Guests - Betsy Smith, Kym Adair, Wayne Morrow, Dr. Mateja De Leonni

White House Renovations Spark Political Debate

The latest controversy surrounding White House renovations has revealed a striking double standard in American politics. While Democrats express outrage over President Trump's East Wing and ballroom renovations, their indignation rings hollow when viewed against recent history. As Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association, points out, "Aren't they the side that pulled down statues, burned down buildings, destroyed many monuments around the country?"

The manufactured outrage ignores the historical context of White House modifications. For over a century, presidents have enhanced and renovated the building to suit the needs of their administration. Theodore Roosevelt built the West Wing, William Taft added the first Oval Office, Franklin Roosevelt constructed a second floor to the West Wing and relocated the Oval Office, Harry Truman completely gutted and rebuilt the White House interior in 1948, Nixon installed a pool and bowling alley, and Obama upgraded the tennis court to a full basketball court.

What sets President Trump's renovations apart is that they're funded by donor money, including his own contributions. The improvements to the East Wing and creation of a new ballroom will complement the recent Rose Garden renovation that has made it more crowd-friendly. These enhancements serve a practical purpose – creating adequate space for White House functions and press events, addressing space limitations that have hampered previous gatherings.

Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom is overseeing a $1.6 billion expansion of California's state capitol, funded entirely by taxpayers. The contrast in media coverage and political reaction couldn't be more revealing.

Government Shutdown Continues as Democrats Hold Firm

Twenty-one days into the government shutdown, Senate Democrats led by Chuck Schumer continue to block passage of a clean continuing resolution (CR). While Republicans have voted 11 times to reopen the government, Democrats refuse to advance the legislation, creating a standoff that affects government workers across the nation.

Newly-elected Representative Adelita Grijalva, daughter of the late Representative Raul Grijalva, has made headlines by demanding to be sworn in despite the government shutdown. Critics note that instead of focusing on ceremonial procedures during a shutdown, she could be working with constituents or encouraging Democrat senators to support reopening the government.

The shutdown has significant implications for federal employees, including military personnel, police, and ICE agents, who continue to work without pay. As the situation unfolds, public sentiment appears to be turning against Democrats, with even CNN reporting that Trump's approval numbers continue to climb while Americans increasingly blame Democrats for the impasse.

Federal Court Allows National Guard Deployment to Portland

A significant legal victory for the Trump administration came this week when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a temporary restraining order that had blocked National Guard deployment to Portland, Oregon. Despite two different judges initially preventing the federal government from sending National Guard troops to protect federal facilities, the historically liberal-leaning Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of presidential authority.

The court concluded that the President was "exercising his correct statutory authority" after considering the record of attacks on ICE facilities and federal buildings in Portland. This decision allows the deployment of 200 Oregon National Guard members to protect federal property that has been under siege.

The Portland ICE facility has been a particular target, with nightly attacks forcing officials to remove all glass within three stories of the building due to constant breakage and attempts to throw Molotov cocktails inside. The facility has been boarded up as Antifa protesters continue their assault, using explosives, pepper spray, and projectiles against federal officers.

This deployment represents a significant step in addressing the ongoing violence in Portland, described by Smith as "the unofficial national headquarters of Antifa."

Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Prepares for Kickoff Luncheon

The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl is gearing up for its kickoff luncheon, scheduled for October 31st at the Tucson Convention Center. Kim Adair, Executive Director of the Arizona Bowl, shared exciting details about the upcoming event, which serves as the official start to bowl season.

This year's special guest is NFL legend Brian Urlacher, who played college football at New Mexico from 1996 to 1999 before being drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2000, where he became the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Urlacher, now an Arizona resident, has a unique connection to Tucson, having played against the Arizona Wildcats in the 1997 Insight.com Bowl.

The luncheon will also honor two special award recipients. The Dick Tomey Arizona Strong Award will be presented to Frank Bush, the renowned Hall of Fame swim coach from the University of Arizona who also worked with Olympic teams. The Volpe Tucson Strong Award will go to the Empower Coalition, a local organization that raises funds for veterans and active military.

"This is going to be a really fun event. It's not going to be like your average business luncheon meeting," Adair promises. Tickets are available for $105 each, with tables of ten available for $1,000, and all proceeds benefit local charities.

Last year marked Snoop Dogg's first year as title sponsor, and according to Adair, "They had the time of their life. Snoop especially really enjoyed it." The rapper embraced his "Coach Snoop" persona during the event, speaking to both teams before kickoff and participating in game commentary from the booth.

Arizona Bowl Impacts Community Through Charitable Giving

Beyond the excitement of the game itself, the Arizona Bowl has made significant contributions to the Tucson community. This past summer, the organization received applications from over 140 local charities and distributed more than $200,000 to 15-20 organizations, including the Humane Society, Girls Club, and smaller charities like a food bank in Oracle that assisted people affected by fire damage.

The bowl game, scheduled for December 27th, promises to be even more impressive this year, with Snoop Dogg returning with "some new things that he's planning, some friends he's bringing." The event has grown consistently, with last year nearly selling out the lower bowl of the stadium.

In addition to the bowl game and kickoff luncheon, the Arizona Bowl organizes numerous activities including a STEM activation that shows hundreds of children how science, technology, engineering, arts, and math integrate within a stadium environment, a pep rally downtown that draws thousands of fans, a player party, special luncheons, and a massive tailgate experience featuring the "Gin and Juice" tailgating zone.

The organization will also host its Taco Bell New Year's Eve Downtown Bowl Bash with fireworks presented by O'Reilly Chevrolet on December 31st. This free community celebration is moving to Hockney Park outside the downtown library this year to accommodate larger crowds. The event features a "taco touchdown" at midnight, fireworks, performance by the Lucky Devils band, and a silent disco. Last year's event drew 5,000-10,000 attendees, with capacity at the new location potentially doubling that number.

John Birch Society Calls for U.S. Withdrawal from United Nations

Wayne Morrow, CEO of the John Birch Society, made a compelling case for the United States to withdraw from the United Nations. The John Birch Society, a non-partisan civics and education organization that has been active for over 60 years, has long warned about the UN's true agenda.

"Get us out of the United Nations," Morrow urged. "They actually are the focal point for all those nasty, ugly, socialistic programs throughout the world." He emphasized that the UN's presence extends far beyond its headquarters in New York City, with hundreds of locations worldwide working toward global governance.

When asked about any tangible benefits the UN provides to the United States, Morrow was unequivocal: "No." While acknowledging some humanitarian aid efforts, he compared these to Al Capone building soup kitchens – token gestures that mask the organization's true purpose.

Morrow explained that the UN's 17 sustainable development goals are mechanisms for control, connected to everything from water and education to environment and clean energy initiatives. He linked these efforts to the World Economic Forum and Klaus Schwab's vision for global governance.

Currently, two pieces of legislation in Congress, HR 1498 and S 669 (the "Defund Act"), propose withdrawing the United States from the UN. Morrow noted that several years ago, a similar measure had 193 sponsors in Congress, showing growing momentum for the idea.

The John Birch Society provides educational resources about these issues, including the magazine "The New American" and books such as "UN Exposed" by Bill Jasper, the organization's president. Morrow encouraged listeners to research these topics themselves, saying, "Don't believe me, look into it, do your homework, you'll find out exactly what we talk about is true."

Walk to End Alzheimer's Brings Hope to Tucson

Dr. Mateja De Leonni joined the program to promote the upcoming Walk to End Alzheimer's, scheduled for Saturday at Gene C. Reid Park in Tucson. As the leader of the "Remember When" team, which has nearly 250 registered participants, Dr. De Leone expressed enthusiasm about recent breakthroughs in Alzheimer's treatment.

"We are actually ending Alzheimer's disease and curing it," De Leonni stated, highlighting that at least two FDA-approved medications now exist that can modify the disease progression. "They really either arrest the progression, sometimes reverse it... sometimes really slow it down," he explained. The goal is to maintain quality of life for patients, allowing them to continue enjoying family and friends.

The Walk to End Alzheimer's, which has been occurring since 1989, has mobilized millions of people nationwide. In Arizona alone, an estimated 151,500 people live with Alzheimer's, affecting approximately 292,000 caregivers.

The event will begin with gathering at 8:00 AM, though the actual walk won't start until around 9:30 AM. Participants can choose between one-mile and three-mile routes. Dr. De Leonni emphasized that people with mobility challenges, including those in wheelchairs, are welcome to join for the socializing and sense of community.

A highlight of the event is the Promise Garden ceremony, which takes on new meaning this year given the progress in treatments. "I think that that just puts a brand new meaning on the definition of hope that we have talked about so long," Dr. De Leonni reflected.

There is no fee to participate in the walk, though it serves as a fundraising event. Those interested in joining can find information through the "Tucson Walk to End Alzheimer's" Facebook group or by visiting alz.org.