Breaking Battlegrounds

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck Warren and Sam Stone are joined by former Arizona Supreme Court Justice Andrew Gould, former Congressman Mike Garcia, comedian Lou Perez, and Utah County Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner. Plus, B breaks down the ongoing search for accused murderer Isabella Rose Johnson in this week's B's Crime Corner.
Andrew Gould, a partner at Holtzman Vogel and former justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, joins the show to explain the major differences between serving as a judge and working as a litigator. While litigators advocate for a specific client or interest, judges are required to remain neutral, follow the Constitution, and apply the law regardless of political pressure.
Gould discusses his transition between the bench and private practice and shares his concerns about the increasing politicization of the judiciary. He explains why judges should not be attacked for following the Constitution and addresses recent cases in which state and federal courts have been accused of resisting or defying Supreme Court rulings.
The conversation also examines claims that the Trump administration has ignored court orders. Gould argues that while the administration has pushed the boundaries of executive authority, it has followed court decisions after losing its legal challenges.
Gould also discusses a major Supreme Court campaign-finance case involving mandatory donor disclosure. He explains how forcing organizations to reveal their donors can expose individuals to harassment, retaliation, and political intimidation.
The discussion expands into the importance of anonymous political speech, from the Federalist Papers to the Supreme Court's decision in NAACP v. Alabama. Gould also raises concerns about threats against conservative Supreme Court justices and the growing impact of government surveillance, private data collection, drones, and new technology on Americans' Fourth Amendment rights.
Learn more about Andrew Gould and his work at Holtzman Vogel.
Mike Garcia, chair of the California State Chapter for the America First Policy Institute and former U.S. representative for California's 27th Congressional District, joins the show to discuss biological males competing in women's sports, the political pressure driving Democrats further left, and why Republicans must move beyond social media and connect directly with voters through town halls, door knocking, and grassroots outreach. He also explains AFPI's role in developing policy and influencing White House executive orders.
Follow Mike Garcia on X: @mikegarcia1776
In this week's B's Crime Corner, B examines the ongoing manhunt for Isabella Rose Johnson, who is wanted in connection with the murder of Jason Coulthart.
Authorities say Johnson remains on the run and may be using aliases to conceal her identity. Five people accused of helping her avoid capture have now been arrested. As the search continues, the reward for information leading to her arrest has increased to $11,000.
Comedian, producer, and author Lou Perez returns to the show to discuss the controversy surrounding Sophie Cunningham's comments about transgender athletes competing in women's sports.
Lou examines the WNBA's position on the issue and points out that the league currently has no transgender women playing in it.
The conversation then takes an unexpected turn as Lou breaks down a 2007 University of New Mexico study examining whether a lap dancer's ovulatory cycle affected her earnings. The study found that dancers earned more money in tips while ovulating, raising questions about biology, attraction, and whether customers were responding to subtle signals without realizing it.
Lou also previews his upcoming "Parental Advisory" comedy show in New York City on July 30.
Follow Lou Perez on X: @LouPerez
Book: THAT JOKE ISN'T FUNNY ANYMORE: ON THE DEATH AND REBIRTH OF COMEDY
Finally, Utah County Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner joins the show to discuss the massive financial and logistical burden the Charlie Kirk murder trial is placing on Utah County.
Gardner estimates that security, staffing, court operations, and other trial-related expenses could cost the county between $2 million and $2.5 million through 2028. She explains how a nationally watched murder trial can strain local resources for years and why taxpayers may ultimately be responsible for much of the cost.
Follow Amelia Powers Gardner on X: @Amelia4Utah
Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about.
Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube.
Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds:
• Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds
• Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote
• News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news
• X: https://x.com/breaking_battle
• Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds
• Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing.
Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone examine election security, Colorado's dramatic political transformation, one of true crime's most infamous hot-mic moments, the battle over American history at the Smithsonian, political upheaval in Latin America, and the Federal Reserve's fight against inflation.
Ethan Barton, an editor at The Washington Free Beacon and former editor in chief of The Daily Caller News Foundation, joins Chuck and Sam to discuss President Donald Trump's recent election-security speech. Barton explains why concerns about foreign interference from countries such as China and Russia deserve serious attention, while arguing that combining separate election issues can sometimes weaken the broader message.
The conversation then turns to Colorado's transformation from a competitive purple state into a reliably Democratic stronghold. Barton breaks down the role of strategic Democratic investment, liberal population centers, weak Republican infrastructure, limited donor support, taxes, business losses, and changing economic conditions.
They also examine rising anti-Israel sentiment within portions of the Democratic Party and the closely watched race in Colorado's 8th Congressional District, where Republican incumbent Gabe Evans faces Democrat Manny Rutinel in one of the country's most competitive congressional battlegrounds.
Follow Ethan Barton on X: @ethanrbarton
Read his reporting at FreeBeacon.com
Next, B's Crime Corner revisits the disturbing story of New York real-estate heir Robert Durst.
Durst was long suspected in the 1982 disappearance of his wife, Kathie McCormack Durst, and the 2000 murder of his close friend Susan Berman. His secrets finally began to unravel during HBO's The Jinx when he entered a bathroom after an interview without realizing that his microphone was still recording.
While speaking to himself, Durst uttered the chilling words that would become one of the most infamous moments in true-crime history. The recording helped renew attention on the case, and Durst was eventually convicted of Berman's murder in 2021.
B's Crime Corner returns every Friday with a new story of murder, mystery, and mayhem.
Mike Gonzalez, the Angeles T. Arredondo E Pluribus Unum Senior Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, joins the show to discuss a 162-page White House Domestic Policy Council report examining exhibits and educational materials at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
Gonzalez argues that the museum has increasingly presented American history through ideological and activist frameworks instead of providing a balanced account of the nation's achievements and failures. He also explains the Smithsonian's enormous educational reach, its dependence on taxpayer funding, and why the institution's portrayal of American history matters as the country approaches its 250th anniversary.
Follow Mike Gonzalez on X: @Gundisalvus
Learn more at Heritage.org
Carrie Filipetti, executive director of the Vandenberg Coalition and a former deputy assistant secretary of state for Cuba and Venezuela, joins Chuck and Sam to discuss the devastating earthquake in Venezuela and Colombia's recent presidential election.
Filipetti examines the enormous loss of life and infrastructure damage in Venezuela, the government's delayed response, and the difficulties of delivering assistance while holding the country's ruling regime accountable.
She also explains Colombia's rightward political shift following the election of Abelardo De La Espriella and what the result could mean for security, energy development, regional stability, and the future of relations between the United States and Colombia.
Follow the Vandenberg Coalition on X: @VandenbergCo
Connect with Carrie Filipetti on LinkedIn
Learn more at VandenbergCoalition.org
Finally, Gary Gygi, president of Gygi Capital Management, returns to discuss Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's approach to inflation and the economic outlook.
Gygi explains why he views Warsh's supply-side focus as a potentially positive development for economic growth. He also examines the current market environment and identifies healthcare and materials as sectors investors may want to watch as inflation, interest rates, and federal monetary policy continue to shape the economy.
Follow Gary Gygi on X: @GaryGygi
Learn more at GygiCapital.com
Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about.
Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube.
Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds:
• Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds
• Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote
• News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news
• X: https://x.com/breaking_battle
• Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds
• Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing.
Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, host Chuck Warren flys solo to examine the growing appeal of socialism, the failures of government price controls, allegations of foreign-funded political unrest, the Charlie Kirk murder case, Arizona's escalating school-choice battle, and a new approach to America's federal assistance programs.
First, former prosecutor and U.S. Senate Chief of Staff Chuck Flint joins the show to explain why price controls often make housing, healthcare, and other necessities more expensive and less available. Using New York's rent policies and Obamacare as examples, Flint discusses the consequences of government interference in private markets and responds to the rise of socialist candidates such as Zohran Mamdani.
Flint also discusses his experience as a prosecutor and examines how anti-ICE demonstrations and unrest are organized and financed. He outlines reported connections involving activist networks, Neville Roy Singham, and possible Chinese Communist Party influence.
The conversation then turns to the preliminary hearing for the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk. Flint explains why death penalty cases require extensive procedural safeguards, how prosecutors attempt to protect a conviction from future appeals, and why poorly managed judicial dockets may contribute more to court backlogs than a shortage of judges.
Follow Chuck Flint on X: @ChuckAFlint
Learn more about the Alliance for IRS Accountability: IRSAccountability.org
Next, B takes listeners inside the mysterious final hours of Chalino Sánchez in this week's B's Crime Corner. The Mexican corrido singer built his career by writing about violence, survival, cartels, and the experiences of people around him. During his final performance in Culiacán in May 1992, Sánchez was filmed reading a note that many believe contained a death threat. Hours later, armed men reportedly abducted him, and his body was discovered the following morning.
Was the note truly his death sentence, and who ordered Chalino Sánchez's murder?
Matt Beienburg, Director of Education Policy at the Goldwater Institute and Director of its Van Sittert Center for Constitutional Advocacy, then joins Chuck and Sam to discuss the fight over Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account program.
Beienburg explains how teachers unions gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures for a ballot initiative that could significantly restrict the ESA program, which now serves approximately 100,000 students. He warns that the proposal could impose income limits, restrict eligibility, and remove unused scholarship money that families have saved for future educational expenses.
He also discusses the Military Family Protection Act, a proposed Arizona constitutional amendment intended to protect scholarship funds belonging to military families. Because the proposal would be placed in the state Constitution, it could override conflicting statutory changes if voters approve both measures.
The conversation also covers two Arizona ballot measures addressing race-based discrimination, the role of outside money in ballot campaigns, and whether voters receive enough information about who is financing major initiatives.
Follow Matt Beienburg on X: @MBeienburg
Learn more about his work: GoldwaterInstitute.org
Finally, Nic Dunn, Vice President of Strategy and Senior Fellow at the Sutherland Institute, joins the show to discuss "empowerment accounts," a proposal to combine multiple federal assistance programs into one streamlined monthly benefit.
Dunn explains how the system could reduce administrative complexity, provide stronger incentives for recipients to work and increase their earnings, and address the benefit cliffs that can punish families for becoming more financially independent.
He also offers a balanced perspective on artificial intelligence, recognizing its potential benefits while addressing legitimate concerns about its social and economic effects. The discussion concludes with a look at how the Sutherland Institute uses podcasts, videos, and other multimedia formats to make detailed policy research accessible to a broader audience.
Follow Nic Dunn on X: @nicdunnutah
Learn more at SutherlandInstitute.org
Listen to Nic's podcast, Defending Ideas, at DefendingIdeas.org
Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about.
Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube.
Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds:
• Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds
• Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote
• News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news
• X: https://x.com/breaking_battle
• Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds
• Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing.
Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone bring listeners a special Fourth of July episode focused on America's founding principles, political hypocrisy, civic education, and a chilling unsolved Independence Day murder case.
First, Sam Stone is joined by Jay Lapeyre, CEO of Laitram LLC, Board Chair of the Cato Institute and The Atlas Society, and a founding leader of the Free Society Coalition. Jay discusses the Declaration of Independence, the moral foundations of liberty, and why America's founding truths still matter today. He explains how the Declaration project grew out of a desire to move beyond partisan division by focusing on shared principles, civil discourse, human dignity, moral agency, and the pursuit of happiness. Sam and Jay also explore the Free Society Coalition's Declaration challenge, which encourages Americans to read, reflect on, and discuss the Declaration of Independence with family, friends, and neighbors.
Next, Chuck Warren talks with Andrew Kerr, investigative reporter at The Washington Free Beacon, about his reporting on congressional financial disclosures and the wealth of politicians who campaign as working-class champions. Andrew explains how lawmakers can delay disclosures, why some still file in analog format, and what he found in Rep. Ro Khanna's financial records, including family interests tied to private golf clubs and wealth management. They also discuss Arizona Democrat Joanna Mendoza and questions raised after changes to her reported net worth.
Follow Andrew Kerr 
X: @AndrewKerrNC
Then, Brenda Hafera, Assistant Director and Research Fellow in The Heritage Foundation's B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies, joins the show to discuss the Heritage Guide to Historic Sites. Brenda explains how the interactive guide evaluates historic sites across the country for accuracy, bias, and educational value ahead of America's 250th anniversary. She also breaks down the American Revolution, the Stamp Act, religious institutions, civic virtue, literacy, self-government, and why everyday Americans should return to primary source documents to better understand the country's founding.
Explore the Heritage Guide to Historic Sites at the website below:
historicsites.heritage.org
Finally, B's Crime Corner closes the episode with a Fourth of July true crime story: the unsolved murders of Shane Stewart and Sally McNelly. B walks through the timeline of the 1988 case, the suspects who emerged over the years, the Satanic Panic surrounding the investigation, and the lingering questions that remain decades later.
Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about.
Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube.
Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds:
• Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds
• Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote
• News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news
• X: https://x.com/breaking_battle
• Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds
• Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing.
Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone dive into the biggest political and cultural fights shaping the country.
First, Chuck and Sam discuss the controversy surrounding Major League Baseball's Pride Night events, including questions over whether players on California teams were properly told they would be expected to wear special Pride-themed caps and uniforms. They argue that most sports fans, including many gay fans, are not looking for political messaging at the ballpark and simply want to watch the game.
The conversation then turns to low voter turnout in recent New York elections, how DSA-backed candidates successfully targeted younger voters, and why traditional Democratic turnout operations may be changing. Chuck and Sam also examine FIFA's decision involving rainbow flags at an upcoming Iran vs. Egypt match in Seattle, progressive contradictions on human rights, and broader concerns about radicalism, Sharia law, and national security.
Then, B brings another edition of B's Crime Corner with the tragic case of Officer Isaiah Cordero, who was fatally shot during a traffic stop on December 29, 2022, by repeat offender William McKay. The case sparked a massive police manhunt and raises serious questions about bail practices, repeat offenders, and public safety.
Next, Tony Napolitano, Senior Attorney at the Goldwater Institute, joins the show to break down two major legal battles. He explains the Supreme Court's decision striking down Hawaii's restriction on lawful firearm carriers bringing guns onto private property open to the public without explicit permission. He also discusses Goldwater's lawsuit against Phoenix over what the group calls an illegal land giveaway in Roosevelt Row, where the city plans to sell property appraised at $4.8 million for just $1.5 million, potentially costing taxpayers $3.3 million.
Learn more about the case at the Goldwater Institute: goldwaterinstitute.org
Finally, Susan Crabtree, National Correspondent for RealClearPolitics, 2024 Dao Prize winner, author of Fool's Gold, and contributor to the California Post and City Journal, joins the show to discuss her investigation into Gavin Newsom, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and nonprofit influence in California. Susan details concerns involving corporate donations, school film screenings, taxpayer-funded nonprofit programs, homeless housing projects, illegal immigration services, and weak oversight in California's nonprofit sector.
Follow Susan Crabtree and find more of her work on X: @susancrabtree
Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about.
Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube.
Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds:
• Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds
• Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote
• News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news
• X: https://x.com/breaking_battle
• Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds
• Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds
If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing.
Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces.