Alternate careers: writing, acting, farming

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Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this final holiday edition of The Wright Report for the week, Bryan shares economic good news, responds to listener questions about immigration, judges, and American identity, and offers a deeper reflection on what it truly means to be an American in a time of division, foreign influence, and cultural strain.

Economic Bright Spots After Christmas: New data from Visa, MasterCard, and American Express show holiday spending rose between four and six percent year over year. GDP growth for the third quarter came in at a strong 4.3%, beating expectations. Bryan notes that while wealthy Americans are still doing well, middle and lower-income families continue to struggle with affordability. He argues the data supports Trump's case that tariffs and deportations did not crash the economy, but instead helped stabilize growth and reduce crime.

Crime Falls as Deportations Rise: More than seventeen thousand illegal immigrants have been arrested under the Laken Riley Act, with two and a half million deported or self-deported over the past year. Early crime data suggests declines in murder, robbery, and vehicle theft. Bryan cautions the data is still incomplete but says the trend aligns with common sense and historical experience.

Military Recruiting Surges: The U.S. military reported its strongest recruiting numbers in fifteen years. Bryan credits leadership changes at the Pentagon and renewed focus on mission and standards, pushing back on critics who predicted chaos under Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Judges, Bias, and the Rule of Law: Listener questions focus on Democrat Judge Hannah Dugan's conviction for helping an illegal immigrant escape her courtroom. Bryan explains why jury reluctance to convict shows the cultural divide remains deep. He also defends his practice of identifying which president appointed judges, arguing that judicial bias is real and supported by Supreme Court reversal data.

What It Means to Be an American: Bryan expands on Monday's debate about American identity, pushing back on Vivek Ramaswamy's claim that no American is more American than another. Drawing on the Founders, George Washington's farewell address, and the presidency's constitutional requirements, Bryan argues that allegiance, time in the country, cultural assimilation, and freedom from foreign loyalties all matter. He warns that dismissing heritage and lineage risks turning the United States into a fragmented society similar to modern Europe.

Listener Questions and Reflections: The episode closes with unscripted questions on Israel, artificial intelligence and future jobs, personal interests, and Bryan's path from the CIA into broadcasting. He encourages young listeners to pursue skills that require judgment and adaptability, citing careers like the Merchant Marines as one example in an AI-driven future.

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32

Keywords: holiday economy consumer spending GDP growth, Laken Riley Act deportations crime drop, military recruiting surge Pete Hegseth, Judge Hannah Dugan conviction immigration, judicial bias Supreme Court reversals, what is an American Founders Washington farewell, Vivek Ramaswamy citizenship debate, assimilation heritage American identity, AI jobs future Merchant Marines