Today's Issues offers a Christian response to the issues of the day
>> Ed Vitagliano: 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. Welcome to the last day of August. Today's Monday, August 31, 2026, unless there was some vote I don't know about that gives us the 32nd day of August. Ed Vitagliano. Good morning, Ed.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Good morning, Tim.
>> Tim Wildmon: Fred Jackson. Good morning.
>> Fred Jackson: Good morning to you.
Tim: It's going to be 98 degrees on Wednesday in northeast Mississippi
>> Tim Wildmon: So it is August 3rd. Can you believe this? August 31st. Summer's coming. Gone.
>> Fred Jackson: No.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Has it really?
>> Fred Jackson: No.
>> Tim Wildmon: Not according to the weather.
>> Fred Jackson: Fred says no. 98 degrees here. Tupelo, northern Mississippi.
>> Ed Vitagliano: 98. What are you talking about?
>> Fred Jackson: It is.
>> Tim Wildmon: No, it's going Wednesday.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Tomorrow. Wednesday.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay. I. I'm this. Okay. Mine just says 96. I want to. I want to just say something right here. This is a conversation my wife and have, and I have all the time. I will say, today the high is only 92. And she will say, yeah, but on Wednesday, it's going to be 98. And that's with Fred.
>> Tim Wildmon: Just always negative, what you're saying. You need to be thankful for the
>> Ed Vitagliano: moment and not always point to what's
>> Tim Wildmon: gonna happen on the horizon.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Negative dance.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, I understand. Yes. Well, that's. That's half the. That's, The, glass half's empty, half full. Look at life, Ed.
>> Ed Vitagliano: It's kind of married life, right, Tim? I mean, I'm not commenting. Aren't you always telling me that?
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm not always telling you anything about my marriage.
>> Ed Vitagliano: that is the truth. He does. He doesn't say anything.
>> Tim Wildmon: No, I just take it.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Trying to put them on the spot.
>> Tim Wildmon: One of your funniest. I just take it one of your funniest lines is, you tell people who call in on the trivia show, you say, you don't have to talk. You don't have to say insult me like that. If I want to get insulted, I'll go home.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'll go home for lunch.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, my goodness. All right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And my wife does not,
>> Tim Wildmon: I know you're teasing.
>> Ed Vitagliano: It's a gag.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're teasing.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Ongoing gag, but it is.
>> Tim Wildmon: Listen, listen, as far as our weather here in northeast Mississippi, it is 98 on Wednesday, but we're getting no sympathy, none, from people in Arkansas and Texas and Oklahoma and Westward, because they've been over 100 probably for two weeks now. Something like that.
>> Fred Jackson: It's been a hot summer.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, it really has. Summertime. Anyway, it's Usually about middle of September that we people in the Deep south start experiencing, you know, some, some semblance of fall. And maybe by that I mean the high of 87. Yes, that's what I'm talking about.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Gets into the 80s.
>> Tim Wildmon: It gets into the 80s. People like, whoa, get a jacket out. Because it's time to do some s'. Mores.
>> Ed Vitagliano: You know, let's build a fire.
>> Tim Wildmon: Build a fire. It's 69.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Whoa.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's silly at night. All right, so, actually, it's the, when the, when the, when the humidity breaks, when it's. It can be pleasant at 588, as long as the humidity isn't up.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Get a little breeze.
>> Tim Wildmon: Absolutely. All right. Like going on in, our country and in our world. As always, we thank you for listening to American Family Radio. It is the last day of August. And Fred, what's worst? first on the news, agenda
>> Ed Vitagliano: today, would you say what's worse?
>> Tim Wildmon: What's the worst on the news agenda?
Number of people dead in Nepal flooding now exceeds 900; 4,700 missing
I had a brilliant slip there.
>> Fred Jackson: We. The magnitude of the tragedy in Nepal, just keeps building. we were talking about numbers of 150, 200 people dead, 1300 missing. Well, this morning, the number of people dead has now exceeded 900. And the number of people missing, as of 20 minutes ago, the updated figure was 4,700 people are missing.
>> Ed Vitagliano: That's stunning.
>> Fred Jackson: And over 80 of those are Americans, are American citizens. Apparently there were thousands of people there on a religious pilgrimage of some type in that area. And just for a reminder of what happened there, a huge portion of a glacier there in northern Nepal broke off. And when I talk huge, I mean, it created an earthquake, shake of 5.2 in the Richter scale. So we're not talking just a chunk. We're talking, a landmass of a glacier broke off. You have all of that water and debris tunneled down into very narrow valleys where all these people were. There's a story this morning that, the folks in Nepal fear there are hundreds of workers, that are stuck in hydropower tunnels. they were down there working when this hit. By now, I think most of our listeners, guys have seen the videos of just how rapid this happened. It was a beautiful day. You know, the sun is shining, there's blue sky, and you see these people running because they, they hear it before they see it. Yeah, this, this just wall of water coming down. So, we need to be praying for these folks. We've been talking to some of the mission organizations, the United States government is already sending, aid, as much as possible, into that area. But now on top of that, we had the story coming out of the Grand Canyon this weekend. it's been very dry there. But what happened? They had a sudden burst of rain which again went into these narrow valleys. There are people that camp down in the Grand Canyon and all of a sudden they got very little notice that, there was a, because of this heavy rain taking this silt and then pouring down into these narrow valleys once again. in the, in the case of the Grand Canyon, one person confirmed dead, but there are 15 people missing. So, just some tragedies both internationally and also.
>> Tim Wildmon: The Colorado river runs through the Grand Canyon.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right. So we talk. Do we know was that like a flash flood of that river?
>> Fred Jackson: It was a flash flood, yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: And you got, you got people who are backpacking and camping and so forth, and they got caught in it. That happened, yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: By the way, both of these stories are on afn.net you can read more about these stories. I know that my wife and I, our first ministry position was in Scottsdale, Arizona. And the west is like this same thing in NewSong Mexico where my parents moved the family when I was in college. But they would always warn you, to be careful where you camped, where you went hiking, because of these flash floods. And they are flash called flash floods for a reason. They can happen just almost, almost in the blink of an eye because you don't know what's happening upriver and in the mountains you get a lot of rain, you don't know that's happening. And then that water pours. Because every year some would. People would camp in what they called arroyos. These, they. It's a nice little flat area and they think it's a great place to maybe a little creek going through it. And they camp there, not realizing that this is a bed carved out by previous flash floods. And they get swept away. It's just, it's just part of living out there. And if you're not familiar with the danger, you can let me ask you this. Or hike in the wrong place.
>> Tim Wildmon: when the ground hardens because of drought or dryness over time, then we all know that the rain doesn't soak in.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: At least not initially. The rain doesn't penetrate the ground as much. and it just starts what you call runoff. And the runoff creates flooding.
>> Fred Jackson: Yep.
>> Tim Wildmon: That can happen anywhere and does happen.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: But especially what you're talking about a, maybe a riverbed.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, that's what they are. They're riverbeds.
>> Tim Wildmon: The riverbeds that don't that look like a dry. Nice area to camp flat. You're probably going, what, what could go wrong? I mean, yeah, there's a little creek over there, but yeah, that's not bothering anybody.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
One person dead and 15 missing in Grand Canyon following flash flooding
Anyway, so, so this is. Now this is a different situation than what happened in Nepal, but this is another, a little bit of a tragedy here. One person dead and 15 people missing.
>> Tim Wildmon: Missing. That's a lot of people to be missing even, you know, in a national, park.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Grand Canyon area. So don't they have, out west, what you're talking about, especially in the desert Southwest, don't they have what they call, What are these big thunderstorms that come in? Just monsoon season, right? Isn't that what they call it?
>> Ed Vitagliano: yeah, I think they may call it monsoon season. It's, it's the you get these heavy, heavy rains and now in the, in the west itself, just on the kind of flatter terrain my dad, who lived in. My mom and dad lived in Las Las Cruces, NewSong Mexico and then in Mesa, Arizona for many years. my dad would joke about 10, 10 inch rains in the summer and he said there'd be a drop of rain here, then 10 inches over here there'd be another drop. But up in the mountains, this is, this is where, this is where you can get these flash floods because it all builds up and rushes down, into these riverbeds. So this is, yeah, this is, this is a bad thing if 15 people are missing. Yeah, this, this is probably not going to end.
>> Tim Wildmon: Next story, Fred.
President Trump says the United States will respond to Iranian missile attack in Jordan
>> Fred Jackson: All right, Iran, some development story,
>> Tim Wildmon: Fred,
>> Fred Jackson: some developments, over the weekend and that now Trump is, is saying the BL is still working. But there was other activity, over the weekend that we needed to talk about. apparently there were some American strikes, on larocc island, some missile launchers. But the, the big news overnight is that Iran responded by hitting some U.S. bases, in Jordan. And Trey Youngst, who is doing a great job reporting on this, from Tel Aviv, he's a Fox reporter correspondent there. He actually talked with President Trump this morning about this latest development of Iran still able to launch missiles even into and attacking US Bases, as I say in Jordan. Here's what Trey Angst had to say late this morning. Cut number nine.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: I just spoke with President Trump who told Fox News the United States will respond to the Iranian attack on US Forces overnight in Jordan The President said, we're going to hit them hard. There will be a response. He indicated that all of the missiles except one were intercepted by US Air defense systems. One missile was identified as not going to hit anything significant and they allowed it to pass through the airspace. This comes, as the President said, said the Iranians want to meet so badly, but he doesn't know if you can count on them to make a deal. But added that the current U.S. sanctions against the Iranian regime are kicking in strongly. But again, the headline here, President Trump telling Fox News that the United States will respond to this attack on US Forces in Jordan overnight.
>> Fred Jackson: So you have two levels of conversation coming out of the White House. One level says, and the President has said this, and it's a paraphrase, is that, you know, Iran is a failing country. He says, we've heard him many times say we've knocked out their Air force, their navy, etc. Etc. Etc. But the reality is they can still launch weapons at the United States bases there in the Middle East. so, a lot of people may be scratching their heads if there's such a defeated a nation that's on the ropes yet they're still able to launch these attacks.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, and I think, that stuff that I've been reading is that Iran is probably continuing to get aid from China.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: In terms of missiles, maybe Russia as well.
>> Tim Wildmon: Why do you think that is? Just as an aside.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, it's not what I, Is this funny?
>> Tim Wildmon: Excuse me, I need to tip. Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I don't know if you're being serious.
>> Tim Wildmon: No, I'm asking a serious question.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. At first it's not what I.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, I've interrupted your thought process. Yeah. So, if you can get back to that, do so now, and then I'll come back with my question after you're finished talking.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes. So, first of all, it's not. Not what I'm saying. It's what I've been reading from military experts who are saying, obviously that Russia and China and probably North Korea and Iran, they're all part of the same group of thugs. Okay. And so they support one another. That's why Iran was, you know, selling oil to China, because China imports most of the oil that it uses, it has to import it. And I think that China is, helping to support Iran so they can continue to fight this. So, I'm sorry, I thought you were kidding about the question, but obviously you have a real question, so.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: You ready for it?
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm ready.
>> Tim Wildmon: So, my real question Is this, And I know there are people, when I say what I say, are going to say, are you an idiot? And I would say, if I want that kind of talk, I'll go home. I can go home and get that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Go home for lunch.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm just kidding. Just kidding. I just wanted to use Ed's line once today.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I probably took it from somebody.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm not one who believes that China is out to get the US in the way that I keep hearing. And the reason I say that is China is dependent on the US they make stuff, and we buy it. You, you, you destroy the U.S. you cut off your biggest customer in the world. So I don't know why we, why do we think that again? I know there are people out there thinking, well, you're, you're, you're not, you're a naive. You know, I just don't believe it.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, you don't have to.
>> Tim Wildmon: It doesn't make any sense economically for me to think China wants to destroy
>> Ed Vitagliano: the U.S. oh, I didn't say destroy. Okay. So I think they want to weaken the US because right now we are like two heavyweight boxers circling, and only one of them can be the top dog. Only one can be the world champ. I think the U.S. i mean, China wants to tie the U.S. down to A, an ongoing conflict with Iran that drains our military. That hurt politically hurts, a president who, instead of under the Biden administration, may be kowtowed, but the Trump administration plays a little bit more hardball against China, has. You know, so I think what they're trying to do is drain us and keep us over there. And so they're propping, Trying to help prop up the Iranian regime or whoever's in charge. I'm not saying they wanted. I don't think that China could destroy us without destroying themselves even militarily. but they would. I think they would love to see us drain our missiles, drain our military, tire out our, our aircraft carrier, groups by keeping them over there endlessly. That's what I, that's what I think.
>> Tim Wildmon: Also, President Trump, and what's he, what's the title and the fellow's name who's the leader of China's Communist Party?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Xi Jinping.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Xi Shi. Ping.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Xi Jinping. Xi Ping.
>> Tim Wildmon: Xi Ping.
>> Ed Vitagliano: anyway, Xi Jinping. Sorry, I get my ings.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Trump has great admiration for this man. He called him a great leader when he went to China.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: so I don't think Trump's looking to get into it. With China or China's looking to get into it with the U.S. militarily. and as I said, China makes stuff and we buy it, and that's the way the world turns.
Fred Kaplan: China has made clear they want Taiwan. They've been saying that for decades
So I don't know.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I think, though, I think that China has made clear they want Taiwan. They've been saying that for decades. I think they would like to get us to a place where we could not respond if they attacked and try to take Taiwan. So I'm, not saying they, I don't think they want to go just toe to toe with the United States, winner take all. They would like to see the US So drained that they could take Taiwan without the US Getting involved.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. you're listening to today's issue. I have my doubts about whether the US Would get involved at all militarily if they wanted to take Taiwan. Maybe I'm wrong about that. You want to get into a big war with the China over Taiwan?
>> Ed Vitagliano: I, I don't. But, personally, I, I don't. But I think we would, I think we would respond.
>> Tim Wildmon: Are you willing to go to the mat for Taiwan?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Not, not to destroy China, Stop them from taking it? Yeah, I think, I think it would be in our, probably in our national interest because of the chips that are made in Taiwan.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: All right.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're listening to today's issues on American Family Radio. Fred, stay neutral and all this and bring.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Now, what do you think, Fred?
>> Fred Jackson: I try. I try.
President Trump announced a huge deal with Venezuela on the weekend regarding oil
well, there's other Iran related news. you know, you know, President Trump has talked about the blockade and straight, to Hormuz, and he contends that there's oil and vessels moving out of the Persian Gulf. That, that has been debated, but I,
>> Tim Wildmon: guess is this the Persian Gulf? Is that, is that really.
>> Fred Jackson: He says there's an avenue, along, the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz that they say the United States says has been open to ships coming out of there. But we know it's still vulnerable because they're still having to remove Iranian mines there. But the big news, I guess, on the weekend with regards to oil was that the president announced a huge deal with Venezuela. they have a lot of oil in the ground, 65 billion barrels is the estimate. And the announcement on the weekend is basically Venezuela is going to allow oil companies here, based in the United States, to begin extracting that oil. President Trump says it will be great for Venezuela, but also great for, the American consumer. one person that's celebrating this is Arkansas Congressman Rick Crawford, who says the Venezuela deal is good and sends a message to China cut number 10.
>> Tim Wildmon: Not only from an energy security perspective, but from a, geographic security, I mean Western hem. Security perspective. This is really a good deal for the United States and a good deal for Venezuela. China was really kind of fomenting this unrest and have been for quite some time. And you've seen this signal, really across the hemisphere. If you look at countries like for example El Salvador, Peru, look what happened in Colombia recently.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, there's been competition. China, we know, has been trying to move in and develop footprints, Chinese footprints all over the world to get their raw material. So this is a bit of a, coup, I guess you would call it with regards to Venezuela. Venezuela's got lots of oil right now. The United States needs a lot of oil. And this sounds like a pretty good deal.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And so this is intended in part to restore the supply in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
>> Fred Jackson: Which is way down. Right?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Which is way down. I think that the president released a lot of that to try to get oil prices down. Correct, so.
>> Fred Jackson: Correct.
>> Ed Vitagliano: yeah, he's said from the very beginning that he wanted Venezuelan oil coming to the United States.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes. So this, this is a big deal. And you know, we're still getting oil from Canada despite the dispute that's on underway right now with regards to tariffs, etc. Etc. But that, that is a big catch. It's a big news for American oil companies. Right. because we have refineries that are thirsty and would like a whole lot more oil. Now there's already some oil coming from Venezuela, have been now for recent months. But this 65 billion barrels potential, pretty good deal. Now, KT McFarland, who is the former National Security Advisor, she says this Venezuela deal actually when we talk about the Strait of Hormuz, kind of makes the Strait of Hormuz debate kind of irrelevant. Cut number seven.
>> Tim Wildmon: As far as the importance of the straits can be increasingly irrelevant, especially because of the Venezuela, oil connection. We are now controlling a quarter of the world's oil. And whoever controls the world's energy, the world's fossil fuels in the years ahead, controls the future.
>> Fred Jackson: There you have it. It's all about oil.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, I mean some people think that's, you know, well, we shouldn't, we should be liberating countries for free. But you know, the fact is we spent like a trillion dollars in Iraq and a trillion dollars in Afghanistan and nobody paid us back for that. Of course. Some people might argue, well, you broke Iraq, so you needed to rebuild it. I have no problem saying, hey, listen, we need, we need oil. I hate for something to happen to you. Why don't you sell us some? So I'm, I'm good with it?
>> Tim Wildmon: Mm, Well, it's gonna happen whether you're good with it or not.
>> Ed Vitagliano: No, that's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: this is the way the world works. Venezuela. Yeah, well, Venezuela has always been oil rich. Right. that Maduro, he basically ruined that country.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, well, Hugo Chavez started Chavez.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. They had a, from what I understand the history of Venezuela. And, Alice and I used to go eat at a restaurant, local restaurant, who was, which was run by Venezuelan lady who had come to the US because of the. She had escaped. Yeah, the communists. Communists there. And, she was telling us what a beautiful. Quite frankly, they had a high standard of living.
>> Ed Vitagliano: They were the fourth wealthiest country in our hemisphere.
>> Tim Wildmon: And then they got taken over by the communists.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't know all the.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And now they're one of the poorest. Yeah, that's what communism does.
>> Tim Wildmon: Exactly. Exactly. All right. We'll be back with more of today's issues on the American Family Radio Network. Tim, Ed and Fred, we thank you for listening. so stay right there,
>> Ed Vitagliano: Friend.
80% of abortion vulnerable women choose life after seeing baby on ultrasound
We're living in a defining moment today. A woman facing an unexpected pregnancy can order the abortion pill online, often before anyone has the chance to tell her that she is loved, that she's not alone, or that there is hope. That's why you are needed right now. You are made for this moment. At PreBorn Network clinics, mothers are welcomed with compassion, practical support and a free ultrasound. And when she sees her baby and hears that tiny heartbeat for the very first time, fear often gives way to hope. In fact, more than 80% of abortion vulnerable women choose life after seeing their baby on an ultrasound at a PreBorn Network clinic. That one moment can save a baby's life and open a mother's heart to the hope of Jesus Christ. This is our moment to stand for those who cannot speak for themselves. Just $28 provides one life saving ultrasound. $140 helps rescue five babies. Please don't wait. Dial 250 and say the keyword baby. That's pound 250 baby or give securely@ah preborn.com afr that's preborn.com afr Together we can save lives one heartbeat at a time.
Greece and Italy, we're going there in the spring of 2020
>> Tim Wildmon: Greece and Italy, we're going there in the spring of 2020. 7. Hello, everyone. I'm Tim Wildmon, president of American Family association and American Family Radio. My sons Walker and Wesley are going to be leading a tour of Greece, which includes, many of the sites found in the Book of Acts where Paul traveled. And then we call this the Footsteps of Paul. And then we're going to Italy. By we, I mean Allison. My wife and I are leading a group to Italy to see the sights of, that great country, including Rome. We're going to visit Rome, and that'll take a couple, three days to see all that's in Rome. And so we're going to visit the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo, you may have heard of him, he was a slightly better than average artist. So we're going to be going there. If you want all the information on our tours of Italy and Greece, go to tours.afa.net that's tours.afa.net Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 106.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: 1.
>> Ed Vitagliano: This is today's issues. Email your comments to commentsafr.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.
>> Tim Wildmon: Thank you.
Football season is upon us and hockey season is right behind that
Hey, welcome back, everybody, to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Tim, Ed and Fred here on this Monday. It's the last day of the last day of the summer. Well, not official. I guess the summer is over sometime in September, but anyway. We typically think of summertime as June, July and August. And this is the last day of August, which means football season. Football season is upon us and hockey
>> Ed Vitagliano: season right behind that.
>> Tim Wildmon: I wanted to celebrate football first, and you're going to skip right to hockey.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Let's celebrate football, bro.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Well, you're Notre Dame fan. You win a lot. You're happy.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And they're ranked number four. Yeah, we're ranked number and the team I've rooted for Since I was 8 years old in the end of NFL, the Los Angeles Rams picked our picks to win it all.
>> Tim Wildmon: Win it all.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And, Eryn McDonald just came out of retirement to.
>> Tim Wildmon: Are you going to come out of retirement?
>> Ed Vitagliano: What's that?
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, you're talking about one of the greatest defensive players.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, he's, he's rejoining that stacked defense.
>> Tim Wildmon: What, two years off?
>> Ed Vitagliano: No, I think he's been out three.
>> Tim Wildmon: He ain't going to make it. You mark my words.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay?
>> Tim Wildmon: You don't sit out of the NFL from 32 years old to 35 and come back for to that just. I'll be shocked if he's anything.
>> Ed Vitagliano: No, no, you, you said mark my words, so I'll mark you.
>> Tim Wildmon: Marking my words. He's not going to be he's not going to be the player he was when he left, which was like the top NFL defensive lineman.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Why are you doing that?
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't know. I'm here, I want to be right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm here excited. And you are. And you're, and you're saying oh he's, he's going to stink. He's going to drag your whole team down.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well the reason I did that is because I wanted to talk about football starting you jump right to hockey. So I was wanting to get back at you there.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay, let's talk about football.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's a wrong.
>> Ed Vitagliano: How's Mississippi State?
>> Tim Wildmon: Wrong attitude.
>> Ed Vitagliano: But how's Mississippi State going to do this year?
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, we're undefeated. Your next question.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Would you like Eryn Donald to play a few.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes, I would. Well, LSU is wanting to. LSU's trying to sign guys that have played in the NF. Well they haven't played yet but they've signed with NFL teams. Did you see that?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. Well why not? It's no longer amateur sports so I
>> Fred Jackson: know Ed's going to go back to college. He wants some of those deals football players are getting and you're going to
>> Ed Vitagliano: see me in a Hallmark movie. 68 year old man goes back to high school and finally makes it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. And the girls on the team are not happy. The girls flag football team, they're not happy that he has come out.
>> Fred Jackson: Huh?
>> Ed Vitagliano: The girls for the girls flag football team.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right. They did have a few college football games though over the weekend and so that, but the big opening weekend is this weekend coming up for most teams across America.
Fred Vance: Abdul El Sayed making headlines over anti-Semitic comments
All right, you're listening to today's issues on American Family Radio. What's our next news story?
>> Fred Jackson: Fred Vice President J.D. vance is headed to Michigan today, for doing some campaigning there. But the for himself or for someone else? Well, he's, he's candidating for the Republican there in Michigan, Mike Rogers. Mike Rogers senatorial candidate. Yes. but the Democrat who's running for the Senate, Abdul El Sayed is continuing to make big news, and sometimes not for real good reasons as far as if you're a Democrat because now he's being asked about past remarks and the latest is what Abdul, El Sayed had to say. You remember back several months ago there was an attack on a synagogue, in the, I think in the Detroit area. Remember, a guy drove a vehicle right into the synagogue around that time. Abdul, Al Sayed was asked to respond to that, and he kind of equated it to, hey, you know, bad things are happening here and Israel is creating bad things in the Middle East. So he tried to do a juxtapose, on those two incidents.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Kind of like moral equivalency.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. And now he's trying to apologize for that. But the apology is not going well. Here's what he had to say about that on the weekend. Cut number five.
>> Tim Goeglein: To anybody who feels like, my comments might have been hurtful, I'm really sorry, that was not my intention. We condemned that terrorist attack. We condemned it outright. What I was trying to do is offer context for why it happened, but it wasn't the time for context. And you don't ever want to trample somebody's, pain. We're in the state of Michigan. If you want to make this race about a streamer in California, I just think you're missing the boat. This is about affordability in Michigan. This is about being able to see a doctor in Michigan. This is about Donald Trump's disastrous policies in Michigan. That's what I'm focused on right now.
>> Fred Jackson: So he keeps trying to, say the people of Michigan aren't interested in all these controversies. You know, who I hang out with and what I've said in the past about Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu, don't focus on that. Well, his opponent, Congressman Mike Rogers, the Republican there, he's, he's not letting El Sayed get away with that. Cut number six.
>> Speaker G: When someone says, you might have been offended by what I said, that's not an apology. He has a long history of anti Semitic comments, inflammatory comments. He's angry, he's aggressive. And, you know, there's a time in politics when who you are is very different than who you want people to think you are. And so the polling said, hey, he needed to change this, mainly because we've had so many Democrat Jewish people here in the state of Michigan ring up our phone, say, I can't do this, I'm for you. we've had big events. That group is swelling by the day. So that was his sad attempt, I think, to try to stem that bleeding.
>> Fred Jackson: I think this Senate race in Michigan is going to be the big story coming out of the midterms. As far as the Senate races go, this has been held by a Democrat. And because of the controversy surrounding Abdul Al said, Mike Rogers, the Republican, has a pretty good chance of picking that Senate seat up.
>> Ed Vitagliano: You know, here's what I think, in terms of this controversy, mini controversy, over Abdul Al Saad's comments and then Mike Rogers response. Okay, first of all, and both, more than one thing can be true at the same time, I think you're going to see more and more Jewish Democrats become very nervous about what's happening in their own party and start drifting towards Republicans. Unfortunately, I think for the vast majority of the younger voters in the Democratic Party, I think they're going to buy what El Sayed said. He's, a very. He's a very articulate guy. He's running a good campaign. That was the right thing to say. If you're trying to get out from under scrutiny. The right thing to say is. All I meant was that, there's pain amongst Palestinians, there's pain amongst the Jews. It was the wrong time to say something. And then he pivoted to the affordability question. And that, I think, unfortunately, that is what most of the Democratic voters, especially in the younger echelons, I think that's all they care about.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: what do the polls say in Michigan now? Do you know?
>> Fred Jackson: Pretty close, I think. The last that I saw, Abdul El Sayed had a slight lead. He's popular in, obviously. I mean, he won the, the Democrat primary over the sitting, member, of Congress.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm very impressed with his ability to handle the media.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes, yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: He's pretty sure. Like Mom, Donnie, these guys. These guys. And listen, I tend to ask these kind of questions. They've been well drilled. And I want to say, well, who's footing the bill for these guys to become. But both of them handle the media very well. Yeah, I'm looking at several different polls. 270 to win is a statistical. It is a tie. 44.3.
>> Tim Wildmon: Mike Rogers and, What's it, fellas?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Abdul, El Sayed.
>> Tim Wildmon: His first name.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Abdul. Okay, real clear politics. El Sayed is up. Is it Sayed or Sayed? okay. Is up 1.7%. Race to the White House polling. He's up 1.2%. So turnout is going to probably make all the difference.
>> Fred Jackson: Well, not only turnout, Ed, but I think the debates. Mike Rogers said this morning they have right now at least three debates scheduled. I bet those will be network televised. Yeah, because of.
Mike Rogers will face Democrat El Said in debates on economy and foreign policy
>> Ed Vitagliano: It's a big race.
>> Fred Jackson: It is a huge race. And as you have We've said El Said is very good on his feet. Yes, he really is. And Mike Rogers is going to have to be pretty sharp in those debates and it'll be interesting to see who's asking the questions.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Hey, listen, the part of the problem for Mike Rogers is, and in these debates is that El Sayed is going to have the upper hand, I think, when discussing the economy. Okay. Because the economy is not going well for most people in terms of buying groceries and paying for gas, all those kind of energy costs, all that kind of stuff. So if you're Mike Rogers, do you defend the war in Iran which has at least contributed to increased prices? do you, do you try to explain why it's not President Trump's fault that inflation is not yielding? and El Said is going to have, like I said, the upper hand by saying, listen, and Republicans have used this argument, are you better off than you were, you know, X number of years ago? Yep, two years ago, whatever. And most people are going to say no, that's a heart, that's a big hill to climb up.
>> Tim Wildmon: Let me ask you this. do you think the Democrat Party and the Jewish, relationship to the Jewish people in the United States because the Jews have voted for Democrats probably 90 to 10 over Republicans or 80, 20. I mean they've been a block, they're not a large population. But in places like NewSong York for example, or in Florida, South Florida in particular, the Jewish, vote is big.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so my question is, here's what El Sayed said in. Because he's going to. Mike Rogers and others are going to try to tag these Democrat he. And this is going to be true of the Democrat socialists across the country. They're going to, the Republicans are going to try to label them as anti Semitic, that they hate Jewish people. And these people are going to come back with. By these people, I mean the Democrat socialists, are going to come back with the answer I'm about to give, which I'm about to quote from El Sayad, the Democrat senatorial candidate from Michigan. Here's what he said because he spoke to, said his message to Jewish voters in Michigan is quote, we may not agree on everything when it comes to foreign policy. I'm not going to stop fighting for Palestinian self determination. But that does not mean that I will not stand up for safety of all communities. And I believe in the safety and dignity of Jewish kids like I believe in the safety and dignity of my own kids, end of quote. So, can you be anti Israel Ah. Against Israel's policies in the Middle east with respect to Gaza and not be anti Semitic. Is that. That's what he's going to argue? and I think it'll work.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I think it'll work, too. I think it'll work.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't know if he's asleep or not. I don't know his heart, but to say that, I'm for Palestinian. What did he say?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Self. Determination.
>> Tim Wildmon: Determination. Well, that's been a, a policy of the Democrat Party forever.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I just think that. Now, do I think El Sayed is, anti Semitic? I think actual Muslims are. Okay. I think they hate the Jewish people in general. Okay. I think what I say, when I say I think it will work in agreeing with you is I think he's going to be able to split those two things and publicly say, listen, we don't need to go to war just because I think this is going to work, like I said, with a certain percentage of Republicans, too. We don't need to go to war with Iran because Israel, led us into it. Now, folks, please don't scream at the radio or Israel feels threatened, therefore we're in a war. Please don't think this is what I believe. I don't believe this. I'm saying this is going to work with a large percentage of the Democratic voters. They're going to say we don't need to go to war because Israel wants us to or feels threatened. we can say Israel has a right to defend itself and also criticize what they're doing in Gaza and in Lebanon. I think that will work with enough people. With enough people. When there are economic problems at home.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I think it's going to scare the
>> Tim Wildmon: somatic label that they're going to try to attach to this fellow. If the approach is going to be what I just said, which to me sounds reasonable. Okay. That is, again, like you. I'm not, I'm not saying. I'm saying it sounds reasonable to say I'm against the Israeli policies, but I'm not against Jewish people.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes. When we say reasonable, we mean as an explanation for his.
>> Tim Wildmon: For, the general public.
>> Ed Vitagliano: For the general public, they're going to go, okay, I can see that. And that's all you have to pull off in order to get 1 or 2 percentage points. Enough to beat Mike Rogers. When your main argument is our economy is in shambles, everyone's broke and living paycheck to paycheck.
>> Tim Wildmon: The vast majority of people say. Really are going to say, I don't care about Israel or Gaza or anything like that. I care about grocery store prices and gas prices and my standard living and jobs. That's what they're going to say they care most.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And this El Sayed is going to be again, like Zoran Mamdani in these debates that Fred mentioned. He's not going to slip and say, well, I just think all the Jews ought to burn.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: He's not going to slip up and say that. He is going to have a slick, well prepared answer because all he has to do is diffuse the argument that he is anti Semitic and then pivot to the economic question and then I think he can win.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Listen, all politicians, Republican or Democrat, they pivot when they are faced with an uncomfortable issue.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: So it's just how well you can do it.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And that's why American voters have to be educated.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's why they call Bill Clinton slick.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes. Sick Willy is American voters have to be educated. They have to understand what the issues are so they can see through those pivots.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And that slickness.
El Said running as Democrat with first name Abdul has perfect English
But most voters aren't, I don't think. Now that's what we try to do. That's what American Family News tries to do. That we do in this show, our network. We're trying to get the truth out there to people.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: but not everybody has the time or the inclination to pay attention.
>> Tim Wildmon: When I first heard about this El Said guy running as a Democrat and he won the Democrat primary with the first name Abdul.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: I thought we were going to hear somebody with a thick Middle, Middle Eastern accent wearing a Middle Eastern, clothing and garb and Allahu Akbar.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: I was saying, Praise Allah every other, sentence. And I thought that ain't that. Excuse the English. That ain't gonna fly in Michigan. Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're not going to win like that. Well, this guy's complete opposite of that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: He dresses, very American or Western. He has perfect English. He's very articulate and he can, he comes across as just a concerned American citizen wanting to do, you know, wanting to do some things to help the public, help, the voters. I'm just saying that's the perception. When I first heard about him, that's the image I had created in my mind thinking he's going to sound like a real foreigner.
>> Tim Goeglein: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: When that. He doesn't in any way.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, and whoever. And whoever is paying for these candidates to come. And I think this is part of a socialist Democrat. Well, no. Yeah. Talking about Democratic Socialists, but also money behind Muslim candidates. I think this is being funded. I can't prove this at this point. I think this is being well funded. They're not going to get put m money behind the character you just described wearing Muslim dark chance of winning. Who has no who's. You know, you want an icy with that. You know, that's not what you're gonna get in these. You're gonna get, you're gonna get Zoran Mandani and Zoran Mamdani smiling Zoran. Ah, nice suit.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, yeah. I'm here for the working class. Yes, basically.
>> Ed Vitagliano: All right.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're listening to today's issues on American Family Radio. Next story.
Vice President J.D. Vance heads to Las Vegas to speak to Jewish group
>> Fred Jackson: Speaking of politicians who pivot, there could be some pivoting going on on the Republican side before the day is out. Because after campaigning today, in Michigan, Vice President J.D. vance is going to hop aboard a plane, Air Force Two probably, and he heads to Las Vegas. Why is he going to Las Vegas? Because he's going to go behind closed doors to speak to the Republican Jewish Coalition. They are a little upset with Vice President J.D. vance. They believe probably he's going to run for president in 28. But they are not happy with some of the comments that he has made against Prime Minister Netanyahu and against Israel going back several months. Once again, Vice President Vance has been critical of Netanyahu, for example, launching attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon. he was not happy with the concerns raised by Prime Minister Netanyahu over the so called deal, Gaza deal, because, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Hamas had to completely surrender, give up all their weapons before Israel would agree to start extracting its military from Gaza. So it's very interesting. Vice President, J.D. vance is going there to Las Vegas to speak to this group. And I found it kind of interesting that it is closed to the media. It is behind closed doors. Why is that? Because I think there are going to be some very pointed questions asked of the Vice President.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. So I am reading from a story that is, on our own AFN website here. Okay. It says Vance suggested last month that some Israeli officials have sought to manipulate US Public opinion in order to prolong the war with Iran. There's also lingering concern over Vance's failure to disavow Tucker Carl Carlsen, a conservative commentator who last year hosted anti Semite Nick Fuentes. Fuentes for a friendly conversation. There's a couple of other things too that have drawn concern from, Jews
>> Fred Jackson: in our country and Evangelical Christians.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And Evangelical Christians, yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Vice President Vance, who I like a lot. Is he saying that Benjamin Netanyahu has got us into a war or something? What has he said exactly?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, I think that is the position of someone like Tucker Carlsen. There is. I don't know what the percentage is, but there is a significant and growing percentage of Republican voters who believe that Israel, for the sake of its own safety, has wanted to deal with Iran for a long time. And President Trump, being more of a hardliner and more, you know, pro military, whatever you want to say, that, that, that Netanyahu talked, Trump into attacking Iran with Israel in order to end that threat from Iran. Now, I don't know whether that's true. That would make sense. We do that kind of thing. Every country does that kind of thing. Try to draft whatever help you can, to, kind of strengthen your hand. And yet this more isolationist wing in the Republican Party says we don't want to be involved in wars anywhere. So why are we in this ongoing endless conflict with Iran? It must be because Israel talked us into it.
>> Tim Wildmon: I think that's the argument that would go contrary to President Trump's own statements over and over again, that he's basically said, when it comes to Israel, he runs the show. Yes, he runs the show, and everybody knows it. So he makes. He calls. Whatever happens, Trump says, I call the shots for Israel and I call the shots in the war. So I would say if Vice President Vance has a problem with the war in Iran, he has a direct line to the man who can do something about it, not the Jewish folks out there.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, I don't. I'm not blaming the Jews either. I'm just saying that's the view. I've heard that view. Read that view out there.
>> Tim Wildmon: I've heard, you know, that we met Benjamin I, who talked Trump into it. I'm going like Trump says, he runs the show. He'll be back momentarily. The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
Today's Issues offers a Christian response to the issues of the day
>> Ed Vitagliano: 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. Welcome to the last day of August. Today's Monday, August 31, 2026, unless there was some vote I don't know about that gives us the 32nd day of August. Ed Vitagliano. Good morning, Ed.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Good morning, Tim.
>> Tim Wildmon: Fred Jackson. Good morning.
>> Fred Jackson: Good morning to you.
Tim: It's going to be 98 degrees on Wednesday in northeast Mississippi
>> Tim Wildmon: So it is August 3rd. Can you believe this? August 31st. Summer's coming. Gone.
>> Fred Jackson: No.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Has it really?
>> Fred Jackson: No.
>> Tim Wildmon: Not according to the weather.
>> Fred Jackson: Fred says no. 98 degrees here. Tupelo, northern Mississippi.
>> Ed Vitagliano: 98. What are you talking about?
>> Fred Jackson: It is.
>> Tim Wildmon: No, it's going Wednesday.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Tomorrow. Wednesday.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay. I. I'm this. Okay. Mine just says 96. I want to. I want to just say something right here. This is a conversation my wife and have, and I have all the time. I will say, today the high is only 92. And she will say, yeah, but on Wednesday, it's going to be 98. And that's with Fred.
>> Tim Wildmon: Just always negative, what you're saying. You need to be thankful for the
>> Ed Vitagliano: moment and not always point to what's
>> Tim Wildmon: gonna happen on the horizon.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Negative dance.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, I understand. Yes. Well, that's. That's half the. That's, The, glass half's empty, half full. Look at life, Ed.
>> Ed Vitagliano: It's kind of married life, right, Tim? I mean, I'm not commenting. Aren't you always telling me that?
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm not always telling you anything about my marriage.
>> Ed Vitagliano: that is the truth. He does. He doesn't say anything.
>> Tim Wildmon: No, I just take it.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Trying to put them on the spot.
>> Tim Wildmon: One of your funniest. I just take it one of your funniest lines is, you tell people who call in on the trivia show, you say, you don't have to talk. You don't have to say insult me like that. If I want to get insulted, I'll go home.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'll go home for lunch.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, my goodness. All right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And my wife does not,
>> Tim Wildmon: I know you're teasing.
>> Ed Vitagliano: It's a gag.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're teasing.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Ongoing gag, but it is.
>> Tim Wildmon: Listen, listen, as far as our weather here in northeast Mississippi, it is 98 on Wednesday, but we're getting no sympathy, none, from people in Arkansas and Texas and Oklahoma and Westward, because they've been over 100 probably for two weeks now. Something like that.
>> Fred Jackson: It's been a hot summer.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, it really has. Summertime. Anyway, it's Usually about middle of September that we people in the Deep south start experiencing, you know, some, some semblance of fall. And maybe by that I mean the high of 87. Yes, that's what I'm talking about.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Gets into the 80s.
>> Tim Wildmon: It gets into the 80s. People like, whoa, get a jacket out. Because it's time to do some s'. Mores.
>> Ed Vitagliano: You know, let's build a fire.
>> Tim Wildmon: Build a fire. It's 69.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Whoa.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's silly at night. All right, so, actually, it's the, when the, when the, when the humidity breaks, when it's. It can be pleasant at 588, as long as the humidity isn't up.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Get a little breeze.
>> Tim Wildmon: Absolutely. All right. Like going on in, our country and in our world. As always, we thank you for listening to American Family Radio. It is the last day of August. And Fred, what's worst? first on the news, agenda
>> Ed Vitagliano: today, would you say what's worse?
>> Tim Wildmon: What's the worst on the news agenda?
Number of people dead in Nepal flooding now exceeds 900; 4,700 missing
I had a brilliant slip there.
>> Fred Jackson: We. The magnitude of the tragedy in Nepal, just keeps building. we were talking about numbers of 150, 200 people dead, 1300 missing. Well, this morning, the number of people dead has now exceeded 900. And the number of people missing, as of 20 minutes ago, the updated figure was 4,700 people are missing.
>> Ed Vitagliano: That's stunning.
>> Fred Jackson: And over 80 of those are Americans, are American citizens. Apparently there were thousands of people there on a religious pilgrimage of some type in that area. And just for a reminder of what happened there, a huge portion of a glacier there in northern Nepal broke off. And when I talk huge, I mean, it created an earthquake, shake of 5.2 in the Richter scale. So we're not talking just a chunk. We're talking, a landmass of a glacier broke off. You have all of that water and debris tunneled down into very narrow valleys where all these people were. There's a story this morning that, the folks in Nepal fear there are hundreds of workers, that are stuck in hydropower tunnels. they were down there working when this hit. By now, I think most of our listeners, guys have seen the videos of just how rapid this happened. It was a beautiful day. You know, the sun is shining, there's blue sky, and you see these people running because they, they hear it before they see it. Yeah, this, this just wall of water coming down. So, we need to be praying for these folks. We've been talking to some of the mission organizations, the United States government is already sending, aid, as much as possible, into that area. But now on top of that, we had the story coming out of the Grand Canyon this weekend. it's been very dry there. But what happened? They had a sudden burst of rain which again went into these narrow valleys. There are people that camp down in the Grand Canyon and all of a sudden they got very little notice that, there was a, because of this heavy rain taking this silt and then pouring down into these narrow valleys once again. in the, in the case of the Grand Canyon, one person confirmed dead, but there are 15 people missing. So, just some tragedies both internationally and also.
>> Tim Wildmon: The Colorado river runs through the Grand Canyon.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right. So we talk. Do we know was that like a flash flood of that river?
>> Fred Jackson: It was a flash flood, yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: And you got, you got people who are backpacking and camping and so forth, and they got caught in it. That happened, yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: By the way, both of these stories are on afn.net you can read more about these stories. I know that my wife and I, our first ministry position was in Scottsdale, Arizona. And the west is like this same thing in NewSong Mexico where my parents moved the family when I was in college. But they would always warn you, to be careful where you camped, where you went hiking, because of these flash floods. And they are flash called flash floods for a reason. They can happen just almost, almost in the blink of an eye because you don't know what's happening upriver and in the mountains you get a lot of rain, you don't know that's happening. And then that water pours. Because every year some would. People would camp in what they called arroyos. These, they. It's a nice little flat area and they think it's a great place to maybe a little creek going through it. And they camp there, not realizing that this is a bed carved out by previous flash floods. And they get swept away. It's just, it's just part of living out there. And if you're not familiar with the danger, you can let me ask you this. Or hike in the wrong place.
>> Tim Wildmon: when the ground hardens because of drought or dryness over time, then we all know that the rain doesn't soak in.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: At least not initially. The rain doesn't penetrate the ground as much. and it just starts what you call runoff. And the runoff creates flooding.
>> Fred Jackson: Yep.
>> Tim Wildmon: That can happen anywhere and does happen.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: But especially what you're talking about a, maybe a riverbed.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, that's what they are. They're riverbeds.
>> Tim Wildmon: The riverbeds that don't that look like a dry. Nice area to camp flat. You're probably going, what, what could go wrong? I mean, yeah, there's a little creek over there, but yeah, that's not bothering anybody.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
One person dead and 15 missing in Grand Canyon following flash flooding
Anyway, so, so this is. Now this is a different situation than what happened in Nepal, but this is another, a little bit of a tragedy here. One person dead and 15 people missing.
>> Tim Wildmon: Missing. That's a lot of people to be missing even, you know, in a national, park.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Grand Canyon area. So don't they have, out west, what you're talking about, especially in the desert Southwest, don't they have what they call, What are these big thunderstorms that come in? Just monsoon season, right? Isn't that what they call it?
>> Ed Vitagliano: yeah, I think they may call it monsoon season. It's, it's the you get these heavy, heavy rains and now in the, in the west itself, just on the kind of flatter terrain my dad, who lived in. My mom and dad lived in Las Las Cruces, NewSong Mexico and then in Mesa, Arizona for many years. my dad would joke about 10, 10 inch rains in the summer and he said there'd be a drop of rain here, then 10 inches over here there'd be another drop. But up in the mountains, this is, this is where, this is where you can get these flash floods because it all builds up and rushes down, into these riverbeds. So this is, yeah, this is, this is a bad thing if 15 people are missing. Yeah, this, this is probably not going to end.
>> Tim Wildmon: Next story, Fred.
President Trump says the United States will respond to Iranian missile attack in Jordan
>> Fred Jackson: All right, Iran, some development story,
>> Tim Wildmon: Fred,
>> Fred Jackson: some developments, over the weekend and that now Trump is, is saying the BL is still working. But there was other activity, over the weekend that we needed to talk about. apparently there were some American strikes, on larocc island, some missile launchers. But the, the big news overnight is that Iran responded by hitting some U.S. bases, in Jordan. And Trey Youngst, who is doing a great job reporting on this, from Tel Aviv, he's a Fox reporter correspondent there. He actually talked with President Trump this morning about this latest development of Iran still able to launch missiles even into and attacking US Bases, as I say in Jordan. Here's what Trey Angst had to say late this morning. Cut number nine.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: I just spoke with President Trump who told Fox News the United States will respond to the Iranian attack on US Forces overnight in Jordan The President said, we're going to hit them hard. There will be a response. He indicated that all of the missiles except one were intercepted by US Air defense systems. One missile was identified as not going to hit anything significant and they allowed it to pass through the airspace. This comes, as the President said, said the Iranians want to meet so badly, but he doesn't know if you can count on them to make a deal. But added that the current U.S. sanctions against the Iranian regime are kicking in strongly. But again, the headline here, President Trump telling Fox News that the United States will respond to this attack on US Forces in Jordan overnight.
>> Fred Jackson: So you have two levels of conversation coming out of the White House. One level says, and the President has said this, and it's a paraphrase, is that, you know, Iran is a failing country. He says, we've heard him many times say we've knocked out their Air force, their navy, etc. Etc. Etc. But the reality is they can still launch weapons at the United States bases there in the Middle East. so, a lot of people may be scratching their heads if there's such a defeated a nation that's on the ropes yet they're still able to launch these attacks.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, and I think, that stuff that I've been reading is that Iran is probably continuing to get aid from China.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: In terms of missiles, maybe Russia as well.
>> Tim Wildmon: Why do you think that is? Just as an aside.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, it's not what I, Is this funny?
>> Tim Wildmon: Excuse me, I need to tip. Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I don't know if you're being serious.
>> Tim Wildmon: No, I'm asking a serious question.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. At first it's not what I.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, I've interrupted your thought process. Yeah. So, if you can get back to that, do so now, and then I'll come back with my question after you're finished talking.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes. So, first of all, it's not. Not what I'm saying. It's what I've been reading from military experts who are saying, obviously that Russia and China and probably North Korea and Iran, they're all part of the same group of thugs. Okay. And so they support one another. That's why Iran was, you know, selling oil to China, because China imports most of the oil that it uses, it has to import it. And I think that China is, helping to support Iran so they can continue to fight this. So, I'm sorry, I thought you were kidding about the question, but obviously you have a real question, so.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: You ready for it?
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm ready.
>> Tim Wildmon: So, my real question Is this, And I know there are people, when I say what I say, are going to say, are you an idiot? And I would say, if I want that kind of talk, I'll go home. I can go home and get that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Go home for lunch.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm just kidding. Just kidding. I just wanted to use Ed's line once today.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I probably took it from somebody.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm not one who believes that China is out to get the US in the way that I keep hearing. And the reason I say that is China is dependent on the US they make stuff, and we buy it. You, you, you destroy the U.S. you cut off your biggest customer in the world. So I don't know why we, why do we think that again? I know there are people out there thinking, well, you're, you're, you're not, you're a naive. You know, I just don't believe it.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, you don't have to.
>> Tim Wildmon: It doesn't make any sense economically for me to think China wants to destroy
>> Ed Vitagliano: the U.S. oh, I didn't say destroy. Okay. So I think they want to weaken the US because right now we are like two heavyweight boxers circling, and only one of them can be the top dog. Only one can be the world champ. I think the U.S. i mean, China wants to tie the U.S. down to A, an ongoing conflict with Iran that drains our military. That hurt politically hurts, a president who, instead of under the Biden administration, may be kowtowed, but the Trump administration plays a little bit more hardball against China, has. You know, so I think what they're trying to do is drain us and keep us over there. And so they're propping, Trying to help prop up the Iranian regime or whoever's in charge. I'm not saying they wanted. I don't think that China could destroy us without destroying themselves even militarily. but they would. I think they would love to see us drain our missiles, drain our military, tire out our, our aircraft carrier, groups by keeping them over there endlessly. That's what I, that's what I think.
>> Tim Wildmon: Also, President Trump, and what's he, what's the title and the fellow's name who's the leader of China's Communist Party?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Xi Jinping.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Xi Shi. Ping.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Xi Jinping. Xi Ping.
>> Tim Wildmon: Xi Ping.
>> Ed Vitagliano: anyway, Xi Jinping. Sorry, I get my ings.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Trump has great admiration for this man. He called him a great leader when he went to China.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: so I don't think Trump's looking to get into it. With China or China's looking to get into it with the U.S. militarily. and as I said, China makes stuff and we buy it, and that's the way the world turns.
Fred Kaplan: China has made clear they want Taiwan. They've been saying that for decades
So I don't know.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I think, though, I think that China has made clear they want Taiwan. They've been saying that for decades. I think they would like to get us to a place where we could not respond if they attacked and try to take Taiwan. So I'm, not saying they, I don't think they want to go just toe to toe with the United States, winner take all. They would like to see the US So drained that they could take Taiwan without the US Getting involved.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. you're listening to today's issue. I have my doubts about whether the US Would get involved at all militarily if they wanted to take Taiwan. Maybe I'm wrong about that. You want to get into a big war with the China over Taiwan?
>> Ed Vitagliano: I, I don't. But, personally, I, I don't. But I think we would, I think we would respond.
>> Tim Wildmon: Are you willing to go to the mat for Taiwan?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Not, not to destroy China, Stop them from taking it? Yeah, I think, I think it would be in our, probably in our national interest because of the chips that are made in Taiwan.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: All right.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're listening to today's issues on American Family Radio. Fred, stay neutral and all this and bring.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Now, what do you think, Fred?
>> Fred Jackson: I try. I try.
President Trump announced a huge deal with Venezuela on the weekend regarding oil
well, there's other Iran related news. you know, you know, President Trump has talked about the blockade and straight, to Hormuz, and he contends that there's oil and vessels moving out of the Persian Gulf. That, that has been debated, but I,
>> Tim Wildmon: guess is this the Persian Gulf? Is that, is that really.
>> Fred Jackson: He says there's an avenue, along, the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz that they say the United States says has been open to ships coming out of there. But we know it's still vulnerable because they're still having to remove Iranian mines there. But the big news, I guess, on the weekend with regards to oil was that the president announced a huge deal with Venezuela. they have a lot of oil in the ground, 65 billion barrels is the estimate. And the announcement on the weekend is basically Venezuela is going to allow oil companies here, based in the United States, to begin extracting that oil. President Trump says it will be great for Venezuela, but also great for, the American consumer. one person that's celebrating this is Arkansas Congressman Rick Crawford, who says the Venezuela deal is good and sends a message to China cut number 10.
>> Tim Wildmon: Not only from an energy security perspective, but from a, geographic security, I mean Western hem. Security perspective. This is really a good deal for the United States and a good deal for Venezuela. China was really kind of fomenting this unrest and have been for quite some time. And you've seen this signal, really across the hemisphere. If you look at countries like for example El Salvador, Peru, look what happened in Colombia recently.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, there's been competition. China, we know, has been trying to move in and develop footprints, Chinese footprints all over the world to get their raw material. So this is a bit of a, coup, I guess you would call it with regards to Venezuela. Venezuela's got lots of oil right now. The United States needs a lot of oil. And this sounds like a pretty good deal.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And so this is intended in part to restore the supply in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
>> Fred Jackson: Which is way down. Right?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Which is way down. I think that the president released a lot of that to try to get oil prices down. Correct, so.
>> Fred Jackson: Correct.
>> Ed Vitagliano: yeah, he's said from the very beginning that he wanted Venezuelan oil coming to the United States.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes. So this, this is a big deal. And you know, we're still getting oil from Canada despite the dispute that's on underway right now with regards to tariffs, etc. Etc. But that, that is a big catch. It's a big news for American oil companies. Right. because we have refineries that are thirsty and would like a whole lot more oil. Now there's already some oil coming from Venezuela, have been now for recent months. But this 65 billion barrels potential, pretty good deal. Now, KT McFarland, who is the former National Security Advisor, she says this Venezuela deal actually when we talk about the Strait of Hormuz, kind of makes the Strait of Hormuz debate kind of irrelevant. Cut number seven.
>> Tim Wildmon: As far as the importance of the straits can be increasingly irrelevant, especially because of the Venezuela, oil connection. We are now controlling a quarter of the world's oil. And whoever controls the world's energy, the world's fossil fuels in the years ahead, controls the future.
>> Fred Jackson: There you have it. It's all about oil.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, I mean some people think that's, you know, well, we shouldn't, we should be liberating countries for free. But you know, the fact is we spent like a trillion dollars in Iraq and a trillion dollars in Afghanistan and nobody paid us back for that. Of course. Some people might argue, well, you broke Iraq, so you needed to rebuild it. I have no problem saying, hey, listen, we need, we need oil. I hate for something to happen to you. Why don't you sell us some? So I'm, I'm good with it?
>> Tim Wildmon: Mm, Well, it's gonna happen whether you're good with it or not.
>> Ed Vitagliano: No, that's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: this is the way the world works. Venezuela. Yeah, well, Venezuela has always been oil rich. Right. that Maduro, he basically ruined that country.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, well, Hugo Chavez started Chavez.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. They had a, from what I understand the history of Venezuela. And, Alice and I used to go eat at a restaurant, local restaurant, who was, which was run by Venezuelan lady who had come to the US because of the. She had escaped. Yeah, the communists. Communists there. And, she was telling us what a beautiful. Quite frankly, they had a high standard of living.
>> Ed Vitagliano: They were the fourth wealthiest country in our hemisphere.
>> Tim Wildmon: And then they got taken over by the communists.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't know all the.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And now they're one of the poorest. Yeah, that's what communism does.
>> Tim Wildmon: Exactly. Exactly. All right. We'll be back with more of today's issues on the American Family Radio Network. Tim, Ed and Fred, we thank you for listening. so stay right there,
>> Ed Vitagliano: Friend.
80% of abortion vulnerable women choose life after seeing baby on ultrasound
We're living in a defining moment today. A woman facing an unexpected pregnancy can order the abortion pill online, often before anyone has the chance to tell her that she is loved, that she's not alone, or that there is hope. That's why you are needed right now. You are made for this moment. At PreBorn Network clinics, mothers are welcomed with compassion, practical support and a free ultrasound. And when she sees her baby and hears that tiny heartbeat for the very first time, fear often gives way to hope. In fact, more than 80% of abortion vulnerable women choose life after seeing their baby on an ultrasound at a PreBorn Network clinic. That one moment can save a baby's life and open a mother's heart to the hope of Jesus Christ. This is our moment to stand for those who cannot speak for themselves. Just $28 provides one life saving ultrasound. $140 helps rescue five babies. Please don't wait. Dial 250 and say the keyword baby. That's pound 250 baby or give securely@ah preborn.com afr that's preborn.com afr Together we can save lives one heartbeat at a time.
Greece and Italy, we're going there in the spring of 2020
>> Tim Wildmon: Greece and Italy, we're going there in the spring of 2020. 7. Hello, everyone. I'm Tim Wildmon, president of American Family association and American Family Radio. My sons Walker and Wesley are going to be leading a tour of Greece, which includes, many of the sites found in the Book of Acts where Paul traveled. And then we call this the Footsteps of Paul. And then we're going to Italy. By we, I mean Allison. My wife and I are leading a group to Italy to see the sights of, that great country, including Rome. We're going to visit Rome, and that'll take a couple, three days to see all that's in Rome. And so we're going to visit the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo, you may have heard of him, he was a slightly better than average artist. So we're going to be going there. If you want all the information on our tours of Italy and Greece, go to tours.afa.net that's tours.afa.net Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 106.
>> Dr. Jessica Peck: 1.
>> Ed Vitagliano: This is today's issues. Email your comments to commentsafr.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.
>> Tim Wildmon: Thank you.
Football season is upon us and hockey season is right behind that
Hey, welcome back, everybody, to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Tim, Ed and Fred here on this Monday. It's the last day of the last day of the summer. Well, not official. I guess the summer is over sometime in September, but anyway. We typically think of summertime as June, July and August. And this is the last day of August, which means football season. Football season is upon us and hockey
>> Ed Vitagliano: season right behind that.
>> Tim Wildmon: I wanted to celebrate football first, and you're going to skip right to hockey.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Let's celebrate football, bro.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Well, you're Notre Dame fan. You win a lot. You're happy.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And they're ranked number four. Yeah, we're ranked number and the team I've rooted for Since I was 8 years old in the end of NFL, the Los Angeles Rams picked our picks to win it all.
>> Tim Wildmon: Win it all.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And, Eryn McDonald just came out of retirement to.
>> Tim Wildmon: Are you going to come out of retirement?
>> Ed Vitagliano: What's that?
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, you're talking about one of the greatest defensive players.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, he's, he's rejoining that stacked defense.
>> Tim Wildmon: What, two years off?
>> Ed Vitagliano: No, I think he's been out three.
>> Tim Wildmon: He ain't going to make it. You mark my words.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay?
>> Tim Wildmon: You don't sit out of the NFL from 32 years old to 35 and come back for to that just. I'll be shocked if he's anything.
>> Ed Vitagliano: No, no, you, you said mark my words, so I'll mark you.
>> Tim Wildmon: Marking my words. He's not going to be he's not going to be the player he was when he left, which was like the top NFL defensive lineman.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Why are you doing that?
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't know. I'm here, I want to be right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm here excited. And you are. And you're, and you're saying oh he's, he's going to stink. He's going to drag your whole team down.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well the reason I did that is because I wanted to talk about football starting you jump right to hockey. So I was wanting to get back at you there.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay, let's talk about football.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's a wrong.
>> Ed Vitagliano: How's Mississippi State?
>> Tim Wildmon: Wrong attitude.
>> Ed Vitagliano: But how's Mississippi State going to do this year?
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, we're undefeated. Your next question.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Would you like Eryn Donald to play a few.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes, I would. Well, LSU is wanting to. LSU's trying to sign guys that have played in the NF. Well they haven't played yet but they've signed with NFL teams. Did you see that?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. Well why not? It's no longer amateur sports so I
>> Fred Jackson: know Ed's going to go back to college. He wants some of those deals football players are getting and you're going to
>> Ed Vitagliano: see me in a Hallmark movie. 68 year old man goes back to high school and finally makes it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. And the girls on the team are not happy. The girls flag football team, they're not happy that he has come out.
>> Fred Jackson: Huh?
>> Ed Vitagliano: The girls for the girls flag football team.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right. They did have a few college football games though over the weekend and so that, but the big opening weekend is this weekend coming up for most teams across America.
Fred Vance: Abdul El Sayed making headlines over anti-Semitic comments
All right, you're listening to today's issues on American Family Radio. What's our next news story?
>> Fred Jackson: Fred Vice President J.D. vance is headed to Michigan today, for doing some campaigning there. But the for himself or for someone else? Well, he's, he's candidating for the Republican there in Michigan, Mike Rogers. Mike Rogers senatorial candidate. Yes. but the Democrat who's running for the Senate, Abdul El Sayed is continuing to make big news, and sometimes not for real good reasons as far as if you're a Democrat because now he's being asked about past remarks and the latest is what Abdul, El Sayed had to say. You remember back several months ago there was an attack on a synagogue, in the, I think in the Detroit area. Remember, a guy drove a vehicle right into the synagogue around that time. Abdul, Al Sayed was asked to respond to that, and he kind of equated it to, hey, you know, bad things are happening here and Israel is creating bad things in the Middle East. So he tried to do a juxtapose, on those two incidents.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Kind of like moral equivalency.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. And now he's trying to apologize for that. But the apology is not going well. Here's what he had to say about that on the weekend. Cut number five.
>> Tim Goeglein: To anybody who feels like, my comments might have been hurtful, I'm really sorry, that was not my intention. We condemned that terrorist attack. We condemned it outright. What I was trying to do is offer context for why it happened, but it wasn't the time for context. And you don't ever want to trample somebody's, pain. We're in the state of Michigan. If you want to make this race about a streamer in California, I just think you're missing the boat. This is about affordability in Michigan. This is about being able to see a doctor in Michigan. This is about Donald Trump's disastrous policies in Michigan. That's what I'm focused on right now.
>> Fred Jackson: So he keeps trying to, say the people of Michigan aren't interested in all these controversies. You know, who I hang out with and what I've said in the past about Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu, don't focus on that. Well, his opponent, Congressman Mike Rogers, the Republican there, he's, he's not letting El Sayed get away with that. Cut number six.
>> Speaker G: When someone says, you might have been offended by what I said, that's not an apology. He has a long history of anti Semitic comments, inflammatory comments. He's angry, he's aggressive. And, you know, there's a time in politics when who you are is very different than who you want people to think you are. And so the polling said, hey, he needed to change this, mainly because we've had so many Democrat Jewish people here in the state of Michigan ring up our phone, say, I can't do this, I'm for you. we've had big events. That group is swelling by the day. So that was his sad attempt, I think, to try to stem that bleeding.
>> Fred Jackson: I think this Senate race in Michigan is going to be the big story coming out of the midterms. As far as the Senate races go, this has been held by a Democrat. And because of the controversy surrounding Abdul Al said, Mike Rogers, the Republican, has a pretty good chance of picking that Senate seat up.
>> Ed Vitagliano: You know, here's what I think, in terms of this controversy, mini controversy, over Abdul Al Saad's comments and then Mike Rogers response. Okay, first of all, and both, more than one thing can be true at the same time, I think you're going to see more and more Jewish Democrats become very nervous about what's happening in their own party and start drifting towards Republicans. Unfortunately, I think for the vast majority of the younger voters in the Democratic Party, I think they're going to buy what El Sayed said. He's, a very. He's a very articulate guy. He's running a good campaign. That was the right thing to say. If you're trying to get out from under scrutiny. The right thing to say is. All I meant was that, there's pain amongst Palestinians, there's pain amongst the Jews. It was the wrong time to say something. And then he pivoted to the affordability question. And that, I think, unfortunately, that is what most of the Democratic voters, especially in the younger echelons, I think that's all they care about.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: what do the polls say in Michigan now? Do you know?
>> Fred Jackson: Pretty close, I think. The last that I saw, Abdul El Sayed had a slight lead. He's popular in, obviously. I mean, he won the, the Democrat primary over the sitting, member, of Congress.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm very impressed with his ability to handle the media.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes, yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: He's pretty sure. Like Mom, Donnie, these guys. These guys. And listen, I tend to ask these kind of questions. They've been well drilled. And I want to say, well, who's footing the bill for these guys to become. But both of them handle the media very well. Yeah, I'm looking at several different polls. 270 to win is a statistical. It is a tie. 44.3.
>> Tim Wildmon: Mike Rogers and, What's it, fellas?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Abdul, El Sayed.
>> Tim Wildmon: His first name.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Abdul. Okay, real clear politics. El Sayed is up. Is it Sayed or Sayed? okay. Is up 1.7%. Race to the White House polling. He's up 1.2%. So turnout is going to probably make all the difference.
>> Fred Jackson: Well, not only turnout, Ed, but I think the debates. Mike Rogers said this morning they have right now at least three debates scheduled. I bet those will be network televised. Yeah, because of.
Mike Rogers will face Democrat El Said in debates on economy and foreign policy
>> Ed Vitagliano: It's a big race.
>> Fred Jackson: It is a huge race. And as you have We've said El Said is very good on his feet. Yes, he really is. And Mike Rogers is going to have to be pretty sharp in those debates and it'll be interesting to see who's asking the questions.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Hey, listen, the part of the problem for Mike Rogers is, and in these debates is that El Sayed is going to have the upper hand, I think, when discussing the economy. Okay. Because the economy is not going well for most people in terms of buying groceries and paying for gas, all those kind of energy costs, all that kind of stuff. So if you're Mike Rogers, do you defend the war in Iran which has at least contributed to increased prices? do you, do you try to explain why it's not President Trump's fault that inflation is not yielding? and El Said is going to have, like I said, the upper hand by saying, listen, and Republicans have used this argument, are you better off than you were, you know, X number of years ago? Yep, two years ago, whatever. And most people are going to say no, that's a heart, that's a big hill to climb up.
>> Tim Wildmon: Let me ask you this. do you think the Democrat Party and the Jewish, relationship to the Jewish people in the United States because the Jews have voted for Democrats probably 90 to 10 over Republicans or 80, 20. I mean they've been a block, they're not a large population. But in places like NewSong York for example, or in Florida, South Florida in particular, the Jewish, vote is big.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so my question is, here's what El Sayed said in. Because he's going to. Mike Rogers and others are going to try to tag these Democrat he. And this is going to be true of the Democrat socialists across the country. They're going to, the Republicans are going to try to label them as anti Semitic, that they hate Jewish people. And these people are going to come back with. By these people, I mean the Democrat socialists, are going to come back with the answer I'm about to give, which I'm about to quote from El Sayad, the Democrat senatorial candidate from Michigan. Here's what he said because he spoke to, said his message to Jewish voters in Michigan is quote, we may not agree on everything when it comes to foreign policy. I'm not going to stop fighting for Palestinian self determination. But that does not mean that I will not stand up for safety of all communities. And I believe in the safety and dignity of Jewish kids like I believe in the safety and dignity of my own kids, end of quote. So, can you be anti Israel Ah. Against Israel's policies in the Middle east with respect to Gaza and not be anti Semitic. Is that. That's what he's going to argue? and I think it'll work.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I think it'll work, too. I think it'll work.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't know if he's asleep or not. I don't know his heart, but to say that, I'm for Palestinian. What did he say?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Self. Determination.
>> Tim Wildmon: Determination. Well, that's been a, a policy of the Democrat Party forever.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I just think that. Now, do I think El Sayed is, anti Semitic? I think actual Muslims are. Okay. I think they hate the Jewish people in general. Okay. I think what I say, when I say I think it will work in agreeing with you is I think he's going to be able to split those two things and publicly say, listen, we don't need to go to war just because I think this is going to work, like I said, with a certain percentage of Republicans, too. We don't need to go to war with Iran because Israel, led us into it. Now, folks, please don't scream at the radio or Israel feels threatened, therefore we're in a war. Please don't think this is what I believe. I don't believe this. I'm saying this is going to work with a large percentage of the Democratic voters. They're going to say we don't need to go to war because Israel wants us to or feels threatened. we can say Israel has a right to defend itself and also criticize what they're doing in Gaza and in Lebanon. I think that will work with enough people. With enough people. When there are economic problems at home.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I think it's going to scare the
>> Tim Wildmon: somatic label that they're going to try to attach to this fellow. If the approach is going to be what I just said, which to me sounds reasonable. Okay. That is, again, like you. I'm not, I'm not saying. I'm saying it sounds reasonable to say I'm against the Israeli policies, but I'm not against Jewish people.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes. When we say reasonable, we mean as an explanation for his.
>> Tim Wildmon: For, the general public.
>> Ed Vitagliano: For the general public, they're going to go, okay, I can see that. And that's all you have to pull off in order to get 1 or 2 percentage points. Enough to beat Mike Rogers. When your main argument is our economy is in shambles, everyone's broke and living paycheck to paycheck.
>> Tim Wildmon: The vast majority of people say. Really are going to say, I don't care about Israel or Gaza or anything like that. I care about grocery store prices and gas prices and my standard living and jobs. That's what they're going to say they care most.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And this El Sayed is going to be again, like Zoran Mamdani in these debates that Fred mentioned. He's not going to slip and say, well, I just think all the Jews ought to burn.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: He's not going to slip up and say that. He is going to have a slick, well prepared answer because all he has to do is diffuse the argument that he is anti Semitic and then pivot to the economic question and then I think he can win.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Listen, all politicians, Republican or Democrat, they pivot when they are faced with an uncomfortable issue.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: So it's just how well you can do it.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And that's why American voters have to be educated.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's why they call Bill Clinton slick.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes. Sick Willy is American voters have to be educated. They have to understand what the issues are so they can see through those pivots.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And that slickness.
El Said running as Democrat with first name Abdul has perfect English
But most voters aren't, I don't think. Now that's what we try to do. That's what American Family News tries to do. That we do in this show, our network. We're trying to get the truth out there to people.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: but not everybody has the time or the inclination to pay attention.
>> Tim Wildmon: When I first heard about this El Said guy running as a Democrat and he won the Democrat primary with the first name Abdul.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: I thought we were going to hear somebody with a thick Middle, Middle Eastern accent wearing a Middle Eastern, clothing and garb and Allahu Akbar.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: I was saying, Praise Allah every other, sentence. And I thought that ain't that. Excuse the English. That ain't gonna fly in Michigan. Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're not going to win like that. Well, this guy's complete opposite of that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: He dresses, very American or Western. He has perfect English. He's very articulate and he can, he comes across as just a concerned American citizen wanting to do, you know, wanting to do some things to help the public, help, the voters. I'm just saying that's the perception. When I first heard about him, that's the image I had created in my mind thinking he's going to sound like a real foreigner.
>> Tim Goeglein: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: When that. He doesn't in any way.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, and whoever. And whoever is paying for these candidates to come. And I think this is part of a socialist Democrat. Well, no. Yeah. Talking about Democratic Socialists, but also money behind Muslim candidates. I think this is being funded. I can't prove this at this point. I think this is being well funded. They're not going to get put m money behind the character you just described wearing Muslim dark chance of winning. Who has no who's. You know, you want an icy with that. You know, that's not what you're gonna get in these. You're gonna get, you're gonna get Zoran Mandani and Zoran Mamdani smiling Zoran. Ah, nice suit.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, yeah. I'm here for the working class. Yes, basically.
>> Ed Vitagliano: All right.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're listening to today's issues on American Family Radio. Next story.
Vice President J.D. Vance heads to Las Vegas to speak to Jewish group
>> Fred Jackson: Speaking of politicians who pivot, there could be some pivoting going on on the Republican side before the day is out. Because after campaigning today, in Michigan, Vice President J.D. vance is going to hop aboard a plane, Air Force Two probably, and he heads to Las Vegas. Why is he going to Las Vegas? Because he's going to go behind closed doors to speak to the Republican Jewish Coalition. They are a little upset with Vice President J.D. vance. They believe probably he's going to run for president in 28. But they are not happy with some of the comments that he has made against Prime Minister Netanyahu and against Israel going back several months. Once again, Vice President Vance has been critical of Netanyahu, for example, launching attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon. he was not happy with the concerns raised by Prime Minister Netanyahu over the so called deal, Gaza deal, because, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Hamas had to completely surrender, give up all their weapons before Israel would agree to start extracting its military from Gaza. So it's very interesting. Vice President, J.D. vance is going there to Las Vegas to speak to this group. And I found it kind of interesting that it is closed to the media. It is behind closed doors. Why is that? Because I think there are going to be some very pointed questions asked of the Vice President.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. So I am reading from a story that is, on our own AFN website here. Okay. It says Vance suggested last month that some Israeli officials have sought to manipulate US Public opinion in order to prolong the war with Iran. There's also lingering concern over Vance's failure to disavow Tucker Carl Carlsen, a conservative commentator who last year hosted anti Semite Nick Fuentes. Fuentes for a friendly conversation. There's a couple of other things too that have drawn concern from, Jews
>> Fred Jackson: in our country and Evangelical Christians.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And Evangelical Christians, yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Vice President Vance, who I like a lot. Is he saying that Benjamin Netanyahu has got us into a war or something? What has he said exactly?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, I think that is the position of someone like Tucker Carlsen. There is. I don't know what the percentage is, but there is a significant and growing percentage of Republican voters who believe that Israel, for the sake of its own safety, has wanted to deal with Iran for a long time. And President Trump, being more of a hardliner and more, you know, pro military, whatever you want to say, that, that, that Netanyahu talked, Trump into attacking Iran with Israel in order to end that threat from Iran. Now, I don't know whether that's true. That would make sense. We do that kind of thing. Every country does that kind of thing. Try to draft whatever help you can, to, kind of strengthen your hand. And yet this more isolationist wing in the Republican Party says we don't want to be involved in wars anywhere. So why are we in this ongoing endless conflict with Iran? It must be because Israel talked us into it.
>> Tim Wildmon: I think that's the argument that would go contrary to President Trump's own statements over and over again, that he's basically said, when it comes to Israel, he runs the show. Yes, he runs the show, and everybody knows it. So he makes. He calls. Whatever happens, Trump says, I call the shots for Israel and I call the shots in the war. So I would say if Vice President Vance has a problem with the war in Iran, he has a direct line to the man who can do something about it, not the Jewish folks out there.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, I don't. I'm not blaming the Jews either. I'm just saying that's the view. I've heard that view. Read that view out there.
>> Tim Wildmon: I've heard, you know, that we met Benjamin I, who talked Trump into it. I'm going like Trump says, he runs the show. He'll be back momentarily. The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
Tim Wildmon, Ed Vitagliano, and Fred Jackson discuss escalating tensions after Iran launched missiles at US bases in Jordan overnight. President Trump told Fox News the United States will respond forcefully, while the hosts examine reports that China and Russia may be aiding Iran's continued military capabilities. Former National Security Advisor KT McFarland says a new Venezuela oil deal could make the Strait of Hormuz increasingly irrelevant as the US gains access to an estimated 65 billion barrels. The program also covers two major natural disasters. A glacier broke off in northern Nepal, triggering floods that have killed more than 900 people and left over 4,700 missing, including American citizens. In the Grand Canyon, a sudden flash flood killed one person and left 15 missing after heavy rain sent a wall of water through narrow valleys. Domestically, the Michigan Senate race is tightening between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers. Rogers says El-Sayed has shown a pattern of anti-Semitic comments and rejected his recent apology over remarks linking a synagogue attack to Israeli policy. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to address the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas amid concerns from some Jewish and evangelical leaders about his past criticism of Israeli leadership.
Chapter Markers
(00:03:37) Nepal Glacier Disaster
(00:05:47) Grand Canyon Flash Flood
(00:10:21) Iran Attacks US Bases in Jordan
(00:19:18) Venezuela Oil Deal
(00:25:07) My Turn with Don Wildmon
(00:33:51) Michigan Senate Race
(00:49:21) VP Vance and Republican Jewish Coalition
Tim Wildmon, Ed Vitagliano, and Fred Jackson discuss escalating tensions after Iran launched missiles at US bases in Jordan overnight. President Trump told Fox News the United States will respond forcefully, while the hosts examine reports that China and Russia may be aiding Iran's continued military capabilities. Former National Security Advisor KT McFarland says a new Venezuela oil deal could make the Strait of Hormuz increasingly irrelevant as the US gains access to an estimated 65 billion barrels. The program also covers two major natural disasters. A glacier broke off in northern Nepal, triggering floods that have killed more than 900 people and left over 4,700 missing, including American citizens. In the Grand Canyon, a sudden flash flood killed one person and left 15 missing after heavy rain sent a wall of water through narrow valleys. Domestically, the Michigan Senate race is tightening between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers. Rogers says El-Sayed has shown a pattern of anti-Semitic comments and rejected his recent apology over remarks linking a synagogue attack to Israeli policy. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to address the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas amid concerns from some Jewish and evangelical leaders about his past criticism of Israeli leadership.
Chapter Markers
(00:03:37) Nepal Glacier Disaster
(00:05:47) Grand Canyon Flash Flood
(00:10:21) Iran Attacks US Bases in Jordan
(00:19:18) Venezuela Oil Deal
(00:25:07) My Turn with Don Wildmon
(00:33:51) Michigan Senate Race
(00:49:21) VP Vance and Republican Jewish Coalition
Live
Did you know American Family Radio is listener-supported? Your monthly financial support will allow us to continue upholding Godly values through our numerous channels, like American Family Radio, One Million Moms, The Stand magazine, and many more.
Become a Great Commission Partner TODAY to help AFR transform culture by rebuilding the family. When you donate today, you’ll get access to:
