Rational Response

About Rational Response

A podcast hosted by Heather Delaney Reese and Pete Reese, Rational Response breaks down the stories affecting our country and calls out the lies and corruption surrounding them. www.heatherdelaneyreese.com (https://www.heatherdelaneyreese.com/s/rational-response-podcast?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Heather Delaney Reese and Pete Reese

Category

news · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Jun 2026

Latest episode

5 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Sept 2026

   Donald Trump knows he’s losing and just unleashed his last minute plan

   Today’s episode of Rational Response covers seven stories, starting with Trump’s attempt to change the rules for mail-in voting as the midterms approach. His administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow new restrictions that could keep eligible Americans from receiving their ballots, all under the familiar claim of stopping noncitizen voting. Then we get into JD Vance’s White House briefing, where he praises Trump for “winning wars” but says he “wouldn’t call” the conflict with Iran a war. He cannot predict when it will end, even as the Pentagon extends deployments into 2027. The middle of the episode puts the administration’s immigration agenda under a microscope. A career ICE official’s whistleblower complaint alleges recruits were receiving job offers before basic fingerprint, identity, and credit checks were completed, raising serious questions about who is being handed enforcement power. Meanwhile, the White House has launched an arcade website where players build a border wall and round up migrants. Turning detention and deportation into entertainment tells us plenty about how this administration wants Americans to see the people on the receiving end of its policies. We close with public health, the cost of living, and Trump’s latest exercise in self-promotion. Reuters reports that RFK Jr. asked the CDC to remove references to two Pennsylvania deaths from its measles tally after staff had already accepted the state’s assessment that they were linked to the disease. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent points to Ukraine, Canada, and Biden when asked about high prices, while the Iran war eats into Americans’ purchasing power. The U.S. Mint is selling dollar coins with Trump’s face on them, prompting legal objections from Democratic lawmakers and a question that should be easy to answer in a democracy: why is the government putting a sitting president on its money?See the full story in the video. We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms. Thank you for your continued support. Your paid subscriptions have enabled me to add a video editor and reach more people. Independent media is under attack. You can make a difference with a $5/month paid subscription. Your support allows me to keep telling the truth about the lies and destruction unfolding in our country, defend myself from constant pressure from MAGA extremists, and ultimately spread the message to more people. I’m fighting to save our country (before it’s too late). I’ll see you tomorrow, Heather *This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment. Sources: Trump’s Push to Restrict Mail-In Voting Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/03/trump-administration-asks-supreme-court-allow-mail-in-ballot-restrictions/ (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/03/trump-administration-asks-supreme-court-allow-mail-in-ballot-restrictions/) Bipartisan Policy Center: https://bipartisanpolicy.org/article/four-things-to-know-about-noncitizen-voting/ (https://bipartisanpolicy.org/article/four-things-to-know-about-noncitizen-voting/) The Economist (approval tracker): https://www.economist.com/interactive/trump-approval-tracker (https://www.economist.com/interactive/trump-approval-tracker) J.D. Vance’s Briefing and the Iran War Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/hegseth-extends-mideast-deployments-into-2027-escalating-strain-on-troops-c10fc533 (https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/hegseth-extends-mideast-deployments-into-2027-escalating-strain-on-troops-c10fc533) YouTube (additional video source) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pTOCCTcpQ8) White House briefing (full video) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNXZbscEn6I) ICE Whistleblower Alleges Recruitment Shortcuts The New York Times (whistleblower report): https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/us/ice-recruits-national-security-risk-whistleblower.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/us/ice-recruits-national-security-risk-whistleblower.html) KCRA (immigration-enforcement shootings): https://www.kcra.com/article/ice-shootings-trump-second-term-data/71920568 (https://www.kcra.com/article/ice-shootings-trump-second-term-data/71920568) The New York Times (ICE arrests data): https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/08/27/us/ice-immigrant-arrests-trump-deportation-dhs.html (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/08/27/us/ice-immigrant-arrests-trump-deportation-dhs.html) The White House’s Immigration Arcade Games White House Website - Arcade Games:https://whitehouse.gov/arcade (https://whitehouse.gov/arcade) AP: https://apnews.com/article/trump-white-house-video-game-arcade-d540ff089ed5b1d432715a4209b16a23 (https://apnews.com/article/trump-white-house-video-game-arcade-d540ff089ed5b1d432715a4209b16a23) CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/03/politics/white-house-arcade-games-immigrants-border-wall (https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/03/politics/white-house-arcade-games-immigrants-border-wall) PBS NewsHour (ICE polling): https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/poll-nearly-two-thirds-of-americans-say-ice-has-gone-too-far-in-immigration-crackdown (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/poll-nearly-two-thirds-of-americans-say-ice-has-gone-too-far-in-immigration-crackdown) Harvard Kennedy School (immigration polling): https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty-research/policy-topics/democracy-governance/how-do-americans-feel-about-president-trumps (https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty-research/policy-topics/democracy-governance/how-do-americans-feel-about-president-trumps) RFK Jr. and the CDC’s Measles Death Tally Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/kennedy-asked-remove-pennsylvania-measles-death-cdc-tally-sources-say-2026-09-03/ (https://www.reuters.com/world/kennedy-asked-remove-pennsylvania-measles-death-cdc-tally-sources-say-2026-09-03/) Scott Bessent and the Cost-of-Living Crisis Economic Policy Institute: https://www.epi.org/blog/trumps-war-in-iran-has-wiped-out-1-5-years-of-wage-growth/ (https://www.epi.org/blog/trumps-war-in-iran-has-wiped-out-1-5-years-of-wage-growth/) The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/15/business/inflation-worker-pay.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/15/business/inflation-worker-pay.html) AP: https://apnews.com/article/gas-diesel-prices-us-iran-war-ebd01b9773365ee40550dcfd7d3ebf87 (https://apnews.com/article/gas-diesel-prices-us-iran-war-ebd01b9773365ee40550dcfd7d3ebf87) FactPost on X (Bessent interview clip) (https://x.com/factpostnews/status/2095175485995077754?s=20) Trump’s Face on U.S. Dollar Coins TIME: https://time.com/article/2026/09/02/trump-1-gold-coins-go-on-sale/ (https://time.com/article/2026/09/02/trump-1-gold-coins-go-on-sale/) Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/02/us-mint-puts-golden-1-coin-with-trumps-image-into-circulation/ (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/02/us-mint-puts-golden-1-coin-with-trumps-image-into-circulation/) Get full access to Hope for America with Heather Delaney Reese at www.heatherdelaneyreese.com/subscribe (https://www.heatherdelaneyreese.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   18 Aug 2026

   Who is JD Vance?

   JD Vance’s public rise is often presented as the ultimate American rags-to-riches story: a child surviving a chaotic home in Middletown, Ohio, joining the Marine Corps, graduating from Yale Law School, writing the bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy, and reaching the vice presidency by 40. Behind the carefully curated narrative is a story of shifting identities, powerful elite backers, and a radical transformation from a self-described “Never Trump” conservative to a leading architect of far-right Christian nationalism. From changing his name to recalibrating his political ideology for personal advancement, Vance has repeatedly reshaped his image to fit his route to power. Backed by Silicon Valley billionaires like Peter Thiel, Vance transitioned from explaining “forgotten America” to elite audiences to using government authority to advance a hierarchy of belonging.This documentary is narrated by Pete Reese. *This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment. See the full story in the video. We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms. Thank you for your continued support. Your paid subscriptions have enabled me to add a video editor and reach more people. Independent media is under attack. You can make a difference with a $5/month paid subscription. Your support allows me to keep telling the truth about the lies and destruction unfolding in our country, defend myself from constant pressure from MAGA extremists, and ultimately spread the message to more people. I’m fighting to save our country (before it’s too late). I’ll see you tomorrow, Heather *This commentary represents our personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment. Get full access to Hope for America with Heather Delaney Reese at www.heatherdelaneyreese.com/subscribe (https://www.heatherdelaneyreese.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   31 Jul 2026

   Trump overrules FEMA aid to blue states, 100% Prescription tariffs, billionaires buying elections

   Today’s Rational Response covers nine stories in one sitting, and the opening theme is money and its consequences. An Americans for Tax Fairness analysis of federal election records found that the 50 highest-spending billionaire families had already contributed more than $433 million to the 2026 midterms by March 1, roughly 80 percent of it flowing to Republicans and conservative groups, with Elon Musk’s spending alone reaching at least $90 million by June. Meanwhile, Trump stood at a GM Proving Grounds claiming his tariffs saved the auto industry, in a state that has lost some 8,300 manufacturing jobs since “Liberation Day” and where GM itself projects billions in tariff costs. And in Texas, the pain of these policies is landing hard: more than six million residents face food insecurity, SNAP participation has fallen 14 percent under new federal restrictions, and builders report that immigration raids have doubled project timelines while scaring even citizens and legally authorized workers off job sites. The middle of the episode looks at what the public sees. CBS News polling shows 65 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, 71 percent disapprove on inflation, and 63 percent believe the Iran war is going badly, while a massive Gallup and Kettering survey finds two-thirds of the country worries that political pressure could be used to change election results. The FCC added foreign-made advanced robots, a definition that sweeps in robot vacuums and lawn mowers, to its national-security Covered List, a protectionist move that will mean fewer choices and higher prices for consumers. And Gallup reports that Supreme Court approval has crashed to 33 percent, the lowest in the history of the question, driven in part by declining Republican support. We close with three stories about power exercised without accountability. Iran continues to hold the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, turning back vessels and proposing a reopening plan that would give Tehran control over transit, while strikes between the U.S. and Iran resume. POLITICO obtained records showing Trump denied disaster declarations for four blue states after FEMA and NOAA confirmed they met federal thresholds, consistent with an AP analysis showing he approves aid for states he won at nearly four times the rate of states he lost. Starting today, pharmaceutical tariffs of up to 100 percent begin taking effect for 17 major drugmakers, touching medications for cancer, HIV, COPD, and treatment-resistant depression. Playing tariff games with the medicines people need to stay alive may be the clearest example yet of ideology overriding basic common sense.See the full story in the video. We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms. Thank you for your continued support. Your paid subscriptions have enabled me to add a video editor and reach more people. Independent journalism is under attack. You can make a difference with a $5/month paid subscription. Your support allows me to keep telling the truth about the lies and destruction unfolding in our country, defend myself from constant pressure from MAGA extremists, and ultimately spread the message to more people. I’m fighting to save our country (before it’s too late). I’ll see you tomorrow, Heather *This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment. Sources: Story 1: The $433 Million Billionaire Midterm Americans for Tax Fairness: https://americansfortaxfairness.org/billionaire-kingmakers/ (https://americansfortaxfairness.org/billionaire-kingmakers/) Fortune: https://fortune.com/2026/07/27/billionaire-donors-republicans-elon-musk-george-soros-money-wins/ (https://fortune.com/2026/07/27/billionaire-donors-republicans-elon-musk-george-soros-money-wins/) Story 2: Trump Says Tariffs Saved General Motors White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/president-trump-delivers-remarks-jul-27-2026/ (https://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/president-trump-delivers-remarks-jul-27-2026/) AP: https://apnews.com/article/trump-michigan-tariffs-economy-midterms-gm-7afc50b1ec74988e63880947efe0b818 (https://apnews.com/article/trump-michigan-tariffs-economy-midterms-gm-7afc50b1ec74988e63880947efe0b818) AP: https://apnews.com/article/trump-michigan-midterms-tariffs-automakers-ae38aca90cb320f6bb8fd778f2c90bea (https://apnews.com/article/trump-michigan-midterms-tariffs-automakers-ae38aca90cb320f6bb8fd778f2c90bea) General Motors: https://investor.gm.com/news-releases/news-release-details/gm-releases-2026-second-quarter-results (https://investor.gm.com/news-releases/news-release-details/gm-releases-2026-second-quarter-results) Story 3: Texas Food Insecurity and Construction Disruption Feeding America: https://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/press-room/Map-the-Meal-Gap-2026 (https://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/press-room/Map-the-Meal-Gap-2026) Texas Standard: https://texasstandard.org/stories/food-insecurity-texas-snap-inflation-feeding-america-report/ (https://texasstandard.org/stories/food-insecurity-texas-snap-inflation-feeding-america-report/) The Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/20/texas-snap-food-stamps-decline-work-restrictions-immigration/ (https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/20/texas-snap-food-stamps-decline-work-restrictions-immigration/) Texas Public Radio: https://www.tpr.org/border-immigration/2026-02-04/construction-site-ice-raids-hurting-economy-and-building-industry (https://www.tpr.org/border-immigration/2026-02-04/construction-site-ice-raids-hurting-economy-and-building-industry) Building Design + Construction: https://www.bdcnetwork.com/building-team/contractors/news/55356171/texas-builders-ask-ice-to-stop-immigration-crackdown-at-construction-sites (https://www.bdcnetwork.com/building-team/contractors/news/55356171/texas-builders-ask-ice-to-stop-immigration-crackdown-at-construction-sites) Story 4: Two Polls Show Growing Public Concern CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/bad-numbers-for-trump-on-economy-iran-in-latest-cbs-news-poll/ (https://www.cbsnews.com/video/bad-numbers-for-trump-on-economy-iran-in-latest-cbs-news-poll/) CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/feature/cbs-news-polls/ (https://www.cbsnews.com/feature/cbs-news-polls/) Axios: https://www.axios.com/2026/07/30/election-integrity-fears-november-midterms-poll (https://www.axios.com/2026/07/30/election-integrity-fears-november-midterms-poll) Gallup/Kettering: https://www.gallup.com/file/analytics/704255/Kettering-Gallup_The_Peoples_Role_in_Democracy_Report.pdf (https://www.gallup.com/file/analytics/704255/Kettering-Gallup_The_Peoples_Role_in_Democracy_Report.pdf) Story 5: The FCC’s Robot Restrictions Include Vacuum Cleaners FCC: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-786A1.pdf (https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-786A1.pdf) AP: https://apnews.com/article/c9f5e3c94d91d00eff3b61b141fab366 (https://apnews.com/article/c9f5e3c94d91d00eff3b61b141fab366) The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/policy/972312/us-robot-ban-sweep-up-chinese-vacuums (https://www.theverge.com/policy/972312/us-robot-ban-sweep-up-chinese-vacuums) Story 6: Supreme Court Approval Falls to 33 Percent Gallup: https://news.gallup.com/poll/713096/supreme-court-job-approval-slumps-record-low.aspx (https://news.gallup.com/poll/713096/supreme-court-job-approval-slumps-record-low.aspx) Story 7: Iran Keeps the Strait of Hormuz Effectively Closed AP: https://apnews.com/article/8dc77ed6a65f389ea4af84635d2473bd (https://apnews.com/article/8dc77ed6a65f389ea4af84635d2473bd) AP: https://apnews.com/article/e31d249ba6443decdd3e63cd00f0fb84 (https://apnews.com/article/e31d249ba6443decdd3e63cd00f0fb84) Al-Monitor: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/iran-proposes-temporary-hormuz-plan-giving-itself-greater-control-over-transit (https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/iran-proposes-temporary-hormuz-plan-giving-itself-greater-control-over-transit) BSS (IRGC statement): https://b.bssnews.net/international/405726 (https://b.bssnews.net/international/405726) Story 8: Trump Overruled Agency Findings on Disaster Aid POLITICO’s E&E News: https://www.eenews.net/articles/trump-denies-disaster-aid-for-four-democratic-led-states/ (https://www.eenews.net/articles/trump-denies-disaster-aid-for-four-democratic-led-states/) AP: https://apnews.com/article/cf3f78f5c10d431340a638f6ced9746a (https://apnews.com/article/cf3f78f5c10d431340a638f6ced9746a) Senators Whitehouse and Reed: https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-reed-introduce-disaster-relief-fairness-act-to-counter-trumps-politicization-of-federal-emergency-management-decisions/ (https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-reed-introduce-disaster-relief-fairness-act-to-counter-trumps-politicization-of-federal-emergency-management-decisions/) Story 9: Pharmaceutical Tariffs of Up to 100 Percent Begin Tomorrow White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-bolsters-national-security-and-strengthens-u-s-supply-chains-by-imposing-tariffs-on-patented-pharmaceutical-products/ (https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-bolsters-national-security-and-strengthens-u-s-supply-chains-by-imposing-tariffs-on-patented-pharmaceutical-products/) White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/04/adjusting-imports-of-pharmaceuticals-and-pharmaceutical-ingredients-into-the-united-states/ (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/04/adjusting-imports-of-pharmaceuticals-and-pharmaceutical-ingredients-into-the-united-states/) Federal Register: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-06956.pdf (https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-06956.pdf) AP: https://apnews.com/article/59ed7821faa5b52e2752c09edbbbf0ca (https://apnews.com/article/59ed7821faa5b52e2752c09edbbbf0ca) Axios: https://www.axios.com/2026/07/28/trump-generic-drug-tariffs-price-strategy (https://www.axios.com/2026/07/28/trump-generic-drug-tariffs-price-strategy) Get full access to Hope for America with Heather Delaney Reese at www.heatherdelaneyreese.com/subscribe (https://www.heatherdelaneyreese.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

4. 

   28 Jul 2026

   ICE detains a nun, failed drug boat strikes, and corruption confession in court filing

   Today’s episode of Rational Response moves fast, covering nine stories. We open with the Iran war, where a three-day pause in bombing is being framed as diplomacy but is nothing like peace: Iran’s position is “attack for attack,” the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and reporting suggests dwindling interceptor supplies and a shrinking target list influenced the pause as much as any peace instinct. Meanwhile, the Pentagon quietly moved four deaths and 207 wounded troops into a separate “Overseas Operations” category, making the war’s human cost harder to track. We also dig into an extraordinary court admission that the Energy Department canceled billions in clean-energy grants based solely on whether recipients sat in states that voted for Kamala Harris, after previously stating that those cuts were solely based on the merits of the projects. The middle of the episode follows the money and the message. The new thirty-year Saudi nuclear agreement could open a pathway to uranium enrichment inside the kingdom at the very moment America is bombing Iran over proliferation, and the deal’s loose ends raise a familiar question: who around the president stands to profit? Reporting connects Trump’s sons, Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s family, and donor Peter Thiel to companies positioned to benefit. At home, Trump ordered warning signs installed outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History declaring its exhibits biased, an attempt to make the White House the final authority on American history. In Texas, ICE detained Sister Leticia Ugboaja, a 56-year-old nun and nurse walking to Sunday Mass, despite a court order protecting her from removal. We close with the cracks showing. The West Wing is leaking again, with aides describing an Oval Office tirade and a president in “revenge mode” over a war with no clear endpoint. A previously unreported DEA assessment found that Trump’s boat-strike campaign, 67 strikes and 221 deaths, has produced no meaningful reduction in cocaine price, purity, or availability, despite his claim of a 97 percent drop. The administration is now formally asking Congress to rename Penn Station, with earlier reporting that Trump dangled $16 billion in frozen infrastructure funding in exchange for renaming it “Trump Station.” We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms. Thank you for your continued support. Your paid subscriptions have enabled me to add a video editor and reach more people. Independent journalism is under attack. You can make a difference with a $5/month paid subscription. Your support allows me to keep telling the truth about the lies and destruction unfolding in our country, defend myself from constant pressure from MAGA extremists, and ultimately spread the message to more people. I’m fighting to save our country (before it’s too late). Thanks for your support, Heather & Pete Sources:1. The Iran Pause Is Not Peace AP: https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-hormuz-strait-war-qatar-pakistan-d57e675a7be6dbdd34561909ced240d0 (https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-hormuz-strait-war-qatar-pakistan-d57e675a7be6dbdd34561909ced240d0) Axios: https://www.axios.com/2026/07/27/trump-interview-iran-bombing-pause (https://www.axios.com/2026/07/27/trump-interview-iran-bombing-pause) Investing.com (Reuters): https://www.investing.com/news/commodities-news/iran-will-halt-attacks-as-long-us-maintains-pause-iranian-source-says-after-trump-calls-off-strikes-4812898 (https://www.investing.com/news/commodities-news/iran-will-halt-attacks-as-long-us-maintains-pause-iranian-source-says-after-trump-calls-off-strikes-4812898) AP: https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-casualty-count-pentagon-us-troops-4c578fc74746052627b1c87845fdc0d5 (https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-casualty-count-pentagon-us-troops-4c578fc74746052627b1c87845fdc0d5) 2. Energy Department Admits Political Retaliation AP: https://apnews.com/article/trump-clean-energy-grants-chris-wright-09d26d615869ce06dd6bb2c047f636cb (https://apnews.com/article/trump-clean-energy-grants-chris-wright-09d26d615869ce06dd6bb2c047f636cb) CourtListener (federal court stipulation): https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.450653/gov.uscourts.cand.450653.211.6.pdf (https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.450653/gov.uscourts.cand.450653.211.6.pdf) Los Angeles Times: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2026-07-26/trump-administration-admits-grants-for-clean-energy-were-canceled-based-on-politics (https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2026-07-26/trump-administration-admits-grants-for-clean-energy-were-canceled-based-on-politics) 3. Trump’s Saudi Nuclear Agreement Department of Energy: https://www.energy.gov/articles/united-states-and-saudi-arabia-reach-historic-nuclear-cooperation-agreement (https://www.energy.gov/articles/united-states-and-saudi-arabia-reach-historic-nuclear-cooperation-agreement) AP: https://apnews.com/article/trump-saudi-arabia-nuclear-program-uranium-15fdb262bb9c83d0d959ca96b7561c12 (https://apnews.com/article/trump-saudi-arabia-nuclear-program-uranium-15fdb262bb9c83d0d959ca96b7561c12) AP: https://apnews.com/article/trump-saudia-arabia-nuclear-israel-abraham-accords-6d498a1e851f226c04831bbedf979ec9 (https://apnews.com/article/trump-saudia-arabia-nuclear-israel-abraham-accords-6d498a1e851f226c04831bbedf979ec9) CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-the-nation-full-transcript-07-26-2026/ (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-the-nation-full-transcript-07-26-2026/) 4. Trump’s Nuclear Push Could Enrich His Inner Circle Times of Israel: https://www.timesofisrael.com/trumps-inner-circle-stands-to-gain-from-saudi-nuclear-energy-deal-report/ (https://www.timesofisrael.com/trumps-inner-circle-stands-to-gain-from-saudi-nuclear-energy-deal-report/) AP: https://apnews.com/article/0ad9fe84447acf340a3fbf57e8dbd4fd (https://apnews.com/article/0ad9fe84447acf340a3fbf57e8dbd4fd) 5. Trump Puts Warning Labels on American History White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/07/restoring-trust-in-the-smithsonian-institution-e061/ (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/07/restoring-trust-in-the-smithsonian-institution-e061/) AP: https://apnews.com/article/trump-smithsonian-history-exhibit-signs-d04879c33b518fe3acb91a4fb41c6a30 (https://apnews.com/article/trump-smithsonian-history-exhibit-signs-d04879c33b518fe3acb91a4fb41c6a30) CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-smithsonian-museum-warning-signs-inaccurate-information/ (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-smithsonian-museum-warning-signs-inaccurate-information/) 6. ICE Detained a Nun Walking to Mass AP: https://apnews.com/article/nun-arrested-ice-texas-d4937d291570e9b151add91c36020dd4 (https://apnews.com/article/nun-arrested-ice-texas-d4937d291570e9b151add91c36020dd4) Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/23/ice-detained-south-texas-nun/ (https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/23/ice-detained-south-texas-nun/) News conference: Full video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6CYOW0CZ0M) 7. The West Wing Is Leaking Again Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-is-losing-patience-over-an-iran-war-with-no-clear-end-in-sight-c411d3cd (https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-is-losing-patience-over-an-iran-war-with-no-clear-end-in-sight-c411d3cd) The Daily Beast: https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-panicked-goons-trigger-a-leaking-frenzy/ (https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-panicked-goons-trigger-a-leaking-frenzy/) Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/07/26/trump-giving-us-iran-talks-some-space-amid-pause-attacks-aide-says/ (https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/07/26/trump-giving-us-iran-talks-some-space-amid-pause-attacks-aide-says/) 8. DEA Says Trump’s Deadly Boat Strikes Failed Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/07/27/operation-southern-spear-has-not-slowed-cocaine-entering-us/ (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/07/27/operation-southern-spear-has-not-slowed-cocaine-entering-us/) WOLA: https://www.wola.org/2026/07/new-report-from-wola-documents-221-people-killed-on-the-high-seas-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean-calls-for-accountability/ (https://www.wola.org/2026/07/new-report-from-wola-documents-221-people-killed-on-the-high-seas-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean-calls-for-accountability/) KTVZ (CNN): https://ktvz.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/07/26/the-us-military-hasnt-blown-up-an-alleged-drug-boat-in-a-month-has-the-campaign-worked/ (https://ktvz.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/07/26/the-us-military-hasnt-blown-up-an-alleged-drug-boat-in-a-month-has-the-campaign-worked/) 9. Trump Wants His Name on Penn Station The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/nyregion/penn-station-name-trump.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/nyregion/penn-station-name-trump.html) AP: https://apnews.com/article/new-york-penn-station-redesign-trump-rename-aa6988e6d41bd060cad5435c9c2eb674 (https://apnews.com/article/new-york-penn-station-redesign-trump-rename-aa6988e6d41bd060cad5435c9c2eb674) ABC7: https://abc7ny.com/post/no-trump-station-senator-schumer-plans-block-any-bills-would-rename-penn/19581364/ (https://abc7ny.com/post/no-trump-station-senator-schumer-plans-block-any-bills-would-rename-penn/19581364/) ABC News: https://abcnews.com/US/trump-penn-station-dulles-airport-named-after-funding/story?id=129910999 (https://abcnews.com/US/trump-penn-station-dulles-airport-named-after-funding/story?id=129910999) Axios: https://www.axios.com/2026/02/06/schumer-trump-penn-station-dulles-gateway (https://www.axios.com/2026/02/06/schumer-trump-penn-station-dulles-gateway) Time: https://time.com/7377564/trump-penn-station-rename-tunnel-funding/ (https://time.com/7377564/trump-penn-station-rename-tunnel-funding/) Get full access to Hope for America with Heather Delaney Reese at www.heatherdelaneyreese.com/subscribe (https://www.heatherdelaneyreese.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

5. 

   21 Jul 2026

   "Sometimes you need a ground campaign" - Trump's Iran war keeps growing

   On this episode of Rational Response, we cover a war with no exit, a “national security” excuse that poisons the air, and a reminder that the American people are far better than the politics dividing them. First, the Iran war is expanding again, and the administration still has no credible way out. After the latest ceasefire collapsed, the U.S. resumed large-scale strikes on Iranian ports, radar, and missile sites, and Iran hit back at American forces and U.S.-aligned countries including Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted, and Trump refuses to rule out seizing Kharg Island, the hub handling roughly 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports, an operation that would put American troops 20 miles off the Iranian coast. Iran has reportedly told the Houthis to prepare to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, threatening a second global chokepoint. Meanwhile, it is reported that the Pentagon withheld information about attacks in Jordan that injured dozens of service members, and 17 Americans have now died since the war began. Every escalation Trump presents as leverage creates new Iranian leverage in return. Second, the administration is invoking “national security” to let major chemical manufacturers postpone protections that keep cancer-causing pollution out of surrounding communities. A new proclamation gives 20 petrochemical facilities a two-year exemption from the EPA’s 2024 hazardous-air rule targeting ethylene oxide and chloroprene, protections the EPA itself estimated would cut nearby cancer risk by up to 96 percent. A ProPublica investigation found companies could request relief by email with almost no input from EPA scientists, and roughly 250,000 people live within a mile of previously exempted facilities, disproportionately communities of color. This is a transfer of costs from corporations to the families who breathe the air, and it is part of a broader trend with the Trump administration. Third, we are a country being divided, on purpose, by people who profit from the fight. Republican strategists are openly discussing a midterm plan built around a “hate election,” but the World Cup just showed who Americans really are: 6.7 million people in stadiums, millions more at public festivals, and visitors who expected a hostile country finding warmth and generosity instead. The ugliness is real, but it is not the whole country, and we do not have to let the people who profit from division decide who we are. See the full story in the video. We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms. Thank you for your continued support. Your paid subscriptions have enabled me to add a video editor and reach more people. Independent journalism is under attack. You can make a difference with a $5/month paid subscription. Your support allows me to keep telling the truth about the lies and destruction unfolding in our country, defend myself from constant pressure from MAGA extremists, and ultimately spread the message to more people. I’m fighting to save our country (before it’s too late). I’ll see you tomorrow, Heather *This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment. Sources:Trump on Fox News (https://youtu.be/CfCMZk70-_w?si=nLJwM5mwrlqp57IR) - Interview - July 14, 2026 AP: https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-hormuz-strait-war-july-20-2026-8b37952906cbec6351fdcc47a0fa6297 (https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-hormuz-strait-war-july-20-2026-8b37952906cbec6351fdcc47a0fa6297) AP: https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-us-soldier-deaths-jordan-attack-1fd99826dfd511913b63d0b033b262d9 (https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-us-soldier-deaths-jordan-attack-1fd99826dfd511913b63d0b033b262d9) The Philadelphia Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/iran-us-war-militaey-injuries-unreported-cenrtal-comman-hegseth-trump-20260720.html (https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/iran-us-war-militaey-injuries-unreported-cenrtal-comman-hegseth-trump-20260720.html) Axios: https://www.axios.com/2026/03/20/iran-invasion-kharg-island-strait-hormuz (https://www.axios.com/2026/03/20/iran-invasion-kharg-island-strait-hormuz) AP: https://apnews.com/article/us-iran-war-kharg-island-oil-industry-a4332ecc6500070c1e1929b9a734218f (https://apnews.com/article/us-iran-war-kharg-island-oil-industry-a4332ecc6500070c1e1929b9a734218f) Investing.com (Reuters exclusive): https://www.investing.com/news/world-news/exclusiveiran-tells-houthis-to-close-red-sea-gateway-if-us-hits-power-network-sources-say-4795625 (https://www.investing.com/news/world-news/exclusiveiran-tells-houthis-to-close-red-sea-gateway-if-us-hits-power-network-sources-say-4795625) AP: https://apnews.com/article/yemen-saudi-arabia-maritime-embargo-fd7c4a3911f7eee18251483fc8af768c (https://apnews.com/article/yemen-saudi-arabia-maritime-embargo-fd7c4a3911f7eee18251483fc8af768c) Council on Foreign Relations: https://www.cfr.org/articles/trumps-iran-deal-has-collapsed-leaving-the-u-s-with-few-good-options (https://www.cfr.org/articles/trumps-iran-deal-has-collapsed-leaving-the-u-s-with-few-good-options) Segment 2: “National Security” Is Being Used to Suspend Toxic-Air Protections White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/07/regulatory-relief-for-certain-stationary-sources-to-promote-american-chemical-manufacturing-security-be40/ (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/07/regulatory-relief-for-certain-stationary-sources-to-promote-american-chemical-manufacturing-security-be40/) White House (facility annex): https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ANNEX-I.pdf (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ANNEX-I.pdf) ProPublica: https://www.propublica.org/article/clean-air-act-exemptions-trump-emails (https://www.propublica.org/article/clean-air-act-exemptions-trump-emails) AP: https://apnews.com/article/3207b752c9e0e9d6e3e7e715be92e8eb (https://apnews.com/article/3207b752c9e0e9d6e3e7e715be92e8eb) Environmental Defense Fund: https://www.edf.org/media/trump-administration-hands-out-unlawful-air-pollution-exemptions-more-petrochemical (https://www.edf.org/media/trump-administration-hands-out-unlawful-air-pollution-exemptions-more-petrochemical) AP: https://apnews.com/article/trump-coal-zeldin-mercury-epa-emissions-b770d6efd05f19ed24b179511c726196 (https://apnews.com/article/trump-coal-zeldin-mercury-epa-emissions-b770d6efd05f19ed24b179511c726196) AP: https://apnews.com/article/epa-pfas-trump-drinking-water-maha-b49abd7d0b8460b9a76d28dc4e49319c (https://apnews.com/article/epa-pfas-trump-drinking-water-maha-b49abd7d0b8460b9a76d28dc4e49319c) AP: https://apnews.com/article/a3b5f3a0206a43d3cff450a6ae3d1dc9 (https://apnews.com/article/a3b5f3a0206a43d3cff450a6ae3d1dc9) EPA: https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/final-rule-rescission-greenhouse-gas-endangerment (https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/final-rule-rescission-greenhouse-gas-endangerment) Segment 3: We Are a Country Being Divided Hunter Biden’s Substack Post (https://substack.com/@hunterbiden/note/c-297112061) Axios: https://www.axios.com/2026/07/19/republicans-midterms-hate-election (https://www.axios.com/2026/07/19/republicans-midterms-hate-election) Time: https://time.com/6990721/us-politics-polarization-myth/ (https://time.com/6990721/us-politics-polarization-myth/) Brookings: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/americans-are-not-as-divided-by-race-as-it-seems/ (https://www.brookings.edu/articles/americans-are-not-as-divided-by-race-as-it-seems/) AP: https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-united-states-fans-tourists-0cbe947fdfd7560490864ff6b88f9ccf (https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-united-states-fans-tourists-0cbe947fdfd7560490864ff6b88f9ccf) FIFA: https://vod.fifa.com/organisation/media-releases/packed-stadiums-record-digital-reach-world-cup-2026-numbers-unprecedented-scale (https://vod.fifa.com/organisation/media-releases/packed-stadiums-record-digital-reach-world-cup-2026-numbers-unprecedented-scale) AP: https://apnews.com/article/us-democracy-poll-economy-justice-system-89a3b60f50adf1fee7d9873d36aa9506 (https://apnews.com/article/us-democracy-poll-economy-justice-system-89a3b60f50adf1fee7d9873d36aa9506) Get full access to Hope for America with Heather Delaney Reese at www.heatherdelaneyreese.com/subscribe (https://www.heatherdelaneyreese.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

6. 

   17 Jul 2026

   Royal treatment for JD Vance & family, taxpayer funded MAGA Europe, and sickening loyalty tests

   This week on Rational Response, we open with an exclusive MS NOW investigation into the Secret Service detail protecting JD Vance and his family. Reporters describe a growing morale problem driven by costly, last-minute travel demands, including a plan to fly Vance and his young son on Marine Two so the child could attend a golf lesson. Agents say the constant off-the-record trips force them to rewrite security plans and cancel leave, and their frustration has gotten so deep they reportedly made coins and stickers reading “Bobcat OTR Survivors Club.” J.D. Vance claims this is an administration about efficiency while he leans into the VIP perks and expects royal treatment. From there we turn to a State Department grant program offering European organizations one to three million dollars each for work on migration, censorship, national sovereignty, and “lawfare,” framed around a “shared political philosophy” and “common Western civilizational heritage.” That is not neutral language. It echoes the way Trump, Vance, and Europe’s nationalist right talk, and while the grants cannot go to political parties, they can flow to think tanks, conferences, legal groups, and media projects that shape a country’s politics from the outside. Germany’s chancellor has already warned Washington to stay out of German elections, which makes the contradiction hard to miss: Trump condemns foreign interference at home while his administration openly tries to build a MAGA-aligned network abroad. Finally, we break down three confirmation hearings that were really three versions of the same loyalty test. Todd Blanche, Trump’s former criminal defense attorney, wants to be permanent attorney general and slipped into calling himself “his lawyer” before catching himself. Jay Clayton wants to lead the entire intelligence community with no intelligence background and would not simply say that Biden won in 2020. And Dr. Erica Schwartz could not commit to defying RFK Jr. when his directives collide with science. All these nominees appear to have more loyalty to Trump than the American people.See the full story in the video. We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms. Thank you for your continued support. Your paid subscriptions have enabled me to add a video editor and reach more people. Independent journalism is under attack. You can make a difference with a $5/month paid subscription. Your support allows me to keep telling the truth about the lies and destruction unfolding in our country, defend myself from constant pressure from MAGA extremists, and ultimately spread the message to more people. I’m fighting to save our country (before it’s too late). I’ll see you tomorrow, Heather *This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment. Sources: MS NOW: https://www.ms.now/news/veeps-security-detail-fed-up-with-hastily-arranged-personal-and-family-travel-requests (https://www.ms.now/news/veeps-security-detail-fed-up-with-hastily-arranged-personal-and-family-travel-requests) MS NOW: Television report (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKD0AN8kmpk) The Independent: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/jd-vance-secret-service-travel-helicopter-b3015964.html (https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/jd-vance-secret-service-travel-helicopter-b3015964.html) The Daily Beast: https://www.thedailybeast.com/jd-vances-own-secret-service-agents-leak-jaw-dropping-diva-demands/ (https://www.thedailybeast.com/jd-vances-own-secret-service-agents-leak-jaw-dropping-diva-demands/) AP: https://apnews.com/article/vp-vance-boating-ohio-river-level-raised-de4c773cfffd6cac0b82e96787fea951 (https://apnews.com/article/vp-vance-boating-ohio-river-level-raised-de4c773cfffd6cac0b82e96787fea951) The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/06/jd-vance-ohio-lake-water-levels (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/06/jd-vance-ohio-lake-water-levels) Mike Rowe: Vance interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Mif4Hf0U04) Segment 2: The United States Is Funding MAGA’s Expansion into Europe Grants.gov: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/22c22279-5d25-4e9f-8cc8-77b7c583c0fb (https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/22c22279-5d25-4e9f-8cc8-77b7c583c0fb) State Department: https://www.state.gov/drl-nofo-developing-civilizational-bonds-democratic-resilience-and-rule-of-law-in-europe (https://www.state.gov/drl-nofo-developing-civilizational-bonds-democratic-resilience-and-rule-of-law-in-europe) The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/15/germany-warns-against-election-interference-as-us-offers-funding-to-maga-aligned-causes-in-europe (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/15/germany-warns-against-election-interference-as-us-offers-funding-to-maga-aligned-causes-in-europe) German Federal Government: https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/news/summer-pk-merz-2026-2447148 (https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/news/summer-pk-merz-2026-2447148) Segment 3: The Trump Loyalty Hearings AP: https://apnews.com/article/blanche-justice-department-senate-epstein-b01b56923edcba5722e89163684dbdbf (https://apnews.com/article/blanche-justice-department-senate-epstein-b01b56923edcba5722e89163684dbdbf) CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/todd-blanche-confirmation-hearing-senate-attorney-general/ (https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/todd-blanche-confirmation-hearing-senate-attorney-general/) The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/15/todd-blanche-confirmation-hearing-attorney-general (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/15/todd-blanche-confirmation-hearing-attorney-general) Senate: Padilla questioning clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfmzjg_Py0o) AP: https://apnews.com/article/clayton-intelligence-director-trump-senate-1532baf2e182ede8d67e2d5561f296a8 (https://apnews.com/article/clayton-intelligence-director-trump-senate-1532baf2e182ede8d67e2d5561f296a8) CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jay-clayton-trumps-dni-nominee-senate-confirmation-hearing/ (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jay-clayton-trumps-dni-nominee-senate-confirmation-hearing/) The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/15/jay-clayton-senate-intelligence-committee-hearing (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/15/jay-clayton-senate-intelligence-committee-hearing) Senate Intelligence Committee: https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/2026/06/10/closed-briefing-intelligence-matters-74/ (https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/2026/06/10/closed-briefing-intelligence-matters-74/) AP: https://apnews.com/article/cdc-director-erica-schwartz-25b3317e2ce111ba399ce8dc9697b983 (https://apnews.com/article/cdc-director-erica-schwartz-25b3317e2ce111ba399ce8dc9697b983) ABC News: https://www-cdn.abcnews.com/Health/dr-erica-schwartz-senate-committee-confirmation-hearing-cdc/story?id=134740574 (https://www-cdn.abcnews.com/Health/dr-erica-schwartz-senate-committee-confirmation-hearing-cdc/story?id=134740574) Senate: Full Schwartz hearing video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xMTLHp-ij0) Get full access to Hope for America with Heather Delaney Reese at heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe (https://heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

7. 

   15 Jul 2026

   3 million acres open for mining, Rubio's assault on the war crimes court, and protesters blinded by "less lethal" weapons

   In this episode of the Rational Response Podcast, we cover Trump gutting protections for Utah’s national monuments, the administration’s campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court, and a new investigation documenting the misuse of crowd-control weapons against ICE protesters. Trump Slashes Utah National Monuments. Trump just cut federal protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante by about 90%, shrinking more than 3.2 million acres of protected land down to under 303,000 acres. Bears Ears includes sacred tribal sites, ancient cliff dwellings, and petroglyphs that Native nations fought for years to protect. Grand Staircase-Escalante includes canyons, fossils, recreation land, and major coal reserves. Trump and Utah Republicans are framing this as “rightsizing” and local control, and at the signing Trump even falsely suggested the land couldn’t be used for hunting, fishing, and camping. Standing behind him was Senator Mike Lee, the same man who proposed selling off 3,200 square miles of federal land in the One Big Beautiful Bill before bipartisan backlash killed the idea. The real story here is vast tracts of land being opened up to mining, logging, and drilling, and once that extraction happens, these landscapes are permanently ruined. Legal challenges are almost certain. Rubio Tries to Dismantle the International Criminal Court. Marco Rubio and the Trump administration have launched a campaign to weaken, disable, or dismantle the ICC, the permanent court in The Hague that prosecutes individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression. Rubio claims it threatens American sovereignty, but the U.S. never even ratified the Rome Statute, so the sovereignty framing is misleading. What the ICC can do is claim jurisdiction when alleged crimes occur on the territory of one of its 125 member countries, which include the UK, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, and Venezuela. That’s what has the administration worried: scrutiny of the Caribbean and Pacific “drug boat” strikes, potential operations against Venezuela, and Israel’s exposure over Gaza, where an arrest warrant is already out for Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump’s February 2025 executive order authorized sanctions, asset freezes, and travel bans against ICC officials, and Rubio is now escalating that campaign. This isn’t about protecting Americans from a rogue global court. It’s about making sure the U.S. and its allies can act without accountability, and it’s a continuation of Trump’s attacks on courts at home. Crowd-Control Weapons Used Against ICE Protesters. A new investigation from Physicians for Human Rights and UC Berkeley documents a nationwide pattern of law enforcement misusing crowd-control weapons at immigration-enforcement protests. From June 2025 through May 2026, the report documented 412 misuse-of-force incidents across 13 states and 16 cities, including 97 head-shot incidents and 148 close-range incidents. Those hurt included 209 demonstrators, 177 journalists, 12 minors, 7 bystanders, and 4 legal observers. The injuries included blindness, traumatic brain injuries, fractures, and lacerations. These weapons are often called “less lethal,” but that label doesn’t matter to the person who loses an eye. Much of this happened around ICE and DHS operations, which makes this a free-speech issue, not just a policing issue. The First Amendment protects the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and a democracy does not answer protest with projectiles to the face. Listen or watch the full episode for the clips, the details, and the discussion. We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms. Thank you for your continued support. Your paid subscriptions have enabled me to add a video editor and reach more people. Independent journalism is under attack. You can make a difference with a $5/month paid subscription. Your support allows me to keep telling the truth about the lies and destruction unfolding in our country, defend myself from constant pressure from MAGA extremists, and ultimately spread the message to more people. I’m fighting to save our country (before it’s too late). I’ll see you tomorrow, Heather *This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment. Sources:AP (via PBS News): https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/what-to-know-about-trump-shrinking-2-national-monuments-in-utah (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/what-to-know-about-trump-shrinking-2-national-monuments-in-utah) White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/07/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-modifies-two-national-monuments-restoring-sensible-land-management/ (https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/07/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-modifies-two-national-monuments-restoring-sensible-land-management/)Trump Executive Order signing video (https://www.youtube.com/live/C_Y-udVHdb4?si=sp1YsZ5Fh_pCFqdo) SUWA: https://suwa.org/suwa-statement-on-trumps-illegal-reductions-of-grand-staircase-escalante-bears-ears-national-monuments-7-13-26/ (https://suwa.org/suwa-statement-on-trumps-illegal-reductions-of-grand-staircase-escalante-bears-ears-national-monuments-7-13-26/) State Department: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/07/state-department-launches-campaign-to-dismantle-international-criminal-courts-threat-to-american-sovereignty (https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/07/state-department-launches-campaign-to-dismantle-international-criminal-courts-threat-to-american-sovereignty)Marco Rubio ICC Video (https://youtu.be/hgtCQOIV-Ys?si=SEr6aGopMBbvp-LM) CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/13/politics/rubio-dismantle-international-criminal-court (https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/13/politics/rubio-dismantle-international-criminal-court) Al Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/13/trump-administration-vows-to-disable-international-criminal-court (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/13/trump-administration-vows-to-disable-international-criminal-court) Euronews: https://www.euronews.com/2026/07/14/marco-rubio-launches-sweeping-campaign-to-dismantle-icc-threat-to-us-sovereignty (https://www.euronews.com/2026/07/14/marco-rubio-launches-sweeping-campaign-to-dismantle-icc-threat-to-us-sovereignty) PHR: https://phr.org/charting-the-crackdown/ (https://phr.org/charting-the-crackdown/) PHR: https://phr.org/news/widespread-misuse-of-crowd-control-weapons-by-law-enforcement-at-immigration-enforcement-protests-new-report-finds/ (https://phr.org/news/widespread-misuse-of-crowd-control-weapons-by-law-enforcement-at-immigration-enforcement-protests-new-report-finds/) The Hill: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5967724-immigration-protests-violence-report/ (https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5967724-immigration-protests-violence-report/) Get full access to Hope for America with Heather Delaney Reese at heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe (https://heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

8. 

   10 Jul 2026

   Trump's mid-air meltdown, the new DJT airport, and the Graham Platner debacle

   In this episode of the Rational Response Podcast, we break down Trump’s unhinged Air Force One press gaggle, the branding of public institutions with his name, and a campaign collapse in Maine that should be a wake-up call for Democrats on candidate vetting. Trump’s Air Force One Gaggle Goes Off the Rails. On the flight home from the NATO summit, Trump gave a 14-minute press gaggle that was supposed to be a routine trip wrap-up. Instead, it was a whirlwind of lies and invented history. He denied there was a security reason for switching planes, then immediately described the flight as dangerous because of Iran. He talked about retaliating against Iran at a ratio of 20 to 1, said he threatened to stop trading with Spain, a NATO ally, and linked U.S. troop levels in Europe to whether he can make a deal on Greenland. Then came the truly bizarre: a claim that “probably billions” of votes disappeared in a Los Angeles race (California has about 23 million registered voters), a claim that prescription drug prices came down 400 to 600 percent (a price cannot drop more than 100 percent), and a claim that he settled a Congo-Rwanda conflict in which “15 million people” were supposedly beheaded, a number roughly equal to the entire population of Rwanda. This is not just Trump being Trump. This is the president making military threats while detached from basic reality, and no one around him is stopping him. Trump Airport, Trump Library, Trump Branding Everything. Palm Beach International Airport officially became President Donald J. Trump International Airport, with its FAA identifier changed from PBI to DJT. A sitting president now has a major public airport carrying his name and initials, thanks to legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Meanwhile, Trump’s presidential library project in Miami is mired in controversy. Miami Dade College transferred a 2.63-acre downtown parcel of public educational land, assessed around $67 million and potentially worth hundreds of millions more, for the project. And Trump himself says it might not really be a library at all. He said he does not believe in building libraries or museums and suggested the project could be a hotel, possibly with a 747 Air Force One parked in the lobby. The airport becomes DJT, the library becomes a hotel-monument, and public land becomes a Trump benefit. Other presidents build libraries. Trump builds something to profit from. Graham Platner Drops Out, and Democrats Get a Candidate-Vetting Warning. Graham Platner, the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, is suspending his campaign and plans to withdraw from the race against Susan Collins. That’s a huge deal, because Maine is one of the Democrats’ best chances to flip a Republican Senate seat. His campaign collapsed after a sexual assault allegation from a former girlfriend, which he strongly denies, but the allegation came after months of warning signs: offensive old online posts, a tattoo resembling Nazi imagery, and reports of troubling behavior in past relationships. Maine Democrats now have a short window to name a replacement and keep the race alive. Candidate quality matters, character matters, and a good message is not enough. If your candidate’s past can blow up the whole race in July, the vetting process failed months earlier. We need to put forward quality people as our candidates.See the full story in the video or audio podcast above. We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms. Thank you for your continued support. Your paid subscriptions have enabled me to add a video editor and reach more people. Independent journalism is under attack. You can make a difference with a $5/month paid subscription. Your support allows me to keep telling the truth about the lies and destruction unfolding in our country, defend myself from constant pressure from MAGA extremists, and ultimately spread the message to more people. I’m fighting to save our country (before it’s too late). I’ll see you tomorrow, Heather *This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment. Sources: * YouTube: Air Force One gaggle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHhlrvRwGt8) * AP: Trump switches planes amid Iran security questions (https://apnews.com/article/6cb08dcb613a2d7f77d3b0a143f3b216) * Guardian: Trump dominates final hours of NATO summit (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/08/erratic-trump-dominates-final-hours-nato-summit) * AP: Trump claims he ended Congo war, but reality is different (https://apnews.com/article/congo-trump-conflict-m23-rwanda-50ff81214a820f5cf7ec407635c9d4d1) * AP fact check: Trump cannot cut drug prices by more than 100% (https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-prescription-drug-prices-drop-b3e5bf8a98310de45e39d3911d112979) * Palm Beach airport official FAQ (https://www.pbia.org/about/name-change-faqs/) * News4Jax: Trump airport becomes official (https://www.news4jax.com/news/2026/07/08/donald-j-trump-international-airport-set-to-become-official-tomorrow-what-travelers-need-to-know/) * WLRN: Miami Dade College land transfer (https://www.wlrn.org/government-politics/2025-12-02/trump-presidential-library-miami-dade-college-vote) * WLRN: lawsuit over Trump library land donation (https://www.wlrn.org/law-justice/2026-05-14/trump-and-desantis-sued-over-donation-of-miami-land-for-extravagant-presidential-library) * AP: judge dismisses complaint over land transfer (https://apnews.com/article/trump-presidential-library-miami-lawsuit-d58422bdf2665da60451fcf6469b052d) * ABC: Trump library/hotel comments (https://abcnews.com/Politics/trump-unveils-plans-presidential-library-including-gifted-air/story?id=131589343) * AP: Platner says he plans to withdraw (https://apnews.com/article/a4c732f54ad999abcb73f1854351187f) * AP: Who could replace Platner (https://apnews.com/article/b63bdd76666a76d38544459f22caf7fc) * Maine Public: Platner suspends campaign (https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2026-07-08/graham-platner-drops-out-of-u-s-senate-race-opening-narrow-path-to-replace-him) * PBS: Platner says he’ll withdraw (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/graham-platner-says-hell-withdraw-from-senate-race-in-maine) * Guardian: Platner exits campaign (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/08/graham-platner-maine-senate-campaign) Get full access to Hope for America with Heather Delaney Reese at heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe (https://heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

9. 

   8 Jul 2026

   DOGE is done, Trump's Turkey trip, and 820,000 jobs destroyed

   In this episode of the Rational Response Podcast, we cover a NATO summit that felt more like a loyalty test than an alliance meeting, the quiet death of DOGE, and a new report putting hard numbers on what Trump’s energy agenda will actually cost American families. Trump, NATO, Turkey, and the F-35 Problem. Trump arrived at the NATO summit still nursing a grudge against allies who didn’t follow him into the Iran conflict, and he wouldn’t rule out pulling more U.S. troops out of Europe. Meanwhile, he’s cozying up to Turkey, announcing that the U.S. will lift sanctions and saying he’d consider selling Erdogan’s government F-35 fighter jets. That’s the same Turkey that was kicked out of the F-35 program after buying Russia’s S-400 missile defense system, a decision Trump’s own first administration made over concerns that a Russian intelligence platform could expose sensitive U.S. stealth technology. Add in the “restraining order needed” meme he posted about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and it’s clear that allies who don’t personally back Trump get mocked and threatened, while authoritarian leaders he likes get major concessions. DOGE Shuts Down, But the Damage Remains. DOGE has officially hit its termination date, and it’s leaving without a full public accounting. OMB Director Russ Vought told Congress there are no plans for a closing report. DOGE claims $215 billion in savings, but independent reviews from Politico and CBS found those numbers wildly inflated; in one review, actual savings were about 3% of what DOGE claimed. We do know that more than 260,000 federal employees left government under DOGE-led efforts, and some agencies are now hiring people back. The USAID cuts had deadly consequences. The AP documented children dying after feeding programs were cut, and a Lancet study projects continued USAID defunding could lead to more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030. The question isn’t just what DOGE saved. It’s what DOGE broke. Will we hold those responsible for the devastation responsible? Trump’s Energy Policies Will Cost Families, Jobs, and Health. A new Energy Innovation report modeled the impact of Trump’s energy agenda, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, EPA rollbacks, attacks on renewables, and the cancellation of the $7 billion Solar for All program. The findings are brutal: households will pay an additional $650 billion in energy costs (about $4,500 more per household cumulatively through 2040), the economy will lose an average of 820,000 jobs per year over the next decade, and cumulative GDP losses will hit $2.3 trillion. Add $43 billion in pollution-related healthcare costs, including more childhood asthma, more ER visits, and more premature deaths. Trump promised cheaper energy. His policies deliver higher bills, fewer jobs, and dirtier air, all to protect fossil fuel companies from competition.See the full story in the video. We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms. Thank you for your continued support. Your paid subscriptions have enabled me to add a video editor and reach more people. Independent journalism is under attack. You can make a difference with a $5/month paid subscription. Your support allows me to keep telling the truth about the lies and destruction unfolding in our country, defend myself from constant pressure from MAGA extremists, and ultimately spread the message to more people. I’m fighting to save our country (before it’s too late). I’ll see you tomorrow, Heather *This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment. Sources: * Axios: Trump’s Iran grudge hangs over NATO summit (https://www.axios.com/2026/07/07/trump-nato-iran-war-grudge) * Reuters via GV Wire: Trump says U.S. will lift Turkey sanctions, possibly sell F-35s (https://gvwire.com/2026/07/07/trump-says-us-will-lift-sanctions-on-turkey-possibly-sell-f-35-fighter-jets/) * Trump White House archive: 2019 statement on Turkey, S-400, and F-35 (https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-64/) * TIME: Trump and Meloni tensions (https://time.com/article/2026/07/06/trump-reignites-tensions-with-meloni-ahead-of-nato-summit/) * White House: DOGE executive order (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency/) * White House: DOGE workforce optimization order (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency-workforce-optimization-initiative/) * Federal News Network: No DOGE after-action report (https://federalnewsnetwork.com/agency-oversight/2026/07/vought-trump-admin-wont-do-doge-after-action-report/) * Fox Business: DOGE reaches shutdown deadline (https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/doge-website-deactivates-after-reaching-self-termination-deadline-come-end) * AP: Children die after USAID aid cuts (https://apnews.com/article/usaid-funding-cuts-humanitarian-children-trump-4447e210c4b5543b8ebb9a6b9e01aa53) * UCLA: Lancet study on USAID cuts and projected deaths (https://ph.ucla.edu/news-events/news/research-finds-more-14-million-preventable-deaths-2030-if-usaid-defunding) * Energy Innovation: Economic, Consumer Cost, and Pollution Impacts of Federal Energy Policy Changes (https://energyinnovation.org/report/economic-consumer-cost-and-pollution-impacts-of-federal-energy-policy-changes/) * Energy Innovation PDF Report (https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Economic-Consumer-Cost-and-Pollution-Impacts-of-Federal-Energy-Policy-Changes.pdf) Get full access to Hope for America with Heather Delaney Reese at heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe (https://heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

10. 

    30 Jun 2026

    Trump’s new powers, Gaza Board of Peace nonsense, Biden rips into Trump

    On today’s episode of Rational Response, we cover three stories that we had to talk about. First, the Supreme Court handed Trump a major win on presidential power. In a 6-3 ruling, the Court said he can fire the leaders of independent agencies like the FTC, overturning roughly 90 years of precedent. This puts agencies that were supposed to remain independent under Donald Trump’s direct control. The one notable exception was the Federal Reserve, where the Court let Governor Lisa Cook keep her job for now. The Supreme Court, for some reason, decided that Donald Trump needed more power. Next, Trump’s Gaza “Board of Peace.” Trump created it to oversee reconstruction and postwar governance, but a new Guardian report says the board is now seeking sweeping legal immunity for its members, officials, security forces, and contractors. With Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Susie Wiles, and Marco Rubio on the executive board and Trump chairing it, the real question is who controls Gaza’s future, who profits, and who answers if that power is abused. Peace without accountability is not peace. Finally, Joe Biden’s fiery weekend speech calling Trump a “loser” and tearing into his vanity projects, from the East Wing ballroom to the Kennedy Center to the arch in his own honor to the Reflecting Pool fiasco. The “loser” line is funny, but the deeper point is about legacy and a man treating public spaces like personal branding opportunities.See the full story in the video. We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms. Thank you for your continued support. Your paid subscriptions have enabled me to add a video editor and reach more people. Independent journalism is under attack. You can make a difference with a $5/month paid subscription. Your support allows me to keep telling the truth about the lies and destruction unfolding in our country, defend myself from constant pressure from MAGA extremists, and ultimately spread the message to more people. I’m fighting to save our country (before it’s too late). I’ll see you tomorrow, Heather *This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment. Sources:https://apnews.com/article/7b7676e5a066f8df41077a0920b9f334https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/jun/27/board-of-peace-legal-immunity-unhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/28/biden-speech-trump Get full access to Hope for America with Heather Delaney Reese at heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe (https://heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

11. 

    26 Jun 2026

    The mass surveillance plan, Trump's wild day on Capitol Hill, and the shameful Freedom 250 debacle

    On this episode of Rational Response, we cover three stories that tell you everything about where we are right now.First, Trump's chaotic day on Capitol Hill. He was supposed to sign a rare bipartisan housing bill at a moment when Americans are getting crushed by rent, mortgages, and home prices. Instead, he canceled the signing at the last minute and said he would not move forward until the Senate passed his SAVE Act. It's being sold as election integrity, but noncitizen voting is already illegal and extremely rare, so the real effect is new paperwork barriers between eligible Americans and the ballot, hitting elderly, disabled, rural, military, and working-class voters hardest. Then it got stranger. A Senate Republican lunch meant to be about unity reportedly turned into a shouting match over the war powers vote from a couple of days earlier, with Senator Bill Cassidy at the center. Cassidy was summoned to the White House for a "briefing," and afterward he changed his vote on a new war powers vote, giving Trump the outcome he wanted. This is not governing. It is turning every issue into a loyalty test.Second, how America's 250th birthday became the Trump 250. This should have been a unifying national celebration. Congress created a nonpartisan commission back in 2016 to commemorate the Declaration of Independence, but when Trump returned to office, he established Freedom 250 and pulled it into his political orbit. Artists, including Martina McBride, The Commodores, Morris Day and The Time, and Bret Michaels, backed out once they realized it was not the nonpartisan event they were told it would be. Trump said he would hold a rally instead, claiming he was more popular than Elvis in his prime. The kickoff on the National Mall was an embarrassing moment for our country. It was not a unifying moment. It was just more propaganda from a failing administration whose goal is to divide instead of unite.Third, the surveillance machine is being built underneath the immigration agenda. A new report from the Guardian found that ICE and Customs and Border Protection awarded more than $513 million in surveillance technology contracts in 2026, up from $310 million in 2025 and less than $50 million a decade ago. The contractors include Palantir and Anduril, and the tools include facial recognition, drones, spyware, AI systems, and data brokers. The concern is that enforcement is becoming a data-driven dragnet that pulls information from medical, tax, credit, and benefit systems and combines it into targeting tools. Once that machinery exists, it rarely stays limited to one group. A system built to track immigrants can just as easily raise questions about protesters, activists, journalists, and U.S. citizens. This is personal. It's about the country our kids inherit, and silence isn't neutral. This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment.See the full story in the video or audio version of this podcast linked above. We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms. Thank you for your continued support. Your paid subscriptions have enabled me to add a video editor and reach more people. Independent journalism is under attack. You can make a difference with a $5/month paid subscription. Your support allows me to keep telling the truth about the lies and destruction unfolding in our country, defend myself from constant pressure from MAGA extremists, and ultimately spread the message to more people. I’m fighting to save our country (before it’s too late). I’ll see you tomorrow, Heather Sources:The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/24/ice-tech-surveillance-arsenal Get full access to Hope for America with Heather Delaney Reese at heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe (https://heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

12. 

    24 Jun 2026

    Reflecting Pool catastrophe, MAGA donors revealed, and a president out of control

    On this episode of Rational Response, we break down three stories that show exactly where things stand right now, and what we can actually do about it. First, the Reflecting Pool debacle. What started as Trump taking a victory lap over a renovation has turned into a self-inflicted catastrophe. He made it a spectacle, from the motorcade stunt to the Oval Office posters comparing it to skyscrapers to the bragging about work that would “last 50 years,” and then reality set in. This includes an algae bloom, blue paint peeling up, and now people getting arrested for putting their hands in the water to feel the blue paint. Instead of owning it, he’s blaming vandalism. This is a spectacular failure. Second, we follow the money. We walk through the donors and corporations pouring tens of millions into MAGA Inc., the inauguration, and the new White House ballroom. These include crypto exchanges, Big Tech, tobacco, oil and gas, defense contractors, and more. We talk about why this matters and the one form of leverage every one of us still has, which is deciding where our money goes. You’re not powerless. You vote with your wallet every single day. Third is the bigger picture. Trump is out of control, and the people who were supposed to be the guardrails have become enablers. We get into the Iran situation, the silence from those with the power to act, the attacks on the press, and the lies about an economy that millions of families are struggling to survive. The job now is to document everything, including who enabled it, who stayed silent, and who had the courage to speak, and to carry that record into the midterms. This is personal. It’s about the country our kids inherit. Silence isn’t neutral. This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment. You can make a significant difference by subscribing to our Substack. Your support helps us cover more ground and keep telling the truth about the lies and destruction unfolding in this country. ***This video was filmed on 6-22-2026ABOUT RATIONAL RESPONSE Rational Response, hosted by Pete and Heather Reese, is part of the Hope for America network. Each episode breaks down the most important stories affecting our country by calling out the lies, disinformation, harmful policies, corruption, and MAGA propaganda damaging our world. Clear-eyed, pro-democracy, and unwilling to treat these times as normal. MEET THE HOSTS Heather Delaney Reese is the author of the top-ranked Hope for America publication. A former travel writer and blogger, she now channels that voice into the fight for America’s future, exposing MAGA lies and government failures, cutting through the propaganda, and saying what the rest of us are thinking. Pete Reese is Heather’s husband and the editor and producer for Hope for America. As the founder of a renewable energy development company and owner of a land development firm, Pete brings the perspective of someone who has built and run real businesses, and who, like Heather, could no longer sit by silently and watch the country come apart. Get full access to Hope for America with Heather Delaney Reese at heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe (https://heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

13. 

    21 Jun 2026

    Special Announcement: Introducing My New Podcast

    Today I have something special to share with you. For months, Pete and I have been working on something behind the scenes. Recording. Testing. Editing. Rethinking. Asking ourselves whether it was worth adding one more thing to an already full plate. In the end, we decided some conversations are too important to keep having in private. And moments like this demand that we give it our all. Today, it's finally ready. I'm excited to introduce Rational Response, my new podcast co-hosted by my husband, Pete Reese. Many of you may not know Pete, but you've actually been seeing his work for a long time. He's the editor behind my daily essays, the producer behind my videos, my sounding board, and my closest collaborator throughout this entire journey. While I've been the one writing and speaking publicly, Pete has been working behind the scenes, helping shape nearly everything we create. We've spent countless hours talking through the stories, policies, and larger patterns that I write about each night, and eventually those conversations became something we wanted to share with all of you. Like me, Pete reached a point where sitting on the sidelines while our country moved in this direction no longer felt like an option. In addition to helping with this work, he's a successful entrepreneur who founded a renewable energy development company and owns a nationwide land development firm. But more importantly, he's someone who cares deeply about protecting democracy and believes that all of us have a responsibility to participate. Rational Response gives us the opportunity to have longer, deeper conversations than what I can fit into my daily essays. We'll be discussing current events, history, politics, media, and the larger patterns shaping this moment. It creates space for additional context, broader discussions, and conversations that simply don't fit into a written post. I want to emphasize something important: my daily essays and videos are not going anywhere. They remain the foundation of everything I do. This podcast is an addition to that work, not a replacement for it. We'll be releasing new episodes multiple times each week here on Substack in both audio and video formats. You'll also be able to watch on my YouTube channel, Heather Delaney Reese. I hope you'll join us for this first episode. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts, feedback, and ideas as we continue building this community together. Thank you for being part of this journey. I'll see you later tonight,Heather Get full access to Hope for America with Heather Delaney Reese at heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe (https://heatherdelaneyreese.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

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