Talkline | Dec. 31, 2025

Recapping the top moments from 2025 with Brad McElhinny, Jared Halpern, Brad Howe and Jack Logar. Plus, what's going on with the squirrels at the state capitol? 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:12):
We've done it. We have made it to the end
of twenty twenty five. Give yourself a round of applause
and a pad on the back. It's mentioned his talk
line and we're underway.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
You are surrounded.

Speaker 3 (00:31):
Radio turned off from the studios of w v RC
Media and the Metro News Radio and Television Network, The
Voice of West Virginia comes the most powerful show in
West Virginia. This It's Metro News talk Line with Dave
Wilson and TJ. Meadows activated.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
So it's not where can we hold from Charleston.

Speaker 3 (00:53):
To stand by to David DJ.

Speaker 4 (00:56):
You're on.

Speaker 3 (01:00):
Metronews. Talk Line is presented by Encovia Insurance, encircling you
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Speaker 1 (01:12):
Good morning, Welcome inside the Encovi Insurance studios. Gang's almost
all here, TJ's off, he's back on the second. Zach
Carroll check is our video producer, and Ethancollins is handling
the audio side of things. Give us a call eight
hundred and seven to sixty five Talk eight hundred seven
sixty five eight two five five. You can text the
show three or four. Talk three oh four is the

(01:35):
text line, not a lot of the hard stuff today.
We're going to spend most of the show kind of
just take it on inventory, if you will, well, look
back on twenty twenty five, look ahead to twenty twenty six.
Here a helper Fox News Radio will stop by. We
will talk to Jared about the latest developments with the
Minnesota fraud case and the steps that the administration have

(02:00):
taken in the last day or so. We'll talk to him.
Bottom of the hour, brad House stops by the Mountaineers.
We'll get back in action on the hardwood against Iowa
State coming up. We'll talk to him about that and
the college football playoff. We'll get his thoughts on the
year that was twenty twenty five, and front of the program,
Jack Loger, we'll talk about the biggest pop culture stories,

(02:23):
or at least what he thought were the biggest pop
culture stories of twenty twenty five. So I want to
know from you today as well, what were your top
moments of the year. It doesn't have to be news related,
just what were your top moments of twenty twenty five?
What stood out to you about the year that is
concluding some fourteen hours from now, What are you looking
forward to in twenty twenty six. Let me know three

(02:46):
or four talk three or four and eight hundred and seven
six five eight two five five. Let's pose all of
those questions and more to Metro New Statewide correspondent Brad McElhenny,
who joins us on Metro News talk line. Brad, good morning,
Happy New Year.

Speaker 5 (02:58):
Oh hi Dave, and happy New Year.

Speaker 1 (03:01):
What stands out to you as you look back on
twenty twenty five, Brad from news standpoint, Just what was
the top moment of the year for you?

Speaker 5 (03:11):
Well, you know, good news to any listeners who might
have been fans of twenty twenty five, because many of
the significant news items that we talked about all year
long are unresolved headed into twenty twenty six. You know,
one of the top stories of the year was the
deployment of the Western Virginia National Guard to Washington, d C.

(03:32):
And that was unfortunately, that story climaxed with the shootings,
the tragic shootings of Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe.

Speaker 1 (03:43):
Beckstrom of course.

Speaker 5 (03:44):
Died the day after on Thanksgiving Day, and you know,
just an incredible tragedy. She had her old life ahead
of her graduated from high school in twenty twenty three,
just a couple of years ago, and was memorialized all
across the state. She was, you know, just had a
lot of potential and someone that West Virginians could relate to.

Speaker 1 (04:07):
Just awful.

Speaker 5 (04:08):
Andrew Wolfe fortunately is still among us and is recovering,
but has a long road ahead of him. You know,
if you've got a prayer to spare entering twenty twenty six,
maybe make it for Andrew wolf Hey that deployment. That
deployment continues. You know, the governor made it an all

(04:30):
voluntary basis, but also said in November that the state
would consider the matter every quarter, and we're coming up
at the end of the quarter. I think he told
you that he indicated that it would continue on a
voluntary basis through the start of the new year. Is
it the way you took it?

Speaker 1 (04:49):
That is exactly the way I took it, Brad, And
I also wanted to add Chris Lawrence was reporting on
the Morning News this morning that there was a request
for prayer from staff Sergeant Andrew Wolf's mother. Melody Wolf
posted on social media overnight quote, please join me in
praying for Andy while he is engaged in intensive rehab

(05:09):
six hours a day, specifically pray for his speech and
cognitive ability. Lord, We pray that you will give him
a filter so that he speaks appropriately and confine the
words to articulate what he is thinking, and to not
grow frustrated with this process. That was Melody Wolf, Andrew
Wolf's mother, posting on social media overnight, just kind of

(05:30):
putting an exclamation mark there. Bradham, what you said is
one of the top stories of the year. Yeah.

Speaker 5 (05:36):
I mean that demonstrates why if you believe in the
power of prayer. Wishing Andrew Wolf a healthy start to
twenty twenty six and providing all the support and guidance
and love that the West Virginians can muster I think
is important.

Speaker 6 (05:55):
But there are.

Speaker 5 (05:56):
Many other loose ends to twenty twenty five that are
going to continue into twenty twenty six beyond that, and
we can get into a few if you'd like.

Speaker 1 (06:04):
Yeah, I want too, because you and I were talking
before the show and we're talking about twenty twenty five
and I thought you kind of summed it up well,
and I was thinking about this. It's incomplete because a
lot of the big issues that we spent a lot
of time talking about school vaccination requirements or the religious exemptions.

(06:26):
We spent time talking about the food die ban that
will be enacted in twenty twenty eight. Data Center. There's
a lot of these things, Brad, we're going to continue
talking about in twenty twenty six because they haven't been
fully resolved, whether that's through the courts, or we're still
developing regulations, or we're still trying to court developers to
build in West Virginia. A lot of these same conversations

(06:47):
are going to continue into the new year that we
were having this time last year.

Speaker 5 (06:51):
A lot of unresolved matters, the National Guard issue. Again,
the Governor is to the point of making a decision
along with the Adjutant General about whether to continue the
voluntary deployment here as we reached the end of twenty
twenty five, but that remains in the federal court system.
There is now an appeal of whether the National Guard

(07:14):
from multiple states should be in Washington, d C. So
that appeal will continue through the new year. We talked
a lot of these matters are in the court system.
We talked all year about the West Virginia issue of
religious exemption to mandatory school vaccinations.

Speaker 1 (07:31):
That's on hold for now.

Speaker 5 (07:32):
Because the state Supreme Court will consider that matter probably
in terms of oral arguments in the spring, also in
the court system. One of the bills that made it
through the West Virginia legislature earlier this year, months ago
and then signed by the governor was a food die
ban that was too pronged. It was a ban immediately

(07:54):
on certain food dies in the school system. That's going
to continue and that's our gone into effect. But another
broader food die ban on all West Virginia products for
sale on on some reds, greens, viron blues that was
going to go into effect in twenty twenty eight. Federal

(08:15):
Judge Irene Berger issued a stay on enacting that and
a preliminary injunction. But that's going to be considered more
by the courts. You know. The major economic issue that
made it through the legislature, the one that got the
most attention, was one meant to encourage data centers and

(08:37):
the electricity, the production of electricity that they need. Not
a lot has happened since then. You know, there have
been local fights in Tucker County and in Mingo County
about the way those things are going to take shape,
but it doesn't feel yet, doesn't feel yet like a
data center boom so a lot of unresolved questions. Twenty

(08:59):
twenty five Inns within Ellipses.

Speaker 1 (09:01):
Metrodane state Wide correspondent Brad mclelhenna joining us here on
Metro nee's talk line. I mentioned this yesterday when I
was talking with Amelia looking back on the year, Brad,
but the one story that really sticks out to me
happened back in February, and that was the devastating flooding
down in the southern part of the state. What happened
in McDowell County where communities were just washed away, the

(09:25):
devastation that was happened down there. We went and did
the show live down to McDowell County last February and
those images and talking to those people. I know, it's
been almost a year now and that happened again back
in February, but that sticks out to me from last year,
something in a part of the state that was is
struggling was just hit even harder by you know, I

(09:48):
unexpected natural disaster last February.

Speaker 5 (09:52):
Well you know, I mean there is an initial cleanup
after these kinds of floods and we've seen it in
twenty sixteen. We saw it all over or West Virginia
last year in southern West Virginia also Ohio County, Marion County,
and that initial cleanup goes forward, but there's a longer
term recovery for those communities and it's still underway.

Speaker 1 (10:15):
What are you looking forward to, Brad, let's think let's
go glass half full for twenty twenty six What are
you looking forward to in the new year?

Speaker 5 (10:24):
Well, you know, I think some resolution to many of
these issues we just talked about. But it's an election
year and it could be it could be interesting in
a couple of senses. One is that the most prominent
political figure in West Virginia continues to be Donald Trump,
but he's not going to be at the top of
the ballot. So will there be any kind of shift

(10:45):
in the political dynamics, meaning you know, there are there
are multiple kinds of Republicans, and so which Republicans come
out of the coming election with the greater leverage? But
also is there a chance for Democrats, who were once
the prominent political power in West Virginia to make some

(11:06):
inroads without Trump at the top of the ballot, to
my mind, the most important election coming up this spring
is nonpartisan. There are two seats on the state Supreme Court.
The candidates so far are not necessarily name brand candidates,
not necessarily people that might excite Toby or Edith or

(11:28):
the average household. But two out of five Supreme Court
seats up, and they got some important things ahead of them.
The Supreme Court will be weighing in on school vaccinations,
will be weighing in on who has the most the
final say so on education regulations in West Virginia, and
also will be weighing in on charter schools. Presumably there's

(11:52):
a there's an issue of whether West Virginia communities need
to be able to take votes on whether charter schools
are allowed in their communities, allowed to be established. So,
you know, I think that's the most prominent election up
ahead in just a few months.

Speaker 1 (12:07):
I think a lot of the action and this isn't
you know, a out there on the limb type of statement.
A lot of the action is going to be in
the primary, obviously with Republican supermajorities. But I do wonder, Brad,
if Democrats have hit bottom. And I don't mean that
like woe is me, But you know where Republicans were,
and what was that ninety seven when Donna Boli was

(12:29):
the lone Republican in the Senate. I think it was
about ninety seven. That sounds about right, ninety five maybe anyway,
do they start to claw back a seat or two,
maybe a seat in the Senate, maybe a few seats
in the House in districts that are purplish. The thirteenth
Senate district sticks out in my mind. There are a
couple of others in the House. Do they focus on

(12:50):
the kitchen table issues that they've talked about, do we
move away from social issues? How does that play a role?
That'll be interesting to see how that all plays out
in November and we what to make of that as
we move forward. I'm looking I don't know if I'm
looking forward to that, but I think that will be
interesting to see how that all plays out over the
next year.

Speaker 5 (13:10):
Yeah, I mean, I feel like the terrain politically is
such that Democrats stand a chance, particularly in areas that
are a little more urban in West Virginia. But don't
get me wrong, I'm not saying that they're going to
challenge the Republican majorities anytime soon or really challenge for
statewide office in terms of the focus on the economy

(13:33):
versus social issues. You know, I think there have been
some signs. House Speaker Roger Hanshaw led a gathering of
the Republican majority in the House of Delegates to emphasize
just an array of economic issues that they intend to
consider this upcoming legislative session. We've heard less from the

(13:55):
State Senate. Got to get stuff passed through two houses.
But you know, I think the governor a couple of
times now has had press conferences emphasizing economic issues. So
I think there is a feeling that there may be
a different balance between the social issues and the economic
issues going into this next session.

Speaker 1 (14:15):
Brad, Before I let you go, I gotta ask what's
up with the squirrels?

Speaker 5 (14:21):
Oh man, how long do we have?

Speaker 1 (14:26):
About two minutes? Oh?

Speaker 5 (14:29):
Well, so the capital has an ample supply of squirrels.
Some of them are actually quite dark in tone, which
is a side issue now and then there is a
bird of prey or two or three that will cut
into the squirrel population. But you know, there probably is

(14:50):
the headcount of the squirrels might be too high. The
Governor of the Great State of West Virginia. Patrick Morrissey,
for some reason, was tweeting he was using the social
media at midnight last night objecting to the publication Mountain
State Spotlight delving into some sort of squirrel issue and

(15:10):
indicated that whatever they did had cost massive state dollars
to attend to it. I guess they were asking about it.
I'm a hard person to ask to explain because there's
a lot going in the background. The governor was taking umbradge,
it's some question about squirrels, and I can't actually begin

(15:32):
to explain why I got no problem.

Speaker 1 (15:35):
With the squirrels, metro new state wide correspondent Brad macl Brad,
I can round up three other guys. We can take
care of that squirrel problem and have a great dinner afterward.
No problem, at no cost to the taxpayer.

Speaker 5 (15:48):
You're making the gravy.

Speaker 7 (15:49):
Thank you, you.

Speaker 1 (15:49):
Got it, Brad, appreciate it. Happy New Year, talksy in
twenty six body, okay, thanks met your new state wide
correspond at Brad maclhenny. What are your top moments the
top twenty five, the top twenty five of twenty twenty five.
Let me know three or four talk three or four
you can give you a call as well. Eight hundred
and seven to sixty five talk eight hundred seven six
five eight two five five. Jared Halpern's going to join us.
Coming up, we'll get the latest from DC and the

(16:12):
actions the Trump administration has taken as that fraud investigation
continues in Minnesota. That is coming up, plus your calls,
text and tweets. It's talk line from the Enco Insurance Studios.

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Speaker 1 (18:15):
Texter Setting Me Straight thirty three to one with Donna
Boli alone at nineteen ninety one to nineteen ninety two.
So I was off a few years. I had the nineties,
had the decade right. In nineteen ninety three, John Yoder
came into the Senate and the two of them fought
over who would be the minority leader. Lol, have a
great twenty twenty six, says the Texter. All right, thank

(18:35):
you for sending me straight here. I knew it was
the nineties. Uh, it was a little off there, and
I said ninety seven. So ninety one to ninety two
is when Donna Boli was the only Republican in the
state Senate. I am interested to see how these elections
play out, how the elections play out in the primaries,

(18:56):
because there's certainly a push in this split the Republican
Party where you have the I guess they're newer Republicans.
I would consider them newer Republicans versus more of the
old school Chamber of Commerce type Republicans. There's a split there.

(19:17):
There's certainly a split there. How that plays out in
the primary election. I'm also curious to see will Democrats
be able to call back a seat or two. And
I agree with Brad nobody's expecting the majority super majorities
to be challenged. But you got to start somewhere. Can
you win in purple districts? Can you call back a
seat or two here by focusing on those kitchen table issues.

(19:42):
They went on the kitchen table tour. Now here's the
hang up though, And I think this will be an
issue or issues that come up if you have two candidates,
they are both talking about economic issues, economic development, how
to bring down the cost of living. If they're similar,
what's going to differential eight them? But what's going to
differentiate them are the social issues. That is where I

(20:06):
think those will come up when we get to the
general election. If you have these contestant, if you have
contested races Republican versus Democrat in the general election, if
you've got two candidates, there are a lot of like
in a lot of ways when it comes to economic development,
when it comes to education, when it comes to any
of those issues that directly impact you. What's going to

(20:28):
differentiate them, Well, it could very well be the social issues.
And that's where that crops back up. Three or four
talk three or four is the text line in eight
hundred and seven sixty five eight two five five, that's
the phone number. I want to know your top moments
from twenty eight twenty five doesn't have to be news related.
It doesn't have to be top stories or biggest news stories.
Your top moments from twenty twenty five? What are you

(20:48):
looking forward to in twenty twenty six? Give me a call,
give me a text. Texter says my top events was
the birth of my first grandchild, Cammi. All right, U congrats,
congratulations for that? Uh three or four? Talk three?

Speaker 10 (21:04):
Four?

Speaker 1 (21:05):
Texter just says fact Trump won the twenty twenty election.
I personally guarantee it. Oh so, no, I keep on grooving,
says the Texter. Feel like I'm missing something there. My
favorite things of twenty twenty five were those low gas
and grocery prices and the end of the Ukraine War

(21:28):
on day one. And I'm glad that big beautiful bill
is going to make billionaires richer and at last the
loss of our ACA subsidies. What a wonderful year it
has been, says the text. Jared Halpern Fox News Radio
will join us next. This is talk Line from the
Encove Insurance Studios on Metro News, the Voice of West Virginia.
It's ten thirty. Let's get a news update from the

(21:49):
Metro News radio network. Find out what's happening across the
great state of West Virginia.

Speaker 11 (21:55):
West Virginia Matter her News. I'm Chris Lawrence. A request
for prayer from the mother of stamina Sergeant Andrew wolf
Melody Wolf, posting to social media overnight. Quote, please join
me in praying for Andy while he is engaged in
intensive rehab six hours a day. Specifically, pray for his
speech and cognitive ability.

Speaker 1 (22:11):
Lord. We pray that you will give him a filter
so that he.

Speaker 11 (22:14):
Speaks appropriately and confine the words to articulate what he
is thinking and not grow frustrated with the process. Unquote.
Wolfe is one of the West Virginia National Guardsmen who
was shot in November and continues his recovery in Washington,
d C. The same incident claimed the life of feder
Guard member Sarah Beckstrom. Now the shooter in that investigation
appeared in the Washington, d C. Federal courtroom for an

(22:37):
initial appearance this week. Romanella Lackenwall is now charged in
the federal court system in DC rather than district court.
Will Thompson, former US attorney in the Southern District of
West Virginia, notes the charges against Lickenwall could change One.

Speaker 7 (22:50):
Thing that's interesting about this case is that both of
the National guardsmen at the time they were serving as
special assistant deft US Marshals, which essentially means that the
defend that can be charged in this case with the
murder of a federal law enforcement officer, so it would
not surprise me when the indictment comes up, we also
would see that charge as well.

Speaker 11 (23:10):
Lockenmall has another court date in mid January. The case
was transferred to the federal court system to allow prosecutors
the option of pursuing the death penalty as punishment. You're
listening to metronews for forty years the boye of West Virginia.

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Speaker 11 (24:22):
West Virginia will welcome the new year amid a snowstorm.
The National Weather Service issuing a winter storm morning for
counties in the highest elevations and a winter weather advisory
for counties in the west and southern part of the
state for today into tomorrow. The forecast calling for snow
accumulations ranging from an inch or two in the western
lowlands to six inches or more in the mountain counties.
The advisories begin at four this afternoon and stretch all

(24:44):
the way to ten tomorrow.

Speaker 1 (24:45):
Morning.

Speaker 11 (24:45):
Expect slick roads during the overnight hours. From the Metro
News anchored desk, I'm Chris Lawrence.

Speaker 1 (25:13):
Text line is wide open. Phones are wide open at
eight hundred and seven to sixty five Talk and three
or four talk three oh four. Your top moments A
top twenty twenty five let me know, doesn't have to
be news related or sports related. We will talk sports.
Brad how is going to join a second hour of
the program. Just your top moments A twenty five? What
you're looking forward to in twenty twenty six. Eight hundred

(25:34):
seven to sixty five Talk and three or four Talk
three oh four is the text line. Still lots of
discussion and reaction to the fraud investigations and fraud schemes
in Minnesota involving the state's social services system. Let's bring
in Fox News radios. Jared Halpern from DC. Jared, Good morning,
Happy New Year, Happy New Year, Good morning. So what

(25:55):
has the Trump administration done? How has HIT responded to
the latest allegation involving fraud in Minnesota's Social security system?

Speaker 14 (26:04):
Well, the biggest stuff that they've taken is yesterday AHHS
announced that they are putting a freeze on sedal payments
to these child care facilities across the state of Minnesota,
so not just the ones that have been accused of wrongdoing,
butt large, the program that childcare use across the country

(26:25):
to access these HHS funds are frozen for the state
of Minnesota and in other states and in all fifty states.
AHHS says they are adding additional verification requirements, so you
would have to show a little bit more documentation before
the federal government than would offer that reimbursement. Is this

(26:48):
program works.

Speaker 1 (26:49):
And obviously Minnesota Governor Tim Wall's not pleased with that
news yesterday.

Speaker 14 (26:54):
No, and he says that this is the long game
by the Trump administration, that they're essentially using this as
excuse to target states that they don't like, to target
communities that they don't like, specifically the Somali community, and
points that you know, this is not brand new, that
the state of Minnesota has been looking into, this has
been investigating this, that the federal government has been investigating this,

(27:17):
that you know, there's been what eighty some people charged,
in some cases already convicted and pleted guilty. Almost all
of those started during the Biden administration, So this is
not something that he says, is brand new and kind
of being uncovered here in real time, and he's suggesting
that the Trump administration here has some ulterior motives single

(27:40):
out his state here for some of these actions.

Speaker 1 (27:43):
Is it alterior motives or is it reactions are simply
reaction to the YouTube video that was released done by
influencer Nick Shirley over the weekend.

Speaker 14 (27:52):
Yeah, listen, I think that there is certainly reaction to
that social media video right. It has blown up on
on X, on these other platforms. Obviously, the Trump administration
is very online in the sense that they really have
their finger on the pulse of what is happening in

(28:12):
conservative media, in these conservative influencing spheers, and there are
folks that are demanding quick action, and this is a
way to do that. As these investigations move forward, you
have seen a Department of Homeland Security HSI surge resources
into Minnesota to look into some of these claims, to
look into some of these allegations. But in the interim,

(28:35):
an action that they can immediately take is freezing some
of these fund being streams, and you've seen that again.
They're not cutting it off permanently. They are calling this
a freeze is they move forward with these investigations, but
believe that these allegations have risen to a point that
immediate action needs to be taken, at least in the
short term. Have you watched the video in some of

(28:57):
it what's forty five minutes?

Speaker 1 (28:58):
Yeah, some of it, Yeah, in that category. I'm not
certain what to make of it, Jared.

Speaker 14 (29:03):
Because we listen, I don't know a lot about I
truthfully don't know a lot about Nick Shirley or this work.
I know that some of the facilities that are featured
in the video have claimed that we're closed these times
of days that he came by. That obviously they aren't
going to give access to somebody to come into their facility,

(29:24):
given that, you know, they said that they are a
childcare facility, and I know that. Again, there have been
news organizations in the state of Minnesota that have done
similar types of investigations into these fraud allegations. Again, because
in the set of Minnesota, they have been playing out
now for a series of months. This is not a

(29:46):
new scandal. It is certainly significant and there's certainly one
that is putting that state in these programs and the
crosshairs and you've seen not just a federal response, but
but Tim Walls and others have to kind of talk
about what they're trying to do. But it definitely looks bad, right,
And sometimes that's enough to ratchet up pressure on politicians

(30:11):
to launch these types of investigations and find out exactly
because I mean, part of what needs to be done
here is sort of what looks bad in what is bad, right,
And so that's going to be now, I think how
you see these investigations before, but keep in mind there
are already eighty individuals charged. I think fifty or sixty
have been convicted or if THEYD guilty, and so now

(30:32):
it's a matter of sort of connecting those dots and
how much bigger is this fraud scheme and certainly seeing
if there are vulnerabilities now that are open in other states,
is happening elsewhere. We've seen some allegations come out of
Washington State in places like that as well.

Speaker 1 (30:49):
Fox News Radios Jared Halper and joining us here on
Metro News talk Line. Jared as a guy who covers
DC covers the presidents on a daily basis. Can you
pick a moment or two that sticks out to you
twenty twenty five.

Speaker 14 (31:03):
I mean, I think certainly the blow up between Trump
and Zolensky in the Oval Office earlier this year sticks
out to me because it kind of is a stand
in for how the Trump administration has struggled with the
Ukraine question.

Speaker 1 (31:21):
Right.

Speaker 14 (31:21):
You have seen President Trump take a much different tone,
a much different track than President Biden, who indicated that
the US support was unconditional and would last as long
as it needed to. That is not what President Trump
is doing. He is trying to put pressure on the Ukrainians,
on Zelensky to cut a deal that very likely will

(31:44):
lead to them losing at least some of their territory.
At the same time, you've seen the President grow frustrated
with Kutin. It is a tough, tough conflict and one
that his surprise President Trump who has admitted that he
thought it would be a lot easier to find resolution
a solution to this. So that moment sticks out to
me only because it really set up how the Trump

(32:06):
administration decided it was going to change gears here from
the previous administration as it relates to Ukraine and kind
of providing that support instead of this direct support to
Ukraine you've seen the US kind of set up this
mechanism where they sell weapons to NATO countries and then
NATO countries can do what they want with that. Most
of them are giving it directly to Ukraine, but it

(32:28):
kind of sets up an additional barrier national separation, and
certainly is not a this is weaponry that is being sold,
and so that is one of those things that sticks out.
And obviously I think I did a show a couple
of weeks ago and had to put together kind of
a top ten list, and the assassination of Charlie Kirk

(32:50):
is number one, because it just one was awful, let's
see it in the way that social media made that
so visible, so awful for so many millions of people
to see. It also again served as maybe not as
if we needed another canary in the coal mine, but
just another warning about the toxicity of our politics and

(33:14):
how we treat each other and how we talk about
each other, and the reaction to that, and how that
laid there a lot of the toxicity in our politics
and the way that we engage with one another and hopefully,
you know, makes us better. In twenty twenty six, I

(33:34):
guess we'll see and.

Speaker 1 (33:36):
Our generation had never experienced anything like that, Jared, Our parents,
in some cases grandparents.

Speaker 14 (33:43):
Yeah, I'm a parent of a very online kid. He
doesn't have social media, but he's on you know, YouTube,
and he's got friends that are on social media. And
you don't want to see that. You don't want your
child to see something. I mean, it was horrifying, right,
And so you're right that we hadn't had a moment
like that. I think for this generation, that kind of

(34:05):
was so public and again was kind of the worst
fears that we all had about the political othering the
political discourse in this country.

Speaker 1 (34:22):
And Jared the ramifications of that, not to turn it
back to politics, but to kind of turn it back
to politics ramifications.

Speaker 14 (34:29):
Yeah, because Charlie Kirk was a galvanizing figure and remains
a galvanizing figure. And what Charlie Kirk was successful at
doing in turning out what had been a pretty politically
apathetic population. Young people, especially young men, were not engaged
in politics, and Charlie Kirk served as an entry way

(34:52):
for so many young people to get engaged politically. And
now you are seeing kind of battle for that space
in the conservative movement. And by the way, I think
you're seeing a battle for that space among them as
well as they realize Democrats realize that they have had
a major messaging problem the last couple of elections and

(35:14):
are going to have to figure out how to reach
people who they have really been unsuccessful at reaching. And
Charlie Kirk was so successful at that and deserves an
awful lot of credit, an awful lot of praise for
not just engaging people who generally were apathetic, but doing
it in the right way, doing it by having open

(35:35):
conversations where you could speak frankly and disagree and walk
away without any violence. And again, I think that's why
for me, that moment when I look back on this
year is going to be so impactful.

Speaker 1 (35:54):
Here's the big question. Will you make it to midnight tonight, Jared?

Speaker 14 (36:03):
I mean, it's already New Year's somewhere right, No, I
can just pretend to be like Australian or New Zealand
or something and all other day.

Speaker 1 (36:12):
I think, what's time land up next? Somebody? I've got
New Year's on one of the televisions here.

Speaker 14 (36:20):
I've always wanted to like do a flight across the Pacific,
like you beat the New Year.

Speaker 6 (36:26):
Huh.

Speaker 14 (36:27):
I don't know if that's possible, but that'd be fun
to do.

Speaker 1 (36:30):
Fox News Radios Jared Halper, Jared, always appreciate it, buddy.
We'll talk to you in twenty twenty six, when I'm
sure everything will simmer down and it'll be just calm
and cool and collected. Next year.

Speaker 14 (36:40):
Elections are always like that.

Speaker 1 (36:41):
Oh yeah right, Jared, appreciate it. Happy to your buddy,
Yeah you too, Coming up your thoughts three or four
talk three oh four to your top moments of twenty
twenty five. I've got an actual scientific list compiled by
webmaster all around great American Patrick here of the most

(37:01):
viewed stories at WV mention news dot com this year.
I was surprised by the list. I was surprised which
these are individual stories, Okay, not topics. These are individual
stories that were posted on the website. I've got the
top ten list. We won't go through the mall, but
we will run through that. As the show unfolds, we'll

(37:21):
talk some sports. Second hour with Brad Howe, Jack Loger
will stop by. We will discuss pop culture and some
of the things that we're out there in the ether
in twenty twenty five. It's New Year's Eve edition to
Mention News talk line from the Encove Insurance Studios. We're
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Speaker 1 (39:30):
A reminder, we have a new episode of A State
of Minds posted on the Metro News television app. Poppycurgible
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(39:50):
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of Mind now posted at WV metronews dot com. They
get to some text three or four talk three four.
I like Jared. He calls balls and strikes, says the Texter.

(40:11):
We all know that Trump's doing what Trump's doing. He's
just politicizing this fraud case to stick it on walls. Yeah,
you can make that case, and I think that's a
fair case and a fair criticism. But also the response
from Tim Balls has been political. He's politicized this as well,
immediately going to the race card. So everybody's politicized. And

(40:32):
I talked about this yesterday, the response to the Minnesota
fraud case and this video that was released on social
media on YouTube over the weekend from Nick Shirley, the Influencer.
The response muddies the water as much as the story itself,
trying to sort through what is fact, what is fiction?
What are we only getting half context? Two? What do

(40:54):
we not have any context too? Rather than looking into
the allegations, mediately coming out and pulling this tough guy
routine and trying to pretend or trying to make this
about race and racism, that muddy's the water even more.
This makes it even much more difficult to sort out
because then you have people picking sides, people aren't looking

(41:16):
at the information that's available, and you end up in
this kind of mess. And I've been a defender of
social media, but that's much much at the hands of
social media. Three or four talk three or four. Hey, Dave,
I'd love to see the Democrats love this great country
as much as I do next year. My favorite part
of twenty twenty five has been the snatch squads violating

(41:38):
people's due process. Also, the Trump administration stonewalling the Epstein
files has been a great part of twenty twenty five.
Welcome such a wholesome year, says the Texter. Mark it
down ten fifty two first Epstein Files reference today. Uh
Texter sends along a screenshot that' said one one hundred

(42:01):
and seventeen days until Trump is gone. Personally, my top
memory from twenty twenty five was the birth of my
third granddaughter. Also, my wife completed her goal of visiting
all fifty states, New Mexico and Oregon made it all
fifty for her. Well, congratulations and congratulations, Uh three or

(42:22):
four talk three oh four. The squirrel issue is directly
proportional to the nuts in the legislature, says the Texter.
The squirrel issue, there's one I did not think we
would be talking about today, and we're not going to
talk about it how long. But it came up. The
squirrel issue. Three or four Talk three or four, Dave,

(42:47):
I hope our state legislators really do their homework on
data centers. There has to be a better way to
bring revenue to this state than data centers. I feel
the only thing they bring is tax revenue. After watching
news stories, most folks do not like them in their
neighborhood and the concern over electricity rates. If we would
lower taxes on businesses we we be the best would

(43:08):
be the best way to bring in revenue. Here's the
thing with data centers. I think there are very good
locations for them, in particular locations that are already developed
and planned for industrial use. Do I want one in
my neighborhood. No, and I'm certain you don't either. But
if we're talking about locating them in areas that are

(43:31):
already prepared for industrial use, or if we're talking about
locating them in abandoned strip minds that aren't good for
anything else for instance, that's just throwing that out. There's
an idea, then we've got a possibility. Look, these are
going to be part of our future for how long
I don't know, but I do know to power AI

(43:53):
and all of the devices that you like to use,
these are necessary. And two so often West Virginia is
we have looked at emerging technology, we've been resistant to
it and a half of the fact we go, boy,
we should have got in on that before the trend
moved on. And if you can have these facilities that

(44:13):
do bring in tax revenue and are a burn, if
you can do it where they bring in tax revenue
and it's not burden some on the infrastructure overly burden
some on the infrastructure. I think you've got something there.
Certainly we need the additional tax revenue. Your thoughts at
three or four talk three or four to eight hundred
and seven sixty five. Talk the phone number back to
wrap up our number one and the all that This

(44:35):
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play responsibly. Three h four Talk three oh four. So
now West Virginia has squirrel Gate. That top two pet
peeves in the English language. You know, the one punching tickets.
Cannot stand the phrase. The other is adding gait as

(47:05):
a suffix to a word to indicate a controversy. Can't
stand it, don't do it. If I do anything on
this program, I will remove those two things from the lexicon.
It's New Year's Eve edition of talk Line on Metro News,
the voice of West Virginia.

Speaker 3 (47:28):
Metro News. Talk Line is presented by Encova Insurance, encircling
you with coverage to protect what you care about most.
Visit incova dot com to learn more.

Speaker 1 (47:38):
Second Hour It is the final hour of Metro News
talk Line for twenty twenty six or twenty twenty five.
I've already moved on.

Speaker 5 (47:51):
Up here.

Speaker 1 (47:51):
I'm already gone. Eight hundred seven to sixty five. Talk
is the phone number. Eight hundred and seven to sixty five,
eight two five five The text lines three or four
talk three oh four. I want to know your top
moments of top of twenty twenty five. Doesn't have to
be news related. I do have a list. We'll get
to this next segment of the top stories that were
posted at wv metronews dot com this year. You might

(48:12):
be surprised.

Speaker 6 (48:13):
I was.

Speaker 1 (48:14):
Now this isn't topics. This is a list of the
most viewed stories on our website, individual stories on our
website this year. We'll get to that. Coming up. Three
or four to three or four is the text line
eight hundred and seven and sixty five eight two five five.
Rad Howe is going to join us. Bottom of the hour.
We'll talk about the college football playoff quarterfinals. They get
started tonight Miami versus Ohio State. Not near basketball. We'll

(48:37):
get back to work this weekend against number three Iowa State.
We'll preview that. We'll see what Brad's thoughts on some
of the top sports moments of twenty twenty five are.
That's coming up bottom of the hour. I was thinking
about pop culture this morning. Some of the things that
were floating around in the ether trying to figure out, Well,
who's a guy. Who's a guy I know that's in tune? Well,

(49:01):
I know a guy. He is the host of the
Jack and Nikki Show on WVAQ up in Morgantown in
north central West Virginia. Jack Loger joins us, who has
his pulse on pop culture Morning Jack.

Speaker 6 (49:14):
Good morning, Dave. Thanks for having me on.

Speaker 1 (49:16):
The program Sir, appreciate it, buddy. So, as you look
back on twenty twenty five kind of things that kind
of were floating around pop culture out there in the ether,
what stood out to you this year?

Speaker 6 (49:26):
Well, Dave, it's mostly been disappointing and nauseating. I mean,
let's be honest. I think we should probably begin with
our top story, Dave, and that is AI slop, which
I believe you have mentioned correct, That was let.

Speaker 1 (49:43):
Me spurt my list. Dictionary dot Com had that list
at ai slop or just slop as one of the
top words of twenty twenty five. Do explain that, Well.

Speaker 6 (49:55):
This is big in the entertainment industry. It's all over
social media. Obviously, everybody's figured out by now to put
their face on a celebrity's head and show them playing
a guitar somewhere. But it's not just that. Of course,
it's defined as low quality, low effort digital content produced
in high volumes by artificial intelligence. And it's it's like
I said, it's spammed everywhere, and it's you can tell

(50:19):
that it's fake, not necessarily by the way it's made,
because it is getting better, but it's context clues they
give it away. For example, if you've seen the video
of Michael Jackson in a slap fight with Hitler, right away,
you know, hey, this isn't actual footage. I'm pretty sure
that this is AI slot, but it is hilarious and.

Speaker 1 (50:40):
It gets pushed out there. But jack, we watch, we
watched that stuff. We watched that slot. We're guilty.

Speaker 6 (50:46):
How can you not, I mean, Michael Jackson slapping Hitler?
Come on, I mean it's hilarious. I mean it really is.
And you can't help me get sucked into it that.
It's like social media. You know, you just you know better,
but the call is there. You're pulled into it. You
can't resist. So AI slop is a big thing from
this year that really took off. And then just kind

(51:08):
of looking at you're asking me about you know, some
of these headlines in the world of entertainment over twenty
twenty five. I've broken down I've got a short list
for you here because I know it's only a two
hour show and I want to get back to actual
news and things that matter. But I wanted to start
with the Ai slop. Let's talk about the late night shakeups.
This is something I was on your show talking about, yeah,

(51:28):
a few months ago. So Colbert his show coming to
an end, and I believe that's going to be next May.
And then Jimmy Kimmel, he was out for a little while,
but then he returned and he hung on. There's a
lot of analysis on these shows, and there's a lot
of fingerpointing about what's going on. And you know why
Kimmell survived and why Colbert didn't. The bottom line is that,
you know, Jimmy Kimmel, he is profitable. They make money

(51:50):
off of his show, and they lose money on Colbert Show.
And at the end of the day, that's the reason. Now,
obviously there are other reasons. There are other facts that
go in there, and I'm sure people are yelling at
their radios right now about politics, but that's really the
bottom line on that one.

Speaker 1 (52:05):
Well, you and I were talking this morning off the
air about how media is changing, and you were talking
about an interview Codin O'Brien did I don't know several
years ago that when when Jay Leno took over for
Johnny Carson and took over the Tonight Show, it was
Leno and then there were there was Letterman. There were
three networks, and that's who you were competing against. So

(52:26):
if you're doing a late night show, you're competing against
the three networks, plus cable television, plus anything that's ever
been produced in history. And if I want to go
back and watch old Johnny Carson episodes of the Night Show,
I can do that. I don't have to watch Cobert.
If I want to watch South Park, if I want
to watch old Seinfeld's episodes, I can do that. I
don't have to watch what's on television. So even the

(52:48):
guys that have figured this out have a tremendous challenge
that Carson and the even Leno didn't have to deal with.

Speaker 6 (52:55):
Yeah, it's an intermountable challenge. I mean, let's be honest,
We're never going to see the days where network TV
shows pull forty million viewers a week and We're not
going to see late night shows like Johnny Carson where
he had eighteen million viewers. It's just too fragmented. It's
just not going to happen. As you just said. And
the ConA O'Brien quote is, you know something along the
lines of, with your phone in your hand, you have

(53:17):
access to every piece of entertainment that's ever been made
in the history of the world, and current people on
TV and radio. That's what we're competing against. So good
luck being so compelling. What you're doing is so interesting
that people go everything that's ever been made. Man, that's fine,
I'm gonna watch this. I mean, it's just you can't
do it.

Speaker 1 (53:38):
Well. Thanks for the optimism there, Logo, as we try
to compete against everything that's ever been made. Jack Loger
joining us hosts of the Jack and Niki Show on
WVAQ mornings up in north central West Virginia. Do you
have good jeans? Jack?

Speaker 10 (53:52):
Oh?

Speaker 6 (53:52):
Yeah, yes, yes, yes. That story. Yeah, the whole Sydney
Sweeney thing that was a big one this year, and
you know, people again went nuts over that and they
you know, they turned it into, as they always do,
some type of erace thing. And then you know, it's
a social issue and she's a white supremacist and all that.

(54:15):
You know, I think these people are just trying to
do a cleverer play on words, and I have to
wonder if they anticipated that that would be taken the
way it was and totally blown up. And I kind
of think they did know that. But you know what
you have there's plausible deniability. You know, you can say
Sidney Sweeney has great genes and people go, hey, what
are you talking about eugenics and you go, no, no, already

(54:35):
talking about you were a pair of blue jeans and
you got an out. I mean, it is plausible. But
I think from their standpoint that was well played. And
don't forget I mean they sold a whole lot of
genes after that ad, which was the goal.

Speaker 10 (54:47):
Right.

Speaker 1 (54:48):
Uh. Yeah. People were talking about it, and then then
it got political jack people were, you know, different parties
or movements trying to claim Sidney Sweeney and the whole
time she just kind of sat there and smiled and
kind of kind of played it like Michael Jordan did
back in the day when he said Republicans buy sneakers too.

Speaker 6 (55:07):
I think she handled it the right way. She was
kind of reassuring yet noncommittal, so everybody could basically claim
her as being on their side and nobody would be wrong.
That was smart. Looking here at something else. I wanted
to mention, this is not as sexy or exciting as
some of these other stories, like you know, Michael Jackons
lappin Hitler, But this is a pretty big story. The

(55:29):
whole Netflix maybe trying to buy Warner Brothers. This is
this is a pretty big deal for the industry. So
there was a bidding war between Netflix and Paramount over
Warner Brothers, and people are very worried in the industry
that Netflix would you know, grab Warner Brothers, because there's

(55:53):
this tug of war now trying to get people to
stay home and stream and then you know, trying to
get people to go out to movie theaters to actually
watch movies. And nobody believes that a streaming service owning
a company that makes movies will result in more or
better movies in movie theaters. And a whole lot of
people are looking at this and going, well, you know what,

(56:14):
if Netflix end up ends up with Warner Brothers, that's
that's going to be an issue, and that is going
to be a further decline in the quality of where
we're getting at the box office. And that's a big
deal because that could indicate, you know, some some serious
change down the road.

Speaker 1 (56:32):
Here's the thing about movies, Jack, As we move forward
and there's more streaming and it's it's more accessible and
there's more and more of it. To go to a theater,
it has to be an experience. There has to be
some element that you can only get in the theater.
So am I going to go watch Well, I'm not

(56:52):
going to watch a rom com anyway, But am I
going to go watch a rom com in the theater?

Speaker 14 (56:56):
No?

Speaker 1 (56:56):
But Top Gun Maverick, for instance, seeing that in the
theater with the surround sound, especially if you could see
an imax, that was an experience. So if you want
people to go to the movies and go to the
theater and then buy the you know, thirteen dollars bag
of popcorn and fourteen dollars pop it's got to be
an experience. If it's just your average run of the
mill film, I can watch that a home, I can

(57:18):
stream that at home.

Speaker 6 (57:20):
Well, it is an experience, and that experience, sadly is
being robbed. And you're right, that the prices are unbelievable.
And let's just establish right up front, you would not
see a rom com because you're all man. So you're
gonna go and you're gonna watch a movie like Top Gun. Listen,
they've got some problems here, a couple of big ones.
A lot of these movies they end up streaming within

(57:40):
just a few weeks of being in the theater, so
people who really don't want to go to the theater
and are willing to wait a few weeks so you
can watch it right there at your house on the
big screen. And then, of course, the other problem is
the general decay of society. You can't get a second
a piece of a movie theater. Now, people won't shot up.
There are kids running everywhere. If you are sitting up top,
you look down, it's a bunch of people with their

(58:01):
phones glowing and their handsasy people all over social media.
Sometimes people take phone calls while they're sitting in the
theater two seats away from you. And then you got
the wizards who can't follow the plot, and they keep
asking questions to the person beside them, or doing commentary
or you know, making predictions on oh I bet, here's
what's going to happen next? Why don't you shut up?
You can't enjoy a movie at the theater the way

(58:22):
you used to because people just are impolite.

Speaker 1 (58:25):
When's the last, really, the last good movie theater experience
you had? Jack? It sounds like it's been twenty years.

Speaker 6 (58:31):
It's been a while. Honestly, it's been a while. We
used to go to the movies every week, and then,
you know, the quality of the movies declined. Everybody, you know,
everything's got the message and it is very preachy and
not to go down this path. But I think this
is an interesting observation. You know, this this story with
Rob Reiner, which is obviously, you know, terrible and it's

(58:52):
an awful thing that happened. And I was looking at
that story, and I was looking back at his at
his movies.

Speaker 14 (58:59):
I mean, he made.

Speaker 6 (59:00):
Classic movie, you know, when Harry met Sally and Final
Tap and all that stuff. And it's interesting because everybody
knows that he was on the left, okay, but you
know what, the people on the left didn't used to
insert that into their movies. It used to be that
you could watch a movie and have no idea what
the director's politics were. The people who wrote the script.
They just separated those things. And now it's not like

(59:23):
that now. If if the director's on the left, when
you go into the theater, you're gonna know that. And
it's also people on the right kind of have to
make their movies for the right. Who we went to
see the Ronald Reagan movie. I don't know how many
months ago that was out, but obviously you know, you
go in and it's from the perspective of the right.

(59:43):
And I just think it's interesting that we're like that now,
where the you know, the directors and the writers and producers.
If they're on the left, it's in the movie. If
they're on the right, it's in the movie. Why don't
we just make movies and leave our personal politics out
of it. I think that would help.

Speaker 1 (59:57):
Well, the best ones, that's subtle. There's subtle messaging and
there's metal. Like if you ever watch Remember No No
Country for Old Men, Yeah, and you get to the
end of it and you're like, what what just happened?
And it turns out there's all these metaphors and this
is really a symbol for that. That's what makes a
great film. Getting beat over the head with obvious social commentary.

(01:00:18):
It is both unentertaining and exhausting.

Speaker 6 (01:00:22):
Yeah, you don't need a bunch of messaging and people
being preachy and obnoxious between explosions. You know, just give
me the explosions that Just give me the explosions and
be quiet. And I think you know that's the Tom
Cruise formula. You know, he still makes pretty good movies.
There are some celebrities I like, a lot of Dental
Washington movies, are you know, pretty decent. Let me mention

(01:00:44):
a couple of things here. I know you're probably getting
tight on time, but we can't go without mentioning the
the Coldplay kiss cam. That was a big one forgot
about five. Yeah, that's right, of course. You know, you't
the president of the company and his HR person, you know,
wrapped up with each other, and the kiss cam pops

(01:01:04):
on him and you know he immediately ducked and panicked
and the whole thing was.

Speaker 1 (01:01:09):
The best part of that video is the girl who
sees it happening, and she's laughing hysterically and is also
embarrassed at the same time. That's the best part of
that video.

Speaker 6 (01:01:21):
If they could have kept their wits and just not reacted.
They would have been Okay, if they'd kept their wits,
nobody would have known except the people who were at
the concert. It wouldn't have gone viral. There would have
been no reason for anybody to post it. But because
they responded that way, people knew right away. Okay, they're
up to no good. Let's put it online and destroy them,
because that's the game we play now.

Speaker 1 (01:01:41):
Right, Well, yeah, that's that's the fun game to play.
That's what we do.

Speaker 6 (01:01:45):
That's how it works, all right, last stop. And these
are two people who are both insufferable and unavoidable, Taylor
Swift and Travis Kelsey.

Speaker 1 (01:01:56):
They were just doing they were just doing a story
about Taylor Swift on Fox News as a matter of fact.

Speaker 6 (01:02:02):
Oh really, what's what's the story? This morning?

Speaker 1 (01:02:03):
On she apparently talked about her engagement with Jimmy Fallon.

Speaker 6 (01:02:08):
Oh okay, sure, yeah did he again? He found it hilarious?

Speaker 1 (01:02:12):
Uh yeah, he laughed or I don't know, I don't
want you to.

Speaker 6 (01:02:15):
I'd be really surprised if Jimmy Fallon laughed his way
through an interview. That's not the Jimmy Fallon I know.

Speaker 14 (01:02:20):
Oh never, But that was you know, that's.

Speaker 6 (01:02:23):
The big story, one of the big stories, I should say.
And it's really it's pretty interesting because you know, now
the Chiefs are out of the playoffs and he can
focus on marrying Taylor Swift. And it's just unfortunate that, really,
you know, his kind of his last appearance at the
Super Bowl, he was crying on the sidelines when they
lost the Super Bowl because he was terrible in the game.

(01:02:43):
And and I and I have learned from unofficial sources
that Taylor Swift has agreed to not mention him crying
at the Super Bowl in their wedding vows, which I
think is classy. You know, he doesn't need that thrown
up in his face at the wedding.

Speaker 1 (01:02:57):
Jack Loger he is host of the Jack and Nicky
Morning Show on WVAQ up in Morgantown, north central West Virginia.
Jack always appreciate your insights. And this concludes the unentertaining
and exhaustive segment. Thank you very much, Thank you, Dave
appreciate Jack Loger, friend of the program. Eight hundred and
seven six five Talk three or four, Talk three or four.

(01:03:18):
We're back in a moment. We are there for you too,
care for you. At the health Plan.

Speaker 4 (01:03:26):
The health Plan is still growing, giving you a large
network of doctors, friendly and helpful customer service representatives, and competitive,
flexible pricing plans that meet your needs.

Speaker 15 (01:03:36):
Log on to health plan dot org for more information.

Speaker 16 (01:03:39):
We are there for you to care for you and
the plan we are here.

Speaker 15 (01:03:52):
Some say he's a man of mystery. Others say he's
the holiday hitmaker. No one saw coming. It's showtime, the
holiday hit maker walk the office halls with West Virginia
Lottery holiday scratch offs and an unstoppable spirit. What are
you doing.

Speaker 2 (01:04:06):
Bringing the holiday highop here?

Speaker 21 (01:04:09):
Enjoy scratch off, It's on me whoo ticket.

Speaker 2 (01:04:12):
My work here is done.

Speaker 15 (01:04:13):
Be the surprise hit maker. West Virginia Lottery Games, fun,
festive and Fola flare. Please play responsibly. Hospitals drive West
Virginia's economy. They produce jobs and create opportunities while keeping
our communities healthy. Employing nearly fifty four thousand people, West
Virginia hospitals rank among our state's largest and most dependable employers.
They provide more than one billion dollars in community benefits

(01:04:35):
and generate nearly seventeen billion dollars in total economic impact
each year. Hospitals are investing wear accounts, advancing health, ensuring
access to care, and powering West Virginia's economic future.

Speaker 2 (01:04:46):
A message from the West Virginia Hospital Association on mine
a WVAJA dot org.

Speaker 1 (01:05:10):
Three oh four talk three oh four. Hey, Dave Longer
has turned into the get off my lawn guy, says Noel, Yeah,
maybe three or four talk three oh four, Dave. I
love the South Park episode where the teacher told Cartman
he couldn't say the F word in school. I'm telling you,

(01:05:35):
people look at me like I've got a horn grown
out the side of my head. But if the show, yes,
the show is vulgar, don't get me wrong, but there's
a lot of good political satire there. Dave Gate says
the text, Ah yeah, yeah, Dave. At the end of

(01:05:56):
the day, all it takes is one game changer to
create a Cinderella story and punched their ticket to the
Big Dance and everything. Boy, you got them all in there,
you got most of them in there. Somebody had mentioned
squirrel Gate in reference to the squirrels at the Capitol,
and I just said, look, it is one of my

(01:06:17):
great irritants. And by telling you, I know you all
will irritate me with it that because of Richard Nixon
and the Watergate scandal where people broke into the Watergate
hotel where the DNC headquarters were, we have now because
of that scandal, we have now gone. You know what

(01:06:38):
we can do every time there's a scandal, We'll put
the suffix gate on the end of the whatever scandal
it is, and that's what we'll call it. We'll call
it the flake gate, we'll call it routergate, we'll call
it squirrel gate. Stop. Richard Nexon wasn't involved in a
water controversy. Water Gate was the name of the hotel
that was broken into. So don't it be better? Be

(01:07:01):
better in twenty six. Don't use that, don't put gate
at the end of a word for a scandal, and
don't say punch ticket. Be better, and you will have
a better twenty six because it that's my steam. There
you go, that's my steam. At the end of the year.
Merry Christmas. Dave seven Swans is swimming on this the
seventh day of Christmas. My highlight of twenty twenty five

(01:07:24):
was the birth of our third grandson, and in twenty
six I'm looking forward to the birth of our first granddaughter.
Happy New Year, Well, happy New Year, and congratulations to
you three or four talk three or four Dave. Do
we know if the squirrels were vaccinated before they went
to squirrel school? Asks the Northern Outpost. That's a good question.

(01:07:45):
Were the squirrels required to be vaccinated before taking up
residents on the Capitol grounds? These are the hard hitting
questions Brad mclhenny is going to get to the bottom
of during the twenty sixth legislative session, which, by the way,
begins January four, fourteenth, and we will be broadcasting talk
Line live from the Belly of the Beast starting on

(01:08:05):
the fourteenth, and we'll be down there on the regular
basis throughout the session. Shameless self promotion day. I sure
hope the builders of the White House Ballroom are taking
squirrels into account. Could we get someone to look into
this before it becomes a national tragedy? We really should,
you know what I bet. Jared Halpern is on the
case right now looking into the impact of the construction

(01:08:29):
of the new ballroom on the squirrels. By the way,
still don't care about the ballroom. Just twenty twenty six
Still don't care about the ballroom really don't coming up.
We'll talk some sports. College football play off quarterfinals tonight,
plus Mountaineer men's basketball gets back to work after the

(01:08:50):
holiday break. They'll take on number three Iowa State. Brad
Howe will join us. We'll also ask him about his
top sports moments over the last year. Half an hour
left in twenty twenty five is talk Line goes. This
is talk Line on Metro News. For forty years, Metro
News has been the voice of West Virginia. It's eleven thirty.

(01:09:10):
Let's get a news update from the Metro News radio network.
Find out what's happening all across the great state of
West Virginia.

Speaker 11 (01:09:18):
West Virginia Metro News. I'm Chris Lawrence. Expects snowfall in
cold weather as we ring in the new year. Simon
Lewis is meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Charleston.

Speaker 22 (01:09:27):
The main thing to keep in mind is that the
period of greatest accumulating snowfall is actually expected on either
side of midnight.

Speaker 11 (01:09:38):
Just as we're ringing in the new year. So plan accordingly.
If you're headed to a New Year's Eve party or
other destination tonight, there is a winter weather advisory for
much of the state and that starts at four o'clock
this afternoon. A winter storm warning will take effect with
the state's mountain counties. Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolf of the
West Virginia National Guard continues his recovery from a gunshot
wound suffered while on deployment in November in Washington. Their melody,

(01:10:00):
Wolf offered an update on his condition to social media overnight,
asking specifically for prayer for his speed and his speech
and cognitive abilities. She said their greatest desires for Andrew
to be able to articulate what he is thinking and
not grow frustrated. She indicated Wolf is in intensive rehab
for six hours a day. As for the man who
shot her son, alleged along with specialist Sarah Baxtrom, he

(01:10:22):
could face the death penally if convicted. Raman Allah Lackenwall
made an initial appearance in a DC federal court this week.
Former US Attorney Will Thompson said there's a lot happening
that we aren't seeing.

Speaker 7 (01:10:32):
What's happening behind the scenes right now is there's probably
grand jury proceedings going on.

Speaker 11 (01:10:39):
Thompson said the case was probably moved to federal court
to put capital punishment on the table you're listening to
Metronews the Boys of West Virginia.

Speaker 13 (01:10:47):
There's nothing quite like a homemade meal from Tudor's Biscuit Work.
We use real buttermilk to craft our delicious biscuits one
batch at a time and serve them with our signature platters.
Here you'll taste the freshness in every night, from our
classic breakfast sandwiches to favorites like our breakfast wraps. Every
meal brings a taste of simpler times. Let Tutors do

(01:11:09):
the cooking for you or gathering this holiday season. Visit
Tutorscatering dot com for all of your catering needs.

Speaker 21 (01:11:16):
Greer Industries. For over one hundred years, Greer Industries has
been providing products that build a solid foundation and paves
the way to a bright future. Greer Asphalt Company has
three conveniently located asphalt plants in north central West Virginia
where they can produce a superior product with unparalleled customer service.
All WVDOH approved. To learn more, visit Greer Industries dot

(01:11:39):
com or call three oh four two ninety six two
five four nine.

Speaker 11 (01:11:44):
Greer Industries Stage School Superintendent Michelle Blatz says work to
continue implementing a legislation past that's aim at protecting children
online is ongoing in the state school system. The SWAT Act,
or Safety while Accessing Technology, requires a program for grades
three through twelve.

Speaker 6 (01:12:00):
They're able to navigate challenges, get feedback on the choices
they make, and see how these situations can end.

Speaker 14 (01:12:06):
Have they chose a different pathway?

Speaker 11 (01:12:08):
And she says that system of teaching is now in
place as required from the Metro News ANCHOREDESK. I'm Chris Lawrence.

Speaker 1 (01:12:32):
Citty Net makes technology simple for your business, from network
monitoring to IT management. Their experts keep you connected and protected.
Learn more at sittynet dot net. Sittinget connects, protects and perfects.
We'll get to your text three or four talk three
oh four top moments of twenty twenty five which you're
looking forward to in twenty twenty six. Joining us now

(01:12:56):
Metro News Talk Line, we'll talk some sports. College football
playoffs today and tomorrow Mountair men's basketball team get back
to work against Iowa State. Metro News Sports three guys
before the game Sports Line. He's all over the place.
He's Brad. How Brad? Good morning, Happy New Year.

Speaker 10 (01:13:12):
Good morning Day, Happy New Year to you and the
listeners as well. Good to be with you.

Speaker 1 (01:13:16):
Before we look ahead, let's look back twenty twenty five.
What stands out from a sports perspective to you this year?

Speaker 10 (01:13:23):
Oh my, there are so many things, and it's I
always like doing this, and we're going to spend some
time on sports Line, in fact, the whole show doing this.
This sevening because I always think this is fun. And
I don't know if you're similar to me, but you're
so caught in the moment of pushing ahead to what's next.
All right, what's the next game, what's the next opponent?
What are we looking for next that there's these stories
that pop up and you're like, did that happen this year?

(01:13:44):
That's only that's this year. I don't remember that being
this year. So I always think that's kind of fun.
I think, specifically from a Mountaineer sports standpoint, as happens
every year. There are just some unbelievable stories in there,
and in certainly rich Rod returning back for his first
season Round two is right near the top of the list.
Ross Hodge being named basketball coach. I mean, those are

(01:14:06):
two massive stories to happen in the same year you
get baseball wins a Big twelve championship and goes to
back to back supers for the first time in history.
That's a massive story. And quite frankly, there's so many
great stories around WU sports and fascinating, compelling stories. The
rifle winning another national championship and in walk off fashion,

(01:14:27):
where does that fall? That should be number one most years,
and so that's somewhere probably in the top five. So
those are just a handful of the things that have
stuck out. And again, if I went back and pulled
out individual games, the win over pitt in Rich's first
season football wise was a big one in a big moment,
certainly at the time. Go all the way back to
last season's basketball which was which technically this is what

(01:14:51):
I'm talking about still twenty twenty five, although it feels
like it was a lifetime ago. A win on the
road to open Big twelve play for the first time
in Allen Fieldhouse last basketball season was huge. You beat
the number two Iowa State team on Jerry West Day,
on a day you're honoring Jerry West with his family
and attendance, and you upset number two Iowa State. So

(01:15:12):
that's one of those days that happened all the way
back in whatever that was January, and it was so
long ago, almost a calendar year ago, but that was
a really big highlight for me personally of the last year.
So a ton of stories there, obviously.

Speaker 1 (01:15:25):
And that's what you guys will be going into detail
about tonight on Metro News Sports Line six six to seven,
many of these same Metro News radio stations. Since you
brought up Iowa State men's basketball, we'll get back to
work in the Big Twelve, open at number three Iowa
State in a couple of days. Well, there's one way
to open up conference play. Take on the number three

(01:15:46):
team in the country.

Speaker 10 (01:15:47):
Yeah, no favors in this Big twelve league, and you're
walking right in against what I think is one of
the handful of early national championship contenders across college basketball.
There's a few of them, I think in the Big
twelve State is it's certainly right in that mix they
come in. If you look at the advanced metrics, which
I go to those more than the Poles, You've got
number three most efficient team in the country. It's a

(01:16:09):
top five defense, it's a top twelve offense. This is
a really talented team with some veterans mixed in with
some new guys, and I think that's where they have
kind of changed. Iowa State has over the last couple
of seasons since TJ. Osselberger took over, it's always been
a top ten defensive unit. The last couple of years,
that offense has come along to match, and I think

(01:16:30):
that's what stands out to me as West Virginia gets
ready to head into Hilton Coliseum. Is first and foremost,
you've got to handle that trapping defense on the ball,
and we saw West Virginia struggle with that against Wake
Forest in particular down in Charleston, West Virginia earlier this year.
So that's number one. You've got to handle that suffocating
defense that they play all games. But the flip side
is they are shooting the ball at an unbelievable rate.

Speaker 1 (01:16:52):
Days.

Speaker 10 (01:16:52):
They're number four in the country in three point percentage,
and West Virginia rolls into this game with the nation's
leader in three pointers made and on our huff they
counter Iowa State counters with the guy in Milan Montileovich
that's only four made threes behind Honor and is shooting
it a fifty four percent clip from behind the arc,
and that's just one of a couple guys they have

(01:17:12):
that can shoot it. So a heck of a challenge
coming up for WVU to start this conference schedule.

Speaker 1 (01:17:17):
How many times have you practiced that name?

Speaker 10 (01:17:19):
You know what, It's come off the tongue pretty easily. Luckily,
he's a returner, Dave, and he did not play in
last year's game here in Morgantown, so we've said his
name a bunch, So the practice has already been in
now it kind of rolls off the time, Manchilevitch.

Speaker 1 (01:17:33):
Nice, well done. It's been a pretty long break here
for the holiday break, you had finals and then the
Christmas break for the basketball team. So how has Ross
Hodge utilized this time to prepare for conference play, which
we'll start here in a couple of days.

Speaker 10 (01:17:49):
Yeah, it's a great question, David. It's a really bizarre
schedule as you've basically not basically you've had one game
since December thirteenth, when you played Ohio State in Cleveland,
played Mississippi Valley State last Monday, and then you get
this Iowa State game coming up on Friday. So what
is that a three week stretch? Where you had one
game and we'll see if that worked or if that

(01:18:09):
was a detriment to this Mountaineer team. We'll know that
over the next week or so. I think from Ross's perspective,
what he liked about it, let's go that route first.
What he liked is given the injuries that West Virginia
sustained throughout the summer and fall, and most notably Jackson Fields,
who's in your top eight rotation, one of your bigs,
he missed three months with that broken wrist, so he

(01:18:30):
couldn't practice, and for a team that needed all the
practice time that could get with with every part being new,
that put them behind a little bit. Then mix in
just the injuries that most teams go through. A Harlano
Bioha was dinged and missed a few weeks, and Morris
Ugasuf missed a few weeks, and so you just never
really got good on good in practice where you could
go really hard and start to establish that tough culture

(01:18:53):
that you wanted. So I think Ross felt they were
a little bit behind in that area. He has spent
the last couple of weeks going really hard, Dave. It's
been five on five tough basketball and you know how
coaches love this, especially defensive minded coaches like Ross Hodge.

Speaker 14 (01:19:07):
At practice.

Speaker 10 (01:19:08):
A couple of times they've gone where there's no out
of bounds, so just play the thing. The ball's bouncing
up into the second row, let's go get it, and
let's play that ball hits the scorers table, it's in play,
don't stop. So they've had a few practices like that
where they really up the intensity and got after it.
And I think that's been Ross's messages. You head into
Big twelve plays. West Virginia's had some good opponents and

(01:19:29):
they've seen what the upper aescelon of college basketball looks like.
But now you're getting it night in, night out, and
it begins with Iowa State. So I think that's how
they've spent these three weeks. Is is trying to go
even harder than you would normally go this time of
year as you get ready for conference play.

Speaker 1 (01:19:45):
Messaging sports Brad hal joining us a new edition of
Three Guys Before the Game was just recorded this morning
and that will be out what later Today.

Speaker 15 (01:19:53):
Is now out.

Speaker 10 (01:19:55):
Now it's live. You can listen to it, you can
watch it on the Metro News TVP or it's available
YouTube and it's live right now.

Speaker 1 (01:20:01):
You couldn't wait until talk line was over to post
that up.

Speaker 10 (01:20:04):
I mean, come on, hey, I think you're all right.
Your audience is locked in up.

Speaker 3 (01:20:08):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:20:09):
Hey, college football playoffs four games. Which of these games
are you most looking forward to?

Speaker 10 (01:20:14):
Well, I'll take the Big twelve slant. I'm anxious to
watch this Texas Tech team. I think it's really good
and I'm not breaking any news there, but I want
to see how it matches up on this stage. It
gets obviously a really good Oregon team. I think all
of these matchups are really compelling and fun. I think
this is awesome as a college football fan. I love
getting to do this. This is a heck of a

(01:20:35):
bold day. By the way, if it gains here in
twenty minutes, Hoppy and I will be over in studio
with Kyle. We're doing a couple of games this afternoon,
and then you get the playoff games night with Ohio
State and Miami. So I think every one of them's
really compelling. But my Big twelve slant has me watching
this Texas Tech game closely, and Dave, I think for
a lot of reasons, not just because it would help

(01:20:56):
the Big twelve banner to get a win in this game.
But given how Texas Tech wins about its business trying
to buy a national championship, what ramifications does that have?
How will it look in the future. So to me,
I'm watching Texas Tech Oregon. If I had to pick
just one.

Speaker 1 (01:21:10):
You can criticize me for this, Brad, But for me,
it's Indiana Alabama, and there's still part of me that
doesn't believe in Indiana. I know they've got Fernando Mendoza,
Kurt Signette, Heisman Trophy, Winter, all of that. I get it,
there's still part of me goes Indiana, Indiana shouldn't beat Alabama,

(01:21:33):
and there's still part of me that wants to see it,
needs to see Indiana prove it, even though it has,
even though they have multiple times, there's still part of me,
Brad that still thinks Indiana needs to prove it.

Speaker 10 (01:21:45):
Yeah, I get it on this stage, and I think
the most of the country that doesn't follow this stuff
mostly is certainly sharing those beliefs. But you know, it's
interesting they have been. It's an unbelievable to year run.
We don't have time to dive into it, but you
can't Overstate. What he has done in just two years
at a program that's as bad as any in college
football over the last sixty or seventy years, it's amazing.

(01:22:06):
But you look at what they did when they walked
into Oregon and beat Oregon at Oregon and then turned
around and just beat Ohio State on a neutral field.
I think this team's for real. And I'll admit I
haven't watched a ton of them, but I watched a
good chunk of both of those games. I think this
is a four real Hoosiers team. And I get what
you're saying from a brand perspective, but I'm not sure Alabama,

(01:22:26):
who had to come from behind to get Oklahoma in
round one, I'm not sure it's a normal Alabama team
that we've seen, and I think it's a much better
Indiana team. But I'm with you, this will be that'll
be a compelling game as well. Can't wait to watch
that one.

Speaker 1 (01:22:38):
It's the best two days. Well, look, I know we're
you stand on this, and I've I've flip flopped, Brad.
I was one of the guys that said there are
too many bowl games, But you know what, I enjoy
watching college football. I don't care. I watched Louisiana Tech
and Coastal Carroll. Now I had a little bit of
an interest in that. Onen't been a Sun Belt guy,
but I watched Coastal Caroline and Louisiana Tech. I was
watching Tennessee in Illinois last night. Great game for the

(01:23:02):
one later. It was a great game. Not so much
in the first half, but I'm all for it. Man,
give me as much college football as I can get
before the end of the year. I'll tell you.

Speaker 10 (01:23:10):
That's where the Dave. I'm with you. That's where I land.
We wait nine months for this sport.

Speaker 14 (01:23:14):
I love the sport. I love the games.

Speaker 10 (01:23:16):
It's the one time we just don't get many opportunities.
Twelve games, thirteen if you're lucky, maybe some more if
you're in the college football playoff. But we just don't
get enough. So I'm with you. Start this thing.

Speaker 20 (01:23:26):
At noon.

Speaker 10 (01:23:27):
I'm dialed in for IOWA in Vanderfeldt. I don't care
if there's guys opting out, I don't care who's playing.
Give me a noon Wednesday football game. I'm dialed in.
So yeah, I'm with you. It's a great few days here.
It's been a great two weeks of bowls and give
me more. I want more football.

Speaker 1 (01:23:40):
Let's go. I'm all for it. Brad how Metion New
Sports three Guys Before the Game. New episode up at
WV Metro News dot com or WV Metro newstv dot com,
the Metro News TV app. Brad Save Travels, enjoy the
trip out to Aims and enjoy your college football the
next couple of days.

Speaker 10 (01:23:55):
Thank you, sir, you as well, and we'll talk.

Speaker 1 (01:23:57):
Soon, all right, Happy New Year. Metro News Sports texts
three or four, Talk three or four or give me
a call. Eight hundred and seven to sixty five Talk
eight hundred seven sixty five eight two five y five.
Get to your thoughts and your top moments for twenty
twenty five as we close out the year. We're back
at a moment. This is talk line from the Enco

(01:24:17):
Insurance Studios.

Speaker 23 (01:24:19):
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Speaker 8 (01:25:21):
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Speaker 3 (01:26:02):
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Speaker 1 (01:26:13):
Talking to producer Zach Carrolchick Man of the People during
the break there, we get into some interesting conversations about
ideas and you know, you know what we could do,
and then we realize we don't want to do that,
but we could if we wanted. Three or four Talk
three or four is the text line. Hey, Dave, the

(01:26:34):
level of snark between you and Loger on each other's
show is very entertaining and appreciated. Hope you have a
wonderful new year, Minister of Information. Thank you very much.
And yes there's quite a bit of snarkiness. Jack Loger,
by the way, if you don't know him, if you don't, haven't,
he's been a figure in radio in north central West
Virginia for probably three decades going on close to it.

(01:26:58):
Talented radio guy, talented radio guy, and uh, you know
a little bit of humor in there every once in
a while too. Every once in a while he says
something funny. Three oh four Talk three oh four. The
Indiana squirrels will prevail, my brother, says the texter. Uh
textas says David, I just woke up from a nap.

(01:27:19):
What the heck is going on with the squirrels? Governor
Morrissey tweeted early, I guess we technically would have been
early this morning at Mountain State spotlight something about the
squirrel controversy. There was always this rumor floating around down
at the Capitol about squirrels and where was there a

(01:27:39):
squirrel squirrel roundup? And what was going on? It was
kind of hearsay, and for some reason the governor brought
it up. I don't care. I know a couple of guys.
We can get together, Like I told Macawhanny, we can
take care of the squirrel problem and we'll have a
great dinner that night. Easy, three four, three or four, Dave,

(01:28:00):
Your attitude toward the president tearing down half of the
White House is a bit off putting. I dare say,
if Obama had done this, you folks would be on
it daily. As Madness says Jim uh No, I would
still not care. Look, the White House is not the
same building that was originally. It has been gutted from

(01:28:22):
the inside out and had been completely gutted and renovated
so one it's not the same building where Lincoln sat
and pondered statehood. Okay, secondly, we're talking about the East
Wing that was a bunch of old, antiquated, cramped offices.
I just don't care. And the reason it's a big

(01:28:42):
deal is because it's Donald Trump, and everything Donald Trump
does is a big deal. I just don't care. Build
a ballroom, don't care, David. Didn't happen in twenty twenty five.
But I'm hoping at some point in twenty twenty six
to be able to legally grow a marijuana plant on
my back, which for personal consumption, just like any other

(01:29:03):
flower or weed. Maybe the squirrels can live in the
First Lady's gingerbread house. Now that Christmas is over, says
the Texter Dave. As language changes over time, the ending
gate has gained the meaning of scandal. I agree with
your point, as I don't think it really took off
until the Clinton whitewater got play as whitewater Gate says

(01:29:27):
the text. Yeah, I get it. I don't have to
like it though. We've been so how long have we been
saying punch your ticket? When's the last time you had
a ticket punched? I'm just if I do anything, we
will change the lexicon. We we can force language to
evolve by being better three or four talk three or four, Dave.

(01:29:51):
The last time my husband and I went to the
movies was to watch The Green Mile. Yep, it's been
a while. Wow, it's been a long time, Hey Dave.
Someone better look into those squirrel daycare centers. Don't need
no squirrel fraud, says the Texter. There's there's your there's

(01:30:13):
your plan, Zach. If you if you don't hit the
powerball jackpot a squirrel daycare center in Minnesota, you could
be a billionaire. David. The highlight of my twenty twenty
five was my son graduating from high school and having
a stellar first semester at Marshall. Go Gabe, Is squirrel

(01:30:34):
Contra better than squirrel Gate? Laughing face emojis Okay, Okay,
I'm okay with that. Let's go squirrel Contra for this
supposed scandal, Hey Dave. The question is this is the
deployment of squirrels at the state capitol on a voluntary basis,
and is it constitutional? Well, that's being up in the courts.

(01:31:01):
Another one of those things that will carry over into
twenty twenty six. Adding gate to a scandal is as
bad as saying program instead of program, which you do
multiple times per day. I can change that. I can
fix that. That's an easy fix. I can do that
for you. I will do that. I just punched my
ticket to dave Gate. Yeah, well done, well done. Three

(01:31:24):
or four toalk three or four is the text line.
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Speaker 17 (01:31:47):
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Speaker 2 (01:32:12):
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Speaker 24 (01:32:18):
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Speaker 1 (01:33:04):
Brief moment of sincerity before we go, just want to
thank all of you who have hung out with us
each and every day here from ten to noon over
the last year taken over for Hoppy. It will be
a year ago on Sunday. Actually TJ and I took
over the show, and I do believe I can speak

(01:33:26):
for him when I say thank you very much for
tuning in every day, hoping on the app, log it
on listen to the stream. However you consume this program
and being part of the program. We love the text,
love the phone calls, love the interactions, and hopefully you've
been informed and entertained over the last year and we'll

(01:33:47):
continue to be informed and entertained in the coming year
as well. So big thank you to all of you
out there in the audience for letting us be part
of your day each and every day, almost each and
every day, not on the weekends. We don't work on
the weekends. Speaking of not working, we will have a
best of show tomorrow and then we'll be back on Friday,

(01:34:10):
live in the studio to get twenty twenty six started. Also,
big thanks to Jake Link Zach Carrol Check our two
video producers. Those guys keep us on the Metro News
TV app each and every day Ethan Collins, Sophia Waik,
Joe Nelson, Kyle Wiggs. They handle the audio side of
things on a daily basis. Big shout out to them

(01:34:31):
as well. Have a fun and safe and awesome New
Year's Eve. We'll talk to you on Friday in twenty
twenty six. Happy New Year. This is talk Line on
Metro News, the Voice of West Virginia.