John Riley Project
Pursue Happiness. John Riley discusses San Diego news stories and interviews politicians, community leaders, athletes, coaches, authors and influencers. Topics including free market economics, entrepreneurism, politics, leadership, current events, sports
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Minneapolis ICE Shooting & Authoritarianism, Trump’s Venezuela Plan, Individualism vs Collectivism
Happy New Year! This Minnesota ICE shooting story has captivated the nation. It’s like a political Rorschach Test… you see what your political mind thinks it sees. Was JD Vance gaslighting the press as he scolded them about their coverage? Meanwhile, Trump has invaded Venezuela and continues making overtures about Greenland. We discuss Trump’s potential plans, as well as the future of the Western Hemisphere. Finally, we breakdown Mohram Zamdani’s comments about the frigidity of individualism versus the warmth of Collectivism. It’s Friday, January 9, 2026. This is what John Riley thinks. Minneapolis ICE Murder Video review (like the NFL) Different interpretations based on political POV JD Vance – don’t believe what your eyes show you, Orwellian Authoritarian I have no problem with illegal immigrants. Trump’s Venezuela Plan Removing Socialist Dictator, replace with another. Gangs enforcing anti-USA policies. More trade, less war is best – Trump does opposite Sphere’s of Influence? Western Hemisphere vs Russia/Euro vs China/Asia New era of global power? Greenland too? What if USA annexed all nations in North and South America? It would be a mess. We all have different views of utopia. Better to create a free trade zone, support rule of law, champion liberty. What’s next? Individualism vs Collectivism Zohran Mamdani quote Definition of Each Slide of examples #americafirst #donaldtrump #immigration #trade #tariffs #bigbeautifulbill #venezuela #nicolasmaduro #freetrade #freetradezone #nyc #zohranmamdani #individualism #collectivism #illegalimmigration #ice #kristinoem #minnesota #minneapolis Thank you to our livestream participants in the Community Forum. Thank you to all that listen and view. Get San Diego news and newsmaker updates, plus proven and easy-to-implement strategies to pursue your happiness. Sign up now. It is FREE! https://johnrileyproject.com/ Be sure to share this video with a friend! Sponsors: Happiness76.com – your source of gear that celebrates Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. https://happiness76.com PowayStore.com – your source for Poway T–shirts, gifts, and other Poway swag. https://powaystore.com/ I also co-host a podcast with legendary sports talk icon, Lee Hacksaw Hamilton. Check out Lee Hacksaw Hamilton’s podcast every Monday and Thursday at 1pm PT on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.youtube.com/@LeeHacksawHamiltonSports/videos ☆☆ STAY CONNECTED ☆☆ SUBSCRIBE for more reactions, upcoming shows and more! ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJJSzeIW2A-AeT7gwonglMA FACEBOOK ➡ https://www.facebook.com/johnrileyproject/ TWITTER ➡ https://twitter.com/JohnRileyPoway INSTAGRAM ➡ https://www.instagram.com/johnrileypoway/ SPONSOR ➡ https://johnrileyproject.com/sponsorship/ DONATE ➡ https://johnrileyproject.com/donations/donation-form/ MUSIC ➡ https://www.purple-planet.com
Trump Accounts vs Social Security, Travel Bans, Tom Steyer CA YIMBY, Grok AI Review, Poway Springett
Are we seeing the beginnings of something that might fix or replace Social Security? Dell Computer founder Michael Dell and his wife Susan are donating $6.25B to fund children under 10 years old to supplement Trump Accounts for newborns. These private accounts will grow faster than Social Security. Trump sees an opportunity to throw gas on the immigration fire by enacting greater travel bans. Costco is fighting back against Trump tariffs. Is Tom Steyer the CA YIMBY hero we need? Bernie Sanders and class warfare. Plus, Elon Musk, Grok AI, and Vanessa Springett in Poway. What a show! It’s Thursday, December 4, 2025. This is what John Riley thinks. Michael Dell giving away $6.25B …. to replace Social Security? Libs still angry about it. They want higher taxes. They want to make him donate instead to low income only, etc. Libs don’t see voluntary charity by billionaires as noble. Goes to show you that they don’t really support altruism as much as they think they do. They just want to tear down their imaginary oppressors. Could this be a replacement for Social Security? Trump Account = $1,000 for every newborn when you open account Dell donating $6.25B gives some children under ten $250 seed money but only in zip codes with median income below $150,000. Others can donate up to $2500 of pretax money to specific child accounts. Managed by US Treasury. US equity index funds Charge no more than 0.1% Assuming a 7% return, the $1,000 seed money becomes approx. $3,570 in 18 years. Magic of compound interest Some states like CA, CT, DC pilot similar programs https://apnews.com/article/trump-accounts-kids-michael-dell-1831095c23ead75b67edc65ead5309fd Travel Bans. Trump revoking citizenship or legal resident status. In response to Afghan shooting National Guardsman Pausing immigration from nineteen restricted nations. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wants to expand this to 30-32 nations. President Trump has recently vowed to “denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any foreign national who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western civilization”, as part of a broader, ongoing immigration crackdown MAGA says they only object to ILLEGAL immigration. You sure? Trump’s choice to revoke citizenship or legal resident status shows this was just a bigoted, racist policy from the start. It’s a clear virtue signal to MAGA base. Too many have lost sight about America’s founding values and history. Tom Steyer CA YIMBY Hero? Candidate for CA Governor. Former Dem Candidate for POTUS. Billionaire. Made billions as hedge fund investor. Now investing in liberal/environmental causes. He gets it. We need to build more. Wants to deregulate new construction. He’s a billionaire Dems like, but we’ll see. Will they vote for him for Gov? Sometimes he tries too hard to virtue signal that he is a commoner. Costco sues Trump over tariffs. Want to be well positioned to get refunds should SCOTUS overrule tariffs. POTUS has no authority. Rightful lawsuit. There is no emergency. Great to see Corporate America fighting back. So many Costco goods, especially non-food items, are imported. Tariffs are a terrible economic policy. Elon Musk Grok AI is Mind Blowing Voice activated while driving. Very conversational. Friendly. Asking questions about podcast. Sharing ideas. Will challenge you. Will brainstorm with you. Can customize tone and voices. Ancestry research was very surprising. Trying to think what I might ask it to help me with Billionaires aren’t the reason you’re broke. So many divisive posts on X trying to get people angry with each other. Many politicians using social media teams putting up questions or screeching about issues to stir the pot. So much is about division Us vs Them, Rich vs Poor, Citizens vs Illegal Immigrants Bernie Sanders example. Zero sum assumption is FALSE. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg make money by offering value to customers. But hey, if you want to end the green tech subsidies for Musk, then go for it. The billionaires aren’t stealing from you. They are trading with you. They help build and expand the economy. Vanessa Springett to replace Tony Blain in Poway? Spoke recently to Poway Democratic Club Candidate for D2 to replace Tony Blain Jared Wilson too? New names? Good to see Vanessa jumping back in the arena. #poway #trump #housing #tonyblain #perjury #bribery #stevevaus #tariffs #vanessaspringett #trumpaccounts #michaeldell #dellcomputer #berniesanders #classwarfare #elonmusk #grok #xai #jeffbezos #markzuckerberg #travelban #costco #tomsteyer #yimby #socialsecurity #maga Thank you to our livestream participants in the Community Forum. Thank you to all that listen and view. Get San Diego news and newsmaker updates, plus proven and easy-to-implement strategies to pursue your happiness. Sign up now. It is FREE! https://johnrileyproject.com/ Be sure to share this video with a friend! Sponsors: Happiness76.com – your source of gear that celebrates Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. https://happiness76.com PowayStore.com – your source for Poway T–shirts, gifts, and other Poway swag. https://powaystore.com/ I also co-host a podcast with legendary sports talk icon, Lee Hacksaw Hamilton. Check out Lee Hacksaw Hamilton’s podcast every Monday and Thursday at 1pm PT on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.youtube.com/@LeeHacksawHamiltonSports/videos ☆☆ STAY CONNECTED ☆☆ SUBSCRIBE for more reactions, upcoming shows and more! ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJJSzeIW2A-AeT7gwonglMA FACEBOOK ➡ https://www.facebook.com/johnrileyproject/ TWITTER ➡ https://twitter.com/JohnRileyPoway INSTAGRAM ➡ https://www.instagram.com/johnrileypoway/ SPONSOR ➡ https://johnrileyproject.com/sponsorship/ DONATE ➡ https://johnrileyproject.com/donations/donation-form/ MUSIC ➡ https://www.purple-planet.com
Why is Everything So Expensive? Poway Tony Blain News. MAGA angry at Ken Burns American Revolution.
Why is everything so expensive? We break down the average family budget and discuss a range of government policies that increase prices unnecessarily on American consumers. Poway councilman Tony Blain has been indicted. Is he back stateside or still on deployment? Who might run against him? Plus, the Ken Burns documentary The American Revolution has evoked rage from MAGA because it doesn’t always portray our Founding Fathers in the best possible light. It’s Wednesday, November 19, 2025. This is what John Riley thinks. What is everything so expensive? Because govt tax and regulation policies distort the market. Overall: Money Printing Housing: NIMBY, Tariffs Food: Tariffs Transportation: Tariffs, Fuel Taxes Why are poor and working class not allowed to use same tools as wealthy? Who will replace Poway Councilman Tony Blain? New update – waiting on his return to Poway? City Council weighing April vs June election. Standalone or with June primary? Next election speculation: Vaus pick, Springett/Wilson, Tony Russo, who? Ken Burns American Revolution documentary angers MAGA. MAGA angry with information about George Washington owning slaves, pushed in face. Project today’s values backwards. Fighting for freedom but not for everyone. Noble ideals but flawed execution. Our founders were heroes but not angels. Our founders lived in contradiction. The times of the day were different. The Revolutionary War was still a huge step in the positive direction for freedom. Civil War is an eye-opening new idea for me. Project 1776 values forward. Seeing themes of that time in context today. Project forward.Reinforcement of Life, Liberty, Pursuit of HappinessPeople demand freedom.People angry about taxes/tariffsPeople thinking in terms of “liberty for me, but not for thee.” Equality of rights #SanDiego #poway #trump #housing #tonyblain #perjury #bribery #stevevaus #tariffs #kenburns #MAGA #georgewashington #americanrevolution #zohranmamdani Thank you to our livestream participants in the Community Forum. Thank you to all that listen and view. Get San Diego news and newsmaker updates, plus proven and easy-to-implement strategies to pursue your happiness. Sign up now. It is FREE! https://johnrileyproject.com/ Be sure to share this video with a friend! Sponsors: Happiness76.com – your source of gear that celebrates Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. https://happiness76.com PowayStore.com – your source for Poway T–shirts, gifts, and other Poway swag. https://powaystore.com/ I also co-host a podcast with legendary sports talk icon, Lee Hacksaw Hamilton. Check out Lee Hacksaw Hamilton’s podcast every Monday and Thursday at 1pm PT on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.youtube.com/@LeeHacksawHamiltonSports/videos ☆☆ STAY CONNECTED ☆☆ SUBSCRIBE for more reactions, upcoming shows and more! ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJJSzeIW2A-AeT7gwonglMA FACEBOOK ➡ https://www.facebook.com/johnrileyproject/ TWITTER ➡ https://twitter.com/JohnRileyPoway INSTAGRAM ➡ https://www.instagram.com/johnrileypoway/ SPONSOR ➡ https://johnrileyproject.com/sponsorship/ DONATE ➡ https://johnrileyproject.com/donations/donation-form/ MUSIC ➡ https://www.purple-planet.com
Trump Bailing Out Argentina?, San Diego Fighting ADUs, Poway Tony Blain Indictment
Is Trump bailing out Argentina? It’s complicated. We break down the positive and negatives of Javier Milei’s Argentina turnaround. San Diego homeowners are upset when ADUs are built towering over their backyard fence. But do people understand why these distortions are happening? Poway Councilman Tony Blain has been indicted for perjury, bribes and much more. Meanwhile, there is a Recall Tony Blain campaign happening right now. Is there a way he can survive this? I share my ballot choices which only include Prop 50. Plus, a lesson in the pursuit of happiness. How do you identify good vs evil? Is there a better way? We broke down the Win-Win Matrix. It’s Thursday, October 30, 2025. This is what John Riley thinks. Trump is Bailing Out Argentina? Many Americans are complaining about the $40B for Argentina while the US government is shut down and SNAP & ACA subsidies will stop. Not a bailout. Argentina running surpluses. Decelerated inflation from 20% per month to 2% per month (Oct 2025) Deregulation – eliminated import licenses, lifted prices controls, removed rent control. Attracted foreign investment. Increased economic activity. Economy and wages growing. Reduced poverty from 52.9% to 40%. Then what is the $40B for? $20B currency swap to shore up confidence in “international investors” after previous regional elections indicated Milei’s side may lose nationally. Currency stabilization, political support/lifeline, geopolitical strategy, economic stabilization. The other $20B is from private sources to help achieve similar objectives. Ultimately a way for Trump to save foreign investors and build geopolitical alliances than a desire to help the people of Argentina. BTW, there is plenty of money available for ACA and SNAP subsidies. The govt spends $7T per year. Just open up the govt. Better solution = work to eliminate poverty, not continue to prop up safety net programs. Embattled San Diego Homeowners Fighting ADUs https://www.facebook.com/reel/1934223690485389 Poway Councilman Tony Blain Indicted. Will He Survive Recall? Embattled Poway Councilmember Tony Blain was charged with four felonies and a misdemeanor Friday, less than two weeks away from his recall election. The District Attorney's Office charged Blaine with perjury, asking for a bribe, soliciting a bribe and destruction of public papers, as well as a misdemeanor for stealing a campaign sign. The charging document says Blain committed perjury on or about Sept. 24, 2024, by allegedly swearing in a complaint to the Fair Political Practices Commission that he was a current Poway Councilmember before being elected. Blain is also accused of one count of asking for a bribe and another of soliciting a bribe. In those charges, the D.A.'s filing says between Dec. 22, 2024, and Jan. 9, 2025, he allegedly agreed to vote for appointing Councilmember Peter De Hoff as deputy mayor in exchange for De Hoff's vote in favor of a special election to fill a council vacancy. The complaint also alleges that between Dec. 7, 2024, and Sept. 18, 2025, Blain knowingly destroyed "communications relating to city business that were subject to discloser under the California Public Records Act" and took steps to "evade compliance with that Act." https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2025/10/24/poway-councilmember-tony-blain-charged-with-four-felonies-ahead-of-recall Deployed overseas? What is legal process? Recall likely? Blain supporters because he is anti-Vaus. LOL My Ballot, Prop 50 Harry Levine, Pomerado News, Just Sayin’ Op-Ed It’s not a vote for or against gerrymandering. WTF? Biblical reference Eye for Eye? Turn other cheek? It’s neither. It’s a matter of standing up for principle in fair elections. Pick a different battle. Lessons in Pursuing Happiness - Win-Win Matrix Common Moral POV: Are you a good person who wants to help his fellow man or a Lying, cheating bastard? Reinforced by centuries of religion. But are those the only two options? If you are not one, does that mean you must be the other? Yaron Brook, Ayn Rand Institute, Podcaster opened my eyes to a different way to see this. Win-Win Matrix. Lots of confusion What is “selfish”? Are there two kinds of selfishness? What is “good”? What is sacrifice? Are there two kinds of sacrifice? What should we strive for? This is a model I hope to use moving forward to discuss a wide variety of different topics in the podcast. #SanDiego #poway #trump #housing #prop50 #gerrymandering #argentina #javiermilei #winwin #motherteresa #adu #grannyflat #tonyblain #perjury #bribery #stevevaus Thank you to our livestream participants in the Community Forum. Thank you to all that listen and view. Get San Diego news and newsmaker updates, plus proven and easy-to-implement strategies to pursue your happiness. Sign up now. It is FREE! https://johnrileyproject.com/ Be sure to share this video with a friend! Sponsors: Happiness76.com – your source of gear that celebrates Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. https://happiness76.com PowayStore.com – your source for Poway T–shirts, gifts, and other Poway swag. https://powaystore.com/ I also co-host a podcast with legendary sports talk icon, Lee Hacksaw Hamilton. Check out Lee Hacksaw Hamilton’s podcast every Monday and Thursday at 1pm PT on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.youtube.com/@LeeHacksawHamiltonSports/videos ☆☆ STAY CONNECTED ☆☆ SUBSCRIBE for more reactions, upcoming shows and more! ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJJSzeIW2A-AeT7gwonglMA FACEBOOK ➡ https://www.facebook.com/johnrileyproject/ TWITTER ➡ https://twitter.com/JohnRileyPoway INSTAGRAM ➡ https://www.instagram.com/johnrileypoway/ SPONSOR ➡ https://johnrileyproject.com/sponsorship/ DONATE ➡ https://johnrileyproject.com/donations/donation-form/ MUSIC ➡ https://www.purple-planet.com
America is an Idea – No Kings, CA Prop 50 Gerrymandering Moral? SB79 Housing, San Diego Tour, Poway
Today we discuss Trump and Gaza, America is an Idea, CA Prop 50 Gerrymandering, CA SB79 and the Housing Crisis, Best Places for a quick San Diego Tour, Rush is touring again!, Poway’s struggle with the City in the County idea, Tony Blain Poway Recall, and much more. Got a question or comment? Drop your take in the live chat on YouTube, X or Facebook to join the Community Forum. It’s Friday, October 17, 2025. This is what John Riley thinks. Trump Gaza Ceasefire It’s a ceasefire and hostage exchange, not peace. Will it hold? I have doubts. Trump sees it as a rebuilding effort, not 1 vs 2 state solution. Trump is a con man. America is an Idea – No Kings Immigration/ICE, Blood and Soil Inalienable Rights Education System Failing Rush is Touring Again! All-time favorites Incredibly happy for Geddy and Alex Anika Gilles Pursue Happiness, don’t sacrifice your interests because of Neil. Neil tribute Rooting for new drummer CA Prop 50 – Gerrymandering Is gerrymandering a good policy? Principles vs Pragmatism Pick Your Battles GOP vs Dem vs Independent CA SB79 – High Density Housing near Mass Transit What is it? Newsom signs it Housing Crisis Implications in San Diego County (San Diego, East County, Poway) Visit San Diego in a Half Day Old Town Petco Park Seaport Village Cabrillo Monument (skipped) Mission Bay Boardwalk, Roller Coaster La Jolla Cove, Children’s Pool Mt Soledad Torrey Pines State Reserve Dinner at Jakes, Del Mar Poway City vs Country Is Poway’s motto The City in the Country dead? Is it a contradiction? Or both? Great article on Substack https://carfreeamerica.substack.com/p/the-rise-of-blandville-the-cost-of Europe understands how to do Urban Cities and Rural Country. In America, many cities combine the two and get disastrous results. Americans want it all. Single family home, big yard, city conveniences, quiet neighborhoods, open space, fast roads, retail stores, jobs, etc. We get Big Box stores with giant parking lots, too much traffic, unwalkable neighborhoods, and a complete obliteration of any semblance of country. We have created Blandville. Blend of urban and rural Soulless, sprawling, overly wide streets, dead downtown, huge setbacks, car-depending, under-utilized parks Not vibrant or charming Stroads Neighborhoods with lots of useless open space Restaurants and coffee shops banned by zoning. Highly walkable banned by zoning Lack of community energy Minimum parking requirements for retail and create big unfilled lots. Height limits (Poway and Coastal Commission) Opposition to density around traffic stops Europe has vibrant, dense downtowns… rural countryside, and small villages with small downtown energy. Results are non-human, no energy, disconnected. Poway’s city motto has been dead for 20+ years. It harkens back to a time in the past. Recommend making Poway Rd a narrow, diagonal parking, downtown feel Poway Street. Redirect traffic to actual Roads (Twin Peaks, Scripps Poway Parkway, Espola, Pomerado, Community?) Recommend allowing mixed use in neighborhoods (multi family, retail, restaurant, coffee) Poway Tony Blain Recall Finally get to vote Does he survive? #SanDiego #poway #trump #sb79 #housing #prop50 #gerrymandering #gaza #inalienablerights #strongtowns #stroads #tonyblain #propertytax Thank you to our livestream participants in the Community Forum. Thank you to all that listen and view. Get San Diego news and newsmaker updates, plus proven and easy-to-implement strategies to pursue your happiness. Sign up now. It is FREE! https://johnrileyproject.com/ Be sure to share this video with a friend! Sponsors: Happiness76.com – your source of gear that celebrates Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. https://happiness76.com PowayStore.com – your source for Poway T–shirts, gifts, and other Poway swag. https://powaystore.com/ I also co-host a podcast with legendary sports talk icon, Lee Hacksaw Hamilton. Check out Lee Hacksaw Hamilton’s podcast every Monday and Thursday at 1pm PT on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.youtube.com/@LeeHacksawHamiltonSports/videos ☆☆ STAY CONNECTED ☆☆ SUBSCRIBE for more reactions, upcoming shows and more! ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJJSzeIW2A-AeT7gwonglMA FACEBOOK ➡ https://www.facebook.com/johnrileyproject/ TWITTER ➡ https://twitter.com/JohnRileyPoway INSTAGRAM ➡ https://www.instagram.com/johnrileypoway/ SPONSOR ➡ https://johnrileyproject.com/sponsorship/ DONATE ➡ https://johnrileyproject.com/donations/donation-form/ MUSIC ➡ https://www.purple-planet.com
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