In the 5 AM hour, Larry O'Connor and Cassie Smedile discussed:

• DUTY TO PROTECT: President Trump challenged Congress to stand if they agree the first duty of government is to protect citizens over illegal aliens, leading to a visible divide as Democrats remained seated.
• DEM MELTDOWN: A look at the ongoing Democratic reaction to the SOTU, including comments from Rep. Jared Moskowitz and Gil Cisneros.
• POKER CONVICTION: SCOTUSblog co-founder Tom Goldstein has been convicted on tax evasion charges related to $50 million in high-stakes poker winnings.
• CUBA ATTACK: The Cuban Coast Guard opened fire on a U.S.-registered speedboat near Cayo Falcones, resulting in four fatalities.
• POPE ON AI: Pope Leo XIV warned clergy against using artificial intelligence to write homilies, emphasizing that "faith cannot be spread via algorithms."

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Episode: Thursday, February 26, 2026 / 5 AM Hour