NOTE: As I write this, I, like the rest of us, am trying to get a handle on recent events in West Palm Beach, Florida. On Sunday, there was a second assassination attempt on the life of Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States and the Republican Party nominee for the presidency. This is the second such attempt in just over two months. We will discuss this topic on this week’s upcoming “The Unknown Podcast.” Stay tuned for exciting reporting, discussion, and commentary.
By Richard Luthmann
In the latest episode of The Unknown Podcast, co-hosts Richard Luthmann and investigative journalist Michael Volpe dissected the recent Harris-Trump debate and the explosive fallout from allegations that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are stealing and eating pets. The duo didn't hold back, offering their signature blunt takes on what they see as media manipulation, political overreach, and societal breakdown.
Richard Luthmann, a former politico and lawyer known for his fiery rhetoric, compared the debate to a WWE Royal Rumble match, where Trump was left fighting Vice President Kamala Harris and the ABC moderators, Lindsey Davis and David Muir.
“It was three on one,” Luthmann said, adding, “If you harken back to Ric Flair in 1992 when he entered the Royal Rumble, Trump was like Flair, beaten down for an hour and a half by 30 of the largest men in the world.”
Luthmann's critique didn't stop with Harris. He slammed the moderators for real-time fact-checking Trump while letting Harris get away with multiple misstatements. Luthmann zeroed in on Lindsey Davis, describing her as a “DEI mannequin with an Alexa AI brain,” implying she was robotic and pre-programmed with left-wing talking points.
“There were at least 10 or 12 misstatements, if not outright lies, by the moderators, but all they wanted to do was jump on Trump,” Luthmann said.
Michael Volpe, who often plays a more tempered role in their discussions, agreed that the debate was uneven but questioned whether Trump had definitively come out on top.
“The Daily Beast, New York Times, and Washington Post all said Trump got his butt kicked. I’m not sure that’s accurate, but I don’t think he won outright either,” Volpe said, leaving room for interpretation.
Paul Ingrassia: “Trump Kicked Butt”
The co-hosts referenced an article by attorney and political commentator Paul Ingrassia, which Luthmann had posted to his Substack, highlighting a different take. Ingrassia argued that Trump "kicked butt" during the debate, a view that aligned with many Trump supporters who believe his economic message resonated with the public.
Luthmann agreed with this assessment, noting that despite the media's portrayal of a Harris victory, Trump's handling of the economy struck a chord with voters.
"What do you remember when you leave dinner? Dessert. And his closing was dessert," Luthmann said, referring to Trump’s emphasis on the economy in his final remarks.
Luthmann elaborated, “The biggest issue by far and away is the economy. It’s what people care about most. Trump's numbers went up on the economy afterward, and that’s what people will remember.”
The Reagan Question and The Enemy Within
During the podcast, Luthmann addressed why Trump didn’t echo Ronald Reagan’s famous line from 1980: “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” Luthmann argued that the context in 2024 is far more dire.
“You can’t ask the Reagan question because we’re not at the same place we were in 1980. Back then, we were fighting communism, and we knew who the enemy was. The enemy was clear. Today, the enemy is within the gates.”
Luthmann's reference to the "enemy within" highlighted his belief that the United States is being undermined from within, particularly by the policies of the Harris administration and the mainstream media.
He warned that the country's problems, whether economic or social, are no longer external threats but internal decay brought on by poor leadership.
Haitian Immigrants and Allegations of Pet Theft
The discussion took a darker turn when Luthmann and Volpe addressed a brewing controversy in Springfield, Ohio, where Haitian immigrants have been accused of stealing and eating pets. Luthmann was unsparing in his criticism of what he called “barbarism” resulting from the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policies. Luthmann said we are confronting “Third World" problems never seen in America.
“There’s video of residents of Springfield claiming their animals were eaten,” Luthmann said, while acknowledging that the local government, including the city manager of Springfield, had denied these claims. “Who are you going to believe?” he asked. “The person who said their dog or cat was eaten, or the city manager who has to keep his job?”
Luthmann argued that local officials' denials were part of a broader effort to downplay the severity of the situation, which he linked directly to Harris's policies.
Volpe agreed but was more measured in his analysis. He pointed out that whether or not Haitians were eating pets was almost beside the point.
“The real issue is that these migrants have overrun the town, and that’s a direct result of the Harris administration’s immigration policies. The Democrats are so focused on debunking the dog-eating claim that they’re ignoring the bigger problem,” Volpe said.
Media Spin and Misinformation
Luthmann and Volpe both took aim at the media’s handling of the debate and the pet-eating story, accusing outlets like The Washington Post and CNN of focusing solely on fact-checking Trump while ignoring the broader issue of mass immigration overwhelming small towns like Springfield.
“By trying to say, ‘Oh, Trump’s wrong about them eating dogs,’ all they’re doing is making more people look into it,” Luthmann said. “And the more people look into it, the more they see the mess Harris’s policies have caused.”
Volpe pointed out that the Springfield controversy has only highlighted the immigration debate, which could have serious electoral consequences.
“If this becomes a narrative about Harris allowing towns to be overrun by migrants, that’s going to hurt her,” Volpe noted.
Closing Thoughts
As the current events segment of the podcast wrapped up, Luthmann reiterated his belief that America is facing a dangerous internal threat, symbolized by the chaos in Springfield.
“This is Third World stuff happening in America,” Luthmann warned. “Whether it’s migrants eating pets or overrun towns, it’s all a result of Harris and the Democrats’ failed policies.”
Volpe, playing the devil’s advocate role, wasn’t sure how much the debate would move the needle in the long run.
“A month from now, I don’t know if people will care that Harris looked ‘presidential,’ but if these stories about immigration and the economy keep bubbling up, that’s where Trump might gain ground.”
With each episode, The Unknown Podcast continues to pull no punches in its discussions of politics and current events. As the 2024 election approaches, it’s clear that Luthmann and Volpe will keep calling it as they see it—regardless of where the chips fall.
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