Today's News with Larry Schweikart

TODAY'S NEWS, August 19-20, 2026

Episode Summary

The political landscape continues shifting against the DemoKKKrat Terror Party, with another round of polling misses, GOP registration gains, and several key races moving in the Republican direction. Trump is simultaneously reshaping government, restoring gun rights, tightening immigration enforcement, and restructuring national-security agencies, while new revelations point to ChiCom influence inside U.S. government. The DemoKKKrat Civil War keeps simmering, infrastructure failures in blue states remain a recurring punchline, and the transoid culture fight is producing increasingly public clashes. Economically, Nike's collapse, drone deliveries, rising manufacturing, and Scott Bessent's monetary strategy dominate. Internationally, Iran is increasingly isolated, Europe keeps chasing hydrogen, and another migrant wave heads toward Spain. Meanwhile, the Dr. Fallacy saga keeps widening into a much larger story about COVID-era secrecy, gain-of-function research, and government censorship.

Episode Notes

Political News

• Florida Republicans have gained 429,000 net registrations since November 2024, pushing their statewide lead to 1.54 million. California's Democrats still hold a 4.1 million advantage, but FL keeps marching.
• Florida counted its ballots virtually overnight while California took 38 days. Once again, polling got hammered, with Veeta Vita Vindman losing by 12 points after polls had her leading.
• Seth Keshel now sees FL-25 and AZ-1 looking better for Republicans, while Corey Mills' primary loss makes FL-7 more likely to remain Republican.
• The DemoKKKrat Civil War continues, with former DNC press secretary Jose Aristimuño backing R Mike Rogers in Michigan.
• Alaska's "Sullivan Show" is getting uglier, with DOJ subpoenas and allegations surrounding attempts to manipulate the Senate race.
• A proposed DemoKKKrat "summit" featuring Talcumpowder, Cackles, and Moonman Kelly apparently attracted almost nobody. Party of the youts, indeed.
• Patrick Ruffini says polling is particularly unreliable during summer. Recent WI and FL results reinforce the point.
• Eric "Farticus" Swalwell's alleged ChiCom connections are back in focus, including reported campaign donations through Fang Fang. Larry predicts Farticus could be the first big-name arrest.
• Jill Stein has been charged with assault and failed to appear in court.
• Maryland still hasn't rebuilt the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The state only now reopened bidding, with completion pushed to 2028 and costs more than doubled.
• The NSA allegedly blocked intelligence about ChiCom election interference from reaching Trump in 2020.
• Arcadia, CA's mayor resigned after pleading guilty to acting as a ChiCom agent.
• Kollyfornia is now dictating what tires residents can install on their cars after a flat. Expect Big O Tires in Quartzite.
• DOJ is restoring gun rights to more than 30 million Americans currently prohibited from owning firearms.
• Trump announced further White House upgrades, including a helipad.
• A driver killed two people and injured seven members of a collegiate cycling team.
• Kollyfornia is banning certain plants near homes as a "fire safe" measure rather than addressing its broader wildfire-prevention failures.

Illegal Criminal Alien News

• DemoKKKrat state legislatures have introduced more than 250 bills attempting to prop up illegal criminal aliens.
• An illegal criminal alien released by a Kollyfornia judge allegedly stabbed someone to death the following day. Larry argues judges should serve the sentence in cases like this.

Cultural News

• Trump's proposed triumphal arch received approval to begin construction.
• A San Francisco school where 94% of students fail math somehow has Cal Berkeley's highest acceptance rate.

Transoid News

• A mother and daughter at an Indiana Fever-WNBA game were told their "XX-XY" shirts supporting Sophie Cunningham were "offensive" and had to cover them or leave.
• A female wrestler alleges a transoid competitor sexually assaulted her and is suing over the policy allowing men to compete against women.
• A transoid received 73 months in prison for conspiring to kill Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Economic News

• ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen died at 93 after building the network from a credit-card advance. Larry wonders what he would think of ESPN now.
• Nike went woke, and its stock fell from the $130s to roughly $38.
• Amazon expects drone deliveries to reach 500 cities by year's end.
• Bots now account for roughly half of all internet traffic.
• Trump extended the Jones Act waiver to make it easier for critical fuel and oil to reach U.S. markets.
• Larry argues Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is fundamentally resetting the international monetary system with a strategy aimed at growing America out of its debt.

International News

• Europe continues doubling down on hydrogen despite the continuing debate over its practicality and economics.
• Secretary of State Muy Macho Marco imposed new sanctions on the International Criminal Court.
• CNN reports Iran has lost control of the Strait of Hormuz, while Axios says a stealth operation is moving nearly as much oil through the strait as before.
• Iran has reportedly offered a $30,000 bounty for capturing or killing a U.S. soldier. Larry's response: one American, 100 of theirs.
• Another illegal migrant invasion is reportedly heading toward Cueto, Spain, while Morocco has arrested nearly 300 people.
• Hayden Panettiere criticized Neutrogena shortly before her death after the company reportedly ended its contract with her. Neutrogena's stock is now falling.

Entertainment News

• Megxit and the Ginger Duke are reportedly moving back to Mediocre Britain. Larry questions whether the royal grift is still available.
• Two Milwaukee rappers were killed in a daylight shooting at their recording studio. Darned Amish.
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day has now topped $2 billion internationally, prompting Larry to raise his Avengers: Doomsday projection to potentially $3 billion worldwide.

Medical News

• David Morens, one of Dr. Fallacy's close associates, pleaded guilty to conspiring to evade public-records laws and conceal government documents related to COVID-era research funding.
• Morens also admitted accepting bribes from EcoHealth Alliance.
• A memo reportedly shows Michael Osterholm telling Dr. Fallacy he was avoiding government email to "avoid any FOIA issues." Larry argues this demonstrates awareness that the communications could become problematic.
• The messages concerned COVID masks, even as officials were allegedly pressuring social-media platforms to censor critics such as Rand Paul.
• Kindergarten vaccine exemptions have increased, though Larry says headlines exaggerate the scale.
• A Texas nurse who blew the whistle on alleged child transoid procedures was investigated by the FBI.
• Larry argues the real China Virus scandal extends beyond Dr. Fallacy to the broader history of illicit gain-of-function research.
• A new erectile-dysfunction drug reportedly carries a risk of blindness, while Moderna's cancer-vaccine announcement sent its stock higher.

And Finally

• Mrs. LS insisted on a trip to Buc-ee's in Goodyear, Arizona, which Larry found impressively enormous, with roughly 25 to 50 gas pumps and wall-to-wall customers.
• Now Buc-ee's is fighting Beavercreek, Ohio, over the famous beaver logo.