East Wing Construction Continues, Wahab Wins Swalwell's Seat, and Voter Fraud in Massachusetts

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for Aguust 21, 2026. 

We open with a pointed examination of antisemitism and New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, arguing that his rhetoric and his choices—including naming zero Jewish lawyers to the judicial screening board despite roughly half of New York's lawyers being Jewish—amount to complicity rather than leadership, and we tie the discussion back to the unique historical and religious bond between the Jewish people and Israel. From there we hit the top three things you need to know: the Supreme Court allowing the Trump administration to continue East Wing ballroom and bunker construction, Aisha Wahab winning the special election to finish Eric Swalwell's term and becoming the first Afghan immigrant elected to Congress, and a Chinese national convicted of stealing his landlord's identity to illegally vote in Massachusetts during the 2024 election.

We poke fun at Chicago's approach to violent crime, ridiculing the city's rollout of thousands of signs declaring that violence "will not be tolerated" as a substitute for real enforcement. Our American Mamas segment welcomes Teri Netterville to weigh in on sorority rush videos on TikTok, debating which style of content—natural, fun montages versus overly sexualized choreography—actually reflects well on the sisterhoods posting them.

We Dig Deep into Bernie Sanders campaigning for Democratic Socialist Senate candidate Angie Nixon in Florida, arguing that a state built by anti-communist refugees from Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua is uniquely hostile territory for that message. We also cover Seattle Times sports reporter Matt Calkins' resignation after his editors spiked his column defending the separation of women's sports from transgender athletes, using it as a case study in media cowardice. We touch on an Amherst College professor's book arguing Asian American success is tied to white supremacy, then run our Fake News Friday quiz covering stories on Natalie Harp, Alina Habba, Conor Kennedy's placement on a Russian most-wanted list, and more. We close discussing New York City's planned government-run grocery stores undercutting private businesses by 30% while simultaneously funding grants to keep those same businesses afloat, and a Moment of Whoa about Middleton, Idaho naming its new elementary school "Freedom Elementary."

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

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