Wesley Biblical Seminary trains pastors to lead churches in the future
>> Tim Wildmon: At Wesley Biblical Seminary, we believe God is raising up a movement across our nation and around the world who hold fast to the inerrancy of scripture and the hope of holiness. We do this through bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, certificate programs, and even training for lay people. So whatever your next step is in being equipped for ministry, we're here for you. And if you believe these are the kind of pastors we need leading churches in the future, we invite you to think about giving to Wesley Biblical Seminary. Learn more about us at WBS Edu.
Tim Wildman welcomes Fred Jackson and Chris Woodward to today's Issues
Welcome to today's Issues, offering a Christian response to the issues of the day. Here's your host, Tim Wildmon, president of.
>> Chris Woodward: The American Family Association.
>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, good morning everybody and welcome to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Thanks for joining us and yes, we are live finally today, back here on the program as we took a few days off for the Christmas break. Fred Jackson joining me. Good morning Fred.
>> Fred Jackson: Good to be back.
>> Tim Wildmon: And Chris Woodward.
>> Chris Woodward: Good morning.
>> Tim Wildmon: So Chris, what did you guys do for Christmas there? Fred?
>> Fred Jackson: Well, we kind of spread it out a little bit. we have a daughter and our son in law and granddaughter live down in the Mobile area. So we spent a little time down there. and of course back home here in Tupelo for the rest of the Christmas and enjoying the summer weather. Just, it's been lovely.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Until now, until now it's been really, really pleasant. I mean temperatures in the 70s, I tell you, for the most part the last week or so. But now it's dipping down because a winter storm is crossing the Canadian border.
>> Chris Woodward: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: And really you can blame us, we always do.
>> Tim Wildmon: Wreaking havoc on the, on the upper Midwest and the Northeast.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah, it brings new meaning to the war of Northern aggression.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Would you have a good Christmas there, Chris?
>> Chris Woodward: I did, I did. We went to LA Lower Algoma and there's some people in our parts now at the Algoma area, but my wife's we did we did Christmas Eve with my mother in law. We did Christmas morning breakfast with another set of in laws and then we had the big family thing Christmas nights and just really enjoyed it. yeah, a lot of food, I'm still full, probably don't need to eat until the new year.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well we're at that stage. Our three kids have kids of their own like you get, like Fred, like you do. And so there they have their own big deal Christmas day. So we all, we Always have our Christmas a few days prior to actual Christmas Day or family Christmas. So my wife said, you know, she looked at the weather. She said, you know, that Destin looks really nice right now, and there's nothing stopping us. There you go. Because we don't. Nobody needs us on Christmas Day. We've already had our Christmas and they're all going to their other families. She said, so why don't we just get in the car and do like people who don't have kids at home. Do they want. They just go where they want to, when they want to, if they can go. We went down to the beach for a few days. Nice. Enjoyed that.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: And, so. But yeah, winter is about to be here for most of the country.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. I walked around the corner of my house this morning early when I get up, and the wind had shifted from that north, nice southern warm breeze to the northern frigid breeze.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yep.
>> Fred Jackson: 50 degree drop.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yep. We met some really nice people. snowbirds. Oh, yeah, a lot of snowbirds go to the Gulf Coast.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: to escape winter in the, this, this, couple was from Iowa.
>> Fred Jackson: Oh, yeah, they were. Iowa.
>> Tim Wildmon: and they were like, we've been. We're staying here to March. We paid our dues.
>> Fred Jackson: Don't blame them.
>> Tim Wildmon: Thirty years in the Iowa winters. We're gonna be down here for a few months.
>> Fred Jackson: So you know what's funny? In January and February in Destin.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: You see the Minnesota change for them. It's wonderful.
>> Tim Wildmon: I know 63 is balmy.
>> Fred Jackson: It's great.
>> Tim Wildmon: Balmy.
President Trump is hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for peace talks today
All right. Well, anyway, we hope you had a nice Christmas, everybody, and, looking forward to a great 2026. and, we got a lot of news and stuff to catch up on that's happened the last few days. What's going on now? Right now?
>> Chris Woodward: Well, something you've heard about all morning on American Family News and you'll continue to hear about on American Family News. At the top of every hour is a meeting today in Mar a Lago, Florida's resort for, ah, President Trump. He's hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for continued talks on that US Brokered peace deal between Israel and Hamas. this is supposed to involve things like the second phase of that deal, which calls for a couple of things, the rebuilding of Gaza and, oh, by the way, Hamas giving up its weapons and renouncing control in the Gaza Strip. Maybe an uphill battle, but it's good that talks, are still continuing here.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, I was reading about this is that happening today?
>> Chris Woodward: It is. And it's supposed to begin around 12 Central. So there may be a joint press conference early to mid afternoon.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. So, one of the issues that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it seems like he's been there since Lincoln was president. Lincoln today met with Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of a country that doesn't exist yet. anyway, he has been there a long time. Netanyahu has. But he's going to insist is Netanyahu that President, Trump follows through the United States follows through with making sure that Hamas disarms. you know, you can't really go on to phase two. I don't know how many phases are there.
>> Chris Woodward: At one point there were 21 points in his plan.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Without making sure that Israel, is Israel's enemy. Hamas is disarmed. Completely and totally disarmed.
>> Fred Jackson: I'll believe it when I see it. Hamas, there was some quotes in some of the news stories on the weekend. Hamas leaders who are still there saying, no, we're not giving up our weapons. This is going to be the critical point, quite frankly. Hamas willing to give up control of Gaza. And right now I don't see it. we've seen the skirmishes over the last couple of months there. and so I'm not optimistic at this point that we're going to see a successful phase two. And if it stops there then basically we're back to square one.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, well, we'll see what the I'm sure they have a joint press conference maybe later on today. Yeah, but is that just a one day meeting? Do you know? I guess I'm not sure.
>> Chris Woodward: It may stretch into a couple of days. And I say that because Trump hosted Vladimir Zelinsky, the president of Ukraine over the weekend. they had a joint press conference yesterday and those talks are going to continue in the days ahead with the same people that were part of yesterday's talks.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes. Well, so that's, that's what's going on with President Trump. You know, a lot of big, big decisions to be made and you know, trying to solve the, well, move forward, I guess the peace agreement in Israel and then also Ukraine and Russia, the Ukrainian, Russia situation that's been going on three and a half years now.
>> Chris Woodward: It started February of 2022.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. And you know what's I think of America? Most Americans have just, oh, they're still fighting. Okay, well, next story. Right. I don't Know, but it seems like the Ukrainian, and that really doesn't impact us. Okay. It's not. No, in a way that's economic or any other way like that.
>> Fred Jackson: So, no, you know, when you look at what Putin continues to do, even over the weekend, more, missiles, drone attacks into Kiev, deep into Kiev, the capital city, yet President Trump coming out of the meeting with Zelensky, Chris, yesterday, and kind of talking a little bit optimistic, cut number eight. I just think we're doing very well. We're very, we could be very close. There are one or two very thorny issues, very tough issues, but I think we're doing very well. We've made a lot of progress today, but really we've made it over the last month. This is not a one day process deal. This, ah, very complicated stuff. But I think, when the president says 95, I think, you know, could be close to 95%.
>> Tim Wildmon: When he says president, is he talking about Zelensky right there? So he's saying that, President Trump.
>> Fred Jackson: Zelensky is 95% on board, well, with the peace plan. But, you know, Putin is not going to give up or he's not willing to go into a ceasefire unless he gets a guarantee of that one third portion of the eastern part of Ukraine. That's the sticky point for Putin. He doesn't plan any, kind of peace deal unless he gets that. And so far, I'm not sure if Zelensky said anything about that, but up to at least this meeting yesterday, what was coming from Zelensky was we're not willing to give up that turf.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah. It would be the equivalent of hypothetically Mexico invading the US to try to take back the Southwest, which used to belong to Mexico, and, and then Canada saying, us, you need to just let them have it. That's basically what it is.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Well, we'll see what happens. you know, who knows, who knows, who knows what's going to happen. With respect to President Trump's, I think he has the best of intentions, obviously, in trying to bring peace to that region between Russia and Zelensky. But with all due respect to the President, we've heard this song before.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: That is, all the things he just said. Very good. We're almost close, the deal's almost done. And then it didn't.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah. I would recommend the administration, and maybe they plan to do this in the days ahead or early on in the new year, but I would recommend the administration trucks out the Energy Secretary, the Department of Agriculture, all kinds of people that are trying to do things here about the price of energy, and the cost of groceries and other things. Because the President has been hammered this year for seemingly being more focused on foreign policy matters rather than domestic issues. And the reason I say that he needs to do something to continue to show that he is doing something about it is because we're about to be in the midterms and it's looking like, the Republican Party may lose control of the House.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, I think they'll pivot. I think President Trump and the Republicans will now pivot President, especially President Trump into, you know, but, but good grief. I'm not criticizing you and your analysis there, Chris, but he's a President of the United States. He's the leader of the free world. He can walk and chew gum.
>> Chris Woodward: Oh, I totally agree.
>> Tim Wildmon: He can walk and chew gum at the same time.
I think the big issue is going to be these Obamacare subsidies
Meaning he can handle. He has to, by necessity, in his job, deal, with international affairs, which are ongoing and they're serious matters that impacts our country and the world. And then he has to also handle domestic issues. But, legislatively, there's not a lot going on. There's not much he can do. you know, right now, legislatively, I mean, there's. Now with the way the Congress, has been divided, you know, the Republicans only have like 3 or 4 votes margin in the House. so everything that he does basically has to be done by executive order that he wants to do.
>> Fred Jackson: I think the big issue is going to be these Obamacare subsidies.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: When they took their Christmas break, they didn't resolve anything. The Democrats are going to try to make that their pivotal point. And what you're going to hear from the Democrats is that millions of Americans are going to go without health care unless they get these subsidies. Remember, these are subsidies that grew dramatically because of COVID And the Democrats want to keep those subsidies. And those subsidies, they go to the drug companies, the insurance, companies. They don't go directly to the people, which allows the people to say, I'm getting my, you know, my medical coverage for nothing through Obamacare. So that's going to be the big issue for them.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. This is where, I, get glassy eyed. Okay. When you talk about Obamacare subsidies. Okay. I think you described it pretty well, but I, haven't. There's only so much you can keep up with, right, Fred?
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right, Chris?
>> Chris Woodward: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: So during football season, I tune out. I tune out Obamacare subsidies. Okay. It just, it just goes to the side. Yeah. But in all seriousness, this is a big deal.
>> Fred Jackson: It is.
>> Tim Wildmon: And, and so you're saying that Democrat. But when you say subsidies, what I'm hearing is the federal government or taxpayer money underwriting insurance. Is that what I'm hearing?
>> Chris Woodward: That is it taxpayer funded subsidies?
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Which would seem to be popular with people.
>> Fred Jackson: Oh, sure.
>> Tim Wildmon: Because you get stuff that you don't have to pay for, am I right?
>> Chris Woodward: We're talking about a lot of people.
>> Fred Jackson: So why would 40 million.
>> Tim Wildmon: So why would the Republicans want to do. Want to stop that?
>> Fred Jackson: Well, they want to stop the money going directly to the insurance companies.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, I got you.
>> Fred Jackson: Because, that allows the insurance companies to keep operating, keep their increasing the rates. And then the federal government just says, okay, we'll pay it more.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. So this was introduced during COVID because of the financial crisis that the, the, pandemic created. Pandemic created, right.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, I got you. Yeah. Okay. Now, like any other federal government program, it goes on into eternity and gets bigger. It gets bigger.
>> Chris Woodward: As long as Uncle Sam is always there with a checkbook, all right, People will have no problem increasing a price.
>> Fred Jackson: All right, now what Trump wants to do, the Trump administration wants to do, is in the form of HSAs, Health Savings Accounts to people.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, gotcha.
>> Fred Jackson: All right. They want to seed that for people. Those are pretty good programs, those HSAs, because they're taxed, kind of like your 401k program. You can put money into it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Gotcha.
>> Fred Jackson: And it's a tax deduction for you. So that's the route the Trump administration wants to go.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right. Why would the Democrats oppose that?
>> Fred Jackson: well, because, it puts responsibility on the people. The other thing is only people who are in the country legally would qualify for this.
>> Chris Woodward: Oh, Democrats, I would say Democrats want to be there to do it because Democrats want you to believe that government is your father and he's here to take care of you.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes. Socialized, medicine. That's what Obamacare is.
>> Tim Wildmon: I got you.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right. You're listening to today's issues on the American Family Radio Network. All right, next story. Chris.
Zoran Mamdani appointed Lillian Bonsignor as NYC fire commissioner
>> Chris Woodward: Well, let's go to NewSong York City. Where?
>> Tim Wildmon: NewSong York City.
>> Chris Woodward: Zoran Mamdani, Zoran Mandami, the, the mayor, the socialist or communist, whatever, he wants to be identified as today he's going to be entering office as the new mayor of NewSong York City.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Chris Woodward: and he has, made the news over the weekend because he's appointed someone to be his fire commissioner. and this person is named Lillian Bonsignor. And I'm not making this up. Lillian is going to be running the fire department of NewSong York City.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Chris Woodward: And Lillian has never been a firefighter, but one thing she is is an open lesbian. Which led to a lot of people over the weekend criticizing Mamdani for a DEI hire. I've got a couple of clips here. Mamdani thinks this is a slam dunk of a hire. Clip 1. And they deserve a leader who cares about their work because she did it herself, who understands every detail and will fight to tirelessly to empower FDNY and make it the best firefighting force in the world.
>> Tim Wildmon: Now, all right, now that was a, Mayor.
>> Chris Woodward: Mamdani.
>> Tim Wildmon: Mamdani. I'm gonna have to learn soon to be mayor. Yeah. So, listen, I'm not one who necessarily thinks somebody has to have.
>> Fred Jackson: A.
>> Tim Wildmon: Ah, given experience to be an overseer of a, team or of a. I mean, there are coaches in the NFL who never played professional football. True. you know, there are presidents who were television stars and were never, elected officials. so that it doesn't disqualify you in my mind necessarily, that you haven't done a particular job before you take a leadership role in that profession. Does that make sense?
>> Chris Woodward: I get you.
>> Tim Wildmon: however, with. With a fire, with a fire department, you gotta. You gotta have been a fireman. I mean, that is one of those professions to me where you. You've got to have. You've got to identify with the people you're leading. and if you. If you've never been. So you're telling me that the mayor there, Mayor elect, has put in place over the fire department of NewSong York City, which is massive, a massive organization. somebody who's never had firefighting experience.
>> Chris Woodward: Correct. She has worked in ems, kind of the ambulatory side of the fire department, and she wears a uniform as part of her job.
>> Tim Wildmon: So she has had some experience working inside the fire department.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes. But she's never been inside a burning building with a hose to try to put out a fire. That's what a lot of people are upset about, you know.
>> Tim Wildmon: all right, next story. Because I don't really care. I don't really care what they do in NewSong York.
>> Chris Woodward: Okay?
>> Tim Wildmon: I just want to. I just want to go fly in, go to my hotel, get on the airplane, go. That's all I want to do. And I want to do so without being robbed.
>> Chris Woodward: Okay.
>> Fred Jackson: But it is going to be an interesting story in 26.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: Everybody's going to be watching if he follows through with his plan, with his promises.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, yeah, but you're saying she's an open lesbian and that's the reason she got the job.
>> Chris Woodward: That's what a lot of people are saying. She got the job.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's what. Based on her lifestyle, people are saying that's good.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah, I mean, it's news reports, social media posts.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, well, you know, that day and straight. Did he say anything about that when he announced her hiring? not the first open lesbian fire department chief.
>> Chris Woodward: I don't think he said it in those words.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Chris Woodward: I don't think he said it in those words. By the way, she does say that she knows what the fire department needs and she meet all their needs. let's do this real quick because we have a break coming up and this will fit nicely time wise.
Attorneys for Tyler Robinson are asking a judge not to allow media access
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Chris Woodward: there are some court proceedings that are continuing for Tyler Robinson, the man that authorities say shot and killed Charlie Kirk. Bad and set back in September. And we can do a number of things with this particular audio here. Attorneys for Tyler Robinson are asking a judge not to allow media access inside the court proceedings from this point forward because they're concerned about a media Circus.
>> Tim Wildmon: Clip 5 We don't want the chaos that is out in the media in this courtroom.
>> Speaker D: So whatever this court can do to prevent that is what we're asking Now.
>> Chris Woodward: I've got audio here from Donna Rotunno, who is a criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor. And she was on to respond to this request from Robinson's attorneys.
>> Speaker E: Clip 6 if you're really worried about the chaos, how do you avoid the chaos? You avoid the chaos by allowing the cameras in so you can see what's happening in real time. Chaos begins when you don't know what's happening. And then people create a narrative. So by having the cameras there, people can see for their own eyes, make their own judgments. So I don't think that argument is really worthy here. I think it falls flat on its face. I do think you're absolutely right. The defense needs to talk to their client about how he appears in court. He needs to be taking this seriously. This is obviously one of the most horrific things that we've seen happen before our eyes. And, you know, if we can watch the killing before our eyes, I think it's, you know, a little bit ironic that Mr. Robinson is now saying he doesn't want the cameras on him.
>> Tim Wildmon: Let me ask you this. Who decides whether cameras are allowed in a courtroom?
>> Fred Jackson: In this case, it's the judge.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. because the lawyer for. For Robinson has already won a few of the petitions she has made. Number one, that the client, comes in dressed in a. In a street suit, and rather than an orange prisoner suit. They. What? That was one thing she demanded. The other thing is that the media, even if they're allowed in, are not allowed to show his shackled feet as he's sitting in the courtroom. They're not allowed.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Fred Jackson: So the judge, the current judge, has allowed those two things.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. What's the, accused name?
>> Chris Woodward: Tyler Robinson.
>> Tim Wildmon: Tyler. I knew it was Robinson. American Tyler Robinson. He's from Utah.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: 22 years old, right?
>> Fred Jackson: Yep.
>> Tim Wildmon: And so, let me ask you this. I've always been, did he does this. Does he claim that he didn't do it?
>> Chris Woodward: No, he claims. Well, I mean, they have messages, that he sent his significant other, the male companion roommate he may or may not have been having relations with as well as other people, in a group chat.
>> Tim Wildmon: What do you say?
>> Chris Woodward: that he. He said that he did it. He said he, you know, they were here to arrest him. I'm about to get arrested.
>> Tim Wildmon: Charlie, I don't mean to sound like I'm playing dumb here, although that's. That's not hard for me sometimes. But I want to ask you, what's the benefit of a. Doing all these gymnastics that this, Bella and his lawyers doing Tyler Robinson when he's guilty of sin? What. What. What is the benefit of saying, listen, I don't want a camera in here. I don't want you to show him in his orange suit. I mean, the guy's already, Is he. Is he. Has he said, I didn't. I'm innocent. I didn't do.
>> Chris Woodward: He has entered a plea.
>> Tim Wildmon: What now?
>> Chris Woodward: He has not entered a plea.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, well, if you hadn't entered a plea by now, then you're pleading guilty.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. yeah, it's just the way the legal system works.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Fred Jackson: If, My assumption is that the lawyers think they may. He didn't want the death penalty, probably maybe a technicality. Possibly a technicality that they can rule on that this. This evidence is not admissible. You know what lawyers do. I know that kind of stuff.
>> Chris Woodward: I think they're trying to tug at the heartstrings of the court of public opinion to try to get him out of the death penalty, which the governor and other people in Utah have said for months they were going to pursue.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. So, All right, well, we'll see what happens there. But that's. I Know what criminal defense lawyers do and they, that we, that's where system works.
Don Wileman: We don't want an innocent person in jail
And you know, we don't want to put an innocent person in jail or in prison. That's the that's the idea. so you have to prove guilt, but when you're guilty, by self admittance, as you say this text is, and then the video footage of him jumping off the building and running and hiding and what he did, you know, with the gun of his grandfather and all that. Maybe it's a matter of trying to get out of the worst, as you say, the some kind of plea deal that they will broker where he gets to life in prison rather than the electric chair or whatever they do there in in Utah. We'll be back momentarily with more of today's issues on the American Family Radio Network. Stay with us.
>> Fred Jackson: M.
>> Don Wildmon: It's my turn.
>> Speaker E: Here is your host for My Turn, Don Wileman.
There are three things we can do in life when the going gets rough
>> Don Wildmon: Sometimes as well as we travel down life's road the going gets rough. The sailing isn't always smooth on the sea of life. Sometimes it gets kind of bumpy. There are three things we can do in life when the going gets rough. One thing we can do is to resign. And you would be surprised at the number who take this course of relief. They will lead the parade when the going is easy and smooth and everything is in good order. Yes sir. They will strut high in mighty as long as there is a band playing and the streets are lined with folks shouting hooray. But let difficult times set in and they are nowhere to be found. Usually those who resign when the going gets rough are those who come in for purely selfish reasons. They only wanted to get something for themselves. Not willing to make any sacrifice and not desiring to make the road any smoother. They check out when the going gets rough. Another thing we can do when the going gets rough is to become resigned. Did I pronounce that right? Let me say it again. Another thing we can do when the going gets rough is to become resigned. We can cry and weep while repeating the worn out phrase well, it has always been this way and always will be this way. And I guess if it's left up to them to change matters and make them better, they are right. Things always will be this way for they certainly aren't going to put forth any schweit to make them better. It takes no great effort to accept things as they are and not try to make them any better. We can become resigned real easy and a great advantage to this is that we can quit without checking out. We can stay in and do nothing. Seems to be several of those folks around, doesn't it?
There are three things we can do when the going gets rough
I said there are three things we can do when the going gets rough. The third thing is we can become re signed. I borrowed some money from the bank once my note was made out for a year. At the end of the year I had paid most of the note back, but some of it I had to carry over. A new note was made and I had to re sign it. The old signature was no longer any good. Many of us need to get a fresh signature on our credentials. Once I had to go to a notary public to get a paper notarized. I noticed that on the notarization the notary public had written my commission expires on and it gave a date. You know, perhaps we are operating under an expired commission. Maybe we need to re sign. When the hard times come, I want God to know he can count on me. He didn't run out on me when the going got rough. He stuck it out even to the cross. And it would be mighty little on my part if I backed out on him when the going got rough. I want him to know he can count on me when the hard times come. When the going gets rough, we can resign, become resigned or we can re sign. Those who resign or become resigned never help the cause. Those who resign do. Take up your pen and put a fresh signature on the dotted line of life.
My Turn with Don Wildman features today's featured issues
>> Speaker E: This has been My Turn with Don Wildmon, a production of the American Family Association. Blessed be the God and Father of.
>> Tim Wildmon: Our Lord Jesus Christ.
>> Speaker E: According to his great mercy, he has.
>> Speaker D: Caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
>> Tim Wildmon: 1 Peter 1:3American Family Radio. This is Today's Issues.
>> Fred Jackson: Email your comments to commentsfr.net Past broadcasts.
>> Chris Woodward: Of today's Issues are available for listening.
>> Tim Wildmon: And viewing in the [email protected] now back to more of today's Issues.
Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network is back
Hey, welcome back, everybody, to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Thanks for listening to afr. Tim Wildmon here with Fred Jackson and Chris Woodward. And we hope you had a wonderful Christmas celebration. And, that may have been the longest time we took off from this show.
>> Fred Jackson: I think so, yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: We were off Wednesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Played Christmas music.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes, it was good.
>> Tim Wildmon: People enjoyed our Christmas music that we played there for three days. And we're back at it. And, we'll be off January 1st, right? Frank Creely, our producer, when are we off?
>> Fred Jackson: We'll be off Thursday and Friday of this week for NewSong Year's.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so NewSong Year's is now two days?
>> Don Wildmon: Yes, sir.
>> Tim Wildmon: They changed it. Yes, sir. Okay. Was this a executive order by President Trump or how'd this happen? No, we're off. Thursday is NewSong Year's.
>> Fred Jackson: That's correct.
>> Tim Wildmon: And, so. So we decided to take the Friday off to, like. Like a lot of Americans, we like to back to back our holiday. sure.
>> Chris Woodward: Plenty of time to watch college football bowl games, including the Duke's Mayo Bowl Friday night at 8:00pm Eastern.
>> Tim Wildmon: America will be watching that one.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes, they will.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: we do have college football playoffs lined up for, This week. Is this week.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh-huh.
>> Tim Wildmon: January 1st.
>> Chris Woodward: Local team here.
>> Tim Wildmon: No. December. December 31st. Ah. Which is Wednesday night. Right. Wednesday night. I think that is, No, Ole Miss in Georgia is. Is Wednesday night. I'm not sure. I think that, may be Oregon and Texas Tech or something on Tuesday on, Wednesday night. Anyway, there's one of those games. You got Ohio State, Miami. You got Ole Miss in Georgia, you got Texas Tech and Oregon, and you got, What's the one I'm missing here? Alabama and Indiana.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. Rose Bowl.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, the Rose Bowl.
>> Fred Jackson: Yep.
>> Tim Wildmon: Alabama. So Alabama and Indiana both got to go 2000 miles to play a game.
>> Fred Jackson: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: But, hey, there are worse places to play than.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: The legendary Rose Bowl. What are you going to say, Chris?
>> Chris Woodward: If I was. If I was a Hoosier, I wouldn't mind going to watch a football game in Southern California?
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, right. Yeah.
>> Chris Woodward: On January 1st.
>> Tim Wildmon: Compared to the alternative, sounds like a Dr. Seuss point. And if I were a Hoosier.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: and nobody from Indiana has ever been able to tell me what a Hoosier actually is.
>> Chris Woodward: It's a person from Indiana.
>> Tim Wildmon: Kind of Virginia Tech.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: You know, they're called the Hokies. And then nobody knows what a hokey is, really. We do. We do know about the Hokey Pokey.
>> Chris Woodward: What is a.
>> Tim Wildmon: About that?
Wildmon Group has some wonderful trips planned for 2026
>> Fred Jackson: All right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, I wanted to tell folks real quickly, remind folks, if you haven't heard us already talk about this, we got some wonderful trips planned for 2026 that you may want to take advantage of if you're looking to go on a vacation with a purpose. I'll just tell you real quickly the tours we got lined up in, June and September, we do back to back, tours. By back to back, I mean, the days are back to back. So in June and September, as we do every Year we go to Colonial Williamsburg. we go to historic Jamestown. We go to Yorktown. That's a, that's a Sunday night through Wednesday tour. Okay. We pick everybody up at the airport in Washington, get on the bus and we travel together so that we take care of you. Okay. That's for people who want to fly in. Some people drive in. They drive to Williamsburg and join us there. So that's one trip. And then on Wednesday we come back, to D.C. and we do the, we do see our capital city. We do that Thursday, Friday, and then we go to Mount Vernon, George Washington's Mount Vernon, on Saturday. And the tour concludes Saturday night. So if you want to stay with us for seven days, basically we'll take care of you the whole time. And you'll see all those sites I just mentioned. If you want to do one or the other, you don't have to do both. You can do, pick one of those tours. But we do that in for a week in September and a week in June. Okay. And this year, for the second year, we're going to Boston, the greater Boston area for a tour there. and Lexington and Concord and Plymouth Rock and all the sites of historic Boston. The Freedom Trail. It's fantastic. So those tours are available and we have historians, Stephen McDowell, Timothy Barton from Wall Builders is going to Boston. So this isn't just drive by site and say, hey, isn't that nice? Or let's go in that building. This is. You get the, the context of the people, places and events that shaped our country's founding. And so that's what makes the tour unique. So if you want information on anything I just described and want to go with us, you can go to this website, wildman group.um wildmangroup.com he used to be spiritual Hair Charities Tour. That's why I get a stumble every time. Wildmon Group W I L D M m o n group.com and you can read about everything there. The cost, the itinerary, Q A, there's some things there. So just check out all the tours that we're taking in 2026 and we would love to have you and or your family join us. You're listening to today's issues. What stories next? Chris?
Minnesota Fraud performs Sunday at the Coliseum
>> Chris Woodward: All right, Minnesota, fraud remains.
>> Tim Wildmon: Minnesota Fraud.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes, Minnesota Fraud.
>> Tim Wildmon: Is that a band?
>> Chris Woodward: No, it's a, it's a news topic.
>> Tim Wildmon: Mode, wouldn't it, it, it would like for a heavy metal group or something. Yeah.
>> Chris Woodward: Now to the Sunday, Sunday, Sunday only at the Coliseum.
>> Tim Wildmon: yeah, you sound like you were doing the. The ones with the big tires, the trucks.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah, the monster. Monster J.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes.
Minnesota fraud may reach as much as $9 billion, according to reports
Minnesota fraud.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes. Okay, so Minnesota fraud has been a big issue for days, weeks really, because news reports popped up in early December, about various Somali immigrants perpetrating, massive fraud in Minnesota, which, according to news reports, may reach as much as about $9 billion.
>> Tim Wildmon: Now, can I break this down?
>> Chris Woodward: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: People, Excuse me for interrupting, Chris, because, I want to break this down if I can. Fred, Correct me if I'm wrong. Chris, you correct me if I'm wrong, If you want to. because I want people to understand that matters. Okay, so the United States federal government, known for its efficiency.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes.
>> Chris Woodward: Huh?
>> Tim Wildmon: Am I right? Is this legendary, well oiled machine. Yes. Yes. The United States federal government sends out money to the states for various and sundry reasons. Right?
>> Fred Jackson: Yep.
>> Tim Wildmon: Every state is guilty. well, I say guilty. Every state. You may not look at it like that. Every state receives grants and monies from the United States federal government. Right?
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: So for. For all kind of different reasons. And the. So the federal government sent money to Minnesota to pay for. And then the state of Minnesota then administered the money or divvied out. Again, this is the way I understand the story, so please correct me. Divvied out to applicants. In the case of, Minnesota, you had. And these took place in Somali. They got a big Somali population. They took place in Somalia, parts of the city where they created these phony businesses. And the childcare was one of them, right?
>> Fred Jackson: Yes, correct.
>> Tim Wildmon: So the business was in name only. There was no real childcare taking place. But the government of, Minnesota was taking the money and giving it to these, organizations anyway. And these organizations, the people were getting rich.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Getting wealthy off the fraud going on. And nobody was seemingly checking up on this. And that's where Governor Waltz comes in, in his administration. And, he's a vp. He was the VP for Harris. His VP choice.
>> Chris Woodward: Correct.
>> Tim Wildmon: So he. He's up there now, and he's under siege, because he's the. His administration was the one divvying out all this fraudulent money. Have I got the story right?
>> Fred Jackson: You have the story right. Just to add a few things.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Fred Jackson: during COVID the Biden administration really opened up the purse strings. I mean, they were sending money out just like it was water.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: and we're talking about checks for hundreds of millions of dollars going to these states. the story in Minnesota, actually, the. The indication of fraud Started back two, three years ago when Biden was still in office, but nothing was done about it. So now, as Chris was just saying, we're up to about 9. The estimate is up to about $9 billion in fraud in Minnesota alone. Just in Minnesota alone.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. All right. So this goes back to Covid money.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Fred Jackson: When. When the government.
>> Tim Wildmon: I know. I remember handing it out like candy.
>> Fred Jackson: It was. It was just incredible. And, And Chris, the big story, the. That came really over the weekend is that this freelance journalist, he's 23 years old, and his. His name is Nick, Shirley. Nick Shirley, 6. He's. He's 23 years old.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Fred Jackson: He does what good reporters used to do. He went to the offices of these various. The daycares and the home care and all of this sort of thing, and he started knocking on doors.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah, he found out that these things are about as authentic as a $4 bill.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Chris Woodward: and this audio, this is like one of several videos that he's put out here. But we've got about a minute's worth of sound here. Clip three.
Here in Minnesota, massive fraud is taking place involving government and Somali population
>> Speaker G: Here in Minnesota, massive fraud is taking place within the government and the Somali population here. This building alone, Quality Learning center is a daycare. Yet they spelled learning wrong and they said learing. This daycare alone in 2025, has received $1.9 million from the government. And the strange things about these child care centers is there's no one here right now. It's midday on a weekday. If you were to try to go inside, it's completely closed, and the windows are all blacked out. No one's working. Midday. Children should be in here. And this place is licensed for 99 children. And this is the outside. There's no windows, no nothing. And like I said, they literally spelled the word wrong on their sign. This is open blatant fraud taking place here inside of Minnesota. The government is complicit with this. And this is just one of the hundreds of, child daycare centers here inside of Minneapolis being ran by the Somali population. It's sad that it's happening here in Minnesota, and it stinks that it's happening and it's being labeled on the Somali population. However, that's just the facts of what's happening here inside of Minnesota. $1.9 million for this daycare center that can't even spell learning rights.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Fred Jackson: It's amazing, these videos, these videos that,
>> Tim Wildmon: Who was that fellow right there?
>> Chris Woodward: Nick Shirley.
>> Fred Jackson: Nick Shirley has done. Okay, as of just about an hour ago, they have been viewed 113 million times. People are just in shock. And by the way the other mainstream media, Associated Press, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News not even covering this and.
>> Chris Woodward: That makes no sense because it's a juicy story that involves tax dollars many of them from.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah but it makes the Democrats look bad. They're not going to do that.
>> Chris Woodward: That's true.
>> Tim Wildmon: Especially Waltz. I don't know what kind of future he has in the national politics. I doubt he'll go anywhere.
>> Chris Woodward: Well he is seeking reelection and okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: Re election as governor.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes. And there are people in Minnesota that are upset by this. and I can say that based on some more audio from another journalist, Liz Collin, she's a reporter for Alpha News who also has been covering the Minnesota fraud story and she said this to Fox. Clip 4 Absolutely.
>> Speaker D: There is just mounting frustration though I can tell you just among taxpayers in Minnesota as they're seeing more and more of this. we actually went out recently to check out a new round of sites. Autism centers, adult daycares, program programs rife with fraud. And I'll be honest, so much of this just seems fake. They have fake ah Google reviews, fake stock photos on their websites. In many cases we found ph numbers don't work on their websites. And you're right, how Governor Walz is acting seems pretty telling as well. He seems to be making some maneuvers now as he runs for reelection for a third term in Minnesota. But I can tell you there is a petition that's been going around for just the last couple of weeks. Tens of thousands of people have now signed it demanding that he resign in the wake of this fraud. So clearly a story where there is more to come. And again mounting frustration I think among the taxpayers here in Minnesota.
>> Tim Wildmon: I didn't know there were states left that allowed governors to run for a third term. So Minnesota evidently.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah there's a few M. Most states are term limited such.
>> Tim Wildmon: As by two to most states you only can run two consecutive times as a governor. in Virginia you can only go one. Yeah, I think you can come back and run a second time but you got to allow a you know you can't run two consecutive terms. So that's interesting that ah Waltz is running for his third term as governor.
>> Fred Jackson: Another aspect of this story of fraud there in Minnesota is millions of dollars. So you've got as you outlined Tim, you have millions of dollars coming from the federal government going to these phony agencies run for the Most part by Somalis there in Minneapolis. What they have found out so far is that millions of those dollars are being sent to Somalia.
>> Tim Wildmon: Wow. that seems like a, crime.
>> Fred Jackson: Oh, oh, Cash.
>> Tim Wildmon: A lot, a lot of people have been indicted up there.
>> Fred Jackson: At least 80 have been indicted so far. And Cash Patel, FBI Director Cash Patel has said this is just the tip of the iceberg. Just the tip of the iceberg.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, I can tell you, politically speaking, I think we all know this, why Governor Waltz doesn't want to deal with this issue. Has he said anything personally? So his spokesperson said something he's spoken.
>> Chris Woodward: Out against, like racist, everybody lumping in all Somali immigrants as being terrible people.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, so he gonna play the race card? Oh, yeah, yeah. Okay. Well, he's playing the race card this way. He's not being, it sound like to me, he's not being critical of this because of, he fears that the Somali community may vote against him in an election.
>> Fred Jackson: Sure.
>> Tim Wildmon: So he's not going to criticize them. And you know, nobody's blaming the whole Somali population for the crimes of some, but it just happens to be inside their community.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: And so that's why the spotlight is on them. but so anyway. All right, you're listening to today's issues on American Family Radio. Next story. Chris?
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tore up President Trump's State of the Union speech
>> Chris Woodward: All right, let's go back about five years, when then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tore up President Trump's speech at the end of, I guess his last, State of the Union address. Remember at the end of the speech?
>> Tim Wildmon: We remember it well. Yeah, she, she took his speech and shredded it right in front of, President Trump and everybody, the whole world saw that.
>> Chris Woodward: Now, the reason I bring it up, a five year old topic is because Nancy made news over the weekend.
>> Tim Wildmon: or personally.
>> Chris Woodward: yeah, I do. Yeah. We exchanged Christmas cards.
>> Tim Wildmon: Nancy.
>> Chris Woodward: Nancy. Okay.
>> Fred Jackson: Did you get ice cream?
>> Chris Woodward: No, no, no, no. But anyway, Nancy Pelosi talked about this, issue with ABC's Jonathan Karl.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Chris Woodward: And, she, she made these comments about that, speech ripping up this.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Speaker E: Clip 11 it was a horrible meeting. I think those people must have been embarrassed. If you look at the picture when I'm looking at them, they've got their heads down. But, but what, you know what I'm saying when I go out the door, what I'm leaving here because I've had it with you, Mr. President, with you, all roads lead to Putin.
>> Fred Jackson: They put that picture out and said crazy Nancy is unhinged or whatever is.
>> Tim Wildmon: That we're supposed to be hearing.
>> Speaker E: I get more requests to sign that picture. People like the tearing up of the speech. I intend to go to speech to tear it up. But I just. The first part of it, a tour page because he was lying, and then the next page and then the next page. And I thought it was a manifesto of lies all throughout. So, I better just tear up the whole speech. Now. The speeches are on, strong paper, so you have to do it a few times to get it done. But I had no intention of doing it. I thought my staff was going to die.
>> Fred Jackson: I had no intention of tearing up the speech.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, my hands just went crazy there for a minute, and next thing I knew, I had torn up a speech. The State of the Union speech. Well, that was one of the most tackiest moments in the history of our, State of the Union, address.
>> Fred Jackson: you know, but so much for decorum.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah, he knew what she was doing when she tore that up. Yeah, it's just like, The Republican Guy 10 years ago when Obama was president that shouted, you lie. You remember him?
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: And he was sanctioned for it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, yeah. She wasn't sanctioned for tearing up the speech.
>> Fred Jackson: No.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Just bad.
>> Fred Jackson: No, no.
>> Chris Woodward: All right, I'll talk to her since we're close.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. You called her Nancy. I wondered if you guys were on a first name basis or whatever. you're listening to today's issues on afr. next story. Chris. All right, Erica, we got a stories yet? No, we got more.
>> Chris Woodward: Okay. No, but wait, there's Murr.
Erica Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, speaks out on Fox News
all right, so Erica Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, she was on Fox over the weekend to talk with Shannon Bream about, how she's dealing with the absence of Charlie, who, of course was shot and killed back in September during a TPUSA event in Utah. And Erica, said that she's had to rely on her faith to get her through the tough times. Clip 12.
>> Speaker E: And the answer to me is just so simple. You trust in the Lord, and when you trust in the Lord, you do it. And faith is so powerful when it's lived out. But I don't have this massive in depth answer. God is good and the world is evil. Don't be surprised when the world acts like the world. But I know that the Lord will use everything.
>> Chris Woodward: I can post more of the, segment.
>> Tim Wildmon: Who is she doing an interview with?
>> Chris Woodward: Shannon Bream.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, okay. Shannon Bream on, Fox News. I like her. She's a believer, too.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Shannon Bream, That's. Well, you know, Erica Kirk, she has really been a strong woman, given what happened to her. And she's going to, you know, you wonder, well, why is she doing so many public appearances in interviews? She probably does less than she gets asked to do, I'm sure. But she wants to. This is the best I can tell, and I don't know her personally. I did see her, I was in the audience at Ole Miss when she and Vice President Vance were there a few months ago, for an event by Turning Point usa. But, I think the reason she's making some public appearances and interviews is because she wants to keep, the organization going. Turning Point usa, she. She wants to keep it, growing and flourishing. And so that's why she. And she is the CEO now.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: So I don't know if she'll maintain that position, if they'll find somebody else that can do it and then she will be kind of, ah, off the stage, so to speak. But for right now, she, she's doing these kinds of interviews and I don't know what Shannon Bream asked her there. I should probably ask her, how are you coping, you know, in light of the tragedy. But, anyway, I just admire her. I really do.
>> Fred Jackson: well, she's carrying on. her husband had such a passionate views on these issues, of trying to bring young people back to thinking about where they had strayed. And she shares that passion that Charlie Kirk had married to the guy, and she's just carrying that forward. And the horrible assassination of Charlie Kirk has led to even a, greater focus on what he has stood for. M. And what he died for. M. is bringing young people back to this point where, Charlie Kirk wanted people to think about their worldview. Where do you get that from? And he was willing to go into what would be the lion's den, going to these universities and taking the flack from these young people, but then challenging them in a very positive way to think about what they were saying. Where did you get this idea? Where did you get the idea that a little bit. Baby in the womb is not a human being? Where did you get that from? She wants to carry that on.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. I don't know the Bible verse I should know, but it says, come let us reason together.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: You know where that is? It's in the scripture. Basically it's, I think that's God speaking.
>> Chris Woodward: Isaiah 1:18.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, Isaiah 1:18. But come, let us reason together. And Charlie Kirk tried to get people to debate and discuss and analyze with an open mind, all kinds of different topics, including Christianity. And when he did so, he wanted to use, persuasion to get people to think, about things and to possibly change their minds about issues, not just politics. But he was very engaged in spreading, the gospel. So Frank Turek told us that. Yes, Frank Turk has told us that, in fact, Charlie Kirk sought out Dr. Frank Turek, our friend from I Don't have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist show on Saturday and Sunday here on afr. Frank will tell you that Charlie sought him out to, be his mentor when it came to, defending the Christian faith and what we call, apologetics and the resurrection, Defending the res. You know, defending the resurrection of Christ and all the. All those things, which would help him. That is Charlie, when he went out and debated on college campuses. And the thing about it is, you know, he would take all comers, Charlie Quirk would. And so you could come up to the microphone. We've all seen his videos, most of us have. And he would just start engaging somebody. It didn't matter, if they believe like him or not back. You know, he wanted people to disagree with him so that he could counter with his own arguments. So, anyway, yep. So, Charlie Kirk, Erica Kirk there, commenting on how she's coping and dealing with, you know, the aftermath of losing her husband like she did. All right, we will be back momentarily with more of today's issues. Chris, thank you.
>> Chris Woodward: Thank you.
>> Tim Wildmon: You appreciate it. And Steve Paisley Jordal will bring his news, to us, in just a few minutes right here on today's issue. Stay tuned.
>> Fred Jackson: M.
>> Tim Wildmon: The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
