You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avalone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for August 17, 2026.

We open by breaking down Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal's claim that the Supreme Court has been "captured" by Trump supporters, using it as a launching point to walk through the constitutional distinction between the representative and judicial branches, and why judicial independence matters even when rulings are unpopular. We also dig into the underlying Justice Department opinion on executive privilege that sparked her comments.

From there we run through the headlines you need to know, covering the expiration of the 60-day U.S.-Iran negotiating window, the House Ethics Committee investigation into Congressman Jimmy Gomez over alleged misconduct with a staffer, and the Supreme Court's refusal to hear President Trump's appeal in the E. Jean Carroll case. We talk about a Financial Times study finding that 10% of young Americans report zero daily face-to-face interaction, and what that says about the long tail of pandemic-era isolation.

Our American Mamas, Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson, join us to talk about what sets the United States apart from other countries, drawing on stories from World Cup visitors and reflecting on faith, culture, and gratitude.

In Digging Deep, we look at newly declassified documents raising questions about what Nancy Pelosi knew about Eric Swalwell's ties to a suspected Chinese intelligence agent, then examine a CBS News poll on how Americans, and Democrats especially, view capitalism versus socialism. We also cover a New York legislator's defense of shoplifting as a "crime of poverty" and the property-rights case against it.

Our Bright Spot highlights the nation's first detransition clinic opening at Texas Children's Hospital, and the whistleblower nurse who helped bring it about. In a Moment of Whoa, we take on the WNBA's eligibility rules and the debate Caitlyn Jenner has reignited around defining who qualifies as a woman in women's sports. We close with words of wisdom from President Calvin Coolidge on persistence and personal responsibility. May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776.