Trump Back Into Kansas, Street Car Extension Push and Dem Unpopularity Grows | 7-29-26

Well, we have got candidates breaking out all the stops with just a few days to go until Election Day in Kansas and Missouri. It is 604. Good morning. Happy Wednesday. I'm Pete Mundo. Thanks for being here with us on KCMO Talk Radio. So in the Kansas governor's race this morning, I want to just start there for a few minutes. President Trump. put out a video last night shared by Ty Masterson. supporting an endorsing tie to be the next governor of Kansas. Now, this is not new, and tonight there's a tele-town hall, teleconference, tele-rally, I guess would be the proper verbiage for this, that is going to be happening for Ty Masterson with the president to the United States. That is at 5.30 central time, and we'll share that information throughout the morning here on KCMO. So last night, The president records this video. It is shared by Ty Masterson's team. And let's just take a listen to the start of this video and what the president of the United States had to say yesterday. Hello, Kansas, a place that I love. There is an incredibly important primary election coming up in your state on Tuesday, August 4th. I'm asking you to get out and vote for Ty Masterson. He's fantastic to be the next governor of Kansas. He is really good, known by all. Polls are now open, so get out and vote early and get out for Election Day. Let's have a big win. Ty Masterson is highly... respected and very successful, small business owner and entrepreneur. And he's been Kansas as very popular president of the state senate and everybody respected him. There's nobody that didn't, actually. He's an America first patriot and he has my complete and total endorsement as governor. There you go. That was President Trump on Ty Masterson's social media came down yesterday. Now, once again, it's not news. The Trump endorsement came down several weeks ago for Ty Masterson. Gosh, it's been what, two months at this point. So it's not news, but it's just leaning into it further, doubling down for Ty Masterson. And listen, it's the best thing that Ty Masterson could possibly ask for. Because what I'm struggling to figure out for Ty Masterson is... Who makes up the base? Now, he's still the favorite because he's got the Trump endorsement. But what is the makeup of his base? Well, that might have...

solidified a little more yesterday when he also got the endorsement from Jeff Collier. Now, Jeff Collier, of course, is a former governor. He was in this race. He was arguably leading this race until Trump came in and endorsed Ty Masterson. And obviously, Jeff then decided he was not going to go any further with his campaign and he dropped out. But everyone wondered, necessarily who Jeff Collier was going to endorse, but when he was going to come down with this endorsement for Ty Masterson. There was some belief that people were trying to maybe get an appointment for the endorsement. There was potentially some things going on behind the scenes. It's not clear to me that there was any horse trading going on here, but we got this from Jeff Collier yesterday. when he posted on social media 14 hours ago, 3.30 in the afternoon, to support President Trump in his efforts to make America great again and to do the vital work of protecting innocent life here in Kansas, we should unite behind President Trump's choice for Kansas governor, Ty Masterson. So they're breaking out all the stops, the Masterson campaign, which tells me as well, this thing is probably pretty close with Philip Sarnicky. There are only two people in this race who have any chance. With all due respect, I like all the candidates in this race. I've said this since day one. I really do like them all, and I respect almost all of them. But there are only two people that can win. Now, the Sarnakey campaign, they're not shying away from, hey, President Trump didn't endorse us, but instead what they're doing is they're saying, we're the most Trumpian candidate. When you talk about successful business owner, political outsider, shaking up the establishment, you're hearing a lot of that Trump talk. And let's be honest, that Trump talk has worked very well. even if you haven't had the Trump endorsement in places like Iowa and Georgia and Oklahoma. That's what you've seen. You have seen Republican primary voters buck the president on gubernatorial races. That's what you've seen. Does it mean it happens on Tuesday in Kansas? I don't know. I really, I do not know. I don't know who the spoilers are in this race at this point. Is Charlotte O'Hara playing spoiler for Sarnicky? Is Scott Schwab playing spoiler for Ty Masterson? I don't know. I don't. I mean, everyone's showing me every poll known to mankind, and I just, I don't believe any of them. I just, I don't. I think that Sarniki has a message that appears to be resonating with more of the grassroots. than Masterson does. That being the case, you can't get caught up in necessarily just the grassroots because there are hundreds of thousands of people who end up voting in elections that aren't necessarily diehard political people. And they may just come to the conclusion of, hey,

He's the Senate president, Ty Masterson. He's been around the block. He's got a Trump endorsement. Hey, that's good enough for me. Let's roll to the general, baby. That may work too. I do think it's going to be close. I think it's going to be very, very close. And we'll see how much juice President Trump's endorsement ends up having in this governor's race, which has not been his strong suit here over the last few months. 913-40877 is our text line, our studio line. If you're voting early this week, And by the way, if you have any questions as to whether or not you can get out on Tuesday to vote, just go vote this week. Republicans needed to get away the last few years from the we don't early vote. We vote on election day. Oop, my tire blew out. Oh, dang, I can't vote today. If this is how the rules are, don't complain and don't whine about them. Yes, I think it's goofy, but just get out there and vote early. If you have a free 20 minutes today, go to your early voting booth. It's not the same as what you'd have on Election Day. You've got to look it up and just get out there and cast your ballot. I am curious if you're an early voter how you're voting in some of these races in Kansas or in Missouri for that matter. Because on the Missouri side, the other race that I'm trying to get a handle on that I think has gotten totally wild is the Nathan Willett-Christagall race up north. The amount of text messages and phone calls I'm getting from, I mean, casual political people. to die hard political people saying, who's going to win this race between Stagall and Willett to replace Sam Graves in Missouri's 6th Congressional District? And you know, it's hysterical? People I respect have the completely opposite viewpoints of me. And that's okay. But I just, I can't get a feel. My gut right now tells me. that Nathan Willett is doing better in Clay and Graham Platner County where he has a very built-in establishment base, not establishment in the sense of like politically establishment, but just he's built in an established base because, you know, city councilman, Clay County was running for that state Senate district in Graham Platner-Bucanin counties. So he's got built-in name ID infrastructure on the ground in Clay and Graham Platner. What I'm sensing right now is even though Nathan Willett does have some key endorsements for ag communities and things of that nature, is that Stagall may be the one who ends up running up some numbers in outstate Missouri, some of the more rural areas, and that may be what gets him across the finish line in this race against Nathan Willett. But they're both going at each other hard man, and it is personal. It is really...

personal between these two. And, you know, you've got Nathan putting out videos yesterday on social media from when he was on Chris's radio show saying Chris is a talker, I'm a doer. And then you've got Chris DeGall's team. calling Nathan Willett Nate, which apparently he hates his handle on social media, is Nathan not Nate. So they're going around calling him Nate Willett in every interview. Sam Graves was on this show last week, calling him Nate. So they're literally, this is like sixth grade all over again. And I, you know, I'm not going to lie. I'm here for it, okay? I'm not judging anybody. It's the final six days of a primary election cycle. And if we've got, you know, minor league name calling going on, let's just see how it rolls till Tuesday. I'm in, man. I really am. 913-4087-957. is our text line, is our studio line here on KCMO. I'm just, I'm fired up because there's so much happening here with just a few days to go. And we've got all these storylines on both sides of our state line. We've got issues with the election of judges, Supreme Court justices in Kansas to see how that plays out. You've got, of course, potentially the elimination or the phase out of the Missouri income tax coming up on Tuesday as well. There's a lot happening. And we have a lot of guests lined up today, including Scott Fawn of the Missouri Times. He's in Kansas City this morning. He does this every political year. He goes around the state of Missouri. He sees what the folks are saying, what they're thinking, and Scott Fawn will be here at 8 o'clock on KCMO. Ty Masterson joins me coming up at 9. Coming up next here on KCMO. Streetcar extension east-west. Where are we looking at? Where was there a big meeting last night in town? We'll share that with you next on KCMO. I was checking in yesterday with our marketing team. There are fewer than 50 tickets remaining for our America 250 event at Boulevard coming up on September the 16th. You can buy those tickets right now at KCMO TalkRadio.com when Vince Collinace will be here along with... Guy Benson, McGraw-Millhaven, myself, Kiesman, Mark, John, the whole team. I was talking to Guy last night, actually. We were texting about the event. He's fired up. Just had a second baby, so I think he's already counting down the days to an ice-cold boulevard and some Chiefs Football, because I think guy's going to come in early and go to that Monday night opener against the Broncos. So join us. That's going to be a lot of fun, Mark.

I can't wait. That's a heck of a Kansas City experience for Guy Benson. And he's the only one who's going to come in for the game on Monday. So, hey, I get it. People are busy. But Guy wants the full Kansas City experience with Christine, his producer as well. So we've got to show him a good time there, Mark. Chiefson Boulevard, that's all you need. That is all you need, man. That's living right there. That is. You know what you don't need if you're in Kansas City? An east-west streetcar extension. You just don't. Especially not when you're talking about upwards of, I'm going to ballpark it at $200 million. So last night, residents had the opportunity to help shape the future of a possible streetcar expansion connecting 16th in Maine to the 18th in Vine district. That is the tentative proposal that the streetcar authority is hosting out there right now. And last night, they had an open house at Keystone CoLab as part of a feasibility study looking at how the existing streetcar line could extend farther east. Residents had a chance to review three potential route options. They were asked questions of project leaders providing feedback on what they believed would best serve the community. This is a massive waste of time. And here's why. This is like planning out your big kitchen remodel with CMP construction here in Kansas City, who we're happy to be partnered with on this show, without having any idea as to whether or not you can afford it or even have the money. You can't do that, right? You've got to have some kind of budget in mind. I don't care if it's a bathroom, a kitchen, a basement. You've got to have some kind of budget, and you've got to know whether or not you can afford it. And I'm no way convinced Kansas City without federal help. And, you know, let's be honest, they are not going to get a big fat check from Washington, D.C. for an east-west street car right now. That is in no way going to happen. So what's the point of this to give false hope, to make people feel good, to use their leverage and enthusiasm out of the World Cup to be like, we need more streetcar, we need more cowbell, east-west. Ding-ding, ding, ding. Thank you very much, yes. There's our boy. Our boy there needs, I don't know, maybe he's more of an east-west guy than a north-south guy. I'm not sure. But here was part of their reporting last night from Fox 4 on this open house. Donna Mandelbaum, the marketing director for the streetcar authority, says no preferred route has been selected. Tuesday night's meeting is to get additional feedback. the first of seven steps in the process. I think at this point in the project, since this is the feasibility study, nothing is like off the table, right? So this is where the part of the project, where all the ideas are welcome. The creative feedback is welcome. People are encouraged to review maps and engineering drawings while leaving comments about which route they believe best fits the community's needs. We have policies that I think are heading in the right direction to improve people's lives. Ding ding ding ding.

There you go. A little ding ding, ding, ding, as we kick it off on a Tuesday. I don't get it. I don't understand it. Outside of the streetcar, basically trying to drive up enthusiasm for this thing coming out of the World Cup, John. That's my only read on why. Now, maybe I can help you. I figured it out. What we used to call feasibility studies were cocktail parties. Right? Yes. They just had a party. Nothing's off the table. Well, sure, drop your suggestion in the box. Have a fine time. Tip the waitresses dry carefully. You know, that is so true because they did note in this. package last than on Fox 4 that this was like the first of seven or eight steps seven or eight steps and by the way what do we need this step for to your point i mean i just see a bunch of guys not mostly guys but people walking around this room looking at big fancy photos and you're right it looks like there's some maybe uh... hors d'oeuvres out a couple of drinks yeah what that cost me on my taxpayer dime Well, I was going to say, I mean, this wasn't free. Under the guys of being a feasibility steady. Bingo. Yes, that is an excellent point. So it was something to do on a Tuesday night is what this was. Oh, my gosh. Here's the problem, though. People in that area kind of feel like 18th and Vine is underserved that other monies go to different parts of town for developing, you know, town center. I mean, that's in Kansas, but, you know, Zona Rosa or the Plaza gets money. And so. Once again, are we like holding up false hope and then adding to that compounded perception? Yes, that is an excellent point. Like, I don't think this makes any sense for anybody, certainly not at $175 million price tag. They're ballparking 125 to 175. I think that's a low ball because the project down to UMKC was $100 million a mile. And I looked it up this morning. 16th and Maine, the 18th at Vine is about 1.9 miles. Let's just say that's two miles. At 100 million bare minimum, you're at 200 million bucks. So there is a good point there, though, John. That is if there's this perception of we never get our share and then you tease them with this east-west street car and it doesn't happen, then you're just pissing off the same people. You've been pissing off for years. So what's the point of that? But maybe it's just to have some cocktails and past hors d'oeuvres. Maybe that's what it's really about on a Tuesday night. I don't know. 704 on a Wednesday morning across Kansas City. It is great to have you here starting the day with us on KCMO Talk Radio. So listen, we are six days away. Can you believe it from this primary here in Kansas, Missouri? And we've got ballot issues. We've got hot and heavy races. There is a lot happening. And...

frankly, more than I thought we were going to have when I sat here six months ago and looked at these elections around Kansas and Missouri. But broadly speaking nationally, I have been over the last few days questioning what the game plan is going to be come November for the Republican Party now that we're sitting here with less than 100 days to go until these primaries. Well, as much as I have said, and I still believe, A GOP's got to have a message beyond the other guys stink. There's just, there's got to be something else there. There has to be. Even if it's not your main sales pitch, when you've had all the power and you've had all the political control for going on two years, you've got to sell people on something that you've done that benefits them. Because if not, people are going to say, okay, we gave you a shot. Maybe the other guy stink. But you know what? Let me find that out for myself because we have very short-term memories in this country. Well, the other guy stink might be good enough. It might be good enough. It still is not the strategy I would use, but it just might be enough. And it's a sad state of affairs for this country when basically we're racing to the bottom. And both sides are like, those guys are commies. Those guys are fascists. Orange Man Bad. DSA. Like that's really not, I think, the best place for the country to be indisputably. But it's where we may end up here coming up in November. And I bring this up because I saw this clip from yesterday on CNN. Harry Enton, who's, you know, listen, he's. He's a cartoon character. He's entertaining. He was breaking down the net favorability of the Democratic Party compared to 2018 when, of course, they had a monster midterm year. Take a listen to this. The Democratic Party net favorability. Back in 2018, back in 2018, when Democrats were able to take control the House, they were actually on the plus side of ledger. They were actually in positive territory at plus one point. Look now in 2026. We're not just talking down there underneath the Potomac. We're talking down there with the Titanic. We're talking 24 points underwater. And this is just the party overall. This isn't the congressional leadership. This is the party. The party. It's just a terrible, terrible, terrible. Terrible. Terrible. I want to almost get my Charles Brock. Terrible. I can't even do it Charles Barkley. But the bottom line is it's absolutely terrible. Now, what is the reasons? Why is the Democratic brand so terrible? Well, it's terrible. If you want to say the Charles Barkley version of terrible, you put a you in it. It's terrible. That's how you do the Charles Barkley. All right. Did I get that right, fellas, terrible? Bingley. Thank you. So he's right. It's terrible. The Democratic Party's net favorability, according to CNN, is 24 points underwater. They are minus 24 in net favorability. That just means how do you view the party as a whole? Not how do you view it compared to the Republicans? Just how do you view the party? Negative 24. And in 2018, it was plus one. They were on, as Harry said, the plus side of the ledger.

They are now 24 points underwater. That is horrific. That is as bad as it could possibly get. And considering the other guys have all the control, right? Republicans have all the control right now. You typically just get a boost because people kind of maybe forget what it was like when you were in charge. They might give you the benefit of the doubt because you have not been in charge in a while. So usually there's some of that going on. But when you're 24 points underwater, that is terrible. By the very definition, it's terrible. So that may be the gift that just keeps on giving for the Republicans. Not that they're doing anything all that well, to be honest. And I know that there are some folks who are going to maybe disagree with that. But listen, they're not having an amazing season if we're using like a baseball analogy here. I'm not saying they're the Royal 17 games under 500. But, you know, they're certainly not playing winning baseball right now, John. Well, we'd like to view that as maybe a victory for conservatism, but I'm curious about how many commies in the party don't rate their own party in that feasibility study. Yes, that's a great point as well. I wonder. I wonder. Yes, I do too. I do too, man. It is fascinating to see how that's going to play out for them. Now, as we head down the home stretch here in Kansas and Missouri, The Kansas City Star, I just saw this from a couple of folks on the text line, have endorsed Cindy Holcher in the Kansas gubernatorial race on the Democratic side of the aisle. How about that? Cindy Holcher, who is the most progressive candidate in the race, has received the endorsements of the Kansas City Star. Not Ethan Corson, who is Laura Kelly's pick to carry on her legacy. Not Kirk Scoog, as Mark's daughters used to say when they were reading his sign. Not Scoog, the Overland Park Mayor. But Cindy Holcher, who is the most progressive candidate in the race, by far. I am, even for the star, I am surprised by this. They write here, Cindy Holster, who represents a large swath of Overland Park in the Kansas Senate, is our recommendation. They said that they spoke with the three major candidates, and they found them to make up a uniquely qualified field with relatively few major substantive policy differences. They said that one stands out, and they say it is Cindy Holcher. She correctly identifies, writes the star, the most pressing issue for our state in this election cycle, the ongoing affordability crisis for everyday families. Okay, you tell me what Cindy Holscher is going to do about it. What any governor can do about the price of groceries? Can anybody answer that to me? What possibly, I mean, even Ty Masterson, even the Republicans.

What are they possibly going to do? Mark, I'm just popping in this second clip right below where I put the first one because it ties in perfectly to what I'm talking about here. And it's another clip from our guy, Harry Enton. And it shows that in this CNN polling, the majority of voters do not believe that Democrats can lower the cost of living. I can't believe that's the justification from the Kansas City Star for why they're endorsing Cindy Holcher. that she's identified the most pressing issue? Okay, great. You can identify anything. Yeah. What are you going to do about it? I found that interesting that they said she correctly identified. Oh, really? Yeah. Yeah, that's amazing. All right, here's Harry Enton. Let's roll this. Apathy, not believing that Democrats can change anything because the impacts of Democratic policies on your cost of living, only 41% say help. Hurt or wouldn't change it? The clear majority, nearly three and five, 59%. So look, these are all the red flags. If, in fact, Democrats can't take back control of either the House and or the Senate, and if Trump can stop them, this is what's going on. Yes, that is what's going on. They just don't believe. The American people do not believe that Democrats can lower the cost of living. This is on CNN. This is their polling. 41% say Democratic policies will help cost of living. 59% say it will hurt or not change cost of living. And the Kansas City Star is saying that Cindy Holscher is the right candidate or the right person to lead Kansas because she correctly identified. that the affordability crisis is the pressing issue for our state in this election cycle. I'm pretty sure the Republicans are saying the same thing as well. I know that Philip Sarnocky is saying that, and I'm sure that they want no part of Philip Sarnocky in the Kansas City Star Newsroom. They note here that Holshire is right that Kansans deserve relief, and state property tax reform is one way to deliver it. They note adequate funding of public schools is a core responsibility of government. And they also note that Holshir stands out for her very public opposition to huge public incentives to move the chiefs across the state line to Wyandai County. Hey, listen, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. She's right about that. She is. There's no doubt about it. And Corsing can't say it because, of course, Laura Kelly is his, you know, handpicked successor. He can't blast the chief's deal. And Kirk Skug, I mean, that guy never met an incentive that he didn't, you know, like. So the star should just say they're endorsing Cindy Holcher because she's the only one.

You know, I started, and if you want to call it a diary, I prefer to use the term journal. I started journaling. I try to do it once a week. I've been doing it for about six months. And almost everything I write is memories about the kids because I don't want to forget them when I get old. or older, I should say. Because I know that this time in my life is just a total blur when it comes to raising kids. So I, like, write down key things that each of the girls did that week. I, you know, I wish I did it more frequently than I do. I try to get to it on like a Sunday night when I have some time. after the kids go to bed. And I just write down key things the kids did that I want to remember, whether it's in five years or ten years or, you know, 40 years. And then I write all the funny things that John Anthony said during the week to try to keep track of those as well. But I need a bigger journal for that. So that's what I do. I don't, I can't even fathom writing in a journal. You know, I was in a high of E today and three people were like, hey, great show today, Pete. Like, who would write that? Who would put that in a journal? And that's more or less the equivalent of what Anthony Fauci was doing. Cover of this magazine appeared on MSNBC. Trump realizes I'm more popular and famous than him. Who talks about themselves like that, John? The guy's a total whack job. He's a legend in his own shower. Let me write that line down for this Sunday. Okay. Yeah, exactly right. Exactly. So Rand Paul is going to run this thing. He is actually speaking right now on Capitol Hill ahead of Anthony Fauci's testimony talking to Fox News. And Mark, possible we can pull this up for 30 seconds, see what Rand Paul is saying.

Oh, you don't? Okay. I may be a little bit behind then. I don't know. My TV may be a little bit off. But anyway, that is going to be starting here in just three minutes. So whatever comes out of it, we will get to it here on KCMO Talk Radio. And we'll get reaction to it as well throughout the morning because we need some answers as to what exactly happened. What Anthony Fauci knew. when he knew it because it's impacted an entire generation of Americans. Young people who had their school life destroyed, who had potential future job prospects destroyed. I mean, the amount of damage that was done to the economy, that was done to our school system, and it was largely driven by our trust and our faith in one unelected bureaucrat. And it's tragic. It really is tragic. 911-408-7-95-7. Pete, none of this is new. Way back in the beginning, people brought up Anthony Fauci's narcissism. The only difference is that the diary is now confirming it. Well, yes, we all knew we had a big ego, but I'm not going to lie. The diary... Maybe realize the ego is even big. We're monitoring the Anthony Fauci hearings underway. Rand Paul gave an opening statement now. Gary Peters, who is the minority leader, Democrat from Michigan, is giving his opening remarks. And he's basically saying that this is a big waste of time. Oh my gosh. I mean, honestly. I think that Democrats would be well served and would score political points if they just admitted that Anthony Fauci screwed up and at least was somewhat of a fraud. I really think that would behoove them. With millions of Americans, I know that we're in this ridiculous time in American political history, where if one side says the sky is blue, the other side says, no, it's green. And it doesn't matter which side says the sky is blue. It doesn't matter. The other side's going to say, no, that's not true. This, though, like, just dropping a steamer on Anthony Fauci right now should not be political. The guy was wrong. And the guy's a completely narcissistic egomaniac. That is what we are learning with these diaries this week. Not that we didn't already know that. But come on, this crazy. So yesterday, here in Kansas City, the mayor, Quentin Lucas, put out a video where he endorsed Adam Hamilton, Pastor Adam Hamilton, for U.S. Senate in Kansas. They've got that primary coming up on Tuesday. And... Adam Hamilton's the favorite, but he does have some challengers in that race. So the mayor writes, long before I was in public life, I got to know Pastor Adam Hamilton. He's been a true friend to our entire community for a generation. I'm proud to endorse him as he embarks on his journey to become a U.S. Senator from Kansas. So I shared this yesterday. It's on X at Pete Mundo. You can see it there. And I wrote that someone needs to explain to me the strategy here for Adam Hamilton.

You're trying to become the first Democratic U.S. Senator in Kansas in 100 years. And you think that Quentin Lucas helps you achieve that? Really? Now, I get it for Mayor Q. I understand it. If you're Mayor Q, you know what? If Kansans want your endorsement, if you can get a video of yourself with a guy in another state endorsing him, making it up to be a big deal, I get it. You look like a regional kingmaker. You keep yourself relevant in the game. I understand it. But if you're Adam Hamilton, unless you think that you need help getting through the primary on Tuesday, What's the point of this? What is the purpose if you're Adam Hamilton of attaching yourself to Quentin Lucas for a statewide race in Kansas? We're not talking about Johnson County Chairman here. We're not talking about, you know, third district here. We're talking about statewide in Kansas. Who the heck does this move the needle for? Who's suddenly like, you know, out in Dodge City or Salina or Hutchinson? You know, I was on the fence on this U.S. Senate race, but that guy 200 miles away in Kansas City, Missouri, is a big fan of this Pastor Adam guy, so I'll vote for him. That voter does not exist. This video caters to a voter that does not exist. It may play all right on social media, but social media is not real life. Okay, half the people see in this are in Missouri, more than half probably. They can't even vote in the race. So what's the point here for Adam Hamilton? I just, I don't get the strategy. I don't get the politics. None of it makes any sense to me at all. 913-408-7-957. That is our text line. That is our studio line right here on KCMO Talk Radio, 957 FM in Kansas City, and 102.9 FM in Topeka. The mayor responded to me and he wrote this. My endorsements in Kansas have a surprisingly good record of winning, even in general elections. Look to turnout, interest, and attention. We are also more popular in the suburbs than you think. That's what the mayor wrote back to me. And I responded very simply, I don't deny that. But Adam Hamilton does not need your Quentin Lucas's help in Johnson County. No offense to you, but his problem won't be suburban moms and prairie village. Okay? Quentin Lucas has that locked up. And so does Adam Hamilton. So once again, who are the new voters that Quentin Lucas is bringing to Adam Hamilton here? I don't see who that person is. I can't find him. What I can find is Anthony Fauci giving a couple of opening remarks on Capitol Hill right now. Let's dip into some of that if we could there, fellas. His repeated slanderous comments about me.

And recently his publicly releasing my unredacted personal diary aimed at embarrassing and intimidating me. The only conclusion I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something, anything. that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up in his words, quote, behind bars, unquote. Any reasonable person who has followed his unhinged obsession with me would readily come to the same conclusion. Therefore, although it pains me to do so, Because of the respect I have for the legislative branch of government and my decades-long record of cooperating with Congress, under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions. Thank you.

Many of you predicted this on our text line last hour. He said Anthony Fauci's going to invoke the Fifth Amendment. There's no doubt about it. And I was hoping that his ego would not allow him to invoke the Fifth Amendment or would not take him down that road. But even he knows. He could have himself in a world of legal hurt if he says the wrong thing. So Anthony Fauci is going to invoke the Fifth Amendment at the hearing today, John. He's the north end of a southbound horse, isn't he? Oh, man. And forever playing the victim, Anthony Fauci, the most dangerous. unelected bureaucrat this country has ever seen, claiming that he is the victim in all this. What an absolute before. All right, let's go to KCK as we roll through the 8 o'clock hour on KCMO, where there was a guy who had to get surgery after he was chased down by ice. Elmer Omar. Guevara Martinez says he was pursued and injured by ICE despite not having a criminal record or being ordered to leave the country. Now, we're only hearing one side of this story. That's all we've got right now. But the family is going public. They've gone to Channel 9. They want answers after this man was injured and spent time in the hospital. This was Sunday in KCK near 8th in Minnesota. Martinez was running errands, and that's when witnesses say ice vehicles pulled up to him, officers got out and started to chase him. And he starts running, they tackle him on the floor, and then he ends up. with injuries to his feet, under his knee, and his tendons, and he's had surgery. He's a painter, so he's not able to make money for his family right now as a result. Here's part of KMBC's reporting on this, and then we'll get to the fallout as well in what ICE is saying at this point in time. Let's go. Elmer's family says he ran from the officers in fear. Elmer's wife, Gracie, tells us she was devastated when she found out what happened after trying to reach him for hours. The family says the encounter with ice caused injuries to his feet under his knee and tendons. It was very awful to witness. I've heard of it, seen it on the news, but never had to witness it in person. His family says Elmer has been in the U.S. for seven years from Honduras and works as a painter. They tell us he's in the process to becoming a legal citizen. You know, they deserve to be treated like humans, you know, not like animals or how they call it illegal aliens. Gracie says she's not sure what she's going to do now to help provide for the couple's five-year-old daughter. Okay, so that is from Channel 9 last night, KMBC. What are we hearing from the feds? Well, nothing.

ICE at this point says they're researching the story and they'll get back to Channel 9 as soon as possible. Okay, that's great. I want that to be the case. But I still have to ask a very obvious question. And we have asked this for years on this show. Find me someone who has benefited by running from the police. I don't care if it's your local cop in Kansas City, your local cop in Aletha, your local cop in Liberty, or it's the feds, or it's, you know, the sheriff's department in a county, John. Find me the person who has benefited by running away from the police. Rule number one here in your assimilation, don't run from the police. Yes, thank you very much. It benefits no one. Citizen, non-citizen, child, minor, whatever. Ope, older adult person, anybody. Exactly right. No one benefits by running from the police. Now, I don't know why ICE was after this individual. Now, he says he's been here for several years. He is on his way to becoming a citizen, and he does not have a criminal history or a criminal record. There could be other reasons. I don't know. I want to hear from ICE on this, but I'm not even going down that road right now. I'm just simply having the conversation that there is never a benefit to run from the police. If it's a wrongful arrest, okay, then there will be an avenue to make sure that you get your day in court. That will happen. And then by the way, ice will look really bad. And you know that they're going to have a problem on their hands, and the media will amplify that unbelievably because that's the story they want to tell. that's the road that they want to go down. But you can't sit here and say to me, I ran from the police and they tackled me and now I've got a leg injury. It's like, what did you expect them to do? I will catch you next week, buddy. Please don't run next time. That's the part where I throw my hands up and I say, even if I want to be mildly sympathetic, I can't be. I just can't be in that case. I feel bad for the kids. but I don't feel bad for this guy who had no judgment.