1071. Andy & DJ CTI: WNBA National Anthem Controversy, NYC Moves to Restrict NYPD & $42M Food Stamp Fraud Exposed
Episode of REAL AF with Andy Frisella · October 23, 2026 · 1 h 26 min
Andy Frisella and DJ discuss WNBA and LeBron James anthem controversies, a New York City bill limiting NYPD protest policing, SNAP fraud, and a Torchy's Tacos lawsuit.
Summary
In this "Cruise the Internet" episode, Andy Frisella and DJ opened with banter about hibernating bears and St. Louis City SC's U.S. Open Cup win, then debated which sport is hardest. Frisella argued that hitting a baseball is the hardest feat in sports and that wrestling was the most demanding sport he played, and described the physical toll of race car driving.
The hosts then turned to WNBA players from the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries leaving the court during the national anthem in the Finals. Frisella argued the walkouts were bad business that would alienate fans, credited Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark for the league's popularity, and said players should face team consequences, though he opposed making anthem observance a legal requirement. They also discussed Royce White being turned away from a Finals game over a shirt, and LeBron James's conduct during the anthem, with Frisella arguing James's divisiveness costs him respect relative to Michael Jordan and endorsing Donald Trump's demand for an apology.
DJ presented a proposed New York City Council bill barring the NYPD's Strategic Response Group from policing protests, which he framed as preparation for unrest; Frisella relayed an online theory that coordinated nationwide protests around the midterms aimed to provoke martial law. The hosts discussed the arrest of an Atlanta rapper in an alleged SNAP fraud scheme tied to a $42 million federal crackdown, with Frisella arguing SNAP should be a temporary bridge and DJ suggesting MREs instead, and the indictment of Virginia State Senator L. Louise Lucas. Frisella speculated that Epstein files are withheld to protect Israel. The episode closed with a lawsuit over a cow tooth found in a Torchy's Tacos meal, which Frisella said the company handled correctly.
Chapters
- 0:03
Show intro and opening banter
Frisella introduces the CTI format and the hosts joke about bears' hibernation plugs and a Walmart AI spill-detection system.
- 6:32
St. Louis City SC and soccer
DJ celebrates St. Louis City SC's U.S. Open Cup win and Frisella praises indoor soccer for developing young athletes.
- 8:35
What is the hardest sport?
The hosts debate athleticism across baseball, wrestling, racing, golf and tennis, and share stories about Roger Clemens, Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson.
- 20:56
WNBA national anthem walkouts
The hosts criticize Finals players for skipping the anthem, discuss league rules, and debate team consequences versus legal mandates.
- 33:36
Royce White ejected over shirt
DJ describes Royce White being turned away from a WNBA Finals game over a shirt and the hosts discuss transgender issues.
- 39:52
LeBron James and the anthem
Frisella criticizes LeBron James's anthem conduct and fan argument, compares him to Michael Jordan, and reacts to Trump's demand for an apology.
- 47:52
NYC bill restricting the NYPD Strategic Response Group
DJ presents the council bill and the hosts discuss protest policing, an alleged midterm color revolution plan, and paid protesters.
- 59:33
Rapper arrested in SNAP fraud crackdown
The hosts discuss the $42 million food stamp fraud investigation and debate how SNAP should be reformed.
Linked moment · 1:08:23Skip to 1:08:23 using a listen link in the info box.
1:08:23Indictment of Virginia Senator Louise Lucas
DJ covers the marijuana enterprise indictment and the hosts discuss selective enforcement and a new fraud whistleblower fund.
- 1:14:57
Epstein files and Ukraine
Frisella speculates Trump withholds the Epstein files to protect Israel, and the hosts briefly discuss a reported Ukrainian concession.
- 1:17:37
Torchy's Tacos cow tooth lawsuit
The final segment covers a lawsuit over a cow tooth in a taco, Torchy's menu, and a plug for a St. Louis restaurant.
Key points
What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.
- Andy Frisella
Frisella argues the U.S. would dominate soccer if its athletes from other sports played it as in most countries.
“all played soccer like they do in most countries, we'd beat the fuck out of everybody”
- Andy Frisella
Frisella says wrestling was the hardest sport he ever played, mentally and physically.
“I think the hardest sport that I ever played in my life was wrestling wrestling is the hardest fucking sport mentally and physically”
- Andy Frisella
Frisella argues that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports.
“I do think the hardest thing in sports for sure is to hit a fucking baseball”
- Andy Frisella
Frisella argues that WNBA players skipping the anthem are damaging their own income with unwanted political statements.
“So how stupid of a motherfucker do you have to be to ruin your own income, to make some sort of political statement that nobody wants to see”
- Andy Frisella
Frisella contends the WNBA will decline again once Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham leave the league.
“the minute that Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham go out of the fucking league, the league's going to go right back to the same shit”
- Andy Frisella
Frisella argues the 49ers should have cut Colin Kaepernick immediately, which he believes would have prevented later athlete protests.
“this whole shit with Kaepernick back in the day when he kneeled, he should have been cut that day”
Listen from 27:13 · Colin Kaepernick national anthem protests
- Andy Frisella
Frisella says that although he dislikes anthem protests, making observance a legal requirement would be authoritarian.
“However, when you cross the line into making it a law, now you're talking about some North Korea shit”
- Andy Frisella
Frisella argues LeBron James would be revered as a sports legend if he stood for unity rather than divisive positions.
“Do you know how much fanfare and respect LeBron James would have if he just stood for unity and America?”
Listen from 41:03 · LeBron James national anthem controversy
- DJ
DJ argues the New York City bill limiting the Strategic Response Group is preparation that will leave police unable to respond to future riots.
“I see this as they are preparing... to where when those migrant riots come, that law enforcement, emergency responders are gonna be behind the ball”
- Andy Frisella
Frisella relays a theory from the Twitter account Data Republican that an organized color revolution is planned around the midterms.
“basically, the idea is there's an organized color revolution that they're planning on launching”
- DJ
DJ says he once favored abolishing SNAP but now accepts that some people genuinely need it, while fraud abusers resist oversight.
“if you were to ask me two years ago, I would say, get rid of snap, you know, like just get rid of it”
Listen from 1:02:39 · Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Andy Frisella
Frisella argues SNAP should function as a temporary bridge for people who fall on hard times rather than a lifestyle.
“Snap was developed to create a bridge when people fall on hard times”
Listen from 1:03:54 · Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- DJ
DJ proposes replacing SNAP food assistance with monthly shipments of military MREs.
“you need food assistance, we'll send you a case of MREs once a month”
Listen from 1:05:17 · Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Andy Frisella
Frisella claims welfare dependency is deliberately cultivated to secure votes.
“these same people are intentionally incentivized to stay dependent on the government so that they will vote for the free shit”
Listen from 1:06:16 · Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Andy Frisella
Frisella argues that laws lose meaning when selectively enforced and must apply equally.
“if the law is to mean anything, then it has to be equally applied across the spectrum”
- Andy Frisella
Frisella predicts the new fraud whistleblower fund will produce only a couple of cases before fading away.
“There will be one or two cases and then it will go away”
- Andy Frisella
Frisella speculates that Trump withholds the Epstein files to protect Israel rather than personal friends.
“I think he knows that if those files come out, Israel will cease to exist”
- Andy Frisella
Frisella says Torchy's Tacos handled the cow tooth incident correctly by owning the mistake.
“I don't think you can hate on the brand for this, bro. Shit happened. They fucking owned it”
People
In the conversation
- Andy FrisellaShow intro voiceover by host Andy Frisella
- DJCo-host of the CTI segments on REAL AF, presents the headlines
Discussed
- LeBron JamesLos Angeles Lakers forward cited as a longevity outlier
- Donald TrumpPresident of the United States whose conduct of the Iran war is the episode's main subject
- Sophie CunninghamWNBA player praised by the hosts
- Caitlin ClarkWNBA player
- Colin KaepernickNFL quarterback who knelt during the anthem in 2016
- Royce WhiteFormer NBA player turned away from a WNBA Finals game over a shirt
- Zohran MamdaniNew York Democratic politician described by Pape as a left-wing parallel to Trump's rapid rise
- L. Louise LucasVirginia state senator indicted on racketeering and marijuana-related charges
- Michael JordanBasketball player used by Hudson in an example about condescending encouragement
- Roger ClemensFormer New York Yankees pitcher referenced in a listener's story
- Nolan RyanHall of Fame pitcher Smoltz used as an example of a velocity outlier
- Randy JohnsonRetired MLB pitcher nicknamed the Big Unit
- Volodymyr ZelenskyPresident of Ukraine
- Vladimir PutinPresident of Russia
Topics
- WNBA national anthem walkouts
- LeBron James national anthem controversy
- NYPD Strategic Response Group
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Government fraud and waste
- Indictment of L. Louise Lucas
- Torchy's Tacos cow tooth lawsuit
- Athleticism across sports
- Royce White WNBA Finals ejection
- Transgender athletes in women's sports
- Colin Kaepernick national anthem protests
- Jeffrey Epstein
- St. Louis City SC
- Russian invasion of Ukraine
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From the publisher
On today's episode, Andy and DJ discuss the growing backlash after WNBA players skip the national anthem, sparking a nationwide debate over patriotism and respect for the flag, New York City Council moving to restrict the NYPD's Strategic Response Group from policing protests, raising concerns over public safety and law enforcement, and a rapper known for setting cash on fire is caught up in a massive fraud investigation as a task force linked to Vice President JD Vance uncovers an alleged $42 million food stamp theft scheme.
Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on October 26, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.