American Family Association president Tim Wildman hosts today's Issues

>> Tony Vitagliano: The mission of American Family association is to inform, equip and activate individuals to strengthen the moral foundations of American culture and give aid to the church here and abroad in its task of fulfilling the Great Commission. Further, AFA believes this ministry, as well as everything in the heavens and on the earth, belongs to God. And AFA's role is that of a trusted manager.

>>  : Thank you for standing with the American Family Association. Welcome to Today's Issues, offering a Christian response to the issues of the day. Here's your host, Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association.

>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, good morning, everybody, and welcome to today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Thanks for listening to AFR is Thursday, April 16, 2026. All right. In studio today with me is Tony Vitagliano. Good morning, brother Tony.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Good morning.

>> Tim Wildmon: And Fred Jackson.

>> Fred Jackson: Hey there.

>> Tim Wildmon: And Krish Woodward. Good morning, Tony. your dad, Ed. who's. Is he mad at me or. Why didn't he come in to do the show anymore?

>> Tony Vitagliano: No, he's just, you know, he's got to take some time every now and then. So he's got a.

>> Tim Wildmon: What is he. He's a big, Is he watching hockey or.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Well, I mean, if there's any on right now.

>> Tim Wildmon: I'm just teasing, folks.

>> Fred Jackson: This weekend he'll be watching.

>> Tim Wildmon: why is that?

>> Fred Jackson: Because his Boston Bruins starts playoffs. Squeaked into the playoffs.

>> Tony Vitagliano: They really. Oh, man, they squeaked. Yeah.

>> Fred Jackson: And they are going to be playing the Buffalo Sabers.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, Buffalo.

>> Fred Jackson: Buffalo finished number one in their division.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.

>> Fred Jackson: Which is a miracle.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.

>> Fred Jackson: Absolute miracle. And, and so they're, that's where they, they're pairing off the Saturday night. I think it all starts.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so Ed's. We know where it'll be Sunday night. Yes, watching the Boston Bruins. the.

>> Fred Jackson: There's another question about how optimistic he is.

>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, you know, I pulled up. I pulled a fast one. I don't pull pranks because I don't like pranks pulled on me. And I don't like when I pull a prank on somebody. The rare ones that I do. I'm always worried that they're going to have a heart attack because of that prank freak out moment, you know, that everybody laughs at and I'm always fearful. But so I don't, I don't do. I don't do that to people. but I did do one against your dad one time. I may not know about this. Speaking of hockey, this is about four or five years ago. Anyway, this was bad. I knew your dad was, he was, he's Passionate about the Boston Bruins, you know, hockey team.

>>  : Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: And they were playing in like the finals or something like that, like the Stanley cup finals, weren't they? In the standing. Yeah. And it was a big play. A, big game. And. And so we go to the same church. Yeah, your dad and I go to the same church with you. And so the. I, text the pastor. You know where I'm going with this. I shouldn't have done this. I did repent. But I said. I said, would you please text Ed and say. Say to him, do you have a few moments? Because there's something really important I need to talk to you about. And do it right in the middle of the game.

>> Fred Jackson: Oh, no.

>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, no. And the pastor said, okay, I'll do it. Yeah. So. So. And I didn't get to see the expression on your dad's face. I only got to envision what it might look like. And so. And your dad's. Your dad said, I know.

>> Tony Vitagliano: I know what it looked like.

>>  : Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: It's like your dad was. I mean, I'm sure your dad was looking at his phone going, you're kidding me.

>> Fred Jackson: This better be.

Tim: Your dad rolled his eyes at that one. He's a great guy of integrity

>> Tim Wildmon: You want to talk now? No, I don't care, whatever it is. But that. But your dad said. You sure?

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yep.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. That child, your dad is.

>> Tony Vitagliano: He's a great guy of integrity, but he definitely rolled his eyes. He rolled. He ultimately answered, but he had a moment.

>> Tim Wildmon: He had a momentary attitude issue problem. But he did end up at the, The pastor said, you know, you got. You just got punked by Tim.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so he's. He's the one that put me up to this. So. But that's one of those pranks you can't pull twice.

>> Tony Vitagliano: No, no.

>> Tim Wildmon: You know what I'm saying? So, but anyway, so we know. So Ed's, It'll be back. He'd be back tomorrow. He'd be back tomorrow for the trivia show.

Christopher: Our Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown tour is full

Hey, before we jump into the news of the day. And it's all good, folks. Don't worry. We got. We got good news all the way around. And rainbow, it's shining. Right. real quickly, our, we're wrapping up the registrations for the spiritual, heritage tours for the summer. I say summer 1, 2. Technically, in the fall. September. Our Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown tour in September is full. We've got a handful of spaces left on June, I think. But now we have some, and. And the Washington D.C. trip, including Mount Vernon, that we go and tour. that's Coming up in September. That's all. That's, we got a few seats left on that, too. And June. And June. So what I'm saying to you, if you've been thinking about, hey, I'd like to go on that, spiritual heritage tour of Washington D.C. and Mount Vernon, with, other listeners from all over the country. it's time to make that call. Okay, you may make that decision. So go to the web.

>> Tony Vitagliano: What's the tours.afa.net that's tours AFA.

>> Tim Wildmon: It used to be Wildmon.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Well, Wildmon Group. If, if you, if you also search Wildmon Group.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.

>> Tony Vitagliano: it'll reroute you. It'll reroute you to Tor.

>> Tim Wildmon: Give me the simplest way. If you go on the Internet and type what?

>> Tony Vitagliano: If you go on the Internet and type Wildmon Group.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah dot com.

>> Tony Vitagliano: dot com or, or tours dot afa dot net the one will take you Tours.

>> Tim Wildmon: T O U R s dot afa dot net tours dot afa dot net on there. You can read the cost, the itinerary, all about it. Hotels, we stay out, everything. So check it out. and, we, we got, as I say, if you want to go on the June trip, it's, it's time to make a call on that. We, we, we, we do have some seats available.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Seats open on Williamsburg for June.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Yeah. So what's the website?

>> Tony Vitagliano: One more time, tours.afa.net or you can Google Wildmon Group and it will take you there also.

>> Tim Wildmon: And I'm planning on dressing up, being in character the whole time, so I'm,

>> Tony Vitagliano: I'm going to play some stick and wheel. yes, you know, some butter churn.

>> Tim Wildmon: I'm gonna turn some butter. So, so anyway, there you go. All right. Christopher.

>> Chris Woodward: Yes.

Over 10,000 US troops are enforcing the Iran blockade, Fred King says

>> Tim Wildmon: What do we got going on in the world?

>> Chris Woodward: Well, this is going to be a, ah, lengthy little, segment here because we got a lot of little

>> Tim Wildmon: at the same time, Krish.

>> Chris Woodward: That's very True, sir. Over 10,000 US troops are enforcing the Iran blockade. over 10,000 US troops are enforcing the Iran blockade. and I'll get into where exactly, these service members are located. It's in the general vicinity of or near the Strait of Hormuz. And I'll explain in a minute why I'm using those, terms. But for now, listen to a bit of the audio warning that naval ships are playing for ships in that part of the world. Clip 2.

>> Speaker F: All vessels are advised to immediately return to port if leaving and discontinue transit to Iran, if that is your next port of call. Do not attempt to breach the blockade. Vessels will be boarded for interdiction and seizure transiting to or from an Iranian port. Turn around and prepare to be boarded. If you do not comply with this blockade, we will use force. The whole of the United States Navy is ready to force compliance now.

>> Chris Woodward: Now, this blockade, as it's being called, is part of the Trump administration's approach to bring an end to the war or conflict in Iran between the U.S. iran and Israel. and Fred posted some information on our website today, because some people, I think, have been misled here to think that the blockade is literally in that tiny little area along the strip of Hormuz. Strait of Hormuz, I should say. but Fred has posted a map on afn.net, which actually gets into detail, on where these, ships are.

>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, the actual blockade by the US Navy vessels. If you look at a map of Iran, the southern border of Iran borders up against Pakistan. So if you were to draw a line from that border down to Oman, up across the Gulf of Oman, that is where the US Ships are stopping vessels from coming out or going in, depending on what they're up to. Obviously, what they're stopping right now are ships that have gone through the Strait of Hormuz and are headed out with a load of oil, and the US Is stopping those vessels who loaded up in the Iranian ports. We just want to remind people once again, this blockade is just for ships that are getting oil from Iran, not from those other countries in the southern part of the Persian Gulf, Kuwait, UAE, etc. Etc. also, it was very interesting, and we're going to play a clip of General, Kane. He's sometime called General Raisin Cain. he's head of the Joint Chiefs, and he gave a briefing this morning, giving the details of this. And what surprised me is that the blockade has been extended now to ships who left, the Persian Gulf prior to the blockade. In other words, there are US Navy ships out in the Pacific that are stopping ships that picked up a load of oil before the blockade started. So, Krish, it's number 10, I think, on your list.

>> Chris Woodward: Number, eight. Number eight is number eight.

>> Speaker G: General King, let me be clear. This blockade applies to all ships, regardless of nationality, heading into or from Iranian ports. The US Action is a blockade of Iran's ports and coastline, not a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Enforcement will occur inside Iran's territorial seas and, and in International waters. In addition to this blockade, the joint force, through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility, like the Pacific area of responsibility under the command of Admiral Paparo, will actively pursue any Iranian flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran. This includes dark fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil. As most of you know, dark fleet vessels are those illicit or illegal ships evading international regulations, sanctions or insurance requirements.

>> Tim Wildmon: Tony?

>> Tony Vitagliano: Well, I mean, it sounds to me like this is, we're using all the tools at our disposal, obviously, to put more pressure on Iran. And according to Pete Hegseth in The article that AFN posted, we're using less than 10% of, our Navy to enforce this blockade. So. And I'm also a fan of the strategy of pulling back further. you know, like, like Fred mentioned and Krish mentioned, when, when I first heard about the blockade, my immediate thought was that, well, we're at the narrowest part of the strait because it would just be the easiest part, part, you know, place to enforce, strategically enforce the blockade. But that would put our ships in range of Iranian drones and missiles. So pulling back, more so to the Gulf of Amman, puts our, our navy, further away from harm and allows us to still enforce this blockade. I, you know, I think it's a, I think it's a good strategy.

>> Fred Jackson: Oh, it is. what I found out this morning was kind of interesting too. This is all aimed basically of shutting down the Iranian economy because they depend on oil. but for Iran, people may say, well, you do have some ships that have loaded up, but Iran only has a storage availability of three days in their tanks onshore, so they can't put new oil into there anymore. They're all loaded up. So their oil is going nowhere right now. If it's going nowhere, they're getting no money. part of the blockade, too. it's not just on the water. It's in the air.

>> Tim Wildmon: Over.

>> Fred Jackson: We have tons of Air Force planes that are surveying the whole land work out there. They can see the ships coming, from various directions. So there are 10,000 Navy people, Air Force people, others that are involved with this. And that is why, according to U.S. officials, this has been 100% successful so far.

>> Tony Vitagliano: And I would assume, Fred, that this would also begin to put pressure on Iran's allies to pressure like China to start pressuring Iran. Like, look, you've got to, you've got to, you've got to do something about this. Yeah, because none of the oil that we need from you is going to make it to us, it's just if it comes from an Iranian port, it's not going to make it to China. And China is heavily dependent on Iranian oil.

>> Fred Jackson: Absolutely.

>> Chris Woodward: There was a story from Fox this morning that reports, that the President of China has put the pressure on Iran to go ahead and just open this straight up because, they do need that oil, like you said. so, you know, we, we, we could see meanwhile something else that could, add a little bit or pressure on, on Iran. It looks like Lebanon, and Israel are coming together, in the way of some sort of peace agreement, perhaps even. And I can't believe I'm even talking about this. We're looking at the potential guys of Lebanon being part of the Abraham Accords, which is something President Trump achieved back during his first term. Israel, and Lebanon have been in odds specifically because of Hezbollah, the terrorist group that operates within Lebanon. so, you know, there's a lot to go over here, with this and it, it does appear to be moving in a positive direction. and people like Steven, Miller are still out there. We don't have to play this clip, but White House adviser Steven Miller is still out there saying President Trump is prepared to do something militarily if all of this does collapse.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, I'm going to ask the most important question. When are the gas prices coming down?

>> Chris Woodward: Well, the good news is, Mr. President, that gas prices are down today compared to what they were this time last week. They're down about 7 cents. But that is not Krish Woodward saying that gas is cheap because it's ridiculously expensive.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.

>> Chris Woodward: That's how bad to say.

If gas prices don't come down, it could hurt Republicans in November

>> Tony Vitagliano: Welcome to the spin room. Yeah. Thanksgiving dinner is down. Thanksgiving dinner is down 3% or whatever it was.

>> Chris Woodward: You said 20 cents on a turkey.

>> Tim Wildmon: I got to rewind this. What was that word you used?

>> Chris Woodward: Ridonkulously. That's how bad it is.

>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, that word is made up word. You're studying French or something?

>> Chris Woodward: No, no, no.

>> Tim Wildmon: And they pulled that one out.

>> Chris Woodward: I did take French in high school,

>> Tim Wildmon: but, so listen, I, I said, you know, my question was, was, you know, both serious and unserious at the same time. Because the, the war in Iran needs to get over it does. We need, we, we, we need to get out as soon as we can while achieving as much as we possibly can. I think that's the, quote, exit strategy. but the practical implications is what I was talking about, for the average American out there. Yes, they're, yes, they're following and Concerned about the war with Iran and their development potentially of nuclear weapons. But what impacts people's everyday lives. Right. across the country is the cost of living. Cost of living is impacted by the price of oil and gasoline at the pump. And so I know if, if the gas prices don't come down or keep going up, it's going to hurt the Republicans in November.

>> Fred Jackson: Sure.

>> Tim Wildmon: Because the party in power already. By in power, I mean who has the White House, who occupies the White House that already traditionally at the midterms that party, in this case a Republican, Trump loses members. So you got that historical factor in. But then if you have the cost of living in inflation and price of gas going up, that's going to hurt them even worse at the polls. Again, not, not with Republicans necessarily, but with the average independent out there, Tony, you're. Yeah. You think gas is, it's a big deal, isn't it?

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yeah. Well look, the reality is is that gas will go up a dollar overnight, but it's going to take it 12 months to come back down that same amount. I mean that's just, that's just the facts and be. I mean I, the hope would be the trajectory of the price continues to come down. But you know, we won't. I, I'm kind of a pessimist sometimes. I get that. Honest. Okay. I don't think we'll see gas at what it was before the Iran conflict by the midterms.

>> Tim Wildmon: What are we paying here? Seem like 33503 6 depending on where you.

>> Chris Woodward: Well, we live in Tupelo. You can drive around and see 30 different prices and you burned a tank

>> Tim Wildmon: of gasoline driving around trying to save.

>> Chris Woodward: Yeah, but to your point, we're paying anywhere around 350 to approaching 4 depending on where you're buying it.

>> Tim Wildmon: What are they any reports of friends around the country? Are they anybody over $4?

>> Chris Woodward: Oh yeah. California is average. California's average is always outrageous regardless of what's going on in the world. But they're paying anywhere from six to seven bucks.

>> Fred Jackson: California now they've always had.

>> Tim Wildmon: They do this to themselves.

>> Chris Woodward: They do because they, they have so

>> Tim Wildmon: many regulations, they love them some regulation.

>> Tony Vitagliano: California, California's average.586 is today's average in California.

>> Chris Woodward: Yeah, and so that's why, that's why I'm saying some people, depending on where you are, you're paying seven bucks in some places for a gallon of gas.

>> Tony Vitagliano: That's true.

>> Tim Wildmon: It's crazy.

>> Fred Jackson: Some states have Made a move to try to help motorists. I think Georgia is one of them.

>> Chris Woodward: Yeah.

>> Fred Jackson: They're getting rid of their state tax during this period.

>> Fred Jackson: To help lower the prices.

>> Tim Wildmon: So why do they have in the first place?

>> Fred Jackson: Beg pardon? Why do they. Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: You ever wonder that we're getting rid of the state tax on gas? Okay, well, why do we have in the first place if we can do without it? Yeah, yeah, but, but that, but is it like 10 cents or 20? Who knows?

>> Fred Jackson: Anything to help.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, yeah.

Treasury Secretary Scott Besant says he's optimistic about lower gas prices

>> Chris Woodward: Now, the, Speaking of spin, the, the White House, in the press briefing yesterday, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant was there with Caroline Levitt to talk about things like energy. And, Besant is, quote, optimistic, that we could see $3 of gas in the not too distant future. Clip 4.

>> Speaker G: The Straits of Vermouth have not been completely reopened. so we will see, and I'm optimistic, that during the summer we will see gas with a 3 in front of it sooner rather than later. So not by summer, like Memorial Day, but maybe by Labor Day. Again, I'm optimistic that sometime between June 20th and September 20th that we can have $3 gas again.

>> Chris Woodward: Now, that kind of flies in the face of comments from President Trump and others that have said repeatedly, and I quote, gas is going to come down now, it's optimistic. They're going to come down a little. And if it's three bucks a gallon, we were paying to something like in the low twos before this war began.

>> Chris Woodward: So $3 a gallon is not, you're not, you're not reaping that many savings.

>> Tim Wildmon: You just, Where's your optimism, Chris?

>> Chris Woodward: My hope, My hope is found in Jesus.

>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, there we go.

>> Chris Woodward: That's what gets me through this segment.

>> Tim Wildmon: And you say that, and you say that's the, you know, mic drop. I dare you to say anything back to me.

>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, that's right.

>> Tim Wildmon: That was a good one, though, Krish.

>> Chris Woodward: Listen, I was sincere.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Okay.

>> Chris Woodward: That's what gets me through.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yes.

Sam: You need some separation between current economic situation and November elections

So I think, politically speaking, I mentioned earlier how the economy, we all know this. It's a truism. The economy is the number one issue for people, for most people when they vote, in, in. And so, and you, know the Republicans and Trump and everybody's aware of that. So you need, some separation between the current economic, situation with, especially with the gasoline prices, oil, the volatility there. You need some separation between that and November. Yeah. Okay. And that there's still time for that to happen again. I'm Speaking just straight politics here, I'm not talking about principle or what's right to do in the, in the around war or anything like that. I'm just talking about the impact on the, on the, on the voting in November. If you can get some separation like June, maybe July at the latest. Because sometimes things happen and it gets stuck in people's head and even if the facts on the ground change, they've already made up their mind that they're going to punish the party they think is responsible for the cost of living increases.

>> Fred Jackson: Yep.

>> Tim Wildmon: And this hurt the Democrats in the last time around. I'm talking about 20, 24 voting the, the cost of living, inflation. Remember? I remember everybody telling me, well, not everybody, but some people telling me, well I'm voting for Trump or the Republicans because I want to see, because I'm tired of paying high price for groceries.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: And cost of living. And that hasn't come down.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: Right. Yet.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yeah. Well it, the trajectory was headed the right way before this happened, before the Iranian conflict, kicked off. So. And we're coming up on the summer. Gas prices historically go up even more during the summer because everybody traveling to travel. So yeah, I'm, I'm a little, I'm like you, Tim. I'm a little worried that there, you know, may not be the distance we need.

>> Tim Wildmon: Right.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Or the Republicans need to, to get

>> Tim Wildmon: the needs to be CEO of Chevron. I think it was told the people they need to stop driving so much. That was funny.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: You see that?

>> Chris Woodward: That's like big.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Well, he doesn't, he doesn't drop himself anywhere. So his mind. Hey yo, don't y' all have people who drive you around where you need to go?

>> Tim Wildmon: I just thought, yeah. That's interesting. The CEO of the, one of the largest oil slash gasoline companies in the world is telling people stop driving so much. I think he was just saying that if you want to cut expenses, don't drive as much. I didn't read the whole article. I just thought that was funny. Let's take a break right here. And this break is going to be $4 and 25 cents a minute. Okay. That's how much this break is going to cost you people. we're going to take a short time out right here. We'll be back with more of today's issues on the American Family Radio Network. Tim, Tony, Fred and Krish. And we shall return.

>> Fred Jackson: Sam.

Listen to AFR wherever you go with the AFR app

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>>  : AFR app is a powerful tool, but it does have limitations. You can't use it to change the oil in your vehicle or get rid of carpet stains. It won't walk the dog, won't pick up the dry cleaning or take the kids to practice. But while you're doing those things, you can listen to your favorite AFR content through the app on your phone, smart device, or Roku. Just go to your app store or visit afr.net Listen to AFR wherever you go with the AFR app. This is today's issues. Email your comments to commentsfr.net Past broadcasts of today's Issues are available for listening and viewing in the [email protected] now back to more of, today's issues.

Welcome back to today's issues on the American Family Radio Network

>> Tim Wildmon: Welcome back to today's issues on the American Family Radio Network. Thanks for listening, Tim, Tony, Fred, and Krish. And we thank you, as always, for, joining us each and every day. Today's Thursday, which means tomorrow's Trivia Friday. And Ed and J.J. are. They're going both be here. Okay, so Ed, J.J. and I'll be here tomorrow, so we'll have a lot of fun with the trivia show right here on American Family Radio talking about what's happening in the news and how it impacts, our country and our lives. Krish, what's your next story?

10 government scientists have mysteriously gone missing or died since mid 2024

>> Chris Woodward: All right, some people may not be aware of this, but for a couple of years now, there has been a bizarre situation involving around 10 scientists, with knowledge of space or nuclear secrets. Government scientists and Tim, they've mysteriously died or vanished without a trace. This goes back to about 2023. Someone that caught wind of this situation is Fox's Peter Doocy. And yesterday, during the White House press briefing, Doocy S. Levitt. Hey, what do you know about these missing, scientists?

>> Speaker G: CLIP 1 There are now 10American scientists who have either gone missing or died since mid 2024. They all reportedly had access to classified nuclear or aerospace material. Is anybody investigating this to see if

>> Chris Woodward: these things are connected?

>> Tim Wildmon: I've seen the report, Peter. I haven't spoken to our relevant agencies about it. I will certainly do that and we'll get you an answer if you.

>> Chris Woodward: True.

>> Tim Wildmon: Of course. That's definitely something I think this government and administration would deem work worth looking into.

>> Chris Woodward: Very bizarre answer. now some people are framing this as White House break silence on 10 missing scientists. Basically she's like yeah, we've heard about it. And that's what she said.

>> Tim Wildmon: She, yeah, she wasn't prepared for that particular question. And that's okay. I mean Carolyn Levitt is amazing but she's, you know, she's she's what? She wasn't. And she said she'd get back with him on that. Of course under the bad administration.

>> Chris Woodward: We circled back yes, or she got deferred. Yeah, circle back.

>> Tim Wildmon: But we never circle back. Or in the case of Karine Jean Pierre. Right, I got that right.

>> Chris Woodward: Yes.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Flip open the binder and just start.

>> Chris Woodward: Yes, reading I will defer you to

>> Tim Wildmon: the department or just straight out tail whoppers and know that the liberal news media is going to go along with you if you are a Democrat, presidential spokesperson. Listen, this is a very serious story Tony. for those who don't know what is being what has happened here.

>> Tony Vitagliano: So yeah, over over the course of the last few years, or whatever that time frame is. I'm not sure what the time frame is when this first started but we've, there's been 10 scientists who have gone missing or died and a lot of them are were linked to similar labs or departments. Like this last one, Hicks, who died was linked to. He worked at the JPL, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory from 1998 to 2022. it's just, it's, it's, there's just an odd pattern I guess and I don't know, no one can really say for certain that there's any connection. it's just strange and I think the media is picking up because it's at this point too strange to just call it a coincidence maybe. M m, Am I incorrect in that?

>> Fred Jackson: No, not at all. The story I was reading this morning, the latest to disappear was retired Air Force General William Neal McCaslin. He vanished on February 27th not too long ago. he had links to multiple nuclear officials according to the reports. Now according to the story, 68 year old McCaslin, he was last seen leaving his NewSong Mexico home without his phone, wearable devices or glasses less than two months ago. He was only carrying a pistol and his wife told 911 dispatchers that it appeared he was trying quote, not to be found. So it's, it's, it's. That's. It's really strange.

>> Tim Wildmon: how many of them, ah, counted in this, Did it say that the time frame here, like the last two years or something?

>> Chris Woodward: 20, 23.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so three years. Three years. Something like two. Three years. Okay, this sounds like a John Grisham novel or what's the.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Thom Clancy was another.

>> Tim Wildmon: Clancy does, you know, international, thrillers, about international affairs. Okay, so this is really weird stuff that's in that maybe, though maybe. Maybe there is no connection, but it sounds like there is. And I'll say this before, you say that. You know what reminds me of. In Russia, they poison people.

>> Fred Jackson: Yep.

>> Tim Wildmon: I mean, they've been. If you oppose the leadership there in Russia, do you. They've been known to. You know what I'm saying? too bad they got some bad broccoli.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: You know, and, and they. That's not speculation. That happens. That's happened a lot. Go ahead, Fred.

>> Fred Jackson: One more weird element. Just listen to this concerningly. And they named some other cases. All four have been tied to McCaslin through his work overseeing the Air Force Research lab based at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, which has been rumored to study extraterrestrial technology since the 1947 Roswell UFO crash.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Somebody. Wow. Somebody. Who. That's got so many jokes written all over it that are inappropriate. Yeah. So I'm not going to say any. But somebody, somebody vanishing is different than somebody dying. M. Somebody.

It sounds like these people were either knocked off or abducted

People. You know, people pass away. And. And so it wouldn't be unusual that 10 people in their 70s or 60s or whatever died of natural causes or what. But when they vanish. M. Did the guy. Did the guy vanish in, Who was the guy vanished in McCaslin. Okay.

>> Fred Jackson: This general that makes.

>> Tim Wildmon: It sounds like they were either knocked off or abducted. And if you're abducted because you know so much about American.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: Defense technologies. I mean, am I.

>> Tony Vitagliano: No, I'm not crazy here. I think you're on. You know, you're probably.

>> Tim Wildmon: That's a speculative speculation.

>> Tony Vitagliano: But you have to. You have to go with what maybe is the most logical. You know, if you're working on advanced technology at an Air Force base.

>> Tim Wildmon: Right.

>> Tony Vitagliano: And let's just. Let's just all be honest here. Things are. Things are ramping up in the world. The world doesn't seem to be cooling down as, as these conflicts start to, you know, rise. I mean, I got to believe we're working on. Our military is working on technology that they Would not want China or anybody else getting catching wind of until we're ready to, you know, hopefully never have to, but until we'd be ready to reveal it. I mean, it wouldn't be surprised me if the government just comes and knocks on your door, says, pack your bags, you're coming to work at a. At a base, you know, sign this paper.

>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, you mean we're. Maybe our own government would do something like that and keep their. To keep their heart, to protect the person or keep their identities? I don't know.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: You're saying we don't know. And so at least a speculation. That's what we're doing.

>> Tony Vitagliano: That's what we're doing.

>> Chris Woodward: One thing, one thing is clear is that this should get far more news coverage than it does. And I think that kind of shows you the state of, the news media in this country. because you can find this story that we're talking about in a couple of places. But, everybody except afn, because we actually do stories that matter. Everybody has a story on, like the tryst between the sports reporter and the Patriots football coach. Like, that's. News outlets have become tabloids and they focus on stories that don't matter, whereas we really need to find out where people with space and nuclear secrets are.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.

>> Chris Woodward: 50 years ago, this would have been a huge story.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. I think, that a lot of news media don't want to be considered conspiracy nuts.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Right.

>> Tim Wildmon: And so they don't touch that one because, they. Oh, you believe. Oh, I guess. I guess they were all abducted by aliens.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yeah, that's right.

>> Tim Wildmon: You know, they don't want to be. They don't be in that category, so.

American Family Radio doesn't mind being called conspiratorial

All right. You're listening to today's issues on American Family Radio. we don't mind being called conspiratorial.

>> Tony Vitagliano: No, not at all.

>> Tim Wildmon: Nuts. That doesn't bother us. there are real conspiracies in the world.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: Did you ever see that movie about. With Mel Gibson called Conspiracy Theory? Oh, yeah. He played that part so good, huh?

>> Chris Woodward: Turned out he wasn't nuts.

>> Tim Wildmon: Listen, I. I can't endorse the whole movie because I don't remember what all was in it, honestly. I just remember it was Mel Gibson and the movie was Conspiracy Theories. When it comes to conspiracy theory.

>> Chris Woodward: Him and Trillia Roberts, okay.

>> Tim Wildmon: And Mel Gibson and he was like a taxicab driver and. And then inside his apartment was all these connections about. From all over the world about. It was.

>> Tony Vitagliano: It was, and it turned out to be true.

>> Tim Wildmon: It turned out to be true. Yeah, yeah, it was funny. It was a, it was a funny but serious. Serious. It was a, it wasn't meant to be a comedy is what I'm saying. But it had some comedic aspects to it that was ah, so it was called conspiracy theory.

>> Fred Jackson: Huh?

>> Tim Wildmon: That's what I. All right, you're listening to today's issues. Krish, what's your next story?

California is having a gubernatorial election in June; 12 Republicans, 24 Democrats

>> Chris Woodward: Well something that is not a joke is this California they're having a gubernatorial election this year. Gavin Newsom is term limited so he's going to be leaving office sad in January of next year. He's been there since 2019 and there are a number of people right Now I think 12 Republicans, 23, 24 Democrats, a whole bunch of non affiliated people running to be governor.

>> Tim Wildmon: I threw my name in that I hadn't ring yesterday. I'll email you can add one more into it there.

>> Chris Woodward: One of the leading Democrats is a billionaire by the name of Thom Steyer. Some people might remember his very brief campaign for President back in 2019, ahead of the 2020 election here in the states. But Thom Steyer is a billionaire and he's one of the leading Democrats right now in their soon to be primary that they're having in June in California. And he may actually be the front runner now that Eric Swalwell has dropped out of that race. But Thom Steyer is in the news today because he like a lot of other Democrats are saying that we need to abolish ice and he's calling the actions of ICE to go after and remove illegal immigrants, criminals, stuff like that. Somebody responding to this is our new DHS Secretary Mark Wayne Mullin. Here's what he had to say about Steyer criminalizing ice.

>> Speaker G: Clip 6 Ice simply enforces the nation's immigration policies and deports individuals and goes after the criminals that should never be in this country to begin with. we're not doing anything outside the law. We're working well within the law and they're doing the job every single day.

>> Chris Woodward: Now despite Mark Wayne Mullin's comments, Thom Steyer is still making headlines. He'll still make headlines tomorrow. But that's why we do what we do here on the show. So that way people get the story but they get the reaction that you're not going to get on la. Npr, back to you.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, I mean that's California again, right?

>> Tony Vitagliano: Sounds like the punchline. Right.

>> Tim Wildmon: I know they're a lot, there are a lot of good people In California

>> Tony Vitagliano: there are, we have a lot of, we have supporters and we have listeners.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.

>> Chris Woodward: But a lot of readers to AFN Net are actually in California, but overall

>> Tim Wildmon: they're a liberal, whacked out, state.

>> Chris Woodward: Now for people not paying attention to

>> Tim Wildmon: this, just a liberal state, should I say whacked out. Is that inappropriate?

>> Chris Woodward: That was, that's ridiculous.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Certain parts, yeah.

>> Chris Woodward: But, for people not paying attention to this, upcoming Jungle primary, as it's called, that's how California does its elections. Steve Hilton is the British, guy, tech entrepreneur, author. You've seen him on fire.

>> Tim Wildmon: He's a legal citizen.

>> Chris Woodward: Trump. Yes. He, became an American a few years ago. Trump has endorsed him. so Steve Hilton is kind of the leading candidate right now. Chad Bianco, a sheriff from Riverside county is also high on that list. But then you have a couple of Democrats. Thom Steyer is the leading Democrat now that's, well, has dropped out. And a lady named Katy Porter, former congresswoman, she had a failed Senate, campaign back in 2024 and so now she's running for governor there. Whoever the top two vote getters are in the June primary are the people that are going to be on the general ballot in November.

>> Tim Wildmon: So Krish, I've read up on this.

>> Speaker G: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: I'm super glad you're so heavily into California politics.

>> Chris Woodward: I have family there. Oh, do you really live upstate in the Sacramento area or normal people? well, there's some good people up there, but there's good people everywhere.

>> Tim Wildmon: Anyway, let's just scratch California politics as a topic for the next week.

>> Chris Woodward: you want to talk nuns, in NewSong York.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. But you know, there's nothing we can do to help California.

>> Tony Vitagliano: The good thing though is that California's voting system is so, so rock solid strict that it would be, you know, whatever happens there is going to be completely legitimate. You know, they take their voting system.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.

>> Tony Vitagliano: And integrity very, very seriously.

>> Tim Wildmon: What's, what's going to be funny to me was when a, Democrat wants to take another Democrat to court, in the state over illegals voting, how's that going to go? You know, because, because listen, seriously, across the country, a, ah, lot of Democrats, they don't believe in stopping illegal, people who are in our country illegally from voting. so that's what, you know, that's what the Face the act was about. So anyway, you're listening to today's issue. Go ahead. Yeah.

>> Fred Jackson: Still with elections just for a second. There is a special election in NewSong Jersey today, when former Congresswoman Mikey Sherrill won, the governor's race there, it necessitated a special election today to replace her, in Congress. The Democrat who is running there, and I'm told is ahead in the polls heading into today's voting. And a Lilia Meija, I think her name is, I would describe her as Zoran Mamdani in a dress. All right, Maybe even further, further, further to the socialist left. She wants free Medicare for everybody. She wants to forgive every kid's student loan. she doesn't like Israel. She says Israel is guilty of genocide. She, right now, heading into voting today, is ahead in the polls.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Well, you promise all that? I mean, yeah.

>> Chris Woodward: Really?

>> Tony Vitagliano: No surprise in NewSong Jersey.

>> Fred Jackson: In NewSong Jersey, yeah.

>> Tony Vitagliano: People got to learn the hard way. I guess that's the only thing I can. That's the only comment I can give. Is the one good.

>> Fred Jackson: They have a very distinct choice. the Republican, is Joe Hathaway. Very different, like one end to the other of the polar political polls, but because she's so wacky, she's backed by Bernie Sanders and AOC and all of that bunch. The people of NewSong Jersey cannot claim ignorance. I mean, she's out there advertising, promoting her.

Chris: There are very few moderates left in the Democrat Party

>> Tim Wildmon: Is this for a U.S. house of Representatives?

>> Fred Jackson: It is. It is.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so this makes it. I mean, this. As we've said here before, the score in the House is like three votes in favor of Republicans. They don't have very much of a margin.

>> Fred Jackson: Right.

>> Tim Wildmon: so. But, but. But this is probably a deep blue area, I'm guessing, in NewSong Jersey. yeah. You know, there are very few moderates left in the Democrat Party. John Fetterman, he's like the voice of reason.

>> Tony Vitagliano: You're hurt. You're purged out at some point. If you are. I mean, they try to at least.

>> Tim Wildmon: Well, they try to get rid of him. They'd like to get rid of him, but he's in the Senate with, like, four years left.

>> Chris Woodward: Do you know why they've moved so far left?

>> Tim Wildmon: Why, Krish?

>> Chris Woodward: Because they listen to people like Bernie Sanders, who refuses to run as a Democrat. He's. He's an independent. And for some reason, they change their party politics and their agenda to court him and his voters when the guy isn't even a Democrat to begin with.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yeah, well, I think the mom, Donnie Mamdani, being elected was kind of the.

>> Tim Wildmon: Don't forget Zoran.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Zoran. Zoran Mandani.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.

>> Tony Vitagliano: I think that was kind of the. I think the radicals took that as a As a cue that like, look, see we can, we can win these elections and people do want our policies so they're just going to double down, triple down on it.

>> Tim Wildmon: and this lady sounds to the left of Bernie Sanders though.

>> Chris Woodward: Yeah, well the one in the mayor of Seattle too has also been described as Mamdani in a dress.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Let's go on. Next story.

Chris: If you're going to be in the 401k, be invested

>> Chris Woodward: All right.

>> Tim Wildmon: Got any stories left?

>> Chris Woodward: I do, yes. one of the things that I do.

>> Tim Wildmon: 401ks are going up.

>> Chris Woodward: What's that?

>> Tim Wildmon: Let me inject that here. I'm sorry to interrupt you.

>> Chris Woodward: Oh yeah. If you want.

>> Tim Wildmon: On the good news side, of course I'm talking about people I'm not invested in the stock market.

>> Chris Woodward: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: I used to be. But I had two nervous breakdowns. Yeah, probably.

>> Tony Vitagliano: And it caused one around 2008.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, I had to be put in an institution in 2000 because that's when. Remember the jokes about the four hour 401ks becoming 201ks. But so after that, Allison, my wife, I don't know, 10 years ago he said, you know what? I don't care if we don't make a dime, we ain't losing no more. So we, we dialed the. Still a part of our company, our ministry 401k plan, but not risk and risk. But you know, I wouldn't say the same to my just Tony somebody your age, I would say no, you need to be somewhat invested if you're going to be in the 401k in the stock market because over, over decades you're going to make a lot of money rather than you. That's the historical truth. It is. And so somebody your age, Krish, I'd say be in the stock market. if you're going to be in the 401k, you need to be in some kind of investments to make more than, you know, 2 or 3%.

>> Fred Jackson: Right.

>> Tim Wildmon: However, so.

The stock market set a record yesterday and is still in positive territory today

But on the good news side, the stock market, for some reason.

>> Chris Woodward: Yeah. I'm trying to get to the bottom

>> Tim Wildmon: of that is going up and it set a record yesterday.

>> Chris Woodward: It did, it did. And it's still in positive territory today. As a matter of fact, the current headline on Market Watch is US Stocks tick higher returning to positive territory after a record setting day on Wall Street. Right now if you're listening to the sound of my voice, the Dow S and P and NASDAQ are all in positive territory and will presumably stay there for reasons we're not clear on. Although it does appear from Various news reports left, right and center, that investors seem to sense that there might be a coming calm, to this war in Iran. So that could be, one of

>> Tim Wildmon: the big reasons, but opened our overdrive stock market desk. Tony Battagliano.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Well, look, I can't make, I can't make heads or tails of it. you know, the reality is, we are. Trump and his administration watch the stock market like a hawk every single day. it looks like some of their policies are driven by what the stock market's doing, at that moment. So, it just seems like people are like, like Krish said, the market is trying to get ahead of any type of optimistic news coming out of the Middle East. And once you hit the gas, sometimes it just, you just can't stop it, until, you know, until you run off the road.

>> Fred Jackson: Some of it could be because of the announcement that was just made in the last few minutes. Apparently there's been a 10 day ceasefire reached between Israel and Lebanon starting at 5 o' clock this evening. So.

>> Tim Wildmon: And it's not Lebanon, I know what you're saying, but Israel is not at war with Lebanon. They're at war with Hezbollah, which is a terrorist organization that resides inside Lebanon. Pretty much. Much.

>> Fred Jackson: Yep. So that, that probably is going to encourage the stock market a little bit today too.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.

Rich Lowry: Pope and President Trump are at war over Iran war

All right. I wanted to. So Trump's at war with the Pope. That's another war going on. You, you guys familiar with this?

>> Tony Vitagliano: It's.

>> Tim Wildmon: You know who the Pope is, right?

>> Tony Vitagliano: I've heard of him.

>>  : Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. he's the leader of the Catholic Church, the worldwide leader of the Roman Catholic Church. He's an American. M. Is his name Leo?

>> Chris Woodward: It is. That's his title.

>> Tim Wildmon: Anyway. the Carpenters. No. A lot of Skags. And it wasn't Leo. It was something else. anyway, I've forgotten the name of that song. I just want to say the word Leo. That's what I think of. So, but the Pope, the Pope and President Trump are in a, war of words over the. Listen, this Pope is, a left winger, okay. On, geopolitical issues. In particular, he doesn't like President Trump and the feelings mutual. And he, he, he said, I'm not scared of Trump. And it's just, What do you think? I don't know if this is going to hurt him, President Trump. And they're. When the Republicans with Catholics or not.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yeah, I don't know what, I don't know, what favorability. Yeah, I Don't know what favorability the.

>> Tim Wildmon: We got a clip.

>> Chris Woodward: We do.

>> Tim Wildmon: Who's the clip by?

>> Chris Woodward: This is a Rich Lowry, who is an editor at National Review and was on Fox this morning talking about the Pope's situation with President Trump. Clip 10. Jesus told us, blessed, are the

>> Tim Wildmon: peacemakers, but woe to those who manipulate

>> Chris Woodward: religion in the very name of God for their own military, economic, or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.

>> Speaker I: Of course the Pope should pray for peace. He doesn't have to support this war. But he's being misleading about what the Bible says about warfare. He said a couple weeks ago on Palm Sunday, God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war. Has he ever heard of David? Has he ever heard of Gideon? Has he ever heard of Joshua? Some of the most important and compelling figures in the Bible who were warriors. Does he mean to suggest that God didn't listen to Lincoln or Churchill during their, for their prayers during the war? Or he didn't listen to a doughboy who was frightened in a trench in World War I because he was waging, war? It's preposterous. I don't know what he's saying now.

>> Chris Woodward: In various translations, Scripture also says in Ecclesiastes 3, verse 8, there is a time for war.

>> Fred Jackson: War.

>> Chris Woodward: So for the Pope to be saying, we don't need. We all need to make peace.

>> Tim Wildmon: I don't see the Pope here making any room for context. That's the problem. There is a just, war theory.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Yes. That's Thomas Aquinas within the Catholic Church. Within the Catholic Church wrote about it.

>> Tim Wildmon: so if the Pope wants to argue this isn't a just war, the Iranian American, then that's. I'll listen to what you have to say. But he's just making a blanket.

>> Ed Vitagliano: By the way.

>> Tim Wildmon: What was that? I thought he was from Chicago. His accent sounds like he's from.

>> Chris Woodward: Maybe he changes it a little bit for the audience. I can be country if you want.

>> Tim Wildmon: Maybe he spent so many years in the Vatican that he lost his, ability to, speak Chicago.

>> Tony Vitagliano: you want him to sound like a gangster? Like the Chicago. Chicago gang.

>> Fred Jackson: Like the Chicago gang.

>> Tim Wildmon: What was the coach for the Chicago Bears?

>> Chris Woodward: Ditka.

>> Tony Vitagliano: Ditka.

>> Chris Woodward: Mike Ditka.

>> Tim Wildmon: Remember that? Yeah. Ditka. all right, we'll be back momentarily. Stay with us. The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of

>> Tony Vitagliano: the American Family association or American Family Radio.

Tim, Tony and Fred talk with Chris on top news headlines of the day including a discussion on the latest with the U.S. blockade.