4 Things To Know This Afternoon
Your essential end-of-day rundown of the four most important stories breaking while you were busy. Hosted by nationally syndicated radio host Erick Erickson, 4 Things to Know This Afternoon delivers smart, conservative analysis of the four biggest headlines shaping the nation and the world in less than ten minutes. From national security to culture, economics to politics, Erick distills the noise into clarity—cutting through the spin with conviction, context, and a clear-eyed view of where things stand. Subscribe for daily insight before dinner.
Episodes
- Ukraine peace talks fracture: President Trump declines Zelensky's request for a meeting and instead sends Steve Whitkoff to Moscow. Republican senators and European leaders warn the deal heavily favors Russia, and new reporting shows Whitkoff may have coordinated strategy directly with the Kremlin.
- FBI Director Kash Patel under fire: Trump is considering firing Patel after reports he...
- Bizarre Haiti Plot Exposed: Federal prosecutors charge two Texans for allegedly planning to recruit homeless Americans as a mercenary force to seize Haiti's Gonâve Island, a surreal and disturbing scheme raising serious questions about motive and intent.
- Comey Case Tossed: A federal judge dismisses cases against James Comey and Letitia James after ruling the interim U.S. attorney was...
- Trump's Ukraine ultimatum: The president demands Ukraine respond to his 28-point peace plan by Thursday, a proposal angering Republicans, European allies, and Ukrainian officials for giving Russia territory it hasn't even captured.
- Georgia Senate race rocked: Frontrunner Rep. Mike Collins and his chief of staff are under House Ethics investigation, sh...
- Wall Street tumbles: The Dow swings more than 1,000 points as AI-driven market fears spark a selloff. Erick breaks down the "circular money" fueling AI deals, why Nvidia's numbers aren't as strong as they look, and the warning signs echoing Enron, WorldCom, and the dot-com bubble.
- CIA inside Venezuela: New leaks reveal President Trump has authorized CIA operations aimed at destabiliz...
1. Missing Economic Data Creates Turmoil - The Labor Department announces it will not publish October unemployment numbers due to shutdown-related data loss, leaving the Federal Reserve without critical indicators as it debates a December rate cut.
2. Fed Signals Doubt on December Cuts - With inflation still hovering around 3% and missing federal data, Fed governors are increasingly hesitant to proceed w...
- House votes 427–1 to release Epstein files: A rare bipartisan move advances full release of the Epstein case documents, though Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Clay Higgins warn innocent names could be unfairly tainted without stronger redaction rules.
- Trump defends Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: Despite CIA findings on the Khashoggi killing, Trump publicly backs MBS as a key U...
- Senate launches MLB gambling investigation: The Senate Commerce Committee, led by Sen. Ted Cruz, opens a sweeping probe into corruption tied to legalized sports betting.
- Trump pushes Congress to release Epstein files: New reporting reveals Jeffrey Epstein texted a Democratic Delegate during the Michael Cohen hearing, raising fresh questions about political connections.
- Venezuela military options on the table: CBS reports the Pentagon is preparing strike and pressure scenarios for President Trump as he seeks to weaken Nicolás Maduro without launching a full U.S. invasion.
- Government shutdown ends: Smithsonian reopens: Federal workers return nationwide after Democrats walked away with no concessions.
- Chicago's treasurer sparks outrage...
- Shutdown ends after 40 days: The Senate advances the clean continuing resolution as eight Democrats break ranks, giving Republicans the leverage to reopen the government. Erick explains how Democrats misread the political moment and why progressive activists are erupting in fury.
- Controversial Senate provision sparks backlash: A hidden line item expanding investigatory authority tied...
- Democrats divided: Chuck Schumer faces mounting anger within his own party for ending the shutdown without gaining concessions. Democrats are frustrated that they began the standoff without a concrete negotiating strategy, while Republicans unified around simply refusing to deal.
- Redistricting hesitation spreads: Following last week's election results, lawmakers in Kansas, Indiana, and Maryland are signaling a pause on mid-cyc...
Shutdown Ends with Democrats Angry, ATC Pay fight, Supreme Court Signals, Trump Issues Major Pardons
- Shutdown winding down: After 40 days, the Senate advanced a clean continuing resolution. Debate has been cut off and a formal vote is expected within days—Democrats get promises of future votes, but no policy wins.
- ATC pay fight: President Trump threatens to dock pay for air traffic controllers who didn't report during the shutdown. Supporters call it accountability; critics argue co...
- Flight Reductions Hit Major Airports: Air traffic controllers continue calling out as the shutdown drags on. The FAA is ordering flight capacity cuts at more than 40 major airports, including Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, and Chicago, as workers go unpaid and pick up side jobs to support their families.
- Ford Backs Away from the Electric F-150: After real-world test...
- Supreme Court Pushback on Tariffs: Justices across the ideological spectrum, from Clarence Thomas to Ketanji Brown Jackson, show skepticism toward the President's use of IEEPA to justify tariffs. With Roberts, Barrett, and Gorsuch signaling opposition, the future of the tariff structure looks uncertain.
- Election Results and the Economy: Tuesday's election outcomes across Virginia, Ne...
•Senate Democrats Kill Reopening Again: For the 14th time, Democrats vote to keep the government shut down. Erick unpacks the behind-the-scenes deal rumored between John Thune and Senate Democrats that could finally reopen Washington, if it can clear the House.
•Tensions Inside the Pentagon: Senate Republicans lash out at Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby for troop drawdowns in Europe and reduced comm...
•SNAP Funding Nears the End: Even after a Massachusetts judge's order, the Trump administration admits there are only two weeks of SNAP benefits left. States like Texas, Louisiana, and Virginia step up with temporary aid, but time is running out nationwide.
•Trump Blocks AI Chip Exports to China: The president halts NVIDIA's sales of advanced AI chips to China, aiming to protect U.S. tech from theft and ...
•SNAP Benefits on the Brink: A federal judge in Boston questions the legality of freezing SNAP funds, but even if emergency funds are released, the relief would last only a few weeks. Millions of Americans could soon face food insecurity as the shutdown drags on.
•Media Spins the Shutdown: The Washington Post and cable outlets claim Republicans are to blame, yet internal polling shows the generic ballot ...
•Shutdown Day 29: SNAP benefits and Head Start funding are on the brink. TSA and air-traffic-control staff shortages begin slowing air travel across the country.
•Obamacare Profiteering: UnitedHealthcare and AARP are cashing in on subsidies while small businesses and taxpayers shoulder the burden. Republicans are turning their sights on the insurance industry's record profits.
•Federal Rese...
•Netanyahu Orders Strikes on Hamas: Israel retaliates after Hamas returns only partial remains of hostages.
•Trump Eyes National Guard Expansion: The president signals plans to deploy the National Guard to crime-plagued American cities.
•Hurricane Melissa Devastates Jamaica: With 185-mph winds and catastrophic storm surge, the storm leaves American and British tourists stranded.
•Trump's Health Sparks Media Frenzy: After a routine MRI, Democrats question the president's health, while ignoring his energy and relentless foreign travel schedule.
•GOP Eyes Obamacare Reform: Speaker Mike Johnson pushes to end Obamacare subsidies and craft a conservative health-care alternative.
•U.S. Jet and Helicopter Crash in the South Ch...
•Inflation Update: Prices rise 3% - lower than expected but still climbing.
•USS Gerald Ford Moves to the Caribbean: The U.S. shifts its most advanced carrier group from the Mediterranean to pressure Venezuela's Maduro regime. Could this be a step toward regime change?
•Private Money to Pay Troops: A Trump ally pledges $130 million in private funds to cover military pay during the govern...
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