Wake the Bear Radio - Episode 258

Opening & Show Updates

• Date: August 31, 2026 (2 months until midterms)
• Host Note: Ron Powers was absent last week due to work obligations but is back for full show this week
• Ron's Project: Built a pedal-powered rail cart on abandoned railroad tracks in Capitola, CA to take aging parents on scenic rides as a way to honor their past investments in his family

Major News Topics

Dolly Parton Tribute

• Passed away at 98 years old (lived a full life)
• President Trump honored her with flags at half-mast for one week
• Key Facts:
• Wrote "I Will Always Love You" (famously covered by Whitney Houston)
• Also wrote "Jolene" - both released same evening in 1973
• Turned down Elvis Presley's request to record duet because his manager demanded 50% publishing royalties
• Born in one-room cabin in Appalachia with 11 siblings
• Married Carl Dean (met in laundromat)
• Raised 5 younger siblings; couldn't have biological children
• 100+ million record sales; among top female country artists all-time
• Known for faith, sense of humor about her appearance
• Conspiracy Note: Stories about matching birth/death times (8:25 AM) were debunked upon research

Election Integrity Breakthroughs

• President Trump signed voter integrity executive order establishing:
• Ballots mailed only to verified U.S. citizens 18+ (via DHS/SSA verification)
• USPS will not deliver ballots from states that don't submit mail-in voter lists
• 8 states allow all-mail voting; 29 offer no-excuse absentee
• Mail-in voting increased from 11% (2004) to 30% (2024)
• Supreme Court backed the Trump plan
• Election Security Measures:

1. Restricting mail-in ballots to verified citizens
2. Mandatory paper ballot audits in midterms (especially targeting CA)
3. ICE deportations as deterrent to illegal voting
4. Cutting funding to NGO complex (reducing riot funding)

• Issues with Compliance:
• States like California resisting submission of voter rolls
• Mark Wayne Mullen (DOJ) noted Chinese components in voting machines
• DHS now requiring security enhancements; states must comply to receive federal election funding

Secret Service Leaks

• Senior Secret Service officials caught leaking classified operational information
• Anthony Guglielmo (U.S. Secret Service Communications Director) and 2 others fired/placed on leave
• Security clearances revoked; devices seized
• FBI & CIA conducting external investigation
• Context: Follows Trump's Air Force One security incident in Turkey where press crew was separated

Congressional Obstruction

• Senate performing "gavel in/gavel out" to block recess appointments
• Senator Ted Budd doing ceremonial gavels every 10 days to prevent true recess
• Prevents President Trump from making recess appointments (other presidents averaged 150-200)
• Blocking presidential agenda; seen as betrayal by Trump-supporting Republicans

Crime Arrests & Hypocrisy

• Rep. Ilhan Omar's son's apartment raided: Roommate arrested with firearms; 10 prior convictions
• Omar is vocally anti-gun despite weapons found in her son's home
• Shows family proximity to criminality

Fake Polls & Election Manipulation

• Polling company admitted releasing fake LA mayoral poll
• Showed Karen Bass leading by 12 points; claimed 85% of conservative voters supporting Bass (clearly fabricated)
• Media amplified fake poll widely
• Part of "information warfare" strategy per Lara Logan
• Paid Influencers Problem:
• Fake TikTokers/social media personas paid by Democrats
• Example: "Ivy Mish" - California actress pretending to be Michigan mother
• Haley Stevens (MI Democrat candidate) paying out-of-state influencers for fake testimonials
• Anti-MAGA messaging with no proper political disclosure
• Targeting CA, NY, OH, messaging support for Sharia law for Muslims
• Trump's Response:
• Posted on Truth Social: "Fake polls used by our crooked media are out of control...FCC to the rescue"
• Correction to NBC's Kristen Welker: Trump endorsement success rate is 97-98% (98% US House, 100% US Senate recently)
• 35% of Republicans don't vote in midterms—key turnout issue

Key Political Themes

Trump Strategy & Military Operation

• "Trust the plan" messaging: Department of War posting "Very odd. Sorry to keep you waiting, patriots"
• Trump using Art of War/Art of the Deal strategy
• Not showing his hand; keeping operations confidential
• Not playing golf for 120+ days to do 3 speaking engagements daily
• Described as "complicated business" of extracting infiltrators

Voter Concerns

• Conservatives grumbling over Trump policies (fake MAGA bots + Chinese bots amplifying discord)
• Media suppressing good news; amplifying bad news
• Critical call to action: "Pretend I'm on the ballot" - turnout is essential
• Christians especially need to vote to protect religious freedom

Enos Cantor WNBA Story

• Ejected from Chicago Sky game after supporting WNBA player Sophie Cunningham
• Player Natasha Cloud confrontation:
• Yelled "she's not gonna sleep with you" at Cantor
• Cloud cursed heavily in front of kids
• Cantor responded calmly about supporting women & his favorite player
• Security ejected Cantor (unprecedented for fan)
• Cantor's Peace Summit Proposal:
• Offered to hold mediated peace summit with WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert
• Caitlyn Jenner as moderator (noted: Jenner opposes trans athletes in women's sports)
• Calls to "define what a woman is"
• Pointed out WNBA has become "laughingstock"
• Brilliant strategy exposing intellectual bankruptcy of woke positions

AB-2614 "Stop the Nick Shirley Act"

• California law specifically targeting journalist Nick Shirley for exposing immigration fraud
• Creates protected class for "immigration support service providers"
• Could criminalize journalists exposing fraud if anyone claims "unreasonable fear"
• Carl DeMaio petitioned DOJ to investigate constitutional violations
• Likely unconstitutional under First Amendment

Lake Ontario → Lake America Renaming

• Trump renamed Lake Ontario to "Lake America"
• Exposes hypocrisy: Left has been renaming everything for years without votes
• Technically accurate (both US & Canada border it; both in Americas)
• Bill Maher comedy bit: "liberals mad you can't rename things for political reasons...ask any Latinx birthing person"

Closing Themes

• Key message: Don't give up; "reap harvest in due season if you don't give up"
• Need more people saying "the emperor has no clothes"
• Action items: Vote, get neighbors to vote, pray for Trump's protection
• Christians have a moral obligation to participate politically
• Hard season ahead but important work being done

Key Quotes

• Trump on assassination risk: "5% of presidents get killed...ones that weren't very good have no problems"
• Morris: "This is a federal crime"—intentionally publishing fake news to undermine president
• Lara Logan: "Polls are critical. This is the heart of information warfare"
• Enos Cantor: "You have turned the WNBA into a laughing stock"