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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A frontline ally says it needs to win, and we’re told to tell them not to. That tension sits at the heart of our conversation with Michelle Bachmann as we unpack Israel’s campaign in Gaza, the daily grind of terror, and the cost of stopping short under international pressure. We dig into why “no partner for peace” isn’t a slogan but a strategic reality when Hamas rejects statehood in favor of annihilation, and we trace how tunnels, rockets, and influence networks turn ceasefires into cover for rearmament.

From there, we widen the lens to the regional map: Iran’s proxies in Lebanon and Yemen, the role of Syria, and the pressure to accept “peacekeepers” from states that bankroll or host terror leadership. Michelle challenges the reflex to outsource security to Turkey or Qatar and makes a case for a clear doctrine: support Israel with intelligence and weapons, keep American boots off the ground, and stop micromanaging an ally that bears the consequences. We also examine a controversial 20-point plan that, she argues, would carve a terror enclave into Israel’s heartland—bad strategy and bad statecraft.

At home, the debate over borders and assimilation meets national security. We talk sovereignty, visa pauses, and the legal standards that once required immigrants to learn English, contribute, and affirm constitutional principles. Add the propaganda wars—social media campaigns and well-funded narratives—and you get young audiences primed to see Israel as the villain. We counter with evidence from archaeology, a reminder of Israel’s long presence in the land, and a call to anchor policy in first principles that shaped Western democracy, from the Ten Commandments to the rule of law.

We wrap with a simple challenge: regain moral clarity, back allies without hubris, and resist narratives that reward aggression. If this conversation sharpened your thinking, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a quick review so more listeners can join the debate.

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A quiet holiday reset gives way to a hard question: when should America act to stop mass killing abroad? We sit down with Rudy Atala, Deputy Senior Director of Counterterrorism at the National Security Council, to unpack the U.S. strike that rattled ISIS-linked militants and Fulani warlords in Nigeria’s north. Rudy explains how years of targeted violence against Christians escalated, why Nigeria’s government asked for U.S. support, and how a single precision operation using an MQ-9 and guided munitions helped enable Nigerian forces to move in and stabilize key areas.

We break down Nigeria’s complex map: a 50-50 religious split, a contested middle belt where herder militias and jihadist factions collide with farming communities, and a political backdrop that opened the door to armed networks. Rudy paints a blunt picture of the target set—criminal warlords fused with ISIS affiliates—and the likely removal of a notorious kingpin, Bello Turji. He also tackles a bigger debate many listeners share: where does constitutional restraint meet moral clarity? The approach he outlines is simple and specific—support partners who own their fight, strike terrorists who plan to harm Americans and allies, and reinforce deterrence so villages are not left to fend for themselves.

From there we zoom out to a live threat board. Iran’s proxies, Israel’s push to degrade Hezbollah, the hunt for ISIS leadership in Syria, Sudan’s worsening crisis, and the Red Sea’s Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint—an artery for global trade where instability raises costs for the world. Rudy’s message is consistent: protect U.S. interests, keep sea lanes open, and help partners hold ground against groups that thrive in chaos. If you want a clear, unvarnished look at how counterterror decisions are made—and why Nigeria became a line in the sand—this conversation brings uncommon detail without the spin.

If this episode gave you clarity, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review to help others find the show.

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Christmas may be over, but we’re still counting the days with a grin—and counting the wins from a year that felt like a reset. We open with a culture-shifting story out of Washington: a packed, worship-forward Christmas show at the newly rebranded Trump Kennedy Center. Our guest, worship leader and pastor Charles Billingsley, takes us behind the scenes of how a six-week scramble turned into a sold-out celebration complete with a live nativity and a first-ever tree lighting. The most surprising moment? A request from organizers to add more worship and ensure the gospel was clearly shared on a major DC stage.

From there, we zoom out to the systems that shape culture: courts and policy. We break down an appeals court ruling that allows defunding Planned Parenthood under a key administration initiative, and we wrestle honestly with durability. Executive action can open doors, but lasting change requires law. That’s why we argue the next phase must be legislative—turning headline wins into structures that endure through future administrations.

We also look at America’s posture abroad. A decisive U.S. strike on ISIS in Syria sends a loud signal on deterrence and the defense of American lives. Then we examine a less visible battlefield: AI and ethics in modern warfare. A three-star general’s comments about America’s Judeo-Christian moral framework limiting certain uses of AI might sound like a constraint, but we make the case that values are a strategic advantage. Boundaries bolster legitimacy, alliance trust, and long-term strength—proof that principle and power can pull in the same direction.

If you’re hungry for a dose of hope grounded in real policy, real culture, and real deterrence, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review telling us which moment gave you the most hope. Your voice helps keep the momentum going.

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A secret bag of gold. A midnight window. A bankrupt father praying his daughters won’t be sold. We trace the astonishing true story of Nicholas of Myra and watch how a third-century bishop became the world’s most recognizable giver. This isn’t a North Pole fairy tale; it’s a tour through persecution, courage, theology and tradition that formed the bedrock of Christmas as we know it.

We start with the real Nicholas—born around 280 AD in Asia Minor—who gave in secret, defended the vulnerable and faced prison under Rome. From the Chi-Rho on Constantine’s shields to the Council of Nicaea challenging Arianism, we unpack why “Xmas” points to Christ, not away from Him, and how a slap heard through history signaled the stakes of orthodoxy. Then the story moves: relics to Bari, Urban II calling the First Crusade, St. Francis restoring focus with the nativity, and Martin Luther shifting gifts to December 25 while pointing to the Christchild—Kris Kringle’s true origin.

Across centuries, folklore and faith braided into culture. Boniface felled Thor’s oak and lifted the evergreen; Luther lit the tree like Bethlehem’s sky. England partied like Saturnalia, Puritans pushed back, and Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam welcomed Sinterklaas on a white horse. American imagination took over as Washington Irving suited him in knickerbockers, Clement Moore sent him down the chimney, Thomas Nast placed him at the North Pole, and Coca-Cola gave him a warm, red coat for the modern world. Yet when you peel back the layers, you find a pastor who loved Jesus, protected children, confronted corruption and gave without seeking credit.

If you want Christmas to mean more this year, follow the thread back to Nicholas. Let generosity be quiet and real. Let truth be clear and kind. Let joy be rooted, not rushed. Subscribe, share this story with a friend who loves Christmas lore, and leave a review with the one tradition you’ll keep—and the one you’ll change—after hearing the real Santa’s tale.

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A few notes of Christmas music set the scene, but the heart of this conversation is bigger than a holiday playlist. We look back on a year where gratitude turned into action: policy wins that reopened space for faith in schools, new training programs that doubled in size, and unexpected doors at the highest levels that accelerated long-laid plans. The throughline is simple and bold—He came—and because He came, we work with hope, grit, and a sense of timing that refuses to waste frustration.

We talk candidly about city delays, stalled buildings, and the feeling that everything rattles right before the sonic boom. Then we map the pivot: more students enrolling for year-long formation, multi-generational buy-in, and an energized network preparing for America’s 250th. From committee rooms to classrooms, we’ve watched history and civic education serve as levers for real change. The Ten Commandments returning to school walls in Texas isn’t a nostalgic gesture; it’s a signal that moral clarity and personal responsibility still matter in public life.

There’s also a sober warning and a clear invitation. When momentum grows, opposition organizes. We draw on Nehemiah’s example to challenge listeners to pick up both the trowel and the sword—serve faithfully, stand watch, and help rebuild the walls that protect our shared future. Whether you’re a student, a parent, a retiree, or a leader in the thick of it, this is the moment to move from spectator to builder. Celebrate Christmas with joy, then carry that joy into your school board, your city council, your church, and your neighborhood.

If this conversation sparks you, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review with one action you’ll take before the year ends. Let’s build together.

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