Transcript

Jenna Ellis: Rights that our founders recognize come from God our creator

 : Jenna Ellis in the Morning on American Family Radio.

 : I love talking about the things of God because of truth and the biblical worldview. The U.S. constitution obligates our government to preserve and protect. The rights that our founders recognize come from God our creator, not our government. I believe that scripture in the Bible is very clear that God is the one that raised up, each of you, and God has allowed us to be brought here to this specific moment in time.

 : This is Jenna Ellis in the Morning.

Ryan Helfenvine guest hosts Jenna Ellis in the Morning

Ryan Helenbein: Welcome to Jenna Ellis in the Morning. This is Ryan Helfenvine. I'm guest hosting today. I'm vice president of communications and Public engagement at Liberty University and of course the founding executive director of the Standing for Freedom center, also at Liberty University. And it's my privilege to host this morning. I am reminded, this morning of a passage right out of Galatians. Galatians is such a critical, book in the Bible. It's a book that shaped Europe. It's a book that has shaped the church for over the past 500 years. And certainly it's a book that, without which we would not have the United States of America. We're a Protestant nation. This is where so many of our liberties come from. And we recognize that ultimately were saved by grace through faith in none other than Jesus Christ and Christ alone. In Galatians, chapter one, beginning in verse six, Paul is admonishing the Galatian church, saying, I am amazed at how quickly you are deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel, which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. And he says in verse eight, but even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preach to you, let him be under a curse, as we have said before. So now I say again, if anyone is preaching to you a, ah, gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse. We live in an age where there are many false gospels in the world. There are many antichrists in the world, those that are pointing to other things, other kinds of revelations. Some of the oldest stuff coming all the way back from the fifth and sixth century is, is now cropping up all over the United States and that is the rise of Islam. And we need to talk about that in the first segment this morning.

Texas primary, uh, is next Tuesday; Proposition 10 is on the ballot

Texas primary, is next Tuesday. And, There is Proposition 10. It is going to be on the ballot. Many who are voting, are going to consider this proposition, and, we need to discuss it in this, segment I've invited on as guest host of the Economic War Room and Pirate Money Radio. He is also a fellow Texan, and that is Kevan Freeman. Kevan, welcome this morning. Good to, good to have you on Jenna Ellis in the morning.

Kevin Freeman: good morning, Ryan. Good to be with you.

Texans in particular need to recognize threat that Sharia law poses to US Constitution

Ryan Helenbein: Well, I, I, I'm, I'm very concerned, and I think many of the listeners are about the rise of Islam in the United States. And, and one of the things that I think probably many people didn't know, I certainly didn't know this until just maybe a few short weeks ago, is how big, how large of a footprint Sharia has in the state of Texas. And I wanted to, to talk about this and invite you on, just to go over these, some of these numbers and why it's so critical that, Texans in particular recognize the threat that Sharia law poses to the Constitution of the United States.

Kevin Freeman: Absolutely. There are some 300 mosques across Texas. They're popping up, regularly. You don't notice them, until there's some demonstration like there has been recently in Irving where a large group of Muslim, people come out and they demonstrate. It's not yet to the point that we see in NewSong York City, where they took over Times Square or Dearborn, Michigan, but we're seeing a number of locations and we're hearing reports that are very troubling, reports of, Sharia law being implemented. they're silenced in a lot of cases, but reports of child marriages, reports of a lot of things that are contrary to our laws and certainly contrary to biblical truth. And we see them happening, you know, with increasing numbers of people. And then you'll see interviews. I was looking this morning and on my X, account and saw interviews with people who say, I don't support America. I support. And they would list their home country, Somalia or whatever home country. If you were called to fight for America, would you do it? Absolutely not. These are not people who've assimilated into the American culture. They're certainly not adopted Christianity. and it is troubling.

Ryan Helenbein: Yes, I want to. So Jenna is not here this morning to speak on this issue, but I'll just say this, and I know Jenna, her heart behind her support of the, obviously the Constitution, the First Amendment. We're talking about religious liberty. We need to recognize that there are limits to that. And when I say limits, I don't mean, that there are limits to American freedom, to, to, to freely exercise your faith. publicly. But I'm. What I'm talking about is limits within worldview and ideology. That some are simply worldview, some ideology, some religions are wholly incompatible with the Constitution because to practice some particular religions fully and completely would mean to take away rights of citizens. Let me give you an example. This is something that Andrew Carey, William, Carey, excuse me, this was a British missionary. He went to India back in the 1700s. He came to India. He, he wanted to bring the gospel there. One of the first things that he recognized was the practice of sati. And sati was the burning of widows in a ritual, by fire. widows were considered property, in the Hindu religion. William Carey dared to impose British religion and British common law upon, the Hindu people in India. Ah, he, he. And. And they basically outlawed the practice of sati, which basically said, you can't do this. I don't care if it's a part of your religion or your faith. You cannot, conduct human sacrifice. We stand in that long tradition. Our Bill of Rights in the United States also come, from England in 1688. The Glorious Revolution, you know, 1776, picks up right off on that. in the United States, Sharia law is incompatible with the Constitution. And I want to be very, very clear. This is not a religious liberty question. This is about the constitutionality of practicing a religion that is not compatible with the American system at all.

Kevin Freeman: Yeah, I want to add to that. Sharia is not a religion. Sharia is a code of conduct. It's a set of laws. They run contrary to the United States Constitution and the practical laws. For example, under Sharia, you can sell your daughter to another family. She could be 6, 8, 9 years old, purchased by another family, and then become a bride. Well, we don't believe in that here in America. And that's not something we condone. That's not a religious thought. That is literally, a legal code. Under Sharia, if your neighbor leaves Islam and he was Muslim, then you have the right to kill them wherever they stand. Well, that's contrary to what we believe. We believe.

Kevin Freeman: In fact, it's contrary to the global belief. The United nations allows, has, has code on whether or not it's acceptable to leave a religion. And if a Christian wants to leave, what it says in the Bible is, you know, you let them depart. The, point is that we believe in freedom of conscience and individual liberties. And Sharia is not built on the concept of individual liberties. It's built on the ideology of conquest. And so, yes, it's not a religious question here. You can worship God in America however you'd like, as long as you're not infringing on the rights of others. And you also can't take advantage of others. There were times where various religions had the idea of having more than one wife. As, is allowed under Sharia. Well, in the United States, we said we don't do that. And marriage was historically between one man and one woman. I suppose now, under court rulings, it's two persons, but we don't have three person, four person, five person marriages. they're contrary to the traditions in the history of the United States, contrary to our laws, they're contrary to our culture.

Sharia courts are making decisions within the Muslim community in Texas

Ryan Helenbein: And talk about this because I think this is important and most Americans may not understand this. I have many friends who live in Texas, and they're normie Texans. they're busy, just as we all are in life. And they're taking their kids to school, dropping them off, they're going to work, they're paying taxes. They're just not maybe wholly unaware that this is happening right under their nose in the same community that they live in. and certainly, we, you know, we don't want to have the, the accusation of being prejudiced or being bigoted towards our neighbor and towards people that live in our community that don't look like us. but these Sharia courts or these Sharia councils, there is a way in which they can sort of coexist. meaning that they, they set up these parallel institutions, they're running them, they don't have legal standing, but they are certainly policing and binding the consciences of their own people under these Sharia, councils to live by their laws and by their rulings. Even while they might be a resident of the state of Texas or a citizen of the state of Texas, within the, within the practice of Sharia, that is to say, you know, within the Muslim community, they are making decisions regarding marriage, regarding family, regarding property, and, and, and people are none the wiser as to what's happening in that community.

Kevin Freeman: No, that's true, but they're also making decisions regarding what you can wear, for example, East Wiley High School, which is, you know, just outside Dallas, Fort Worth area. they had a hijab day where they were celebrating. The principal has, been photographed wearing a hijab, and they were passing out Islamic literature in the school, something that's prohibited for Christians in many cases. but here you can dress up and wear a hijab. And it is, you know, Islam literally means submission. And it is an opportunity for you to submit to Islam and the conquest history of Islam. We're not ignorant of what's happened, around the world, including what's happening in London today. I was just with, former Pakistani or Pakistani, Brit, who was a former Muslim who left the faith and he was beaten nearly to death multiple times. He had to go to police protection. The church in England said we won't accept converts because of the risk of threat of violence. This is the problem. It's not that the individual is bad. people are as God has created them, regardless of the background, what country they come from or whatever. we're to love them, and we're to love all people. and we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But in the case of the Muslim, if they're in a community, they're told to conquer the next community. And as a result, you see these continuing practices, they've happened in 600, 700, 800 A.D. all the way up until, 10 years ago in England, five years ago in, Dearborn, Michigan, and happening in Texas now. And you see the pattern. You literally force someone to join into Islam, or you encourage them, or they join and then they start to follow the Sharia code. And the Sharia code m requires you dress a certain way, you eat certain things. Well, that's fine if you individually choose that. It's when you choose to force that on your neighbor. For example, Houston, we had an imam going around pushing, that you can't sell pork, you can't sell alcohol in certain stores because Muslims m now live there. And so you must stop that practice. And he was saying, we'll be back in six months to see if you've done it, and there are consequences if you haven't.

Ryan Helenbein: Wow. Take us home on this. So we got about another minute real, real quick. So this, is coming up on Tuesday. Texans are going to be going to the polling. Polling, stations all throughout the state. what do they need to look for? And then tell us real quick about Takia

Kevin Freeman: at the very bottom of the ballot on the Texas Republican primary ballot. Proposition 10 says Texas should prohibit Sharia law. It's not banning any individual. It's not banning Islam. It is literally prohibiting Sharia law as contrast to, the Constitution and Texas and American law. Taqiyah you asked about is you need to lie for the purpose of advancing Sharia. It's permissible to lie for someone, that's following Sharia to lie to advance the cause of Sharia.

Ryan Helenbein: Thank you, Kevan, so much. Very important issue, folks. I hope you are voting. We'll be right back after this break.

Jenna Ellis introduces two South Florida pastors who are reaching their community

 : Welcome back to Jenna Ellis in the Morning on American Family Radio.

Ryan Helenbein: And welcome back. this is Ryan Helpenbein. I'm vice President of Communications and Public engagement at Liberty University, also the founding executive director of the Standing for Freedom Center. And, in this next segment, I'm actually thrilled, to introduce some special guests living in South Florida who are actually reaching their community outside the walls of their church. And when you think about basically the 250th anniversary, the celebration of the birth of our nation, what an opportunity is for gospel impact, for reaching your community for Christ. And also recognize that much of this, what we're called to do as a church, is to go out of the four walls of our church and to reach into our community. And, I want to introduce or welcome onto the program, Scott and Jennifer Stonebreaker.

Worship on the Rock is an outreach to the South Florida region

Good morning, guys. Welcome to Jenna Ellis in the Morning.

Scott & Jennifer Stonebreaker: Good morning, Ryan. Thank you for having us.

Ryan Helenbein: Good morning. So, I just real quick, this is exciting. You guys are hosting an event in South Florida. You guys have been doing this, it's a couple of years now called Worship on the Rock. And, this is basically an outreach that you're doing to Naples, Marco island, to the South Florida region. Tell us a little bit about this and what. What caused you to do this in the beginning? What was the impetus behind this? What was the inspiration? Jennifer, you go first.

Jennifer Stonebreaker: Well, you know, I had this inspiration, Scott and I, to show the community what it looked like to worship God in a public square. if you don't go to church and you don't know the Lord, you wouldn't really understand what that looks like. So we thought, how could that impact our community if they were to see what worshiping God looked like? So, it came together in 2023, where we kicked off our first worship on the Rock. And it was interesting because it was during COVID when we had all of these crazy social issues going on. And, I think we were kind of. Everybody was looking at the church. What kind of voice would the church have on some of these issues? So in addition to the worship piece, we felt like it was really important to bring speakers in that could. Could, engage the church and talk about what our role is as believers when it comes to some of these social issues. How do we stand on the word of God? What is the Biblical worldview on this. So that's kind of how it all took shape. And this is our third year. The event is growing. We're expecting over 3,000 people this year. And, yeah, we're super excited. It's going to be. Actually, it's coming up. It's a week away, March 7, and it's at Veterans Community park on Marco Island. If we have any Florida friends out there, we have Tasha Leighton and Vertical Worship joining us this year. We've got food trucks and kids activities and fun giveaways. We're going to share the gospel. We give away free Bibles. we have local organizations that share a biblical worldview and promote biblical principles that are coming. We provide tents for them, and they're going to engage with the community and just share a little bit about what they're doing. And we're hoping that creates service opportunities for the church so that they can, really get their dig in and get their hands dirty serving and doing things with organizations that are promoting a biblical worldview.

Ryan Helenbein: That's amazing.

Jennifer Stonebreaker: Three amazing speakers.

Ryan Helenbein: Yeah, let me, Let me jump in here real quick too, because you've got, I see Lifewise Academy and Moms for Liberty. Of course, Liberty University is a partner in this as well. but, you know, depending on where folks are all throughout the country who might be listening, you might be inspired to do something for your community. And that, that's one of those things that I just want to drive home, this morning, is that, oftentimes we look at the ministry of the local church. There's, there's no, in many cases, no deficiencies there. but you can't wait on your pastors sometimes to do things that maybe the Lord is calling you to do. And so that's what I really want to key in on even this morning, Jen, as you kind of explain the programming and what you're putting together, because I think that others might be inspired to do the same. I do like the fact that this all started, as you say, during sort of the tail end of COVID COVID 19 and the COVID lockdowns. And I think a lot of people were, at that particular moment, maybe they were bereft of having all the answers, and trying to think through, with the morality, the ethics of do we obey all of these various lockdown orders. They're telling us to get the jab or we're going to lose our job. All of that stuff was happening around that time, and, citizens were, many of them were standing up and, speaking the truth to power, but speaking the truth in love.

Worship on the Rock will feature Bill Federer and Allen West

So I, I wanted you continue what else is happening in this program.

Scott Stonebreaker: Yeah, so I can pick up on that. So we have a couple of great speakers, including yourself, who's going to be, interviewing Bill Federer and Allen West. So Bill Federer is going to take us back to our heritage, how we got here. Because, as you know, Ryan, if we don't know our history, we're doomed to repeat it. And, Allen West, Allen west is going to bring the courage. He'll, be talking about how to preserve our liberties. Where do we. How do we, protect Liberty for another 250 years? And, we've got a great video that, is going to be a tribute to Charlie Kirk. And, hopefully Allen isn't listening because he doesn't know it, but he's going to get the Charlie Kirk, Courage for My Faith Award. And so that'll be a special moment. And, you know, this is. This event really also helps unify the church because how often are we worshiping with other people that go to other churches? And, you know, Jesus told us, that you're the salt of the earth, you're the light of the world. So salt preserves, light reveals, but both require presence. So our presence in the public square, is what we're working toward, promoting.

Ryan Helenbein: Amen. And I think one of the. One of the things that we've experienced over these past several decades is so much retreat from, Christians who are largely absent, from the public arena, that are kind of pulling away as things get darker, as there is more confrontation and more hostility. I've, heard many people refer to the times we're living in post Obergefell, that decision coming in, what, 2013, that we are living in what is called the negative world, where Christianity is sort of seen as a hostile threat to the present age. So we don't retreat from that. We lean into it. We go into the public square, we go into the fray. And of course, Charlie Kirk, man, what a better example. There's not one, in this present age. He's kind of. I've heard, our friend, I knew Charlie well. but, Charlie is like a modern Jim Elliott. You know, he didn't go to Ecuador to lose his life for the gospel. He went to the Modern American Public University, and that's where it happened. but that was the place where you get death threats. It still is. It's one of the most unsafe, places in the United States is a modern American, public university. So, tell us. I mean, just for folks who might be in the area or within a day's drive or half a day's drive. Ah, where can they find information about this event?

Jennifer Stonebreaker: Well, they can go to worshipontherock.com. there's an FAQ section that'll tell you everything you need to know. it is a. This is the fun part. It's at a beautiful park on Marco with an amphitheater. It's outdoor. It's on the lawn. It's kind of like a good old American concert, worship concert, where you'll bring your own lawn chairs and a cooler. and certainly you can grab food at the food trucks. But, it's located at 901 Park Avenue on Marco island. So we'd be thrilled if anybody's listening, made the drive over.

Ryan Helenbein: Well, I'll just say this spring break is on the way for some people. They might even be celebrating or going on a family vacation. And if they're in the area in South Florida, that is an incredible place to stop. It's one of the most beautiful localities, in the United States. And, it's a summer destination for many, certainly a spring. Spring destination for many, but not hard to get to, if you live in Florida or if you've been living nearby, neighboring states.

Scott Lynch: Many Americans today simply do not understand our founding

look, we've got a few more minutes, and so I do want to talk about this. this is about really just reaching the next generation and, recognizing that the times that we're living in. I'm thinking of the sons of Issachar from the Old Testament. Scott, you've got a project that you've been working on. and this is in this area of being able to inform Christians on how to think biblically, encountering sort of the spirit of the age. Ah, but with wisdom, with prudence, with bold action. Tell, us a little bit about that.

Scott Stonebreaker: Yeah. The sons of Issachar knew the times and how to act.

Scott Stonebreaker: Right? So, we are called to know the times. And biblically speaking, Jeremiah talks about seeking the welfare of your city, and, in its welfare, you'll find your welfare. So when we engage in the public square, we. We do. We bring truth with humility. And, we love our neighbors and we try to encourage them, to, you know, like Charlie would always say, if you get them flowing in the streams of liberty, that's the source is Jesus.

Ryan Helenbein: Yes. Amen. You know, I had this discussion, this was years ago, the passage right out of Jeremiah 29. And, that's the passage you quote. it's the really the promise that was given to Jeremiah, Jeremiah 29:11. For I know the plans I have for you to prosper you, not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future. Many Christians have memorized that passage. It's appropriate that we do so. We know that God has a wonderful plan for our life. I think about the echo verse of that is in Romans, chapter 8, verse 28. for he works all things together for the good of those who know him or who love him and who are called according to his purpose. And so there's two conditions there. The beginning of, of, Jeremiah 29, however, which. These are people living in exile, the people of God. They don't really have a country, but God is saying, hey, I ain't gonna bring you home. you're gonna stay here and I'm gonna root you here. You need to plant, you need to build. you need to recognize that where I've called you, you're going to be a blessing. And you're going to be a blessing to people who don't know God. And you are going to be a reflection ultimately of your God to a foreign people. And, and so this is the way in which God is calling upon his people to be salt and light, exactly as you said, earlier, to a, people who don't know Him. And I can't help but think, 250 years, Scott and Jen, we have been founded as a nation. Our forebears were Christian. We have a legal framework, a moral framework, a spiritual framework for this country. But many Americans today simply do not understand our founding and they don't understand the nation that they live in. And so here, many Christians are living in these present times as strangers in the country that their forebears started. So how would you encourage, I think as many listeners today, you know, not to retreat, not to be afraid, but to lean in and to step in with courage, with conviction and with clarity in this moment.

Scott Stonebreaker: Yeah, that's right. Courage begets courage. So, it's very interesting when we, the first one we did, we had a pastor come up to us from a different church and he said, you know, I thought about doing this, but I never thought that it would be this successful and this many people would show up. And so, I think we're just encouraging others to do the same and put themselves out there, bring their faith into the public square, because that's what we're called to do.

Jennifer Stonebreaker: And I don't think it has to be a big thing. You know, we can all do a part. We're all called to something, and that might be just starting. Maybe a Bible study or a biblical citizenship class. I think it's Patriot Academy that has that amazing biblical citizenship class. So it doesn't have to be some grand event. M. We can all just start small in our own communities. But I think that's where the real change happens, when we dig into our own communities.

Ryan Helenbein: Yeah, I. I wholeheartedly agree. And I'll tell you something. My church is doing, my church is Thomas Road Baptist Church, here in Lynchburg, Virginia. And, yes, it's the 250th anniversary of our nation. It's also the 70th anniversary of. Of Thomas Road. It was started in 1956 by Dr. Jerry Falwell. And one of the things he wanted to do is reach Lynchburg for Jesus. And this year, what we're doing is a campaign to, basically spread this entire community with the Bible. And so we're bringing the Bible to every single doorstep in Lynchburg. Going and knocking on doors. Very simple. Just the message of the gospel. Jesus saves sinners. Jesus loves you. And, you might not be a member of the local church. You're welcome to come and worship, at Thomas Road.

Scott Stonebreaker: Ah.

Ryan Helenbein: And to hear the gospel. Or you might be a member of another church in the community. God bless you in that. We just want to encourage you and pray for you. but, you know, this is one of those things. The gospel doesn't happen by accident. faith comes by hearing. Hearing by the word of God. Amen.

Jennifer Stonebreaker: That's really beautiful that they're doing that. I love it.

Scott and Jen share their story on American Family Radio

Ryan Helenbein: Well, I want to. As we close out, just maybe in the final minute, I just give us one, maybe. Maybe a life verse, Scott and Jen, that you guys are living by. maybe be. Maybe it's the theme of this very event. give us, give us some, a passage from scripture, that you've devoted to memory. And it means a lot to you.

Scott Stonebreaker: I would say, Proverbs 31:9. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Ryan Helenbein: Very good. And so, in this moment, and I think this is important that we speak righteously to what's happening in our country. I really appreciate so much you guys coming on, sharing your story. And folks, you might be listening, it doesn't matter where you are. You might be in Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, wherever you are, Pennsylvania, Ohio. Recognize that God has called you, have a Jerusalem that God has called you to, and he's called you to reach that community.

 : welcome back to Jenna Ellis in the Morning on American Family Radio.

 : Foreign.

Ryan Helenbein: Tuesday's State of the Union was historic

Welcome back to Jenna Ellis in the Morning. I'm Ryan Helenbein, vice president of communications at Liberty University and of course the founding executive director of the Standing for Freedom Center. And, man, what a week we've had. And I want to go back to some of the highlights of the State of the Union. on Tuesday evening, many of you watched, many viewers are looking back at the State of the Union and saying one of the most historic speeches in American history, in the last 60 years. You cannot find a speech longer. I think the total runtime was about an hour and 48 minutes. And, many people, including critics of the president, say, look, our president was being very strategic in this speech and there are a lot of things that he was, decisive on in terms of the things that he mentioned on immigration policy and affordability, on economics, on national security. and we, need to recognize that in many ways this will be the roadmap to the 2026 midterms. I'm inviting back into the conversation Grant May. he is a researcher over at the Standing for Freedom Center. GR Good morning. Welcome to the show.

Grant May: Good morning, Ryan. Thank you for having me back.

David Frum: President Trump doubled down on immigration in Tuesday's speech

Ryan Helenbein: Well, I want to talk a little bit. One of the things that I want to focus in on is, is certain areas that I think that are a win for the president, that, that actually tend positive. And, it's fascinating if you were to listen to, say, Ross Douthat at the NewSong York Times and else, and other folks, they want the president to chill on immigration, to sort of take a backseat, that immigration for those that are living in the deep, deep blue pockets of the United States. Douthat is rather uncomfortable, with how this policy has been handled by the president. And he's urging caution. he caucuses as a Republican. he's somebody who has, at least at the polls has voted for the president, but he works in the NewSong York Times and, some of these guys are uneasy when it comes to this issue. You are youngest generation, your Gen Z, the youngest generation that is voting right now, Let me be clear, not Gen Alpha, but Gen Z. That is actually the voting age. How did you see that speech, from Tuesday night, I mean, once Again,

Grant May: the speech was a masterclass. And I think, I think it's important to recognize that immigration has always been central to now, President Trump's, his, platform. You rewind back to 2015, when he came down that escalator at Trump Tower. What was central to his campaign? What did he make the issue? It was the fact that we have millions of illegal immigrants in our country who don't belong here, and that we need to secure our southern border. Well, part two of that has been done. Trump has done a phenomenal job. We have had, I believe the numbers came out that we didn't have a single border crossing, illegal, border crossing so far in 2026. but the other part needs to be grappled with. We have been invaded. there is lots of just consequences everywhere you look around it, whether that be electorally, politically, socially, there are mass consequences to the current status quo of our immigration system. And that's what got President Trump elected. And so I love that he's doubling down. He doesn't need to listen to people who live in these deep blue cities, because ultimately this is what motivated his base to look to a NewSong York Democrat, to help make America great again.

Ryan Helenbein: You know, there are 36 states in the United States that have some kind of voter ID law and a mechanism for enforcement. There are 14 states that do not. spoiler alert. those are the states that, Kamala Harris actually ended up winning and carrying, with the exception of maybe Pennsylvania. but pretty much every state that has no voter ID law, has no mechanism of enforcement, goes heavy, indexes heavy, heavy, heavy, Democratic. And, and so, yes, you've got the problem of mass illegal immigration. You've got millions of people, that live here, that have come here, that have lived here, and that are finding ways to get, an id. Many, of them to drive a vehicle and then to go and vote, and to register to vote, on election Day. Many of them, no registration is even required. You go to the state of California, you can fill out a ballot, you can, you can drop that ballot at a ballot box. And there's no real chain of custody of verification, a proof of identification or national origin. That is theft. That is, that is stealing. And, in many ways, and I'll add to it, it is a legalized category of theft because, those, those election officials within that state are not enforcing, the national standard, and that is that you must be a citizen of the United States. Just common sense here. Why Is it so important when we think about 50, million folks living in the United States, foreign born, so at some point in their lifetime they made the journey to the United States and now they live here. Why is it so important though that we have voter eye the grant?

Grant May: Well, I mean you just have to look at. Why are the Democrats so beholden to avoiding having a, Democrat, a voter id? Look, the fact of the matter is this is their base, who they are beholden to protecting, whether that be in the census and how we distribute congressional seats because, they count illegal voters there, so that they have proportionally higher representation. and then they want to use excuses like, oh, it's hard to get an id, we don't want to prevent people from voting that should be voting. Well the fact of the matter is if you can't obtain an id, you really shouldn't be voting in the first place. If you're not smart enough to get an id, what makes them think that you should be smart enough to decide the future direction of this country? They are so passionate about this issue though, because they are beholden to a base that maybe shouldn't be voting in the first place. and so I think it is imperative that we secure our American elections. We gotta make sure that it is only citizens voting and we gotta make sure those citizens are also informed voters. You know, that voting didn't, wasn't always universal in America. It wasn't until Andrew Jackson that all, all people, all free, people got the right to vote, all three men. and then we've just expanded it gradually from there. But the idea that voter ID requiring somebody to show an ID to vote, that it disenfranchises people is a ridiculous contention. The only people it actually disenfranchise is the people that shouldn't be voting in the first place.

Talk a little bit about how important affordability is to everyday Americans

Ryan Helenbein: Talk a little bit about this because I think this is important and this impacts the youngest generation of a voting age as well. And that is the issue of affordability. And so I know that, you know, the president has done, multiple things on the area of housing. certainly, he's trying to keep inflation low. I want to be clear. I'm going to. I'm not an economist, but I'm an economics major and I understand basic things like if you run continuous deficits, you're going to continue to have inflation because they have to print more money. The Federal Reserve bank is going to print more money to cover those deficits. But talk a Little bit about how important affordability is, when it comes to everyday Americans.

Grant May: Yeah, I mean, affordability is really everything. You look if the economy is doing well, nine out of ten times a, ah, president is going to do well as far as his approval rating. The thing is with Trump, he's, he's constantly beating this drum that everything's so affordable and prices have gone down and that's a huge blessing. But, until, until young Americans really feel the impacts of this, you, can say it all day long, but it won't move the needle at all. I think Trump has done a good job so far, but I would love to see more results. I mean, it's sad. My generation, has inherited a totally different country than the generation that my grandparents, grew up in. The whole idea of you can just get the factory job, buy the, buy the starter house and raise, kids there your whole life, then buy a second vacation home has largely just become a pipe dream for many of us. you look at how wages have increased over time rather gradually versus the prices of houses has just exponentially exploded. I think Trump is right that we need to do something about affordability and he's looking for solutions. And, and I think we got to have a little bit of patience and wait for those to bear out. But, he's doing the right things. You know, for my grandparents, for my kids to have the same, ah, sort of youth experience that my grandparents did, they have to belong to a country club today. They have to pay to belong to a country club just to have the average, ah, American coming of age experience that my grandparents did. And I think that's really sad. And there's lots of factors that contribute to it, but one of those is the economy. It is affordability. And then it's also this mass migration that we keep coming back to. And I think those are the two biggest factors, that are motivating youth voters.

Grant: When you think about affordability, mass immigration, it all goes together

Ryan Helenbein: Yeah, I'm reminded of a film that I used to love as a kid, and that's the movie the Sandlot. And the Sandlot is just classic Americana, 1960s, growing up in the suburbs of Anywhere, USA. Literally anywhere USA. And it's that, it's the idea that your kids in the neighborhood could get on a bicycle, ride out until dark, until sunset, play baseball at some public park, go to the public swimming pool. Right. you know, the boy meets girl kind of phenomena as well. Just being young kids and in enjoying this great nation that we live in. And there's so Many things in that movie that communicate, what it used to be like, living in the United States of America. I got to enjoy part of that as a kid, and, and never calling safety into question. we used to play hide and go seek and, and tag in our neighborhood until well after dark. And I remember that that was just a normal thing for all of us. And we never thought about that. And then my, my parents generation, they grew up in a community where people literally just didn't lock their doors. And that doesn't mean that people didn't have responsible gun ownership or other kinds of, security and safety mechanisms. But at the end of the day it was neighbor, trusting neighbor, everybody knew each other in the neighborhood. So stuff goes hand in hand though, does it not, Grant? When you think about affordability, you think about mass immigration and you think about voter id, it all goes together, all of it. And part of the housing issue is because mass illegal immigration,

Grant May: it all goes together. You're spot on there. And I think, I think this whole theme, you know, you love the sandlot. I also love the sandlot, but the sandlot has a radicalizing impact on me because I will never know that America. but the same themes are all throughout those somewhat older movies and TV shows. I mean you could take Leave it to Beaver, you could take the Andy Griffith Show. All of these movies, are centered around a high trust society that was once American society that no longer exists. And young people are asking questions of how do we get back what was stolen from us? This was our birthright and we're looking for solutions. and the first person, the first political party to be able to provide those solutions and is going to win the future. And I really hope it's the Republican Party.

Ryan Helenbein: Yes.

Grant Cannon: Can we stop going after otherwise law abiding citizens

And so one, there are two visions here, two rival visions. One is of grievance and the other one is of gratitude. the one is, you know, the only way to do it is to steal what somebody else has and give it to, to somebody who's less fortunate versus the, the, the way of gratitude is that if we could make these conditions such that there is actual justice, that we punish evil, we promote righteousness, that the, just that the, that those who exercise lawlessness, those who would, who would prey upon the innocent, those that would, would seek to by theft, steal what is not theirs, they, they must meet a just consequence and a just end. There needs to be a way in which the law comes cross, crashing down on people like that. And at the same time that the, the government does not interfere with people who are otherwise righteous. I, I, one of the things that I cannot stand, Grant, is when I'm on a, a motorist on a highway and I see otherwise law abiding citizens who are being maybe harassed by law enforcement and I think, hey, go police a rough neighborhood, please, like these guys are. They're just trying to get to work. They're just trying to get to school. Can we, can we settle down on going after otherwise law abiding citizens?

Grant May: Right, well, and this, this is like you articulated perfectly, the Christian view of government. We are commanded to desire the state to crush evil, to be an avenger of God's wrath, who doesn't bear the sword in vain. and then when you get sidetracked with all these political petty side crimes that they're prevented from doing their primary duty. I think now that we live in such a nanny state, I mean, my little brother got pulled over, and, or he got a ticket not even from being pulled over. He got mailed a ticket in the mail from a camera that caught him going, I think it was 7 miles per hour over the speed limit. And they mailed him a ticket for $100. And this, this is the sort of nanny state that we live in where, you know, the murderer of Arena Zaruski gets let off after 14 prior arrests. And then we're going to mail our citizen to our otherwise law abiding citizens, tickets for going over the speed limit. It's a misallocation of resources. It's a misunderstanding of what your primary duty and function is as the civil magistrate. And we as Christians have to get smarter about thinking about these roles.

Ryan Helenbein: That is so well said, Grant. You are the next generation. Generation. And I think it's so important as listeners, as you're listening even now, Grant is a graduate of Liberty University, but he's the next generation and the generation that is going to be in leadership one day soon. And it is so important that we defend the freedoms that we have been given. And so this year is a year of celebration. It is also a year of rededication. And so I hope that as you're listening, you rededicate yourself to the same freedom. God bless you all. Thank you for listening.