In the 5 AM hour, Larry O’Connor and Bethany Mandel discussed:
ASH WEDNESDAY: The beginning of the Lenten season and the Pope’s request for the faithful to abstain from hurtful words.
RHODE ISLAND SHOOTING: A transgender gunman, identifying as Roberta Esposito, kills two people during a high school hockey game in Pawtucket.
COLBERT STUNT: Stephen Colbert’s "unaired" interview with James Talarico is revealed as a calculated stunt involving the FCC equal-time rule.

Where to find more about WMAL's morning show:
Follow Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Audible, and Spotify
Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @JGunlock, @PatricePinkfile, and @HeatherHunterDC
Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor
Instagram: WMALDC
Website: WMAL.com/OConnor-Company

Episode: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 / 5 AM Hour

In the 5 AM hour, Larry O&rsquo;Connor and Bethany Mandel discussed:
<ul>
<li>ASH WEDNESDAY: The beginning of the Lenten season and the Pope&rsquo;s request for the faithful to abstain from hurtful words.</li>
<li>RHODE ISLAND SHOOTING: A transgender gunman, identifying as Roberta Esposito, kills two people during a high school hockey game in Pawtucket.</li>
<li>COLBERT STUNT: Stephen Colbert&rsquo;s "unaired" interview with James Talarico is revealed as a calculated stunt involving the FCC equal-time rule.</li>
</ul>
Where to find more about WMAL's morning show:
<ul>
<li>Follow Podcasts on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oconnor-company/id1061727141">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/OConnor-Company-Podcast/B08JJM9GJQ">Audible</a>, and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0GdK5LslF4wJCd4VQoRFd0">Spotify</a></li>
<li>Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: <a href="https://x.com/WMALDC">@WMALDC</a>, <a href="https://x.com/LarryOConnor">@LarryOConnor</a>, <a href="https://x.com/JGunlock">@JGunlock</a>, <a href="https://x.com/PatricePinkfile">@PatricePinkfile</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/HeatherHunterDC">@HeatherHunterDC</a></li>
<li>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wmaldc/">WMALDC</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LarryOConnor/">Larry O'Connor</a></li>
<li>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wmaldc/">WMALDC</a></li>
<li>Website: <a href="https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/">WMAL.com/OConnor-Company</a></li>
</ul>
Episode: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 / 5 AM Hour

Enjoy O'Connor & Company from the nation's capital! Heard weekdays from 5am to 9am on WMAL in Washington, D.C.

Enjoy O'Connor &amp; Company from the nation's capital! Heard weekdays from 5am to 9am on WMAL in Washington, D.C.

O'Connor & Company

"O'Connor & Company" is Washington, D.C.'s popular morning-drive news-talk radio show on WMAL hosted by LARRY O'CONNOR with co-hosts JULIE GUNLOCK, PATRICE ONWUKA and executive producer HEATHER HUNTER. O’Connor and his team cover all of the top national and local news of the day, including interviews with top newsmakers in Washington, D.C. and around the country. The show airs weekdays in the Washington, D.C. area (DC, VA, MD, WV) from 5-9 AM EST on 105.9 FM, online at WMAL.com, on the WMAL App or on your Amazon Alexa. To join the conversation, check us out on Twitter check us out on Twitter @LarryOConnor @JGunlock @PatricePinkFile @HeatherHunterDC @WMALDC

Follow Larry on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/oconnorandcompany

"O'Connor &amp; Company" is Washington, D.C.'s popular morning-drive news-talk radio show on WMAL hosted by LARRY O'CONNOR with co-hosts JULIE GUNLOCK, PATRICE ONWUKA and executive producer HEATHER HUNTER. O’Connor and his team cover all of the top national and local news of the day, including interviews with top newsmakers in Washington, D.C. and around the country. The show airs weekdays in the Washington, D.C. area (DC, VA, MD, WV) from 5-9 AM EST on 105.9 FM, online at <a href="http://www.wmal.com">WMAL.com</a>, on the <a href="https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/">WMAL App</a> or on your Amazon Alexa. To join the conversation, check us out on Twitter check us out on Twitter @LarryOConnor @JGunlock @PatricePinkFile @HeatherHunterDC @WMALDC<a href="https://www.cornerstonefirst.com/"></a>
Follow Larry on Apple Podcasts: <a href="http://apple.co/oconnorandcompany">http://apple.co/oconnorandcompany</a>