Transcript

Today's Issues continues on AFR with your host, Tim Wildman

>> Ed Vitagliano: Today's Issues continues on AFR with your host, Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association.

>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, welcome back, everybody, to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Tim, Ed and Steve Paisley Jordan now joins us.

>> Steve Jordahl: Hello, everybody. Happy NewSong Year.

>> Tim Wildmon: Happy NewSong Year to you, Steve.

>> Steve Jordahl: Thank you.

Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are playing for a playoff spot

>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, before we move on to, news.

>> Steve Jordahl: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: We got some other news stories we need to cover. did you guys see the end of the, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens last night?

>> Steve Jordahl: there was a fight. I didn't watch the game. Was that the one where there was a fight?

>> Tim Wildmon: So you tune in for the fight?

>> Steve Jordahl: I do, I do. That's what I watch. Hockey fan.

>> Tim Wildmon: That's human nature, I guess, isn't it? Hey, no, I have a point, to this. Not just the game itself, but I watch the end of the game.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. So these two teams, the Steelers and.

>> Ed Vitagliano: The Ravens, it's winning in.

>> Tim Wildmon: That's right.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Playoff spot on.

>> Tim Wildmon: That's right. They're playing for, I think, their division and a spot in the playoffs. NFL playoffs. And the team that doesn't win goes home. Yeah, no playoffs for them. So a lot on the line. and it gets to the last minute of the game and Pittsburgh. Eryn Rodgers, you know Moses.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: You know, he's out there with his staff.

>> Steve Jordahl: Exactly.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so Eryn Rodgers, is out there quarterbacking the Pittsburgh, Steelers. And then he leads them to a touchdown to take the lead by two points with 55 seconds to go in the game. This game is at Pittsburgh. Okay, so the field goal kicker for the Steelers trots out there, and he hasn't missed a field go. He, hasn't missed an extra point. All year long, they say. I think I got this right all year. Hasn't missed. Hadn't missed one since last year. Eight. An extra point. This guy's. This guy's Mr. Automatic.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, well, keep in mind it's a two point game. If he makes it, it puts him up 3,55 seconds to go. Well, he misses, he misses the field. The extra point goes off to the sails, off to the right. It was a bad. It looked terrible. I could have done as good as he did on that kick. So he misses the extra point. So the drama increases because now all Baltimore needs is a field goal to win and advance to the playoffs and send all the Pittsburgh Steelers fans home. Sad.

>> Ed Vitagliano: You know, this is in Pittsburgh.

>> Tim Wildmon: It's in Pittsburgh. So the crowd just goes silent, you know, because we can't believe what we just saw. Our, our field goal Kicker missed an extra point and it, that never happens.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so everybody's stunned. Well Baltimore gets the ball and they drive down. they have a good kick return. Then they fourth and seven on their m. Own midfield and that Lamar Jackson, they quarterback, he like does a great pass. They get down to the like 25 yard line.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Oh my goodness.

>> Tim Wildmon: Oh yeah, on 4th and 7. So out trots this kicker for Baltimore and He's got a 44 yarder which is easy for an NFL kicker. Right. That's what they do that in their sleep. However, he's a rookie. Okay, see where you see what's about to happen here?

>> Ed Vitagliano: I am watching this at lunch.

>> Tim Wildmon: So this kicker, this this. There's, there's no time left on the clock like three seconds left on the clock to be able to kick a field go. So they tried out. Everybody expects well he's going to make it and the game's over. Because NFL characters make 44 yarders all day every day. They don't miss them hard. I mean like maybe maybe 1 out of 10 or something like that. So the field goal kicker for Baltimore, he's getting, he's a rookie. He gets out there and, and he misses bad way out. like a lang. Like a dying quail wasn't tipped or anything. No, no, he just flat out didn't even come close to making it all. Now I don't know if that's because of he just hit it wrong or the pressure got to him because can you imagine the pressure on this? My point is you, you watch 60 Minutes of football among with 300 pounders out there slamming each other to the ground. Right. Just brutal. And it all comes down to the 5 foot 10, 155 pound kicker to win or lose the game.

>> Ed Vitagliano: For the playoffs.

>> Tim Wildmon: For the playoffs. I just thought, I don't know what metaphor that represent that would make but to think that the all that blood, sweat and tears goes comes down to the little fellow over there who just practices his kicking by himself the whole game.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: And your whole season hinges on him.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Who'S playing Candy Crush on his during the game.

C.J. Stroud: Pittsburgh Steelers advance to playoffs thanks to God

>> Tim Wildmon: I know, I know, I know. Anyway, so.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Well I am so watching the end of that game. Oh it was, it was on YouTube.

>> Tim Wildmon: So anyway, the bottom line was the Pittsburgh Steelers advanced to play in the playoffs because, because of this. so our You should have seen the look on Eryn Rodgers gray beard face when, when they, when they won the game.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I just looked at, looked him up. He's 42 years old.

>> Tim Wildmon: Eryn Rodgers, how long did Tom Brady play? What?

>> Steve Jordahl: He was.

>> Ed Vitagliano: He was maybe 40. Was he?

>> Steve Jordahl: Oh, he was over 40.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I mean, no, but I was gonna say 40.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. What was it? How old was he when he retired, though? Tom Brady I'm talking about, you know, George Blanda is the old.

>> Steve Jordahl: I remember seeing him, he was 50.

>> Tim Wildmon: Back in the 70s.

>> Ed Vitagliano: He was a k. A backup quarterback.

>> Steve Jordahl: and I saw him do both.

>> Tim Wildmon: How old? Tom Brady, when he retired.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Tom Brady retired from the NFL for good at the age of 45 after completing a, 23rd season. He had, ah, retired at age 44 and then come back. Came back.

>> Tim Wildmon: So Eryn Rodgers had three more years to get to Brady status on the age.

>> Ed Vitagliano: All right, well, Brady didn't look 45. Eryn Rodgers looks 42.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Yeah, he definitely got some wear on him. All right, you're listening to today's issues. Go ahead, Steve.

>> Steve Jordahl: Well, I'm just going to say the, Pittsburgh, Steelers will be playing the Houston Texans. we're used to hearing players say, oh, I want to give glory to God. Thanks to God. you know, sometimes they say thanks to God and my savior, Jesus Christ, and they go on. I got to tell you, there is a class of NFL players now that have gone deep into their faith. C.J. stroud, the quarterback of the Houston Texans, is one of them. He was asked about his testimony at a press conference. This is what he said. Cut 20.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Talking about that, do you not feel like that the testimony that you and d' Ameco and all the players are giving that. I know everybody says, oh, God doesn't care about football, but that he is blessing you guys because of the testimony that you're giving this season.

>> Speaker D: Yeah, I mean, I think I don't want it to be ever be confused. I don't think God is like, the Texans are going to win, but I think regardless, win or loss, he gets the glory. And that's up to us, you know, and that's, that's just worship. And I think, you know, him giving us our talents, our abilities, and these jobs, you know, his. He's, you know, more than worthy of all the worship. And that's just really why we do what we do. It's not because we want favor from the Lord, even though, you know, that would be nice. but I think, you know, in. In my opinion, you don't just get favor from the Lord because you just give him glory, but he deserves it and he's worthy of it. And I look Back on my life, he's been faithful. but, yeah, it's just not because we all follow Jesus that we just win every game. But regardless, on. And I think just. I think it shows the world when you lose and you do not doing well. How you, you know, profess your faith or, you know, you go about your life when things aren't going great is the testimony and really the testament of your faith and, you know, your journey and your witness to everybody else.

>> Tim Wildmon: So that is C.J. stroud.

>> Steve Jordahl: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: The quarterback, starting quarterback for the Houston Texans.

>> Steve Jordahl: Yes, sir.

>> Tim Wildmon: That was a very mature answer. I agree, that. Because a lot of times that that question is thrown around and you get the roll your eyes answers, you know, Come on, man. That's. God doesn't, you know, like God's, chosen which football team, he wants to win and which player he wants to do well. And that's what he was saying right there. C.J. stroud. Well, we all heard him. He was saying, no, that's all. The most important thing is worshiping Christ. That's what he was saying. That's what he was saying.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I loved his answer. To your point, you don't ever want it to just become run of the mill. This is what Christians are supposed to say. But it answers the. It kind of answers the question when people might say, well, do you thank God when you lose? Okay. He's saying, listen, this is not about thanking God because we won or because we lost. We're thanking God because, that's what you do when you worship him.

>> Tim Wildmon: Right.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I mean, listen, these are. These are young men who get the privilege of playing football, in this case, football at a high level. man, do you know, even if you lose, you go, I'm having the time of my life.

>> Tim Wildmon: Let me just say this too. You know, the Bible says we're.

Human pride is one of the leading sins in the Bible, according to Shroud

Humankind is susceptible to all kinds of sins. Right. Isn't that in the Bible?

>> Ed Vitagliano: maybe not those exact words, but the sentiment certainly is.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. I remember I wrote a column recently on the seven deadly sins. I mean, what I'm saying is one of them, which is right at the top of the list is, Is, What am I? Not arrogance, but pride. Pride. Pride related to arrogance. Yeah, but pride, human pride is, one of the leading sins in the Bible, if not the leading sin.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm glad. I'm glad I don't have that problem. You know, I've risen above it.

>> Tim Wildmon: I understand your point. My point is, to hear such words Coming from this young man, he's still a young man in my eyes. I mean, he's in his 20s, but he's a grown man. But he's still a young man because he would have these athletes today who make it, especially to the professional level. We know. Never mind high school, when you're a sports star in high school or college or whatever. But this guy, this, what. He's. This gentleman here. Shroud. Shroud. Rather. Excuse me. It. Has reached the pinnacle of his profession. And he is, So you hear all day, every day how great you are. Now they have. Unless you play bad, right?

>> Steve Jordahl: Then you hear how bad you are.

>> Tim Wildmon: Then you hear how bad you are. But you know what I'm saying, the adulation that these athletes get from, people and the average person out there in the fans is. Would. Would. Would give anybody the big head.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Oh, yeah, okay.

>> Tim Wildmon: And you would think, well, I'm. I'm a God in my own right. Right. And that does happen with a lot of them. They become, you know, superstars in their own mind, and it leads them to all kinds of problems.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.

>> Tim Wildmon: But so to hear somebody like him have a biblical perspective on his status of life and the fact that God doesn't. Basically what he's saying is God, as I understand God, isn't concerned about who wins or loses, but rather that he gets the glory. He gets the glory because he's worthy of the worship.

>> Ed Vitagliano: And that's why I think it was a very wise answer. Shows maturity on. On his part.

>> Tim Wildmon: Right. So, by the way, let me.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Just also just toss this one quick thing, and then we can move on. When I was growing up, I don't remember any. And I was not a Christian growing up. I've said that on the air many times, but I don't ever remember any athlete coming out and talking about their relationship with Jesus Christ. Maybe Bobby Thompson was the only one. I kind of had heard something about NewSong York Yankees being a Christian. I, remember him being on the Wheaties box and stuff. But nowadays you have a lot of athletes who will openly talk about their relationship with Jesus Christ and give God praise and glory. And I just think that's a good thing. That's a good. That's a good change. That's, That's occurred.

>> Steve Jordahl: Yep.

>> Ed Vitagliano: That's all I want to say about that.

Tim Waltz announced he will not seek a third term amid Minnesota scandal

>> Steve Jordahl: All right, well, we have an announcement to make. the former vice president, presidential candidate on the Democrat ticket, along, with, Kamala Harris, Mr. Tim Waltz. Governor Tim Waltz. Has made an announcement he is not going to seek a third term. His decision not to seek a third term. He says every minute I spend defending my own political interest would be a minute I can't spend defending the people of Minnesota. What does he have to defend against a 9 billion billion dollar scandal. Welfare, scandal in, in Minneapolis. it's estimated in December 2025 the first US Assistant Attorney Joe Thompson stated that half or More of the $18 billion in Medicaid funds supporting 14 Minnesota run programs since 2018 may have been stolen.

>> Tim Wildmon: So he was gonna run and now he's decided not to. Is that correct?

>> Steve Jordahl: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: Well he's not going to because he doesn't want to. An if he can't help it and just bow out and try to escape the scrutiny and the accountability that will come with because if he's running again he's going to be asked about that all the time and new developments and news stories are going to break about it because there's already been like what, 90 indictments?

>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, I'm looking at an article on American Family News says more than 100 people have already been indicted. To your point Tim, that number is probably going to only swell as this person says, well that they helped and there may wind up being hundreds of people indicted. These are mostly Somali run childcare centers and other entities. I'm quoting from our own news story here, that have been illegally getting billions of dollars in federal funding and in a lot of cases shipping this money to terrorists organizations.

>> Steve Jordahl: A lot of it goes back to Somalia and some of it goes directly into Al Shabaab.

>> Tim Wildmon: I don't want to bore people with going over how this worked again, but I'll be quick. So the federal government, United States federal government sends money to states for all kinds of reasons. I've never quite understood that because you send your dollar to Washington, they take 50 cents out, then they send 50 cents back to you of your dollar and you're supposed to be thankful. I've never quite understood how that, how that works exactly. I know it's not that simple but that's how it seemingly works sometimes however. So the federal government sends grant money all over the country for various and sundry projects. and in this case they sent it to Minnesota to help with paying for daycare or Somali, Somali, immigrant children and other issues and other issues. So what happened was these Somali, some of these Somali, again immigrant daycare centers were in name only and they didn't have any kids. In them. And yet they were getting money, they applied for grants, they got money and they didn't do any work. They really weren't housing, they weren't teaching the kids. So that's what they were busted for. Right. I don't know how many daycare centers, how many people involved, but 90 plus people have been indicted by the feds over this. So that's what the scandal is. How does Governor Tim Waltz enter in here? It's because the, once the federal government sends money to the state, in this case Minnesota, then the state is responsible for administrative dispensing the money and administering the program. Does that make sense? And so what. What the. What they're. What, where Tim Waltz is, involved. He hasn't been indicted, but they're saying that the, critics are saying that he knew all along that this shell game and this theft was going on, but he didn't say anything or do anything because he didn't want to upset the Somali community because they might turn on him and not vote for him in the election because they almost all vote Democrat and he's a Democrat. Does that make sense? So now he's decided just to back away and not run. I think again, hoping that this all blows over or that he's not caught. He's not, he's not having to answer questions about it all the time because he's running for a third term, by the way. I just don't think. I know. Each state decides for itself. I don't think. Three terms, I don't think is there. Can you run for the mayor of. I mean, the governor of Minnesota, Unlimited term Limited. Seem like to me, I don't know, two terms is. Is enough. It's like the presidency. Two terms, two consecutive terms at least, is enough.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Seems if you can't get done what you wanted to get in eight years. Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: But also you tend to build up, power.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: And you. So if you go beyond eight years, as a, as the, CEO of a state. You're listening. Go ahead.

Nicholas Maduro has pleaded not guilty in his arraignment this morning

>> Steve Jordahl: Breaking news.

>> Tim Wildmon: Breaking news.

>> Steve Jordahl: Nicholas Maduro has pleaded not guilty in, his arraignment this morning.

>> Tim Wildmon: who's his public defendant?

>> Steve Jordahl: That I have not, read yet. I don't know. I don't know if it is a public defendant. He's got a lot of money. I don't know if. If he has access to it to buy a lawyer. But, they have.

>> Tim Wildmon: What was that drug dealer that we, captured and put in jail, about two years ago, Three years ago. That big drug kingpin from Mexico.

>> Ed Vitagliano: not talking about Pablo Escobar. That was years ago.

>> Tim Wildmon: You dropped. No, it was a couple years ago. It's in the news, okay. Everywhere. he was a big drug lord and he was captured and he went to jail in NewSong York, I think. Thanos, maybe in Rikers.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Talking about Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that was Iron Man. Iron man finished him off.

>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, yeah, I'm talking.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm stalling.

>> Tim Wildmon: So I'm talking real world here so.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Steve can find it.

>> Steve Jordahl: Gary Pollock is Nicholas Maduro's lawyer. He represented, Julian Assan. He is known for his famous, wins.

>> Tim Wildmon: I'm still on the drug King piano that we.

>> Steve Jordahl: Sorry.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Oh, I thought that's what you were.

>> Tim Wildmon: El Chapo. Yes.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Oh, El Chapo.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yes.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Brent Creely chimes in El Chapo.

>> Tim Wildmon: Isn't that a great name for a drug king fan though?

>> Ed Vitagliano: El Chapo.

>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, what was his name? L. What? El Chapo.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I like going Chapo.

>> Tim Wildmon: Are you serious? El Chapo. Wow.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I like going to El Chapo. It's a restaurant nearby, right?

>> Tim Wildmon: Mexican food.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Great Mexican food. Anyway, what they can do with the tortilla.

>> Tim Wildmon: The point I bring up him is, did he. Was he given a lawyer?

>> Ed Vitagliano: I think to,

>> Tim Wildmon: He went to prison.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Steve's point. These, these guys with all kinds of money from illegal enterprises, they can afford their own lawyer whether or not they're going to win or not.

>> Tim Wildmon: I just wonder if this is this guy.

>> Ed Vitagliano: High profile defense lawyer, El Chapo Guzman.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, well, somebody like him may do it pro bono just because they get the attention and they get the limelight or they believe in the cause, so to speak, that you do find that from time to time, you know, because if you represent somebody like, Maduro, I mean, you can write a book, sell rights to a movie. I don't know, you can make money a lot of different ways if you want to.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.

>> Tim Wildmon: That's the. Let's see, a lawyer's name.

>> Ed Vitagliano: No, no, that's, No. Jeffrey Lichtman was the, prominent, most prominent lawyer associated with his case. Served as his lead defense attorney. I'm, reading directly from, the AI generated answer provided by Brave.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Anyway, so the. But these defense lawyers sometimes will take cases just to get their name out there to promote their, firm.

>> Steve Jordahl: I don't know, Barry. Pollock probably doesn't need the money. I know Nicholas Maduro has the money and he probably.

>> Tim Wildmon: But does he have access. Do you have access to money when you're in federal custody?

>> Ed Vitagliano: That's a good question. I mean, does he have access to the atm?

>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, by the ATM on the way, the pen.

>> Ed Vitagliano: By the way, Jeffrey Lichtman, who is,

>> Tim Wildmon: I can use my pen.

>> Ed Vitagliano: The. The lead attorney for El Chapo. This said, he's a NewSong York based criminal defense attorney known for representing high profile clients such as John Gotti Jr. That noted mob mafia mob boss, the Game, and Fat Joe. Fat Joe? I, don't have no idea.

>> Steve Jordahl: Barry Pollock.

>> Ed Vitagliano: No, I'm talking about Jeffrey Lichtman.

>> Steve Jordahl: Oh.

>> Tim Wildmon: He defended Fat Joe.

>> Ed Vitagliano: John Gotti and Fat Joe.

>> Steve Jordahl: He, did he get him off?

>> Ed Vitagliano: I don't know. Fat Joe.

Fat Joe should be given a new nickname, Steve says

I gotta look this up.

>> Tim Wildmon: Why do I say that?

>> Steve Jordahl: More lunchtime reading?

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Fat Joe should be given a new nickname.

>> Ed Vitagliano: That's fat shaming, isn't it?

>> Tim Wildmon: That's hurtful.

>> Steve Jordahl: Yeah, we don't do that anymore though, since Ozempic. That's a. That's a whole story for another day. Barry Pollock is the lawyer and he represented Julian Assange. He got him released.

>> Tim Wildmon: M. He did, yes.

>> Ed Vitagliano: This is for the, WikiLeaks dump. Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: Fat Joe.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Fat Joe. Joseph Antonio Cartagena, better known by his stage name, Fat Joe Stage, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, record producer and record executive. Anyway, that's neither here. I just thought it was funny, your nicknames, Fat Joe.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, unless it's you. But I guess, I guess he owned it, didn't he? Like that. Probably because some of those doesn't look, especially some of those rappers, they, they, you know, they'll name themselves after their physical.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: Looks all right. You're listening to today's issues. We are just about out of time here. Well, there's the music. So we are out of time. We thank you for yours. Appreciate it, Steve.

>> Steve Jordahl: My pleasure.

>> Tim Wildmon: Thanks to Fred Jackson, Brent Creeley, our producer, Cole Greene, who runs the video machine in there.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Ed Vitagliano.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Battaglio. I was going to thank you, whiz. I was. No, I was going to take you last. I was going to say, last but least.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Last and least.

>> Tim Wildmon: My bad. I meant saying that. Last and not least but not least, Mr. Ed the Tagliano, everybody. Otherwise known as Fat Eddie.

>> Steve Jordahl: Spaghetti.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I knew that was coming soon as I said no.

>> Tim Wildmon: Eds, Well, I just say you're a normal looking fell.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Oh, man, now you're outright lying.

>> Tim Wildmon: All right, we'll be back tomorrow, everybody. Have a great afternoon. Keep listening to AF.