The Morning Drip for June 24, 2026

On today's edition of The Morning Drip, host GradyD tackled three stories making headlines. First, he discussed the expanding criminal investigation involving former Douglas County teacher Maris Nichols, who faces allegations involving multiple students. The conversation focused on the seriousness of the accusations, the responsibilities that come with positions of trust, and the separate debate over whether teachers should face employment consequences for legal activities conducted in their private lives.

The second segment examined free speech and the growing number of lawsuits stemming from disciplinary actions taken against people who posted comments online following the 2025 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. GradyD highlighted several cases where public employees successfully challenged their terminations or punishments in court, raising broader questions about First Amendment protections, social media outrage campaigns, and the distinction between government employers and private businesses.

The show concluded with a look at how the conflict with Iran is beginning to affect consumers beyond the gas pump. Auto repair shops are reporting motor oil price increases of 8–15%, driven by supply chain disruptions and damage to a key synthetic oil production facility in Qatar. Industry experts warn that higher prices for oil changes and other petroleum-based products could continue for months as global supply chains remain strained.

Listeners were invited to join the conversation by calling or texting 229-520-5957 or by emailing morningdrip@wrto.fm. Miss a live broadcast? Episodes are available as podcasts at The Morning Drip website, where they remain free for seven days before moving into the subscriber archive. The show airs weekday mornings on WRTO.FM, with live broadcasts typically beginning around 7:30 a.m.