October 27, 2025 • 8 mins
NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor Leland Vittert shares highlights from his recent book signing — including Ryan’s appearance — and weighs in on the government shutdown and the NYC mayoral race.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right now, let's go to the hotline and bring in
News Nation Chief Washington anchor Leland Vittert. You can watch
him weeknights at nine on On Balance with Leland Viddert
on NewsNation, and you can also check out his free
War Notes newsletter at warnoes dot com. Plus you can
pick up his new book Born Lucky and Leland great
events yesterday at Oxford Exchange in Tampa. A lot of
(00:24):
people showed up, and honestly, what stood out to me
at this event was seeing in person how much of
an impact your story is having with so many people,
not just obviously in the Tampa Bay area, but across
the country.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Well, Ryan, thank you, Thank you to your listeners last
night who showed up at Oxford Exchange. It was great
to be in Tampa with everybody. And you're right, because
Born Lucky is the story of hope for every parent
of a kid who's having a hard time. Right It's
the story of me growing up with autism and how
my dad adapted me to the world rather than the
(01:05):
world to me.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
But the lessons in it show.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
The power that parents have, that every parent has, and
the agency they have. And I think what you picked
up on what I picked up in the crowd was
how that story isn't being told parents aren't being told.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
That, and they're certainly not being shown that.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
And that's what born lucky that the book does came
out about a month ago, and I've been overwhelmed. You know,
sales have been great, that's one thing, but I've been
really just sort of so really honored by how many
people have written, texted, came to see me.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
On and on.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
That now say hey, I have hope now as a
parent about what I can do to help my kid.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Yeah, there was literally dan as somebody in tears.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I mean, we all know parents who have kids struggling
with autism, and I'm curious to know if your book
anyone's told you that that your book and your dad's
approach has changed their perspective of how they you know, approach,
you know, dealing with and helping and supporting their child.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Dozens and you know, even last night there was a
woman who came up to me and said, you know,
I have one son who's on the spectrum, but I
have another daughter who is you know, a happy otherwise
whatever you would call normal, healthy, whatever you want to
call a kid. But she's dealing with a lot of
bullying at school, and I was coddling her, and I
was just telling her she doesn't have to do anything,
(02:32):
and you know, she doesn't have to go back to school.
She doesn't want it, and she can be sick one
day if the bullying was bad. The day before she
goes And I read your book and realized.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
That your dad made you get up every day and
go back.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
To school no matter how bad the bullying was. And
I've totally changed my parenting approach to my daughter now
because of Born Lucky. Nothing to do with autism, nothing
to do with ADHD or anxiety. This is a book
for every parent of a kid who's having a hard time.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
We're joined by News Nation chief Watchington anchor and author
of Born Lucky, Leland Vitterd, and we talked about this.
Towards the end of our discussion. I brought up the
fact that, you know, we're in a society now where
there's more and more coddling and there's more of an
effort to utilize that kind of an approach and maybe
(03:20):
a little bit less of a push to utilize tough
love approach. And that's certainly, you know, when you read
the book what your father provided for you. But also,
and you pointed this out last night, he did it
while offering a tremendous amount of love and support, right.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
And I think what the Born Lucky message is is
not to take adversity away from kids or to try
to make life easy, which is what so many parents
of a kid who's having a hard time does. So
they your kids having such a hard time that you
want to make life easier, and a parent can. And
what my dad said was, I'm not going to make
(04:03):
life easier for you, but I'm going to hold your
hand through the adversity. I'm going to walk through hell
with you. In one of the chapter titles of Born
Lucky is walking through Hell, And I think, Ryan, you
realize her listening to some of the stories yesterday and
hearing some of the responses, It really was hell for
me growing up. But my dad held my hand walking
(04:24):
through hell. And that is the Born Lucky story, and
I think that's why it is resonating. I don't want
anybody to get in a car accident listening to you.
But when you get to wherever you're going, pull over
and go to Amazon. Born Lucky's available right now. We
miss Dana by the way.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Oh thank you.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Yeah, I'm sorry I couldn't be there.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Yeah, she had better plans of the said and well,
there were quite a few people who were like, how's
Dana doing that? Come up to me asking them, Now,
real quick, Leland, you know your your father, what he
did for you, it's such an incredible story. But somebody
told me at the event yesterday that you know, you
don't even give your data break on the golf course,
like you won't give him a gimme for a three
(05:04):
foot potter or anything like that.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
What's that all about?
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Well, I mean, I am my father's child, me to
play golf, So I don't know what it's says.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
All right, let's talk about the news now. What storylines
are you following closely to kick off the week? I
think we have this interesting dynamic the president over in
Asia making deals while government completely shut down in Washington, DC.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
That continues, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
And I think there's a part of that of right
when there's a losing storyline or a storyline that Trump
doesn't want to have to deal with, he's overseas and
this trip was obviously playing a long time ago. But
it's no coincidence now that he's basically telling Republicans and
Democrats in Congress, you guys, deal with this. I've got
more important things to do.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Which, to be fair, I think in some ways he does.
My prediction from a couple.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Of weeks ago, I think will.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Prove true that between the food stamps.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Running out, food stamp running running out, Thanksgiving coming up,
and Thanksgiving travel coming up, that this is going to
get solved for the shutdown, that will prove true. Just wait.
My bigger issue I think for this week that I'm
going to be looking at and look at tonight with
(06:22):
Bill O'Reilly.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Who's joining us is Oran Mondami.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Who is now moving back towards this very divisive identity politics.
I'm here because Muslims in New York are oppressed.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
And I must be the.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
I'm the change agent for this progressive movement to protect
all of these groups who have been marginalized in New York.
I just wrote to my staff today this morning in
preparation for the show tonight. It is a Mandami says,
you know, really the big problem in New York is
the discrimination against Muslims. Which it's going to be interesting
(07:00):
to figure that out. Because that must explain the discrimination
against Muslims, must explain why every synagogue in New York
has to have locked doors and armed security and every
mosque blast to call the prayer.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
That must be the reason for all the discrimination.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Having him, Bernie Sanders and AOC together doing events and
things like that and the Republican Party couldn't ask for
a better visual leading into the twenty twenty six mid terms.
Leland Viddert News Nation Chief, Washington anchor and host of
On Balance with Leland Vidert. You can watch him tonight
at nine. You can check out his free War Notes
newsletter at warnoes dot com and of course on Amazon
(07:37):
you can pick up his new book, Born Lucky. Leland.
Great to see you and spend some time with you yesterday.
Best of luck with the book and we'll talk to
you next week.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Hey right, thank you, Thank you for your support yesterday
and thanks to your listeners as well.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Absolutely, thanks again, Leland, and yes, I do want to
thank all of you who showed up to the event.
It was really great to see so many of you
and to talk with you and everything. So it was
a lot of fun.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
With The Ryan Gorman Show five to nine every weekday
morning on news radio WFLA
Right now, let's go to the hotline and bring in
News Nation Chief Washington anchor Leland Vittert. You can watch
him weeknights at nine on On Balance with Leland Viddert
on NewsNation, and you can also check out his free
War Notes newsletter at warnoes dot com. Plus you can
pick up his new book Born Lucky and Leland great
events yesterday at Oxford Exchange in Tampa. A lot of
(00:24):
people showed up, and honestly, what stood out to me
at this event was seeing in person how much of
an impact your story is having with so many people,
not just obviously in the Tampa Bay area, but across
the country.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Well, Ryan, thank you, Thank you to your listeners last
night who showed up at Oxford Exchange. It was great
to be in Tampa with everybody. And you're right, because
Born Lucky is the story of hope for every parent
of a kid who's having a hard time. Right It's
the story of me growing up with autism and how
my dad adapted me to the world rather than the
(01:05):
world to me.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
But the lessons in it show.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
The power that parents have, that every parent has, and
the agency they have. And I think what you picked
up on what I picked up in the crowd was
how that story isn't being told parents aren't being told.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
That, and they're certainly not being shown that.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
And that's what born lucky that the book does came
out about a month ago, and I've been overwhelmed. You know,
sales have been great, that's one thing, but I've been
really just sort of so really honored by how many
people have written, texted, came to see me.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
On and on.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
That now say hey, I have hope now as a
parent about what I can do to help my kid.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Yeah, there was literally dan as somebody in tears.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I mean, we all know parents who have kids struggling
with autism, and I'm curious to know if your book
anyone's told you that that your book and your dad's
approach has changed their perspective of how they you know, approach,
you know, dealing with and helping and supporting their child.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Dozens and you know, even last night there was a
woman who came up to me and said, you know,
I have one son who's on the spectrum, but I
have another daughter who is you know, a happy otherwise
whatever you would call normal, healthy, whatever you want to
call a kid. But she's dealing with a lot of
bullying at school, and I was coddling her, and I
was just telling her she doesn't have to do anything,
(02:32):
and you know, she doesn't have to go back to school.
She doesn't want it, and she can be sick one
day if the bullying was bad. The day before she
goes And I read your book and realized.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
That your dad made you get up every day and
go back.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
To school no matter how bad the bullying was. And
I've totally changed my parenting approach to my daughter now
because of Born Lucky. Nothing to do with autism, nothing
to do with ADHD or anxiety. This is a book
for every parent of a kid who's having a hard time.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
We're joined by News Nation chief Watchington anchor and author
of Born Lucky, Leland Vitterd, and we talked about this.
Towards the end of our discussion. I brought up the
fact that, you know, we're in a society now where
there's more and more coddling and there's more of an
effort to utilize that kind of an approach and maybe
(03:20):
a little bit less of a push to utilize tough
love approach. And that's certainly, you know, when you read
the book what your father provided for you. But also,
and you pointed this out last night, he did it
while offering a tremendous amount of love and support, right.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
And I think what the Born Lucky message is is
not to take adversity away from kids or to try
to make life easy, which is what so many parents
of a kid who's having a hard time does. So
they your kids having such a hard time that you
want to make life easier, and a parent can. And
what my dad said was, I'm not going to make
(04:03):
life easier for you, but I'm going to hold your
hand through the adversity. I'm going to walk through hell
with you. In one of the chapter titles of Born
Lucky is walking through Hell, And I think, Ryan, you
realize her listening to some of the stories yesterday and
hearing some of the responses, It really was hell for
me growing up. But my dad held my hand walking
(04:24):
through hell. And that is the Born Lucky story, and
I think that's why it is resonating. I don't want
anybody to get in a car accident listening to you.
But when you get to wherever you're going, pull over
and go to Amazon. Born Lucky's available right now. We
miss Dana by the way.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Oh thank you.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Yeah, I'm sorry I couldn't be there.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Yeah, she had better plans of the said and well,
there were quite a few people who were like, how's
Dana doing that? Come up to me asking them, Now,
real quick, Leland, you know your your father, what he
did for you, it's such an incredible story. But somebody
told me at the event yesterday that you know, you
don't even give your data break on the golf course,
like you won't give him a gimme for a three
(05:04):
foot potter or anything like that.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
What's that all about?
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Well, I mean, I am my father's child, me to
play golf, So I don't know what it's says.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
All right, let's talk about the news now. What storylines
are you following closely to kick off the week? I
think we have this interesting dynamic the president over in
Asia making deals while government completely shut down in Washington, DC.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
That continues, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
And I think there's a part of that of right
when there's a losing storyline or a storyline that Trump
doesn't want to have to deal with, he's overseas and
this trip was obviously playing a long time ago. But
it's no coincidence now that he's basically telling Republicans and
Democrats in Congress, you guys, deal with this. I've got
more important things to do.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Which, to be fair, I think in some ways he does.
My prediction from a couple.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Of weeks ago, I think will.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Prove true that between the food stamps.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Running out, food stamp running running out, Thanksgiving coming up,
and Thanksgiving travel coming up, that this is going to
get solved for the shutdown, that will prove true. Just wait.
My bigger issue I think for this week that I'm
going to be looking at and look at tonight with
(06:22):
Bill O'Reilly.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Who's joining us is Oran Mondami.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Who is now moving back towards this very divisive identity politics.
I'm here because Muslims in New York are oppressed.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
And I must be the.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
I'm the change agent for this progressive movement to protect
all of these groups who have been marginalized in New York.
I just wrote to my staff today this morning in
preparation for the show tonight. It is a Mandami says,
you know, really the big problem in New York is
the discrimination against Muslims. Which it's going to be interesting
(07:00):
to figure that out. Because that must explain the discrimination
against Muslims, must explain why every synagogue in New York
has to have locked doors and armed security and every
mosque blast to call the prayer.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
That must be the reason for all the discrimination.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Having him, Bernie Sanders and AOC together doing events and
things like that and the Republican Party couldn't ask for
a better visual leading into the twenty twenty six mid terms.
Leland Viddert News Nation Chief, Washington anchor and host of
On Balance with Leland Vidert. You can watch him tonight
at nine. You can check out his free War Notes
newsletter at warnoes dot com and of course on Amazon
(07:37):
you can pick up his new book, Born Lucky. Leland.
Great to see you and spend some time with you yesterday.
Best of luck with the book and we'll talk to
you next week.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Hey right, thank you, Thank you for your support yesterday
and thanks to your listeners as well.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Absolutely, thanks again, Leland, and yes, I do want to
thank all of you who showed up to the event.
It was really great to see so many of you
and to talk with you and everything. So it was
a lot of fun.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
With The Ryan Gorman Show five to nine every weekday
morning on news radio WFLA
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