Dr. Phil takes a hard-hitting look at the outrageous and often ludicrous spending of your tax dollars by our government. With national debt exceeding $34 trillion, the government's spending habits seem more reckless than ever, including $2.7 million on cats running on treadmills and $1.8 million on monkeys gambling. These examples are just a few of the questionable expenditures adding up to trillions of dollars, money that comes directly from the pockets of everyday Americans like you—small business owners, government employees, and hardworking citizens. Dr. Phil is joined by Tareka, a small business owner who says she needs money from the government to continue but can't get it, and Venisi, a three-time combat veteran who says that despite his service to the country, he could not secure a loan for his small business. Also weighing in is Dr. Monica Crowley, Ph.D., former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs, who warns against social programs and small business spending as a threat to the nation's future, and Adam Andrzejewsk, a government watchdog who says the government needs to be held accountable for every penny it spends. Additionally, we hear from Ginger, a military spouse forced to rely on food banks during the government shutdown, and Calvin, a long-time government employee burdened by inefficient mandated purchasing practices. Together with audience guests who bring diverse perspectives, they debate a critical problem impacting us all.

We're officially in the presidential election season. The issue of election integrity is deeply contentious with strong arguments on both sides. 

We'll examine why the reliability of our voting system is being questioned. We've heard everything from claims of fraud to calls for reform. We'll dig into how much is fact vs fear, and what's being done to ensure the integrity of our election process. Republican guests will share details of the RNC's massive effort to monitor voting. Guests from the left downplay widespread election/voter fraud. Both sides are preparing for a contested post election, with voter confidence and the fairness of election results at stake. Whether you're on the right, the left, or somewhere in between, the integrity of our elections affects all of us. Join us for the conversation America needs to have—right here, right now.