A governor’s Christmas proclamation that actually says what Christmas is about. A president joking with kids about cookies while thanking service members. Federal agencies quietly restoring room for faith at work and school. The start of 2026 comes packed with moments that reveal where conviction and culture meet—and why it matters.

We open with Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ proclamation naming Jesus and closing state offices so families can celebrate together, followed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s objection and a forceful reply that re-centers Christmas on Christ. From there, we jump to the NORAD Santa Tracker’s quirky origin and a holiday call-in where the president mixes humor, nostalgia, and a clear salute to the military, including an end-of-year bonus that put help into real households.

The conversation deepens as we explore the USDA’s move to protect religious expression—touching school lunch policies and even meatpacking plant break rooms—reminding listeners that rights don’t stop at the factory floor. We widen the lens to Nigeria, where U.S. strikes targeted ISIS-linked terrorists amid persistent attacks on Christians and dissenting Muslims. The question is sobering: when should power be used to restrain evil, and what does moral clarity look like on the world stage?

We also unpack a rare bipartisan push: 42 attorneys general pressing AI companies to curb misleading, “tell-me-what-I-want-to-hear” outputs for kids, signaling a cultural return to verifiable truth over algorithmic flattery. Finally, we turn to the Smithsonian, where the White House is demanding documentation and accountability for historical narratives as America approaches its 250th anniversary. Artifacts deserve honest framing, and audiences deserve transparent standards.

If you care about faith in public life, religious liberty, truthful storytelling, national security, and the health of our information ecosystem, this conversation connects the dots. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves history and policy, and leave a review telling us which moment gave you the most hope.

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New year, new habit: let’s make this the year we actually learn how freedom works. We kick things off by swapping stale timelines for stories that stick—showing why kids (and adults) fall in love with history when they meet real people first and fit the dates around character and consequence. From Abigail Adams to George Washington Carver, narrative turns rote facts into insight, and it gives families a simple, joyful way to teach virtue, context, and courage.

We also tackle a thorny headline phrase: “threat to our democracy.” The founders didn’t build a pure democracy; they designed a constitutional republic to restrain passions with law. We walk through the seven articles every citizen should know—legislative, executive, judicial, state relations and a republican form of government, amendments, supremacy, and ratification—and explain why Article IV’s guarantee matters for rule of law, due process, and the everyday rights you rely on. Clear language leads to clear thinking, and clear thinking protects liberty when slogans start to blur the lines.

If travel isn’t in the budget, you can still bring history to life. We share practical tools: biography‑driven reading lists, reality‑style history videos, and virtual tours that place your family in Yorktown and Vicksburg without leaving home. We add a friendly warning about modern spin at some sites and show how to cross‑check with primary sources so your kids learn to love truth, not just tales. By the end, you’ll have a step‑by‑step plan to build a weekly story seminar at home, map current events to the Constitution, and turn curiosity into civic confidence.

Ready to start? Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who teaches kids, and leave a review telling us which founder’s story you’ll read first. Your feedback helps more families find practical, principled civics they can use all year.

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Giants don’t only live on battlefields. They show up in our homes, our timelines, and our headlines—and that’s why this new animated musical about David is landing like a thunderclap for families. We sit down with Brian Stivale, the voice of Samuel, to explore how a film can be both wildly entertaining and spiritually grounding without pretending to be a verse-by-verse commentary.

We share why the orchestration soars, the animation feels “classic,” and the storytelling bridges 1 and 2 Samuel with heart and clarity for kids and adults alike. Brian opens up about his calling as an ordained pastor, his ties to Israel, and the creative team’s vision to craft a love letter to the land, the people, and the biblical narrative itself. We address the loudest critiques head-on—what the film chooses to symbolize, what it compresses, and why those decisions matter when your first goal is to inspire children to open the Bible. From Saul’s complexity to Jonathan’s noble heart to David’s steady courage, we talk character, craft, and the moments that made our kids sing the soundtrack on repeat.

This conversation also touches the cultural moment. The story’s arc to Ziklag and its anthem of “I will not be afraid” resonates against a backdrop of fear and fragmentation, offering a timely reminder that scattered people can still find strength together. With box office momentum and word-of-mouth heat, “David” signals a hunger for quality, family-friendly films that respect the audience and lift the spirit. If you’ve been waiting for a project with the ambition of “Prince of Egypt” and the accessibility of modern animation, this is your cue.

Stream now, then tell us your take: Which character landed most for you, and what conversation did it spark at home? If this episode helps, follow, share with a friend who needs hope, and leave a quick review so more families can find us.

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