The Daily Signal

America’s major credit card companies donate millions of dollars to leftist causes every year. Rob Collins says he saw that conservative were tired of supporting woke corporations, but wanted “something more than outrage and boycotts,” so in 2022, Coign was born. Coign is the first Visa credit card created by and for conservatives. With steady growth in its first three years from a value of $25 million to $105 million, Coign is now giving its customers the opportunity to own a part of the company for as little as a $500 investment. “If you're interested in the conservative economy, and you're interested in what I call the parallel economy, and you're looking for a good company ... it's an opportunity to grow something,” Collins says. Collins joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to explain how Americans can invest in the credit card company, to discuss the conservative organizations the company has donated to, and how Coign is providing aid to those hard hit by Hurricane Helene. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: According to a new study conducted by Dr. Ira Sheskin of the University of Miami and commissioned by the Combat Antisemitism Movement, 61% of American Jews report feeling less safe since the terrorist attack last year. A new report finds that there have been more than 50 jihadi cases across 29 states since April 2021. It has been just over a week since Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the south east. Now Florida is bracing for another major hurricane. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says it is “categorically false” that the Biden administration has used FEMA funding to support migrants. Monday kicks off the first day of the Supreme Court’s new term. Relevant Links Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wearing high heels or flats to work is a small thing most women don’t give too much thought to, but when seconds matter while running to a bomb shelter, a simple decision over footwear becomes critical. Most women in Israel don’t wear heels because, when the sirens sound, Israelis have only about 30 seconds to make it to a bomb shelter, Yael Eckstein, president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, explains. “Just the other day, four days ago, we woke up at 5 a.m. to a siren sounding,” said Eckstein, who lives in Israel with her husband and four children. “We had 90 seconds to wake up our four kids and get them to our shelter in time. Thank God we have a shelter in our home, but even 90 seconds to wake up the kids, get them down to the shelter, we didn’t have time to bring our puppy, and so my kids were crying that the puppy was outside, and I had to make the decision of keeping my kids safe or going out and getting the puppy and risking our lives.” For people living in Israel, these are “everyday situations,” she says. Eckstein joins “The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss Iran’s recent attack on Israel and commemorate the anniversary of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Whistleblowers call out FEMA mismanagement and misallocated funding Jobs report shows positive growth in September. Supreme Court rules on EPA regulations. Dockworker dispute over wages ends, but union negotiations continue. Relevant Links https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/09/26/msnbcs-interview-harris-shows-how-media-are-treating-election-coronation/ Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agend Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a move toward modern financial practices, Louisiana residents can now pay for state services using cryptocurrency. “Louisiana has always, I think, lagged behind other states when it comes to doing things that are in modern commerce,” Louisiana state Treasurer John Fleming says, adding that he hopes to change that. Cryptocurrency is “going to have a huge role” in the future of finance, Fleming says. Sometimes referred to as digital currency, cryptocurrency does not require a bank account. Louisiana is now accepting bitcoin, bitcoin lightning, and USD coin payments. The first cryptocurrency payment was made to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on Sept. 17. The digital currency payments are converted into dollars following the transaction, Fleming explains. The Louisiana treasurer joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” for the third installment of the show’s money and transparency series. In addition to explaining why the state is now accepting cryptocurrency payments, Fleming discusses his efforts to eliminate the Louisiana state income tax. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Nearly 200 lives have been taken by hurricane Helene. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warns that FEMA does not have enough money to make it through hurricane season. Trump says he will end Temporary Protected Status for Haitian migrants living in Springfield, Ohio. Former first Lady Melania Trump released a video which seems to indicate her support for abortion. Relevant Links Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Open the Books was founded in 2011 on a simple principle: Taxpayers deserve to know where their money is going and how it’s being spent. Americans are paying “property taxes to fund local education, so wouldn't you like to know where that money is going?” asks Matthew Tyrmand, deputy director at large of the Florida-based nonprofit Open the Books. Working at the federal, state, and local level, Open the Books files thousands of Freedom of Information Act requests every year with the aim of obtaining and publishing government spending records. For every state in the U.S., Open the Books publishes a “checkbook” detailing how much the state spends annually and on what. Tyrmand joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” as part of this week’s money and transparency series. He share the history of Open the Books and takes time to honor the organization’s founder, Adam Andrzejewski, who passed away unexpectedly in August. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Vice Presidential Nominee JD Vance fact checked the moderators in last night’s debate. Israel’s military announces that eight of its soldiers were killed fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon. President Joe Biden travels to North and South Carolina as the death toll from Hurricane Helene reaches at least 166. Vice President Kamala Harris is criticized for her response to Hurricane Helene. Relevant Links https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/10/02/vance-delivers-a-masterclass-in-how-to-deal-with-biased-moderators/ https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/10/01/fact-checking-claims-made-in-vance-walz-debate/ Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A leftist agenda known as ESG, or environmental, social, and governance, aims to "push politics into business," according to OJ Oleka, the new CEO of the State Financial Officers Foundation. State financial officers are under pressure from the Left to invest in businesses’ commitment to the ESG agenda at the risk of sacrificing their “fiduciary duty to get the best returns possible” on investments, says Oleka. He took the reins at the State Financial Officers Foundation Tuesday. As part of a three-part money and transparency series, Oleka joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to pull the curtain back on what ESG is and how it might be affecting your local and state economy without your knowledge. Utah Treasurer Marlo Oaks joins the show following the conversation with Oleka to explain how ESG policies and the Biden administration's climate agenda are hamstringing land usage in Utah. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Vice Presidential Nominees JD Vance and Tim Walz debate tonight. The Israel Defense Forces announced today that Iran launched missiles toward Israel. U.S. dock workers go on strike. The death toll from Hurricane Helene rises to at least 140. Relevant Links Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alliance Defending Freedom challenges a law banning abortion pill reversal, which would have prevented Mackenna Greene from saving her baby. When Mackenna Greene took the abortion pill to end the life of her unborn daughter, she immediately knew she had made the wrong choice. Greene said she googled her options and found Chelsea Mynyk, a nurse-midwife at the life-affirming Catholic medical center Bella Health and Wellness in Englewood, Colorado. Mynyk prescribes abortion pill reversal medication to women who regret starting a chemical abortion. "I'm the luckiest girl alive to be looking at this girl's face," Greene said. "And thank goodness that the reversal was successful." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Israeli strike in Beirut kills Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Hurricane Helene leaves at least 121 people dead across the Southeast. There is a new drug problem in the U.S. that resembles that created by the Mexican drug cartels. But this is a crisis of the abortion pill, according to reporting from the Washington Stand. A new study finds that there is a difference between what Americans claim to believe publicly on political issues, and what they really feel. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance will take to the debate stage in New York City at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Relevant Links https://washingtonstand.com/news/report-abortion-pill-cartel-circumvents-all-state-prolife-laws https://populace.org/research Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans have a responsibility to be civically engaged in their communities and when it comes to solving social challenges, faith-based communities have the best track record, according to Stacy Blakeley, the CEO of The Policy Circle. During a study examining the foster care and refugee crises today, The Policy Circle, a nonprofit dedicated to encouraging civic engagement, discovered that “faith-based groups [be they Christian, Jewish, or other] had a remarkable ability to solve for the social challenges in our communities,” Blakeley tells "The Daily Signal Podcast." This begs the question, according to Blakeley, why are faith communities “so much more effective, for instance, than a government program?” That question led The Policy Circle to launch the Faith and Civic Life Initiative to explore the role religious organizations can, and should, play in addressing some of America’s greatest challenges. The new initiatives kicks off Monday with an event at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Blakele joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to share the unique mission and history of The Policy Circle and how Americans across the country can take part in the Faith and Civic Life Initiative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: The DOJ confirmed that Iranian agents hacked the Trump campaign this summer. They also confirmed that Iranians want to assassinate Trump as well. Trump met with Ukrainian President Zelensky. New York Mayor Eric Adams pleads “not guilty” to corruption charges. Hurricane Helene continues to cause chaos. Relevant Links https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/09/26/msnbcs-interview-harris-shows-how-media-are-treating-election-coronation/ Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza sits down with The Daily Signal to discuss his provocative new documentary, "Vindicating Trump," which opens in theaters Friday, Sept. 27. D'Souza shares behind-the-scenes insights from his exclusive interview with former President Donald Trump, conducted shortly after the July 13 assassination attempt. The film aims to present a more nuanced view of Trump's character and presidency, challenging media narratives. D'Souza also discusses the movie's exploration of election integrity issues and Trump's unique leadership style. Listen to learn why D'Souza believes Trump may be "the perfect guy" for America's current challenges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: The House of Representatives holds a hearing on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump in July. Donald Trump will return to the site of the first attempt on his life for a rally next week. The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan unseals the indictment of New York Mayor Eric Adam Adams on five charges. Vice President Kamala Harris completes her second whole interview of her presidential campaign Wednesday night. Florida braces for Hurricane Helene to hit tonight. Relevant Links https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/09/26/msnbcs-interview-harris-shows-how-media-are-treating-election-coronation/ Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Energy costs across the U.S. “would probably go down substantially” if the U.S. sharply increased mining and production of Alaska’s natural resources, according to Adam Crum, commissioner for the Alaska Department of Revenue. Geographically, Alaska is by far the largest U.S. state at more than 663,000 square miles. It is also among the most natural resource-dense states in the nation. Alaska became a state in 1959, and under its Statehood Act, it is “mandated that the mineral resources and the subsurface rights were collectivized by the state so that the state could actually collect the royalties and production taxes off of that to fund the government,” Crum explains on “The Daily Signal Podcast.” While other states, such as Texas and North Dakota, can have “individual farmers who actually have mineral rights, nobody has that in Alaska,” he said, explaining that his state was “set up to be a resource-development state since inception.” One of the world’s largest zinc and lead mines can be found in northwest Alaska and has now “been producing for over 40 years and has provided very extensive jobs,” according to Crum. The mine has allowed the local indigenous population in northern Alaska to “not only have an economy to stay there, but you have this town now, it's about 4,000, 5,000 people of primarily Inupiat Eskimos living up there. They get to benefit from this, and they can still get to live a subsistence lifestyle,” Crum explains. Asked about the environmental effects of mining and drilling in Alaska, the revenue commissioner said life expectancy has increased in native communities where natural resources are being extracted as industry has strengthened local economies and increased the quality of life. Crum joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss the vast natural resources Alaska has to offer. Alaska House of Representatives Speaker Cathy Tilton joins the show after the conversation with Crum to discuss the greatest challenges facing America’s most northern state, and to share some of Alaska’s best-kept secrets. Enjoy the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: The House of Representatives is expected to vote today on a spending package to fund the government for the next three months. President of The Heritage Foundation Kevin Roberts attends the New York Times Climate Forward event. Israel’s military suggests Wednesday that it is preparing for a ground operation in Lebanon. Eugene Vindman, a Democrat running to represent Virginia’s 7th Congressional District in the House of Representatives, declines to debate his opponent. The national debt is set to exceed 100% of the gross domestic product for the first time since the end of World War II. Relevant Links Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of "The Daily Signal Podcast," Tim Goeglein discusses his new book, "Stumbling Toward Utopia: How the 1960s Turned Into a National Nightmare and How We Can Revive the American Dream." Goeglein's book explores the dramatic cultural, social, and political shifts of the 1960s and how those changes continue to impact American society today. “The reason we're in the spiritual crisis that we are in across all of our institutions is because of the moral and social revolution of the 1960s,” he tells The Daily Signal. Goeglien, who serves as vice president of external and government relations for Focus on the Family, explores what he calls the many "stumbles" of the 1960s—from morality and religion to education and entertainment. “Progressives ultimately believe in the perfectibility of man and that it can all be socially engineered in places like Washington and Hollywood," Goeglein says. "But I demonstrate in 'Stumbling Toward Utopia' that this is a bunch of false promises.” He also shares his thoughts on how America can restore its moral foundation and revive the American Dream. “I believe already the seeds are being planted for a restoration," Goeglein says. "There are all kinds of things happening, and I believe that the American Dream will be restored.” Listen to hear his insights on education, family values, and the role of government in shaping the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: A report by the Center for Immigration Studies Shows how many noncitizens could potentially vote in November’s election. Democrats continue to claim Trump fully backs Project 2025. Biden makes his final presidential speech to the UN, defends his decision to withdraw from Afghanistan. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken fails to show up at a House hearing, triggering a possible move to hold him in contempt of Congress. Relevant Links Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcaster Tim Pool filed a defamation lawsuit against Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign Thursday. He says he has faced an increase in death threats and that suspicious people have been monitoring his place of business, two developments he finds alarming after two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump. Enjoy the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: The Pentagon announces that the U.S. is, “Out of an abundance of caution,” sending additional troops to the Middle East. The Justice Department releases a letter written by the alleged Trump assassination suspect. The spending fight continues as the House prepares to vote on a Continuing resolution. The Hilton Hotel by the Oakland, California airport has closed, likely due to crime. Relevant Links Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hispanic voters who came to the country legally are “not for people just coming over the border” illegally, Goya Foods CEO Bob Unanue says. “No,” Unanue said, when asked whether former President Donald Trump’s border policies would cost him the Hispanic vote in the 2024 presidential election. The CEO is a longtime supporter of Trump and was thrust into the political spotlight four years ago after stating publicly that the U.S. was “blessed” to have Trump as president. The remark triggered calls from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-N.Y., and others to boycott the Goya brand, which sells its products in the U.S. and many Spanish-speaking countries. The boycott failed, and “business has been great” since then, Unanue says. Unanue remains a vocal Trump supporter, and in his new book, “Blessed, Donald J. Trump, and the Spiritual War,” he explains why he thinks Trump is the leader America needs at this moment in history. The chairman of the Hispanic Leadership Coalition, Unanue, whose grandfather immigrated to America from Spain, joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss the biggest issues on the minds of Hispanic voters and why he is an unapologetic Trump supporter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Vice President Kamala Harris sits down with Oprah Winfrey on Thursday to discuss the Georgia woman who died after abortion pill complications. Israel launches an airstrike on the capital of Lebanon on Friday. New York Magazine’s Washington Correspondent is currently on leave after an alleged romantic relationship with Robert F. Kennedy jr. Mark Robinson says he will continue his campaign after allegations of questionable comments on pornography sites. Indiana State University canceled a speech from Rich Lowry due to a false claim he used a racial slur. Relevant Links Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. military is responding after Russia and China increased their military activity near Alaska. The U.S. military deployed 130 Army airborne soldiers with mobile rocket launchers earlier this month to the Aleutian Islands of western Alaska. The action comes after Russia and China conducted joint military exercises close to Alaska. “There's been naval exercises, there has been joint flyovers … not necessarily our airspace, but identification airspace, which is between the Russian airspace and our airspace,” Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said, adding that the military activity near Alaska is “becoming more frequent.” Earlier this month, Russia and China carried out a week of joint naval exercises in the Sea of Japan. On Monday, the U.S. Naval Institute reported that the U.S. "detected Russian aircraft operating in the Alaska air-defense identification zone.” “I think these are, you know, chess cases and probes,” Dunleavy said of Russia and China’s actions. “But because of the instability in the world, and to some degree, I think some of these countries are questioning America's resolve, [so] you may be seeing more of these activities in the future.” Mainland Russia is only 55 miles from Alaska, making America’s northernmost state key to national security, especially as Russia is actively building its Arctic military capabilities. The Daily Signal had the opportunity to visit Dunleavy at his Anchorage office and discuss the national security threat Russia and China pose to the U.S., and why Russia has its eye on the Arctic. Enjoy the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Description: TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Electronic devices continue to blow up on members of Hezbollah. Research shows extreme media bias against Trump after second assassination attempt. Teamsters avoid endorsing presidential candidate. Iranians hack the Trump campaign. Organization sends explicit gender materials to Wisconsin daycares. Relevant Links https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/09/18/shocking-number-of-democrats-say-us-would-be-better-off-if-trump-had-been-killed/ https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/09/18/1-5-2-7-million-illegals-vote-2024-experts/ Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Syria was one of the last countries left on Sam Goodwin’s list. He was young and on a mission to join a small group of people alive today who have visited every country in the world. By 2019, Goodwin had already traveled to 180 countries, including those with hostile regimes in Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela. “I had always traveled, because it was fun and I enjoyed it, but most importantly, I learned from it,” Goodwin says. “Travel was always the best education I'd ever had.” With fewer than 20 U.N.-recognized sovereign states left to visit at the time, Goodwin—then 30—arrived in Syria on May 25, 2019. He had been in the country only for a couple hours when, while walking to meet his guide, “this black pickup truck abruptly pulled up next to me, two armed men jumped out of the back seat, and instructed me to get inside,” he said in an interview on “The Daily Signal Podcast.” Goodwin would spend the next 27 days in solitary confinement in a prison cell with no windows. “Everything had been taken from me, my material possessions, my communication, my freedom,” he said. “But no matter what, I knew that my faith was absolute, and I would have been in a completely different situation without it. What I learned most significantly in that cell is that we're never less alone than when we're totally alone with God.” After those first 27 days, Goodwin was transferred to a cell with other prisoners, where he spent an additional 35 days. While in prison and accused of espionage, Goodwin had no idea the efforts that his family was making to rescue him, and the unlikely friend God would use to help set him free. In his new book, “Saving Sam: The True Story of an American’s Disappearance in Syria and His Family’s Extraordinary Fight to Bring Him Home,” Goodwin details his travels across the globe and how his faith gave him the strength to endure 63 days of captivity in the Middle East. Enjoy the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: The U.N. demands that Israel withdraw from Gaza. More than 1 in 4 Democrats believe America would be better off if former President Donald Trump had been assassinated, a poll shows. Experts say somewhere between 1.5 million and 2.7 million illegal immigrants are likely to cast a ballot in the 2024 elections. The Federal Reserve announced today it is cutting interest rates. Relevant Links https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/09/18/shocking-number-of-democrats-say-us-would-be-better-off-if-trump-had-been-killed/ https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/09/18/1-5-2-7-million-illegals-vote-2024-experts/ Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Todd McMurtry was a lawyer, but he had never practiced defamation law before legacy media outlets demonized 16-year-old Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann for the crime of "smirking" while wearing a Make America Great Again hat. Now, McMurtry has published a book about defamation law—a book he recommends as a kind of "car insurance" for cancel culture. "I think that you should treat it like buying car insurance," McMurtry tells "The Daily Signal Podcast" of his new book, "Dismissed: How Media Agendas and Judicial Bias Conspire to Undermine Justice." He warns that most Americans with a traditional values approach to life should expect to face attempts to "cancel" them. He notes that smear campaigns happen to "everybody," from high school students to college athletes to professionals to housewives. "I've dealt with dozens and dozens of these people, and it happens all the time." McMurtry warns that Christians and others who support traditional values face an increasingly hostile culture, from the LGBTQ movement to the movement for "diversity, equity, and inclusion" or DEI. Enjoy the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Donald Trump speaks publicly for the first time since the second attempt on his life. Democratic Senator Richard Blumnethal slams the Biden-Harris administration for “stonewalling" requests for information on the two attempted assassinations of Donald Trump. House Speaker Mike Johnson announces the House will move forward with a vote on Wednesday. Lebanese military group Hezbollah promises to retaliate against Israel. Relevant Links https://crimeresearch.org/2024/09/new-bureau-of-justice-statistics-crime-data-just-released-violent-crime-rape-robbery-and-aggravated-assault-soaring-under-biden/ Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicole Solas joined "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss "political indoctrination" at public schools and how to fight back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: A second assassination of former President Donald Trump took place on Sunday afternoon. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that his state would be conducting an investigation into the incident rather than just leaving it to federal authorities. Trump blames the rhetoric of the Biden administration for provoking the shooting while the media said that it was Trump’s rhetoric that was to blame. Sen. Josh Hawley released a report highlighting Secret Service failures on the first attempted assassination in Pennsylvania. Relevant Links https://crimeresearch.org/2024/09/new-bureau-of-justice-statistics-crime-data-just-released-violent-crime-rape-robbery-and-aggravated-assault-soaring-under-biden/ Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Miller entered the field of journalism in Washington D.C. in the early 1990s. There were only a handful of outlets staffing conservative commentary writers at the time, and, even then, Miller says he remembers being frustrated by the liberal bias in the media. “This notion that, you know, a generation ago we used to have objective reporters at The New York Times is nonsense,” Miller, executive director of The College Fix, says. “I mean, they were doing the same thing back then, also pretending they were something they were not. They were putting their finger on the scale constantly when they were covering elections, and candidates, and debates, and Congress, and so forth.” Today, Miller argues that conservative have “a louder voice today than they've ever had before in the media.” But the challenge now, according to Miller, “is populating this media with good writers, with good talkers, people who can make podcasts and so on. And lots of folks are doing it, obviously, but we need more people coming in and more talented people coming in.” In addition to leading The College Fix, Miller also serves as director of the journalism program at Hillsdale College, where he daily takes part in training young conservative journalists. He is a board member of The Daily Signal. Miller joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss what has, and has not, changed in the field of journalism, and how he is actively working to train young conservative journalists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Former president Donald Trump says he will not debate Kamala Harris a second time. A bomb threat in Springfield, Ohio triggers the evacuation of city hall and local schools. The latest data out of the Crime Prevention Research Center has found that violent crime is up significantly in the past several years. The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh is out with a new film. The movie is called “Am I Racist.” “Reagan” movie review. Relevant Links https://crimeresearch.org/2024/09/new-bureau-of-justice-statistics-crime-data-just-released-violent-crime-rape-robbery-and-aggravated-assault-soaring-under-biden/ Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Venezuelan émigré gang is wreaking havoc in U.S. communities. In El Paso, Texas, the Tren de Aragua gang took over a hotel. And in Aurora, Colorado, members of the same Venezuelan gang have been terrorizing residents in rundown apartment complexes. Tren de Aragua is a “Venezuelan prison gang and ... they've been wreaking havoc throughout South America ... since their inception,” according to Chris Chmielenski, president of the Immigration Accountability Project. That “havoc” has now come to America. The brothers of Venezuelan illegal alien Jose Ibarra, the lead suspect in the slaying of Georgia college student Laken Riley, are thought to be connected to the Tren de Aragua gang, the New York Post reported. Aragua is one of Venezuela's 23 states, and Tren de Aragua translates to “Aragua Train.” Members of Tren de Aragua are “getting through some of these cracks that the Biden-Harris administration has exploited because of certain loopholes within our immigration law,” Chmielenski says. Under Chmielenski’s leadership, the Immigration Accountability Project is working to “hold members of Congress and members of the administration accountable for their actions, votes, and statements that they make on immigration, and to educate the American people on how these immigration issues affect them in their communities,” he says. Chmielenski joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss the recent spike in crime carried out at the hands of illegal aliens, and what a new presidential administration could do to address the crisis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Recent polls indicate Republicans could win back the Senate. White House National Security Council communications adviser John Kirby is in hot water after hitting “reply all” on a press email. Southern Poverty Law Center union members have voted to oust their CEO. New York City Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban has resigned. The United Nations accuses Israel of violating international humanitarian law. Relevant Links: https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/09/11/no-confidence-far-left-smear-factorys-splc-union-votes-90-oust-president-mass-layoffs/ Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Faith and family is what's made our country not only great but good," Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., tells The Daily Signal. Miller, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, is the founder of the Congressional Family Caucus. Miller joins this episode of "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss the importance of marriage, family, and recognizing the biological differences between males and females. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Michael Cloud of Texas sat down with "The Daily Signal Podcast" at the State Freedom Caucus Summit to discuss his Dismantle DEI Act, the SAVE Act, and the upcoming vote on the continuing resolution to fund the federal government. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Speaker Mike Johnson pulled the continuing resolution from the House floor hours before the vote. Kamala Harris requests a second debate. The South Carolina Supreme Court strikes down a school choice law that A House subcommittee examines noncitizen voting and the nation’s border. Relevant Links: https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/09/10/fact-checking-claims-made-in-trump-harris-debate/ https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/09/10/4-takeaways-from-house-hearing-on-noncitizen-voting/ Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was 23 years ago Wednesday that terrorists hijacked four U.S. commercial airline flights, turned the planes into weapons, crashed them into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania, and in the process killed nearly 3,000 people. Today, America is at risk of another equally as deadly terrorist attack, a national security expert says. The threat of another 9/11-type terrorist attack on America “is higher now than it was in the months and years preceding 9/11 for a couple of reasons,” says Robert Greenway, director of the Allison Center for National Security at The Heritage Foundation. First, Greenway says the terrorist threat level against the U.S. is high because of “our posture abroad, our approach to our adversaries, … [and] our neglected military capacity and capability and focus.” But America’s greatest vulnerability to another terrorist attack, he says, is “the fact that we've invited terrorist organizations to exploit our open borders, and now they are really hiding within our own population and enjoying the benefits and concealing themselves in their activities inside of our own borders.” Greenway deployed in support of Operation Relentless Pursuit and Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001 in the war on terrorism. He also served as a senior intelligence officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency, and then on the National Security Council. Listen to our interview with Greenway marking the anniversary of 9/11 on today’s edition of “The Daily Signal Podcast." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris face off on the debate stage for the first time. Heritage report exposes Kamala Harris’s pro-crime record. Springfield, Ohio, residents feel unsafe with Haitian migrant influx. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the US will impose sanctions over giving Russia ballistic missiles. A report shows regular church attendance will lengthen your life more than diet and exercise. Relevant Links: https://www.heritage.org/crime-and-justice/report/kamala-harriss-pro-crime-policies Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Description: Representatives Ralph Norman, R-S.C., and Chip Roy, R-Texas, said they will only vote for the continuing resolution to fund the federal government if it includes the SAVE Act, which compels proof of citizenship for voters. Norman and Roy spoke to "The Daily Signal Podcast" at the State Freedom Caucus Summit in Dallas, Texas on Saturday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Description: TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Congress is back and top on their to do list is funding the government. The Harris campaign now has policy positions on its website. The House Foreign Affairs Committee released a report detailing the failures of the Biden-Harris administration that led to that batched Afghanistan withdrawal. Apple introduces the iPhone 16. Relevant Links: https://kamalaharris.com/issues/ https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WILLFULL-BLINDNESS-An-Assessment-of-the-Biden-Harris%20Administrations-Withdrawal-from-Afghanistan-and-the-Chaos-that-Followed.pdf Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A mother in California lost her daughter to the foster care system in 2016 after she wouldn't support the then-14-year-old girl identifying as a boy. Years later, the daughter regrets attempting to transition. This mother sat down with The Daily Signal's Elizabeth Mitchell to warn other parents against allowing minors to make irreversible changes to their bodies. Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Description: TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Employers added 142,000 jobs in August, but economists had anticipated more. The 14-year-old Georgia school shooter and his father have been charged in the shooting that left four people dead. Kamala Harris says she does not support banning plastic straws. If Trump wins the election in November, he says he will consider appointing Elon Musk to lead a “government efficiency commission.” ABC has denied The Daily Signal Press credentials at the presidential debate. Plus, a Friday movie review of “The Searchers.” Relevant Links Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. military is only as strong as its ability to procure needed weapons systems and other defense materials, and right now, America’s defense industrial base is sorely lacking, experts say. “Unfortunately, like the armed services themselves, they have been neglected,” Robert Greenway, director of the Center for National Defense at The Heritage Foundation, says of the U.S. defense industrial base. Instead of producing all of our defense materials at home, the U.S. has outsourced some military production, but “there are some things we don't want in the hands of our adversaries, and there's some things, many things, we don't want under their control or influence,” Greenway says. Foreign production of defense materials is not only a risk from a national security perspective, it also takes economic opportunities away from the U.S., says Richard Stern, director of the Center for the Federal Budget at The Heritage Foundation. “When we're talking about what's good for the defense industrial base, we're also talking about what builds high-quality, high-paying jobs in the US, what allows the U.S. to be the most productive and advanced country on the planet,” Stern says. Greenway and Stern recently traveled to Texas, one of the few states that have managed to build up strong military production capabilities. The Lone Star State, according to the research experts, can and should serve as a model for expanding defense production across America. Greenway and Stern join “The Daily Signal Podcast” to explain why the defense industrial base is so critical to U.S. military strength, and how increased production will serve all Americans through economic stimulation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: Former President Donand Trump was in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania last night for a town hall event with Fox News’ Sean Hannity. Hunter Biden is back in court on federal charges of failing to pay taxes. Harvard University ranked worst college for free speech. A gunman was killed after opening fire near the ​​Israeli Consulate in Munich. France has a new Prime Minister, and he’s conservative. Relevant Links: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/2025-college-free-speech-rankings Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Rasmussen shares his insights on the latest polling data and discusses the political landscape as the presidential race enters the critical month of September. With only small margins separating Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in swing states, the presidential race remains highly competitive with no clear leader emerging yet. Several of those swing states—Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, and Georgia—are up for grabs, while the prize of Pennsylvania appears likely to determine the outcome of the election. Rasmussen also examines Harris' rise as the Democrat nominee after Joe Biden's withdrawal, analyzing her policy positions and the public's reaction to her candidacy. Harris’ policy proposals, such as unrealized capital gains tax and price controls, are generally unpopular. Rasmussen notes that voters still have strong opinions about Trump, and despite his policy advantages, some remain hesitant to vote for him. The conversation also touches on broader political themes, such as how voters perceive "progressive Democrats" vs. "MAGA Republicans." While neither term is particularly popular, progressive Democrats fare better unless specific issues like border security or parental involvement in education are emphasized. Rasmussen emphasizes the importance of candidates focusing on issues rather than personalities, using Trump's 2016 campaign as an example where issue-based discourse proved effective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOP NEWS | On today’s Daily Signal Top News, we break down: The Tennessee Star releases the Nashville shooter’s journal. Four people were killed and nine were taken to the hospital after a school shooting in Georgia this morning. Brazil bans social media platform X in the South American country on Saturday. Beer brand Molson Coors is rolling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Relevant Links Listen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/ Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcasts Sign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House of Representatives returns next week to Washington, and a budget fight showdown is expected. The fiscal year ends Sept. 30, and Congress is tasked with having the fiscal 2025 budget ready to go by then, but it’s all but guaranteed it won't be. “What usually happens at this time is, we'll get to the September 30th deadline, and we've seen this happen for years, regardless of who's running the show, but we'll kick the can down the road maybe a few weeks,” Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, explains. The “can,” in this case, is the fiscal 2025 budget blueprint, and the “kick” is a continuing resolution that funds the government, usually for several weeks or months at a time. It has become the habit of Congress a day or two before Christmas to “have this massive Christmas tree of an omnibus bill that gets passed that few people have read [because it’s] thousands of pages long, [includes] gobs amount of money, and doesn't really do the American people the service that they deserve from their Congress,” Cloud says. The Texas congressman says he's doing everything he can to return the nation to fiscally responsible spending, noting that members of his own party are also partly responsible for the out-of-control spending in Washington. “With the Left in charge, they raced toward this fiscal cliff, and Republicans, when we've been in charge, we jog toward that same cliff and call that progress,” Cloud laments. “I'm not willing to settle for something that doesn't put us on the right path going forward.” Cloud joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss how Congress can take significant steps toward balancing the U.S. federal budget, and how the election could affect the financial fight in Congress this fall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices