Category: Trade

15-21 Bigger than the Big Beautiful Bill

15-21 Bigger than the Big Beautiful Bill

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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

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

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

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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

 

Oregon’s timber industry is about to be resurrected. Unless Oregon Democrats screw it up. They are defying Trump’s EOs, risking billions in federal funds. Plus tax hikes, woke ideology, and more.
15-13 Oregon Democrats Defy Reality, Risk Billions | Plus Oregon’s Timber Revival?

15-13 Oregon Democrats Defy Reality, Risk Billions | Plus Oregon’s Timber Revival?

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Show 15-13 Summary: This week on I Spy Radio, Representative Ed Diehl (HD-17) exposes how Oregon’s Democrat supermajority is working overtime to block President Trump’s Executive Orders, risking billions in federal funds to defend their woke ideology. Joined by Dr. Bob Zybach, who unpacks the benefits of these EOs for Oregon’s forests. Healthy and a revived timber industry. We dive into the state’s tax hikes, a controversial Santiam Canyon fires report, and the high-stakes battle between federal progress and democrat resistance. Tune in to understand what’s really at stake for Oregon’s economy and future.

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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: March 29th & 30th, 2025 | Guests: Bob Zybach and Ed Diehl

This Week –  Oregon Democrats Choose Ideology over Oregonians

Oregon stands at a crossroads. President Trump’s Executive Orders are set to unlock federal forests in Oregon for logging. This could revitalize the state’s timber industry, bringing jobs and economic growth. But there’s a major roadblock: Oregon’s supermajority Democrat-controlled state legislature is digging in, pledging to stand in the way of any positive federal changes at every turn—defending their woke ideology even at the cost of billions in federal funds.

The Promise of Healthier Forests

First up, Dr. Bob Zybach, a forest management expert and consultant, sets the stage by explaining why Trump’s EOs are a game-changer. He argues these orders could restore sustainable logging and healthier ecosystems—the first truly good news for Oregon’s forests in decades. He also shares a proposed executive order from the National Wildfire Alliance for even more practical solutions.

Dr. Zybach also uncovers a new Oregon Department of Forestry report on the 2020 Santiam Canyon fires, which claimed nine lives. The report shifts blame to the federal forest service, just as new legislation looms. Is this timing a coincidence—or a distraction?

Dr Zybach just published his third anthology, Forest Reforestation & Restoration. Maybe you should get a copy and give it to your legislator…?

Democrats Defy Progress, Risk Billions

In the second half of the show, Representative Ed Diehl (HD-17) reveals how the Democrat supermajority is working overtime to block Trump’s EOs. They’re defending their woke ideology, even if it means losing billions in federal funds—including for Oregon’s universities, which are already on shaky ground after recent waivers were revoked for non-compliance.

Tax Hikes to Offset the Loss? Yikes!

To make up for the potential loss of federal dollars, Democrats are taxing everything in sight. As we discuss, it’s probably easier to list what’s not being taxed. Rep. Diehl explains how these tax hikes will hit Oregonians hard, especially as the state risks its economic future. Oregon is already seen as one of the least business-friendly states in the nation. What you’ll hear will not change Oregon’s image on that front. Like SB916. Which already passed out of the senate and will pay union workers to strike.

Why This Matters to You

This episode is a wake-up call for every Oregonian. Will the state embrace federal progress, or will the Democrats’ defiance cost us billions? Tune in to hear Rep. Ed Diehl and Dr. Bob Zybach lay out the facts. As Mark Anderson says, this show might inspire even non-affiliated voters to take action.

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

Bob Zybach Segments – Timber Revival

  • Check back for Dr. Bob’s recent article when it is published (sorry, we jumped the gun a bit).
  • Read the National Wildfire Alliance’s proposed executive order (PDF) to bring back common sense wildfire fighting and prevention
  • New Oregon Department of Forestry Report Says PacifiCorp Wasn’t Responsible for Santiam Canyon Fire (Willamette Week, March 19, 2025)* “The long-awaited report supports the utility’s version of the deadly blaze.” *The report, released today to the Oregon Journalism Project under a public records request submitted in January, is a huge victory for PacifiCorp, the embattled utility that in 2023 was found by a jury to have been grossly negligent in declining to shut off power to the Santiam Canyon fire.
  • New Oregon Department of Forestry report says PacifiCorp wasn’t responsible for Santiam Canyon fire (Salem Reporter, March 19, 2025)
  • Judge dismisses $33 million timber lawsuit against U.S. Forest Service over 2020 wildfire response (Central Oregon Daily News, Dec. 18, 2024)

Ed Diehl Segments – Supermajority Democrats Seek to Punish and Defy

  • Legislation: HB 3917 Creates Catastrophic Wildfire Fund (Oregon Citizens Lobby, March 24, 2025)
  • Climate change tax: SB 1187, “Relating to greenhouse gas emissions” (Bill Overview, Text and Summary
    • You can submit testimony about SB1187 at this link. Deadline is April 7th.
  • PPS, OSAA targeted by feds over transgender policy (KOIN, March 25, 2025)
  • House GOP asks Feds to investigate OHA health care $$ misuse (Oregon Catalyst, March 24, 2025)
    • “This is state-sponsored medical experimentation on kids, paid for with your tax dollars,” said House Health Care Committee member Representative Ed Diehl (R-Stayton). “And when OHA’s own commission found no evidence to justify it, they buried the report.”
  • Trump administration revokes some federal funds to Oregon colleges, universities (KGW, March 27, 2025)
    • “The US Department of Education announced Thursday it is revoking federal waivers to Oregon and California colleges and universities that it says are using funding to provide services to migrants in the country illegally.”
  • Office for Civil Rights Launches Title IX Investigations into Portland Public Schools and the Oregon School Activities Association (US Dept of Education, Press release, March 25, 2025)
  • Democrats seek to revive ranked choice voting — AFTER voters rejected it by 58%
  • Nearly 60% of Oregon counties face program cuts (OPB, Mar 26, 2025)
    • At least 21 of Oregon’s 36 county governments, from the Portland metro area to rural southern Oregon, are facing deficits that could prompt cuts to public services, including law enforcement, road maintenance, and health care .

Related and Background Research

  • Not mentioned but this will be the focus of next week’s show:
    • Oregon officials challenge Trump’s election order as threat to democratic process (KVAL, March 26, 2025)
    • Oregon officials say Trump’s voting EO likely to face legal challenges (OregonLive, Mar 26, 2025)
    • Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Protects the Integrity of American Elections (Whitehouse, March 25, 2025)
      • The order would also require all ballots be received by election day nationwide, effectively moving election day for states like Oregon with vote by mail.
      • It would also cut federal funding to states that “don’t take reasonable steps to secure their election
      •  Oregon officials challenge Trump’s election order as a “threat to democratic process.”
  • The Climate Scam is Over (Dr Robert Malone, Substack, March 22, 2025)
    • Peer-reviewed AI analysis completely debunks all of the “man-made” claims
  • Trump Tackles Election Integrity With Sweeping Executive Order; Will Punish States That Don’t Comply (ZeroHedge, March 26, 2025)
  • US Supreme Court Rejects Long Running Youth Climate Lawsuit (Watts Up With That, March 25, 2025)
  • Calculating the “Social Cost of Carbon” with the GIVE Model: An EPA Model Not Ready for Prime Time (Heritage, January 24, 2025)
  • New Forest Service report reveals agency wants to max out logging (Wild Earth Guardians, April 5, 2024) *Agency proposes cutting both public involvement and forests important for combating climate change.

 

Elections matter. Stolen elections matter more. Clone voters and algorithms in our voter rolls?
15-10 2024 Election Consequences: Trump’s Triumph vs. Oregon’s Decline

15-10 2024 Election Consequences: Trump’s Triumph vs. Oregon’s Decline

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Show 15-10 Summary: In this episode, election consequences under the microscope. We zero in on the seismic divide between President Trump’s wealth-building vision and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s faltering policies. Natural resources expert Jennifer Hamaker unpacks Trump’s recent executive orders to revitalize federal forests and unlock their potential to shake up Oregon’s economy—despite Oregon’s efforts to take its state forests offline. Let them burn. Then we talk with attorney Peter Ticktin who exposes shocking evidence of voter fraud in Florida’s FL-14 race. This could be the first stone unturned in a national scandal involving millions of “clone voters.” With Oregon’s Democratic supermajorities pushing divisive bills and Trump’s agenda clashing with woke ideologies, this episode reveals the high stakes of the 2024 elections and leaves you eager for more.

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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: March 8th & 9th, 2025 | Guests: Jennifer Hamaker and Peter Ticktin

This Week – 2024 Election Consequences

Elections matter—and stolen elections matter even more. This week, I Spy Radio dives into the stark contrast between President Trump’s bold vision for America’s prosperity and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s failing, ideology-driven policies that are dragging the state down. From Trump’s game-changing executive orders to explosive allegations of voter fraud in Florida, this episode uncovers the real consequences of the 2024 elections—and what’s at stake for our nation.

First, we welcome back Jennifer Hamaker, the president of ONRI—Oregon Natural Resource Industries. Jen drops exciting news about Trump’s plans to transform federal forests from a massive (and expensive!) liability into a powerhouse asset. She reveals how these executive orders could revive Oregon’s struggling mills, create jobs, and dismantle the state’s disastrous Habitat Conservation Plan. Jen also flagged critical Oregon bills to watch—some worth supporting, others that must be stopped—especially with Democrats now holding supermajorities after the 2024 election.

A good bill? For once? Read ONRI’s post about HB3103 on Facebook. If you don’t use Facebook, head to this substack page from Cyrus Javadi where the post originated.

There’s so much more to unpack that Jen will return in a few weeks!

Elections Matter. Stolen Elections Matter More

In the second half of the show, we welcome Peter Ticktin (). He’s the Florida attorney leading what could be a jaw-dropping election challenge in FL-14. After veteran Rocky Rochford’s suspicious loss, Ticktin’s team uncovered potential evidence of hundreds of thousands of “clone voters” (or modified duplicates) in Florida’s voter rolls. Possibly millions nationwide.

Read the Rod Martin article: “The Florida Voter Fraud Case That Could Overturn Democrat Cheat-By-Mail” and check the show notes section below for more.

In Pinellas County alone, these potentially fraudulent votes could have accounted for a staggering 99.1% of all returned mail-in ballots. Some 197,000 out of 198,700 could be duplicates. Ticktin discusses the sophisticated cryptographic algorithm behind this alleged fraud—on par with NSA-level tech—and what it could mean for America.

This investigation is just heating up, and Peter will be back to share more soon.

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

Peter Ticktin – Election Lawsuit, Clone Voters

Related Stories for 2024 Election Consequences

 

 

Trump didn’t survive to lose. American winning and dominance ahead. Plus the losers trying to stop it.
15-08 Winning! Dominance! — And the Losers Trying to Stop It

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

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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

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

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

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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:

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

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)

 

Climate change scam true believers But is the end of the climate change scam at hand?
14-49 The Climate Change Scam: Is this the Beginning of the End?

14-49 The Climate Change Scam: Is this the Beginning of the End?

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Show 14-49 Summary: This week we talk to Craig Rucker about what we hope is the beginning of the end of the most extensive and expensive scam in American history — the Climate Change scam. (Or Global Warming scam if you’re old school.) With Trump’s election, there was weeping and gnashing at the annual UN confab for global warming, COP29, which Craig recently attended. We look at the impact the incoming administration will have on policies and personnel. And how changes at the top may filter down to Oregon. Including ruining one of its most recent environmental schemes, to make money from doing nothing.

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Original Air Dates: December 7, 2024 | Guest: Craig Rucker

This Week – The End of the Climate Change Scam

This week we are talking with Craig Rucker about what we hope is the beginning of the end of the most extensive and expensive scam in American history — the Climate Change scam. (Or Global Warming scam if you’re old school.) Under Biden a minimum of $1.5 trillion was transferred from the US taxpayer to Far Left organizations and causes. We start with the weeping and gnashing at the annual UN confab for global warming, COP29, which Craig recently attended. Many at the conference had been literally banking on a Kamala win to continue the funding that’s been flowing their way. Where will their trillions come from now?

MAGA ladies at COP29
MAGA ladies at COP29

Then we take a look at the impact the incoming administration will have on policies and personnel. And how changes at the top may filter down to Oregon. Including ruining one of its most recent environmental schemes, to make money from doing nothing.

And with Trump’s win, we’re able to move away from theoretical, “If Trump wins, what can we expect?” discussions. Now we can talk about what will happen and what needs to happen. We find out more about those tapped for Secretary of Interior, Energy, and for the EPA and what those appointments will mean for downsizing their agencies. And what policies especially need to be stopped that could unravel the multi-trillion-dollar Climate Change scam.

Is this the beginning of the end of the Climate Change scam?

Let the deprogramming begin.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Show Notes: Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Related Information on the Climate Change Scam

  • Net Zero Land Area (Steve Goreham, YT Channel, May 29, 2022)
    • The problem with Net Zero. A Princeton study found that to go from current 10% to 50% renewable by 2050, requires 228,000 square miles of land. That is more than Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Wisconsin — combined.
  • PBS Climate Change scam propaganda programming. If you don’t believe their scam, something is wrong with your brain. “How your brain stops you from taking climate change seriously” (PBS, January 7, 2019)
  • Exxon’s chief has a warning for Republicans (Politico, Nov 12, 2024)*The oil giant takes a stance before the Trump administration sets its sights on gutting Biden’s climate agenda.*warns republicans not to gut Biden’s climate agenda
  • DOGE Co-Lead Vivek Ramaswamy at CNBC’s CFO Council Summit (CNBC, YT Channel, Dec 4, 2024)
  • Crescent Dunes: Biden DOJ Moved on Election Night to Cover Up Alleged Solar Energy Scandal that Cost Taxpayers Hundreds of Millions (Breitbart, Nov 25, 2024). 
  • Environmental nonprofit fundraising draws criticism across political spectrum (Capital Press, Nov 14, 2024)
    • IRS filings by 20 nonprofit environmental organizations in the West have total net assets of nearly $2 billion dollars. Often significant amounts are set aside as an endowment to generate additional income beyond donations.
    • Nice. Taxpayers gave Far Left organizations seed money for perpetual income.

 

14-44 Final Sprint to Election Day | Truth about Trump v. Kamala Economies

14-44 Final Sprint to Election Day | Truth about Trump v. Kamala Economies

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Show 14-44 Summary: It’s the final sprint to the finish line. And the Friday before the election Kamalanomics got some pretty bad news: only 12,000 (not a typo) jobs created in October. And another 112,000 jobs were erased from September and August because they never existed outside of their original headlines that screamed how great the jobs were. This week, we talk with chief economist and executive VP of American Legislative Exchange Council about Trump vs Kamala economic policies. Who has the better economic record, the better administration policy to grow the3 economy, and what their future economies will look like. Kamala is floating some spooky ideas on taxes, spending and debt. And we talk about Trump’s policies that has the Big Spender spooked and why. Get out there and vote like your future and America’s future depends on it. It does.

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Original Air Dates: November 2nd & 3rd, 2024 | Guest: Jonathan Williams

This Week – Truth about Trump vs Kamala Economic Policies

October Surprise? ~The October jobs numbers just came out this morning at a paltry 12,000 new jobs. That’s not a typo. There isn’t a zero missing. Even more bad economic news: they erased another 112,000 jobs from the two previous months, September and August. Jobs that never existed outside the leftstream media propaganda headlines.

Just 12,000 new jobs for all of America (and we’d be negative if not for 40,000 government jobs). It’s a devastatingly low number for the Biden/Harris administration and after Kamala said there’s nothing she’d change regarding Biden’s policies.

Did you miss it? I Spy host had an article published in American Thinker: “The One Overlooked Reason Christians Should Vote in 2024.” Please share that with any reluctant Christians you know that are thinking of not voting.

Oh. And the GDP came in low. A sluggish 2.8%. Lower than the usual 3.0%.

This week, we welcome back Jonathan Williams, the chief economist and executive vice president of the American Legislative Exchange Council, to compare and contrast the Trump economy vs the Kamala economy. What were their records. What did they do right. And how will they differ if elected?

Kamala is floating some spooky ideas about taxes, spending, and debt. And Trump is floating some ideas that is spooking the big-government big-spenders. Listen and find out.

Personally? The difference really comes down to this: Trump wants to grow the economy. Kamala wants to grow government. It really is that simple.

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’s organization is ALEC – the 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!
    • You can follow Jonathan on Twitter at @TaxEconomist.
  • Head to Rich States, Poor States to see how your state is doing. And for a taste of what Kamalanomics and Walzonomics would be like, check out how badly Minnesota is doing under governor Tim Walz. (Hint: worse than Oregon!)
  • Check out Trump’s platform, “Agenda 47.” A 20-point plan, much of which focuses on the economy.
  • Mike Johnson discusses plan to get rid of Obamacare. (Via X, Oct 31 2024)
  • 3 Charts Show How Biden-Harris Admin Grew Debt by $8 Trillion (Daily Signal, Oct 22, 2024)
  • Five Frightening Financial Charts To Fear This Halloween! (ZeroHedge, Oct 31, 2024)
  • Jobs Shock: October Payrolls Huge Miss As Private Jobs Go Negative For First Time Since 2020 (ZeroHedge, Nov 1, 2024)
  • U.S. economy grew at a 2.8% pace in the third quarter, less than expected (CNBC, Oct 30, 2024)
14-32 Crashes and Recessions | Bidenomics, Kamalanomics, and Walzonomics

14-32 Crashes and Recessions | Bidenomics, Kamalanomics, and Walzonomics

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Show 14-32 Summary: Why talk about economics? Because the number one issue for most voters is economics. So if you want to influence how people might vote, you need to know the economic issues at stake and the differences between a Trump administration and a Kamala one. Poor jobs numbers caused the recent stock market crash. Was it just the unemployment numbers and the triggering of the 100%-accurate Sahm Rule that indicates we’re in a recession? Or did the economy not have faith in the guy with dementia allegedly in charge of it? Expect more downturns if Kamala and Walz get elected. The single best answer to Bidenomics, Kamalanomics, and Walzonomics is something we know works: Trumponomics.

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Original Air Dates: August 10th & 11th, 2024 | Guest: Jonathan Williams

This Week – Bidenomics, Kamalanomics, and Walzonomics

This week, it’s about economics, a topic that surveys repeatedly show as being the number one or near the number one issue for voters. We talk with Jonathan Williams from the American Legislative Exchange Council to take a look at the stock market crash beginning Friday August 2nd and rolling over to Monday. And the lingering jitters as a result of it. Are we one market correction away from a major recession?

Then we look at Bidenomics, Kamalanomics, and Walzonomics — all of which get progressively worse because each of those is further left than the previous one. Reagan once said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help.” Although we might have a new contender for the one- most terrifying word — Kamalanomics.

We don’t know what Kamala thinks. We don’t know if she thinks or is just spouting what other people tell her to think. But she has said she “loves Bidenomics!” and that she will get rid of the Trump tax cuts on day one if elected.

If you thought Bidenomics was bad, Kamalanomics will crush you. And Walzonomics would be even worse because he’s an avowed socialist.

Well. The answer to Bidenomics, Kamalanomics, and Walzonomics  is something we know works. Trumponomics. So we also take a look at some of Trump’s solutions. But with so much to talk about, time ran a bit short so we’ll have to take a look at his solutions in more depth on a future show.

Socialism is Not Neighborliness

Sorry Governor Walz, socialism is not neighborliness. Socialism is not kind. Socialism is not neighborly. Not even close.

Socialism is about total government control. It is the nationalization of the economy. And that only happens through the control of resources and the means of production, which happens through the end of private property. And if you don’t like it, socialism is imposed at the end of a gun.

Do you threaten your neighbors with guns, Governor Walz?

Our founders knew that without private property there really is no freedom.

Socialism deprives people of their incentives to do better. Their desire to succeed because it punishes those who try — as more and more “neighbors” lay their claim to someone else’s success and demand their piece of it bec they have been told they are entitled to it

I don’t know what kind of neighborhood you live in, Walz, but most neighbors I know don’t think that they are entitled to take someone else’s lawn mower.

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’s organization is ALEC – the 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!
    • You can follow Jonathan on Twitter at @TaxEconomist.
  • Head to Rich States, Poor States to see how your state is doing. And for a taste of what Kamalanomics and Walzonomics would be like, check out how badly Minnesota is doing under governor Tim Walz. (Hint: worse than Oregon!)
  • Check out Trump’s platform, “Agenda 47.” A 20-point plan, much of which focuses on the economy.

The Stock Market Crash and Recession

  • Dow drops 900 points, Nasdaq craters 2% in global market rout (CNBC, August 5, 2024)
    • Fears of a U.S. recession were the main culprit for the global market meltdown after Friday’s disappointing July jobs report.
  • Stocks routed in Asia, tumble in Europe as markets fear U.S. recession in wake of weaker than expected jobs report (CBS, Aug 5, 2024)
    • Japan’s benchmark stock index plunged 12.4% on Monday, compounding a global market rout set off by investor concerns that the the U.S. economy could be headed for a recession.
  • This recession indicator is flashing red, but the ‘Sahm Rule’ creator says ‘this time really could be different’ (Fortune, August 2, 2024)
    • “The Sahm Rule’s accuracy rate is 100% going back to every recession since the early 1970s.”
  • Unemployment Rate Spike Triggers ‘Sahm Rule’ Indicator, Signaling Potential US Recession (The Epoch Times, August 5, 2024)
  • Fury as Biden tries to defend his record – as stock market meltdown intensifies in afternoon trading in blow to 401(K)s (UK Daily Mail, August 5, 2024)
    • “Wall Street’s most watched gauge of investor anxiety logged its largest ever daily jump on Monday. [The Cboe Volatility Index or VIX] hit the highest level in four years — when it last spiked as Covid shut down the economy.

Kamalanomics

Walzonomics would be Worse than Kamalanomics

 

It’s the Economy, Stupid – But What Kind of Economy?

It’s the Economy, Stupid – But What Kind of Economy?

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Show Summary: Economics is always a strange business. But like so much else of American life, the Left is corrupting the economy and using it for their own means. Especially by involving the government. And now, with the Ukraine situation, we’re seeing private businesses waging a private war against Russia — when we’re not even at war with them. Combined with what happened in Canada, is this a foreshadowing of what will happen to our economic freedoms and liberties?

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, 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 out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: March 5th & 6th, 2022 | Guest: Jonathan Williams

This Week

To quote Bill Clinton, “it’s all about the economy, stupid.”

We take a look at the state of the union speech, the competency of those in charge and their agendas, the economy, and also the economic policies that politicians can win on this year. Even here in Oregon. Plus, with the war in Ukraine, we’re seeing an entire new kind of warfare being waged. Economic warfare on a scale we haven’t seen in ages and in ways we’ve never seen. Private companies waging a private war against a country we’re not actually at war with. Combined with what we saw in Canada, what does this mean for our economic freedoms and liberties?

READ: Jonathan’s terrific article about Utah and why they’ve stayed #1 in ALEC’s Rich States, Poor States for 14 years in a row. What are they doing that other states should be doing. And what could go wrong to knock Utah off its perch?
Get this article to your favorite candidate!

We talk with Chief Economist, Jonathan Williams, from ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) about what is going on. We talk about the SOTU speech, the competency of those in charge, and private companies blocking you when they don’t agree with your politics. And we’ll look at true economic policies to win on in 2022. Even right here in Oregon.

And don’t miss the discussion about what is happening, on economic terms, in the war between Russia and Ukraine. And what it means for our future economic liberties and freedom.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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

Links Mentioned Research, & Additional Info

Jonathan Williams is the Chief Economist and Exec VP at American Legislative Exchange Council. Visit ALEC.org to find out more about what they do and how you can get their policies to your politicians.