The Big Ben Show: AOC in Munich, DHS Upheaval, and Colbert's Complaint

With Bill Melugin joining me

The latest episode of The Big Ben Show is here. Listen and watch below:

✍️ Feature

• The New Yorker: Silicon Valley’s Favorite Doomsaying Philosopher

🌍 Foreign

• The Wall Street Journal: U.S. Gathers the Most Air Power in the Middle East Since the 2003 Iraq Invasion

• POLITICO Europe: Macron Calls on Political Extremes to Clean House After Activist Killing

• Washington Examiner: Marco Rubio’s Tour de Force Speech at the Munich Security Conference

• Axios: Europe Scrambles to Boost Military Aid to Ukraine as Russia Presses On

• The Telegraph: Starmer Will Defy Trump Over Chagos Deal

• Yahoo News: Britain Relegated to Military Irrelevance Under New Plans

• The National Interest: Donald Trump’s Maritime Action Plan Is Sound Policy

• The Wall Street Journal: Epstein Accomplice Jean-Luc Brunel Evidence Raises New Questions

• The Wall Street Journal: Former Prince Andrew Arrested Over Epstein Probe

🏛️ Domestic

• Washington Examiner: Bowser Seeks Federal Help After Potomac Sewage Spill Declared Public Emergency

• Daily Wire: D.C. Utility Behind Potomac Sewage Spill Faces Scrutiny

• NBC News: Republican Lawmakers Face New Political Headwinds

• Axios: Why Republicans Are Anxious About Voter Turnout in 2026

• Semafor: Partial Government Shutdown Looks Likely to Stretch Into the SOTU

• POLITICO: MAGA Purity Test Plays Out in Texas Attorney General Race

• Punchbowl News: Hunt Campaign Rattles GOP Operatives

• POLITICO: Trump Pushes Clean Extension of Section 702 Surveillance Authority

• POLITICO: Pro-Israel Group DMFI Wades Into Democratic House Primaries

• Washington Examiner: Angela Alsobrooks Becomes First Senator to Endorse Jasmine Crockett in Texas Senate Race

• Free Beacon: ‘Jasmine Crockett Must Be Heard’: Democrats’ War on Black Excellence

• Mediaite: Colin Allred Mocked After Texas Black Democrats Endorse His White Primary Opponent

• Newsweek: Trump Picks Aide for Ballroom Construction Panel

• New York Post: Mamdani’s Budget Ultimatum for Hochul Sparks Albany Clash

• Mediaite: Nancy Mace Rejects DOJ Conclusion That Epstein Died by Suicide

🗳️ 2028

• MSN: Maybe the Time Is Right for an AOC Presidential Bid

📰 Media

• Showbiz411: UCLA Cancels Bari Weiss Journalism Lecture After Pressure

• New York Post: Anderson Cooper Decides Not to Renew ‘60 Minutes’ Contract

• Variety: EU Regulators Weigh Paramount–Netflix Battle With Warner Bros.

💻 Tech

• Daily Wire: Kids Don’t Need More Online Monitoring — They Need Involved Dads

• The New York Times: The Best Free Live-TV Apps for Your Phone

• Semafor: Prediction Markets Won Over Trump — Washington Will Be Harder

🧬 Health

• NPR: FDA Clears Moderna’s mRNA Flu Shot

🏈 Sports

• House of Strauss: What Did Casey Wasserman Actually Do?

🎭 Culture & Hollywood

• NBC News: U2 Releases anti-ICE Song

• Semafor: Senate Democrats Threaten Probe Into Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery

• Stereogum: Lana Del Rey Shares ‘White Feather / Hawk Tail / Deer Hunter’

• Variety: ‘Peaky Blinders’ Movie Trailer Teases Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan

🪶 Quote

“Your favorite occupation? Travel in contested territory. Hard-working writing and reading when safely home, in the knowledge that an amusing friend is later coming to dinner.”

— Christopher Hitchens