In the first half, film producer David Tice discussed the critical vulnerability of the U.S. power grid. Having produced the award-winning documentary "Grid Down, Power Up," he emphasized the urgent need for public awareness and action. Highlighting the fragility of the U.S. power grid, he explained it comprises three independent systems -Western, Eastern, and Texas grids- with about 70,000 substations. He warned that disabling as few as 15 to 20 key substations could cause a nationwide blackout lasting over a year, due to the difficulty of replacing massive transformers mostly manufactured overseas. "If the power grid went out for an extended period of time, as high as 90% of American citizens would die," he stated, citing findings from the EMP Commission.
Tice outlined multiple threats to the grid, including physical attacks, electromagnetic pulses (EMP), cyberattacks, and geomagnetic disturbances (GMD) caused by solar flares. He warned of catastrophic consequences if the grid fails, describing it as "zombie apocalypse without the zombies," with municipal water, wastewater, and fuel systems all dependent on electricity. Addressing political action, he noted that although President Trump issued an executive order in 2019 and influenced subsequent policy, "there was no real follow-through," and leadership has been lacking.
Tice presented a $4 billion solution involving "solid ground neutral blocking devices" that could shield about 6,000 critical transformers from EMP and solar flare damage, potentially preventing billions in overall electronics damage. He criticized some utility companies for underinvesting due to regulatory and financial pressures and called for public activism, urging listeners to become "grid warriors" by contacting legislators and regulators to demand action. In a positive development, he reported on emerging efforts to create microgrids and small modular reactors (SMRs) to protect local communities independently of the larger grid, citing examples in such places as Fort Myers Beach and Key West.
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In the latter half, paranormal researcher and author Lon Strickler shared his extensive investigations into cryptids and unexplained phenomena. His interest in the field was sparked by a close Bigfoot encounter in 1981 near Sykesville, Maryland. He described locking eyes with a very hairy creature about 7.5 to 8 feet tall from a distance of about 40-50 feet. His sighting at the time prompted police involvement and a multi-agency response.
Strickler discussed the Chicago Mothman phenomenon, which gained traction starting in 2011 with sightings of a "winged humanoid" exhibiting "red eyes that projected red light, as opposed to reflecting." He noted the being's elusive or possibly interdimensional nature, with witnesses saying they "saw this thing manifest like it came through an invisible doorway and vice versa, it would just disappear and go back in." More than 180 sightings were documented within a 250-mile radius of Chicago, although live reports have ceased in the last year. The conversation turned to cryptid canines, particularly in Pennsylvania, where "werewolf-like" creatures —referred to locally as "Dewayo" —have been reported since the 19th century. These entities appear both bipedal and quadrupedal, resembling oversized hyenas or muscular beasts, but attacks on humans remain very rare, he said.
He also described a recurring apparition known as the "Glimmer Man," a translucent, wavy figure sometimes observed with yellow eyes and emitting clicking sounds. "People started reporting they were seeing it in trees around their homes... it would move and then suddenly disappear," he noted. Strickler announced he is collaborating with Jersey Shore Entertainment and Revelation Film UK to develop a documentary-style television pilot titled "Phantoms and Monsters," aiming for a 2026 release. The show will explore decades of investigations and audience-submitted cases.
News segment guests: Mish Shedlock, Dr. Randi Shannon