The Heartlander Report

Stuart McMillian opens with a Supreme Court order that leaves a lower-court pause on the Trump administration’s ban on hormone therapy for federal inmates in place while litigation continues. A Kansas man is charged after social-media threats against the president, and Rep. Ilhan Omar faces a federal probe into her immigration history. The Rhode Island Democratic Party chair resigns amid a fraud case involving her husband, and pressure grows on Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to opt into a federal school-choice tax credit. 

The center of the program is Missouri Amendment 6, which would require an 80 percent leg...

Stuart McMillian opens with President Trump rejecting a plan to live-stream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan after backlash that a broadcast could aid recruitment. The administration also removes federal Obamacare subsidies for nearly 200,000 people listed as deceased or double-enrolled, a move officials say targets fraud without cutting real coverage.

Michaela Estruth explains a Department of Health and Human Services report accusing 225 hospitals of miscoding so-called gender-affirming care for minors. The report finds diagnostic codes for conditions such as precocious puberty used on older teens to secure Medicaid payment for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and...

Dr. Josh Mann and Adam Wittenberg open with the third anniversary of Hamas's October 7th terrorist attack on Israel. They share stories from Americans who acted right away, including Addie Vaxman, the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, who began raising money for defensive gear for Israeli soldiers the very next day, and they discuss the antisemitism Jewish people continue to face. Next, The Heartlander's exclusive interview with Kansas Republican gubernatorial nominee Ty Masterson, who says Kansans "could not have a starker contrast" between him and Democrat Cindy Holscher on property taxes, school choice, affordability and drug policy. The Heartlander also...

Stuart McMillian opens with two hard court stories: the lone holdout juror in the Lindsay Clancy trial, Michael Desronvil, who says the focus belongs on the three children, and the aggravated-murder conviction of former American Idol contestant Caleb Flynn in the death of his wife, Ashley. The hour also covers the Department of Education restoring Title IX’s 1972 biological definition of sex, a Gallup finding that 41 percent of Americans now view socialism favorably, and a University of Missouri ban after a non-student advocated political violence at a Turning Point USA event. 

The center of the program is a S...

Michaela Estruth opens with President Trump at the United Nations, where he framed a choice over Iran, predicted pressure on Cuba’s regime, and said the government should call artificial intelligence “superintelligence.” An EPA official told Audrey Streb the administration wants AI to speed energy permitting. Senator Josh Hawley argues Missourians should vote on data centers and that no project should raise power or water costs. He also pressed Flock after a Senate hearing on its camera network, saying the company tracks more than license plates and that executives skipped the hearing.

The episode then covers a White...

Michaela Estruth discusses Vice President J.D. Vance's visit to Kansas City, where Operation Heartland Surge announced $245 million in recovered theft, charges against more than 80 people, and the suspension of 870,000 alleged PPP borrowers. Vance, Attorney General Todd Blanche, and FBI Director Kash Patel said the work now extends to Medicaid, including claims that hospitals hid banned procedures for minors under other billing codes. Estruth asked Vance how to lock anti-fraud work into lasting law and whether Medicaid cases are on the list. He said the task force is looking, invited Democrats to join, and warned thieves that the way...

Michaela Estruth marks two hard anniversaries in the same week: 25 years since the September 11 attacks and one year since the assassination of Charlie Kirk. President Trump hosted first responders and victims’ families in Washington and posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Wells Crowther, the “man in the red bandana.” Heartlander reporter Audrey Streb speaks with retired FDNY captain Tom Colucci, now a Catholic priest, who says the worst and best of that day strengthened his faith.

The episode also covers a first-of-its-kind Republican midterm convention in Dallas, a failed Nike shareholder proposal asking the company to stu...

Dr. Josh Mann and Michaela Estruth lead with exclusive audio from a Kansas City, Kansas public-school meeting that later appeared in a first-of-its-kind Department of Justice lawsuit. The Civil Rights Division sued the district for facilitating gender transitions for minors without parental consent. Heartlander News first reported the meeting 18 months earlier. In the recording, officials discuss changing DEI titles after a federal crackdown, holding “underground railroad conversations,” looking for loopholes, and keeping a student’s preferred name from parents. One teacher describes a young student coming out at school and routing the matter through a social worker rather than the ch...

Josh Mann and Michaela Estruth open with the death of Dolly Parton at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer. They reflect on her cultural impact, philanthropy, larger-than-life public persona, and the quieter faith she spoke about more openly in later years. The conversation then turns to President Trump’s executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America amid an escalating trade dispute with Canada. After talks collapsed, 50 percent tariffs on roughly $20 billion in Canadian goods took effect, with Canadian retaliatory measures scheduled for September 8. Estruth reports on Meta’s $17.1 billion settlement with 47 states over alleged harms to children on F...

Michaela Estruth joins Josh Mann to unpack several major stories from the week. The lead discussion centers on David Morens, a top former advisor to Dr. Anthony Fauci, who pleaded guilty to defrauding the United States by moving official COVID-related emails—including discussions of the lab-leak hypothesis—to a private Gmail account to evade FOIA requests. The correspondence also shows efforts to keep sensitive material off federal systems and even celebrate the concealment. Additional coverage includes new FBI data showing a 9.3 percent drop in violent crime from 2024 to 2025—the largest year-to-year decline in nine decades—with murders falling to levels n...

Heartlander News reporter Stuart McMillian joins Dr. Josh Mann to recount his exclusive tour of the Idaho National Laboratory alongside NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. The focus is SR-1 Freedom, the first fission-powered spacecraft designed for nuclear electric propulsion and a path to Mars, with a hard launch target of December 2028. Isaacman stresses the urgency of the second space race as China prepares to land Chang’e 7 at the lunar South Pole, while the Department of Energy and NASA accelerate reactor development at record speed. 

McMillian describes walking through restricted prototype facilities, radiation-shielded labs, and vibration-test rigs that sim...

Michaela Estruth discusses her interview with Senator Josh Hawley conducted the day after nationwide primary elections. Hawley describes the Democrat Party’s sharp leftward shift, the rise of woke socialist candidates who favor government control, gender ideology in schools, and chemical abortions, and contrasts Missouri’s rejection of a more radical progressive with Michigan’s nomination of a Democratic Socialists of America candidate for Senate.

The conversation turns to Hawley’s push to ban corporations from using AI and personal data to set individualized prices that charge customers differently for the same product or service. Additional topics include...

Michaela Estruth discusses her interview with Senator Josh Hawley following a contentious Senate hearing in which Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment. The conversation examines newly released personal journals covering 2019–2022 that appear to conflict with public statements on the origin of COVID-19, including early notes suggesting the Wuhan market was an amplifier rather than the source and limited consensus among experts on natural emergence.

Hawley argues that Fauci’s presidential pardon removes the basis for pleading the Fifth and that the repeated refusals constitute contempt of Congress; he has introduced legislation targeting the use of gove...

Culture Reporter Michaela Estruth discusses her interview with Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri. The conversation centers on Hawley’s letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche seeking justice for nearly full-term infants whose remains were discovered in a dumpster in Washington, D.C. several years ago. Hawley questions whether outfits such as Planned Parenthood may be violating partial-birth abortion bans and chemical-abortion laws, and he presses for an investigation so that those responsible can be held accountable.

They also examine an undercover probe of Plan C, an abortion-pill provider that has shipped pills beyond FD...

This episode covers the Supreme Court justices testifying before Congress on rising security needs and threats against judges and their families. The discussion examines personal accounts from the justices, increases in political violence and rhetoric, and the role of technology in amplifying threats. 

Vice President J.D. Vance’s appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast is reviewed, including his comments on foreign influence in U.S. policy, the release of Epstein files, and the Senate filibuster. 

Other stories include the new president of the National Education Association and ongoing memb...

Dr. Josh Mann, Adam Wittenberg, and Michaela Estruth review major stories from a busy week. They discuss the withdrawal of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner amid serious allegations, escalating tensions with Iran including U.S. strikes and sanctions, and the Supreme Court’s significant rulings on women’s sports, campaign finance, and more. Additional coverage includes the cross-country American flag run honoring veterans, subdued Pride Month observances, World Cup visitors praising American hospitality, school choice debates, and the Kansas City Kansas Public Schools controversy. The episode also features reflections on America’s 250th birthday. A roundup of national and cultur...

Dr. Josh Mann and Adam Wittenberg celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a look at key stories shaping the week. They discuss the Supreme Court’s major rulings, including upholding states’ rights to keep men out of women’s sports, striking down campaign spending limits, and decisions on mail-in ballots and birthright citizenship. The hosts also cover the dramatic flag run across the country honoring veterans, subdued Pride Month observances, World Cup visitors praising American hospitality, and a troubling first in the Netherlands with child assisted suicide. Additional topics include socialist gains in New York and the ongoing fight for scho...

In this episode of The Lion Week in Review, Dr. Josh Mann and Adam Wittenberg cover major headlines shaping the week. They begin with the devastating double earthquakes in Venezuela, the loss of life, and the U.S. commitment to send rescue teams and aid. The conversation turns to Major League Baseball’s pride-themed uniforms, Christian players writing Bible verses, and Senator Josh Hawley’s successful pushback against selective enforcement. They also examine troubling trends at UC Berkeley Law, where one in three students claims psychological disabilities for accommodations, and a foiled drone assassination plot linked to Missouri arrests. Addi...

Dr. Josh Mann is joined by staff writer Michaela Estruth and intern Ashley Luke to discuss their recent nine-day trip to Israel with Hillsdale College. The journalists share first impressions of biblical sites like the Mount of Beatitudes, Sea of Galilee, Western Wall, and Via Dolorosa, along with the contrast between long-held expectations and modern reality.

They recount powerful encounters with October 7 survivors at a kibbutz near Gaza, contrasting stories from Palestinian and Israeli speakers, and the lasting impact of Yad Vashem. The conversation explores geopolitical tensions, hospitality amid ruins, bomb shelter experiences, and...

Dr. Josh Mann and Adam Wittenberg break down a shifting cultural landscape during Pride Month. Several states are promoting Fidelity Month and Nuclear Family Month instead, signaling growing resistance to progressive celebrations. The hosts discuss reclaiming symbols like the rainbow, the outsized role of sexuality in modern identity, and the need for compassionate, truth-based responses rooted in the image of God. 

They also cover international developments with U.S. strikes on Iran and proposals for a federal gas tax pause amid rising prices and inflation. A key segment examines the Southern Poverty Law Center’s hate map, its...

In this week’s episode of The Lion Week in Review, Josh Mann is joined by Adam Wittenberg to discuss the top stories shaping the week. The House narrowly passed a resolution (215-208) directing an end to U.S. military involvement in Iran, while gas prices remain a concern and peace talks continue. A serious agricultural threat emerges as the screw worm parasite — capable of devastating livestock — has been detected, prompting USDA action including sterile fly releases. Trump names Todd Blanche as the next Attorney General. Adam breaks down growing resistance to teachers’ unions in red states, the benefits of schoo...

In this week’s episode of The Lion Week in Review, Josh Mann is joined in studio by St. Louis-based reporter Stuart McMillian. They break down the latest Republican primary results, where Trump-endorsed candidates continue to outperform expectations and defeat incumbents in key states including Texas, Indiana, Kentucky, and Louisiana. The conversation examines what these outcomes mean for the midterms, ongoing concerns about affordability and the Iran situation, and a new Democratic National Committee “autopsy” of the 2024 election that largely overlooked faith-based voters.

Stuart and Josh also reflect on the strengths of America’s two-part...

In this week’s episode of The Lion Week in Review, Dr. Josh Mann is joined by St. Louis-based reporter Stuart McMillian to break down the latest political developments shaping the Midwest and beyond. They discuss President Trump’s decision to hold off on further Iran strikes amid ongoing negotiations, recent primary election victories for Trump-endorsed candidates, and what these outcomes may signal for the upcoming midterms. Stuart analyzes Missouri’s legislative session, including 100 bills passed, a major constitutional amendment to phase out the state income tax, restrictions on hemp products and porn sites, and a born-alive infant protection measur...

In this week’s episode of The Lion Week in Review, Dr. Josh Mann is joined by staff writers Kaylee Obisesan and Michaela Estruth to discuss the top stories of the week. They highlight Missouri mom Hannah Harper’s inspiring American Idol victory with her original song “String Cheese,” written during postpartum struggles, and how it resonated with mothers nationwide while sparking conversations about traditional family values. The episode also covers the surge of Christian music and faith expressions on the show. 

Michaela shares insights from the Evangelical Press Association conference in Nashville, including The Lion’...

Dr. Josh Mann is joined by Adam Wittenberg to discuss the biggest stories shaping the week. They cover the latest developments on a potential US-Iran nuclear deal, including a framework for sanctions relief and inspections. The conversation also examines rising gas prices, the UAE’s exit from OPEC+, and how these shifts could strengthen American energy dominance. Adam shares insights from recent teacher surveys and stories, highlighting why many educators are leaving the profession — from student violence and lack of administrative support to changing classroom behavior. They explore school choice, teacher attitudes toward it, satisfaction levels in public vs. priv...

In this episode, Dr. Josh Mann and staff writer Michaela Estruth review the week’s major headlines, including congressional questioning of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Iran, the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision, and a Supreme Court ruling on Louisiana’s congressional map that could impact midterm redistricting.They then examine how big business continues to support transgender treatments for minors. Michaela details a Heritage Foundation shareholder push at IBM for transparency on charitable giving, including funds directed to organizations like The Trevor Project. A detransitioner testifies about rushed procedures, lifelong harm, and the need for corporations to recons...

Josh Mann and associate editor Adam Wittenberg examine the latest developments in the Iran conflict. They discuss President Trump’s extension of the ceasefire, the ongoing U.S. blockade, red lines on nuclear weapons, and questions about who holds power in Iran. The conversation explores whether broader peace in the Middle East could emerge in the coming months.The hosts then turn to domestic politics, analyzing redistricting efforts ahead of the midterms, including a controversial Virginia constitutional amendment, and assess Republican chances of holding congressional majorities. They also consider potential political moves, such as possible marijuana reclassification.A major fo...

Dr. Josh Mann and reporter Michaela Estruth examine the latest developments in the Middle East, including a new ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. They discuss how the Trump administration’s tax cuts are delivering real benefits to families, small businesses, and service workers—no longer taxing tips—and highlight positive stories from Kansas City business owners celebrating these changes.The conversation shifts to striking new statistics on births and abortions in the U.S., with Planned Parenthood reporting over 434,000 procedures in the latest fiscal year. Michaela breaks down w...

Dr. Josh Mann and Michael Ryan review the week's top stories. They discuss the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement announced just before Trump's deadline, optimism mixed with skepticism about the regime's reliability, and Trump's "art of the deal" approach. Local coverage includes a Wyandotte County repeat offender with over 50 convictions rearrested for murder while on probation, highlighting soft-on-crime policies and revolving-door justice. The conversation shifts to The Lion's new investigative series "Out of the Dark Ages," examining the origins of youth gender dysphoria as a social contagion fueled by social media, the Dutch protocol's role in puberty blockers and...

Chris Stigall welcomes Kathie Lee Gifford for an intimate Easter conversation on faith, her storied career—from Regis Philbin co-hosting to Today Show mornings—and her passion for biblical truth. Kathie Lee shares her journey from entertainment to deep rabbinical study, emphasizing the unity of Old and New Testaments as one story of God's love. She discusses her new book Nero and Paul: How the Gospel of Grace Defeated the Ruler of Rome, juxtaposing Nero's depravity with Paul's transformation and the triumph of grace. Kathie Lee critiques legalism, bad translations, and cultural division, urging authentic study of original Hebrew/Gree...

Chris Stigall delivers special Washington, D.C. interviews with key Trump administration figures. OMB Director Russell Vought details aggressive bureaucracy cuts—$17B below Biden levels, USAID shutdown made permanent, DOGE-like efforts, AI for oversight, and targeting woke/weaponized programs. Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair discusses policy execution, action-oriented leadership, affordability progress (wages up, inflation down, gas lower), and midterm framing as finishing the job against Democratic failures. Congresswoman Erin Houchin updates on the RESET Act for social media age limits (pushing 16+), counters Democratic attacks on voter ID/SAVE Act as insincere, and pitches GOP wins: safer, more prosperous Am...

Chris Stigall and Dr. Josh Mann break down the week's top stories from The Lion. They discuss the GOP's winter meetings in Doral—strategy sessions, policy planning, and media access amid midterm preparations—while noting media antagonism toward conservatives. The conversation covers affordability challenges, gas price spikes from the Iran conflict, and the uphill climb for Republicans despite a still-solid MAGA base. They examine Democratic obstruction on DHS funding, infighting on the right (Tucker Carlson, Meghan Kelly, JD Vance, Tulsi Gabbard, Joe Kent resignation), and the New York Times report on Cesar Chavez's alleged sexual abuse and grooming. The epis...

Chris Stigall delivers a special Washington, D.C. edition from The Lion, featuring exclusive interviews with two key Trump administration leaders the day after the State of the Union. U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer outlines the Department of Labor's broad role—from education and training to worker protections and retirement—highlighting pro-family policies, apprenticeships, skilled trades emphasis, and collaboration with SBA and Education to meet market demands. She discusses border security's workforce impact, legal immigration integrity, no tax on tips/overtime, and record small business optimism. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler details a historic small business boom—36 million firms, record...

Chris Stigall brings exclusive conversations from Washington, D.C. First, FDA Deputy Commissioner Kyle Diamantis discusses the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement's momentum on food quality. He credits Secretary Kennedy for elevating issues like food dyes, ultra-processed foods (70% of kids' calories), and the flipped Dietary Guidelines promoting real, whole foods—impacting school meals, SNAP, and $400 million daily federal nutrition spending. Diamantis addresses glyphosate frustrations as part of a non-linear progress toward regenerative farming, while noting industry responsiveness to consumer demand and the protein marketing boom.

Then, Congressman Derrick Van Orden previews Trump's State of...

From Capitol Hill ahead of President Trump's State of the Union, Chris Stigall interviews 23-year-old YouTube sensation Nick Shirley, whose viral videos on alleged massive fraud in Minneapolis (including Somali-run daycares and autism programs) have sparked investigations and worldwide attention. Nick shares his journey from church mission trips and self-funded content to confronting threats, facing security needs, and shaking hands with Trump at the White House. He discusses youth frustrations with affordability, college debt, Epstein file delays, and his faith-driven motivation to expose corruption in immigration, fentanyl, and welfare fraud.The next morning at the White House, Chris talks...

Recorded live from the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, Chris Stigall speaks with Debbie Kraulidis, Vice President of Moms for America and host of The Mom View, about the organization's growing influence in the Trump administration. Moms for America has received dozens of White House invitations, including rare access to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who credited moms for Trump's victory. Debbie shares stories of everyday moms being called to the White House for events on topics like Trump accounts for newborns and autism investigations, plus the launch of The Mom View show.

Chris also talks...

In this week's edition of The Lion Week in Review, Chris Stigall and Dr. Josh Mann break down the top stories shaping culture, policy, and faith. They highlight the White House launch of TrumpRx.gov, a new platform delivering lower prescription drug prices through most-favored-nation deals with pharmaceutical companies—bringing U.S. costs in line with global rates and marking a major win for American patients.

The discussion turns to a tragic mass shooting in British Columbia by an 18-year-old transgender individual, examining patterns of mental health struggles and gender dysphoria in recent violent incidents, while noting a...

Chris Stigall and Dr. Josh Mann examine major shifts in media and policy this week. They discuss mass layoffs at legacy outlets like The Washington Post, amid optimism for conservative voices gaining ground—especially in opinion sections—and a new generation of journalists emerging from places like Hillsdale College with constitutional and independent-minded training. They contrast this with persistent liberal bias in legacy newsrooms and journalism schools, noting how algorithms and new media are democratizing reach and challenging old monopolies.

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:07 - Legacy Media Layoffs

00:01:57 - New Generation of Journalists

00:03:20 - Tr...

Chris Stigall reports live from Washington, D.C., on President Trump's launch of Trump Accounts—a transformative program providing $1,000 seed investment accounts for newborns starting in 2026, with families and employers able to contribute up to $5,000 annually in tax-advantaged savings. Harnessing compound interest and stock market growth, these accounts could build six-figure sums by age 18 and potentially millions by retirement, fostering financial literacy, ownership in capitalism, and generational wealth.

Chris interviews Treasury Chief Counsel Joe Lavorgna on the program's mechanics, employer contributions, access at 18 for major life steps like homeownership or education, and its role in democratizing capitalism wh...

Chris Stigall and Josh Mann unpack the week's top stories shaping culture, policy, and national security. They lead with President Trump's framework agreement on Greenland—achieved through negotiation rather than invasion—highlighting its strategic importance for rare earth minerals, Arctic security, and countering Russia and China influence. Trump and Treasury Secretary emphasized America's economic strength benefits the world, pushing back on globalist reluctance while promoting national sovereignty and pride.

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:00:56 - Trump's Greenland Framework

00:02:27 - Historical Context of Greenland

00:04:10 - Strategic Importance

00:05:17 - National Sovereignty Mess...