. And not what the environmental left has been doing, which is nothing.

But of course stupid policies are not limited to California. Many of those stupid environmental policies along with hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer dollars spent on climate change, come from Washington DC.

Can Trump MEGA?

We talk with Jonathan Williams about what new policies are needed, and what old policies definitely need to go. How many of those environmental policies will be forced to go when the federal funding keeping them alive disappears? But what new, good policies are needed? And are there examples of good policies at the state level that ought to trickle up to the federal level?

And what about those taxes?

People forget that for most of America’s history, there was no income tax. And the federal government got most of its funding from tariffs. can trump really make that happen and replace the income tax with tariffs? Is that even feasible? well, it can’t happen unless there are some significant cuts to the budget, and we talk about that too.

Get informed about how MAGA can make MEGA really happen.

Well, lookee here:

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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

Related/Further Information

  • Oregon, blue states rule top inflation states (Oregon Catalyst, Jan 7, 2025)
    • “The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis ranks Oregon as the eighth most expensive U.S. state to live in.”
  • The Good, the Bad, and the Uncertainty of the Trump Economy (Project Syndicate, Dec 31, 2024)
  • Not good when D’s aren’t even investing in Oregon.: “Arizona wins third and final federal semiconductor research hub; Oregon’s hopes dashed” (OPB, Jan 6, 2025); “Arizona wins last of 3 planned federal chip research sites” (OregonLive, Jan 6, 2025)
  • State regulators approve more electricity rate hikes for Oregonians in 2025 (The World, Jan 7, 2025)
    • Shouldn’t the policy be to provide the most power for the lowest price? If individuals or individual businesses want to buy solar or wind, they can. But don’t punish the average person.
  • Lawmakers propose pause on rate hikes (Capital Chronicle, Jan 7, 2025)