American Family Association offers an in depth worldview training course called Activate
>> Ed Vitagliano: Every day, AFA offers biblical insight on issues that others aren't willing to touch in the hopes that you'll become a world changer. That's why we're offering an in depth worldview training course called Activate. Thirteen different professors teaching 18 sessions, all available online, including a printed workbook to help you apply what you've learned and one year access to AFA streaming content to give you even more resources. Find out more about Acctivate and sign up today at Acctivate.AFA.net welcome to today's Issues, offering a Christian response to.
>> Tim Wildmon: The issues of the day.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Here's your host, Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association.
>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, good morning, everybody, and welcome to Today's Issues. That's the name of this program for Wednesday, October 22, 2025. We thank you for listening to AFR. And by we, I mean this panel I got here assembled, which I'm looking around this room and I'm a little underwhelmed, I gotta tell you guys.
>> Ed Vitagliano: So this is not like Avengers Assemble.
>> Wesley Wildmon: But the assemble part was very official. Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Wesley Wildmon: You just wonder what I went down the halls like. Not you.
>> Tim Wildmon: Not you.
>> Fred Jackson: Not you.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yep, you. Yep, yep.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Avengers assembled.
>> Tim Wildmon: that is what. That is the call for the.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, that's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
Tim Wildman: Fred Jackson is my brother. And you're my brother, even though you're son
All right, so I'm Tim Wildmon. M. With Ed Battagliano. Good morning, brother Ed.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Good morning, Tim.
>> Tim Wildmon: Wesley Wildmon. Good morning, Wesley. Good, morning. And you're my brother, even though you're my son. Figure, that one out.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: and Fred Jackson, you're my brother. How you doing, brother? That's right.
>> Fred Jackson: That is Captain Fred. Captain Canada.
>> Tim Wildmon: oh, Captain.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I am. I am.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, I see what you did there.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I have my own grandpa.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. remember there was a grandpa the Avenger.
>> Ed Vitagliano: No, there was. There was a, There was some song, geriatric version. I was. I'm my own grandpa. And it's something. It's a. It's a long involved thing.
>> Tim Wildmon: But you're so. You forgot the song.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm gonna look it up. But you were saying, that Wesley, can be your brother as well as your son.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And that's kind of what this song was. Kind of. I'm gonna look that up.
>> Tim Wildmon: You looked that up.
>> Ed Vitagliano: It's hilarious.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're not imagining anything.
>> Wesley Wildmon: No, I like to. Announcement. I'd like to get us back on track here.
>> Tim Wildmon: If you have an announcement. Wesley, that. Go ahead. Right now. Read the pre. From the bulletin.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Read from the bulletin.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Wesley Wildmon: No, it's not A bulletin. But, it was obvious this morning, and so I need to go in and be transparent when you're listening. It was obvious this morning that I have, I'm out of the loop a little bit. So I will be today. I will be a. I'll be pretending as if I'm a listener.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Wesley Wildmon: So I'm going to be responding accordingly.
>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, listen, it's okay to admit your weaknesses. Wesley's weaknesses. His is that he doesn't give a rip about foreign affairs. Okay.
>> Wesley Wildmon: I would say not all the way. Not a rip. Just a half a rip.
>> Fred Jackson: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: He gives half a rip about what's going on in other countries. So his eyes start to glaze over when we talk about this and that going on around the world.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Well, not yet.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're just learning and growing.
>> Wesley Wildmon: That's true. But let's back up further. Let's, bore our audience where I've been the last couple of years, by.
>> Tim Wildmon: The way, just FYI, we have a show prep meeting. If you can believe that people.
>> Wesley Wildmon: If you can believe.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, we have a show prep meeting at, like, right after Devotion every morning. So two hours in advance of this show, we are getting prepared for what we're going to talk about. So that's what we're.
Every now and then you get real busy. You had your baseball tournament and your deer hunting season
So there it is.
>> Wesley Wildmon: We're here.
>> Tim Wildmon: So when we got to talking about Ukraine and Israel and Colombia and everything this morning, Wesley was, he was disengaged during. He was looking at his phone and that's okay, though. Go ahead.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Also to a little bit, though. Every now and then you get real busy. So I had the opportunity to travel with, baseball team all weekend. We did baseball. Monday, I took off and, planted. There's some food plots and planning. So I'm just now getting back into.
>> Tim Wildmon: The kind of conflated baseball with deer hunting.
>> Wesley Wildmon: What I meant was I checked out.
>> Tim Wildmon: You checked?
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: You had your baseball tournament and your baseball team. That's your world.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah. There you go.
>> Tim Wildmon: For Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and then Monday.
>> Wesley Wildmon: you had hunting stuff.
>> Tim Wildmon: Getting ready for deer hunting season.
>> Wesley Wildmon: So I'm back in. So today I'm playing.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're back in the game, but you just not up to. Up to date what you're saying.
Fred: Guy Lombardo wrote a 1946 song about changing family fortunes
>> Ed Vitagliano: So let me update Everybody on this 1946 song by Guy Lombardo. I'm just gonna go the first part of the lyrics. It's a whole long song, but it says now, many, many years ago, When I was 23, I was married to a widow who was pretty as could be. This Widow had a grown up daughter, had hair of red. My father fell in her and soon the two were wed. This made my dad my son in law and changed my very life. My daughter was my mother because she was my father's wife. To complicate the matter, even though it brought me joy, I soon became the father of a bouncing baby boy. My little baby then became the brother in law to dad and so became my uncle. Though it made me very sad. For if he was my uncle, that also made him the brother of the widow's grown up daughter, who of course was my stepmother.
>> Tim Wildmon: You know, I'm getting tired about these jokes about the South.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Happened right down the road, didn't it?
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. About these lyrics. your family runs in a straight. Your family tree runs straight, has no branches. And all those jokes, you know.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Huh? you'd never heard this song?
>> Tim Wildmon: No, I had not. Now, Fred used to spin records back in the day. Fred, you ever heard this song?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Oh, yeah, yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, you have?
>> Fred Jackson: I'm my Own grandpa.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. Yeah. I'm My own grandpa.
>> Tim Wildmon: It is a twist on.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And Willie Nelson, I think, made it kind of more famous here and in our lifetime.
>> Fred Jackson: Was that. Was that before marijuana or after?
>> Ed Vitagliano: I don't know, before his tax problems. Anyway, it's, it's a. It, it's, it's.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's pretty clever song.
>> Ed Vitagliano: It's clever, yeah, but it'll make your brain hurt.
>> Wesley Wildmon: We're gonna put that up on our Facebook page.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, we probably should.
>> Tim Wildmon: So Wesley. Wesley's my oldest son, but he's also my brother in Christ. That if people are. People don't know what we're talking about. That's what we're talking about. and we do know what we're talking about, if you're wondering. okay, so we ready to move on?
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm ready for the share list. Our listeners are desperate for us to move on.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Fred, what's your first.
Big ruling expected out of Minnesota Supreme Court on transgender powerlifting today
>> Fred Jackson: All right, first from the insanity file. Now, you mentioned we have a story meeting in the morning. This is kind of news that has come up in the last 30 minutes. Big ruling expected out of the Minnesota Supreme Court today. and I guess the insanity is that we're even having court cases dealing with this today. They are about to rule on whether a male has a right to compete in women's powerlifting. All right, so this is just the latest case on this front.
>> Tim Wildmon: You have to have a Supreme Court.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: In Minnesota to decide whether that's right or not.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes. Because a trial judge said yes. A. And we're talking about those who claim to be transgender.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Right. There are dudes, but they raised their hand and say, I feel like a woman.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Would dress.
>> Tim Wildmon: To borrow from Shania Twain.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Ah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Who said, I feel like a man. Right? Yep. So they feel like they're a woman. So therefore, because their feelings determine their reality, they should be able to compete in sports against girls. Yes, that's what they say.
>> Fred Jackson: And the USA Powerlifting group says, no, we can't have this for obvious reasons, to normal people, it's unfair.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: So this is the latest one. This case, of course it just would have an impact in Minnesota. But a lot of states who are fighting these cases, there are groups fighting these cases to protect women's sports, are certainly looking at this.
>> Tim Wildmon: And this is not the U.S. supreme Court. This is the Minnesota Supreme Court.
>> Fred Jackson: Minnesota Supreme Court, of course, the Minnesota Human Rights act, like in many other liberal states, supports the idea of a guy who says, I feel like a girl, therefore I have a right to compete in these sports. Kind of an inter. This is in our, story on afn.net, afn.net in an indication of the intense interest in the Minnesota case, numerous athletes and organizations on both sides filed friend of the court briefs, including former tennis champion Martina Navratilova, who is part of a group of 83 female athletes backing USA Powerlifting's position on this.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And, Navratilova is a well known lesbian.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Who, who does not think that men should be allowed, no matter what they claim should be allowed in women's sports. She was a famous and very successful tennis star.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Martina Navratilova, they, she understands as well as anybody you cannot allow men to take women's spots and win women's, awards or, you know, the prizes that come with professional sports. And so, and, what's her name? J.K. rowling. Now she's straight as far as I know, but she's a feminist.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: She's also against allowing men in. And both of them have taken a lot of flack.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: For their.
>> Tim Wildmon: Is this really going to come down today?
>> Fred Jackson: Is that what we're talking about, to come down today? The arguments were made in December, so they're expected to come down today.
>> Tim Wildmon: So we'll be watching. Comment on this. This doesn't involve foreign affairs.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Well, I've always, I've always said that when they, when this transgender, sports came along, if a trend. Now, again, I don't believe in transgender. Let me back up. If it's a, for 18 and older. So you got like, Olympic sports, college, college sports. Those if they want to create. They, meaning the transgender community wanted to compete against themselves or transgender community, LGBTQ community, whatever. And they wanted to create a third category that they believe that somebody would, you know, they can get enough, have their own league, whatever, knock yourself out. Like, I think go for that. But you're, you're stating the obvious when you say this is a transgender woman. Well, why do you have to say it's. It's either a woman or it's not.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right?
>> Wesley Wildmon: So that, that in and of itself, now I don't believe if 18 and under for anything. High school, middle school, youth, sports of any kind. I don't even think there should be a third, option or alternative at all.
>> Tim Wildmon: No. No parking wreck. I don't think they're not going to have. We're going to have 10 transgendered show 8 year olds show up for soccer practice.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Sure. Exactly.
>> Tim Wildmon: No, that ain't gonna happen.
>> Wesley Wildmon: No, it's not.
>> Tim Wildmon: Excuse me. Excuse me, all. right.
Why do these people who promote trans, who defend this, insist that
Let me ask you a more on a serious note here. When I asked Ed, I want to ask you this question, then we can move on, because I think why do the people on the left, and not all of them, you find some that are sane on this issue.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Bill, are.
>> Tim Wildmon: Bill Maher of Fetterman, John Fetterman, the senator, there are some other noted ones, even Gavin Newsom has criticized, even though he allows it to happen in the state of, California. But I want to ask you something, it's a serious question. Why do these people who promote trans, who defend this, why do they insist that. That biological males. And I know there's no other kind, but just for the sake of our discussion here, why do they insist that they be allowed to play, against females, when it's, when it's blatantly and obviously unfair? Well, what would they say?
>> Ed Vitagliano: They would say, and here's the problem with the left as it has continued to move in its direction of rejecting God. Okay? they would say, the individual determines their own reality. They have the right to decide what they want to be, who they want to be, quote, unquote, who they want to love, because love is love. And if they believe in their hearts and in their minds that they are in the wrong body and want to be trans, nobody has the right to tell them no. That's why. That's why they will say patly absurd things like trans Women can have babies and you say what? But they're men. No, they're not. If they say they're women because their worldview is the individual is sovereign, no one can tell them what to do. Obviously not God. They left that a long time ago. But society can either.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, a couple of things here. First of all, you said they reject God. That's the first thing you said.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: So they reject. These people. Reject, nature.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Exactly.
>> Tim Wildmon: Which is created by God. Right, Right. The Bible says that he created them. Male and female. There's no trans.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Right, Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Male and female. So they're. They're rejecting Wesley. They are they. These lefties, these secular lefties, they're rejecting God's nature.
>> Wesley Wildmon: That's right, yeah. yeah. And another way, in addition to what Ed saying here too, is if you're following what Ed was saying, you go, okay, let a person think that's what they're.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. What do I care whether somebody thinks they're an option?
>> Wesley Wildmon: The problem is, is when you apply their same standard the, the other way. For example, when we, if we were to be opposed to that and say. Or why don't. How come I can't also identify. I know we've all used these examples before, but if that, what if you just isolate there. What you're saying is that a person can identify with whatever you want.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Well then how come I can't identify as a millionaire or I can't identify as a. A pilot? Why do I have to go to school?
>> Tim Wildmon: You know what you do if you do that.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Enough. They put you in a home.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah, exactly. Yes. Yeah. like, but like, why do I have to go to school to become a pilot? A pilot.
>> Tim Wildmon: When you're identified as a pilot already.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah. Could I, Did YouTube videos, you know I'm right.
>> Tim Wildmon: You know, you know. Yeah.
>> Wesley Wildmon: You're trying to think that's an extreme.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm jumping all the logic align with that.
Tim Ferriss: I'm a supporter of trans individuals
And then we'll move on to the next topic here because, we're trying to get. One of the reasons we do a show like this and we discuss a topic like this. We want to give people ammunition when they, when they discuss this with people. Maybe that would defend, boy transgender, and saying, hey, they feel like there's something. Okay. So if you believe that a person can be something that they're biologically not just because they say they are or their feelings indicate. So you would say, well, he's. Yes, he's a born a male. But he feels, like he's trapped in the wrong body. So he is a, you should call him a she because she is really a man. excuse me, a woman trapped in a male's body. Okay. And you would say that with a straight face. And they really believe that. And you know. All right, then. Do you also agree then that that Tim, A, white male, 62, can identify as a 31 year old Chinese woman?
>> Wesley Wildmon: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Would you say. And I said, I am a 31 year old, I'm a white male American trapped in a Chinese woman's body.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yep.
>> Tim Wildmon: No, I'm a Chinese woman trapped in a white male's body. You follow me here? I know I'm sounding a little silly here, but, but, but really you would have. If for a person who says you are what you identify as, you would have to acknowledge they do say that, that it's okay that I did.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I've watched man on the street kind of interview on college campuses.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Where this very thing is. Goes on the. The interviewer asks, can a man's claim he's a woman? Oh, yeah, yeah, absolutely. I believe in that. I'm a supporter of trans individuals. And then they do what you just said. Well, can I identify as a 6 foot 5 Chinese woman who's 31. Can I identify as a 16 year old boy and go back to high school and date high school girls? And then they go, well, if that's the way you identify, I guess, I guess you would. You can see in their minds, they're, they're going.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Fighting it.
>> Ed Vitagliano: That. Yeah, they're fighting.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: they're going.
>> Tim Wildmon: They know it's illogical.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, I know.
>> Ed Vitagliano: But they can't, they can't tell you why they think it's a lie.
>> Tim Wildmon: Wants to rejoin the show at some point. But now that's okay. I did ask you the question.
Wesley: When you politically speak, you're violating others' rights
One last comment, Wesley.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Last comment for me. So you got Tim Walls as the governor of Minnesota.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Wesley Wildmon: And if you politically speak, and a lot of the times him, he and others in his camp will use the words they. The rights. Rights.
>> Fred Jackson: Rights.
>> Wesley Wildmon: They have rights. What about their rights? Their rights. Rights. Well, the problem with using that language is you're violating the rights of others to get right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Gotcha. And like young ladies, when you, when you support a 16 year old boy being able to dunk on. On a girl, you're violating basketball or spike the ball. Basketball. You're actually violating the civil rights of the young ladies.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Literally.
>> Tim Wildmon: because you're forcing them into a dangerous and, and a, fair competitive situation. Everybody know, you know, just we'll move on here. But I was something just. I was watching my Wesley's daughter. Seven, eight, seven, seven year old play soccer last night. By the way, she scored five goals.
>> Ed Vitagliano: M. What? Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes she did. I said, that's my granddaughter right there. I said it loud so everybody could hear. I mean, I was like bragging openly. You know, maybe I shouldn't have done that.
>> Wesley Wildmon: I felt like granddaughter, Landry, come on over here.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, but I'd already done it. But anyway, she scored five goals and I asked her real loudly, hey, did you just score your fifth go here? You seem to me to be better than all the other girls out here. But don't brag on yourself because I.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Was saying, listen, that's just the right of a grandparent.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so, but that's not my point. We were, I was leaving her game and I was watching the seven, year old boys.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Oh yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: So the seven year old girls are soccer playing on one field with my granddaughter. And as I'm leaving the field, I'm watching the end of a seven year old boys game. Yeah. Okay. The speed was double and I'm talking 7 year olds. Not maybe not double, that's visually. But visually you could tell, hey, these little boys are moving faster.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: As a whole, now you're going to find a little girl who can run with the boys.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: For a while. But I'm just saying you could obviously tell the athletic, the, the, the genetic makeup of the males were different than the girl.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Even at seven years old.
>> Tim Wildmon: Even at seven years old.
>> Wesley Wildmon: That's Romans 1. It's visual, you can see it.
>> Tim Wildmon: next story. Fred.
Vice President J.D. Vance disturbed by comments from President Trump about Hamas
>> Fred Jackson: All right, well, let's go to the Middle East.
>> Tim Wildmon: Wesley is where you come in.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah, right here.
>> Fred Jackson: Gotcha. Vice President J.D. vance is there. probably has already met today with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Yesterday, President Trump back at home in Washington certainly talking about what's going on in that supposed Gaza peace plan. We are stuck apparently on number one of 20 parts of that peace plan. Number two. Now J.D. vance says number two, which involves disarming Hamas, he says things are going pretty well. but President Trump yesterday talking about Hamas saying if they don't do what they say, they committed themselves to disarm and give up the leadership of Gaza, then we will do something about it. So here's a little bit of J.D. vance and President Trump talking about Hamas. Cut.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Number one, the terms of the 20 point plan that the president put out There is very clear. It's supported not just by Israel, but by all of our Gulf Arab friends. It's that Hamas has to disarm. It's that Hamas has to actually behave itself. And that Hamas, while all the fighters can be given some sort of clemency. They're not going to be able to kill each other, and they're not going to be able to kill their fellow Palestinians.
>> Tim Wildmon: We're giving them a chance. You know, they, they agreed, that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: They'D be very good, very, very straight.
>> Tim Wildmon: They wouldn't be killing people, and they have killed people.
>> Ed Vitagliano: That wasn't the deal we made. But if we, if they don't honor the deal, they'll be taken care of very quickly. But I'd rather not have to do that.
>> Fred Jackson: I'd rather.
>> Tim Wildmon: What does that mean?
>> Fred Jackson: I'd rather not have to do that. It make it sound like President Trump is in charge of all of this. Now I say that because there was a statement issued from Prime Minister Netanyahu's office this morning in advance of his meeting with Vice, President J.D.
>> Tim Wildmon: Vance.
>> Fred Jackson: This is Prime Minister Netanyahu, quote, we are not a protectorate of the United States. Israel is the one that will decide on its security, end quote.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Who is that again?
>> Fred Jackson: Prime Minister Netanyahu. Now, what is he saying when he says we are not a protectorate of the United States? Well, he's saying, the United States doesn't control us, nor do we put the responsibility of protecting us in the hands of the United States. I read into that. He's a little disturbed by the comments coming particularly from President Trump, that President Trump is in charge of what will happen in Gaza, security wise. And so putting that statement out in advance of his meeting with Prime Minister, or, pardon me, Vice President Vance, he was almost signaling, don't tell us what we will do. Don't give us the timetable on what we will do to make sure that we are secure from these Hamas terrorists.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes. And also, Israel is a sovereign country.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Gaza is land owned by Israel that the Arab Palestinians are living in. Allowed by Israel.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. You remember when Israel removed all the Jews from Gaza? This is 15 years ago or so.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Thousand seven, I think.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. They removed all the Jews. Remembering the Jews, some of the Jews who had land there were upset. Remember they had to physically pull them out. And then they said, here, here, Palestinians, you have this, Gaza Strip. You, you run your own affairs. Okay. That's what happens. So I'm saying this to say when President Trump says, by the way. He's getting very elementary in his words. I don't, good, bad, take. I mean, I'm not criticizing that altogether, but I hope nothing's going on there. It went his. Maybe he's getting tired anyway. But he shouldn't be saying. President Trump should not be saying or will take care of them. Because what I think Benjamin is reacting to is no President Trump. As good as our friendship is, you don't have the right to say you'll send in the Marines on our, on our sovereign country to fight, because you want to get rid of Hamas. And secondly, we finish this when we get back. What are we going to do? Hunt down Hamas. You can't hunt down Hamas unless you go door to door and there's no doors left. I mean, it's just kind of a. I don't know. We can talk about it more when we get back.
Preborn network clinics help women choose life through a free ultrasound
>> Ed Vitagliano: We're living in a time when truth is under attack. Lies are easy to tell, easy to spread and easy to believe. But truth, truth is costly. And nowhere is the cost greater than for mothers in crisis. When a woman is told abortion is her only option, silence and lies surround her. But when she walks into a preborn network clinic, she's met with compassion, support, and the truth about the life growing inside her. That moment of truth happens through a free ultrasound, and it's a game changer. When a mother sees her baby and hears that heartbeat, it literally doubles the chance she'll choose life. Preborn network clinics are on the front lines, meeting women in their darkest hour, loving them and helping them choose life and sharing truth. Friend, this is not a time to be silent. It's a time for courage, for truth, for life. Just $28 provides one ultrasound and the opportunity for a mother to see her baby. To help her choose truth and life. Donate today. Call £250 and say baby. That's £250, baby. Or give [email protected] afr that's preborn.com afr.
>> Tim Wildmon: This is today's issues.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Email your comments to commentsfr.net Past broadcasts of today's Issues are available for listening and viewing in the [email protected] now back.
American Family Radio Network welcomes Jenna Ellis to today's Issues
>> Tim Wildmon: To more of today's issues. Hey, welcome back, everybody, to today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Thanks for listening to the program. Today's Issues here on afr. Tim, Ed, Wesley, and Fred, by the way, in just a few days, we'll be going on the air with our brand new purchase, radio, station. We bought it we didn't. It's not a new station, but it's in Des Moines, Iowa.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: And so I'll, we'll let folks know. But that's coming up so they can let their friends and family know maybe who live in the greater Des Moines area. We have a lot of radio stations already in Iowa. Yeah, we haven't had one in Des Moines. So we'll be covering the state capital of Iowa, very soon in the next few days. you're listening to Today's issues. Tim, Ed, Fred and Wesley. We were talking about Israel, and we're going to continue this conversation. J.D. vance, Vice President, United States is in Israel. And, he's trying to. He's working. Trying to, Foster, point two. Is that what we're on of the 20 point? whoever gave it 20 points should be fired, by the way. Absolutely. Fired today. And say they don't.
>> Wesley Wildmon: They should know the trends.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Trending. That we go five, everything. It used to be three, but now it's five every.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're never going to get. We're going to be here seven years from now going, we're on point seven. I mean, it's just 20 points is too many. but anyway, we want to continue talking about this, issue. And joining us is Jenna Ellis. Jenna is host of Jenna Ellis in the morning, heard on AFR from 7 to 8 o' clock Central time each weekday morning here on American Family Radio. And Jenna, good morning to you.
>> Jenna Ellis: Good morning. And, yeah, 20 points does seem like a lot. Just like a Baptist sermon.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's why I like. That's why I liked the late Adrian Rogers sermons.
>> Ed Vitagliano: He just had three points.
>> Tim Wildmon: Three points. And they all the first. Same letter. Yeah. And you knew what you were getting.
>> Ed Vitagliano: He was a prince of preachers.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, man. And that baritone voice. Ah, that's why we still air his, his Bible teaching show, Love, worth finding each evening here on AFR.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Hey, if it was good, ten years ago, it's good now.
>> Tim Wildmon: There are times that Dr. Adrian Rogers gave.
There is tension between Israel and the United States over the Gaza peace deal
I want to ask Fred this question then. Jenna, I want to ask you. I don't want, I don't want to necessarily talk about the politics of Israel. Right. Though we can get back to that. And it's intertwined with my question. But, Fred, what is the, We were talking off the air here. You said, you said the United States President Trump, there's some tension here involved with Israel. But you said we. You would be a big mistake. You said for the United States to ditch Israel. We're not, we're not, we're not saying that's going to happen. Don't misunderstand me. But there is contention now between Israel, and the US Because Trump seems to be saying, no, I'll run everything from here. And Israel seems to be saying, wait a minute, we're a, we're, we're part of this deal too. anyway, go ahead. Well, like a lot of biblically speaking.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, biblically speaking, Genesis 12, you know, comes to mind right away when God, said to Abraham, I'll make of you a great nation.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're going way back now.
>> Fred Jackson: You're going way back. I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you.
>> Tim Wildmon: You think that applies to modern day Israel?
>> Fred Jackson: Absolutely.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Fred Jackson: Absolutely. And there, there has been concern when, when this Gaza, so called Gaza peace deal, air quotes there was put into place. President Trump involved countries such as Qatar and others. Qatar in particular allowed Hamas leaders to live in luxury in their country. And so there is conflict. Qatar has been named as funding Islamic groups on American campuses. So you got to be very careful. The United States has to be. I believe the United States has been blessed because we have been a forceful, companion beside protecting Israel. The concern that is growing is. And that's why we made mention of the statement from Prime Minister Netanyahu's office this morning. And I'll read it again. The quote is, we are not a protectorate of the United States. Israel is the one that will decide on its security, end quote. That seems to be in response to some of the talk that even as late as yesterday that President Trump was saying, we will decide what to do with Hamas. All right, so, I think the United States has to be very careful, as I say, I think we've been blessed because of our friendship, our support of the nation of Israel. But if we say we now have the right to call the shots with regards to Israel's security, I think that is perhaps stepping over a line. I think that is what Netanyahu was addressing this morning in that official statement from his office.
>> Tim Wildmon: Jana, go ahead.
>> Jenna Ellis: Yeah, well, I fully agree that, biblical covenants, are continuing. And so when, when we talk about biblical covenants, I mean, these are formal agreements, between God and humanity. And God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and his covenants continue. And so when we apply something, even going all the way back to Genesis, it talks about the right of Israel, the nation, to inhabit the land. Now, does this mean that we as the United States have to agree with, and support everything that the current government of Israel, portends. Well, no, that's, That's a very different than what, Genesis is talking about in terms of the right to the land, the Abrahamic covenant, and also, the nation of Israel in terms of, those who bless Israel. Because remember, there's also the Davidic covenant, which is that a man from the line of David would, would reign eternally. And that, of course, is the foreshadowing of the Messiah. Why do we bless Israel? Because without Israel, we would not have the Messiah, which, through whom the person of Jesus and the redemptive work of Christ is how we all can m. Obtain salvation through that finished work. And so that's. That is why we support, the nation of Israel and the Judeo Christian worldview and obviously the biblical worldview. so I also agree that when we're looking at how we as a nation interact with Israel, it's not just that we, they have some kind of preferred status, in terms of our foreign policy just because of, you know, those who bless Israel and all that. I mean, we have to put that into context. But it does mean that we, we as a nation can't try to draw the boundaries and contours of God's covenant. That's basically, I think, what, what Fred is suggesting, that would be very dangerous for the Trump administration to try to do.
>> Tim Wildmon: You're listening to today's issues on the American Family Radio Network. So what I hear you guys saying is lady and gentlemen, you guys generic. I know Jenna does.
>> Jenna Ellis: You guys is a Colorado.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm not saying you identify with anything other than. Well, I would stop right there. Take us down the wrong track over a bridge. Take us down rabbit hole. I don't. Rarely do.
>> Jenna Ellis: Woods.
>> Tim Wildmon: so anyway, my point is that it's not Israel right or wrong on politics and policy, but it. Israel right or wrong when it comes to having a steadfast support of the nation of Israel in general and not abandoning them, because you disagree with a policy here or there. But by the way, Israel, is basically alone in the world now. And I think that's. That's biblical to the Jews there. it's a Jewish state and they are surrounded by, enemies, and they are surrendered. And the world, the world, condemns Israel, regularly at the United nations for things that go on, worse in other countries that they don't condemn, they being the United Nations. so yes, Wesley is Raising his hand.
What are we expecting the United States role to be in the 20 point deal
You have a question for me? Because.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Got a question.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm pretty good at this stuff.
>> Wesley Wildmon: I do. Got a question.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, go ahead.
>> Wesley Wildmon: So what are we expecting the United, States role to be in the 20 point deal?
>> Tim Wildmon: By the way, we give Israel a lot of money too.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: And that is true. They make you the number one recipient of foreign aid in the world. So they do count on the United States for not only moral support, political support, but financial support too. I'm not saying Israel couldn't support themselves, but we do give them a lot of foreign aid to show and to demonstrate our steadfast support. And that's usually been bipartisan, the Republicans and Democrats. What were you asking?
>> Wesley Wildmon: Now the question that I have is what do we expect the role to be of the, of America in this 20 point deal?
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, the 20 point pace deal was initiated by President Trump.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: So he does deserve credit for that. And it did get with point number one, get the hostages released.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: So I haven't even read it. I don't know. I'm. Look, I don't know what point 17 is. Have no idea. But it's supposed to be a roadmap to peace in that region that the United States is supposed to take the leadership on. That's, that's, that's what I gather. Go ahead.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Okay, well then that, do I have.
>> Tim Wildmon: That wrong by the way?
>> Jenna Ellis: No, I think the release of hostages and prisoners is a, ah, part of phase one. And so I'm not sure how many phases are going into this, this peace deal. But the US Military is also supposed to be part of this in terms of stabilization efforts.
>> Tim Wildmon: Bad idea, mainly. Bad idea.
>> Jenna Ellis: Well, yeah, I agree with that as well. So I mean there, there are several. So negotiation was part of this then release, overseeing, governance and reconstruction and then also the stabilization efforts, those two pieces of it overseeing governance and stabilization. That's where I think things can get tricky.
>> Wesley Wildmon: The reason I'm asking is, I'll just fast forward is because if we support American, Trump and the America's 20 point plan for a peace deal, then what is wrong with us helping also making sure that it gets done or.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, I think we are. I think that's why J.D. vance is over there right now.
>> Ed Vitagliano: He's asking about military involvement.
>> Tim Wildmon: No, Trump, Trump should know.
>> Wesley Wildmon: What I'm saying is, what then is wrong with Trump saying if you don't do what we said on the deal, then I'll do it for you?
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. This gets complicated and confusing, inflated very easily. and it, and foreign intervention in military than other countries is absolutely against the America first.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Okay. Did Trump say that military.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, well, he suggested it.
>> Wesley Wildmon: He did.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Let me, let me, let me, let me give you an example when I was listen to Professor. Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: He's fixing a wax.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I think this will end. Yeah. I think you have a legitimate question, Wesley. I think this will help you understand what our role is, is meant to be.
>> Wesley Wildmon: For this 20 point.
>> Ed Vitagliano: For this 20.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Okay, fair enough.
>> Ed Vitagliano: So back when I used to pastor, my wife and I would do marital counseling and if a husband and a wife are having problems, we would try to see, help them see the biblical solution to that. And when they leave, it is up to them to do what we said they should do. If that breaks down, I'm not going to come over to the house and say to the husband, I told you you're supposed to take care of the outside work. So now I'm going to do it.
>> Ed Vitagliano: See what I'm saying? Absolutely. So our role was to get these two sides together. We lay out the plan and then they have to follow through or the plans ends.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Thank you for answering my question.
>> Tim Wildmon: I could have done that, but you didn't ask me. No, that was a very good analogy.
Tim Ferriss: President Trump suggested sending Marines to Gaza to take out Hamas
here's where I ah, see in the Jenna can jump. in there too. Reason I say it's easily conflated and it's complicated. Is this reason President Trump is suggesting that we would send the Marines in to Gaza to take out Hamas? Is that an unfair.
>> Ed Vitagliano: No, it's not unfair.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. That's what he suggested. Am I right?
>> Ed Vitagliano: He's implying it.
>> Tim Wildmon: He's implying that. Okay, that is a, if you're going to do that, as I say that is injecting boots on the ground of American military personnel in a foreign country, Israel here. By the way, how you're going to fight a war against an enemy inside a sovereign country like Israel, an ally of ours, without, are we going to seek approval from the IDF and Benjamin Netanyahu about moves we make militarily inside Gaza? So Trump may. Trump stepped in it. I'm just going to say it like it is. Trump has stepped in it. It would be the first time in his life he's done this. He stepped in it by suggesting that we use military in Gaza.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And this is what he said a week ago. I just want people to understand we're not making this up. Okay, so a week ago, and then he said something again, I think overnight he said of Hamas, if they don't disarm, we will disarm them and it will happen quickly and perhaps violently.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's what I'm saying.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: You realize what he's, what he's saying there?
>> Ed Vitagliano: He says we. He's saying that Marines makes it sound like we will go in with it.
>> Tim Wildmon: With the United States. I will authorize them to go find Hamas and take them out.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Now, if he didn't mean that, does that help Israel?
>> Tim Wildmon: Huh?
>> Wesley Wildmon: does that help Israel?
>> Tim Wildmon: That's why Israel. That's why Benjamin Netanyahu said what he said.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: He said, Wait a minute, hold on, I'm paraphrasing. He's saying, hold on. Now, we're not just, we're not just, you know, a potty plant here in this deal. We have a say. This is our country and we have a say here, too. So as much as we love and respect President Trump, he can't just say, we're going to come in with our Marines and take out Hamas if they don't follow this 20 point plan. Let Janet go ahead and comment and then you can comment, Wesley, and then we'll move on here. Go ahead.
>> Jenna Ellis: Yeah. And, you know, I also want to point out that again, I don't think that support of Israel in a biblical, you know, Genesis 12 sense requires boots on the ground, requires military intervention, requires some of these strategic things that obviously our own government and our national sovereignty can decide. The whole point of that is to say that the nation and, the boundaries that God ordained and covenanted to Israel, like, you know, I mean, God owns the land, right? He created the land and he basically deeded the title into perpetuity to the nation of Israel. Those metes and bounds, that's what we are obligated to protect if we understand the covenant in Scripture. How we do that, I think can is a debatable issue. And to suggest that we have boots on the ground, but then also President Trump's executive order assuring the security of Qatar or Qatar, however you want to pronounce it, is also very problematic because I don't view them as our ally for any other purpose besides negotiating this peace deal. So this is, as you rightly point out, Tim, it, it's a very sticky situation.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Let me just, let me just be fair here for a moment. Not that we've been unfair to President Trump, but he did clarify, he has clarified some of his statements because he recently here, it was yesterday or the day before he said that, we would go in to straighten out Hamas if necessary. And that's when he had in all caps, it would be fast furious and brutal ends for the group. He was asked, does that mean U.S. troops on the ground? And he said, it's not going to be us. We don't have to. There are people very close, very nearby that will go. And they'll do the trick very easily, but under our auspices. Okay, so these are conflicting messages that President Trump has sent. And I did.
>> Tim Wildmon: He used the word auspices.
>> Ed Vitagliano: He. Yeah, that was the, I guess that was probably on truth social. but that could explain what, why Benjamin Netanyahu's saying, hold on here. We're not a protectorate now, by the way, I look at the amount.
>> Tim Wildmon: We're not a lap dog.
>> Fred Jackson: the definition, a state that is controlled and protected by another. And Netanyahu says, that's not us.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Now, we do give them almost $22 billion a year.
>> Fred Jackson: Sure.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And military aid.
>> Fred Jackson: Sure.
>> Ed Vitagliano: So this is how this is all complicated.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay, so we do about it. Yeah. 22 billion with a B. So President Trump has on several occasions use the word we. We're going to do this. When he's been asked, he has said, oh, no, no, not that. Troops.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm sorry. that doesn't help. That doesn't. That only complicates things for me. It doesn't clarify. You said clarify.
>> Jenna Ellis: Well, Trump thinks he clarifies and he just adds more words.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes.
>> Jenna Ellis: Quite often.
>> Tim Wildmon: This Trump, did he use the word auspices in a true social post that this.
>> Ed Vitagliano: yes, he wrote in a post on truth Social.
>> Wesley Wildmon: So you take back what you said earlier when he said simple words like good and bad. Yeah, no, we got.
M. M. asks what does Trump mean when he says Hamas will disarm
>> Tim Wildmon: Trump usually goes with good, bad, quickly.
>> Jenna Ellis: And you know what, I actually like that he. Because so many politicians and even like, I'm guilty of this. you know, speak in white paper and complicated, where Trump speaks in crayon. Everybody can understand it.
>> Tim Wildmon: I agree.
>> Jenna Ellis: I think it's.
>> Tim Wildmon: He simplifies it. But now, did that help you? Okay, so that did that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: All right, you're saying, so what does this actually mean?
>> Tim Wildmon: Does he tell me what it means? Why are we being coy?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, he, he. I think he's trying to get the point across the Hamas, you are going to disarm. when he says we, he has also included other nations in the Middle east who have said to him, I'm pretty sure I got this right. He said, they've said to me privately, we want you to take care of Hamas.
>> Tim Wildmon: M. Oh, yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And. And now that's something else.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, who's going to take care of mosque? United States Marines or idf? who's going to be the we that Trump said? That's what I want to know. That's very important.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I think. I think it's the idf, Israeli Defense. Israeli Defense Force. Okay. Which is why Netanyahu said what he said this morning.
>> Tim Wildmon: I think then the world's going to say we broke the peace deal.
>> Jenna Ellis: But I think this is the other brilliance of how Trump expresses things, is that he always leaves it open for interpretation so he himself can reinterpret it later.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, it's. It's genius.
>> Ed Vitagliano: That is true.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's. As a political, move.
>> Ed Vitagliano: If you're Hamas, you are wondering whether the US Marines are going to be storming the beaches. You're going to. We're going to stick an aircraft carrier off the, coast.
>> Tim Wildmon: But I tried. Trump clarified that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: No, I know, but I'm saying if. If you're Hamas, and he says we. We will do it. You're thinking it's the U.S.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. All right. Who did Trump say is going to enforce the peace deal?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, he came back later.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, what did he say? And then we'll move on here.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay. It's, he said, that if they don't agree to the.
>> Tim Wildmon: Hamas.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Hamas.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, he said.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Then he, he says he claimed several US Allies. Now I am, I am quoting.
>> Tim Wildmon: Tell me when you start quoting.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay. I will, in the Middle east, have offered to send forces into Gaza at his request. This is what Trump is claiming to, quote, straighten out Hamas. Hamas. And quote, if necessary, promising a quote. This is Trump saying all caps, fast furious and brutal. End. End quote, for the group. However, Trump clarified that US Troops would not lead such an operation, stating, quote, it's not going to be us. We won't have to. There are people very close, very nearby that will go. And they'll do the trick very easily, but under our auspices. So we'll be in control of the idea of, of whoever the forces.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, you got an Italian mob over there. Well, what do we got?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Not the.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't understand any of that. Right. That makes no sense to me.
>> Fred Jackson: Does it make sense that last hour, what does that. What does that mean?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Nobody knows. That's. That's. That's part.
>> Tim Wildmon: I think, part of we won't have to do it, but we'll control it.
You know, this also be frustrating for other people, too
>> Wesley Wildmon: You know, this also be frustrating for other people, too, because on one hand, we want to want the United, States to support Israel be involved, help. And then on the other hand, with other presidents in the past who have been unhelpful, unwilling, unsupportive of Israel, then you get someone like Trump who is. And it's almost at times, it's frustrating for some. It's like you can't win for losing because he's very involved in it. I mean, the 20, the 20 point piece still. I mean, he's constantly trying to end a war over there. but, but then again, you know, he makes a couple comments about, like this and we're upset. You know, it's like, I don't know. I don't know on this issue. I don't know if you can win for losing if you're Trump, because if you don't do anything, yeah, listen.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm supportive of his efforts to end, to get through. I'm just saying when you get into a situation like we're in where the, that you, you got to be clear and, and saying we, we're going to take, we're going to straight quote, straighten out Hamas by using somebody else's military, but we're in control of it. That makes no sense to me. And I think that's why Benjamin Netanyahu said, wait a minute, no, we're in control of our own forces here. Anyway. All right, thank you.
Fred: Well, it was a very good show this morning
Hey, Jenna, what's coming up tomorrow on your show?
>> Jenna Ellis: Yeah, yeah, so we're, you know, we're continuing to talk about, all of the, the government shutdown, all of those things.
>> Tim Wildmon: I have. I can't get enough of that talk, can you? I mean.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, it was a very good show this morning. I was listening to the Indiana governor, the congressman that you were talking to.
>> Jenna Ellis: Yeah, Representative Marlon Stutzman. He's one of our regulars. He's fantastic.
>> Ed Vitagliano: It was very good. It helped clarify some things for me.
>> Tim Wildmon: Like what?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, about the, shutdown and the possibility of using the nuclear option, to, in other words, to, remove the 60 vote margin for cloture. And so Jenna did a great job with Congressman Stutzman on that.
>> Tim Wildmon: Gotcha.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, that's what we were supposed to talk to her about.
>> Jenna Ellis: Yeah, well, you know, I never know what kind of, you know, theological jeopardy I'll get on today's issues. It's always fun.
>> Fred Jackson: So. Yes.
>> Jenna Ellis: but it's also a lot of fun to, to cover those headlines. And Representative Stutzman did talk about, he thinks it's time to, invoke the nuclear option because the Democrats are Basically getting, a timeout, as he put it, like you would in sports. If the other team is winning, then the losing team calls for a timeout just to run out the clock and, you know, some other things. And I thought that was a very apt analogy. And so I think it's time for Republicans to just say, enough of this nonsense.
>> Tim Wildmon: I think the Democrats are faking an injury on the field.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Football.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Jenna Ellis: Like in football, what AOC is screaming about?
>> Tim Wildmon: All right. I think so. Well, AOC screaming, that's daily. So I don't know. She could have had some spaghetti that was cold, you know, so she's screaming. all right. Thank you, Jen. I appreciate it.
>> Jenna Ellis: Thanks, guys.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, Fred.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Thank you.
>> Fred Jackson: All right.
>> Tim Wildmon: You got so many more stories.
>> Fred Jackson: We'll get to it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, but Tim got long winded and, then cut us off short on some of the stories we could have covered.
>> Ed Vitagliano: It is. It is your show, sir.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, talk about what's on your heart.
>> Tim Wildmon: Share your heart, humble man, and share the wealth here. We'll be back momentarily with more of today's issues. Stay with us.
>> Jenna Ellis: The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
