The Joe Mangiacotti Show on WCRN 830 AM at 1:00 PM
Welcome to The Joe Mangiacotti Show on WCRN 830 AM, broadcasting live today, August 18, 2025, at 1:00 PM.
We’ve got a packed lineup diving into the hottest stories shaking up Massachusetts and the nation, all through a conservative lens focused on law, order, and common sense. Here’s what we’re breaking down:
1. Trump’s Sanctuary City Crackdown Hits Boston: The Trump administration, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, has given Boston a 30-day ultimatum to ditch its sanctuary city policies or face lawsuits and federal funding cuts. Boston’s refusal to cooperate with ICE, shielding illegal immigrants—including criminals—from deportation, is putting citizens at risk. Mayor Michelle Wu’s defiance is a slap in the face to law-abiding residents, especially after a weekend of violence in Dorchester, Mass Ave, and downtown. We’ll dig into why protecting illegal aliens over taxpayers is a betrayal of Bostonians and how this could spark a federal-state showdown. Should Wu even be mayor if she can’t prioritize safety?
2. Florida Turnpike Tragedy Fuels Immigration Debate: A horrific crash on August 12, 2025, on Florida’s Turnpike killed three Americans when Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant with a California commercial driver’s license, made an illegal U-turn in a tractor-trailer. Singh, who crossed the border in 2018 and dodged deportation with an asylum claim, now faces vehicular homicide charges and an ICE detainer. This tragedy exposes the dangers of lax immigration enforcement and states issuing licenses to illegals. We’ll discuss how this preventable loss screams for tighter borders and why Massachusetts must avoid similar failures.
3. New York’s Pardon Scandal: New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s secret pardon of Somchith Vatthanavong, a 52-year-old illegal immigrant convicted of manslaughter, has drawn fire from DHS. Vatthanavong, who killed a man in 1990 and served six years, was pardoned to block deportation, one of 13 such moves by Hochul. DHS calls it “protecting a killer,” and we agree—rewarding criminal aliens undermines justice. We’ll explore how this mirrors Massachusetts’ sanctuary mindset and why it’s time to put Americans first.
4. MSNBC’s Rebrand to MS Now: MSNBC is dropping its name and the iconic NBC peacock logo, becoming “My Source News Opinion World” (MS Now) as part of its spinoff from Comcast into Versant. With 100 new hires and a new D.C. bureau, the network claims it’s staying true to its progressive roots. But conservatives see this as a desperate rebrand for a failing cable news model, mocked on X as “more spin.” We’ll debate whether this move can save MSNBC’s dwindling relevance or if it’s just rearranging deck chairs on a sinking ship.
5. Trump’s Ukraine Summit at the White House: Today, President Trump hosts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders like Macron, Merz, and Starmer to push for peace in Ukraine’s war with Russia. Fresh off an Alaska summit with Putin, Trump’s demanding Europe step up with security guarantees and funding, refusing to let U.S. taxpayers foot the bill. While some praise his “peace through strength,” others worry he’s pressuring Ukraine into concessions like abandoning Crimea.
We’ll ask if this bold diplomacy can end the war or risks weakening allies.
Join us as we unpack these stories with callers, digging into why law and order, secure borders, and American priorities must prevail.
Tune in at 1:00 PM on WCRN 830 AM—let’s get to the truth.
By Joe Mangiacotti
The Joe Mangiacotti Show airs in the Boston Radio Market on powerhouse station WCRN 830 AM - 50,000 Watt. And we Live stream on TuneIn app and other Social Media platforms. Joe is a veteran Broadcaster, started as the News Director and Morning News Host at WJCC 1170 AM in 1986. Joe has held almost every position in radio from Air Personality to VP/GM. Joe's passion is Talk Radio. Joe has a rich history in Financial/Mortgage/RE and Business Talk. But Common Sense Talk for the Common Sense Citizen is truly his calling and where he feels most at home.