We open Wednesday with Anna Hummel filling in for Dawn Stensland and immediately debate a California study in which fifth-graders report a need for mental-health care. We move into Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s new restrictions on data-center development, Byron Donalds’ Florida gubernatorial primary victory and former Fauci adviser David Morens’ guilty plea in a federal records case. Then a Penn State fraternity cocaine ring gives us the unforgettable “Pablo Pledgskobar,” Philadelphia police hunt the suspect behind a Mayfair 7-Eleven ATM burglary, and Phil Almquist runs through the Phillies’ fifth straight win, West Chester’s Little League World Series trip and Roger Goodell’s prediction of an NFL club based outside the United States.
Our Big Take digs into the Democrats’ two-front problem between establishment candidates and the socialist wing, including the party’s struggle to define what it stands for and its new attempt to sell younger candidates through sex appeal. We run through Florida’s mixed primary results, Angie Nixon’s upset of Alex Vindman and the debate over Josh Shapiro’s standing in a future Democratic presidential field. Hour two turns toward the death of ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard, Anna’s scorching take on 1980s music, MTV dropping its Best Rock category, Disney and ABC suing the FCC, our argument for consistent free-speech standards and a viral waitress insisting automatic gratuity does not count as a tip. Tony Bruno then walks into the studio just in time to discover Nick’s controversial restroom routine.
We keep Tony Bruno with us as the morning moves through Jason Kelce’s bizarre data-center stunt, Byron Donalds’ victory speech, Darline Graham’s rough national-security answer, Natalie Harp’s place in Trump’s orbit, a Florida teacher-student sex-abuse case and Anna’s thoughts on dating and marriage. Fight Club brings a knockout in the snow and chaos at the Wisconsin State Fair before we turn to a Virginia insanity acquittee who flies to Tajikistan during an unescorted pass, the Lindsay Clancy trial and the Iowa State Fair chicken-calling contest. During Dawn’s Big Three, with Anna handling the feature while filling in for Dawn, we cover Google’s proposed $10 million Spirit Airlines data purchase, Russia’s arrest order for Conor Kennedy, the death of Hayden Panettiere, DSA co-chair Gustavo Gordillo’s $1.5 million Brooklyn home and Costco’s Medicare move. We finish with warehouse-club arguments, Wawa, Nick’s handwashing saga and Anna’s defense of ranch on pizza before handing the studio to Linda Kearns at 10:29:41 AM ET.
Aug 19, 2026
