Blue Mountain Christian University offers fully online RN to BSN degree for registered nurses
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Blue Mountain Christian University offers a fully online RN to BSN degree for registered nurses. This cohort based program is designed for working nurses and can be completed in as little as one year or part time over two years. RN to BSN students are admitted each fall and coursework is delivered online with instruction grounded in a Christian worldview. Learn more about the RN to BSN online degree at bmc. Eduardo
>> Ed Vitagliano: welcome to Today's Issues, offering a Christian response to the issues of the day. Here's your host, Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association.
>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, good morning everybody and welcome to today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network on this Monday, April 13, 2026. I'm Tim Wildmon and Naftra just told you that, I guess. Joining me in studio is Ed Battagliano. Good morning, Ed.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Good morning, Tim.
>> Tim Wildmon: And Fred Jackson.
>> Fred Jackson: Hi there, Tim.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, we're in green today. Spring green. We didn't. Yeah, well, people who may not know you, the three of us text each other on Monday morning asking what color we're going to wear today. no, I'm just kidding. It just happened to be this way. I've got my master shirt on. You got your afa.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Afr. Ah, shirt. Afa.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: And you got your green, whatever it is there. Columbia.
>> Fred Jackson: Columbia.
>> Tim Wildmon: Columbia.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: so anyway, it is springtime. Things are blooming. Grass is growing. It won't be.
>> Fred Jackson: Wasps are wasping, frogs are out, pollen is pollinating.
>> Tim Wildmon: You know what, this is the time of year when when Alice and I get home at night. We usually, sometimes because of our schedule, our grand. Ever how many grandchildren we got, they all play baseball. So we usually get home at 8, 9 o' clock sometimes and we have to go outside and turn on our lights on our patio and look because twice we've had snakes. Not this year. But I mean all it has to happen to you is one year.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: And you never forget it. But twice we've had snakes and it's springtime, you know when they come.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: They come out and, and if you see frogs, the snakes are not far behind.
>> Ed Vitagliano: That's right. they go where the food. That's just like people who raise chickens. They know they're going to have hawks and owls around because the predators go where the prey is.
>> Tim Wildmon: Exactly. So anyway, we hope everybody had a nice weekend.
American Family Radio thanks donors who made financial contributions during spring share a thon
Wanted to thank all the folks who made a financial contribution last week during our spring share a thon. You were a real blessing to us. We ended up little, about 4.1 million I guess, which is kind of on average what we've been doing the last four or five share a thons. And, just, it, allows us to budget, allows us to keep growing, going and growing, I call it here at American Family Radio. So we just want to say thank you so much everybody who, you know, either you mailed in a contribution prior to Share a thon or you gave, during Charathon, you called in your donation, whatever the case may be. We thank you very, very much. It means a lot to us here at American Family Radio because we are listener supported Christian radio. Listener supported Christian radio. All right, well, we have got a lot to talk about, a lot going on in our country and in our world.
President Trump reposted a picture of Jesus on social media
first thing we wanted to get to was, unfortunately, some, a bad decision by President Trump. he, he has an account called True Social. Most people are familiar with that. It's his. he owns. He owned that still. I think he still does.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm not sure if he's allowed to own something like that while he's president.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, maybe he doesn't own it, but
>> Ed Vitagliano: he, he created it, I think when he was kicked off of Twitter. Yes, before Elon Musk bought it. Bought it and became X. Became X.
>> Tim Wildmon: So he has what's called a truth Social account, which is a social media that he post on all the time. Well, Ed, you want to describe what he did here, in the last year, 24 hours.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Now, apparently he is in a social media spat, with, Pope Leo.
>> Fred Jackson: Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: The relatively new Catholic Pope. And the Pope has been critical of President Trump in the war against Iran. And so they've been kind of going back and forth and apparently overnight. I say apparently overnight. I didn't see it yesterday afternoon. I only found out about it when I got to work. He posted an image. This image, as far as I can tell by doing a little reading, this image was, created by a fan of the president, a MAGA supporter. And the image which President Trump reposted shows him clearly depicted as a Christ like figure. He's dressed in the robes that you typically see Jesus, portrayed in, in artwork. Ah. There is a sick man, looks like in a hospital bed, and the President is laying his hand on his forehead. There is light coming from the figure of President Trump. Light coming from his hands, which appears to be like the light of spiritual power. The image of this Christ like figure with President Trump's face surrounded by other individuals who are praying to, either praying for this sick man or praying to Trump. But they're looking at this President Trump figure and in the background is American flags, some military figures, the Statue of Liberty jets, and, an eagle, so on and so forth. And President Trump posted that. And social media is in an uproar. And it is, in the opinion of leadership here at afa. We just got through one of our meetings, is clearly a blasphemous post. and we are working on a public statement to ask the President to, to remove it and to apologize. We just came through Easter, which is probably the holiest week of the year to Christians around the world. this is inappropriate. It's careless at best. But this is a really bad thing. The President, oftentimes is, kind of impetuous. Okay. He sometimes posts and says things without thinking or just off the cuff, shoot from the hip, however you want to say it. This is a mistake on the part of the President. It's a very serious mistake. And I, think that you're going to find that most Christians, even those like us here, who have been very supportive of the President's policies, fully recognize that the President has been unfairly, viciously attacked by people who hate God. But you don't combat that by doing something wrong yourself. And that's. Yeah, that's the introduction to this.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. I, text a couple of people who are close to the White House this morning, and asked them, about this, told them they need to get President Trump to take this down immediately. And they said they're working on it feverishly. And these are people who work with the White House. I don't know. This is very worrisome, that he evidently doesn't have any more, judge, better judgment than this. I mean, Christians, a lot of Christians in America, the last friends he has. Yeah. Rhino out in the public right now, I'm talking about. He's been, you know, a lot of Christians have stuck with him through thick and thin. And I understand that and the affection for President Trump. But to post a picture of yourself as Jesus, in a Jesus as Jesus Christ is blasphemy.
>> Ed Vitagliano: It is.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's just, ah, there's no, there's no. Don't give me any context. that's. And, he, he should have better sense than that, and he doesn't, which is worrisome, to me. And, so hopefully he will take that down maybe before the show goes off the air. Hopefully we can report that he'll take this down. But, Fred, your reaction to this?
>> Fred Jackson: Oh, absolutely. I agree with 100% with what you guys are saying and others, too. we have asked the White House to give us a statement in response to this. Wriley Gaines, our audience, very familiar with this courageous young lady. she wrote this. Why? Seriously, I cannot understand why he'd post this. Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this? Either way, she says, two things are true. A little humility would serve him well, and God shall not be mocked, end quote. That's from Wriley Gaines, also conservative public political. commentator Micah Knowles weighed in on this. He said, I assume someone has already told him, but. But it behooves the president, both spiritually and politically, to delete the picture, no matter the intent, end quote. So he is facing a storm of controversy this morning, and rightfully so. And he may not own the site, but he is responsible for the content. This was posted Yesterday, not quite 24 hours ago, but already he's had time to take this down. Hopefully there's going to be enough pressure applied to him not only to take it down, but one of you just said there needs to be an apology. Yes, there needs to be an apology for this. Not simply, oh, sorry about that. Oh, sorry, you're, offended by this. You need to apologize. This is blatant. Yes, it's not just, oops, I didn't realize this is blatant.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And doesn't he.
Rod: This is wrong. All Christians should recognize it immediately is wrong
The president has spiritual advisors?
>> Fred Jackson: He sure does.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay, I certainly hope. I know Paula White is supposedly a spiritual advisor, maybe his lead advisor. I don't know who else may be on that team, so to speak. I, hope. Certainly hope they are first in line to tell the president this has got to go. And an apology. Listen, we all make mistakes, okay? But this is a serious, serious one. And you don't. You don't post something likening yourself to the Son of God, okay? And shrug your shoulders. This is. And, and you know what? I know some of our listeners are saying, well, you're gonna. You're siding with the. With his critics. No, we're not. We're not siding with his critics. I don't like those folks and what they say either. This is wrong. All Christians should recognize it immediately is wrong. And you must never flip a coin when it comes to who you're going to side with on something like this. You, like you said, like, Rod again said, God is not mocked. You don't play around with this kind of thing. And if you love the president, you should be praying for him and praying that, that the Lord brings him to a place of repentance over this. This is a serious thing. If you love the president, you should be praying even harder for him. I don't know. People say he's a Christian, he's not a Christian, I have no idea. But this is wrong and it should be. The president should gladly take this down and apologize and say I kind of spoke without thinking kind of thing. And social media lends itself to that. Let's all.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, I agree with everything you guys said. What, what's, what's, unbelievable to me that he didn't have any better sense in this.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: post a picture of yourself like you're Jesus. Really? Some, you know, some people have said, can nobody tell him? No, I don't think they can. I don't think Melania or, or Susie Wiles or J.D. vance or any of them. Now, I'm sure they didn't know that he was going to do this, but that's what I'm talking about.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Do you not have somebody who's an advisor? You say you think this is a good idea or bad idea to post something like this? Evidently there's nobody that can control that phone overnight. He just does what he wants to. and. Which is sometimes good, but, man, in this case, wow. all right, so we'll see by the, maybe by the. Hopefully, as I said, I talked to two people text, them who were leaders that people would recognize their names. And they are working right now to, to, to get him to take this down. all right, you're listening to today's issues on the American Family Radio Network. Next story.
President Trump orders Navy to begin a blockade of Iranian ports tomorrow
>> Fred Jackson: Fred, in other news, at, just about an hour ago was the deadline that President Trump had announced, that he was going to order our military, the Navy in particular, to begin a blockade of, Iranian ports which within the Persian Gulf. Now this all happens because on the weekend, you know, we had talked about this last week, Vice President J.D. vance went to Islamabad, Pakistan, along with other U.S. negotiators to negotiate with Iran. Can we get a peace settlement put together? J.D. vance, after about 20 hours of negotiations with the Iranians, walked away from that, flew back home, because he said the Iranians weren't willing to give on anything. They want to continue to, enrich uranium, to make, nuclear weapons, et cetera, et cetera. So, the president set 9 o' clock central this morning as the time, unless they were, would agree to concessions, the Iranians, he was going to set up a blockade. the point of this blockade would be to stop the Iranians from moving any ships into their ports to pick up oil and gas and transport it out to their customers. This is what the President had to say about this cut number five.
>> Donald Trump: I would say it's holding well. Their military is destroyed. Their whole, navy is underwater. You know that we. 158 ships are gone. Their navy is gone. Most of their mine droppers are gone. We have a lot of people, as you know, at 10 o' clock tomorrow we have a blockade going into effect. That will be 10 o' clock tomorrow. Other nations are working so that, Iran will not be able to sell oil. And, that will be very effective.
>> Fred Jackson: Just how this is going to work, I'm not clear yet. I assume there are going to be US Navy vessels blocking these, Iranian vessels from going in, whether they do that to the south of the Strait of Hormuz, or they're actually going to transport themselves inside. Now, what the President was also saying last night when he arrived back in Washington was that we, the United States, have a lot of oil and the world can come to us and buy our oil. Cut number four, we have more oil
>> Donald Trump: because of drill baby drill. We have more oil than Russia and Saudi Arabia put together. So if you look at Russia and Saudi Arabia, two big ones, we have much more oil than they have put together. And what's happening is boats are coming over here, filling up. We don't have to go through the hormones.
>> Fred Jackson: Well, people are reacting to that. Those people who know a lot about the oil and gas, global market, and they say it doesn't matter if the ships come here to buy their oil. The price of oil is going up. It's already gone up this morning, several dollars per barrel. There are some people, guys talking about if this continues, oil per barrel could go up to $150, even $200 a barrel. You have to understand how that would translate at your local pumps, folks, eight, nine dollars a gallon, you may be paying even more for diesel oil. And the impact, as we've talked about before, diesel oil, in particular, trucks use diesel oil, trucks that transport your groceries to your local grocery store. The grocery stores pass all of this along to you. So people are hoping for a break in this. But if it doesn't, if this stalemate continues over oil, it's going to get worse before it gets better.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And from what I've read, the pressure, economic pressure you were talking about is what Iran has been counting on.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: in, in its conversations, whatever you want to call it, in Islamabad or wherever. This conflict with the U.S. Iran. And the leadership of Iran is banking on the fact that the economic pressure will grow so that President Trump has to back down. And President Trump is not the kind of person to back down. So this looks like this could be a standoff now from the President's perspective, and I guess it's a wise choice. It's certainly wiser than putting boots on the ground and invading Iran, with, our infantry. the president, from his perspective, he's saying we are going to starve economically starve. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Core, the, irgc, because they get a lot. All the money that funds their military and funds their power structure comes primarily from the sale of oil. So this is a mighty standoff. And the question is, who blinks first? And I don't have the answer.
>> Fred Jackson: Well, the other part of this story is, okay, the United States going to block those Iranian ports. The assumption is, I think from President Trump, at least, what he appears to be saying to the American people is, but we're going to let ships go through the Strait of Hormuz who are going to go to Kuwait, who are going to go to the United Arab Emirates, et cetera, et cetera. But there is the mine factor. And what we're talking about is the Iranian laid mines, that are in the Strait of Hormuz. Nobody is saying all of those have been cleared out yet. now the United States has been working on that, but nobody knows for sure because unlike some of the movies you may have seen of mines floating along the surface, you know, those spiked balls, you know, they blow up, there are mines now that are below the surface of the water. Those are not easy to detect. And so, that's something the President really wasn't talking about last night when he came to Washington. He says there's, there are minesweepers out there, but there's no guarantees that there aren't still mines there that could do horrendous damage to a ship.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And we, you know, we've been noting since this conflict began that the Strait of Hormuz is about 20 miles wide at its narrowest point. But from what I've read, that's not all. 20. All 20 miles is not navigable. There's about six.
>> Tim Wildmon: Good word.
>> Ed Vitagliano: It's hard.
>> Tim Wildmon: We've never used that word in the history of today's issue.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm not sure I could use it again.
>> Tim Wildmon: And that was where you brought that word out without him. Stumbling was awesome.
The United States is arguing Iran doesn't own the Strait of Hormuz
What was the Word again.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Navigable.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: At six miles. That's, that's how wide. That's, that's the amount of that sea lane through the Strait of Hormuz that these big ships can, can use. That's not very much. And the U.S. navy and Air Force has done a great job taking care of a lot of the, Navy. But my understanding is also that a lot of the fast boats, those small boats are still, in the inventory of Iran. They have not been destroyed. Those are ships, those are little fast boats that have the, ability to lay mines, but also use ship, ship to ship, ship missiles.
>> Tim Wildmon: You know, I'm looking at the map. If folks, you really need to look at the map of this area we're talking about, which, what, 1/5 of the world's oil runs through?
>> Ed Vitagliano: I think so 20%, I believe.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so you, have a, A, point that is controlled by the United Arab Emirates. People have heard of the, the city of Dubai. Right, right. That's where Dubai is. Dubai is very close to Iran. So, this would be, you know, somebody could build a canal.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I saw pictures of that.
>> Tim Wildmon: They probably will now. Yeah, they probably will because there's a lot of money over there, you know, in that part of the world. And, the United Arab Emirates do well probably to build some kind of canal that, separates them from the Strait of Hormuz. That's where the world is. You know what? I don't know that anybody has the answer to this, but when you're talking about, what are international waters, you know, you've heard that expression, every country out. Their control over their waters, Fred, extends out. How far do you know?
>> Fred Jackson: You know, I'm not sure it's 100 miles from the United States. But international waters is that nobody controls those, that they're open to all countries. And the United States is arguing the Strait of Hormuz, Iran doesn't own the strait.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's what I'm wondering. How do they lay claim to their ownership of a, you know, of a, of a major.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I don't, I don't think they, I don't think they do lay claim to it. They just say we're closing it because we can. That's. That's why we sunk their navy. So international waters generally begins 12m. 12 nautical miles, from the nation's shore, and then two, hundred miles, I think, for resources. So, like, we're gonna drill off our coast for oil within 200 miles that belongs to us. And oil extends that far that is I'm looking here. I didn't know about the 200 nautical miles, but it's called an exclusive economic zone and international waters, the high seas starts beyond that 200 miles. But now there's not 200 miles. It's not even really, there's not 200 miles in the Gulf. So we're talking about you have to have enough sea in order for that to apply and what was that word again? Navigable. I did it three times in a row.
>> Tim Wildmon: We'll be back momentarily. Stay with us.
Listen to AFR wherever you go with the AFR app
>> Ed Vitagliano: We would like to take a moment to thank our sponsor, PreBorn. When a mother meets her baby on ultrasound and hears their heartbeat, it's a divine connection. And the majority of the time she will choose life. But they can't do it without our help. Preborn needs us, the pro life community, to come alongside them. One ultrasound is just $28. To donate, dial 250 and say the keyword baby or visit preborn.com afr the
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: AFR app is a powerful tool, but it does have limitations. You can't use it to change the oil in your vehicle or get rid of carpet stains. It won't walk the dog, won't pick
>> Ed Vitagliano: up the dry cleaning or take the kids to practice.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: But while you're doing those things things, you can listen to your favorite AFR
>> Ed Vitagliano: content through the app on your phone,
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: smart device or Roku. Just go to your app store or visit afr.net Listen to AFR wherever you go with the AFR app.
>> 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 to more of today's issues.
Monday the 13th. It's not Friday 13, so don't get worried people
>> Tim Wildmon: Welcome back everybody to today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Thanks for joining us, Tim, Ed and Fred here. this is M. This is, let me see. Okay, this is, M. What? It was Monday, April 13th. It's not Friday 13, so don't get worried people.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Monday the 13th.
>> Tim Wildmon: Monday the 13th.
President Trump posted a meme of himself as Jesus Christ on his social media
Okay, so real quickly before we go to our guest, we talked at the top of the last hour. President Trump, sometime In the last 12 to 24 hours, posted on his true social, a meme of him as Jesus Christ. it was a meme of him, as, as a, as a, as a Christ like figure. I don't. It's blasphemy is what it is. And he's evidently taken it down now because it's no longer available on Truth Social. As I mentioned earlier, I text a couple of friends this morning who are close to people at the White House, and they agreed it was blasphemy, and they were working close, feverishly to try to get it removed. And apologies in order, too, from the President himself. Out of his mouth. He needs to apologize for this. but we'll see whether he does or not. as I mentioned earlier, I was joking with you guys, and we were off the air. I would not want to. Who wants to be. Is it Carolyn? Right. She's the. And she does a great job. But today I'm calling in sick if I'm her. I got some kind of morning sickness or my back. I'm down in my back or something. But I, would tell President Trump, you're on your own on this one.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: I can defend you to the hilt on everything, but not portraying yourself as Jesus. Can't go with that one. so we'll. So the good news is it's been taken down and we'll see whether or not he issues a apology or the White House at least issues. I would like to hear it from his own mouth, but we'll see, we'll see whether that happens or not. Anything else we need to say about that?
>> Ed Vitagliano: No. and, Fred had, looked, on Truth Social, and sometime when we came, he. He had looked. The post was still up there when he came in at 10:05 for the show. And sometime between that time and now, it was. It appears to have been removed. Yeah, we're grateful for that.
>> Tim Wildmon: if there was any context at all to this, it's what Ed said early in the hour. Trump and the Pope have been into it back and forth the last, what, few days. Right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Pope's been critical for, of the President and the US for its actions in Iran.
>> Tim Wildmon: The only possible thing I could say that might be in the mind of Donald Trump is that he was going to out Pope the Pope. Okay. In other words, I'm going to show myself as Jesus, as a Christ higher than the Pope. That's higher than the Pope because I'm number one.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: that's the only thing, that I could say where it wouldn't be, the. How would I. How would I phrase this? It would be less malicious than it would be,
>> Ed Vitagliano: to be honest. I don't think the President thinks of himself as Jesus Christ. I think he. I, think he not. You know what.
>> Tim Wildmon: But number two. He's number two.
>> Ed Vitagliano: We said it in the last segment. The Post was wrong. It was blasphemous. Even if you're careless. Okay. Which. This is what I attribute it to, the president being careless about what you post. That doesn't mean it's not blasphemous. And you get a big scary. It's scary even if you're careless. That means you don't fear God like you should.
>> Tim Wildmon: God kill people in the Bible.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Kind of thing.
>> Ed Vitagliano: So. So.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: well, he killed people a lot in the Bible, for different reasons. I'm trying to think of one that would be applicable to.
>> Tim Wildmon: To this.
>> Ed Vitagliano: But anyway, it's good that it's been pulled down.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: and that's. That's a good. That's a good thing. We'll see going forward. I. I'm like you. The president needs to apologize. He needs to say, hey, listen, I. It's like when we say, I spoke without thinking.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I spoke too quickly, and I posted this without thinking. I was in it with. I was in it with the Pope. And, you know, I remember when he,
>> Tim Wildmon: he doesn't, you know, President Trump, when he posted a true social as president, Obama and Myshel Obama as monkeys, he said, I got nothing to apologize for, even though Tim Scott, a, black Republican senator, said it's highly offensive and he needs to apologize.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. Now, in that case, I will say that what the president was saying was that he post. Posted a video or meme or something and did not watch it all the way to the end. And that had been on the original post. So when he said, I don't have anything to apologize for, I think he was saying that. I'm not excusing it.
Senator Tim Scott says President Trump should apologize for controversial Facebook post
It was a bad thing to post, I think he was saying. I didn't, I didn't add that, and I wasn't calling the Obamas monkeys. But I fully trust Senator Tim Scott. He should have apologized at the very least for posting something that he did not watch all the way to the. And anyway, I don't want to labor it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Trump's exhausting. Absolutely exhausting.
>> Fred Jackson: Huh?
>> Tim Wildmon: Huh?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm not talking about his, Necessarily his policies. I'm just talking about his personality and the things that he says. And the just unhinged, comments, sometimes are just like, I can't take anymore. You know what I'm saying?
>> Fred Jackson: Just, I think I can predict that President, Trump will not be invited to the Vatican.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Oh, yeah, that's not going well. That relationship's not going well.
>> Fred Jackson: Among other things, he says Pope Leo is weak on crime. And terrible for foreign policy. Trump went on to say he does like the Pope's brother Louis, much better than I like him, because Louis is all maga. He gets it, and Leo doesn't. End quote.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, well, ah, yeah, they're not going to have. He's not going to be taking. He's Protestant anyway. But he's certainly not going to be getting mass at the, at the Vatican.
Tim Gaglin: I'm glad the president took it down
All right, we have a guest on the phone with us, our, good friend Tim Gaglin. He is the vice President of government and external relations that Focus on the Family, and has written a new book called what really Matters Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Freedom, and Family. Tim, good morning to you.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: It's great to be with the three of you. Good morning from Washington.
>> Tim Wildmon: you hear what we're talking about?
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Yes, I did. I did hear what you were talking about. Indeed. It's a big deal comment. I agree. first, I'm glad the president took it down. Secondly, an apology, would be, would be in order. And, you know, it's Monday, and it would be a good thing to, move forward, you know, when they can. And, I think that, it's important that, that happens.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
Tim Ferriss says he changed jobs 18 years ago
All right, Tim, by the way, did you change jobs?
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: well, I've been one of the vice presidents at Focus on the family for 18 years, and I still am overseeing our Washington, office.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: but, if you mean that I've been writing books as well, you're right. This is the fifth one. And, it's always been great, to, to come on with you, Tim, and company and to talk about, you know, all the issues that we really care about.
>> Tim Wildmon: So you did change jobs 18 years ago, that's what you're saying?
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Indeed. I was a special assistant to the President of the White House, and I'm now at Focus Family, and, you know, you're right. 18 years ago, you walk across the bridge, Amy.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, Tim has been in the fight a long time, for. For the cause of the Lord and for, what's good for America.
Ed Gaglein's new book focuses on what really matters in life
All right, you've got a new book out, which I want everybody to buy and read. It's called what really Matters. Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Freedom, and Family. Talk about it, if you would.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Well, I'll tell you, Tim, as you know, in my role at Focus on the Family, having lived and worked, here, in Washington for nearly 40 years, I worked for 10 years in the Senate, eight years at the White House, 18 years, you know, at Focus on the Family again, all in Washington, and in the academic year and otherwise. I travel, almost every week. I speak, and I'm honored to speak, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Azusa, Pacific, Hillsdale, Liberty. I mean, the gamut of campuses. and about a year and a half ago, a little bit more than that, I was, giving a speech at a well known NewSong England, college. And, when I finished after the Q and A, an undergraduate came to me and she said, you know, I agree, Mr. Gaglein, you know, with all that you, spoke about. But she said to me, why does the political class not, speak about what really matters? and I had just spoken about marriage, family, parenting, human life, religious liberty, conscience, rights, parental rights, pronouns with fixed meanings. And she said the political class ought to spend more time talking about those foundational issues. and I think she was not trying to express that border security and immigration and the war and taxes, that those are unimportant. Of course they are. But I think, in part it's the reason that I have devoted so much time to writing about these permanent institutions, the things that really matter and that make life worth living. And she was right. In public policy, we need to give voice and confidence to marriage, family and parenting.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, and, Tim, this is Ed here. I mean, there really are, foundation stones for any, for any society that is going to survive, that is going to prosper, that is going to last, have any kind of longevity, and you don't get, more basic and more foundational than human sexuality, marriage and family, because that is, that's what the human race is based on. And if you're going to have a society that those kinds of institutional ideas have got to be protected. And doesn't it seem that, when an enemy of a country is trying to undermine it, other than by war, they would attack those foundation stones to lead to the erosion of, the security of a country. It makes sense, right?
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Yes, by all means, yes. And to your point, if I may, and I, and I could not agree more, and I'm honored actually that you would make, make that point right at the top of our dialogue because, the book was published just last week and the day after it was published, there was a major study that came out saying that the U.S. birth rate, is at the lowest level in recorded American history, which is to say that the number of births per 1,000American women, ages, 15 to 44, what we call the general fertility rate, reached a record low, just last year. And I devote, the entirety of this book, about talking about, with specificity, why we need to restore marriage, why we need to restore, the natural, nuclear family. I devote a whole chapter on restoring, the American male, and why masculinity and femininity, and its confident projection in the public square, has never ever been more important than now. This all goes together with restoring faith. And of course, in the 250th year of America's birthday, we have to be serious about restoring a cultural and historic understanding, of this extraordinary country. You can't have liberty and freedom, gentlemen, over time, without virtue, which is moral excellence in the citizens and in the leadership. And it really begins with marriage, family, parenting. And, you know, these are the lowest levels of marriage rates and fertility rates in the history of our nation. So this is a very serious, I might even say a perilous moment that we are in.
>> Fred Jackson: Tim, it's, Fred here, just to follow up on what you've been talking about, about, you know, the goal has to be restoring the importance of marriage. So much pressure today is being put on young women to put off marriage and childbearing. I mean, the stats that have been coming out now, are, you know, marriage, you know, used to be, 20s. Now women are waiting, into their 30s and to have children, if they have children at all. So much pressure being put on them economically. how do you address that when they say, well, we need two incomes in order to buy a house, et cetera, et cetera.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Well, I'm very glad you asked that, Fred, because this is the first thing, the very first thing that I address in what really matters. I go right to the present state of marriage. and this is really, a sobering statistic, which is that fewer than half, half of U.S. households are now comprised of married couples. I, mean, this is a very substantial, I might even say a colossal shift from just 50 years ago, when nearly two thirds of American homes were comprised of married, couples. And I think that this kind of sobering news indeed needs to be leveraged with good or hopeful news. I mean, I'm an inveterate optimist and I actually believe that restoration and renewal and regeneration is possible. but I think it is not possible if we do not address head on, the kind of cultural reality that is impacting and even corroding, the ability of the United States of America, to be the shining city, upon a hill that we all believe it should be. And so it's not just about rhetoric and talking points. It's about a very fundamental grassroots level that we have to go tell a new generation about the goodness of marriage, the goodness of babies, the goodness of children. I devote a chapter in this book to living a good life, and what constitutes a good life. And it begins with the foundation of the family.
>> Tim Wildmon: We're talking to, what really, to Tim. He's the vice president of government and external relations that focus on the family, and has, been in the fight a long, long time in Washington, D.C. and other places, for faith, family and freedom. His new book is called what really Matters Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Family and Freedom. Tim, tell folks how they can get a copy of your book.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: You bet. It's easily gettable and I appreciate you asking. Wherever people like to purchase books, I promise you it's there. Amazon, Target, you name it. It's widely available. And I hope people will read what really matters, because it's not just an analysis of where we're at. The most important, part of the book, is that it says, this is where we're at, but this is what we can do. These are some of the things that, practically speaking, that we can do, in our churches, in our communities, in our schools, in the places where God has put us, to move us toward the kind of regeneration and renewal that we are all seeking.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. All right, Tim, thanks so much, my friend. We wish you the best, and we will talk to you when you get a new job.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Be a good cheer, okay?
>> Tim Wildmon: Thank you.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: God bless.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, thank you.
>> Fred Jackson: I don't know.
>> Tim Wildmon: In my. Some reason, in my mind, I had him. Anyway, whatever, we say whatever is to get us out, right?
>> Ed Vitagliano: That's right. Exit stage left.
>> Tim Wildmon: I dug a hole and I'm getting out of it by saying whatever.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, that's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: you're listening to today's issues on the American Family Radio Network. Tim, Ed and Fred here.
New York Mayor Zoran Mumdani wants to open five city-owned stores
Next story.
>> Fred Jackson: Fred, we haven't talked about Zoran Mumdani.
>> Tim Wildmon: Have we not?
>> Fred Jackson: We've not talked about Zoran.
>> Ed Vitagliano: That's disappointing.
>> Tim Wildmon: Great. Super superhero, I tell you what.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Ah, super villain.
>> Tim Wildmon: Super villain. He's the mayor of NewSong York City, right?
>> Fred Jackson: Of, NewSong York City.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Fred Jackson: All right. He was celebrating on the weekend, because he's been in office now 100 days.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right?
>> Fred Jackson: And he had a big, big announcement. he said, I'm Here to announce today that we're moving ahead with city owned grocery stores. No problem at all. Have a listen to his. A little bit of a celebration cut number 11.
>> Donald Trump: I know there are many who use socialists as a dirty word. Something to be ashamed of. They can try all they want, but we will not be ashamed of using government to fight for the many, not simply the few. During our campaign, we promised NewSong Yorkers that we would create a network of five city owned grocery stores, one in each borough. Today we make good on that promise. I am proud to announce that we will open every single one of these stores by the end of our first term. And the first one will open next year.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, I'm here to announce something wonderful, but it's way in the distance.
>> Ed Vitagliano: You know what this sounds like similar. All this. All, my example is not nearly as destructive as this one's going to be. Is when I'm watching a hockey game and my wife says, hey, will you take the trash out? I say, I promise I will take it out. Just as soon as the playoffs are over.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: In June. Yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm going to get to it, sweetie.
>> Tim Wildmon: Maybe he was. He didn't have anything else to talk about. I don't know.
>> Ed Vitagliano: He made it sound like he said we're going to open all five.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: I know.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Makes it sound like it is imminent.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes. And we're having a ribbon cutting right now. No, we're having a ribbon cutting in a year.
>> Ed Vitagliano: By the end of our first administration. All five will be open five, four years from now. And the first one is going to be open by the end of next year.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. So. So he's wanting to, open, government owned or city owned grocery stores. How does that. Is that free food for everybody, Fred?
>> Fred Jackson: How does that work? No, it'll be cheaper than your other grocery stores in town. Now, just stop and think about this. So everybody's going to rush? I'm not sure it's going to be an economic litmus test. you know, you have to make under 25 grand a year in order
>> Ed Vitagliano: to buy, so you might need an id.
>> Fred Jackson: Oh, you might. Right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: You got to show an id.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: but even if you get five grocery stores by the city open in whatever it is, three years from now. Is that what he said?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, no. By the end of the term. His first. Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Three years from now. Right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, three and a half. He didn't. Wow.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Got five grocery stores open. Well, and, and he got. If I'm Kroger. Okay. Or, about Bodega Is that what they have?
>> Ed Vitagliano: But the bodegas, those four small family owned.
>> Tim Wildmon: They're convenience stores without gas pumps, right?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes. Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: In the middle of NewSong York City and big cities have them, they sell groceries too. A lot of them have, produce
>> Ed Vitagliano: and they serve the neighborhood kind of thing.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. so I'm going to compete with a, government owned store that can sell the same product I'm selling for a lot less. Is that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Oh, you're not going to compete. That's going to be the problem. The model is that the government pays for the difference. If you're going to, you're going to sell groceries cheaper.
Fred Wohl: I don't think government model will work
The taxpayer. I got you pays for the difference between what you're selling it for at the government run store and what Kroger has to charge. Now my, my thought is what they're thinking, what the commies and the pinkos are thinking is that mostly poor people will come, poorer people will come to the government owned stores. Everybody else will go to Kroger as usual. The problem is, what if Kroger needs everybody coming to its store in order to survive? That means Kroger's not going to survive. And then everybody has to shop at the government stores and then you, have to open more than just five. Yeah, this is, Listen, we are going to watch. This is one of those deals where you see on social media someone posts, posts the gif or a meme of people watch eating popcorn while they're watching a disaster unfold. We're going to watch NewSong York City continue down the sewer.
>> Tim Wildmon: Listen, there's nothing wrong with food pantries or you know, like what.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Organizations, like the Salvation army and Free Food. Free food, yeah. Because, there's a lot of homeless people who count on soup kitchens.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: You know, to survive. And there are a lot of people who are down on their luck, so to speak, who maybe not homeless, but they're, they can barely afford to live and they get aid from the government. Like snap.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Another program. I know there's a lot of fraud there too, but I'm saying that there are already those kinds of things in existence for people who are in need. I just think of, we'll see whether it works or not. I don't think it's going to work,
>> Ed Vitagliano: but I think I'm just telling you it's not going to work.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: There's no way this model can succeed. And this is the trouble. This is the problem. He says everyone uses socialists as a, as a bad word. Yeah. There's a reason for that.
>> Dr. Josh Mulvihill: Right?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Because everywhere it's tried, it results in catastrophe. And NewSong York City is going to be exhibit A, over the next four years.
>> Fred Jackson: And you know, who knows this? Kathi Hochul, the governor. The governor of NewSong York. Remember what she said about in the last 10 days that all these people fleeing from NewSong York, you need to go home, come home and do your patriotic duty. Pay taxes here and pay higher taxes here. And everybody laughed, especially those.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, because they're not coming back. And Kathi Hochul is M. She told him to leave first, initially. Initially, she said, well, we don't want you. And now she's saying, hey, I was just kidding. Come on, come back. Pay more taxes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Come back and be taxed to death.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: all right. We are out of time for this hour. Thank you, Fred.
>> Fred Jackson: You bet.
>> Tim Wildmon: We will be back after this short timeout with more of today's issues. Steve Paisley Jordall will join us. Ah, momentarily. Stay with us. M. The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
