Tim Pierce

According to a new APNORC poll, about half of U.S. adults now rank immigration and border security among the most important issues for the government to address. That's up from one-third last year. This comes as Trump is promising mass deportations and an end to birthright citizenship.

While Republicans are particularly focused on immigration, economic concerns remain the dominant issue across all groups. Roughly three-quarters of Americans want the government to prioritize inflation, unemployment, and taxes. Younger Americans are more focused on housing costs and inflation, while older adults list Social Security as a top concern.

While Republicans are particularly focused on immigration, economic concerns remain the dominant issue across all groups. Roughly three-quarters of Americans want the government to prioritize inflation, unemployment, and taxes. Younger Americans are more focused on housing costs and inflation, while older adults list Social Security as a top concern.

You know, John, in a way, this is kind of a full circle moment for Biden. Just three months into his term, he proposed banning menthol cigarettes. That was immediately unpopular, and the White House actually shelved the plan this past August out of fear that it would specifically alienate Black voters. But now that the election is already lost, Biden's plugging ahead.

You know, John, in a way, this is kind of a full circle moment for Biden. Just three months into his term, he proposed banning menthol cigarettes. That was immediately unpopular, and the White House actually shelved the plan this past August out of fear that it would specifically alienate Black voters. But now that the election is already lost, Biden's plugging ahead.

The proposed rule isn't technically a ban, but a move to lower nicotine levels in cigarettes. Obviously, this is a bid to get Americans to smoke less, but critics say it would actually have the opposite effect since people would just smoke more cigarettes to hit their nicotine baseline.

The proposed rule isn't technically a ban, but a move to lower nicotine levels in cigarettes. Obviously, this is a bid to get Americans to smoke less, but critics say it would actually have the opposite effect since people would just smoke more cigarettes to hit their nicotine baseline.

There are also concerns that the rule would fuel a black market for cigarettes, which could empower the cartels already flooding the country with drugs. The good news here is that the final decision to implement this rule will land with the Trump administration, which likely isn't going to go through with it.

There are also concerns that the rule would fuel a black market for cigarettes, which could empower the cartels already flooding the country with drugs. The good news here is that the final decision to implement this rule will land with the Trump administration, which likely isn't going to go through with it.

Yeah, that's right. Listeners may have noticed a lot of anti-alcohol content circulating recently, more than the usual dry January ads. A lot of that has to do with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's new advisory outlining the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk.

Yeah, that's right. Listeners may have noticed a lot of anti-alcohol content circulating recently, more than the usual dry January ads. A lot of that has to do with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's new advisory outlining the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk.

Murthy wants there to be health warnings on all alcohol products that mention cancer risk, just like those that we have on cigarettes. And he wants there to be, quote, a reassessment of the guideline limits for alcohol consumption to account for cancer risk.

Murthy wants there to be health warnings on all alcohol products that mention cancer risk, just like those that we have on cigarettes. And he wants there to be, quote, a reassessment of the guideline limits for alcohol consumption to account for cancer risk.

It's a little different. For one thing, Congress would have to vote to put new warning labels on alcohol, and members from both parties have already signaled that they're not going to do that. But the more important part is Murthy's second recommendation, that reassessment of alcohol consumption guidelines. Murthy didn't just suggest this out of the blue.

It's a little different. For one thing, Congress would have to vote to put new warning labels on alcohol, and members from both parties have already signaled that they're not going to do that. But the more important part is Murthy's second recommendation, that reassessment of alcohol consumption guidelines. Murthy didn't just suggest this out of the blue.

There's actually a kind of shady committee working deep within the Biden administration drafting new guidance, which, if adopted, would recommend that Americans never drink ever. It's called the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking. And as its name suggests, it's technically supposed to focus on, you know, underage drinking.

There's actually a kind of shady committee working deep within the Biden administration drafting new guidance, which, if adopted, would recommend that Americans never drink ever. It's called the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking. And as its name suggests, it's technically supposed to focus on, you know, underage drinking.

But the Biden administration has charged it with updating the federal dietary guidelines for alcohol. Currently, the government defines moderate drinking as two daily drinks or less for men and one for women. But sources say this committee wants to adopt the World Health Organization's position on drinking. That 2023 declaration, no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.

But the Biden administration has charged it with updating the federal dietary guidelines for alcohol. Currently, the government defines moderate drinking as two daily drinks or less for men and one for women. But sources say this committee wants to adopt the World Health Organization's position on drinking. That 2023 declaration, no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.

Yeah, the Mexican government has adopted a tactic known as dispersion and exhaustion. According to Fox News, Mexican authorities will let immigrants on their way to the U.S. walk for days until they are tired. Then Mexican authorities will offer the migrants a ride to a nearby Mexican city under the guise of reviewing their immigration status.