The Weekly Reload Podcast

We are about one week into President Donald Trump's new term. So, we've got Kevin Williamson from The Dispatch back on the show to go over what happened. Or, perhaps more accurately, what didn't happen. Williamson said Trump's first week was relatively light on gun action, especially compared to other issues. He said that may not tell us where Trump, who he described as transactional on most issues, on gun policy. But it did give insight into how his administration prioritizes gun rights initiatives. Williamson also gave an overview of his new series on the ATF. He described the agency's origins, overarching purpose, and ways it could be reformed or improved. He argued that the most substantive changes would require congressional action, but he said Trump could make improvements if he chooses the right director. Get a 30-day free trial for a subscription to The Dispatch here: https://thedispatch.com/join-offer-reload/?utm_source=thereload&utm_medium=partnerships-podcast&utm_campaign=0125Special Guest: Kevin Williamson.

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I recap the Trump administration's first week back in power, including how gun policy was left out of his flurry of new executive actions. We also cover his pardoning of the January 6 rioters, many of whom will once again have access to firearms despite being convicted of violent offenses. Finally, we break down a few new developments at the ATF and provide a brief update on the latest news out of the Supreme Court in its consideration of an "assault weapons" ban case. Get a 30-day free trial for a subscription to The Dispatch here: https://thedispatch.com/join-offer-reload/?utm_source=thereload&utm_medium=partnerships-podcast&utm_campaign=0125

This week, we're looking ahead at what Republicans want to do on gun policy headed into their new trifecta. To do that, we have the man who has been at the center of their legislative efforts for years now. Representative Richard Hudson from North Carolina's Ninth District joins the show. He has sponsored most of the top-priority gun bills in recent years and just introduced a new version of national gun-carry reciprocity this year. Rep. Hudson answers a series of questions on the details of the new bill and why he and his GOP colleagues decided to incorporate them. He also explains how he thinks it could get to President Donald Trump's desk, even though he admits that's a tall task. Then, he discusses other changes beyond the top-ticket items he and his colleagues plan to pursue. Hudson also said he would not back new gun restrictions regardless of who pressures him, including the biggest players in his own party.Special Guest: Richard Hudson.

Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman and I recap the first confirmation hearing for Donald Trump's Attorney General nominee, Pam Bondi. We talk about why it could spell trouble for the political influence of gun-rights advocates. We also cover the Supreme Court's latest rejection of multiple Second Amendment appeals and where things stand with a closely-watched pending 'assault weapon' ban case. Finally, we wrap up with discussions around the Third Circuit's re-vindication of the carry rights of young adults in Pennsylvania, a guest post on the questionable state of firearms forensics, and a collection of key gun stories from outside The Reload.

The National Rifle Association appears to be at the end of a six-year ordeal. Last month, the final order in its New York civil corruption case was handed down, and the outside law firm responsible for handling it has left. To talk about the latest developments, we have NRA board member Rocky Marshall on the show this week. He joined us from the group's latest board meeting in Texas and said the group is focused on the future. Marshall, who has been a staunch critic of former leader Wayne LaPierre and the Brewer law firm, said the board is now united in its focus. He broke the news that LaPierre has now paid back the millions of dollars the New York jury said he owed the NRA. He also said the group's new leadership, including CEO Doug Hamlin and top lobbyist John Commerford, is secure in their positions. Marshall outlined his view of what the NRA needs to do in the coming months and years to regain the trust of the millions of members who've fled the group over the corruption. And he announced a new, much larger campaign for the reformer block in this year's NRA election.Special Guest: Rocky Marshall.

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I cover what the latest NICS data show about how much gun sales dropped in 2024. We also discuss another federal appeals court delivering an unchanged verdict on a case remanded by the Supreme Court, this time dealing with the gun rights of a non-violent marijuana user. Plus, we cover House Republicans re-introducing national concealed carry reciprocity in Congress, a new semi-automatic firearm ban proposal in Colorado, and how the major gun-control groups say they're feeling as the new administration gets set to take office.

This week, we're talking to the director of a promising new program designed to prevent acts of mass violence. Jordan Estrada is the founder and director of Let's Talk to Them. His group takes the latest research on mass shooters, much of which we've talked about on the show before, and tries to put its lessons into practice. The innovative project, which just received its IRS non-profit status, attempts to find people who are considering committing a mass shooting or other act of violence and pull them out of their downward spiral. Estrada said he and his team consulted with numerous experts before launching their program. They concluded most mass shooters are not predetermined to commit violence. Instead, they are more like people who are experiencing suicidal ideation and can be dissuaded from going through with their attacks. He pointed to a passage in the Buffalo shooter's writings that indicated he had doubts about carrying out his killing spree but was egged on by visiting 4chan. Estrada said Let's Talk to Them has built a program designed to do the opposite. He said the goal is to talk them down off the ledge, saving their lives and the lives of potential victims.Special Guest: Jordan Estrada.

This week, a Wisconsin school shooting provided a potential warning about what might come from the murder of UnitedHealthcare's CEO. That's not because the two shootings are directly connected but rather because the Wisconsin attack was influenced by the Columbine attack. And the CEO killing has many of the same hallmarks that could lead to it influencing future attacks as well. To examine how likely that is, we have former FBI agent and active shooter research pioneer Katherine Schweit back on the show. Schweit was part of the team that began tracking active shooter events in the wake of the Sandy Hook attack. She helped create the framework for responding to them for both law enforcement and civilians. She agreed there is reason to think the CEO killing could have a similar effect to that of Columbine. She said it's hard to know what might happen with future assassination attempts, but the messaging and viral nature of the CEO killing make copycats more likely. But she said she has seen progress in combatting active shooter incidents, with the number falling the past two years. And the same tactics could be used to reduce copycats as well.Special Guest: Katherine Schweit.

Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman and I talk about a new ruling out of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld the lifetime felony gun ban against a defendant based on his history of violent misdemeanor convictions. We also cover new survey data from Donald Trump's top pollster indicating strong support for pro-gun judges and policies. We discuss what influence that might have on the incoming administration's policy priorities. Finally, we wrap up with a round up of gun stories from across the country, including new details about the expected shake up amongst ATF leadership under Donald Trump.

This week, we're discussing one of the highest-profile assassinations we've seen in a long time. One where the killer used a 3D-printed firearm, and video of the attack has been viewed countless times across the country. To figure out what effect all of that might have on the homebuilt gun community, we've got Rob Pincus back on the show. He's a part-owner of a licensed firearms company but also the organizer of the Gun Maker's Match. He explained what it was like to have a foot in both worlds and explained the evolution of home gun making from the 1990s through today. He said the tech had advanced a great deal over time, but most home builds still require factory-made parts, and he hopes to get the industry more involved in that side of the gun business. However, he admitted this month's high-profile killing is likely to set those efforts back. Pincus argued the attention is probably going to bring even more scrutiny to 3D-printing guns. That's likely to amplify the fight over homebuilt firearms. Still, Pincus said he doubts it'll lead to new restrictions at the federal, or even the state, level.Special Guest: Rob Pincus.