Join host John Rush alongside Dr. Kelly Victory and Steve House as they delve into pressing political issues affecting today's healthcare landscape. This episode uncovers unrealistic expectations placed on new political administrations and the systemic inertia that hinders effective policy implementations. The candid discussion touches on the myths propagated by big pharma and the struggles faced by frontline medical professionals advocating for alternative COVID treatments.
SPEAKER 15 :
This is Rush to Reason.
SPEAKER 13 :
You are going to shut your damn yapper and listen for a change because I got you pegged, sweetheart. You want to take the easy way out because you're scared. And you're scared because if you try and fail, there's only you to blame. Let me break this down for you. Life is scary. Get used to it. There are no magical fixes. With your host, John Rush. My advice to you is to do what your parents did. Get a job, sir. You haven't made everybody equal. You've made them the same, and there's a big difference.
SPEAKER 10 :
Let me tell you why you're here. You're here because you know something. What you know you can't explain, but you feel it. You've felt it your entire life, that there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but it's there. It is this feeling that has brought you to me.
SPEAKER 13 :
Are you crazy? Am I? Or am I so sane that you just blew your mind?
SPEAKER 15 :
It's Rush to Reason with your host, John Rush. Presented by High Five Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling, where every call ends with a high five.
SPEAKER 05 :
All right, happy Thursday. Rush to Reason, Denver's Afternoon Rush, KLZ 560. Dr. Kelly Victory joining me now. We're doing our best to get a hold of Steve House as well, but Dr. Kelly, how are you?
SPEAKER 16 :
I'm doing great. Thanks for having me, and I can't believe it's less than a week until Christmas.
SPEAKER 05 :
I was just going to say, are you all ready?
SPEAKER 16 :
As ready as I'm going to be.
SPEAKER 05 :
Steve House with us as well. Steve, you ready for Christmas?
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, you know, I just haven't gotten the two of you, your president, but everybody else I got.
SPEAKER 05 :
Do both of you have all of your boosters ready so that you're all dialed in for the family gatherings?
SPEAKER 16 :
Oh, my goodness, yes. We're doubling down on the crazy last week before the families get together.
SPEAKER 05 :
Unbelievable. And for those of you listening, Dr. Kelly Victory has been with us all the way through COVID and beyond. And you can go back and listen to previous episodes if you would like. Some of you I know do because I get comments from some episodes of the past episodes. From time to time, you can find all those at RushToReason.com. And then Steve House, of course, was the one that really put all this together. Steve, you and I have known each other for a very long time, and you were very instrumental in making all of this happen. And we've got a lot to talk about today. So, Steve, I appreciate it very much, and thank you for putting this together long ago.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, we do have a lot to talk about. It's getting worse. I can't believe it, but it is.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, so, Steve, I'll let you start. Since you are kind of segwaying into that, let's just get into it. And you would think by now that we would be long past some of these things, but we are not, unfortunately.
SPEAKER 04 :
No, and you know what's so funny? I mean, there's a lot of symptoms of the problem. It goes far and wide, but it certainly hits health care hard. You know, the omnibus thing that, you know, Mike Johnson said it wasn't an omnibus. And, you know, you've got the regulatory environment in health care, Pfizer getting praised by people, the PBM issue, you know, the spending issue. It's just. I it just doesn't seem I mean, Donald Trump got elected and I'm looking forward to his cabinet being in play and doing things. But my fear is they aren't going to take big and bold enough steps. They're just not.
SPEAKER 05 :
Dr. Kelly. No, Dr. Kelly, you've got some insight on some of that as well. What do you think?
SPEAKER 16 :
Well, I agree. I think, unfortunately, there's been a buildup and people have an unrealistic expectation that when this new administration gets into office, that all of a sudden on day one, all of these things are going to happen. And part of that has been fostered by things that Donald Trump has said or Bobby Kennedy Jr. Every day they say, you know, on day one in office, I'm going to do blank. On day one in office, we're going to get rid of fluoride. On day one in office, I'm going to... You know, deport all the illegals on day one. We're going to do X, Y and Z. And the reality is that unfortunately, isn't the way Washington works, as Steve knows. Well, the wheels turn, but they turn very slowly. So I think they would be better off to say, here are our top five initiatives. This is what we're going to tackle first. This is our goal to do in the first quarter of year one. And to really lay it out in a way that's more reasonable and measured, I think managing expectations at this point is critically important. Otherwise, it's going to appear to be a big fail. When you add on top of that the crazy making that's going on, and I'm sure we'll talk about that during the hour, whether it's Disease X or the drones or bird flu, you know, that is going to be very distracting in a new administration. And they're doing everything they can, they being the Democrats, to set this new administration up to fail right out of the box.
SPEAKER 05 :
Absolutely. And Steve, one of the things in this continuing resolution that I was reading, the second one, by the way, for those of you listening, there was one that really got shot down. Elon Musk, Vivek, others, Donald Trump even said, listen, this is not the direction that we want to head. We've got to put our money where our mouth is. And This isn't going to work, and yet we get the second one today. Yes, it's better than the one that was prior, Steve, but at the end of the day, we still have the middleman that we talked about last week in regards to how insurance works and the pharmacy end of things and the costs associated and all of that, and we talked about how we could cap some of those things, and they had a chance even in this continued resolution to do so, and yet Steve didn't.
SPEAKER 04 :
Well, yeah, I mean, quite frankly, John, it's one of those scenarios where I almost believe they can't help themselves. You know, when you talk about putting together a bunch of pork in a bill like this, and then, you know, there's this theory that, you know, we can't get it done in time, we can't do what we need to do because of one reason or the other. Well, the problem is they don't work very hard from my point of view. I mean, they work 164 days a year, so that's a problem. And then on top of that, they do not believe they have the ability to take a look at one subject bill have a debate about it, and they don't have to do a lot of reading when it's one subject. So Omnibus Bill, 1,500 and some pages, is pretty damn daunting. But until somebody steps up, as far as I'm concerned, Mike Johnson needs to go. Whoever comes next, if they don't get the fact that this stuff can't be slammed through in big, giant chunks of crap, then they need to go, too. They need to keep doing that until we find a speaker who gets what needs to be done.
SPEAKER 05 :
Kelly, what are your thoughts on that?
SPEAKER 16 :
A hundred percent. They need to pass individual things. Every time you try to wrap it all together, it becomes everything. But the kitchen, you know, the kitchen sink sort of thing, nothing gets done. And part of it's because of the corruption and graft that happened in Washington that people say, oh, I'll support your project if you support mine. And everybody adds on and adds on and adds on. That's what pork is. People just keep adding their pet issue into it. And so when you look at something like Obamacare, the amount of stuff that was baked in, that was wrapped into a supposed health care bill, there's stuff in there that had nothing to do with anything having to do with health care. It had to do with the tree canopy and underserved populations. It was insanity. It's because they can't just say, yes, I will review this particular bill on its own merits and decide whether or not I can support it, and then we'll move on to the next one. We would actually get things done if they didn't try to shove it through as a big hairball.
SPEAKER 05 :
Right. Steve, one thing I was thinking of as I was watching Vivecki put out a little video on TikTok about the previous bill, not this one, and all the things that were in it and so on. And what I noticed, and I want to get your opinion on this, Dr. Kelly, as well, but he said, listen, most people won't read the 1,500 pages, but I did. And here's all of the things that are in it. He starts spilling those things out. And the first thought I had, Steve, was, number one, and I'm trying to be as nice as I can here, And yes, there are some smart people on Capitol Hill. I'm not saying this universally. But my fear, Steve, is that there's a lot of those folks elected that I'll be straight up honest. I'm not sure can read 1,500 pages. And I'm trying to say that as kindly as I can. So now we've got aides and others that are actually doing it and feeding that information to the folks that are actually voting on it. Because I'll be real honest with you, Steve. And you said it a moment ago. They don't work super hard. And frankly, I don't think they're efficient in anything they do. They just happen to get elected.
SPEAKER 04 :
They don't want to work that hard, to be honest. I mean, they want to, you know, it's like, okay, I'm not the speaker, so I don't have that much to do other than go along, go to committees, ask a few questions, and then run for re-election over and over again. They're not being held to any standards. There's no KPIs, right? There's no key performance indicators for any of them. No, I agree. If there's no report cards for them, there's no nothing.
SPEAKER 05 :
I agree. Dr. Kelly, I mean, I hope I'm not being too hard on some of these folks, but I've interviewed some of these people over the years, and And I'll just say it, Dr. Kelly, some of these folks are just not that bright. They've gotten elected. They figured out that part of it in their particular end of the world, and they've maybe done OK there. And some of them, by the way, have never held a real job. They just figured out a way to get into politics. And at the end of the day, I'm not to Steve's point, Dr. Kelly, I don't think they know how to work.
SPEAKER 16 :
No, I think you're being kind. The reality is, with few exceptions. to say that they're not that bright is an understatement. Here's the reality. We better get our arms around it. The best and the brightest do not go into politics. And there's a reason, because they've got other things to do. They either have jobs in the private sector where they either make more money or they have more influence, and they aren't willing to give that up to go and move to Washington, D.C., and play that game. So the people who do run for office and ultimately get elected, are people who, frankly, wouldn't make it in the private sector. They don't have the work ethic to make it in the private sector. They don't have the intelligence to make it in the private sector. They really don't. Do you think AOC would ever make it? What would she have done other than be a bartender?
SPEAKER 05 :
AOC would have a hard time. I'm not exaggerating here, guys. You would probably agree with me on this one. She would have a hard time following me around as an assistant, nonetheless doing the things I do every day.
SPEAKER 16 :
Correct. And so, you know, granted, there are people like a Rand Paul, who I think is very bright, or a Jim Jordan. There are exceptions to this. But the reality is that in general, you don't get the best and the brightest. And I will tell you, I actually was approached some years ago to run for a congressional seat. in California, and Kevin McCarthy told me flat out, you need to have a quarter of a million dollars of your own money to put up. We are not supporting you until we're pretty clear that you can win. We really want you to do this. Well, why in the world would I stop doing what I'm doing in order to play that game? I have a good job. I've got a platform. Why in the world would I do that? So the way our government works is it actually sort of – reels in some of the lowest functioners out there who just have enough money to play the game.
SPEAKER 05 :
Steve, you know, you've been chair before along these lines, and you know as well as what Dr. Kelly just said a moment ago, it's designed to really keep folks that are very productive, they've done well in their lives. To Kelly's point a moment ago, they've got other things going on, and frankly, to stop doing what they're doing and go into politics, There's absolutely no incentive. We're very lucky to have somebody like a Donald Trump doing what he's doing because, really, Steve, there's no incentive to go do it.
SPEAKER 04 :
Well, having run myself and been a donor, I mean, I went through this court case recently on campaign finance laws, and in court I had it disclosed or it was disclosed that I had donated $281,000 to candidates in 10 years and that I had spent $500,000 of my own money on campaigns, my own campaign. So was I fortunate enough to be able to do that? Yes. When I look back, do I wish I had that money back? Yes. But it's become this scenario where You know, if you don't have that kind of money that Kelly's talking about, if you're not willing to disrupt your life and give your life to it, you have to give your life to it. Because once you're in there, you're not making enough money to keep going on the money. You have to do something else.
SPEAKER 05 :
Right. That's absolutely right. Perfect segue. Guys, hang tight. We'll come right back. I've got a couple of questions that have come in from listeners, plus some of my own. Affordable interest mortgage is coming up next. And Kurt Rogers is going to be with us at 5 o'clock. But in the meantime, his direct line, 720-895-0500.
SPEAKER 01 :
Interested in buying a new home? Well, the cost may have just gone down. It's been a seller's market for years, and buyers are regaining some authority. Want to cut your costs when you buy? Take AIM, Affordable Interest Mortgage, 720-895-0500. Recent changes to buyer's agent compensation now helps the buyer spend less. Sellers no longer need to raise the price to cover compensation for both sides. Your pre-approval now gives you more control in pricing and compensation. make sure you work with a knowledgeable mortgage broker that will save you money. Take AIM 720-895-0500. AIM has a team of broker agents willing to negotiate their compensation and save you thousands. They know the new law. They're experienced and professional. Before you sign with an agent, protect yourself with a real pre-approval letter that puts you in charge. Take AIM. Affordable interest mortgage, 720-895-0500. We have that team willing to work for you. That's 720-895-0500. Regulated by Dora and MLS, 217-147, equal credit lender.
SPEAKER 05 :
All right, Dr. Scott, who is a lot like us, Dr. Kelly and Steve House, and the things that we have been talking about. He is in our camp. He is not beholden to big pharma or big insurance. So find him today by calling 303-663-6990.
SPEAKER 07 :
Are you looking for a healthcare provider who truly cares about you and your well-being? Look no further than Castle Rock Regenerative Healthcare, where Dr. Scott Faulkner is ready to provide you with top-notch care. At Castle Rock Regenerative Healthcare, you'll experience a competent, friendly, and efficient staff that puts your comfort and care first. Dr. Scott Faulkner is a true advocate of the latest advancements in healthcare and weight loss. Worried about being lost in the crowd of impersonal health care? Fear not. Dr. Scott is a big picture doctor, not beholden to big pharma or big insurance like some other providers. He takes the time to understand your unique needs and will customize your health care to fit you, your body, and your lifestyle. Tired of waiting weeks for an appointment? Unlike other practices, Dr. Scott Faulkner has the remarkable ability to see you in a matter of days. Reach your full potential and achieve your goals. Call Dr. Scott today at 303-663-6990 or visit him online at castlerockregenerativehealth.com or find him at rushtoreason.com. Castle Rock Regenerative Health Care, your path to a healthier tomorrow.
SPEAKER 05 :
All right, Roof Savers of Colorado, if you have any kind of roofing need in between storms, or we've had this great weather we've had this week, Dave can get a lot done when it comes to your roof, including full replacement. Call him today, 303-710-6916.
SPEAKER 02 :
At Roof Savers Colorado, we are about more than roofs. We are about helping you make the best decisions with the right information. Being a homeowner isn't getting any easier or cheaper, and neither is getting your roof the solution it needs. Deductibles are going through the roof, and with every passing year, insurance covers less than the one before. Due to a record amount of hailstorms recently, insurance companies have started limiting your coverage and pulling out-of-states entirely. We know the industry. With over 3,000 roofs under our belts and 23 years of experience, Dave Hart and his team are ready to complete a free roof inspection and discuss the option that is best for you. Don't wait. Policy renewals are increasing by as much as 50%. Now is the time to get the solution you need. Call Roof Savers Colorado today at 303-325-4000. 710-6916 or go to roofsaversco.com. That's 303-710-6916 or go to roofsaversco.com to schedule your free inspection and start saving your roof today.
SPEAKER 14 :
No liberal media bias here. This is Rush to Reason.
SPEAKER 05 :
All right, we are back. Dr. Kelly Victory and Steve House. And there is an entire page dedicated to Dr. Kelly on our website, RushToReason.com. You can go check that out. And again, you guys can go back and listen to some of the previous episodes that we have on file where we've done this now for guys going on five years. All right, something I wanted to throw in really quick. Several different things we wanted to chat about. But one of the first things, and I sent you guys... A little article on this this morning, I wanted to get Dr. Kelly, your opinion on this first, and that is the infamous paper that popularized, and this is coming out of science.com or science.org, of course, the unproven COVID-19 treatment that is finally retracted, and they're talking about hydroxychloroquine and I didn't read this thing, you know, word for word all the way through. But basically what I see this as is a hit piece against a lot of us that realized there was lots of other things that could have been done for COVID all the way through COVID. And we proved a lot of those things even during that time, Dr. Kelly. And yet now we've got science.org coming out conveniently right now, basically saying that was all hooey.
SPEAKER 16 :
Right. They keep desperately trying to say that the things like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin and steroids and vitamin D were not effective treatments against COVID when, in fact, those of us who actually were treating COVID patients know that they were. There's we have now I think we're up to the thousands of papers, not just hundreds, but thousands of papers that that have proven it. The problem is that those papers don't get published because our journals are bought and paid for by Big Pharma. So unless a study comes to the conclusion that Big Pharma wants it to come to, it won't have a chance in hell of getting published. So trust me, you know, these these papers that come out now and say, oh, hydroxychloroquine doesn't work when, in fact, the doctors who actually were treating patients know that it does. And we've got many, many studies that, you know, I'm personally tired of trying to defend it. As far as I'm concerned, if you get covid and you don't want hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin or steroids. and you instead want remdesivir, God bless you.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yep, more power to you.
SPEAKER 16 :
No, that's right. Whatever.
SPEAKER 05 :
No, and I was talking about Dr. Scott, our great sponsor, who, by the way, Dr. Kelly, and you guys maybe not knowing his full story, but he actually lost his job at one of our major hospitals because off-hospital time prescribed hydroxychloroquine to some patients because he knew as well as we did that that was a good help when it came to COVID, and he got canned over that, Dr. Kelly.
SPEAKER 16 :
Yeah, he's amongst many, many people who did. I had my medical license threatened over and over again, not even for things that I prescribed, but for daring to say it, to say what I'm saying right now on the radio or on television. And so I had to defend myself over and over again in Colorado and in Ohio and in North Carolina, where I have medical licenses, again, because there was such a strong effort to suppress any information getting out there. And this is always driven by big pharma because they had a lot of money to be made, not only in their vaccines. but in their brand new medications like remdesivir, which ended up by itself, by the way, resulting in the deaths of many, many, many people. It caused kidney damage and people died as a result of the remdesivir.
SPEAKER 05 :
Run, death is near. Steve House, your feelings on some of this as well. Again, you're on more of the admin sides of these things. And isn't it interesting that we're now seeing a lot of this stuff come out some, I don't know, what are we, about 30 days out from Donald Trump taking over?
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, I think it goes a little bit to what I had texted to you guys earlier, and I think you guys get it as well, which is, Think about what we're doing here. So you take hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, any number of things like that, all antivirals, because you have a virus, so why the hell wouldn't an antiviral be a good thing to try? But secondly, you have people out there saying in the scientific community that they don't work. They say that the vaccine does work. And the other side of the coin, they say, for all of you who are on medications, you should be adherent to your medication because your doctor prescribed them for you and you need to trust your doctor. So we're getting to this point where they're going, don't trust your doctor if they tell you to use an antiviral for a virus, but we want you to trust your doctor to take your drugs because we prescribed those drugs for you and those drugs are the best thing that you can take. It's gotten to the point where historically, John, tell you that When the people who run significant institutions in a country no longer have the trust of the people who are customers of those institutions, things fail. This is classic failure in action because we don't trust the government. I don't know about you. I certainly don't. I don't even trust it. I don't trust Johnson, the Speaker. I don't trust very many of the Republicans who are in Congress. I have a great deal of trust for Donald Trump, but I know what he's going to run into. And I don't trust the medical establishment, even though I know lots of great doctors like Kelly, because the system is pushing back on the people who know something. I don't know how this is ever going to survive.
SPEAKER 05 :
Dr. Kelly, I think, Steve, I agree with everything you said, and I would go one step further with that, Kelly, and say that it's the system even. Granted, the system is there. The people are in the system, so they're all guilty. But really, it's the system as much as anything that's corrupt. Am I correct?
SPEAKER 16 :
Oh, 100%. Let's look at the example of the ivermectin during COVID. We had hundreds of people, thousands around the country who were dying of COVID, okay? People who are elderly or had underlying health conditions who are in the hospital, in the ICU, dying of COVID, okay? There was nothing they could do. Their families were told, there's nothing else we can do. Your family member's going to die. Family members said, let's try ivermectin. And the hospitals refused. Now, you're telling me you've said there's nothing you can do. You've said this person's going to die. What is the problem then with trying ivermectin? What do you have to lose, right? What do you have to lose? And there were court case after court case after court case where even the courts would say to the hospital, if the family wants ivermectin, you must do it. And the hospitals pushed back. Why in the world? Would a hospital push back or defy? And they did many, many times defied a court order. You want to know why? Because they got paid if that patient died. They got money, $40,000 per patient through the CARES Act. You want to talk about did the system participate? Absolutely. And it was based on money. They fought back and defied court orders that said this patient should be allowed, must be allowed to try ivermectin. Their family doctor can come in and give it to them if the hospitalist doesn't want to. And the hospitals refused to comply because they made money if that person died and COVID could be put on the death certificate. People need to go to prison for this.
SPEAKER 05 :
Amen. Dr. Kelly, thank you for that, Steve. It's good that we're recapping this, Steve. I think a lot of people forgot some of the things Dr. Kelly just mentioned.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, I know. And frankly, in the latter days, not so much in the very early days, They don't want you on ivermectin or that type of an antiviral in the hospital because they want you on remdesivir, which is a very expensive drug. Paxlovid, remdesivir are very expensive drugs. If you take an antiviral and you start to recover, because most people recover from COVID now, they're not going to give you remdesivir. They're not going to bill for remdesivir. And quite frankly, a lot of them have inventory of it. There's just no way around the financial equation. Hospitals are in big financial trouble as it is. So And 60% of them have a negative operating income. Sometimes it's huge numbers. So they're trying to make money, but they're making money at the expense of the risk they're providing to the patient who shouldn't have these drugs.
SPEAKER 05 :
Dr. Kelly, the next thing, and I didn't send you guys this because I figured you would have just seen it on your own, but Governor Newsom declaring a state of emergency in California due to bird flu. So it's like, okay, are we going back to this again? You guys didn't learn your lesson the last time?
SPEAKER 16 :
Well, I'm sitting in California today and it's absolutely preposterous. Yes, Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, quote, proactively, whatever that means. So we're proactively declaring an emergency because of the increased number of cases of bird flu in the state of California. Now, let me clarify. These are not cases in people. These are cases in cattle, okay? There has yet to be a human-to-human transmission of a case of bird flu in the entire state. We've had a total, I believe, of 38 cases of bird flu in humans, all people who are in direct contact with infected cattle or infected poultry animals, and not one of them has had a symptom more serious than a sniffle or some pinkeye, conjunctivitis. There is a single case in the country, in the state of Louisiana, of somebody who has, quote, serious bird flu symptoms, something other than just sniffles and conjunctivitis. One case in Louisiana. And on the basis of these findings, Gavin Newsom has decided that we need to proactively go into a state of emergency. This is nothing more than, again, trying to garner control, trying to be able to manipulate people's behavior. And I believe they're going to create as much chaos as possible. Add in drones, add in, you know, whatever next disease X. I can go down the list. They're going to create as much havoc as possible going into January. And unfortunately, this bird flu issue is a problem because they will use it to unnecessarily kill off, cull millions of poultry birds and thousands and thousands of cattle. And as a result, wait for it. What do you think is going to happen to the price of eggs and beef going into February? And they could say, look, Donald Trump's in office. and groceries are higher than ever.
SPEAKER 05 :
That's right. Steve, I can't disagree with anything Dr. Kelly is saying. I believe that is spot on exactly what they're trying to do. Question I have for you, and you know more of the inside politics of all of this, does Donald Trump have the wherewithal and the folks around him to defeat this nonsense?
SPEAKER 04 :
Certainly some of it. I mean, it's amazing how many people ask me the question about Like the omnibus bill, can't he just come into office and say no and write an executive order? Well, he can do rescission. Rescission does exist for certain aspects of a bill like that. He has a high level of power. He can also write executive orders, but he's up against court judgment and decision-making, those type of things. So can he solve all these problems that are being created for him? Probably not. But he sure can make people look stupid. Because, you know, when he takes actions and things work versus what Gavin Newsom – I mean, Gavin Newsom might be doing it because once you call it a crisis, then you're eligible for federal funds, no doubt. Right.
SPEAKER 05 :
And so – And other control that the governor has he wouldn't have otherwise, right?
SPEAKER 04 :
Right. So, you know, there's that play going. I think the other thing that's happening here is that they're watching him be received by global leadership. And they're freaking out because – everyone on the global stage is making Trump look like he's the king of the world.
SPEAKER 05 :
Well, basically, he's running the country right now, even though he hasn't been inaugurated. That's what's happening as we speak.
SPEAKER 04 :
but it's more than just running the country they know that he has not only did he have perceived power not only did he have position power because he was elected but this guy got real power so people will absolutely compromise because they know that he will go down a path and he and they will get what he told them they're going to get and i think that that's going to scare the elite so much because they don't want to deal with them and frankly you can't hide stuff around the guy he's pretty good and then you get to two pit bulls in the vacant Elon, who are not going to let anybody hide anything either. They will be as outgoing as Donald Trump is on waste and fraud and abuse. It's going to be an interesting time. Hopefully everyone will survive it.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, that's where I'm not as concerned with this second bill that's going through. There's some pork in it, but you get him elected and you start that train, if you would, moving forward down the track. And these guys start getting in and analyzing all sorts of things. You could easily have additional bills come through and say, all right, guys, number one, we're going to have a budget. Number two, we're going to go back and fix some of these things that you guys passed in that CR bill. And we're going to get some things taken care of. And frankly, I think that's exactly how these two are looking at it. They didn't like what was there prior because it was way too much, way too much pork when it was all said and done. This next one has some, but not near as much as the one that was there just a day or two ago.
SPEAKER 04 :
The question is, why does it have any?
SPEAKER 05 :
I know. Don't get me started.
SPEAKER 04 :
There's no excuse. I mean, you're not going to get to where we need to go if it's got any.
SPEAKER 05 :
I agree. I agree. Dr. Kelly, a question came in, and this coincides with some of what we can even talk about when it comes to Trump, because he has talked about going to one – You know, time standard across the country moving forward, whether that be standard time or whether that be daylight saving time. And he hasn't taken a position one way or the other. I, frankly, am all for going to one or the other. I'm sick of the different changes that we do. I like daylight saving time, of course, because of my schedule and other things. And I had somebody ask that there's some studies out there talking about, because one thing you always hear is if you stay on daylight saving time and it's really dark a little bit later in the mornings in the winter, that that really affects kids at the bus stop and so on. On the same token, there's studies out there talking about kids should be starting school later anyways. And somebody asked if you knew anything about that study.
SPEAKER 16 :
I don't know anything about that study, but number one, I am a huge proponent of going to one time zone. This is absolute insanity. It was done initially for that reason, saying that because it's dark in the morning and kids shouldn't be standing alone in the dark waiting for the school bus. The reality is that that is not happening with most kids anyway. It simply is an outdated issue. You do far more damage to people's circadian rhythms by messing around with the time clocks and doing this twice a year, and it messes up everybody who actually has a job and is trying to keep track of their work schedule when the time changes. Then you add into the fact that other places, certain places in Hawaii, for example, don't change the time, and it's just way too confusing. I think if it ends up being a problem, the answer is, as you said, is to start the school day at 830 instead of 730, you know, push it back by an hour and go later in the day. There are lots of ways to fix it. But changing the clock back and forth based on where the sun is on the horizon makes absolutely zero sense.
SPEAKER 05 :
Steve, on the expense side, I think the other thing that Donald Trump is looking at is for a lot of different industries, the expense of changing twice a year is quite expensive as well. And even lost productivity and other things that you can throw in that probably aren't tracked as great as it is actual factual costs that you can actually track. And I don't know what that magic number is, Steve, but I've got to believe that there's a cost savings for the country and going to one as well.
SPEAKER 04 :
Oh, I'm sure that it's a big number, John. I mean, everything costs millions or billions. I wonder sometimes about when you think about the total U.S. economy and the trillions of dollars of GDP, you take out one three hundred and sixty fifth of that or one hour of one three hundred and sixty fifth of that. It's going to have a big effect because when you lose an hour, when you go forward and lose an hour, you know, an hour loss is an hour loss. I mean, it's part of the financial thing. And I don't I don't particularly care for it either. I actually think we should eliminate time zones. as well.
SPEAKER 05 :
And just go to, everybody figures out where they're at on the GMT scale and call it good.
SPEAKER 04 :
Bring the East back an hour and a half, the West forward an hour and a half, and in the middle, everybody's on that same number. I mean, there have been people who wanted to do that long ago. Because that way, you know, the country's all operating at the same time, which means people who work the East Coast aren't waiting until, you know, 8 or 9 o'clock at night to finish their business on the West Coast.
SPEAKER 05 :
Oh, as a radio show, trust me, I would be all for that, Steve. Because the other thing that's a real problem that most people don't think about, and those of you that live in it don't think about it, but the mountain time zone for most people in the country is unknown. They think in three time zones. They think we have Western time, you know, out in California. They think we have the middle of the country, Central time, and then Eastern time. Everybody forgets. I know.
SPEAKER 03 :
I mean, frankly, I lost my circadian rhythm at my senior prom when I tried to dance.
SPEAKER 04 :
And I've never recovered it. All right.
SPEAKER 05 :
Good segue. Guys, we'll be right back. You got questions for us? Please send me a text message. I got a few more for Dr. Kelly and Steve that came in on the text line. You're free to do more of those as well. 307-200-8222. We'll be right back. Hi-Fi Plumbing and Electrical, of course, is next. 877-WE-HIGH-5.
SPEAKER 15 :
The holidays are the busiest season for plumbers, and High Five Plumbing, Electrical, Heating, and Cooling wants you to be ready now. There are several things you can do to prevent freezing, busted pipes, and other plumbing issues just as guests arrive. If you have plumbing inside cabinets, leave the doors open to warm them. especially if they are on an exterior wall. Hi-5 can better insulate pipes if this is a constant issue. And if you're going away for a vacation, don't forget to turn the water off to prevent those really bad emergency pipe breaks. When the cold dips lower than normal, leaving your faucets dripping will keep water flowing and prevent it from freezing. Plumbing inside your home is constantly degrading. So even if you haven't had an issue in previous years, High Five can help you make sure it's still working. Have them out for a pre-holiday inspection and receive a waived inspection fee just for being a KLZ listener. Schedule your inspection today at klzradio.com slash plumbing.
SPEAKER 06 :
No need.
SPEAKER 05 :
All right, finances, that's a big deal. As we look to the future, 2025, make sure you've got everything dialed in when it comes to your financial portfolio. Give Al Smith a call today, Golden Eagle Financial. Find him at klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 11 :
The holidays are full of issues that can negatively affect your nest egg and Al Smith of Golden Eagle Financial will help you stay secure. This time of year, you have demands all around you. Even if you're retired, there's shopping to do, dinner parties or office functions. You just need a few minutes to make sure your required minimum distributions are taken. Let Al Smith take the pressure off of you this holiday season. You can meet with him for free and he'll work with you on a strategy to identify the best way he can help you. And when you hire him to manage your retirement, you won't be fending those demands off this year because he's got you covered. Al communicates with you and minimizes the time you would spend strategizing because you can lean on his decades of experience helping folks just like you retire with confidence. We'll be right back.
SPEAKER 05 :
All right, Cub Creek Heating and Air Conditioning. And if you've got any furnace problems at all, get that handled prior to the holidays. Call Cub Creek. Find them at klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 12 :
You need an affordable, trustworthy company to help you heat your home this holiday season. You need Cub Creek Heating and AC. Imagine you click on your thermostat, you hear the air flowing, and check the vent only to find freezing cold air. You wonder what you'll do to fix it, and you can't afford a brand new heater right now before the holidays. Rheem Certified ProPartners Cub Creek Heating AC are HVAC technicians that you can trust in an emergency. They come right out to diagnose the issue, and if it turns out you need a new unit, they can help you finance the expense so your holidays aren't ruined. Cub Creek will work with you on a solution and let you know all the options you have available. So when you're in a chilly situation, remember to find Cub Creek on klzradio.com's advertiser page and let them help you get warm again.
SPEAKER 15 :
Now, back to Rush to Reason, presented by High Five Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, where every call ends with a high five.
SPEAKER 05 :
All right, we are back. Rush to Reason, Denver's Afternoon Rush. Myself, Dr. Kelly Victory, and Steve House, which for those of you listening, because of the holidays and everything else going on, this will be our last episode, our last show with them for 2024. We'll be back in 2025, of course. We've had a lot of fun, and we'll keep this going. Dr. Kelly, in your state, and this one I just – I don't – I shouldn't say that I'm surprised because I'm not, but we now have San Francisco's health department hiring a fat positivity expert to weigh in on things to make sure that people are not labeled incorrectly and that we're doing things right when it comes to people that are extremely overweight, obese, and so on.
SPEAKER 16 :
Yes, because God forbid we should actually be honest with people about their lousy lifestyle choices or the things that they are doing that are undermining their their overall health and wellness because everyone has to feel good about their decisions rather than take personal responsibility. This is absolute insanity. The reality is I'm not making fun of people who have weight issues. I'm not making fun of people who have drug addiction issues or any other problem. that is causing them to have ill health. But the reality is we know darn well that obesity leads to a multitude of medical problems, not the least of which is certainly hypertension, renal disease, diabetes, arthritis, Lots of problems. And the idea that you are going to make people feel OK about that is ridiculous. We should say to people, you should feel good enough about yourself to know that you can change and fix this problem, but identify that it is a problem. We cannot allow people to believe that it is healthy to remain obese.
SPEAKER 05 :
I also will say this as somebody that for a lot of years was overweight, and trust me, I knew I was, and what I'm going to go with here, Dr. Kelly, is that I would highly, highly doubt that there is anybody out there that's overweight that, number one, knows that they need to take some weight off. They know, and I know, they struggle with that because certain types of people and DNA and so on, you struggle differently with different things, and I understand that as well. My point, Dr. Kelly, is... I don't think that these people want excuses made for them either. They want somebody to come along and really help them with how do I live a more healthy lifestyle? What do I need to do to make that happen? I highly, highly doubt that there's anybody out there that's overweight that A, knows that they need, they all know they need to lose weight is my point. And I think that when these sorts of things come along, they just look at that and think, I'm just being lied to again and again and again, and I'm being played.
SPEAKER 16 :
Absolutely. The same way that there's nobody out there who's poor, you know, who actually wants to be poor. They may ridicule the ultra-rich, but they would love to be that. I don't think there's anybody out there who's overweight who wouldn't like to be normal weight. Look, for example, at what happened with Lizzo. She came out and said how it was exactly how she wanted to be. She loved being fat. It was healthy. It was beautiful. And Social media came down on her. And lo and behold, interestingly, she has now lost over 100 pounds. Wow. She has totally changed her appearance. Good for her is right. She has just saved her own life. Her health, her wellness, her quality of life will be so improved by what it is. I don't know how she did it. I haven't seen any. I don't know if she did it with the help of Ozempic or whatever. or just diet and exercise, but for however she did it... It doesn't matter.
SPEAKER 05 :
That's right. She needed to do that. That's right.
SPEAKER 16 :
It doesn't matter. And I'm not suggesting that fat shaming is what we want to do. That's what happened with her, and it ended up having this... Well, Dr. Kelly, you know, we...
SPEAKER 05 :
Steve, I'll throw this off to you as well, but Dr. Kelly, really quick. You know, when somebody is an alcoholic and we know they are, you know, A, we don't shame them for being one. In fact, we do everything we possibly can to help them not be one. In fact, most families that have an alcoholic family member will do everything they possibly can, including not drinking around them and all sorts of other things to try to help that particular person get over that particular problem in their life. Yet we don't do that with people that are heavy.
SPEAKER 16 :
Correct. We certainly don't. Go ahead, Steve. I'm sorry.
SPEAKER 04 :
Go ahead. I was going to say, if you think about it, I mean, you're 100% right, right? We try not to drink around somebody who's an alcoholic. We certainly wouldn't take drugs around somebody who's a drug addict. But the one thing that we don't do on Thanksgiving and Christmas is we don't put away cake and ice cream.
SPEAKER 06 :
Right.
SPEAKER 04 :
Right? If someone needs to be healthier, we're not changing our diet. It's just as addictive. It is. In many cases. You're right. It's just as addictive. It may be more damaging. I think you can survive long-term alcoholism probably better than you can severe obesity. So I don't know why it is that way, why the stigma is that way. We basically are giving ourselves a break by saying, hey, you know what? I'm 25, 30 pounds overweight. It's okay. You know, you're getting older. It's fine. It happens to people. Gravity happens. You know, metabolism slows down. The reality of it is. Look at Kelly Victory. If you haven't seen a picture of her, take a look. I mean, she's not my age, but she's getting to the point where she should be having as much trouble with gravity as I do, and for some reason, she doesn't.
SPEAKER 05 :
Dr. Kelly, I would be happy even if it was only the 20 or 25 pounds. The problem is, as Americans, that is, let's just say that that is on the very low end of how people are overweight. Am I correct in saying that?
SPEAKER 16 :
A hundred percent. And, you know, we know that now we have I think it's 23 states where more than 50 percent of adults are overweight. I mean, think about that. Half of our country, you know, we have a massive issue with with obesity. And the problem is this is that, yes, metabolisms changes. You get older. You have to eat less. You have to eat less and move more, and it isn't fun. Being hungry or not being able to indulge in the foods we like isn't fun. But the reality is everybody wants a quick fix, and wealthy societies suffer from this not uncommonly because we have access to everything. You have access to food 24-7. It's good food. There's stuff around us all the time. We have made it such that it is very rare to have a social interaction of any sort that does not involve food true we would do ourselves a lot of good to say rather than you hey you want to meet me for a drink or hey you want to meet me for lunch to say hey do you want to meet me and go for a walk right right you want to meet me at the park right well and or the alternative and you know steve you know because i was very heavy at one time and fortunately got on the stick in 2010 and
SPEAKER 05 :
took a ton of weight off, about 110 pounds or so. And Dr. Kelly, what I did, when normally somebody would want to go have some sort of a lunch meeting or something along those lines, I did exactly what you said, or I said something to the effect of, you know, everything we're going to meet about, we can do over the phone. I really don't need to be going out to eat. I'm really doing my best to try to be healthy and take some weight off and so on. If you want to get a cup of coffee or something along those lines, I'm game. But at the end of the day, Really, everything we're doing, we can do over the phone. So how about we do that? And you know what, Dr. Kelly? The majority of people, hardly an exception, didn't say, sure, John, we can do that.
SPEAKER 16 :
Absolutely, and when I was running a big healthcare company, I would say to people, if what we are going to do is have a meeting where we talk, and we have this meeting scheduled for 45 minutes, and we're just going to talk. In other words, we don't need a whiteboard, and we don't need a slide deck or anything. Great, let's walk and talk.
SPEAKER 05 :
Absolutely.
SPEAKER 16 :
And we're walking. And it doesn't have to be walking with weights or speed walking or going to a track. You're just saying, I'm not going to sit. and have a donut and a cup of coffee while we have this meeting. We've got to get back to that.
SPEAKER 05 :
Steve, you're somebody, too. Most people don't know your history, but you've done very well in this area as well and can really relate to what we're talking about also.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, and movement is such a big deal, right? I mean, some of it is I have a little saying that I say in my head all the time, and that is nothing tastes as good as thin feels. So, you know, that's one thing. Number two is I've got an aging doc that I have in Chicago that I go see periodically, and every single time I go, it's a four-hour appointment. You go over all the stuff, but the first hour we walk. We walk and we talk about the latest medical advancements and what's going on. I mean, if you look at the numbers, you know, 6,000 steps, 8,000 steps a day, you fix 40% of all-cause mortality is gone because you do that. You save yourself a 40% chance that all causes of mortality will be reduced because you do 8,000 steps a day. It's not easy to do 8,000 steps, but it's so much harder. And here's the other thing, the stat on the fact that men – In the last 10 years, from 65 to 75, men suffer greatly as an average. The average American man suffers. I mean, pain in your joints, pain in all kinds of areas, not to mention cancers and other things. I don't really want to give up that 10 years and have a lousy 10 years, so I walk. I do a lot of things like that.
SPEAKER 05 :
Good for you, and that's the way it ought to be done. My whole point with this whole article was we've now got a city, and by the way, it'll grow. If San Francisco's done it, Dr. Kelly and Steve, other cities will follow suit. This will not be the only one that ends up doing this. So we now have a city that's basically hiring somebody that is their fat positivity person so they can run around the city and basically tell people that, I guess you can live an unhealthy lifestyle, and that's not a problem at all. And, Dr. Kelly, it kind of goes back to what my whole thought process was what we've talked about really all the way through COVID, and I'm sorry, I don't see this as being any different. We have a section of the political front, the Marxist, I don't know how else to say it, that are anti-people, and they will get behind anything possible to reduce the population on this earth. Am I wrong, Dr. Kelly?
SPEAKER 16 :
No, I think fundamentally that is correct. They don't care. The value of human life actually isn't important, and frankly, they'd just as soon see it go down. They'd like to see it go down precipitously, the population. But we have this culture now where you somehow have to validate anything that somebody does. It's never okay to say what you are doing is unwise or it's stupid or it's selfish or whatever else. You have to validate every choice somebody makes. If you decide you want to change your gender, oh, that's a great idea. If you decide you want to ride your motorcycle without a helmet, oh, that's fine. If you decide you want to whatever it is, be obese. use drugs, whatever it is, we have to somehow validate that rather than saying, you know what, that's a really bad idea because we know that it isn't healthy for you. It's not good for you. It's not good for our culture. It's not good for society, whatever it is. And so, you know, this is just the latest example, this, you know, fat, whatever you want to call it, I don't know what her title is.
SPEAKER 04 :
She's the fat positivity expert. You know what it is, John? There's one other thing to think about here, and I know Kelly believes this too, and that is the reason why they do that is they want to make people feel better that don't feel good about themselves.
SPEAKER 05 :
Correct.
SPEAKER 04 :
Well, the reality of it is metabolic syndrome... creates a problem for you with dopamine, endorphins, for feeling good, feeling better. So basically, you're trying to tell someone who feels crappy because they've got a problem with their metabolic syndrome that they should feel better or that it's okay. That's not helpful. The harder message is, look, you've got metabolic syndrome. You've put on weight. You're having a hard time. The future will be better for you. You will literally feel better, think better. It'll all work better for you if you lose the weight. And there is no other answer.
SPEAKER 05 :
Absolutely. None. Absolutely. Guys, that's it for this hour. It always rolls by really fast. I wanted to give enough time to wish both of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are indebted to both of you. And I just can't say enough, A, how much I've learned from the two of you, how I consider you both as close friends, and I know a lot of our listeners do as well. And I just want to say just how grateful I am to have had this experience the last five years, and I look forward to hopefully five more, Steve and Kelly. So, Steve, I'll let you go first.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, no, I mean, I get so much, learn so much from you guys. The one thing I wish for, and I know it's not going to happen, is I wish – you know, 10,000 listeners would have a chance to sit in a room with the three of us and have a conversation because I gain every time we do. And I know that it's helpful not only to my own education, but I pass along so many things. I quote Kelly Victory more than anyone on this planet, no doubt.
SPEAKER 05 :
Absolutely.
SPEAKER 04 :
And it's because she's smart and, you know, she does the right things and she helps me. So I appreciate both of you. And, John, you lost weight because Mrs. Rush beat you to death. Ah, there we go. There we go. Just get out there. There we go. She wants you to live, and she made it happen, so I appreciate her, too.
SPEAKER 05 :
I'll let you go, Steve. Thank you. Dr. Kelly, I meant what I said a moment ago, and I wish you a very Merry Christmas.
SPEAKER 16 :
Well, thank you very much, and I appreciate both of you so much. Maybe in 2025 we can have a John Rush Town Hall in Denver. That would be fun. I'll come down to Denver, and we can all sit in a room maybe and do a program with some people live. It would be really fun.
SPEAKER 05 :
I would enjoy that.
SPEAKER 16 :
Maybe we can find a way to do the program live together.
SPEAKER 05 :
We can do that.
SPEAKER 16 :
So let's make that happen.
SPEAKER 05 :
Okay, we'll work on that. Dr. Kelly, thank you. Merry Christmas.
SPEAKER 16 :
I will talk to you in the new year.
SPEAKER 05 :
All right, sounds great. After the new year, appreciate you very much. Veteran Windows and Doors, 40% off. Free labor to install. Find them at klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 12 :
Customize your entry and patio doors with Veteran Windows and Doors. Veteran offers full customization with a wide range of options to complement your home's design, including different woods, color, paint, and finishes. Owner Dave Bancroft will also guarantee that your customized doors are up to code for your area of Colorado, saving you money with tax rebates too. Big corporate window and door companies may use Provia doors like Veteran, but their door will not be engineered for Colorado, let alone the country. And the big corporate companies won't even finish the job completely. They will install your door, but it's up to you to finish, paint, or stain the door yourself, costing you even more money and time. Veteran has saved people thousands of dollars with their new doors just by being honest and transparent with every customer. Call Veteran Windows and Doors and receive a Christmas special of 40% off your door with free installation by going to klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 05 :
All right, for your reverse mortgage, give Bruce Simmons a call today. Find him at klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 11 :
We'll see you next time. Since you still own the home, it's your responsibility to keep current on your property taxes, homeowners insurance, and all property charges. But with a reverse mortgage, no monthly payment will be required. If interest rates go down, working with our expert, Bruce Simmons, you may qualify for a refinance to access even more equity. Instead of you having to pay a monthly mortgage payment, you might even be able to receive a monthly payment from your reverse mortgage. Start now with reverse mortgage expert Bruce Simmons by going to klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 05 :
All right, Ridgeland Auto Brokers, if you're looking for a new used car, we've got you covered. I talked to them today, by the way, and they will do whatever they can to find a car for you, even if they don't have it on their lot. Don't forget about their 30-day guarantee on each car that they sell. They're all fully checked over. Find them at RidgelandAutoBrokers.com.
SPEAKER 08 :
Are you in the market for a reliable car, truck, or SUV that won't break the bank? Does your vehicle need high-quality auto repair? Then look no further. Ridgeline Auto Brokers and Legacy Auto Repair specialize in quality used cars that cost between $15,000 and $25,000, making them a great option for first-time drivers or anyone looking for a great deal. At Ridgeline, we pride ourselves on providing a transparent and happy hassle-free car buying experience. That's why we never charge any dealer fees. Plus, all of our vehicles are inspected by our team of ASE certified technicians. You can trust that the car you're buying is in excellent condition. And remember, we can also service your vehicle after the sale. At Ridgeline, we can take your current vehicle on trade, and we also offer competitive financing options for vehicle purchases and also for vehicle repairs. Ridgeline now has two locations, one in Boulder and now a second location in Fort Collins located at 1101 North College Avenue. Both locations offer full-service auto repair and a host of off-road accessories. Check out all their services at RidgelineAutobrokers.com. Ridgeline, the smart way to buy or service or accessorize your car, truck, or SUV.
SPEAKER 05 :
Adventures of Jimmy and Andrew. It's a great way to teach your young kids how to read.
SPEAKER 09 :
American Stonehenge by Mike Goldstein is more than just a children's book. It's a way to connect with the children in your life and encourage them to read to you and for themselves. When Mike Goldstein started writing American Stonehenge, he went after a specific problem. Children today don't think for themselves, and test scores nationwide show that. American Stonehenge is gorgeously put together, so it'll draw their attention. It's filled with action, the prose flows as smooth as sand through an hourglass, and it's historically accurate from the stories and the illustrations. But it's also a portal to quality time with children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. It's a way to connect with them while tacitly teaching them the importance of critical thought and giving them a break from scrolling in their free time. Find American Stonehenge on klzradio.com slash read and bring your family together this holiday season.
SPEAKER 05 :
All right, we are back. That's it for this first hour. We've got more coming your way, so don't go anywhere. Rush to Reason, Denver's Afternoon Rush, KLZ 560.
SPEAKER 1 :
Thank you. I'm a rich guy.
In this episode of Rush to Reason, host John Rush is joined by Dr. Kelly Victory and Steve House for an engaging discussion on healthcare reforms, pharmaceutical industry practices, and the intricate role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). The guests delve into recent political developments including President Biden's decision to extend liability protection to mRNA vaccine manufacturers. The conversation sheds light on the underlying issues with PBMs and their impact on drug pricing, calling attention to legislative roadblocks and advocacy for reform. Listeners will gain new insights into how healthcare policies are shaped, the financial implications of PBMs' involvement in medicine pricing, and the broader political landscape's influence on healthcare decisions. With upcoming administrative changes, the episode also speculates on potential shifts in healthcare policy and what that means for the stakeholders involved.
SPEAKER 13 :
This is Rush to Reason. You are gonna shut your damn yapper and listen for a change because I got you pegged, sweetheart. You want to take the easy way out because you're scared. And you're scared because if you try and fail, there's only you to blame. Let me break this down for you. Life is scary. Get used to it. There are no magical fixes. With your host, John Rush. My advice to you is to do what your parents did. Get a job first. You haven't made everybody equal. You've made them the same, and there's a big difference.
SPEAKER 10 :
Let me tell you why you're here. You're here because you know something. What you know you can't explain, but you feel it. You've felt it your entire life, that there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but it's there. It is this feeling that has brought you to me.
SPEAKER 13 :
Are you crazy? Am I? Or am I so sane that you just blew your mind?
SPEAKER 15 :
It's Rush to Reason with your host, John Rush. Presented by High Five Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling, where every call ends with a high five.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right. Happy Thursday, everybody. Welcome Rush to Reason, Denver's Afternoon Rush, KLZ 560. Hope you guys have all had a great week up to this point. Dr. Kelly Victory joining us now. Let me bring her up as well as Steve House. But Dr. Kelly, how are you to start off with?
SPEAKER 14 :
I'm doing great. Had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I'm skating right into the big holiday season.
SPEAKER 03 :
Oh, man, it is coming fast. Steve House as well. Welcome, sir.
SPEAKER 16 :
I'm doing well, too, except for I kind of threw up on my mouth a little bit a little bit ago when Biden gave the mRNA vaccine manufacturers liability protection until 2029 today. Yeah. Some of my Thanksgiving dinner came back. Otherwise, it was pretty good.
SPEAKER 03 :
Until 2029. In other words, I guess what he's planning on is somebody else besides a Republican winning in 2028, therefore never having any issues there. Is that what his thought process is?
SPEAKER 16 :
Yeah, when you really think about this, I don't know if this was on our agenda, but we saw two things this week. That happened, and then the PBM legislation to try to, you know, de-link it from drug pricing, which would have done so much for the American people. And that bill basically is dead at the moment, even though it has bipartisan support. It's never going to make it through the process, and that's... Because the pharma industry is so damn strong and, you know, $29 million of the lobbying effort, and they've slowed it to the point where it's just not going to make it. And that's insane based on what it does for us.
SPEAKER 03 :
And for those that maybe are tuning in for the first time, Dr. Kelly Victory, she's been with us for a very, very long time over. I guess we're going on five years now since COVID. Steve House has been with us for much longer than I've been talking to Steve on air for 10 years plus. And Steve was instrumental in having Dr. Kelly join us on a weekly basis long ago. Dr. Kelly, really quick, though, for folks that maybe don't understand all of the acronyms and things that Steve just mentioned to go explain that.
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, with regard to giving liability protection to the mRNA vaccines, I think that that is absolute insanity. First of all, you're giving a pardon or giving liability protection to something. That hasn't been charged yet. We've been seeing a lot of that lately. I'm hopeful that we will sidestep around that particular, quote, liability protection by eliminating mRNA technology entirely or taking it off the market until it's ready for primetime, which it's not at this point. And I think that that's my biggest takeaway from all of this. I think we are seeing a doubling down of the Biden administration trying to hand out passes to everybody and their brother. And it's happening certainly very much with those people who are involved in the COVID debacle. It remains to be seen whether or not any of this actually holds up or is deemed to be even constitutional.
SPEAKER 03 :
Makes total sense. No, go ahead, Steve. Go ahead.
SPEAKER 14 :
Jump in. I'm sorry. You were also asking about the PBM issue. Yes. Yes. The PBM, a pharmacy benefit manager, is what we refer to colloquially as, quote, the middleman. They are the people who sort of broker the deals, if you will, between the pharmaceutical companies and those agencies that actually sell or provide the drugs, whether it's a doctor's office or a hospital or the government. Right. They are a middleman. They are a broker. It would be known in any other industry as racketeering. The middlemen essentially take a piece of the action. It's a pay-to-play scheme. They say to the pharmaceutical companies, if you give us a kickback, we'll get you the big juicy contract at UnitedHealthcare or at Hospital ABC or for the Department of Defense. It is racketeering by any other name, and it's something that I'm hoping that Bobby Kennedy Jr. will absolutely eradicate, ultimately, because, as Steve said, it is the single biggest cost driver for pharmaceuticals.
SPEAKER 03 :
Okay, let's talk about that for just one moment. Sorry, John.
SPEAKER 16 :
Go ahead. Just one comment, and that is, I really believe that Biden did this pardon because, you know, the pharma industry is a huge donor. But I think the other reason why he did it is they're afraid that Kennedy is going to release all of the information from the trials. And you know what? They can't stop him from doing this just by this. What they can do, though, is they're going to be dealing with an American public that's going to hear more and more and more about how bad this was and how much they cheated. And yet they're going to want to sue, but they're just going to stop their ability to sue. So that's why they're doing this. And then lastly, I was at the American Society of Healthcare Pharmacists meeting this week in New Orleans. And the one thing I will say, Kelly, is almost all of them struggle with PBMs themselves. And they're sitting there looking at this and high-cost drugs, and they're saying to themselves, how could we possibly be allowing this to happen? And then what you get is a hospital system signs with Mark Cuban to get 100 drugs from Mark Cuban that is going to reduce their cost which would theoretically be passed on to the patient, but then they send out a note publicly in a news release saying it won't necessarily impact the patient's payment amount because that is really dependent upon the agreement they have with their health insurance company. So what's going to happen is they're going to take the profit at the hospital level rather than the PBM level, and they're not going to give it to the patient, and that has to be stopped by Bobby Kennedy Jr. as well. Wow.
SPEAKER 14 :
Correct. These things that have been called for years, John, rebates, The rebates should be going to the patient, but the rebates end up getting scooped up by the hospital system or the doctor's office or whoever else takes it back and puts it in their coffers. So the patient is constantly on the losing end of this. It's really a complete racket. And we've got to get this exposed. It's part of the fraud, corruption, deception and graft that's gone on for decades. It's perhaps come to light more recently during everything we saw because of COVID. But this has been going on for decades.
SPEAKER 03 :
So a question, I'll start with you, Dr. Kelly. With the changes in the administration, granted we're not quite a little under 40 days out roughly. We're counting down. We keep getting closer and closer to the time where the Trump administration will come in. We'll then have to, of course, go through some confirmations and things along those lines. But once everything is in place, I mean – I'm very hopeful, I hope that I'm hopeful in the right way, that the team, not just RFK Jr., but a lot of others that will be involved with different things that will be happening there, DOJ, etc., do you feel like this new team can tackle some of the things you and Steve just got done talking about?
SPEAKER 14 :
I certainly think that they can. That said, I am... realistic with regard to how Washington works. It would never fly in the private sector. They are so slow to act. And I guarantee you that although you and I would like to believe that this stuff is going to get addressed day one, it won't. It takes months and months and months to even get up to speed. So everybody's going to be new. Everybody's going to be feeling their way around. Everybody's Everybody's jockeying for position.
SPEAKER 06 :
Right.
SPEAKER 14 :
And the wheels turn so slowly in Washington that I think we will be lucky if they get a fraction of the things done that they've talked about. The most I think we can hope for is that Bobby Kennedy and the rest of his team at each of the independent agencies, whether it's the FDA, NIH, CDC, whatever it is, HHS, in general, that they will address and expose some of these conflicts of interest and start right now eradicating those things, teasing them out. And I think rather than focusing on any one initiative, like decreasing the amount of fluoride or regulating the amount of fluoride in water or making ivermectin over the counter, We need to really expose the rampant fraud and corruption. So, yes, I do think they'll be able to do it. But I have been reminded very recently in some communications I've had with people in Washington just how slowly and frankly how disorganized the whole thing is. You have to remember, you know, most of these people who are going to be stepping into new roles come January, you know, moving to Bethesda or moving to D.C. or moving to Atlanta to work at the CDC. This is, you know, not only are they moving themselves and their families, but it's a brand-new job, a brand-new day, and it takes, you know, when you start a new job, you don't just hit the ground running. It takes months to learn all the players and to figure out what it is you're supposed to be doing. So I think, you know, people should just sort of prepare themselves that it's not going to happen overnight.
SPEAKER 03 :
Okay. Steve, I'm going to ask you a question as soon as we come back, which is, you know, what can executively Donald Trump and his team do in some of these areas or not? I'm going to ask you that as soon as we come back. Affordable interest mortgages next, folks. Kurt Rogers, remember to call him any mortgage question. And as we go through this holiday season, there may be some things that you want to avoid debt-wise when it comes to a mortgage in 2025. 720-895-0500.
SPEAKER 01 :
Interested in buying a new home? Well, the cost may have just gone down. It's been a seller's market for years, and buyers are regaining some authority. Want to cut your costs when you buy? Take AIM, Affordable Interest Mortgage, 720-895-0500. Recent changes to buyer's agent compensation now helps the buyer spend less. Sellers no longer need to raise the price to cover compensation for both sides. Your pre-approval now gives you more control in pricing and compensation. Make sure you work with a knowledgeable mortgage broker that will save you money. Take AIM 720-895-0500. AIM has a team of broker agents willing to negotiate their compensation and save you thousands. They know the new law. They're experienced and professional. Before you sign with an agent, protect yourself with a real pre-approval letter that puts you in charge. Take AIM. Affordable interest mortgage, 720-895-0500. We have that team willing to work for you. That's 720-895-0500. Regulated by Dora and MLS, 217-147, equal credit lender.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right, Dr. Scott, you hear us talk a lot about the whole insurance end of things. We're talking about it as we speak. And if you want a doctor that does not beholden to all of that, that is Dr. Scott Faulkner. Call him today, 303-663-6990.
SPEAKER 08 :
Are you looking for a healthcare provider who truly cares about you and your well-being? Look no further than Castle Rock Regenerative Healthcare, where Dr. Scott Faulkner is ready to provide you with top-notch care. At Castle Rock Regenerative Healthcare, you'll experience a competent, friendly, and efficient staff that puts your comfort and care first. Dr. Scott Faulkner is a true advocate of the latest advancements in healthcare and weight loss. Worried about being lost in the crowd of impersonal health care? Fear not. Dr. Scott is a big picture doctor, not beholden to big pharma or big insurance like some other providers. He takes the time to understand your unique needs and will customize your health care to fit you, your body, and your lifestyle. Tired of waiting weeks for an appointment? Unlike other practices, Dr. Scott Faulkner has the remarkable ability to see you in a matter of days. Reach your full potential and achieve your goals. Call Dr. Scott today at 303-663-6990 or visit him online at castlerockregenerativehealth.com or find him at rushtoreason.com. Castle Rock Regenerative Health Care, your path to a healthier tomorrow.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right, roof savers, if you have any roof issues at all, you're looking to get your annual inspection done, yes, that can happen even between storms. Give Dave Hart a call today, 303-710-6916.
SPEAKER 02 :
At Roof Savers Colorado, we are about more than roofs. We are about helping you make the best decisions with the right information. Being a homeowner isn't getting any easier or cheaper, and neither is getting your roof the solution it needs. Deductibles are going through the roof, and with every passing year, insurance covers less than the one before. Due to a record amount of hailstorms recently, insurance companies have started limiting your coverage and pulling out of states entirely. We know the industry. With over 3,000 roofs under our belts and 23 years of experience, Dave Hart and his team are ready to complete a free roof inspection and discuss the option that is best for you. Don't wait. Policy renewals are increasing by as much as 50%. Now is the time to get the solution you need. Call Roof Savers Colorado today at 303-703. 710-6916 or go to roofsaversco.com. That's 303-710-6916 or go to roofsaversco.com to schedule your free inspection and start saving your roof today.
SPEAKER 09 :
No liberal media bias here.
SPEAKER 03 :
This is Rush to Reason. And we are back, Rush to Reason, Denver's Afternoon Rush, KLZ 560. Dr. Kelly Victory with us today, as well as Steve House. And Steve, I asked you before we went to break, what can Donald Trump, the executive committee, and I get it, there's, as Dr. Kelly said, lots of facets to this, and yes, things move slowly. Is there anything, though, that Donald Trump himself could fast-track?
SPEAKER 16 :
You know, John, if it were me and I had the ability, and I have to talk to a constitutional lawyer about this, but I would write an executive order on day one that would drop a small grenade into health care by ordering the delinking of pricing for PBMs so that PBMs could not link their cost or their price, their rebate structure to the price of the drug. They would have to become a service-oriented scenario where what they did was what they got paid for, not just, you know, if a drug cost, if it was an oncology drug and cost $30,000, what they get for that versus metformin at $80, it's not fair to pay them on the price of the drug because the work involved, the process involved is fundamentally not any different. So I would do that right off the bat, and that would drive people crazy, but it would sure break up the industry a bit.
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah, so an analogy that people might understand better, because I think you're exactly right, Steve. The analogy might be if you tip, there's a reason why you don't tip, for example, at a restaurant on a bottle of wine, because it doesn't take the waiter. It's no more difficult to open a $100 bottle of wine than a $20 bottle of wine. And why should they make five times more in terms of the tip? And that's what the PBMs are doing. They charge a percentage. Now, the other thing that people don't know, and Steve and I are well aware of this, is that the way the law was written, PBMs are allowed to charge a fee for the work that they do, for being that middleman, for brokering the deal, if you will, the same way that a realtor would.
SPEAKER 03 :
I got to start for just one second, Dr. Kelly. Why do we need them at all? Can you tell me why? Is there a justification? Is there a real, solid reason we should have them? I mean, does it benefit anybody at the end of the day, or is it just, frankly, there's a middleman there and there always has been?
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, they do provide a service in the way, for example, that a realtor does. They do the paperwork. They do a lot of the stuff that you and I don't know the intricacies of the legalities of the paperwork, so they provide a service. But they were supposed to do that for a determined fee, and it was 2.3% that they were allowed to charge. by law, but nobody in Congress has ever paid any attention to it, and many of them now are charging 100%. So it would be as if your realtor, rather than making a 5% or 6% commission on the sale of the house, instead was making an 80% commission on the sale of the house. Can you imagine what the house would cost?
SPEAKER 03 :
And really quick, make sure that I'm also explaining this correctly. The difference between what we're talking about in a house is the house is your money that you're spending and paying the realtor and so on. In the case of what, Stephen, you were talking about, in a lot of cases, it's in a lot of cases, it's tax dollars that are paying for that or your health insurance dollars that you're paying for this paying for that. Am I correct?
SPEAKER 14 :
Exactly, and you end up paying more for the house because the person selling the house is saying, well, I'm not going to take it on the chin that the realtor is charging 80%. I'll just jack the price of my house up. Well, when you're buying a house, you have the choice not to buy the house if it's too expensive. If it's a drug that your child needs for his or her cancer or a medication that you need to treat your diabetes, you don't have the choice. To not buy that drug necessarily. And so you are being fundamentally squeezed by the people who are trying to pass the cost on. So, yes, the PBMs did provide a service, but the service was number one was to be capped in what they could charge for it. And number two, as Steve rightly points out, the percentage should not be directly linked to the cost of the medication because some medications are wildly more expensive than others and there's no more work for the PBM to broker the deal.
SPEAKER 03 :
Steve, as a moment ago, I just gave a commercial little ad for affordable interest mortgage. And I know in the mortgage brokerage end of things, there were some rules that came out, laws that came out not long ago to where they could no longer charge percentages. They make flat fees, I believe, in most cases, and they are limited to what that fee can be. So if we're doing that, Steve, for mortgage brokers, why can't we do the same here?
SPEAKER 16 :
We should do it here. In fact, if you see a couple of things, I'll add it to Kelly's comment. Sometimes the fee from the PBM is 3000 percent. So it's not always under 100 percent. And then on top of that, you're right. It should be a flat fee of some nature. However, most of the PBMs now are stock market listed there. You know, they've got investors in Wall Street and, you know, they've purchased the health insurance.
SPEAKER 03 :
All the more reason why we know it's wrong.
SPEAKER 16 :
Right. So here's an example that was kind of a turning point beyond. By the way, all American diabetics should gather together in a class action lawsuit, sue the Health and Human Services and the federal government against the safe harbor law that set a 2.3 percent fee and that was never enforced. That means diabetics have been paying 1%. boatloads more money than they should have for all these years because the federal government failed to enforce their own laws. But here's the deal. Gleevec, and I know that Kelly knows this drug really well, in theory was the first $100,000 drug to come to the market. And people thought they were crazy, right? So PBMs come in and they thump their chest. They say, we're going to get discounts of, you know, 80% off the drug. But they took the $80,000 discount and they gave it to your health insurance company who never lowered your premium ever. So it became racketeering. She described it perfectly right. So I'm going to say, well, all right, insurance car pharma, why don't you make a drug that costs $80,000 like Harvoni? I'm going to buy it from you, put it on formulary by you giving it to me for a 55% or 60% discount, but I'm going to take a portion of that money and keep it for myself, make my investors happy. I'm going to give the rest back to the insurance companies because they're asking me to allow it. And by the way, the only person who loses is the patient.
SPEAKER 03 :
Right.
SPEAKER 16 :
The patient loses big every time.
SPEAKER 03 :
Right. Okay. I want to shift gears for just one second because you guys have some inside knowledge. And feel free to share as much or as little as you feel you can. But we've got cabinet picks that have come out. Of course, RFK Jr., we've talked about that. And there's been many others as well. But then we also have Surgeon General, which right now the pick that Donald Trump has thrown out at least, I am not a huge fan of. I don't think either one of you are as well. Why are we headed in a direction that I don't feel we should be, Dr. Kelly?
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, I will refrain from saying too much about any individual candidates prior to their upcoming election. confirmation hearings, I agree with you. There are some choices that have been, let's use the word, perplexing to me in terms of what their histories are when there are a few of us. And, you know, here Steve and I are just bantering around. I would guarantee you that Steve and I know more about the issues related to PDMs and the impact that they have had on drug pricing that any of the current cabinet nominees have.
SPEAKER 03 :
I'm not so sure that after listening to you guys as long as I have, I don't have that much experience. I have more than they do, Dr. Kelly.
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah, and so I think that as all things in politics, they're political. So many of these nominations are political nominations. And I think that President Trump would do well to stop making purely political nominations and appointees because there are people who have been deep in the trenches and certainly those of us who got it right during COVID, rather than people who clearly got it wrong. And he has nominated quite a few of those people to high positions. when they were people who were on the wrong side of history for the better part of the pandemic. So much of many of these appointees are political and are paybacks for things that they've done to support the president. And I don't think that that puts us necessarily in the best position. All that said, I think that Bobby Kennedy Jr., who is going to be clearly the leader and setting the leadership on HHS and on the health care side in general, I think that he is an excellent pick, and although I don't agree with every single one of his policies or initiatives, I think that directionally he is correct, and he will drive the bus, I think, in the right direction.
SPEAKER 03 :
Okay. Steve, you want to comment on that as well?
SPEAKER 16 :
Yeah. And I just add one more piece to it. You know, Kelly's right. But the other piece I would add to it is, you know, you stand up in a campaign and I think Donald Trump is a unique and amazing individual with a lot of opportunity to do things. But he stands up in a campaign and talks a lot about the deep state. Well, part of the deep state has always existed because political graft, you know, someone gets elected, I helped you get elected, and I put you in a position to give you back the favor of you helping me. That's part of why the deep state exists. And I really wish, as Kelly said, he would look at people for their skill set and see what they're talking about. I mean, quite frankly, I want the Surgeon General to be somebody who understands, you know, COVID-like events. major catastrophes and things that are happening because in Australia somehow we've lost 383 viruses over a hundred of them in the hantavirus and other categories this week I mean I don't I don't want to I mean well don't do respect to primary care I just don't want I want somebody who understands catastrophes and somebody who understands health well enough to teach I don't want a surgeon general that looks like our last one that's for sure because they're not a good example in any respect
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah. And I, so I would say the current, just so that in case people who are listening, don't know the current nominee and she has not been confirmed is Dr. Jeanette Nashwa. She's a family practitioner. She went to a foreign medical school. She went to medical school in the Caribbean. Um, she, uh, worked at an urgent care center in New York city, uh, and was very much on the record for the duration of the pandemic. praising not only the vaccines and recommending that people continue to get the boosters, but praising censorship. She said that she applauded Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook for censoring people like me who spread, quote, disinformation. And she, quote, prayed to God that other social media platforms would do the same. She supported not only wearing one mask, but thought the two was better, agreed with the lockdown and the closure of schools. and strongly promoted things like social distancing. She now has done a 180 very, very late, just very recently, on a number of these issues. And I understand that she says that she was bamboozled, quote unquote, her word, not mine, that she was bamboozled and bought into it, and now she sees the light. I would like To say that that's fine, I'm glad that she sees the light now, but I think we should be rewarding the people who got it right the first time.
SPEAKER 03 :
Absolutely.
SPEAKER 14 :
Who got it right at the beginning.
SPEAKER 03 :
Absolutely. Yeah, because that shows discernment on the front side, not the back side. Okay, really quick, because I know we're going to have to take another break here shortly. Somebody texted again, and I know we've already explained this, but listeners are asking, would you please, Steve, again, explain what a PBM is?
SPEAKER 16 :
I think essentially what Kelly said was right. It's like a real estate broker. So you have drug manufacturers who come out with new drugs constantly. It was 12 new Alzheimer's drugs last month, for example. So the hospitals and pharmacies themselves do not have time. to figure out and negotiate directly with pharma companies like Pfizer and J&J. They don't have the time to negotiate with them on pricing and distribution of the drug. So they hire a middleman, in this case called a pharmacy benefit manager. They literally manage how pharmacy benefits are playing out. And they set up a price structure. They are the ones who provide the rebates back. to the health insurance companies on the negotiated discounts. They get paid that way, but they also do a lot of the paperwork to bill for that drug. So they'll help hospitals get the billing right so that they bill the insurance company who has agreed to pay for it. Quite frankly, if you have a high deductible, the insurance company is getting the rebate back. You're paying for the cost of the drug anyway because your deductible is too high, and they're not paying anything for it anyway. But that's a side note. That's basically how they do it, yeah.
SPEAKER 14 :
Another thing that they do, and people may be familiar with this, hearing that a particular drug, quote, isn't on the formulary. It either is or isn't on the hospital's formulary. So hospitals set up a formulary, meaning what are the things that they stock in their pharmacy at the hospital? No hospital, no doctor's office, no pharmacy stocks that. 100% of drugs that are available. They make a decision. So if a hospital needs to have a drug, for example, to treat influenza or a drug to treat whatever it is, the pharmacy, the PBM, is the one who goes and says, well, we're going to stock this drug and this drug and this drug and not these other three. And a big part of the way they make those decisions is they say to drug company A, how much are you going to give me? I'll put your antibiotic on the formulary, depending on how much you pay me.
SPEAKER 03 :
So in a lot of ways, Dr. Kelly, really quick, in a lot of ways, this isn't much different than Kroger wanting to stock certain things, and even the shelf position of is a lot of times dictated by who's kicking in the most for that shelf space and so on. As far as inventory control goes, it's not much different is what you're telling me.
SPEAKER 14 :
Correct. And if you go back to the time of the big racketeering scandals in New York City, it was because they were, quote, contrary to the people working for the city, you know, and said, well, I'll give you the contract to do the roofing or the plumbing or the electricity city buildings. it depending on how much you pay me under the is a back alley deal you know how much you're going to give me in the back alley because this other electrician company they're going to give me you know 10 and you're going you give me 12 great when you go back and see if i can get 13 they're negotiating a kickback it's called racketeering and that's exactly what the pbms do they get kickbacks and that's how they decide what drug they're going to contract for a particular hospital or for a particular pharmacy.
SPEAKER 03 :
Okay. Makes total sense. And, again, whoever texted that, thank you. I hope I explained or we explained that well enough. I think we have. I mean, I've got a really good understanding of what happens here as far as that goes. And mainly, I guess, guys, because of my background even in the automotive side, there's a lot of things that happen even internally with – different, you know, parts, distributors, and so on and so forth. And it's really, I hate to say this, Dr. Kelly, it's not a lot different in a lot of other worlds, although I will tell you that the markups and the money side of it is far different.
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah. But and you're right, though, it happens in many, many industries that how something gets priced. But generally what happens is when one side has to pay more, when that when the you know, the hospital has to pay more because the PBM, the middleman is taking a cut. And so all of a sudden that The prices on that drug are more because God knows a big pharmaceutical company is going to pass it on. They're not going to take it on the chin. They're going to say, fine, I'll jack the cost of the drug up so that I can cover what I need to pay this extortionist called a middleman. I'll jack up the price of my drug to cover that. And then it gets passed on to the hospital. The hospital says, well, I'm not taking it on the chin either. It's going to roll downhill. I'll pass it on to the patient. So the patient's the one who's always stuck holding the bag.
SPEAKER 03 :
Steve, it sounds like your idea, number one, of executive orders to get the process started, which I'm not in opposition of. I think that's a great idea. Although to keep this moving forward in that direction, in other words, if he gets that done, let's say, still we need some congressional support and a law, I guess you could say, that becomes permanent that would then have to be changed on down the road if another administration came in. Because as you know, the next president, if they don't like what Donald Trump did in this particular area with a stroke of a pen, all of that could be reversed and we're right back to square one. So I see this as, you know, to part one, get the problem immediately fixed if you can through executive action. And then after that, we need Congress to go to work and get this set in stone for good. Am I right, Steve?
SPEAKER 16 :
Yeah. And, you know, the whole set in stone for good thing is kind of mushy these days. Right. Because you can wipe something out with an executive order. I mean, I think what happens is, I mean, truly, if you do this right, if you de-link it, if you peel it back to that two point three percent number or something rational like that, what happens is the industry is going to change. And it's more than just Congress being lobbied to change it back. I mean, people are going to start to see the real value of this change in what's going on because literally drug pricing should go down if you do it right. I mean, it has a huge impact on drug pricing. I think, you know, A, it starts out with a change because structurally you'll make a change, and B, I think the industry will get used to it being done a new way, and then it'll probably fight it itself. If you're a hospital or if you're, you know, a patient advocate, you'll fight changing back yourself. So I'm not as worried about Congress. I just want to have enough time for people to see what happens when you do it.
SPEAKER 03 :
So in other words, once they start seeing the results, that will become permanent in and of itself.
SPEAKER 16 :
I think because it'll become industry standard. I mean, it's industry standard now at 100%, and people expect it. I don't want them to expect it anymore.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right. Great segue. We'll stop there. We'll come back, guys. I've got more questions. If you have a question, by the way, specifically, please let me know. 307-200-8222. Hi-Fi Plumbing is next. And again, if you've got electrical needs or plumbing needs, Hi-Fi Plumbing will take care of you. 877-WE-HI-5.
SPEAKER 15 :
The holidays are the busiest season for plumbers, and High Five Plumbing, Electrical, Heating, and Cooling wants you to be ready now. There are several things you can do to prevent freezing, busted pipes, and other plumbing issues just as guests arrive. If you have plumbing inside cabinets, leave the doors open to warm them. especially if they are on an exterior wall. Hi-5 can better insulate pipes if this is a constant issue. And if you're going away for a vacation, don't forget to turn the water off to prevent those really bad emergency pipe breaks. When the cold dips lower than normal, leaving your faucets dripping will keep water flowing and prevent it from freezing. Plumbing inside your home is constantly degrading. So even if you haven't had an issue in previous years, Hi-5 can help you make sure it's still working. Have them out for a pre-holiday inspection and receive a waived inspection fee just for being a KLZ listener. Schedule your inspection today at klzradio.com slash plumbing.
SPEAKER 03 :
Golden Eagle Financial, make sure your finances are set in order for 2024, and then as we head into 2025, you're dialed in there as well. Talk to Al Smith today, Golden Eagle Financial, klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 12 :
The holidays are full of issues that can negatively affect your nest egg, and Al Smith of Golden Eagle Financial will help you stay secure. This time of year, you have demands all around you. Even if you're retired, there's shopping to do, dinner parties, or office functions. You just need a few minutes to make sure your required minimum distributions are taken. Let Al Smith take the pressure off of you this holiday season. You can meet with him for free, and he'll work with you on a strategy to identify the best way he can help you. And when you hire him to manage your retirement, you won't be fending those demands off this year because he's got you covered. Al communicates with you and minimizes the time you would spend strategizing because you can lean on his decades of experience helping folks just like you retire with confidence. We'll be right back.
SPEAKER 03 :
Cub Creek Heating and Air Conditioning. If you've got furnace problems, we have an answer. Cub Creek can take care of that. They've got financing for $500 or more repairs or replacements of your furnace. Find them at klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 11 :
You need an affordable, trustworthy company to help you heat your home this holiday season. You need Cub Creek Heating and AC. Imagine, you click on your thermostat, you hear the air flowing and check the vent only to find freezing cold air. You wonder what you'll do to fix it, and you can't afford a brand new heater right now before the holidays. Rheem Certified ProPartners Cub Creek Heating AC are HVAC technicians that you can trust in an emergency. They come right out to diagnose the issue, and if it turns out you need a new unit, they can help you finance the expense so your holidays aren't ruined. Cub Creek will work with you on a solution and let you know all the options you have available. So when you're in a chilly situation, remember to find Cub Creek on klzradio.com's advertiser page and let them help you get warm again.
SPEAKER 15 :
Now, back to Rush to Reason, presented by High Five Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling, where every call ends with a high five.
SPEAKER 03 :
And we are back, Rush to Reason, Denver's Afternoon Rush, KLZ 560. Dr. Kelly Victory and Steve House with us. And Steve, we've got a question that came in. I'll direct this to you first, and Dr. Kelly, you can chime in afterwards. want to help or want to have a voice, want to chime in on some of the cabinet picks, for example. In this case, let's talk, you know, Surgeon General. Is there any kind of a platform or a way for people to, you know, tastefully either oppose and or, you know, give kudos to somebody that's been recommended already? Stephen, do we have anything in place like that at all?
SPEAKER 16 :
Well, I mean, the simple answer is yes. And there's two things I would do. One is I would write a letter to my congressman. I mean, or to all four of the, you know, GOP congressmen in Colorado would take a letter from any of the listeners there. And you could send them a letter, tell them what their concern is and send it on to them. Now, do congressmen read every letter? They don't. But it would be worthy. of the process. And the second thing is, if you know somebody on the Trump transition team, send them a note and tell them what their concerns are. Now, by doing so, you're ultimately opposing Donald Trump. So I would rather than sending him a letter saying this person is not not capable or whatever, talk to them about what you're looking for and what you might what you believe the skill set of someone is who would be a better choice rather than tearing down the other person.
SPEAKER 14 :
I agree with both those things. I would absolutely, however, put out, if you have specific people in mind, give those names. Don't just say, I would like somebody who has these qualities. State the person's name. The other thing is, do not overlook the power of social media. People like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy and God knows Bobby Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump spend a lot of their day and their teams spend a lot of their days scouring social media correct so put those names out there tag you know somebody that you think is worthy and say this person please you know donald trump bobby kennedy jr whoever it is you know elon musk please consider this person as you know a uh a pick for your team this person would be an excellent choice for x y and z reasons i think social media i would never have said this obviously 10 years ago but in today's world It's far more important than you might realize.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, no, thank you, Dr. Kelly, for saying that. For all of you listening, your voice and some of the things that you put out there, and, you know, we see this all the time, Dr. Kelly and Steve, when somebody has a problem, for example, with an airline, and they'll go to X and they'll post something about it. In a lot of cases, you'll get a faster response in doing that than by actually calling their 1-800 number. So, yes, it's very powerful.
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah, we have teams that look at these.
SPEAKER 16 :
I would add something else to this equation, which is now is not the time for incremental change. And the Surgeon General is one example. I think the Department of Transportation is another. But let's just focus on Surgeon General for a minute. We have wasted Surgeon General's power for several decades, right? Because this is a person that should be saying what Bobby Kennedy himself is saying about health care. right so bobby's talking about health not health care i mean he's talking about processed foods fluoride all this other stuff right so we've had this bully pulpit with a person who has a title that could get into any room anywhere in the country and talk to credible people who are in the ag business in the food business in health care etc and we're wasting the opportunity the same is true right if i made you department of transportation secretary john You would approach it from the point of view of someone who's in a car, who deals with cars, who deals with congestion and traffic. Most of the time, Secretary of Transportation is being driven in a black SUV somewhere. They don't know what it's like. So we don't need incremental change. I want a pit bull. And that job who can call people out and say, you know what? I work for the American people. I don't work for the system. I don't work for the absolutely hearted people who are working there who don't want to hear the criticism. I want a pit bull. Absolutely. No.
SPEAKER 14 :
And that is exactly what I told the team. You know, I've been discussing this. With them for some time, I was disappointed with the choice that was made, but I would absolutely revolutionize and completely reform that wasted position because the average American cannot tell you who the Surgeon General was after C. Everett Koop. I believe that it's a position that could be very meaningful if you had someone whose skill set was in communication and teaching and had the ability to take complex subjects and to break them down into lay terms, to have the ability to walk the walk and talk the talk and live the lifestyle that we want all Americans to do with regard to health and wellness. Somebody who's not afraid to push back on big pharma, not afraid to push back on big ag to say we have got to do things differently and be willing to shake it up and risk the things that it takes to actually be a mover and a shaker. And I think that taking making a safe choice. is not the way to go. As Steve said, this is not the time for incremental change. We need somebody who's going to go in there and be a heat-seeking missile.
SPEAKER 03 :
Absolutely. And really quick in the past, Dr. Kelly, I mean, you're right. In fact, I had to even go look up our current Surgeon General, because you just don't hear much from Mr. Vivek. And it's not Vivek Ramaswamy, by the way. It's Murthy. I mean, honestly, Dr. Kelly, I couldn't have named that person. I had to go look it up because you're exactly right. We don't hear much from them.
SPEAKER 14 :
So think about this. The Americans just survived four-plus years ago. of the worst health care crisis, largely because of the way it was managed. Absolutely. But the reality is we just lived through a pandemic, and you can't tell me the name of the surgeon general?
SPEAKER 03 :
And I'm on radio watching this stuff daily, by the way, so I'm even different than the average American, Dr. Kelly.
SPEAKER 14 :
what the heck was the guy doing for the last four and a half years?
SPEAKER 03 :
Exactly. Exactly. No, Steve, I mean, I can't disagree with Dr. Kelly at all. I mean, it is a position that, again, I mean, I watch this stuff, you know, politically speaking and so on, on a routine basis, and I couldn't tell you who it was before now.
SPEAKER 16 :
Yeah, and think about this. If you got the bully pulpit and you're the Surgeon General, you should be the one telling me that American women, 40% of American women are on antidepressants, 79% of Young people, the cancer rate is increased by 79%. You know, yada, yada, yada. There's five or six major statistics that are an indication that our health is degrading very rapidly right now. The Surgeon General should be standing in the pulpit every single week somewhere calling out, why do we have this metabolic problem that's causing all these issues, and no one's addressing it whatsoever.
SPEAKER 03 :
No, you guys are spot on. I mean, this is a very important position.
SPEAKER 14 :
I can give you Donald Trump's number.
SPEAKER 03 :
If I thought he would listen to me, I would call him. Trust me. Trust me. And there's been several text messages that have come in that have agreed, Steve, with you and Dr. Kelly on, yes, contact your local representative, your senator. Senators do the confirmations, of course. And by the way, in this particular case with Surgeon General on the pick, there is a ton of... of conservative, not just regular media, but conservative media, I'll just say backlash. I don't know any other way to say it, guys. There's a ton of backlash with conservative media. So trust me, this particular pick is getting a lot of heat on it because of not only, Dr. Kelly, some of the things that you have stated, but there's even some stories going around right now to where this particular nominee had some issues with guns going off in the past and, and, and. I mean, it's not looking very good. Let's just say that.
SPEAKER 14 :
Yeah. Go ahead, Steve.
SPEAKER 16 :
Go ahead, Steve. unfortunately I think we've treated the Surgeon General's job that way as well yeah and it's just like give it to somebody for because they're connected to a friend of yours which indeed which really is demeaning to the job and it delegitimizes the job agree it's and we have the worst health status metabolic health status in we've ever had, probably worse than any nation in the world, we cannot delegitimize this job.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right, before I let you guys go, Steve, I'll start with you. Dr. Kelly, I want you to chime in on this as well. Doge, we've got Vivek, we've got Elon, they're going to do their best to go in and cut supposedly $2 trillion out of what we've got going on in Washington. Steve, when it comes to this topic, we talk a lot about health care between the three of us. What can they do in that area to actually save the country money? It costs us
SPEAKER 16 :
20 percent, 19, 20 percent to do billing and collection in health care. So 20 cents of every dollar for billing and collection. And in a restaurant, it's three percent, four percent. Those guys need to go in and completely restructure how billing and collection works because it's a trillion dollars. Imagine what you could do with a trillion dollars if you gave it to, you know, people who are focused on health like Bobby Kennedy, the surgeon general and others, instead of spending it just on moving money around and fighting payments.
SPEAKER 03 :
It's ridiculous. So in other words, let's get some more efficiencies in the way that we do billing, the computerization, the way things talk to one another and so on. I assume that's what you're talking about in and of itself, Steve.
SPEAKER 16 :
Yeah. So here's what I mean. I had a CT scan. You guys all had a CT scan, which didn't get billed to my insurance company for six weeks after I had it done. But they gave prior approval for me to have the CT scan after it was done and the bill was sent. They denied payment. That should be against the damn law. Because doctors spend 45 minutes getting prior approval, and then they get denied payment for it. It's ridiculous.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, I agree. And that's some of the stuff that could be cleaned up. Dr. Kelly got a couple of minutes, and you're in that world very much as a doctor. What else could they do to clean things up and make things more efficient?
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, I think one of the things that the statistics that came out just this past week about the number, it's only 6% of total federal employees actually work on site. 94% are working remotely. 12% total of federal buildings are currently occupied. OK, 88 percent of the buildings, we're spending 15 billion dollars on real estate, air conditioning, heating, janitorial services for buildings that are not inhabited where people aren't working. That is insane. Every single congressperson should be held to account for this, Republican or Democrat. The idea that they are spending our tax dollars. To allow this to happen? You have got to be kidding me.
SPEAKER 05 :
Absolutely.
SPEAKER 14 :
I mean, this is absolutely.
SPEAKER 05 :
No, I agree.
SPEAKER 14 :
So that alone is just so, it is so egregious. And if I could walk into Congress, I would let them all have it with both barrels. Because I'm telling you, that is such a slap in the face for the American taxpayer.
SPEAKER 03 :
I agree. All right, guys, an hour goes by so fast. We'll do part two next week because we've got a lot more to cover as well. Dr. Kelly, thank you so much. I appreciate it.
SPEAKER 14 :
Thank you, as always. See you next week.
SPEAKER 03 :
You're very welcome. And Steve House, you as well. Thanks for setting all this up years ago.
SPEAKER 16 :
Yeah, everybody write to Jim Jordan and tell him he spent $50 million investigating Biden and nothing happened. He should probably pay that back.
SPEAKER 03 :
Oh, amen. Great to be with you. Amen. Steve, I appreciate you very much. Have a great rest of your day. Veteran Windows and Doors is next. 40% off entry doors with free labor. Call Dave today. Find him at klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 11 :
Customize your entry and patio doors with Veteran Windows and Doors. Veteran offers full customization with a wide range of options to complement your home's design, including different woods, color, paint, and finishes. Owner Dave Bancroft will also guarantee that your customized doors are up to code for your area of Colorado, saving you money with tax rebates, too. Big corporate window and door companies may use Provia doors like Veteran, but their door will not be engineered for Colorado, let alone the country. And the big corporate companies won't even finish the job completely. They will install your door, but it's up to you to finish, paint, or stain the door yourself, costing you even more money and time. Veteran has saved people thousands of dollars with their new doors just by being honest and transparent with every customer. Call Veteran Windows and Doors and receive a Christmas special of 40% off your door with free installation by going to klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 03 :
Bruce Simmons is next. He is a reverse mortgage professor, and you don't necessarily even have to be the person looking for the reverse mortgage yourself. Maybe you're a family member thinking, you know, in the end, this may help all of us out, including mom and dad or grandpa and grandma or whatever the case may be. Give Bruce a call. Find out exactly how that would work for you. klzradio.com is how you find him.
SPEAKER 12 :
We'll see you next time. Since you still own the home, it's your responsibility to keep current on your property taxes, homeowners insurance, and all property charges. But with a reverse mortgage, no monthly payment will be required. If interest rates go down, working with our expert, Bruce Simmons, you may qualify for a refinance to access even more equity. Instead of you having to pay a monthly mortgage payment, you might even be able to receive a monthly payment from your reverse mortgage. Bruce always says that a reverse mortgage is intended to relieve financial stress. Imagine the relief you'll feel not living with the stress of making a monthly mortgage payment. Start now with reverse mortgage expert Bruce Simmons by going to KLZRadio.com.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right, Ridgeline Auto Brokers, if you're looking for a new used car as we head down the stretch into the end of the year and even start off the new year, get dialed in with a new used vehicle from Ridgeline Auto Brokers. Call them today. Find them at RidgelineAutoBrokers.com.
SPEAKER 07 :
Are you in the market for a reliable car, truck, or SUV that won't break the bank? Does your vehicle need high-quality auto repair? Then look no further. Ridgeline Auto Brokers and Legacy Auto Repair specialize in quality used cars that cost between $15,000 and $25,000, making them a great option for first-time drivers or anyone looking for a great deal. At Ridgeline, we pride ourselves on providing a transparent and happy hassle-free car buying experience. That's why we never charge any dealer fees. Plus, all of our vehicles are inspected by our team of ASE certified technicians. You can trust that the car you're buying is in excellent condition. And remember, we can also service your vehicle after the sale. At Ridgeline, we can take your current vehicle on trade, and we also offer competitive financing options for vehicle purchases and also for vehicle repairs. Ridgeline now has two locations, one in Boulder and now a second location in Fort Collins located at 1101 North College Avenue. Both locations offer full-service auto repair and a host of off-road accessories. Check out all their services at RidgelineAutobrokers.com. Ridgeline, the smart way to buy or service or accessorize your car, truck, or SUV.
SPEAKER 03 :
All right, Adventures of Jimmy and Andrew. If you're looking for a great children's book to teach your kids how to read and have fun this holiday season, it's Adventures of Jimmy and Andrew. There's a 10% off. Use code KLZJimmyAndAndrew.com.
SPEAKER 09 :
Hey, KLZ listeners, this is TJ. We all know that for kids to develop a lifelong passion for reading, they need to get engaged with books that spark their imagination and interest. Wouldn't it be great if they also got interested in history and geography at the same time? That's where the great fantasy book series that kids can't put down, The Adventures of Jimmy and Andrew, comes in. A nine-year-old boy and his 3,300-year-old telepathic dog rescued from the shelter set off for adventures around the world with Jimmy's archaeologist parents. The first book, American Stonehenge, has more than 300 positive reviews. To receive 10% off your order, use the KLZ call letters. Please visit JimmyAndAndrew.com. Again, that's JimmyAndAndrew.com.
SPEAKER 13 :
It's time to leave your safe space.
SPEAKER 03 :
This is Rush to Reason on KLZ 560. And that is it for this first hour. We've got more hours coming your way, so please don't turn the dial. Stay tuned, and we'll be back here in just a moment. Rush to Reason, Denver's Afternoon Rush, KLZ 560.
SPEAKER 04 :
And may you grow to be proud Dignified and true And do unto others as you have done to you Be courageous and be brave And in my heart you'll always stay Forever young Forever young Forever young Forever young May good fortune be with you May your guiding light
HR1 Rush To Reason December 25, 2024 by John Rush
SPEAKER 23 :
We'll be right back. Al is very accessible and he can help you handle your transactions in a few minutes on a phone call to your carrier. He can make sure minimum distributions are sent before January 1st to avoid penalties. The larger companies get incredibly busy during the holidays and often they hire new staff with less experience. So you want someone in your corner who has extensive experience. You need Al Smith of Golden Eagle Financial. Book a free consultation with Al on the klzradio.com advertisers page. Investment advisory services offered through Brookstone Capital Management LLC, a registered investment advisor. BCM and Golden Eagle Financial Limited are independent of each other. Insurance products and services are not offered through BCM, but are offered and sold through individually licensed and appointed agents.
SPEAKER 20 :
The KLZ 560 app, downloaded free for Android and iPhone.
SPEAKER 1 :
Thank you. Thank you. Amen.
SPEAKER 17 :
Bye.
SPEAKER 26 :
You want to party in style this season and high five plumbing, electrical heating and cooling has what you need to do that. Even on the patio high five is currently offering $100 off a patio heater installation. So you can party into the wee hours without getting chilly running electrical to the patio. Isn't an issue with high five either. They can move outlets wherever they are needed, including under roof eaves for dazzling Christmas lighting. Entertain friends and family in style this year with hot tub hookups, outdoor kitchens, and anything else you can imagine. Hi-5's technicians are fully licensed and insured, so your holidays will also be safe. Hi-5 can schedule as soon as the same day, and for a limited time, they'll take $100 off of any electrical installation. Whether that's a hot tub hookup, extra outlets, a patio heater, or anything else you can dream up, you know you're getting the best price. Contact High Five Now on the klzradio.com advertisers page. No!
SPEAKER 22 :
Are you tired of crisis care and instead want true health care? Do you want to improve your overall fitness and beauty? Do you have a chronic medical condition that no one has taken the time to understand? Are you trying to meet a health or weight goal? Or maybe you're just looking for a great doctor who thinks the way you do. Dr. Scott is a board certified internal medicine specialist, bringing decades of experience and expertise to the table. Dr. Scott is a true advocate of the latest advancements in health care. That's why he uses umbilical derived stem cells, which have been clinically proven to be the most potent stem cells available. Worried about being lost in the crowd of impersonal health care? Fear not. Dr. Scott is a big picture doctor, not beholden to big pharma or big insurance like some other providers. He takes the time to understand your unique needs and will customize your health care to fit you, your body, and your lifestyle. Reach your full potential and achieve your goals. Call Dr. Scott today at 303-663-6990 or visit him online at castlerockregenerativehealth.com or find him at rushtoreason.com. Dr. Scott Faulkner and Castle Rock Regenerative Health Care is your path to a healthier tomorrow.
SPEAKER 02 :
Have you recently received a letter saying that your roof is no longer covered under your insurance due to its age? The insurance industry is changing the face of roof replacements, but we want to ensure that you can keep your roof alive and out of the landfills. With over 4 million square feet treated every week, We here at Roof Savers Colorado strive to maximize the life of your residential or flat roof. Up to 90% of older or damaged roofs do not require a full replacement. Extreme weather conditions here in Colorado lead to the drying, cracking, and granule loss that slowly kills your roof. Dave and his team are here to save it. With the rejuvenation treatment, we can put critical oils that bind your roof together back into the asphalt shingles, adding up to 15 years of life to your existing roof. And it's 100% people, pet, and plant friendly. For your commercial or flat roof needs, we provide a silicone-based coating with up to 95% UV reflectivity and a 50-year ponding warranty. Call the Roof Savers team today to set a free roof inspection at 303-710-6916 or go to roofsaversco.com.
SPEAKER 03 :
Don, we now are ugly sweaters. This is Rush to Reason on KLZ 560.
SPEAKER 17 :
Who's got a beard that's long and white? Santa's got a beard that's long and white! Who comes around on a special night? Santa comes around on a special night! Special night! Beard that's white! Must be Santa! Must be Santa! Must be Santa! Santa Claus! Who wears boots and a suit of red? Santa wears boots and a suit of red. Who wears a long cap on his head? Santa wears a long cap on his head. Cap on head, suit that's red, special night, beard that's white. Must be Santa, must be Santa, must be Santa, Santa Claus. Who's got a big red cherry nose? Santa's got a big red cherry nose. Who laughs this way, ho, ho, ho? Santa laughs this way, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho. Cherry nose, cap on head, suit that's red, special night, beard that's white. Must be Santa, must be Santa, must be Santa, Santa. Santa Claus Who very soon will come our way Santa very soon will come our way A little reindeer pulled his sleigh Santa's little reindeer pulled his sleigh Reindeer sleigh, come our way Ho, ho, ho, cherry nose Cap on head, suit that's red Special night, gear that's white Must be Santa Must be Santa Must be Santa Santa Claus Dice shirt dancer, Prancer Vixen, Comet, Jupiter, and Lexan. Dice shirt dancer, Prancer Vixen, Comet, Jupiter, and Lexan. When you slay, come away, ho, ho, ho. Cherry nose, cap on head, suit that's red, special night, ear that's white. Must be Santa, must be Santa, must be Santa, Santa.
SPEAKER 12 :
Now, baby doll, sweetie pie, sugar plumber, honey bun, angel face, you know you better be good. And act like a true fine love you should. Be careful what you say and do.
SPEAKER 10 :
Because Santa Claus is watching.
SPEAKER 12 :
He's everywhere. He's everywhere. You better kiss and hold me tight. Give me good loving every night.
SPEAKER 10 :
Cause Santa Claus is watching.
SPEAKER 12 :
He's everywhere. He's everywhere. Well, you may think you can sneak around and get away with something, but there ain't no way. Because Santa's no fool. He's really super cool. He's the secret head of the CIA. Crime don't pay. You can't do nothing because you're never alone. He's got a white tap on your phone. So, baby, if you ever do too wrong, break my heart and leave me alone.
SPEAKER 10 :
When Christmas comes, you'll be crying too. Because Santa Claus is watching you.
SPEAKER 11 :
He's everywhere. He's everywhere. Believe in us.
SPEAKER 12 :
And then they say, oh, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blessing, Bruce, and Marvin, Leon, Cletus, and George, and Bill, and Slick, and Do-Right, and Clyde, and Ace, and Blackie, and Queenie, and Prince, and Spot, and Rover. Well, Rudolph stays on a stakeout at your house. You can run, you can hide, but you can't get away. Got monocular focus on you every day. So, baby, if you ever do wrong, break my heart and leave me alone. When Christmas comes, you'll be crying too.
SPEAKER 10 :
Because Santa Claus is watching. He's everywhere. He's everywhere. Yes, Santa Claus is watching.
SPEAKER 11 :
He's everywhere.
SPEAKER 17 :
Oh, Lord have mercy.
SPEAKER 10 :
Santa Claus got his eyes all over you, baby. You better watch out. Oh, look out there's Santa Claus. Now, people around the corner, achoo, you're in deep trouble, you know that? I don't think you understand the situation. I got a call into the North Pole right now. Them little elves gonna come down and whoop up on you. I mean, you got to be true blue through and through or Santa gonna get you.
SPEAKER 18 :
Did you know that Santa Claus is a Texas cowboy? And he sings a song as he goes along his way Did you know that Santa Claus is a Texas cowboy? And he sings along with a ho-ho-ho-dee-ay Did you know that Santa Claus is a Texas cowboy? And he sings along with a ho-ho-ho-dee-ay He's got a group of reindeer that he sings to every day With tiny feet they dance and prance and pull him on his way Did you know that Santa Claus is a Texas cowboy? And he shines a tiny lone star on his sleigh Did you know that Santa Claus is a country singer? He is! Did you know he picks his guitar every day? Did you know that Santa Claus is a Texas cowboy? And he sings along with a ho-ho-ho-dee-ay. Tinkerbell, Tinkerbell, Tinkerbell, Tinkerbell, ho-ho-ho-dee-ay.
SPEAKER 17 :
Tinkerbell, Tinkerbell, Tinkerbell, Tinkerbell, ho-ho-ho-dee-ay.
SPEAKER 18 :
Did you know that Santa Claus is a Texas cowboy? He is. And he sings along with a ho-ho-ho-dee-ay. He brings the children presents all across the land. East to the west, north to the south, but he starts from the Rio Grande. Did you know that Santa Claus is a Texas cowboy? And he sings along with a ho-ho-ho-dee-ay.
SPEAKER 17 :
Merry Christmas everybody! Every time the holidays come along, I want to be close to someone. Someone who cares. Someone. In my arms I need a man to keep me warm. Oh, it's getting late, so send him here. I don't think I can make it through another year. Come on, Santa. Keeping me home A gentle place A strong embrace A pillow and a blanket As a fireplace Turn the lights down low Reach out. Reach out. It's just not fair Another cold night, I just can't bear Come on Santa, won't you please Look at me, I want my knees Oh, bring me a man Bring me a man Bring me a man Pick me a man Dear Santa I need a man Bring me a man I need a man He'd make me want
SPEAKER 24 :
Customize your entry and patio doors with Veteran Windows and Doors. Veteran offers full customization with a wide range of options to complement your home's design, including different woods, color, paint, and finishes. Owner Dave Bancroft will also guarantee that your customized doors are up to code for your area of Colorado, saving you money with tax rebates too. Big corporate window and door companies may use Provia doors like Veteran, but their door will not be engineered for Colorado, let alone the country. And the big corporate companies won't even finish the job completely. They will install your door, but it's up to you to finish, paint, or stain the door yourself, costing you even more money and time. Veteran has saved people thousands of dollars with their new doors just by being honest and transparent with every customer. Call Veteran Windows and Doors and receive a Christmas special of 40% off your door with free installation by going to klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 21 :
Do you have more month than money? The cost of everything is going up, except your income. How about some relief? Take AIM, Affordable Interest Mortgage, 720-895-0500. Do you have a great rate on your first mortgage, but household debt is swallowing the rest? Rates are falling. Lower your monthly debt $700 to $1,100 a month. Call AIM, 720-895-0500. When you lower your household debt $700 to $1,100 a month, you are still able to pay off your home in the same time frame, sometimes even faster. Let our 23 years of experience help save you money. Remember, saving interest is money in your pocket. Take AIM, 720-895-0500. Tired of paying high interest rate on your credit card debt? Think about it. Bills paid, money in the bank, less stress. Affordable Interest Mortgage, 720-895-0500. Give yourself a raise and keep more of your money. That's 720-895-0500, where it's all about you. Regulated by Dora and MLS, 217-147-Equal Credit Lender.
SPEAKER 25 :
Finding insurance can be confusing and picking the wrong plan can cost you thousands of dollars out of your pocket. You need an independent insurance broker to help you find the best coverage that fits your needs and at the very best premium. Call Paul Linaigro at GIA Insurance and his team of independent insurance specialists will help you find the right plan for your needs. As independent brokers, GIA Insurance does not work for any insurance company. They can shop the market and find you the best premium for the coverage that you need. GIA never charges fees, and your premiums will never be any higher than going directly to the insurance companies or buying online. Receive the local hands-on service you don't get with a call center or online. Whether it is your home, auto, Medicare, life, ACA, health or business insurance, GIA has got you covered. They've been doing this as independent brokers since 1984. Call 303-423-0162, extension 100, or go online to e-gia.com.
SPEAKER 13 :
Reading is fundamental to understanding the world, and that's why author Mike Goldstein wrote American Stonehenge. This breathtakingly beautiful book was written in order to bring parents and grandparents together with their children to enjoy stories while they learn to read. The book follows a boy and his immortal telepathic dog, with whom he communicates as they travel through time to learn about the dog's experiences through history. The book is historically accurate, including the illustrations, so you and your little one will learn something about the history of God's beloved Earth. The time that you spend with your children laughing and enjoying this beautifully written book will be something you treasure for a lifetime. Learn more about American Stonehenge and the adventures of Jimmy and Andrew by going to klzradio.com slash read and flip through a free preview of the beautiful prose and illustrations. That's klzradio.com slash read to learn more.
SPEAKER 03 :
a little more sparkle, a little less stress. This year at Christmas, we wish you the best. Happy holidays from Rush to Reason on KLZ 560.
SPEAKER 07 :
Have a Ramahana Kwanzmas It's the PC time of year Every holiday displayed Because of morbid fear Happy Ramahana Kwanzmas Yeah, we know the name is queer Oh, good golly, can't offend nobody on this year Oh no, the Eskimos need a holiday. We'll get right back to you when we think of one for gay. Happy Ramah on the Kwanzaas, what a time for winter cheer. But if you see a Christmas tree, you'll hear Christmas jeers. Screw you, ACLU, for winning the twelve million in your lawsuit versus Santa and his elves. Have a rhum upon the quansmus, and everyone must now adhere. So by golly, don't hang up that Holly on this year.
SPEAKER 16 :
Yeah, and no more sleigh bells either.
SPEAKER 05 :
Okay, good day. This is our Christmas part of the album, and you can play this at your Christmas parties or to yourself on Christmas Eve if there's nothing else to do. Good day, eh? Yeah. In case you thought, like, I wasn't on this part. Oh, I guarantee you, you'd be on. Okay, now, this is our Christmas song in case you don't know what to get somebody for Christmas. There's lots of ideas in here, so listen and don't get stuck. Okay. By the way, that's me on the organ. You start. Okay. On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a beer. On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me two turtlenecks and a beer. Okay, good. On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three French toasts, two turtlenecks, and a beer. Okay, there should be more there, right? Fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me four pounds of back bacon, three French toasts, two turtlenecks, and a beer in a tree. See, you get more. The fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me five golden toques, four pounds of back bacon, three french toast, two turtlenecks, and a beer in a tree. Okay, on the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me six packs of two-four, five golden toques. Four pounds a bag. Three French toasts. Two turtlenecks. And a beer in a tree. On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me seven packs of smokes. Five golden toques. Four pounds of bagpipes. Three French toasts. Two turtlenecks. And a beer in a tree. I keep forgetting. This should just be the two days of Christmas. It's too hard for us. Um, Go Holzer. Oh, hey, Dave. Look at me. Eight comic books. Seven packs of smokes. Six packs of two for five.
SPEAKER 17 :
Five golden tubes, four pounds of baguette, three French toasts, two turtlenecks, and a beer in a tree.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, that beer is empty. Okay, day 12. Good day, and welcome to day 12. Five golden tubes, four pounds of baguette, three French toasts, two turtlenecks, and a beer in a tree.
SPEAKER 01 :
Take advantage of Gino's alignment and tire rotation special. Snow and pothole season is upon us. Save $30 on an alignment and tire rotation now through the end of the month. Have you ever noticed how your tires have a way of finding holes in the pavement? Now is a great time to get your car aligned and your tires rotated. With consistent alignments every 5,000 miles, your vehicle will get better gas mileage and longer tire life. We offer loaner vehicles so you can drop your car off and pick up when ready. Give us a call or go online to schedule an appointment. Geno's is AAA approved and located at Bowles and Platt Canyon. We invite you to check out all Geno's Google reviews. Stop in or visit us online at genosautoservice.com. Save $30 on an alignment and tire rotation. Geno's is celebrating our 41st holiday season. Thank you to all our clients and longtime customers for your patronage and support. We truly appreciate it. Wishing everyone Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
SPEAKER 24 :
Cub Creek is ready to help make sure your family is toasty warm with a holiday special just for KLZ listeners. For a limited time, Cub Creek is offering $50 off any repair call to show their appreciation. The first time you kick your heater on for the season is the most likely time that it will fail. So if you are just turning it on, or it's been a year or more since it was serviced, now is the right time to call the experts at Cub Creek to come check and clean your furnace. Cub Creek cleans the furnace, checks the wires and connections, and tracks down root causes for issues. This is their busiest time of the year for calls. Cub Creek has openings that are booking fast, so give them a call before your holidays take off and make sure you're not left in the cold. Find Cub Creek on the klzradio.com advertisers page to book your service now.
SPEAKER 26 :
Are you in the market for a reliable car that won't break the bank? DriveRadio's sponsor, Ridgeline Auto Brokers, specializes in quality used cars that cost between $15,000 to $25,000, making them a great option for first-time drivers or anyone looking for a good deal. They pride themselves on providing a transparent and hassle-free car buying experience. That's why at Ridgeline, they never charge a dealer fee. Plus, all vehicles are inspected by Legacy Automotive, a Colorado select member and sponsor of Drive Radio. For a limited time, they are offering first-time customers the first oil change for only $1. Every car comes with a 30-day warranty, with the option to purchase a service contract. And at Ridgeline Auto Brokers, there are competitive financing options to fit your budget. If you cannot make it to the dealership in person, there are videos of all Ridgeline cars for sale on their website at RidgelineAutoBrokers.com. Call today at 303-442-4141 to schedule a test drive or visit RidgelineAutoBrokers.com. Ridgeline Auto Brokers, the smartest way to buy a car.
SPEAKER 03 :
One sure sign that you're getting older is how Santa seems to look better each year. Merry Christmas from Rush to Reason on KLZ 560.
SPEAKER 17 :
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me green polka dot pajamas and a Japanese transistor radio.
SPEAKER 06 :
It's a Nakashima.
SPEAKER 17 :
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a calendar book with the name of my insurance man. Green polka dot pajamas and a Japanese transistor radio.
SPEAKER 06 :
It's the Mark IV model. That's the one that's discontinued.
SPEAKER 17 :
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... A simulated alligator wallet. A calendar book with the name of my insurance man. We'd hook it up at Jabba's. And a Japanese transistor radio.
SPEAKER 06 :
And it comes in a leatherette case with holes in it, so you could listen right through the case. And it has a wire with a thing on one end that you can stick in your ear and a thing on the other end that you can't stick anywhere because it's bent.
SPEAKER 17 :
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a hammered aluminum nutcracker and all that other stuff and a Japanese transistor radio.
SPEAKER 06 :
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a pink satin pillow that says San Diego with fringe all around it and all that other stuff.
SPEAKER 17 :
and a Japanese transistor radio. On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me an indoor plastic birdbath.
SPEAKER 06 :
and a Japanese transistor radio.
SPEAKER 17 :
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a pair of teakwood shower clocks and a Japanese transistor radio. On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a chromium combination manicure scissors and cigarette lighter. And a Japanese transistor radio On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me An automatic vegetable slicer that works when you see it on television But not when you get it home And a Japanese transistor radio
SPEAKER 06 :
On the twelfth day of Christmas, although it may seem strange On the twelfth day of Christmas, I'm going to exchange An automatic vegetable slicer that works when you see it on television, but not when you get it home.
SPEAKER 17 :
Tronium combination manager, scissors, and cigarette lighter.
SPEAKER 06 :
Pair of teakwood shower clocks. Indoor plastic bird's head. Pink satin pillow that says San Diego with fringe all around it. Hammered aluminum neck cracker. Statue of a naked lady with a clock where her stomach ought to be.
SPEAKER 17 :
Simulated alligator wallet.
SPEAKER 06 :
Calendar book with a My insurance man.
SPEAKER 17 :
Rain, pocket of pajamas, and a Japanese transistor.
SPEAKER 1 :
Rain.
SPEAKER 09 :
Boys, let me tell you about the best Christmas I ever had. On the first day of Christmas, an old lady, old oldie. And I was glad to get it. On the second day of Christmas, the riders gave to me two manly strums and an old lady, old oldie. I must have been a good boy. On the third day of Christmas, the riders gave to me Three bass thumps, two manly strums, and a yodel-a-dee-yodel-a-dee. Started to sound like music. On the fourth day of Christmas, the riders gave to me four fiddling kings.
SPEAKER 08 :
Three bass thumps, two manly strums, and a yodel-a-dee-yodel-a-dee.
SPEAKER 09 :
Sure beats a lump of coal. On the fifth day of Christmas, the riders gave to me
SPEAKER 26 :
Four fiddling kings.
SPEAKER 08 :
Three bass thumps. Two manly strums. And a old lady, old lady.
SPEAKER 09 :
Man, it was great. On the sixth day of Christmas, the writers gave to me six sidekicks singing. Five golden notes.
SPEAKER 08 :
Four fiddling kings. Three bass thumps. Two manly strums. And a old lady.
SPEAKER 09 :
Getting fancy, are we? On the seventh day of Christmas, the riders gave to me. Seven joeys squeezing. Six sidekicks singing. Five golden oars.
SPEAKER 08 :
Four fiddling kings. Three bass thunks. Two manly strums. And a... Oh, lady.
SPEAKER 09 :
I laughed when I heard it in spite of myself. On the eighth day of Christmas, the riders gave to me eight spurs of jingling, seven joeys squeezing, six sidekicks singing, five golden bells.
SPEAKER 08 :
Four fiddling kings. Three bass thumbs. Two manly strums. And a... It's a wonderful life.
SPEAKER 09 :
On the ninth day of Christmas, the writers gave to me... Nine weeds a-tumbling. Eight spurs a-jingling. Seven joeys squeezing. Six sidekicks singing. Five golden notes.
SPEAKER 08 :
You try saying all that.
SPEAKER 09 :
Four fiddling kings, three bass thumps, two manly strums, and a totally... On the tenth day of Christmas, the riders gave to me ten coyotes howling, nine weeds a-tumbling, eight spurs a-jingling, seven joeys squeezing, six sidekicks singing, five golden oars. Four fiddling kings.
SPEAKER 08 :
Three bass thumps. Two manly strums.
SPEAKER 09 :
And a... Four eggnog ranger duck. On eleventh day of Christmas, the riders gave to me... Eleven doggies low and ten coyotes howling. Nine weeds a-tumbling. Eight spurs a-jingling. Seven joeys squeezing. Six sidekicks singing.
SPEAKER 17 :
Five golden oaks.
SPEAKER 09 :
So pretty.
SPEAKER 08 :
Four fiddling kings. Three bass thumps. Two manly scrums. Hand out.
SPEAKER 09 :
But they saved the best for last. On the twelfth day of Christmas, the riders gave to me. No drummers drumming. Eleven doggies lowin' Ten coyotes howlin' Nine weeds a-tumblin' Eight spurs a-jinglin' Seven joeys squeevin' Six sidekicks singin' Five golden doves Yes!
SPEAKER 08 :
Four fiddlin' kings Three bass thumps Two manly strums And I'm...
SPEAKER 17 :
I'll do the psychic jig.
SPEAKER 09 :
And I'll... God bless us everyone. I'll add a harmony part. Oh, it's pretty. Look at the dog. Well, that... We have a limited amount of time here.
SPEAKER 15 :
First day after Christmas My true love and I had a fight And so I chopped the pear tree down And burned it just for spite Then with a single cartridge I shot that blasted partridge My true love, my true love My true love gave to me The second day after Christmas, I pulled on the old rubber gloves and very gently wrung the necks of both the turtle dogs that my true love, my true love, my true love gave to me. The third day after Christmas, my mother called the croup. I had to use the three French hens to make some chicken soup. The four calling birds were a big mistake, for their language was obscene. The five gold rings were completely fake, and they turned my feet. The sixth day after Christmas Those six-laying geese wouldn't lay I gave the whole big gaggle to the ASPCA On the seventh day, what a mess I found All seven of those swimming swans had drowned The eighth day after Christmas, before they could suspect, I bundled up the eight maids in milky night, pipers piping, ten ladies dancing, eleven lords a-leaping, twelve drummers drumming. Well, actually, I kept one of the drummers. and sent them back home late. I wrote my true love. We are through love. And I said in so many words, furthermore, your Christmas gifts were for the birds. Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in
SPEAKER 23 :
Al Smith of Golden Eagle Financial is your key to ending the year on track. You need to take your required minimum distributions from your IRA investments before the end of the year. And if you have more than one, Al will help you figure out the smartest way to do that. Also, if you plan to convert all or part to Roth, it must be done by December 31st. Al can work with you to determine the ideal amount to convert tax wise. We'll be right back. Investment advisory services offered through Brookstone Capital Management LLC, a registered investment advisor. BCM and Golden Eagle Financial Limited are independent of each other. Insurance products and services are not offered through BCM, but are offered and sold through individually licensed and appointed agents.
SPEAKER 03 :
Christmas, it's the only time of year in which one can sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of socks. Happy holidays from Rush to Reason on KLZ 560.
SPEAKER 19 :
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches. Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches.
SPEAKER 17 :
Your vows so green in summertime. Stay bravely green in wintertime. Oh, Panama. Oh, Christmas tree. How lovely are thy branches.
SPEAKER 19 :
Let us all remember in our gift-giving and our merriment with our family and friends and loved ones the real and true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Oh, turn and bow Oh,
SPEAKER 17 :
how lovely are thy branches how lovely are thy branches thou bid us all please faithfully our trust in God Unchangingly. Oh, Jennifer. Oh, Jennifer. How lovely I.
SPEAKER 19 :
On Comet. On Cupid. On Danden Blitzen.
SPEAKER 17 :
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
SPEAKER 14 :
Christmas time is here Happiness and cheer Fun for all That children call Their favorite time of year Snowflakes in the air, carols everywhere. Olden times and ancient rhymes of love and dreams to share. Sleigh bells in the air. Beauty everywhere. You'll tie by the fireside. And joyful memories there. Christmas time is here. Families growing new Oh, that we could always see Such spirit through the years Sleigh bells in the air everywhere you tied by the fireside and joyful memories there Christmas time is here families growing new Oh that we could always see such spirit through the years Oh that we could always see such spirit through the years
This episode is not just about festive songs and carols, but also delves into practical advice for managing finance and estate planning during the holiday rush. The juxtaposition of traditional holiday charm with modern financial strategies promises to keep you engaged and informed throughout. Join us as we sing along with timeless classics and prepare for a secure and joyous new year.
SPEAKER 27 :
The holidays are full of issues that can negatively affect your nest egg and Al Smith of Golden Eagle Financial will help you stay secure. This time of year, you have demands all around you. Even if you're retired, there's shopping to do, dinner parties or office functions. You just need a few minutes to make sure your required minimum distributions are taken. Let Al Smith take the pressure off of you this holiday season. You can meet with him for free and he'll work with you on a strategy to identify the best way he can help you. And when you hire him to manage your retirement, you won't be fending those demands off this year because he's got you covered. Al communicates with you and minimizes the time you would spend strategizing because you can lean on his decades of experience helping folks just like you retire with confidence. Find Al Smith and Golden Eagle Financial on the klzradio.com advertisers page and get started with your free meeting. Investment advisory services offered through Brookstone Capital Management, LLC, registered investment advisor, BCM, and Golden Eagle Financial Limited are independent of each other. Insurance products and services are not offered through BCM, but are offered and sold through individually licensed and appointed agents.
SPEAKER 02 :
Download the KLZ 560 app free at Google Play and the App Store.
SPEAKER 16 :
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at your nose Yuletide carols being sung by a choir And folks dressed up like Eskimos A turkey and some mistletoe help to make the season bright. Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow will find it hard to sleep tonight. We know that Santa is on his way He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh And every mother's child is gonna spy to see And so I'm offering this simple phrase To kids from one to ninety-two Although it's been said many times, many ways I'm offering this simple phrase to kids from 1 to 92. Although it's been said many times, Miles.
SPEAKER 24 :
Looking for top-notch home, auto, classic car, and business insurance? Look no further than Paul Leuenberger. Paul is now an insurance broker with access to industry leaders like Hartford, Travelers, Safeco, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, Allstate, AIG, Chubb, Pure, Berkeley, Grundy, and Hagerty. Paul has you covered. Paul is also proud to continue his work with American National for all non-property insurance needs as well. Paul Leuenberger now serves Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas with more states on the way. Paul's mission is simple, to connect you with the right coverage at the best value. Are you ready to protect what matters most? Call Paul Leuenberger today at 662-0789. That's 662-0789.
SPEAKER 27 :
The holidays are full of issues that can negatively affect your nest egg and Al Smith of Golden Eagle Financial will help you stay secure. This time of year, you have demands all around you. Even if you're retired, there's shopping to do, dinner parties or office functions. You just need a few minutes to make sure your required minimum distributions are taken. Let Al Smith take the pressure off of you this holiday season. You can meet with him for free and he'll work with you on a strategy to identify the best way he can help you. And when you hire him to manage your retirement, you won't be fending those demands off this year because he's got you covered. Al communicates with you and minimizes the time you would spend strategizing because you can lean on his decades of experience helping folks just like you retire with confidence. Find Al Smith and Golden Eagle Financial on the klzradio.com advertisers page and get started with your free meeting. Investment advisory services offered through Brookstone Capital Management, LLC, registered investment advisor, BCM, and Golden Eagle Financial Limited are independent of each other. Insurance products and services are not offered through BCM, but are offered and sold through individually licensed and appointed agents.
SPEAKER 26 :
Your ghost of Christmas past is... You haven't gotten that estate plan done. And with KLZ's mobile estate planner, Michael Bailey, here to help you, it's going to be okay. Some of us also worry about what will happen in the future. You can deal with that ghost of Christmas future too. Get started on your estate plan now with Michael Bailey so you don't have to worry about the past or the future. Ebenezer Scrooge learned how to change his ways in the present, and you can decide to make changes too. Taking care of a will or estate plan in the present means you don't have to worry. It frees up the future to be whatever you want it to be. You can have happiness, peace, joy, love, although probably not from your estate plan, but at least you will have peace of mind knowing it's done. Let your, I should have already done this, fears and worries go. No judgment here. Just call our mobile estate planner, Michael Bailey at 720-730-7274 or go to the klzradio.com advertisers page.
SPEAKER 23 :
Is your office ready for a new copier? Business Equipment Service has you covered. Whether you're a small business or a large corporation, Business Equipment Service has current model Konica Minolta and Canon copiers on sale right now. Our models have very minimal usage at a fraction of the cost of buying new. We stand behind our equipment with a 90-day parts and labor warranty as well as a one-year or 100,000-page performance warranty, giving you the reliability you need to keep things running smoothly. Right now, get free delivery and installation when you mention this ad. Why choose us? Aside from saving thousands on high-performance copiers, we have lease options starting at $100 per month, we service and supply what we sell, we offer full-service maintenance plans, fast on-site service, and remote support. For over 20 years, Business Equipment Service has helped hundreds of Colorado businesses find affordable, reliable office solutions. Visit us at besofcolorado.com or call 303-825-5664. Don, we now are ugly sweaters. This is Rush to Reason on KLZ 560.
SPEAKER 29 :
You know what, Pop? What's that, son?
SPEAKER 12 :
Christmas just isn't going to be the theme this year.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, why is that?
SPEAKER 11 :
Because Santa's got a brand new bag! Suck it to me Santa, you know what I like Suck it to me Santa, just bring me a bag Christmas just won't be a drag Santa's got a brand new bag Let those chimneys bring you down. You got to spread those toys all over town. My sockin's all hung so you can see. Don't hang me up, Santa. Lay some toys on me. Sock it to me, Santa. You know where it's at. Sock it to me, Santa. I want a baseball bat. This won't be a drag. Santa's got a brand new bag. and a white mustache. He's got lots of toys, but no time for trash. Oh, this dress will melt from his head to his toe. He's lost a little weight, but his jellies still roll. You heard what I said. Come on, bring me the sled. Christmas just won't be a drag, because Santa's got a brand new band. We'll be right back.
SPEAKER 17 :
He's too fat for the chimney. Too fat for the chimney.
SPEAKER 18 :
So open the door and let poor Santa Claus in. There's no room for his tummy. Please do something, Mommy. Without Santa Claus, oh, how can Christmas begin? I don't see how I'll get the presents I've been looking for. I knew while sitting on his lap in that department store that he'd have troubles by jimmy. He's too fat for the chimney, so open the door and let poor Santa claw. So open the door and let poor Santa Claus in. Without Santa Claus, how can this Christmas begin?
SPEAKER 15 :
Wake up, wake up, Mommy dear. Someone's in distress.
SPEAKER 18 :
No, it's not the wind I hear. It's Santa Claus, and he's in an awful mess.
SPEAKER 17 :
Mess, mess, mess, mess, mess.
SPEAKER 18 :
He's too fat for the chimney. Too fat for the chimney. So open the door and let for Santa Claus in. There's no room for his tummy. Please do something, Mommy. Without Santa Claus, oh, how can Christmas begin? One day I saw him on the street, and I could quickly tell. That with his roly-poly, tum-tum shakin' just like jelly, just won't make it by jimny. He's too fat for the chimney. So open the door and let poor Santa Claus in. He's not really too fat.
SPEAKER 15 :
Santa Claus got stuck in the chimney.
SPEAKER 20 :
For me.
SPEAKER 08 :
Santa Claus got stuck in my chimney Stuck in my chimney Stuck in my chimney Santa Claus got stuck in my chimney When he came last year Santa Claus got stuck in my chimney Stuck in my chimney Stuck in my chimney Santa Claus got stuck in my chimney He won't come back I fear There he was in the middle of the chimney, roly-poly, fat and round. There he was in the middle of the chimney, not quite up and not quite down. Santa, please come back to my chimney, back to my chimney, back to my chimney. Santa, please come back to my chimney. You can come back here. Please do. Cause Daddy made a brand new chimney just for you. A little girl who's trying to be good Yet I find that things don't always turn out as they should Why just last Christmas Eve she waited up for Santa to drop by But I nearly missed him and here's the reason why Santa Claus got stuck in my chimney Stuck in my chimney, stuck in my chimney Santa Claus got stuck in my chimney When he came last year Santa Claus got stuck in my chimney Stuck in my chimney, stuck in my chimney Santa Claus got stuck in my chimney He won't come back, I fear There he was in the middle of the chimney, roly poly, fat and round. There he was in the middle of the chimney, not quite up and not quite down. Santa, please come back to my chimney. Back to my chimney, back to my chimney. Santa, please come back to my chimney. You can come back here. Because Daddy made a brand new chimney just for you this year.
SPEAKER 15 :
Santa Claus, come on down the chimney. Please come back this year.
SPEAKER 26 :
The holidays are the busiest season for plumbers and High Five Plumbing, Electrical, Heating and Cooling wants you to be ready now. There are several things you can do to prevent freezing, busted pipes and other plumbing issues just as guests arrive. If you have plumbing inside cabinets, leave the doors open to warm them. especially if they are on an exterior wall. Hi-5 can better insulate pipes if this is a constant issue. And if you're going away for a vacation, don't forget to turn the water off to prevent those really bad emergency pipe breaks. When the cold dips lower than normal, leaving your faucets dripping will keep water flowing and prevent it from freezing. Plumbing inside your home is constantly degrading. So even if you haven't had an issue in previous years, Hi-5 can help you make sure it's still working. Have them out for a pre-holiday inspection and receive a waived inspection fee just for being a KLZ listener. Schedule your inspection today at klzradio.com slash plumbing.
SPEAKER 28 :
Here's why you need personal injury attorney Kevin Flesch on your side. He understands the way the jury thinks. In the context of a personal injury case, you've been hurt by someone else's negligence. The idea is that you're going to try to recover so that you can get back to where you were just prior to that incident occurring. What that really means from a jurist's perspective is that you're going to be asking them to award you money. So when we talk about fairness, we're talking about six people that you don't know. Those six people view the evidence and make a unanimous decision that will decide what the fair value is. When you're the one who's hurt, you have a good idea of what you think it's worth. The question is, can you persuade those other individuals whom you don't know and were witnesses to believe that's what the case is worth? Kevin Flesch understands the way the jury thinks. Call now for a free consultation. 303-806-8886
SPEAKER 25 :
American Stonehenge by Mike Goldstein is more than just a children's book. It's a way to connect with the children in your life and encourage them to read to you and for themselves. When Mike Goldstein started writing American Stonehenge, he went after a specific problem. Children today don't think for themselves, and test scores nationwide show that. American Stonehenge is gorgeously put together, so it'll draw their attention. It's filled with action, the prose flows as smooth as sand through an hourglass, and it's historically accurate from the stories and the illustrations. But it's also a portal to quality time with children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. It's a way to connect with them while tacitly teaching them the importance of critical thought and giving them a break from scrolling in their free time. Find American Stonehenge on klzradio.com slash read and bring your family together this holiday season.
SPEAKER 13 :
As independent brokers, GIA Insurance can help you navigate through the maze of health insurance options so you get the right plan to fit your needs at the best premium. GIA never charges fees, and your premiums will never be any higher than going directly to the insurance companies or buying online. Call 303-423-0162, extension 100.
SPEAKER 29 :
Thank you for welcoming us into your home. This is Rush to Reason on KLZ 560.
SPEAKER 09 :
Oh, I dreamed I saw the strangest sight, a peppermint stick parade. Around the Christmas tree on Christmas night, a peppermint stick parade. Ta-da-da, ta-da-da, the little toy trumpet played. And that was how the toys began, the peppermint stick parade. I could hear the sound of silvery bells as the Jack and the Bops popped out. And I thought I heard him laugh as he waved his arms about. ta-da-da ta-da-da what a happy sound they made that christmas night when the toys began the peppermint stick parade first came the roly-poly teddy bear riding the rocking horse so what a job Then came the dolly with a smiling face. She looked so pretty in her dress all trimmed with yellow lace. And up jumped the monkey in his coat of red. He jumped so high he hit the ceiling with his head. Then everybody had some pink lemonade at the pep, pep, peppermint stick parade. Ta-da-da, ta-da-da, the little toy trumpet played. And that was how the toys began to pep, pep, Peppermint Stick Parade.
SPEAKER 12 :
Rudolph's nose was frosty and it didn't give much light. Santa had his little elves to shine it up so bright. Prancer and the others are dancing to and fro. They know Christmas time is near, going to shine up Rudolph's nose. Christmas time's coming through Winter Wonderland. Everyone is happy, down to Frosty the old snowman. Rudolph's nose is shining bright, it looks just like a star. It'll help Santa find you, no matter where you are. Sister's eyes are glowing, brother jumps with glee. Mama's kissing daddy beside the Christmas tree. All the other boys and girls are dancing to and fro. Let it go, Christmas time is near, cause it shines up Rudolph's nose. Christmas time's a-coming through Winter Wonderland. Everyone is happy, down to Frosty the old snowman. Rudolph's nose is shining bright, it looks just like a star. It'll help Santa find you, no matter where you are. Oh, Christmas times are coming through in her wonderland. Everyone is happy. Down to Frosty the old snowman. Rudolph's nose is shining bright. He looks just like a star. It'll help Santa find you no matter where you are.
SPEAKER 22 :
Here is a news bulletin. Santa Claus has been kidnapped by spacemen from a flying saucer, which landed at the North Pole.
SPEAKER 31 :
Be on the lookout for Santa Claus, last seen wearing... We take you now to the White House for an interview with the President.
SPEAKER 22 :
Mr. President, Mr. President. Mr. President, have you a word on the Santa Claus kidnapping? We have just received a report from the FBI. Santa has been taken to a satellite circling the Earth. We take you now to the satellite.
SPEAKER 31 :
This is John Cameron Cameron, downtown Sputnik. We're here in the Sputnik jail with Santa Claus. Wait, what's that sound? The satellite men are coming this way. I think the king of Sputnik is about to speak. Santa, have you anything to say to the satellite men? Santa? Santa! Santa! I know how you can escape. disguised as Elvis Presley. Uh-oh, looks like we've been spotted. We return you now to Earth.
SPEAKER 22 :
We are now at the North Pole, where a rocket is being launched to catch the satellite and rescue Santa.
SPEAKER 31 :
Control tower to rocket. Prepare to blast off.
SPEAKER 22 :
Oh, let's go! Will the rocket be successful? Will Santa be rescued? Turn the record over and find out. The rocket sent to rescue Santa Claus has failed. With sadness, the president speaks. The Secretary of State has this statement. In London, at a meeting of Parliament.
SPEAKER 31 :
Your Majesty, have you a statement to make on this terrible tragedy?
SPEAKER 22 :
We take you now to Moscow.
SPEAKER 31 :
We're here with the Premier of Russia. Comrade, the rocket has failed.
SPEAKER 22 :
What do we do now? Here is a report from Tokyo.
SPEAKER 31 :
This is Radio Tokyo. The imperial government has this message. Ooh la la. Meanwhile, back on the satellite. This is John Cameron Cameron, downtown Sputnik. The satellite men are closing in. We can hear them outside saying, Santa has just escaped through the chimney, disguised as Elvis. We return you now to Earth.
SPEAKER 22 :
If you should look up at the sky this Christmas Eve and see a flying saucer pulling eight reindeer, chances are it's Santa Claus.
SPEAKER 31 :
Merry Christmas, Earth people.
SPEAKER 30 :
Oh, the weather outside is frightful But the fire is so delightful And since we've no place to go Make it so, make it so, make it so Man, it doesn't show signs of stopping And I brought me some Teal Grey hot The lights turned way down low Make it so, make it so, make it so When we finally kiss. Good night. How I hate going out in the storm. But if you... Really? Shut up, Wesley! All the way home, I'll be warm.
SPEAKER 07 :
Oh, the fire is slowly dying.
SPEAKER 30 :
And my dear... We're still good-bye-ing. But as long as you love me so... Make it so. Make it so. Make it so.
SPEAKER 01 :
You work hard to keep a roof over the heads of you and your loved ones. The last thing you need is to be worrying about the condition of that roof. That's where we come in. At Roof Savers Colorado, we pride ourselves in helping homeowners like you get a new roof without all the worry. Deductibles are skyrocketing, and since it's illegal to waive those fees, the financial burden of upgrading your damaged roof can seem overwhelming. But here at Roof Savers, we offer both financing options and referral fees to offset some of those upfront costs. Already filed a claim with your insurance? We are happy to utilize those insurance proceeds to get your roof the replacement it needs and your home stronger protection from hail. With over 23 years of roofing experience, Dave and his team are ready to help. Call us today at 303-710-6916 or go to RoofSaverCO.com to set up your free inspection. That's 303-710-6916. Or go to RoofSaverCEO.com and stop worrying about your roof today.
SPEAKER 27 :
Your parents still have a mortgage payment weighing on them every month. And our reverse mortgage expert, Bruce Simmons, might be able to help. In many cases, our parents keep paying their mortgage and waiting for the house to finally be paid off when Bruce could potentially get them set up with a reverse mortgage. That would eliminate their principal and interest payment. That can even be true if your parents live in other states where Bruce's company works, including Florida, Texas, Arizona, and more. A lot of the parents that Bruce works with like to fully involve their families for checks and balances. Bruce will gladly do that too. And Bruce can also set up a line of credit for your parents for emergencies and unexpected expenses. This is a great way to preserve your parents' independence and keep them in their own home. while reducing the monthly financial burden on their budget and keeping everyone informed. Give your parents their freedom by contacting Bruce Simmons at klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 28 :
You need an affordable, trustworthy company to help you heat your home this holiday season. You need Cub Creek Heating and A.C. Imagine you click on your thermostat, you hear the air flowing and check the vent only to find freezing cold air. wonder what you'll do to fix it, and you can't afford a brand new heater right now before the holidays. Rheem Certified ProPartners Cub Creek Heating AC are HVAC technicians that you can trust in an emergency. They come right out to diagnose the issue, and if it turns out you need a new unit, they can help you finance the expense so your holidays aren't ruined. Cub Creek will work with you on a solution, then let you know all the options you have available. So when you're in a chilly situation, remember to find Cub Creek on klzradio.com's advertiser page and let them help you get warm again.
SPEAKER 29 :
Wishing you holidays filled with fun and laughter. Thanks for listening to Rush to Reason on KLZ 560.
SPEAKER 03 :
We'd load Mr. Bradley's truck with hay Seven-thirty on the dot on the church parking lot We'd pile in that old truck and ride away Just a bunch of kids singing Christmas carols To the hospital and the old folks' home Sometimes we'd go in and sing them all again to a shut-in who was living all alone. Singing joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King. And at Christmas each year I still love to hear the carols those kids used to sing. Then one year all of us decided Everyone would bring some food on Christmas Eve Bought a turkey and some toys for some underprivileged boys Who lived with their grandma on relief She had told them there wouldn't be a Christmas And the look on their faces I still see I'm glad for what we did, cause we made some happy kids Dance around where there might have been a tree Singing joy to the world, the Lord is come Let earth receive her King And at Christmas each year, I still love to hear The carols those kids used to sing Singin' joy to the world the Lord is come Let earth receive her King And at Christmas each year I still love to hear The carols those kids used to sing. Singing joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King. And at Christmas each year, I still love to hear the King.
SPEAKER 20 :
Sing now a song of joy, every Christmas is a birthday of that baby born in Bethlehem far, far away. Ring out, oh bells of joy, every Christmas is a birthday. Celebrate it for that baby boy born Christmas Day. Celebrate it for that baby boy born Christmas Day. Sweet little stranger there in the manger, sent to be king of us that day of days. Angels above Him told us to love Him, Claim to Him, bring to Him glory and praise.
SPEAKER 1 :
Ring out, O bells of joy, every Christmas is a birthday.
SPEAKER 15 :
Celebrate it for the baby boy, born Christmas Day.
SPEAKER 20 :
Sweet little stranger there in the manger, said to be king of us that day of days. Angels above him told us to love him, cling to him, bring to him glory and praise. Ring out, oh bells of joy, every Christmas is a birthday. Celebrate it for that baby boy, born Christmas Day.
SPEAKER 19 :
Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away, Christmas is here, bringing good cheer to young and old, meek and the bold. Ding dong, ding dong. Ding-dong, ding-dong, that is their song With joyful ring all caroling One seems to hear words of good cheer From everywhere filling the air Oh, how they pound, raising the sound Oh, ill and tell, telling their tale Gaily they ring while people sing songs of good cheer Christmas is here, merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas On, on they send, on without end, their joyful tone to every home. Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to sing, throw cares away. Ding, dong, ding, dong, that is their song, with joyful ring, all caroling. One seems to hear words of good cheer from everywhere, filling. the air oh how they come raising the sound oh him and dell telling their tale gaily they ring while people sing songs of good cheer christmas is here merry merry merry christmas merry merry merry merry christmas merry merry merry merry christmas merry merry merry merry christmas
SPEAKER 06 :
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
SPEAKER 04 :
Oh, you know that Jesus gives us salvation. Shabbat shalom.
SPEAKER 06 :
Shabbat shalom.
SPEAKER 04 :
Surah Al-Fatihah
SPEAKER 06 :
Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary, did you know that your baby boy is the grace
SPEAKER 29 :
Remember the reason for the season. Merry Christmas from Rush to Reason on KLZ 560.
SPEAKER 02 :
Are you in the market for a reliable car, truck, or SUV that won't break the bank? Does your vehicle need high-quality auto repair? Then look no further. Ridgeline Auto Brokers and Legacy Auto Repair specialize in quality used cars that cost between $15,000 and $25,000, making them a great option for first-time drivers or anyone looking for a great deal. At Ridgeline, we pride ourselves on providing a transparent and happy hassle-free car buying experience. That's why we never charge any dealer fees. Plus, all of our vehicles are inspected by our team of ASE-certified technicians. You can trust that the car you're buying is in excellent condition. And remember, we can also service your vehicle after the sale. At Ridgeline, we can take your current vehicle on trade, and we also offer competitive financing options for vehicle purchases and also for vehicle repairs. Ridgeline now has two locations, one in Boulder and now a second location in Fort Collins located at 1101 North College Avenue. Both locations offer full-service auto repair and a host of off-road accessories. Check out all their services at RidgelineAutobrokers.com. Ridgeline, the smart way to buy or service or accessorize your car, truck, or SUV.
SPEAKER 29 :
Let's keep Christmas fun and festive. This is Rush to Reason on KLZ 560.
SPEAKER 07 :
everybody have a happy holiday may i help you with those packages you meet the nicest people everywhere around christmas time you meet the nicest people just like everyone here But I can't understand how the very same people who laugh so freely and sing so gaily can be so gloomy the other days of the year. Hey, ladies, off my foot. You feel the nicest feeling in the air around Christmas time. You get the warmest greetings full of holiday cheer.
SPEAKER 21 :
Merry Christmas!
SPEAKER 07 :
Wouldn't the world be a great place to live in if everybody would be? The nicest, warmest, friendliest, Christmassy sort of people every day of the year. The warmest people.
SPEAKER 21 :
The friendliest people.
SPEAKER 07 :
You meet the nicest people everywhere around Christmas time. You meet the nicest people just like everyone here. Wouldn't the world be a great place to live in if everybody would be the nicest, warmest, friendliest, Christmassy sort of people every day of the year? Merry Christmas, everyone!
SPEAKER 14 :
Looking out the window of this Hollywood hotel You'd never know that it was Christmas Eve The billboards and the neon took the place of silver bells And the temperature is 84 degrees I can hear the traffic on the crowded strip below As the palm trees poke their heads above the scene But there's not a single reindeer and it hardly ever snows And Santa drives a Rolls Royce limousine But all along the Rockies you can feel it in the air Until you ride to Boulder down below The closest thing to heaven on this planet anywhere Is a quiet Christmas morning in the Colorado snow I remember Christmas is when I was just a boy In the morning I would run to see the tree And the cowlers on the hillside sang their songs of Christmas joy Well I always thought they sang them just for me Now the sun is setting in the California sky And I can't find the spirit anywhere So I think it's time for me to tell Los Angeles goodbye I'm going back home to look for Christmas there But all along the Rockies you can feel it in the air From Telluride to Boulder down below The closest thing to heaven on this planet anywhere Is a quiet Christmas morning in the Colorado snow It's a quiet Christmas morning in the Colorado snow.
SPEAKER 29 :
Thank you for welcoming us into your home. This is Rush to Reason.
God the Holy Spirit lives in us. We are now ambassadors, personal reps of Jesus Christ while we are alive on this earth. The Bible says, “let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.” Emotions can enslave you if you’re not careful. Enslave you to the details of life. The objective of the Christian life is you being willing to serve your Lord and your Master, Jesus Christ. We’re to use the spiritual gift He’s given us to serve Him. Our standards to live by are found in the royal family honor code. The code is found in the Word of God—the Bible. This code is the privacy of the priesthood meaning that every Christian has privacy. No one has the right to stick their nose into someone else’s business. As you grow spiritually you will glorify Christ. You will start replicating His life, re-presenting Him to this lost and dying world. This is our challenge. This is what makes the Christian life so unique.
Click for Full Transcript: https://rhem.pub/unique-life-dd352c
Our Unique Life – Part 6
Transcript of FLOT Line Episode 621 aired on July 23, 2017
Good morning and welcome to the FLOT Line. I'm your host Rick Hughes and for the next few
minutes I'd like to invite you to stay tuned. It's going to be about thirty minutes of motivation,
some inspiration, some education always done without any type of manipulation which means
we don't try to con people, we’re not trying to hustle you for any money, we’re not going to ask
you to join anything. We’re simply trying to give you accurate information. Information that I
pray will help you verify as well as identify God's plan for your life and if I can do that and you
can do that, then you can orient and adjust to the plan if you want to, that's up to you. You have
your own life, you live your own decision-making process. God gave you a soul. And inside that
soul you have something called volition and that means that you are not an automaton, you can
choose. You can choose to make any decision you want to make. I do know that bad decisions
limit future options and if we make enough bad decisions, we don't have much options left. But
as you go through life you make choices every day. The most important choice you could ever
make, the single most significant decision you could ever make in your life is to do what the
Bible says,
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”
Why is that essential?
Because you don't live here forever. You’re lucky if you make it 50, 60, 70 years through here.
But hey, there's something on the other side of this veil. It's called eternal life and your soul is
never going to die. Your body, yep, you're going to die physically. Your body's going to go back
to dust but your soul and hopefully your spirit, if you're born again and have an active human
spirit, it’s going to live in the presence of the Father in a resurrection body - a new body. That's
why this is so important. It's not just about living here now, although that's normally what we
focus on, the things that are seen, but the Bible tells us to focus on the things that are unseen. So
that's what this study has been about. I've been in a study for five different Sundays now with
you and it's about the unique Christian life. How unique is this life? I recently taught this study at
a church in Houston, Texas and it is available on a DVD series. If you'd like to watch it all you
have to do is contact us and we’ll send it to you free of charge if you'd like to watch it. But this
unique Christian life is awesome. We, first of all, have many unique assets that we taught you.
We went over that. And we live in a most unique time. That's what we're talking about now. The
unique period that we live in is called the church. We live in the Church Age. And in this unique
time that we live in called the church, this most unique time in the history of the world, it was
also hidden because no one really knew about it. It was called a mystery doctrine in the Bible. It
wasn't revealed. These unique times, the church, means that we are adopted. You and I, we’re
adopted into God's royal family and we are now a new spiritual aristocracy. That means you and
me, we are nobility - spiritual nobility. Why?
Because God's Holy Spirit lives within us and
we are now ambassadors or personal representatives of Jesus Christ while we are still here.
And I told you last week, we have to assume His mindset, the Bible says,
“Let this mind be in
you that was also in Christ Jesus.”
And we also assume His personality profile where the Bible
says,
“He humbled Himself and made Himself of no reputation and took upon Himself the form
1
621-Our-Unique-Life-p6-transcript.pdf
of a slave.”
Paul admitted that he was a slave to Jesus Christ. He said that personally in the
Bible. He said in Romans 1:1,
“Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated
unto the gospel of God.”
Yes, when Christ freed us from the slave market of sin, and that's what's
so unique about the cross, He purchased our freedom.
He freed us from the slave market of
sin. He bought us, He paid for us with His own life which was the redeeming ransom that
God required. So we have been set free in Christ.
“If any man's in Christ,”
the Bible says,
“he's a new creation. Old things are passed away and all things become new.”
But even though
we’re free, even though we've been set free, we can come back and voluntarily surrender to the
ownership of Jesus Christ and serve Him if we want to do that. In Galatians 5:1 the Bible says,
“it is for freedom that Christ set you free. So keep standing fast and don't become entangled
again in the yoke of slavery.”
The yoke of slavery is what the cosmic system offers you. In the
cosmos diabolicus, Satan’s world that’s what it is, there’s slavery. Slavery to the details of life.
There’s slavery to the lust patterns of life. And people get enslaved to alcoholism, get enslaved to
sexual addictions, they get enslaved to financial addiction - slavery. Slavery to the details of life.
What the world offers is a big lie. That if you have money, if you have success, if you have a
beautiful spouse, a beautiful home, beautiful children, you'll be happy. That's a lie. I mean,
they’re all things that will make you happy for sure but that's not the source of happiness. Christ
said,
“Happiness belongs to those who hear My Father's Word and keep it”
in Luke 11:28. And
He said,
"I’m going to leave My joy for you,”
to the disciples. There is a way to be happy and the
most wonderful way to be happy is not to be enslaved to the lust patterns of life and not to be
enslaved to the cosmic system of life, not to be fueled by satanic temptations that appeal to your
particular area of weakness. So negative volition, not positive volition, negative volition results
in people being enslaved to circumstances in life. As a Christian you can be a slave to the details
in life. And so circumstances and people are not the key to happiness. If you think like that,
under that sort of thinking, then any prosperity you might have is going to lead to some self-
righteous arrogance. And any adversity you may have it's going to lead to some self-pity, feeling
sorry for self.
Emotions can enslave you if you're not careful, enslave you to the details of
life.
So we don't really live our life for the recognition or for praise.
The objective of the
Christian life is you being willing to serve your Lord and your Master, Jesus Christ the
anointed Son of God.
Only His will, desiring to give Him all the recognition and all the praise,
not you. When we do a funeral sometimes people want to remember the loved one, and that's
fine. But funerals are about the faithfulness of Jesus Christ not the faithfulness of the person who
passed away. So we’re not there to eulogize that person, we’re there to glorify Jesus Christ and
His faithfulness and what He said in His Word. I mean, I've seen wonderful pastors, men of God
that were such slaves to the will of God that they gave all of their time to study and teach the
Bible. They sacrificed a lot of things they could have done, a lot of travels they could have done
so they could teach God's Word. It's not easy to teach God's Word. When I'm filling in for certain
pastors (sometimes they may ask me to come and fill in for a while) if I'm going to teach like
four hours in the local church it may require me to study 400 hours. I mean, you just don't get up
2
621-Our-Unique-Life-p6-transcript.pdf
there and ad lib it. You must know what you're talking about. That's why the Bible says you,
“study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, but rightly
dividing the Word of truth.”
I can think of nothing worse than to stand in the pulpit and
misrepresent God because I didn't study, because I took something that I didn't understand and
tried to talk about it. Therefore, it's imperative that any pastor willingly forfeit his freedom in life
to serve his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. If he's going to shepherd his flock, he's been called by
God to be an overseer and that means there are a lot of things that he might like to do but he's not
going to have time to do them if he gives attention to the details of studying and teaching God's
Word. For example, you know some churches may have a January Bible study and sometimes
they go through say the book of Romans in maybe a week or maybe ten days but you can't do
that. If you study the book of Romans, line upon line, word upon word, verse upon verse, you
might be in the book of Romans for two or three years. You can't hustle all the stuff out of there
in a week or two. And so all of us are slaves, slaves to Jesus Christ.
Our objective is to use our
spiritual gift to serve Him and to serve His desire.
You have a spiritual gift. You have a
spiritual gift that God gave you. And that gift, whatever that gift is, whether it's the gift of giving,
the gift of administration, the gift of helps, the gift of mercy. Maybe it's a communication gift
like the gift of pastor-teacher. Maybe I'm talking to someone that should be a pastor-teacher.
Maybe it's the gift of evangelism. Whatever that gift is, your objective is to use that gift in His
service to glorify Him. For example, don't get confused, don't get mixed up, evangelists don't
need to play pastors and pastors don't need to play evangelists and pastors don't need to play
missionaries. We have to have a single mindset of feeding and protecting the flock of God, not
running all over the country. You know, that's what happens to a lot of pastors, they run all over
the country wanting to do everything and they forget their own flock. So we live in some pretty
unique times that demand a fairly unique lifestyle which is in the Bible. It's a code. There is a
code in the Bible for us to follow while we are still here in this time continuum. The code that
I'm about to teach you is called the royal family honor code. The royal family honor code. If
you’ve never heard that before, it's a study you really need to understand. And I don't know that
I'm going to be able to do it all now but if you'd like to know more about it, just contact me. I’ll
tell you where you can get a complete study on the royal family honor code. But what it is, is a
system of spiritual integrity mandated by God and revealed in the New Testament, in the Church
Age. So in order for us to function as aristocracy, which is what we are, spiritual aristocracy, we
must have an aristocratic lifestyle. A lifestyle of class and the mindset of virtue. And aristocracy
has standards. We must have standards, you must have standards.
Standards that believers are
called to live by are found in the royal family honor code.
In this code we have the lifestyle of
aristocracy. You know, in America today is almost like we've become a nation of peasants in the
way we think. My pastor once said that. Aristocratic thinking seems to have disappeared. And as
a nation we kind of think stupidly sometimes, if we think at all. If you want to find out what a
man's thinking let him talk because words are an extension of what he thinks. So if he has a
vocabulary of about twenty words then you know he doesn't think very much. Your vocabulary is
3
621-Our-Unique-Life-p6-transcript.pdf
indicative of what's in your soul or what you think. And, you know, we get addicted to these
handheld entertainment devices. We’ve eliminated much thought. And people seldom read
anymore and so they're entertained by the cell phone or the tablet device and this dumbs down
American children. I mean American children spend hours glued to video games. If you’ve got
grandchildren, like I do, you know what I'm talking about. They no longer think for themselves
and they lose a skill set they should have learned growing up called problem solving ability. God
has given us a new way to think and a new way of living to function in a unique period of history
called the Church Age. And that new way of thinking is the mentality of aristocracy found in
Romans chapter thirteen. Take your Bible and read through it, I don't have time to go through it
right now, all of it. Maybe I should teach a series on the royal family honor code but I will leave
that to the well-qualified pastors that can do it much better than me. And as I said, if you want to
know about it, contact me and I'll tell you where you can listen to a pastor teach it.
In this
particular honor code we are mandated to live by recognizing first of all, the privacy of the
priesthood, that every believer has privacy. No one has the right to stick their nose into
someone else's business.
Matthew 7 says,
“don’t judge lest you be judged because with the
measure you measure it will be measured to you again.”
And I remember learning about the
proboscis monkey many years ago. He's a monkey that has a nose about two feet long - a weird
looking thing. And some Christians are like that. They have a nose about two feet long and they
want to stick it in everybody's business. That is a sin. God says stay out of other people's
business.
Don't judge people, don't malign people, don't criticize people.
You let God do the
judging. The Supreme Court of Heaven is open twenty-four hours a day and if there's a problem
He can handle it. He doesn't need your help. This is where a lot of people don't live by the honor
code. They invade the privacy of other people. Even asking silly questions like, ‘Where were you
last Sunday brother? We missed you.’ It's none of your business where they were last Sunday. So
keep your nose out of their business. Give people privacy. And you should have the
understanding that spiritual advance, growing spiritually, moving from being a spiritual baby to a
spiritual adolescent to a spiritually mature individual, that comes from learning God's Word not
from doing something. Doing something is not growing. We need more learning and less doing.
And a lot of folks would be a lot better off because they get all wrapped up in the doing and not
the learning and here's what happens, they do the right thing but they do it in the wrong way and
it winds up glorifying self and it's not divine good production and it’s going to wind up being
wood, hay and stubble at the Judgment Seat of Christ. So an honor code like that, for an
aristocratic lifestyle like we must live, demands that we think and we grow. Not that we hustle
around, hustle people and do things.
That honor code demands you have extremely good
manners and extreme thoughtfulness to other people.
It's only lived under the virtue love
concept which is problem-solving device number eight, loving others. You know,
“we love God
because He first loved us.”
He loved you with impersonal love. He loved you based on His
character not your character. And when we’re talking about virtue love, you using impersonal
love for other people, other Christians that may be obnoxious to you and you deplore them, you
4
621-Our-Unique-Life-p6-transcript.pdf
are not relaxed around them, you vibrate every time they come in your periphery, your hair
stands up on end because you think to yourself, ‘Oh no, here comes that nosy so-and-so again,’ -
you have to use impersonal love. This is a grace asset. Learning to grace people out.
Learning to
treat people in grace even though they don't treat you in grace. Gracing people out. Loving
them based on your character not their character.
Therefore, you stay relaxed, you are
thoughtful, you show good manners. The worst thing in the honor code is to gossip or to malign
or to slander other believers. We are warned about that in Ephesians 4:25. It says,
“Therefore,
having laid aside the lie, each one of you speak truth with his fellow believers since we are
members one of another.”
There's nothing worse than lying. Lying to another believer or lying to
a pastor can get you in serious trouble. Just ask Ananias and Sapphira about it when you get to
heaven, when they lied to Peter about their contributions. You can read about that in the book of
Acts as well. So, if you are a believer, then you are a priest - only in the Church Age. And here's
something unique about our lifestyle, we don't have to confess our sins to any other people. You
don't have to go to the priest to confess your sin.
You are a priest, you are a believer priest and
1 John 1:9 says you can confess your own sin. It says you can go directly to God's throne
room and name your own sins.
And don't tell somebody else your sins. This whole concept
about having a Christian partner, I think they call it an accountability partner that when you mess
up you're suppose to go tell them what you did is wrong. Do not do that. That leads to problems,
complications and it's not the way God designed it. There’s nothing in the Bible about you
having an accountability partner. Your accountability partner is God the Holy Spirit and He is
certainly capable of convicting you when you do wrong and convincing you that you need to
rebound your sin and get back in fellowship. And if you don't, then God the Father will discipline
you as any father disciplines his children. But stay away from going to someone else and telling
them what you did. Because, first of all, they don't need to carry that burden, they don't need to
hear it. And secondly, they're probably going to tell somebody else and then there goes your
privacy. So you can go to God's throne room. You can confess your own sin in private. You
function under your own priesthood and that's important to remember.
You are a priest and you
are an ambassador. In privacy you function under your priesthood, in the public you
function under your ambassadorship.
That's how you serve God. So the honor code of
Romans 13 demands that you live first of all, under establishment principles. And that's the
establishment code of freedom of choice, marriage, family and nationalism. These are called the
divine establishment principles. Freedom to choose, God ordained you to have the freedom to
choose, that’s why He gave you volition. And marriage is for all members of the human race.
And the family is for the human race to raise children and teach children and inculcate Biblical
standards and norms and standards to children. And nationalism, this is what God did at the
Tower of Babel when He separated the nations by language and by land - separated people. And
so, you know, when I go fishing I don't see brim swimming with catfish and I don't see catfish
swimming with bass and I don't see bass swimming with something else. Even bass have
species: striped bass, spotted bass, smallmouth bass and they all stay together. But we don't seem
5
621-Our-Unique-Life-p6-transcript.pdf
to want to do that. We want to merge. That’s exactly what Satan wants you to do. That way he
can control you. So the honor code, we live under that establishment principle of nationalism.
You are an American. This is your country and you are to pray for your leaders, pray for your
country and stay out of any type of internationalism. That's the way the past administration
wanted to take the direction of this country into a progressive international viewpoint. No, that's
not what we do. We are Americans and we stay proud of our American heritage. You raise your
family. You teach your children. You get married. The lawful honorable correct thing to do. And
you have the freedom and the right to choose your destiny in life. So the honor code demands all
those things. And it’s much greater than morality. It's past morality. I mean an unbeliever can be
moral but a Christian, the spiritual life is so much greater than morality it’s hard to explain it.
The honor code demands that you be patriotic, that you respect your government authorities, that
you serve in the military if it's possible, that you respect law and order. And as far as a Christian
relationship in government goes, just take your Bible, read Romans 13:1-7 and you'll see all of
this. The honor code would condemn any mental attitude sins that motivate gossiping or judging
or maligning other people. This is what distinguishes you from the unbeliever. Not simply the
fact that you are more moral, that you don't fornicate, you don't lie, you don't cheat, you don't
steal - I'm glad, but the honor code is much more than that. And that's what will make you
magnetic and the unbeliever will see it in you. They will see that you are different because you
live by a different code than they do. They live by do unto others before others do unto them.
That's not the code you live by. So we are believers. We live in the Church Age. We live in the
client nation of USA. And we are expected to form the basis of the pivot that holds back God's
discipline on this nation. God's looking for people to stand in the gap, to make up the hedge
between Him. And if you can be a part of that pivot, it means that you are part of the group of
mature believers that has an impact in history, an invisible impact as it may be, but God the
Father is watching and God the Father knows. You remember when Lot got in trouble in Sodom
and Gomorrah and Abraham convinced Him and said, ‘Will you spare the city if I could just find
ten righteous people?’ And the Father said, ‘Sure, find Me ten and I'll spare it.’ God is always
searching the hearts and minds of people. How many righteous people are there in America? Are
you one of them? If you are, if you're growing spiritually, if you're staying filled with the Holy
Spirit, if you're learning God's Word on a daily basis then you need a medal - you’re part of that
pivot. You are part of the invisible group of believers that make up the pivot that helps sustain
this nation and keep us away from the discipline of God. So you live a very unique lifestyle and
your positive volition, your hunger for Truth, your hunger to serve God is buying time for
America - for America to be evangelized and for Americans to take heed of God's Word. You are
the one that must stand in the gap according to Ezekiel 22:30 where God said He was looking for
somebody to stand in the gap. But He said He couldn’t find anybody. Well, it's imperative that
you be the person. That you are the one who's willing to stand up. That doesn't mean you become
a crusader and get involved in crusader arrogance. It means that you are consistently filled with
the Holy Spirit, when you sin you admit it immediately, you consistently take in God's Word
6
621-Our-Unique-Life-p6-transcript.pdf
every day under a well-qualified pastor. If it's in your local church or if it's at home around your
dinner table with a tape player, a DVD player, get your Bible, get a notebook and learn God's
Word every day and then apply what you learn. As you do,
you will grow, you will glorify Jesus
Christ, you will start replicating His life, re-presenting Him to this lost and dying
generation. That is your challenge. That's what makes this Christian life so unique.
And
there's a lot more to go here. I mean, I'm just scratching the surface. I’m not through with this.
We’re going to go for another show or so on this. I hope you're listening. I hope you're learning.
And, as I said, I did a presentation at a local church in Houston on this. If you'd like to get the
DVD of the series, let me know. We’ll send it to you free of charge. I hope you’re listening and
learning. And until next week, this is your host Rick Hughes saying thank you for listening to the
FLOT Line
In this intriguing episode of Dana Lash's Absurd Truth Podcast, stand-in host Craig Collins delves into the wacky world of Florida Man stories, starting with a viral tale from Reddit about young employees at a Florida frozen yogurt stand mistakenly marking legitimate currency as counterfeit. This discussion segues into a startling yet amusing narrative of a gym teacher whose reaction to a dodgeball incident lands him in legal trouble. Not one to be outdone, a third Florida man makes headlines for an ill-advised attempt at cigarette smuggling during an arrest.
SPEAKER 01 :
Lights are going up, snow is falling down, there's a feeling of goodwill around town. It could only mean one thing, McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere, stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only
SPEAKER 09 :
McRib is here.
SPEAKER 07 :
And participate at McDonald's for a limited time.
SPEAKER 09 :
Dana Lash's Absurd Truth Podcast, sponsored by Kel-Tec.
SPEAKER 03 :
It's his life mission to make bad decisions. It's time for Florida Man.
SPEAKER 11 :
That's right. It's time for Florida Man on the Dana Show. My name is Craig Collins filling in. Dana is back after the holidays. First, this is, I guess, a Florida people, more than just one Florida man. But a guy named Sam, who's 22 years old, went viral on the Internet. He went to Reddit specifically to complain. He's actually the manager. at a frozen yogurt stand in Florida, where he said multiple employees who were Gen Z, much younger, say 15, 16 years old, had marked bills fake that were not fake. $10, $5 bills, things that were older than, say, the late 90s. So they look different than the bills of today, but were definitely real, actual currency. They even wrote things on them in black Sharpie, like fake, do not accept, fake, reject, etc., etc. And the guy is really upset. He's like, why do they not know that these are regular bills? I know this is a Florida story, but this probably happens other places, too. Not a great look. Figure out what a bill looks like from... pre-1999, before you reject it and write all over it because people were trying to pay with actual money and had it confiscated, which probably made people go nuts. But then eventually the guy steps in and fixes it. That's one Florida story. Another one involves a gym teacher in Florida, in Scheffner. This guy was arrested after he shoved a student to the ground. The reason the gym teacher did it, and he shoved a 12-year-old, he said was that he had a dodgeball thrown at him Apparently, the kid did it by mistake, or even if the guy did it on purpose, the 12-year-old child, it's a ball. You'll be fine as a teacher, and I can't believe this would be the first time this has ever happened. But the guy got mad, and in response to that, shoved the kid. That is child abuse, and you go to jail for that. Now, granted, pushing a kid down, if it's the only time you've ever done anything remotely bad as a gym teacher, it does feel like the kind of thing that maybe some leniency could be found in the court system itself. If you're the parents of the kid, I don't know if you feel that way, because he got shoved to the ground, could have gotten hurt, didn't. But all of this being over a thrown ball is one of the more hilarious and dumb things I've heard. in the world. The teacher's name is John Steele. He lost his cool and obviously probably shouldn't be a gym teacher if you can't be hit with stuff during gym class. That feels like a prerequisite of the situation. And then one last Florida guy story. This one out of Indian River County in Florida. First, a guy got arrested for being just a piece of crap. He got arrested on a domestic violence phone call in which it seemed that the woman actually was injured. So the guy's just a piece of crap. That part's not funny or amusing. It's just a reality. But as they're hauling this 42-year-old dude off to jail... They have to do a search of his body at some point to see if he's got anything he shouldn't have before he gets checked into the night or hopefully a while into prison. And apparently, and this is a quote, he had cigarettes hidden between his genitalia. I can't clean that up for radio. That's the way I got to say it. I don't know what that means, and I don't want to know what that means. I know what I think between could mean, but the fact that they were less specific about the other part makes me curious as to where it was going or what was being hidden. When asked why he took that, something that was not allowed in the jail, with him on his person the way he did, he said he wanted to smoke him when he got to jail because he wanted to think about what he'd done, which does not make it any more allowed. If you're trying to say that these are cigarettes I'm going to smoke to reflect on the decision making I've made in life. So that's why I hid them there, officer. It doesn't wind up being less illegal. This is still very illegal. He added another charge to the crimes against him for trying to smuggle contraband into a facility. But that is that is something. And the fact that the cops said they just got a sense that something was off with this guy. I don't know if it was the way he was like walking, depending again on where things were hidden or the decision making beyond it. And the guy is uniquely a piece of crap for hitting a woman. But nonetheless, or at least accused of hitting a woman, I should say, although they found the woman with visible reasons to think that this was going on. But nonetheless, beyond that, too, it's just the fact that you thought you were going to get away with this. I don't know. I don't know why you thought this was something that they wouldn't be able to figure out at some point down the road. And luckily they did. And it just adds to the issues for this Florida man. And also, I do wonder about one thing. Like, when? You hid this, the place that it was hidden, because it sounds like the cops were there for a decent amount of time and you were being talked to and then arrested. So it had to be hidden before they showed up, which adds a whole bunch of layers of questions to this conversation that I don't want answers to. I don't want to know why somebody would just assume, hey, I'm probably going to jail later today. Might as well hide these things in this spot just in case, because I would like to have them if I am in prison later. A unique piece of crap there for a variety of reasons. Also thinks he's part of a mafia that doesn't exist. But I'll get to that some other day.
SPEAKER 06 :
Our partners at Preborn, a great organization out there saving lives, saving babies, bringing women to faith. That's what pre-born does. So, you know, a lot of pro-life advocacy, a lot of people think that the focus is only on just right at that moment. And it is important. You know, you want to meet women where they are and you want to counsel them and be like, this is your infant. Would you like to see an ultrasound? Would you like to hear the heartbeat? Because when that's done, the infant's chance at life doubles. Preborn clinics have counseled over a half a million women who are considering abortion. They have saved over 300,000 babies. Over 80,000 women have come to Christ, and every day they rescue 200 babies from abortion. They're leading the charge in this nation to turn the country around. They don't stop there. Here's the other thing that's amazing. Preborn clinics, they work with mothers who choose life, and they provide them with maternity care, baby clothes, diapers, car seats, counseling, so much more. And these services are provided free of charge. They partner with them up into the toddler years. That is huge. That's the thing that often goes unmentioned in the whole discussion about life. And Preborn and so many of these, so many pro-life activists have been changing this. And Preborn's done such a great job. You can help them do it at preborn.com slash Dana. $28 sponsors one ultrasound. $140 sponsors five ultrasounds. Any donation amount helps. And when you sponsor monthly, you get ultrasound pictures of the babies you're helping to save. All gifts are tax deductible. Preborn has a four-star charity rating so you can give with confidence. Visit preborn.com slash Dana and save a baby a mother's life. That's preborn.com slash Dana.
SPEAKER 01 :
Lights are going up. Snow is falling down. There's a feeling of goodwill around town. It could only mean one thing. McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing.
SPEAKER 07 :
McRib is here. At participating McDonald's for a limited time.
SPEAKER 02 :
Welcome to Pro Tips for the Pros, brought to you by Florin Decor East Brunswick. In this series, we'll explore essential advice for professional contractors to deliver outstanding renovation results. Let's dive in. Clear communication is key to a successful renovation. Keep the customer informed at every stage of the project, addressing any concerns or questions promptly to maintain trust and satisfaction. Thank you for joining us for this pro tip on planning thorough renovations. Stay tuned for more expert advice. Brought to you by Florin Decor East Brunswick.
SPEAKER 05 :
A lot of people tolerate ordinary. Ordinary bathrooms, kitchens, entryways. Well, not on your watch. If you're a pro, you've got a new partner in town. Floor & Decor. From tile to wood to stone, Floor & Decor has more styles and job lock quantities of Schluter, Mapei, LATICRETE, and other brands pros trust. Come see a whole new way to wow with Floor & Decor. Now open in East Brunswick.
SPEAKER 11 :
This is The Dana Show. My name is Craig Collins. Filling in. Thrilled to be with you. Dana back just after the holidays. D-Lash or Dana Lash Radio. Great ways to stay connected to her. Someone, actually, this is The Daily Caller, did a deep dive into the biggest lies that Corinne Jean-Pierre told During her time as the White House press secretary, lots and lots of fibs and incorrect information shared by this White House press secretary, even though she told the press that she would tell them the truth. That was the big thing that was going to change between her and people who had that role when Donald Trump was last in office. A terrible, horrible person that is Donald Trump, according to a whole lot of people on the left. Several lies are pretty interesting. Of course, saying that Joe Biden was the candidate and not going to drop out of the race is one of many that wound up being untrue. One of my favorite ones that was listed here was when a neurologist had visited the White House and Corinne Jean-Pierre tried to say with a straight face to the American press that it had nothing to do with any concerns about mental health. for biden or dementia claims or any of that stuff it was just it's you know uh normal is the kind of thing that happens all the time it was pre-planned wasn't we didn't even really need to do it we just kind of did it that was amazing that was not true um but then the best one and the one that most people are citing as the most egregious lie although to be honest She was told this so many times by the president who would say it as well out loud that she was just kind of echoing a message that she was somewhat convinced would actually wind up being true. However dumb that was to believe this. But she said several times that Biden would not pardon Hunter. But from a presidential perspective, is there any possibility that the president would end up pardoning his son?
SPEAKER 04 :
No. I just said no. I just answered.
SPEAKER 10 :
The president would not pardon or commute the census for his son, Hunter. I just want to make sure that that is not going to change over the next six months. The president's saying he would not.
SPEAKER 04 :
It's still a no. It's still a no. It's still a no. It will be a no. It is a no. And I don't have anything else to add.
SPEAKER 11 :
Except it's a yes. Except that's what you want to add later on after this happened. That goes on. There's like a two-minute video viral online right now resurfacing of all the times she said no to that one. but just one of several lies that was told by this White House press secretary and not even done well. The real knock on Corinne Jean-Pierre, and I know people get mad if you call her a DEI hire, even though the Biden administration, for anyone they put in any position that was a minority or anything else, the Biden administration told us about it. They said, look at this person who's breaking this barrier. And one of the reasons we put them into this position is You can't ask for credit for doing something a certain way and then claim that's not the reason you did it. You can't say, no, she fully deserves the job, but also we gave her the job because of this, because that kind of shoots the first statement in the face. More than anything, what Corinne Jean-Pierre was really bad at, that even Jen Psaki was better at, was lying convincingly. or lying in a way that made some amount of sense, or dodging questions in a cyclical statement of word-vomity stuff that at least you thought might have answered the question. It was too transparent too often when Corinne Jean-Pierre was lying, or when Corinne Jean-Pierre was struggling to answer a question. And her favorite thing to say in most press conferences was, I've got nothing for you on that. I'll have to get back to you. You have to check with somebody else about that sort of thing, which really doesn't give you any sort of confidence that any of the information you're being given is, well, valuable, important or even accurate. That was a constant complaint as well of this White House press secretary who stayed in the position. far longer than people thought she should have stayed in that position. But the biggest reason why she was there was probably the other thing that we're not supposed to talk about, the DEI hire part, which also made her harder to fire, I imagine. If you want the political win for your side of the aisle, however weak or strong it is, of putting someone in a position that you're happy to be there for reasons other than their job performance, it's also hard to fire them when the job performance is not living up to whatever expectation you had. All right. There's something else I want to play. I kind of contemplated not playing this audio today, but I do want to rip it apart as just a tremendously dumb. And so for that reason, I guess we're going to play it. A joy read of the failing MSNBC. Its ratings are in the tank, as most reporting is saying. And Elon Musk is at least jokingly contemplating buying it, which would be hilarious. If that happened, I can't help but laugh when I say that. But Joy Reid is throwing out a new theory. First, people on the left were trying to get under Trump's skin by claiming that Elon Musk is really the president and that he's not calling him President Musk and whatnot. So much so that Trump did respond to it in a statement over the holiday, saying out loud that Elon can't be the president because he wasn't born in this country. So maybe that ends part of that discussion. Maybe not. Elon also tweeted out that anyone trying to bridge a gap between him and the president or the president elect will fail because that's the whole reason for that rhetoric is just to try to create some sort of distance between the world's richest man and the owner of one of the most influential social media platforms in society. And the guy who will be the world's most powerful man, or at least if you're not Joe Biden, you wind up being powerful because you lead the United States of America. So there will be a lot of interesting intersection between those individuals. But Joy Reid wants to go a step further and accuse Trump and Elon of listening to somebody else, somebody who's definitely not a person that we would want in charge of our country. Here's her conspiracy theory.
SPEAKER 08 :
An interesting development that may have changed the calculation a little bit today, that we found out that Trump, our would-be strongman, is in a sense answerable to a bigger strongman, not Vladimir Putin, Elon Musk, who also allegedly, at least according to reports, has lots of conversations with Putin. What does that do to the calculation on how Americans should deal with Trump?
SPEAKER 11 :
First, I want to answer the question myself. Nothing. She goes on to say that she thinks Elon Musk secretly is having, you know, conversations with Vladimir Putin that shapes what Elon Musk thinks about stuff, meaning Putin is pulling Elon strings and then Elon is pulling Trump strings. It's so stupid. It's so dumb. The biggest reason why it's dumb is no one who's even remotely familiar with Donald Trump, the person, thinks he can be manipulated by anyone. A case in point, and Joy Reid would be thrilled to talk about this, which makes me not all that thrilled to bring it up, but is the 2020 election. The biggest defense Trump was going to use in any courtroom anywhere in the world to why he did any of the things he did, if they were going to claim they were illegal, is that he believes the 2020 election was stolen. He still believes that right now. And even if people told him it wasn't, he didn't care because he thought that what he was seeing was different than what they're seeing. Now, I'm not trying to relitigate that discussion with you. I don't care to anymore. Trump's back in office in 2024. And if there's proof of certain things that we haven't seen before, I very much hope that Trump demonstrates that proof and releases that proof. But nonetheless, what I think is amazing, and Elon Musk is the same way, by the way. He feels like a fairly confident person now. So it's amazing to think that anyone, Vladimir Putin or anyone else, could just willingly control these guys to the degree that they do or just trick them into following their advice all the time. There is one caveat I'll say to this. I'm sure it's backing up Joy Reid's statement, or at least what she thinks is true. Trump has made jokes about wanting to buy Greenland, and apparently media in Russia, state media, said it was a great idea. They threw their support behind Trump owning Greenland or the United States owning Greenland through a deal with Trump. Now, what's interesting about that, too, is that there would be another president at some point to come along that you would assume Putin would get along with way less than he gets along with Trump. And we would still own Greenland if we got to purchase it while Trump was in office. So it is interesting, for whatever reason, Russia would support that and believe that maybe they can make better deals with us than with anyone else as far as the resources that exist there. But it's just fascinating to me because anything like that might back its way into being president. Well, this means that this is what Putin wants all along, even though a whole bunch of people would say it would benefit the United States for us to own Greenland or to own other places. Not that I think it's going to happen. Greenland is not for sale. But nonetheless, it's just it's just amusing and sort of amazing to me that these kind of conversations happen and that people like Joy Reid can float insane conspiracy theories and not be called out for them. And then the minute that a conspiracy theory exists on the other side can attack it as though it's the most insane thing they've ever heard, as if that actually makes sense. The whole like, you know, you can't scream a fire in a movie theater, even though you actually can. That's a misunderstanding of how that actually works. And she seems to be screaming it on the daily, but then also yelling at anyone else that she accuses of screaming a fire in a movie theater.
SPEAKER 01 :
Lights are going up. Snow is falling down. There's a feeling of goodwill around town. It could only mean one thing. McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing.
SPEAKER 07 :
McRib is here. At participating McDonald's for a limited time.
SPEAKER 02 :
Welcome to Pro Tips for the Pros, brought to you by Floor & Decor Parsippany. In this series, we'll explore essential advice for professional contractors to deliver outstanding renovation results. Let's dive in. Prioritize quality craftsmanship and materials to deliver results that exceed the customer's expectations. Attention to detail and superior workmanship will leave a lasting impression and ensure customer satisfaction. Thank you for joining us for this pro tip on planning thorough renovations. Stay tuned for more expert advice brought to you by Florin Decor Parsippany.
SPEAKER 05 :
A lot of people tolerate ordinary. Ordinary bathrooms, kitchens, entryways. Well, not on your watch. If you're a pro, you've got a new partner in town. Floor & Decor. From tile to wood to stone, Floor & Decor has more styles and job lock quantities of Schluter, Mapei, Ladecrete, and other brands pros trust. Come see a whole new way to wow with Floor & Decor. Now open in Parsippany.
SPEAKER 03 :
And now, all of the news you would probably miss. It's time for Dana's Quick Five.
SPEAKER 11 :
That's right. Let's do these rapid fire. The first one, very weird. First, it was just women in China that were doing this. Now, women throughout the world are doing this. Apparently, they're going to social media and taking photos of themselves with fake baby bumps. The reason that they're doing this in China was to celebrate a anniversary of the no more one child policy and also to look good. for when they, in the future, both have a relationship and get pregnant. They want the fake version of the baby bump photo to be better than the real version because they're younger. This is something that other women now throughout the world are doing on social media. It's a viral trend. Terrifying boyfriends everywhere, I imagine, as far as the thing goes. If they even have a boyfriend at the time that they're taking the photo, apparently some do not. Another story out there. that I thought was interesting. It's called the Christmas gas prank. Mostly it's women pulling this on men. They call their husband or whoever and they say, hey, I was, you know, running out of gas and I stopped by the gas station and I got the Christmas gas because it was cheaper. And then the husband usually goes, what are you talking about? What's the Christmas gas? And the woman will say the one with the green handle, which would be diesel. And then the woman usually says something to the effect of, and now the car's running weird and seems like it's about to stall. Do you know what's going on? If you believe them, they just ruined the vehicle. They just destroyed that engine. There's a lot of problems that you're going to have. The Christmas gas prank, making the Internet laugh and your loved one terrified for a short amount of time, is something out there that I guess people are doing and then putting up the reaction on social media. Because you can be a jerk as long as you do it virally. Out of the people you care about to the amusement of total strangers. That's the world we live in now. But the Christmas gas prank is out there. It's real. Some find it humorous. I'm going to be honest. I find it a little funny, too. I'm glad that I wouldn't think of anyone in my life as dumb enough to actually do this. So I wouldn't be that afraid that it actually occurred. Another story that I love out there as far as a viral quick five moment. A guy who drives a Cybertruck decided to take it with his wife to go see his in-laws in rural West Virginia at a farm. When he got there, he found out that the farm had no way to charge the Cybertruck. There was some discussion about maybe some things that got done. The parents didn't exactly get it figured out, so the guy had to plug it into a regular outlet. And if you don't know, a Cybertruck will charge one to two miles of distance per hour when plugged into a regular plug. So it took six days to recharge the vehicle. The guy said it was an awful six days to spend with the in-laws because he was stuck there. Couldn't do anything. I imagine they had a bunch of vehicles on the farm they could have used to tow the Cybertruck to some sort of supercharger and get them out of there. But the in-laws obviously didn't want to do that. They also probably complained for days about the extension cord going outside of their house into a car outside. And who knows if it even was turning off like the lights on the Christmas tree. I kind of hope it was because the amount of fighting I now picture being a thing that happens would just be all over the place. Fighting with the in-laws is never fun. The simmering tension of this one sounds Hallmark movie worthy to me. And then one last one, as far as quick stories go. Thirty two thousand dollars per person was the amount of money spent for a recent bachelor party trip to the North Pole. Over a thousand people were surveyed asking, like, what's a very expensive thing you did for someone? This was the number one answer. A very stupid use of $32,000 to me. They had thermal equipment to protect them from negative 31 degree weather. They got to experience a few different helicopter rides and polar guides and whatnot. But just think, $32,000 per person, if you spend that somewhere like Vegas, how much fun that's going to be and how uncomfortable you're not going to be having to deal with negative 32 degree weather. But that was another big story out there that went viral, and a lot of people made fun of it as just a total waste of time. Joe Manchin is on his way out. He's done with politics, or at least being someone in the Senate. He has long been a person that people would point to and say, well, he was a Democrat. He's actually been a Democrat for a long time before becoming an independent, and he's willing to say the thing out loud that most of his party is not willing to say. John Fetterman might be taking the baton from him. I'm not sure, but it seems that way sometimes. But Manchin did a sit down, you know, over a beer discussion with CNN. I don't know why they had to do this in a bar. It's stupid. But as they're talking, Manchin gave the strongest indictment yet of the Democratic Party that anyone who's been a part of it has ever given. And so I want to play part of that audio of just how bad things have gotten. Here we go.
SPEAKER 12 :
I am not a Democrat in the form of what what the Democratic Party has turned itself into the national brand. Absolutely not. And they know that they're all good people on both sides.
SPEAKER 10 :
But what do you think is the reason for you said you're not a Democrat? What caused Joe Manchin to divorce himself?
SPEAKER 12 :
Here's what I told them. I said, you ought to figure out how you lost somebody like me.
SPEAKER 11 :
I was born... By the way, I could stop it right there. You also should figure out how you lost someone like Elon Musk, someone like Joe Rogan. There's a bunch of people that said they were long-term Democrats who just don't understand the party anymore and see themselves as still the same level of down-the-middle independent person who is more captured by the discussions on the right than by the discussions on the left as far as their beliefs and who they align with.
SPEAKER 12 :
...as a Democrat because of my grandfather's love of FDR... I was a very strong Democrat because of my family's love of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. I came through the whole iteration. And I was a Democrat in West Virginia, and it's always been a 75, 80% plurality of Democrat. Not anymore. But there was a split. I was never in the liberal side of it. I was never in the establishment side.
SPEAKER 10 :
So I always had to fight my way through.
SPEAKER 11 :
I love the fact that you're this far into this discussion and the person doing the interview is still not sure he's gotten the right answer. But what is it that makes you not want to be a Democrat? Not the fact that you feel utterly unwelcome and that your entire life what you've thought of a Democrat as being is not what it currently is. Give me one more. Give me the thing that we can play as the short clip. Is it a shift on social issues?
SPEAKER 12 :
Yeah. The brand got so bad. The D brand has been so maligned from the standpoint of it's toxic.
SPEAKER 11 :
And the brand, the brand, the Democratic brand, the Democratic brand, excuse me, itself is toxic. You know, what's really interesting about this, as I dive a little deeper into the thought of all of that, you have a lot of rhetoric on both sides that people call extreme. They claim that this is extreme things that people say. And when you look at the stuff on the right that's extreme, it's almost often always tied to Trump and a whole lot of it. Stuff like I want to take back the Panama Canal. A lot of people know isn't actually going to happen or if it does happen. Like, honestly, I don't know that it would be all that bad for the United States if it did. Again, I doubt it would. But, you know, taking Greenland, another example of stuff recently out there. It would actually benefit us if we owned it and we bought it somehow. But I digress. That rhetoric is not usually what shapes the actual policy. And when you're actually trying to get extreme rhetoric to shape policy, for the most part, what conservatives are trying to do is limit the amount of money spent in D.C. and Washington, limit government itself, a long running, very simplistic conservative stance that a whole lot of Americans agree with. They think that Washington is wasting our money overspending and causing things like inflation. Now, when you look at the left, yes, there's extreme rhetoric, but that also seems to work out as extreme policy decisions. Oftentimes, the craziest thing said by the conservative is not the thing that inevitably gets passed. The craziest thing said by the Democrat is the thing that they try to pass, and they try to shame people into believing that it's the only way to move forward. It's actually usually why I think rhetoric on the left is more emotionally charged than it is on the right. If you want to try to validate a wide open border to the entirety of our country, the Democrats have to tell the story of a mother with two kids who crosses the border because she can't afford to live and support her family somewhere else. And the Democrats choose to leave out the story of the people who are coming across the border and hurting people. And there's a lot of people who are doing that. That's left out. The emotional narrative is all that matters. The same holds true with abortion, for example, one that I use a lot to talk about some of the more extreme ways that stuff gets argued. The Democratic position on this is that women's health is at risk and women could die because they're not going to be given a certain, you know, a treatment in scenarios where their life is in jeopardy. And you had an OBGYN in Texas go viral for saying that that was crap. saying that I work here, I work in this place, I've worked in this place for a long time, and I know the narrative that's emotional and not true, and how often you see it in all these other places. But that's essentially the place we're in right now, where if the most extreme stuff on the right, you can simply smile and ignore it if you're someone that's not in agreement with that sort of thing, because you believe that the policies at the end of the day won't reflect it. Or if you're someone that's extreme on the left and you are upset because the policies don't always reflect what you want to see done in the world, that's the big issue with some younger voters on the left is they didn't think that they went far enough in the degree they wanted to go. Then, yeah, the Democratic brand becomes toxic. And a lot of people who think they're in the middle, like Elon Musk and Joe Rogan, now think that they're part of the, you know, Venn diagram or whatever it is that Kamala Harris would love to talk about in relationship to this, that fall on the Republican side and not the Democratic side. And actually, something else I mentioned that I thought was really interesting, and you've probably said this before or thought this before yourself if you've had a conversation like this with a loved one, Some of the marquee Democrats in history would be conservatives by today's standard. People like Kennedy who Manchin mentions. Those are individuals that if you look at the policies, at the speeches, at the discussion points, so much of it is echoed by people on the conservative side of the aisle now. And that was a vastly popular Democrat. So what has changed there? It doesn't seem that if you look at the history of both parties, that what you see is extreme rhetoric getting more extreme on the right based on who falls into that bucket now compared to the left. The left feels like it's moving off into a corner and the right feels like it's absorbing some of that middle sort of by happenstance. Because you just don't believe that the next policy decision by a Democrat involving your school is something that would be good for your kids. And you think whatever's happening on the right, at least it'll get government out of the way and you can decide for yourself what you want to do. So it's just very interesting to hear and see him say and, you know, crap all over Democrats one last time on the way out on CNN. Well, for some reason, being at a bar and having a beer. Again, Manchin looks more normal than most and not quite as uncomfortable as people like, you know, Pocahontas, as Trump would call her. But so many people out there that seem to need to do this like human part will do in the political part. Just just tell me the political stuff. You don't need to pretend to have a beer or to pretend to be having fun while you're talking about this. I don't need that.
SPEAKER 09 :
Thanks for tuning in to today's edition of Dana Lash's Absurd Truth Podcast. If you haven't already, make sure to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
SPEAKER 01 :
McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing.
SPEAKER 07 :
McRib is here. And participate at McDonald's for a limited time.
SPEAKER 02 :
Welcome to Pro Tips for the Pros, brought to you by Floor & Decor East Brunswick. In this series, we'll explore essential advice for professional contractors to deliver outstanding renovation results. Let's dive in. Keep the work area clean and organized throughout the renovation process to create a positive impression and minimize stress for the customer. Regularly clean up debris and dust to maintain a safe and comfortable living environment. Thank you for joining us for this pro tip on planning thorough renovations. Stay tuned for more expert advice brought to you by Floor & Decor East Brunswick.
SPEAKER 05 :
A lot of people tolerate ordinary. Ordinary bathrooms, kitchens, entryways. Well, not on your watch. If you're a pro, you've got a new partner in town. Floor & Decor. From tile to wood to stone, Floor & Decor has more styles and job lock quantities of Schluter, Mapei, Ladecrete, and other brands pros trust. Come see a whole new way to wow with Floor & Decor. Now open in East Brunswick.
This episode of The Dana Show, hosted by Craig Collins, dives deep into Donald Trump's holiday social media activities from his bold claims regarding Greenland to provocative remarks about the Panama Canal and Canada. The episode explores the reactions from the public and media, highlighting the former president's ongoing influence in political discussions. With lighthearted segments covering entertaining social phenomena and viral trends, this episode offers a mix of political discourse and humorous takes on current events.
SPEAKER 10 :
Lights are going up, snow is falling down, there's a feeling of goodwill around town. It could only mean one thing, McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere, stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only
SPEAKER 18 :
at participating mcdonald's for a limited time this is the dana show my name is craig collins filling in thrilled to be with you over the holidays uh dana is back in just a few days a well-deserved vacation for one of the most successful people in this industry uh d lash and dana lash radio two places to stay connected to her on x on twitter um let's start here donald trump put out a series of truth social posts that also then are shared on other social media platforms like Twitter, saying all kinds of things. It's something he's done every year around Christmas. And I found these to be wildly entertaining. I imagine a whole lot of Trump supporters did. I imagine a lot of people who hate Trump. I thought they were the worst thing they've ever read in their entire life. Part of the reason I personally think that these were such interesting things to say in a collection of of things, especially during a Christmas season in which news media is almost always lazy. Like over the last couple days and the next couple days, almost nothing feels like it happens in a lot of news places because they're not really looking for anything. They don't really want breaking news for a variety of reasons, I imagine. And so Trump putting out what he did and making people talk about some of these things was kind of amazing. But I'm going to start it this way. Instead of playing audio of Trump or reading some of the tweets and things he put out there or truth social posts, I should say. I want to play audio of CNN and Scott Jennings saying how much he hopes we actually do buy Greenland, which is one of the things that Trump referenced. I just really enjoyed this. Here we go.
SPEAKER 19 :
Yes, we need Greenland. Greenland is an amazing thing to have. It's like you ever play Monopoly? You know, like the first row of properties like that are cheap. Maybe I don't need you need those. Those are vital properties. I'm for Greenland. I wanted him to do it before. I want him to do it now. And I am personally and on television applying to be the military governor of Greenland if, in fact, we do take control of it.
SPEAKER 18 :
I don't think that they'll actually pick you, Scotty. Sorry about that. But nonetheless, I love this and I love the reaction to at least one of the things that Trump referenced. He called the prime minister of Canada the governor of Canada. This was Trump on his post. I can't help finding it this funny because he's said a couple times now that it wouldn't be the worst thing for Canada if they became the 51st state. It's not going to happen, but it is an interesting way to troll the leaders up north and maybe get them to play ball. Like, that's the whole point. All of this is just to get people to be more willing to give in to more of what Trump would want from you name the country or situation by seeming as though he's serious in some of these very ridiculous things that he's threatening to do. Greenland is not for sale. We're not likely to convince Denmark to give it to us or sell it to us. In any capacity, even though we'd very much like that, and it would be a good deal for the United States, apparently Russian media was all over it, too, supporting the idea of Trump buying Greenland, which is interesting, but nonetheless not necessarily a reason for us to think it's a good idea if their statewide media is in support of it. But also, there's another thing that gets referenced, the taking back of the Panama Canal. And this is all in his tweets, his, you know, things that he was saying over the holiday that's getting talked about and people still afraid that Trump might try to forcibly take back the Panama Canal. Here's what's true about this. Most Americans did not even think about what it costs to get across the Panama Canal, what the fees would be, why Panama might have raised them recently and said that it's tied to some sort of drought that that country is facing and how it might make places like the United States mad because, well, darn it, that was a gift that we gave you. And you're not being very nice about that gift. It is interesting to have that be at the forefront of anyone's mind, because, as I said before, Trump is reelected and still not actually in the White House, but just talking about stuff enough on social media and saying it in a way that that mainstream legacy media can't ignore. They're obsessed with the man. They talk about him constantly. They do have Trump derangement syndrome. But if he's going to make a reference to taking back the Panama Canal, people can't help but be like, we got to talk about this. And it makes you and I aware of just how much money it costs or how the fees have changed recently at the Panama Canal. And that's, again, something that Americans would not have given a crap about or even known about if not for Trump. The buying of Greenland, I find to be uniquely entertaining because I saw some coverage of how good of a deal it would be depending on how much we pay for it. I think $1.5 to $1.7 trillion is the high-end estimate of what it would cost us. And people are comparing it to the Louisiana Purchase. And it's just amusing to me to see people actually like legitimately talking about things that happened so long ago as if they could happen again, as if the United States could buy some territory because it's been a bit since we've done any of that during the Trump presidency. And as Scott Jennings says, it would be a legacy defining move for Trump. There was one other thing. He talked about this was in both his tweets and then actually some videos that were put out to talking about his strong stance against people who harm kids, specifically people who traffic minors and children. You might think and mainstream media, legacy media seems to think that this is, you know, an extreme take. But I have to tell you that one of the most universally agreed upon things for most people is an individual who harms children deserves to be punished to the full extent of the law. I've been doing this on some other radio platforms I've been today, and it's probably not a good idea to do it. But even a quote from the Bible attributed to Jesus talks about the significant punishment that people deserve if they hurt kids. Something like being thrown to the bottom of the ocean. Again, not usually wise the day after Christmas to paraphrase Jesus. But nonetheless, it's fairly universal that punishing those who harm innocent kids should be about as extreme as any punishment we have in society. It's something that Trump is saying here.
SPEAKER 11 :
When I am back in the White House, I will immediately end the Biden border nightmare that traffickers are using to exploit vulnerable women and children. We will fully secure the border. I will wage war on the cartels just as I destroyed the ISIS caliphate 100% gone, 100% destroyed. They'll come back now because we have a weak administration. I will use Title 42 to end the child trafficking crisis by returning all trafficked children to their families in their home countries and without delay. And I will urge Congress to ensure that anyone caught trafficking children across our border Receives the death penalty immediately.
SPEAKER 18 :
Immediately. The death penalty immediately for anyone that is trafficking kids. Again, not exactly as insane of a stance when you think about what he's saying that we should be standing up against as a country in the world. The harming of kids specifically, that seems probably to make sense to a lot of people just after Biden commuted the sentence of 37 of 40 death row inmates, some of them convicted of horrible things that involve children. So, you know, one more time, I can't say it any differently. Not something that sounds as controversial when you hear the full context of it, as it's likely to be reported on other places. Many people would hail that as a good thing. The thing in the middle is the thing that entertained me the most about what Trump said. And I'll go ahead and play that again.
SPEAKER 11 :
Destroyed the ISIS caliphate, 100 percent gone, 100 percent destroyed. They'll come back now because we have a weak administration. I will use Title 42 to end the child trafficking crisis by returning all trafficked children to their families in their home countries and without delay.
SPEAKER 18 :
Yes, that that part to the whole returning people to their home countries and without delay thing. Of course, Trump has been challenged before the kids in cages. which you remember was actually something that happened during the Obama administration, not the Trump administration, but something that he was attacked for. So not keeping kids here, but returning them to family and loved ones that we find in foreign countries would be a way to mitigate that complaint necessarily. I don't know if that'll actually work. I don't know how many kids that get brought across the border here are going to be people where we can locate other family members for a variety of reasons. But nonetheless, I think, again, to say it as crystal clear as I can, punishing those who hurt kids are not controversial, not usually considered controversial to a whole lot of Americans. One other thing out there, and this just amused me because of the ridiculousness of it. So two women, I think 220-somethings, are in the backseat of a police car in California, and one woman seems surprised to find out that theft is now a felony again in California. Granted, you have to be caught doing it more than once for the dollar amount not to matter and for the misdemeanor charge to be up to a felony, but completely different than what the rules were just a short time ago in that state when you saw an incredible rise in smash-and-grab crimes and just brazen theft happening all throughout uh california and now in the back of a police car with their hands cuffed behind them uh the one woman is finding out how much trouble they're in and seems shocked by it and i just love the response from the other person that also is caught uh you know stealing stuff with her it's a felony it's no loss
SPEAKER 07 :
Stealing is a felony.
SPEAKER 18 :
Yeah, stealing's a felony now. And that bleep word, new laws, is what she says to her friend, being like, they changed some stuff. And if you weren't paying attention, we were risking ourselves quite a bit in how much trouble we'd get in. She also goes on to say Orange County not playing. Meaning that apparently she's been arrested and in trouble there before, which is part of what it takes to enhance the charge to a felony. But one more time for anyone out there that needs the information, especially throughout a whole lot of California, once again, illegal and seriously illegal to steal stuff and take stuff that's not yours and probably a good thing to finally cause people to i don't know follow laws but that's a lot of the context of this entire opening segment of this show is uh that uh trump or you know california or whoever it might be is actually trying to get back to a place in which laws matter and that sounds good that sounds like that'll benefit all of us all right quick break a lot coming up greg collins filling in on the dana show
SPEAKER 02 :
our partners over at Preborn, great organization that's out there saving lives right and left. And they're meeting with mothers and they're helping them as these mothers are facing an unexpected pregnancy or unplanned pregnancy, I should say. And a lot of people are searching for hope. And a lot of people feel like this is, that's, you know, a lot of women, they think that that's their last resort and it's not. And that's what Preborn Ministries steps in to help with. They meet these women and They introduce them to their babies, ultrasounds. They listen to the heartbeat. When that happens, studies shown that a child's chance of surviving doubles at that point. But that's not all. They partner with these women up until the toddler years, making sure that these families get the best start. And that just goes so much. It's just that's exactly what is needed. They steward these women. They they help this new life and they're able to do it because of your generous donations. Save a life this Christmas. It starts at just twenty eight dollars. I mean, by donating that amount, you can help support women and babies in need and provide vital care and resources. You can make even a larger, life-changing donation, $5,000, $10,000, $15,000. You can use that to save countless babies, maximize your year-end tax deduction. It's doubled with a special matching grant as well, so your gift will have double the impact. Any donation matters. So if you want to know how to donate, it's simple and easy. You just dial pound or 4millennials, hashtag pound. pound 250 and say the keyword baby that's pound 250 keyword baby you can also visit preborn.com slash dana to donate online every contribution counts pound 250 say the keyword baby preborn.com lights are going up snow is falling down there's a feeling of goodwill around town it could only mean one
SPEAKER 10 :
McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing.
SPEAKER 09 :
McRib is here.
SPEAKER 08 :
At participating McDonald's for a limited time. this time of year, a good hoodie is absolutely essential. But these days, it's tough to find one that will last through the season. That's why the American Giant Classic Full Zip Hoodie is made to last a lifetime, so you can count on it to bring you comfort and warmth year after year. Slate Magazine called it the greatest hoodie ever made, and from cotton to zipper, it's made right here in the USA. It's crafted with timeless style, heavyweight fleece, a double-lined hood, and reinforced elbow patches, which means this hoodie can withstand any outing or adventure. It'll be your new favorite hoodie and you can depend on it for years to come. Plus, buying from American Giant means supporting local communities of farmers, manufacturers, and more. This season, snag the hoodie that will bring you comfort for life, the American Giant Classic Full Zip, and save 20% off your first order at American-Giant.com when you use code CLASSIC24 at checkout. That's 20% off your first order at American-Giant.com, code CLASSIC24.
SPEAKER 18 :
This is the Dana Show. My name is Craig Collins filling in. Find Dana everywhere, DLash Radio, or DanaLashRadio, DLash on Twitter as well. Let's do a quick five.
SPEAKER 04 :
And now, all of the news you would probably miss. It's time for Dana's Quick Five.
SPEAKER 18 :
That's right. Let's do these rapid fire. The first one, very weird. First, it was just women in China that were doing this. Now women throughout the world are doing this. Apparently, they're going to social media and taking photos of themselves with fake baby bumps. The reason that they're doing this in China was to celebrate a anniversary of the no more one child policy and also to look good. for when they, in the future, both have a relationship and get pregnant. They want the fake version of the baby bump photo to be better than the real version because they're younger. This is something that other women now throughout the world are doing on social media. It's a viral trend. Terrifying boyfriends everywhere, I imagine, as far as the thing goes. If they even have a boyfriend at the time that they're taking the photo, apparently some do not. Another story out there. that i thought was interesting it's called the christmas gas prank uh mostly it's women pulling this on men uh they call their husband uh or whoever and they say hey uh i was you know running out of gas and i stopped by the um uh the gas station and i got the christmas gas because it was cheaper and then the husband usually goes uh what are you talking about what's the christmas gas and the woman will say the one with the green handle which would be diesel And then the woman usually says something to the effect of, and now the car's running weird and seems like it's about to stall. Do you know what's going on? If you believe them, they just ruined the vehicle. They just destroyed that engine. There's a lot of problems that you're going to have. The Christmas gas prank, making the internet laugh and your loved one terrified for a short amount of time, is something out there that I guess people are doing and then putting up the reaction on social media. Because you can be a jerk as long as you do it virally. To the people you care about. To the amusement of total strangers. That's the world we live in now. But the Christmas gas prank is out there. It's real. Some find it humorous. I'm going to be honest. I find it a little funny too. I'm glad that I wouldn't think of anyone in my life as dumb enough to actually do this. So I wouldn't be that afraid that it actually occurred. Another story that I love out there as far as a viral quick five moment. A guy who drives a cyber truck decided to take it with his wife to go see his in-laws in rural West Virginia at a farm. When he got there, he found out that the farm had no way to charge the cyber truck. There was some discussion about maybe some things that got done. The parents didn't exactly get it figured out. So the guy had to plug it into a regular outlet. And if you don't know, a Cybertruck will charge one to two miles of distance per hour when plugged into a regular plug. So it took six days to recharge the vehicle. The guy said it was an awful six days to spend with the in-laws because he was stuck there. Couldn't do anything. I imagine they had a bunch of vehicles on the farm they could have used to tow the Cybertruck to some sort of supercharger and get them out of there. But the in-laws obviously didn't want to do that. They also probably complained for days about the extension cord going outside of their house into a car outside. And who knows if it even was turning off like the lights on the Christmas tree. I kind of hope it was because the amount of fighting I now picture being a thing that happens would just be all over the place. Fighting with the in-laws is never fun. The simmering tension of this one sounds Hallmark movie-worthy to me. And then one last one as far as quick stories go. $32,000 per person was the amount of money spent for a recent bachelor party trip to the North Pole. Over 1,000 people were surveyed asking, like, what's a very expensive thing you did for someone? This was the number one answer. A very stupid use of $32,000 to me. They had thermal equipment to protect them from negative 31 degree weather. They got to experience a few different helicopter rides and polar guides and whatnot. But just think, 32K per person, if you spend that somewhere like Vegas, how much fun that's going to be and how uncomfortable you're not going to be having to deal with negative 32 degree weather. But that was another big story out there that went viral, and a lot of people made fun of it as just a total waste of time. A quick break. A lot coming up. Craig Collins filling in on the Dana Show.
SPEAKER 02 :
And our partners over at Burn a Gun, the non-firearm firearm. And it's always good to diversify your self-defense strategy. arsenal because, you know, I would love to, I carry all the time and I have zero problem using lethal force. You come at me, UFA, UFO. That's kind of how I look at it. But I know that there are areas that are gun-free zones or gun-free buildings, private property or whatever it is. And sometimes, you know, you don't have the luxury of declining to go there. Maybe you got to go there as part of your job, but you also don't want to be a statistic. This is where burn a gun comes in. Stun guns, regular ones are restricted to like one or two shots. Burna's most popular model, the Burna SD, has a five-round capacity and shoots chemical-irrident projectiles that can disable threats from up to 50 feet away. They have a whole carry bundle that you can get. This is a great holiday gift, too, by the way. You can get defense spray. They have an LA Launcher carry bundle. They got all kinds of stuff. But it provides to you... instant readiness no recoil easy target acquisition it's legal in all 50 states no background checks no permits they can ship it right to your front porch and it doesn't care about gun-free zone signs it's an effective deterrent and it's a another option that you can have for self-defense particularly when the state's trying to deny you or maybe a property owner wants to deny you you can visit bruna.com slash dana and get 10 off your purchase that's byrna.com slash dana for 10 off
SPEAKER 10 :
Lights are going up. Snow is falling down. There's a feeling of goodwill around town. It could only mean one thing. McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing.
SPEAKER 23 :
McRib is here.
SPEAKER 14 :
And participate at McDonald's for a limited time.
SPEAKER 23 :
This time of year, a good hoodie is absolutely essential, but it's tough to find one that will last through the season. That's why the American Giant Classic Full Zip Hoodie is made to last a lifetime, so you can count on it to bring you comfort and warmth year after year. Slate Magazine called it the greatest hoodie ever made, and from cotton to zipper, it's made right here in the USA. With timeless style, heavyweight fleece, a double-lined hood, and reinforced elbow patches, you can depend on it for years to come. Snag the hoodie that will bring you comfort for life, the American Giant Classic Full Zip, and save 20% off your first order at American-Giant.com when you use code CLASSIC24 at checkout. That's 20% off your first order at American-Giant.com, code CLASSIC24.
SPEAKER 13 :
Brighten up your timely news consumption with a Dana Show podcast, where every update comes with a little dash of Not So Serious on YouTube, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
SPEAKER 18 :
This is The Dana Show. My name is Craig Collins filling in. You can find her everywhere, DLash or DanaLashRadio, two of the best ways to stay connected on X on Twitter, to all things going on in the world, Dana. I thought this was really interesting. A few tweets over the holiday, even some earlier this morning, showing just how deep of an attempt was made by the Biden-Harris administration to hide any information about a potential lab leak theory. as early as 2021. The FBI was the only agency that said, without a supreme amount of confidence, that they thought that potentially the Wuhan lab in China leaked COVID-19 since it was a coronavirus lab, sort of famously made fun of by Jon Stewart, who then complained that he got attacked by the left for saying it. But it's sort of ridiculous that it took that long for a lot of places to admit the likelihood of this. And apparently this was intentionally done to the current president. Although, you know what? I pause... This is all leaked information, and it seems that there's likely some truth to it. But there's additional information that shows where the Biden-Harris administration silenced these types of claims because the first claim is that he didn't even know about it. Essentially, at a briefing in early 2021, when agencies would have been giving their report on what they thought happened to President Biden, the FBI was left out. Not that many agencies typically show up and represent themselves in this, but even the reporting by the FBI was left out. Essentially, they're saying in some of these leaked documents, the biggest reason that Biden was so confident in his opinion is that they simply didn't even tell him about the belief that something else existed. Now, that could be true. They kept a lot of information directly from the president of the United States because he doesn't seem like he was actually running the country at all for four years. The Wall Street Journal also reporting on that somewhat recently. But the fact that the administration probably knew and took steps to hide this information or hide this theory also seems to be more than plausible, but tremendously likely based on what's been leaked so far. So truthfully, any way to try to make the president seem like he was unaware and that means he deserves some level of forgiveness for not acting more informed about this is actually a fairly straw man argument because the administration itself, the actual power that was in charge, seems to be the issue with covering up and hiding so much of this. But the latest details, once again, providing us sort of the two things. that you can know together about so much of what happened during the early and middle parts of COVID. They knew they were lying to us, and they did it anyway. There are some that believe that they didn't know they were lying, but just kind of like we're guessing at stuff. And at some medical things, I believe that that is likely to be more true than not. They were probably guessing, knowing they could very well be wrong, not caring about that, not telling us that part. But any study, any information that's come out over the last few years on a large variety of this information has proven time and again that they willfully told us something was definitively a fact when it wasn't. And more times than not knew the exact opposite was true. So horrific. I say that to set up this other piece of audio. Joe Manchin is on his way out. He's done with politics, or at least being someone in the Senate. He has long been a person that people would point to and say, well, he was a Democrat. He's actually been a Democrat for a long time before becoming an independent. And he's willing to say the thing out loud that most of his party is not willing to say. John Fetterman might be taking the baton from him. I'm not sure, but it seems that way sometimes. But Manchin did a sit down, you know, over a beer discussion with CNN. I don't know why they had to do this in a bar. It's stupid. But as they're talking, Manchin gave the strongest indictment yet of the Democratic Party that anyone who's been a part of it has ever given. And so I want to play part of that audio of just how bad things have gotten. Here we go.
SPEAKER 17 :
I am not a Democrat in the form of what what the Democratic Party has turned itself into the national brand. Absolutely not. And they know that they're all good people on both sides.
SPEAKER 20 :
But what do you think is the reason for you said you're not a Democrat? What caused Joe Manchin to divorce himself?
SPEAKER 17 :
Here's what I told them. I said, you ought to figure out how you lost somebody like me.
SPEAKER 18 :
I was born... By the way, I could stop it right there. You also should figure out how you lost someone like Elon Musk, someone like Joe Rogan. There's a bunch of people that said they were long-term Democrats who just don't understand the party anymore and see themselves as still the same level of down-the-middle independent person who is more captured by the discussions on the right than by the discussions on the left as far as their beliefs and who they align with.
SPEAKER 17 :
I was a Democrat because of my grandfather's love of FDR. I was a very strong Democrat because of my family's love of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. I came through the whole iteration. And I was a Democrat in West Virginia, and it has always been a 75, 80% plurality of Democrat. Not anymore. But there was a split. I was never in the liberal side of it. I was never in the establishment side. So I always had to fight my way through.
SPEAKER 18 :
I love the fact that you're this far into this discussion and the person doing the interview is still not sure he's gotten the right answer. But what is it that makes you not want to be a Democrat? Not the fact that you feel utterly unwelcome and that your entire life what you've thought of a Democrat as being is not what it currently is. Give me one more. Give me the thing that we can play as the short clip. Is it a shift on social issues?
SPEAKER 17 :
Yeah. The brand got so bad. The D brand has been so maligned from the standpoint of it's toxic.
SPEAKER 18 :
And the brand, the brand, the Democratic brand, the Democratic brand, excuse me, itself is toxic. You know, what's really interesting about this, as I dive a little deeper into the thought of all of that, you have a lot of rhetoric on both sides that people call extreme. They claim that this is extreme things that people say. And when you look at the stuff on the right that's extreme, it's almost often always tied to Trump. And a whole lot of it, stuff like I want to take back the Panama Canal, a lot of people know isn't actually going to happen. Or if it does happen, like, honestly, I don't know that it would be all that bad for the United States if it did. Again, I doubt it would. But, you know, taking Greenland, another example of stuff recently out there. It would actually benefit us if we owned it and we bought it somehow. But I digress. That rhetoric is not usually what shapes the actual policy. And when you're actually trying to get extreme rhetoric to shape policy, for the most part, what conservatives are trying to do is limit the amount of money spent in D.C., in Washington, limit government itself, a long-running, very simplistic conservative stance that a whole lot of Americans agree with. They think that Washington is wasting our money, overspending and causing things like inflation. Now, when you look at the left, yes, there's extreme rhetoric, but that also seems to work out as extreme policy decisions. Oftentimes, the craziest thing said by the conservative is not the thing that inevitably gets passed. The craziest thing said by the Democrat is the thing that they try to pass, and they try to shame people into believing that it's the only way to move forward. It's actually usually why I think rhetoric on the left is more emotionally charged than it is on the right. If you want to try to validate a wide open border to the entirety of our country, the Democrats have to tell the story of a mother with two kids who crosses the border because she can't afford to live and support her family somewhere else. And the Democrats choose to leave out the story of the people who are coming across the border and hurting people. And there's a lot of people who are doing that. That's left out. The emotional narrative is all that matters. The same holds true with abortion, for example, one that I use a lot to talk about some of the more extreme ways that stuff gets argued. The Democratic position on this is that women's health is at risk and women could die because they're not going to be given a certain treatment in scenarios where their life is in jeopardy. And you had an OBGYN in Texas go viral for saying that that was crap. saying that I work here, I work in this place, I've worked in this place for a long time, and I know the narrative that's emotional and not true, and how often you see it in all these other places. But that's essentially the place we're in right now, where if the most extreme stuff on the right, you can simply smile and ignore it if you're someone that's not in agreement with that sort of thing, because you believe that the policies at the end of the day won't reflect it. Or if you're someone that's extreme on the left and you are upset because the policies don't always reflect what you want to see done in the world, that's the big issue with some younger voters on the left is they didn't think that they went far enough in the degree they wanted to go. Then, yeah, the Democratic brand becomes toxic. And a lot of people who think they're in the middle, like Elon Musk and Joe Rogan, now think that they're part of the, you know, Venn diagram or whatever it is that Kamala Harris would love to talk about in relationship to this, that fall on the Republican side and not the Democratic side. And actually, something else I mentioned that I thought was really interesting, and you've probably said this before or thought this before yourself if you've had a conversation like this with a loved one, Some of the marquee Democrats in history would be conservatives by today's standard. People like Kennedy who Manchin mentions. Those are individuals that if you look at the policies, at the speeches, at the discussion points, so much of it is echoed by people on the conservative side of the aisle now. And that was a vastly popular Democrat. So what has changed there? It doesn't seem that if you look at the history of both parties, that what you see is extreme rhetoric getting more extreme on the right based on who falls into that bucket now compared to the left. The left feels like it's moving off into a corner and the right feels like it's absorbing some of that middle sort of by happenstance. Because you just don't believe that the next policy decision by a Democrat involving your school is something that would be good for your kids. And you think whatever's happening on the right, at least it'll get government out of the way and you can decide for yourself what you want to do. So it's just very interesting to hear and see him say and crap all over Democrats one last time on the way out on CNN. Well, for some reason, being at a bar and having a beer. Again, Manchin looks more normal than most and not quite as uncomfortable as people like, you know, Pocahontas, as Trump would call her. But so many people out there that seem to need to do this like human part will do in the political part. Just just tell me the political stuff. You don't need to pretend to have a beer or to pretend to be having fun while you're talking about this. I don't need that. All right. Quick break. A lot more coming up. Greg Collins filling in on the Dana show.
SPEAKER 02 :
We got a lot more to come as we roll towards. The conclusion of this first hour, our partners over at ReadyWise. ReadyWise is the most premium survival food that you can get. And with ReadyWise, you're getting the best tasting food and you know the chain of command. This is a U.S. company, U.S. ingredients packed in a U.S. plant sent to your doorstep. And they are free and fast shipping for most of the provisions. So your stuff is going to get to you quick. And it tastes great. 25-year shelf life. They have an in-house team of culinary experts that make sure that all of your caloric needs are met, your healthy carbs, everything. So you don't have to worry if something goes sideways. You're getting all the nutrition you need. So is your family. And it's affordable. They have an array of products that will match any budget. This is a smart choice for your emergency supplies. This is what I use. You can also use it for camping, too. It's that good. Visit ReadyWise.com. Use promo code Dana20 at checkout. Get 20% off your entire purchase. That's ReadyWise.com. Promo code Dana20 for 20% off.
SPEAKER 10 :
Lights are going up. Snow is falling down. There's a feeling of goodwill around town. It could only mean one thing. McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing.
SPEAKER 14 :
McRib is here. At participating McDonald's for a limited time.
SPEAKER 01 :
Welcome to Pro Tips for the Pros, brought to you by Floor & Decor Parsippany. In this series, we'll explore essential advice for professional contractors to deliver outstanding renovation results. Let's dive in. Before starting any renovation project, take the time to plan meticulously. Assess the customer's needs, budget, and timeline to ensure a smooth and successful renovation process. Thank you for joining us for this pro tip on planning thorough renovations. Stay tuned for more expert advice, brought to you by Floor & Decor Parsippany.
SPEAKER 03 :
A lot of people tolerate ordinary. Ordinary bathrooms, kitchens, entryways. Well, not on your watch. If you're a pro, you've got a new partner in town. Floor & Decor. From tile to wood to stone, Floor & Decor has more styles and job lock quantities of Schluter, Mapei, LATICRETE, and other brands pros trust. Come see a whole new way to wow with Floor & Decor. Now open in Parsippany.
SPEAKER 13 :
Get the lowdown on the latest news with a side of laughs whenever you want. Subscribe to the Dana Show podcast on YouTube, Apple, or wherever you get your podcast.
SPEAKER 18 :
This is The Dana Show. My name is Craig Collins, filling in on The Dana Show. You can find her everywhere at DLash or DanaLashRadio. Two great places to stay connected on X, on Twitter. Americans are tuning out political conversation at an all-time high, according to the Associated Press. There's a couple reasons why the Associated Press says they're doing that. The first one is that places like MSNBC and CNN... have terrible ratings. I think that's more the quality of the product than people just not wanting to pay attention to politics at all. But I digress. Also, in a survey, 7 out of 10 Democrats and 6 out of 10 Republicans said they've had enough. They don't need a daily barrage of this information. And I imagine that's for very different reasons, of course. Democrats are probably sick of it because, I don't know, they've been convinced by their own party to be afraid of everything that could happen over the next four years, regardless of the legitimacy of that. And so at some point, boy cries wolf enough and you just get sick of the whole thing. And Republicans, I think more so than not, are just annoyed with bullcrap. versions of political rhetoric and the fear-mongering that exists whenever Trump says anything. Trump uniquely good, even better now than ever before, at manipulating media to talk about the things he says in a way that I think will benefit him, especially when he sits down and has conversations with other world leaders. But nonetheless, what I think is so interesting about this is, yeah, a lot of people are sick of it because a lot of the political rhetoric and storytelling and coverage that exists in our society is just truly broken. Another thing out there that I thought was interesting as far as, I don't know if this is an uplifting or not a version of a thing. People were asked how to rate 2024 as a year. I give it a one through 10 and how it, you know, compares to other years. Of course, not as bad as some of the worst years we faced over the recent four to five years or so of a 2024 got a six out of 10. for most people, so an eh rating. The things that made it a good year I thought were really interesting because you have a lot of ability to do this whenever you feel like it. It's not something that you have to wait for a specific year or something to have happen or that can change if something bad goes on. But things that made people likely to rate the year higher is if they reconnected with an old friend or family member, if they had some sort of personal or creative growth of some kind, If they got a pet, I was one of the ones on this list. I learned a new skill, volunteered somewhere or visited a new place. All stuff you can do at any time. You don't have to wait this year, next year. You could do some of that right now. A little 2024 still exists if you want to. And those are the things that made us rate the year the best. So what I love about that, if I'm doing the like kumbaya hopeful moment in all of it, is we have a tremendous amount of power to make any year a good year just by doing those kind of things. So if in 2025 you want to have a better year, do some of that stuff at the top of that list I just mentioned, and boom, you're going to feel great about it, even if some horrible stuff happens too, which is interesting. A whole lot of us feel, you know, as though we're not in control of a grand amount of things that make us happy or not happy. But the reality is very different from what you might think, according to this data. Also, I guess this might make you feel good and not maybe make you rate the whole year as good. But Burger King has given away free stuff. This isn't an advertisement. I just saw this shared enough places that I thought people thought it was interesting. 31 Days of Deals is the promotion. You can get a free chicken sandwich today. And then on Monday, you can get a free bacon cheeseburger. Here's the reason it's going viral on the internet, though. A way to game the system. You have to be a member of their app like anybody else does, and you've got to buy at least $1 worth of actual menu items in order to get the free item. And people said you can just buy four sauce packets, and that'll equal exactly $1, the cheapest way to get your item for free, and not exactly the thing that Burger King is trying to promote, I think. Probably why this is not an endorsement for them, because they don't want this information out there. But just a uniquely sad thing that a lot of people are doing. You buy the four sauce packets, whether you want them or not, and you get yourself the free chicken sandwich or the free bacon cheeseburger, which probably only costs a couple bucks as well anyway, instead of just buying something from the dollar menu that's actually food. But that is a real story that's out there that people are reacting to. And the one final one, I just thought this was interesting. A woman, quote unquote, revealed the genius hack, according to the internet, to get guys to stop hitting on you. She was on a beach in Australia. A guy walked up to her and asked for her number. She turned her phone toward him, said that she was live streaming, and said she wanted her potential new husband to meet her mom, who would have been watching the live stream. And the dude just walked away. That was too many pieces all added together. Whether the guy wanted to be on live stream or not for reasons that may not be, you know, good. A lot of people were guessing that was the issue or just the fact that you're trying to meet mom within the first few moments of meeting someone is not a great move. We don't know what it is, but women are saying this will work. And it's also kind of insane, but we'll see if you try it out. Craig Collins filling in on the Dana show.
SPEAKER 02 :
We got a lot more to come as we roll towards the, The conclusion of this first hour, our partners over at ReadyWise. ReadyWise is the most premium survival food that you can get. And with ReadyWise, you're getting the best tasting food and you know the chain of command. This is a U.S. company, U.S. ingredients packed in a U.S. plant sent to your doorstep. And they are free and fast shipping for most of the provisions. So your stuff is going to get to you quick. And it tastes great. 25-year shelf life. They have an in-house team of culinary experts that can, they make sure that all of your caloric needs are met, your healthy carbs, everything. So you don't have to worry, you know, something goes sideways. You're getting all the nutrition you need. So is your family. And it's affordable. They have an array of products that will match any budget. This is a smart choice for your emergency supplies. This is what I use. You can also use it for camping, too. It's that good. Visit ReadyWise.com. Use promo code Dana20 at checkout. Get 20% off your entire purchase. That's ReadyWise.com. Promo code Dana20 for 20% off.
SPEAKER 10 :
Lights are going up. Snow is falling down. There's a feeling of goodwill around town. It could only mean one thing. McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing.
SPEAKER 14 :
McRib is here. At participating McDonald's for a limited time.
SPEAKER 01 :
Welcome to Pro Tips for the Pros, brought to you by Floor & Decor Parsippany. In this series, we'll explore essential advice for professional contractors to deliver outstanding renovation results. Let's dive in. Before starting any renovation project, take the time to plan meticulously. Assess the customer's needs, budget, and timeline to ensure a smooth and successful renovation process. Thank you for joining us for this pro tip on planning thorough renovations. Stay tuned for more expert advice, brought to you by Floor & Decor Parsippany.
SPEAKER 03 :
A lot of people tolerate ordinary. Ordinary bathrooms, kitchens, entryways. Well, not on your watch. If you're a pro, you've got a new partner in town. Floor & Decor. From tile to wood to stone, Floor & Decor has more styles and jaw-block quantities of Schluter, Mapei, Ladecrete, and other brands pros trust. Come see a whole new way to wow with Floor & Decor. Now open in Parsippany.
SPEAKER 18 :
This is The Dana Show. My name is Craig Collins filling in. Thrilled to be with you. D. Lash or Dana Lash Radio. Great ways to stay connected to everything going on for her, her podcast, whatever. All on X on Twitter. Very, very popular and successful human being. A lot of ways to stay connected to Dana's stuff. Let's do this. There's a story out of Houston that's causing a lot of people to have different opinions. And the only reason I think that anyone has a remotely different opinion than the one I'm about to share, the one I have about this issue, is the age of the people that were committing the crime. The people that were trying to rob another man, again in Houston, Texas, are between the ages of 12 and 14. Three out of four of the individuals trying to rob someone were injured in what I'm about to play as far as the news audio, how this happened. One is reportedly in critical condition. But nonetheless, four teenagers, 12 to 14, sadly their ages, walked up and tried to, you know, armed and dangerous, rob a guy on the streets of Texas. And what happened might have been more predictable to some of us than others. Here's part of the audio.
SPEAKER 21 :
Good morning, Amy. In the course of the investigation, deputies learned those kids were just between the ages of 12 and 14 years old, and they tried robbing a man with a gun. Deputies say at least three of those kids were shot. gun actually many guns were recovered from the scene so uh out of the four teens that were holding weapons three of them were shot one of them is still in critical condition at last check when harris county sheriff deputies showed up here they found one of the kids with several gunshot wounds he was taken to a nearby trauma center in critical condition as i just mentioned And as paramedics were attending to him, two other kids were found with gunshot wounds. Both were taken to the hospital and are stable. Shortly after that, the suspected shooter, who deputies believe the teens were trying to rob, returned to the scene and turned himself in.
SPEAKER 18 :
he is also cooperating with authorities in every part of this conversation. There is an interesting part. Another reason this story probably went viral out of Texas is what a witness says he saw and what he did in response to it. Again, Texas is a state where you could assume that the person you're trying to attack with a gun might actually also be armed. Here we go. Some
SPEAKER 15 :
gunshots sound like they were basically at my front door and of course as you can see from behind me they were down the way a little bit be frank and honest with you I grabbed my gun which is in a holster and walked outside to see what was going on it is believed the incident occurred due to an attempted aggravated robbery that involved the juveniles attempting to rob the adult male
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay, so there's a few things here. The first thing I would say, I'm a gun owner. I've only been a gun owner for the last couple years and definitely enjoyed learning how to, one, utilize my Second Amendment right, but also how to fire a weapon. It's fun. as far as the thing you could do if you choose to do it. But the thing I know, and most people who've had any amount of, you know, even a simplistic course, I'm not pretending I have training like actual human beings who, you know, serve and protect our country or our community, but any training at all is that if you draw a weapon on a person, you have to be willing to use it. And thankfully, that the man that was getting robbed wasn't injured. It sounds like these kids, 12 to 14 years old, did not intend to use their weapons. They just intended to frighten someone with them. However, the guy, the adult who had a weapon, knows that if you draw it, you use it. So he defended himself. He has every right to defend himself when armed robbers approach you. Yes, it's sad. Yes, it's upsetting if they're 12 to 14. But there's an aspect of this too that I couldn't get over in all the things I'm reading about it. For anyone that's saying it's horrible and terrible and with the Christmas season and everything being around to be dealing with your child being in the hospital for the one kid who's in critical condition. The thing I can't get over is what is the person supposed to do if it's not that stuff? What is the person who's, you know, being attacked by four guys, kids or whatever? And I don't know exactly how old the 12 to 14 year olds look, but that are armed and threatening to shoot you. And if you have a gun and you know how to use it, what are you supposed to do? You defend yourself. That's the whole reason of having it. That's the whole reason of carrying a weapon is to protect yourself from dangerous situations. Now, again, I guess the big fallout or discussion about this is what else could have or should have happened in the first place to prevent these kids from having guns, to be on the street robbing someone, like where are the parents is a valuable question, et cetera, et cetera. But what I can't get over, again, is the entire intention of, of being able to protect yourself is if you're put in a life or death situation, which if someone points a weapon at you, that is a life or death situation. You don't know if they're willing to use it or not. You have to assume they are. And your response to it doesn't deserve the amount of debate it's going to get. And it's only because, again, of the age of the kids. And that's horrific for a different reason. And I'll tell you what that is. You're seeing a lot of very serious crimes committed by younger and younger people in our society. You have a lot of like, you know, auto grand theft auto or whatever you're supposed to call it, where people are joyriding and stealing cars and things they learned on TikTok on social media. And it winds up being under the age of 18 individuals who are doing this and sometimes as young as some of the people in this story. Yeah, I would feel horrible for anyone involved, including the guy who used the gun to defend himself, because anyone who does that in a certain situation doesn't usually do it with joy. I mean, cops and people who wind up using their weapon in the line of duty wind up dealing with a lot of the mental fallout of that. But it is the only decision you have in that moment. So I'm sort of dumbfounded by some of the discussion on this topic. Even though I understand if you're trying really hard to get to a place where if I'm equating it to like a 12 to 14 year old, I know and not one approaching people with a gun threatening to shoot and rob them that you wouldn't, you know, want to see anyone, you know, be injured in this way. But it's decision making that that put them in jeopardy and not something where you got to blame the guy who's defending himself. but a lot on social media doing it. Like you should have known because they're younger that they weren't going to actually shoot you as they're pointing a gun at you, which is insane to say out loud. And yet people are saying it. All right. Another thing. This deserves some coverage. There were several truth social posts from President Trump, soon to be again President Trump, but President-elect Trump. And they got a lot of coverage in media. And I haven't read them at all today. I've just been kind of like throwing out some of the pieces of them. But I could read more of it. What I do like about the Trump posts on Christmas is he usually starts a lot of them with Merry Christmas. And then he's also usually targeting people that he does not like as part of his Christmas wishes. The first of the posts he put up said, Merry Christmas to all, including the wonderful soldiers of China who are lovingly but illegally operating the Panama Canal, where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago, always making certain that the U.S. puts in billions of dollars in quote unquote repair money. but will have absolutely nothing to say about anything. Also, the governor, Justin Trudeau of Canada. This is, of course, in reference to how Trump thinks that Canada might benefit from becoming the 51st state of the United States, whose citizens taxes are far too high. But if Canada was to become the 51st state, their taxes would be cut by more than 60 percent. Their businesses would immediately double in size and they would be protected by the best military in the world. He went on to also say, likewise, the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for national security purposes and who want the U.S. to be there. And we will. That was one of a few. He also tweeted a lot of things or actually truth social. And then it gets put on other platforms, a lot of things about some of the decision making of Biden recently. This obviously is somewhat designed to be talked about. by a lot of media. And in doing so, you wind up asking yourself, well, why would Trump even want to take back the Panama Canal and the amount of fees that we pay and the fact that those fees have risen recently because Panama has a drought and they're trying to gain money to help with their drought by charging more money for people to go through the Panama Canal. or whatever it is with Greenland and how resource-rich that place is and how it might be possible for the United States to negotiate some kind of deal to get access to more of those resources. All of these have a purpose. All of these are being obsessed about by mainstream media as the latest examples that Trump's a terrible person. And then there's one last one as far as Trump is concerned. And this one I find pretty interesting because it's, in essence, part of a second or third message he put up on social media, but also something he put up via video. So he spoke as well about the punishment for people who hurt kids. Anyone who traffics minors will be given the death penalty. Again, tough words. But not necessarily words that I think a whole lot of Americans would actually disagree with, because when you hurt kids, you wind up having a universal kind of feeling that person deserves the fullest extent of the penalties of the law. Here's what Trump said exactly.
SPEAKER 11 :
When I am back in the White House, I will immediately end the Biden border nightmare that traffickers are using to exploit vulnerable women and children. We will fully secure the border. I will wage war on the cartels just as I destroyed the ISIS caliphate, 100 percent gone, 100 percent destroyed.
SPEAKER 18 :
By the way, I want to stop it real quick. I thought that was a really interesting thing to say, too. He's mentioning how he wants to secure the border. There will be people that will be deported. All this stuff that winds up getting him attacked as a racist or whatever. And he says that he would actually fight the cartel. My wife is from Mexico. Her family still lives there. I've been there a tremendous amount of times. If the United States actually did directly fight the cartel more significantly than they've done so far, which sounds like a tremendously challenging thing for a variety of reasons... It would be good, not just for the people of the United States, but for the people of Mexico. So I thought it was interesting to put that right in the middle of this part of the statement, because essentially you're saying something that would be wildly popular with our neighbors to the south, using our military, our resources to fight the drug dealers and horrible people that exist and have an overwhelming amount of power in the south. Continue.
SPEAKER 11 :
They'll come back now because we have a weak administration. I will use Title 42 to end the child trafficking crisis by returning all trafficked children to their families in their home countries and without delay. And I will urge Congress to ensure that anyone caught trafficking children across our border receives the death penalty immediately.
SPEAKER 18 :
Look, I got to be honest. even though he's being used by some on a certain side of the aisle as being like too extreme, too crazy, too insane. And honestly, I'm Catholic and I'm not trying to throw my faith into the equation, you know, for no reason whatsoever. But the death penalty is a tricky one for people to talk about in general. But when you talk about kids specifically and people who would traffic or harm children, The idea of putting those people to death or having the death penalty be the punishment to deter that type of thing is something that I think a lot of Americans actually would agree with because even, and I've quoted it a couple times now and I probably shouldn't, but my faith keeps making me think of it as a thing. The Bible has a quote from Jesus about how people who harm kids deserve to be thrown to the bottom of the ocean. So even biblical scholars would say that there was some sort of universal, not the death penalty per se, but some sort of universal acceptance and belief that those who harm children are the uniqueness and worst of sinners or criminals that exist in our society. So again, it's going to be covered as this horribly radical thing that gets said, but if it's actually designed to truly protect children, I wonder how many parents are really going to be upset when they hear that message said in that way. All right, quick break, a lot more. This is Craig Collins filling in on The Dana Show.
SPEAKER 02 :
Our partners that help bring you the program, someone new to the show, Preborn is a great organization that works with women who are choosing life. And when they partner with these women, so what they do is they offer ultrasound so these women can see their babies and hear their heartbeats. And when that happens, a baby's chance at life doubles dramatically. and with uh pre-born you can double your impact with matching gifts because every dollar you give is doubled through a matching gift opportunity and the financial support that you help provide directly provides ultrasounds counseling life-saving care for mothers and their babies in need and right now you can make the great greatest investment for your year-end write-offs by choosing pre-born and through a match your gift is doubled so you're saving even more babies. And Preborn doesn't just stop with ultrasounds. They partner with women up into the toddler years with diapers and car seats and maternity, the whole nine yards. They really meet women where they are and they serve. All gifts are tax deductible. Preborn has a four-star charity rating so you can give with confidence. It's simple to donate. Visit preborn.com slash Dana or dial pound hashtag 250 and say the keyword baby. They're wanting to reach the goal of 1500 ultrasound sponsorships. That's preborn.com slash Dana dial pound 250 keyword baby.
SPEAKER 10 :
Lights are going up. Snow is falling down. There's a feeling of goodwill around town. It could only mean one McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing.
SPEAKER 14 :
McRib is here. At participating McDonald's for a limited time.
SPEAKER 01 :
Welcome to Pro Tips for the Pros, brought to you by Floor & Decor Parsippany. In this series, we'll explore essential advice for professional contractors to deliver outstanding renovation results. Let's dive in. Before starting any renovation project, take the time to plan meticulously. Assess the customer's needs, budget, and timeline to ensure a smooth and successful renovation process. Thank you for joining us for this pro tip on planning thorough renovations. Stay tuned for more expert advice, brought to you by Floor & Decor Parsippany.
SPEAKER 03 :
A lot of people tolerate ordinary. Ordinary bathrooms, kitchens, entryways. Well, not on your watch. If you're a pro, you've got a new partner in town. Floor & Decor. From tile to wood to stone, Floor & Decor has more styles and job lock quantities of Schluter, Mapei, Ladecrete, and other brands pros trust. Come see a whole new way to wow with Floor & Decor. Now open in Parsippany.
SPEAKER 13 :
Make some common sense of the crazy headlines with the Dana Show podcast. Your on-the-go guide for getting up to speed on today's most important stories. Subscribe on YouTube, Apple, or your favorite podcast platform.
SPEAKER 18 :
This is the Dana Show. My name is Craig Collins filling in. Let's try to do a real quick Quick 5.
SPEAKER 04 :
And now, all of the news you would probably miss. It's time for Dana's Quick 5.
SPEAKER 18 :
All right. First, an Amazon driver abandoned 80 packages in the woods in Massachusetts because he said he was stressed with holiday deliveries. You probably shouldn't be an Amazon driver, especially in December, if you're going to get stressed out by having too many packages in the back of your vehicle. And you also shouldn't ditch them all in the exact same place for cops to find them and be like, hey, what happened here? Easy case for them to solve, by the way, because you left all 80 things in your own route, not even that far into the woods. So you didn't even do that part well. But luckily, that's why people were going to get their stuff just after Christmas, because cops found a bunch of unattended packages just lying around. Another story out there, flight times are indeed getting longer. People might think that their flights are taking longer, that everything about flying is getting worse. They're right about that. About 20 minutes longer on average. mostly because of the increase in amount of traffic in the air, causing people to take less direct flights or circle longer around airports before landing, etc., etc. This is something that people would like to have fixed. Also, the amount of carry-on luggage that's gotten so large that it feels like regular luggage out of people taking up all the space in the overhead bins. Another complaint about airlines. But those are things out there that apparently are actually happening. Another story of a couple that went viral saying they moved to one of the most remote islands in the world. It's so far from society that they have to spend six months planning and then purchasing items to have them shipped in time for things like Christmas. You're buying all your Christmas gifts in June to make sure that they get there in time. But they said they would not go back to regular society, regular civilization, that it's so much better where they're living now being away from everybody and everything. I imagine there's a whole lot of people that agree with them that that kind of makes sense. For whatever reason, it might be maybe a humbug to some of the family members, but you can't go anywhere because you're in a completely remote area. And then finally, one last thing, a survey found that people over the age of 55 are still very active in the bedroom. I don't know how to say that cleaner for the radio. Surprising to the people who are studying this is the amount of 55 and older who once a week have a romantic time. They're saying that this is a combination of different things, but maybe also just the fact that, and this is the uplifting part of it, the best is yet to come. Yes, I could have made dirtier jokes. I didn't make any during this whole segment. But your life will not get, you know, less interesting. It might get more interesting as you get older, especially if you even wind up living in a retirement home where apparently a lot of the romance is occurring for people over the age of 55. Something that might haunt your dreams is a piece of information. If you started to think about your own family members above that age group, I apologize for it. But, hey, good for them. Quick break. A lot more. Craig Collins filling in on The Dana Show.
SPEAKER 10 :
Lights are going up. Snow is falling down. There's a feeling of goodwill around town. It could only mean one thing. McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing.
SPEAKER 14 :
McRib is here. At participating McDonald's for a limited time.
SPEAKER 01 :
Welcome to Pro Tips for the Pros, brought to you by Florin Decor East Brunswick. In this series, we'll explore essential advice for professional contractors to deliver outstanding renovation results. Let's dive in. Keep the work area clean and organized throughout the renovation process to create a positive impression and minimize stress for the customer. Regularly clean up debris and dust to maintain a safe and comfortable living environment. Thank you for joining us for this pro tip on planning thorough renovations. Stay tuned for more expert advice brought to you by Flor & Decor East Brunswick.
SPEAKER 03 :
A lot of people tolerate ordinary. Ordinary bathrooms, kitchens, entryways. Well, not on your watch. If you're a pro, you've got a new partner in town. Floor & Decor. From tile to wood to stone, Floor & Decor has more styles and job lock quantities of Schluter, Mapei, Ladecrete, and other brands pros trust. Come see a whole new way to wow with Floor & Decor. Now open in East Brunswick.
SPEAKER 13 :
Not able to catch The Full Dana Show? Follow Dana's Absurd Truth Podcast and get news and laughs delivered in short, easy-to-digest episodes. Ideal for your busy lifestyle, on Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.
SPEAKER 18 :
This is the Dana Show. My name is Craig Collins filling in. Dana is back just after the holidays. Thrilled to be with you. You can find her DLash or DanaLashRadio on X on Twitter. The Hill is resurrecting a very weird argument that Congress should prevent Trump from taking office. This is something that Jamie Raskin has talked about before. The moron who sometimes has a bandana on the top of his head. But anyway, Jamie Raskin has said how, you know, this could be a move that Congress makes. I can play the old audio of him making the argument. What's so interesting to me, though, is every time that Democratic talking heads or whoever they are want to essentially fulfill a conspiracy theory. If you're someone who believed the 2020 election was stolen from Trump or at least some stupid stuff or weird stuff or stuff that should have been illegal but was claimed wasn't happened, you are not alone. You're very much in a giant group of individuals. And so if Congress attempted to block Trump from becoming the next president in the final hour, at the last minute, in whatever way they attempt to do it, according to The Hill or anyone else, how they could try to do it, it would fulfill another of those conspiracy theories that people think and also things that they yell and scream about when Democrats hear that Republicans say, you know, this is something you might do. How dare you, sir, say those things right up until they really want to do it. But here's Raskin again talking about this idea that has been resurrected today by the Hill.
SPEAKER 12 :
what can be put into the Constitution can slip away from you very quickly. And the greatest example going on right now before our very eyes is Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which they're just disappearing with a magic wand as if it doesn't exist, even though it could not be clearer what it's stating. And so... You know, they want to kick it to Congress. So it's going to be up to us on January 6th, 2025 to tell the rampaging Trump mobs that he's disqualified. And then we need bodyguards for everybody.
SPEAKER 18 :
And so I hear I got to stop it right there. So the felony conviction is part of the reason that they're trying to say that Trump is disqualified, which is amazing for a variety of reasons. The first one being Trump getting into office after that happening to him. Just one case, just 30 something charges for the same crime, all of which is almost always a misdemeanor. But in the case of Trump, for some reason, was inflated to a felony and then found guilty in a courtroom in New York, although it's likely to be overturned. if it actually doesn't just get fully thrown out at some point. But that would disqualify him from being the president, according to Raskin and according to The Hill, and that they would essentially prevent him from taking power, which would cause a lot of people to go, well, insane. This wouldn't be a good thing for our country. It would be a horrendous thing for our country, especially since so many Americans voiced their opinion and saying how little they thought of that case or any of the cases against Trump to begin with. based on still electing him into office after they happened. But this is a real thing. It's out there as of six hours ago. It's an opinion piece in the Hill. And I don't know. You know what it really says to me? And it's something that a lot of people on the left would put their noses up and, you know, be mad about if someone on the right said, you know, I don't think the 2020 election was entirely fair or whatever version of that you might say. The people on the left would say in response to you, wow, you're such a sore loser. Wow, get over it. Get over whatever it is that you're upset about that you think was a problem that caused the election not to be won, or at least in general, a tremendously higher amount of people to turn out than turned out this past election, which is weird, isn't it? That all of a sudden you have numbers similar to what we've seen in the past, as opposed to the one election in 2020, where a whole bunch of mail-in ballots made the turnout ridiculous. That's just strange. But nonetheless, I don't care. I don't want to have that argument or dive any deeper there. I just want to say that it's amazing that these same individuals would also advocate for preventing Trump from becoming the president when he was elected by the people and even won the popular vote. The most significant thing, I don't know if significant is the right word, but they think it is, that Democrats try to do to conservatives is complain that they don't win the popular vote. when they win the presidential election, but Trump won it. He got the most votes out of anybody, even though they say he didn't win the popular vote because he didn't get 50% of the votes, depending on who you ask, if it's 50 or if it's just under it, which is so stupid. Some of those arguments are so dumb. But this is uniquely risky to me or stupid to me for a variety of reasons. Because you just don't care about being a hypocrite. Truthfully, there's no way you can say this stuff and just even remotely care about if people see you as just full of crap when your side doesn't win a thing. And actually, there's another example of that. This is a talking head on CNN. Her name is April Ryan saying that, you know, Biden is protecting the checks and balances system that was created by our founding fathers by trying to preemptively stop Trump from doing certain things or whatever that might be. Even though that's very far from checks and balances, because as she states, Trump is going to have Congress with him. He's going to have the House and the Senate aligned with him as far as, you know, the are in front of all their names, which means they're likely to work well together. And so Biden has to do as much prevent defense as he can, which isn't the checks and balances. that she's actually advocating for, that would be if the legislative and executive branch didn't agree on stuff, which, uh-oh, she seems to admit they're going to in just a month or so.
SPEAKER 07 :
The president, this president, Joe Biden, did not want to give President-elect Donald Trump a chance to add more conservatism into our courts, bottom line. I mean, you have so many people talking about how everything is weighed down right now. The White House on January 20th at noon will be Republican. The House, Senate, what? Republican. And the Supreme Court leans Republican. So this president wanted to ensure checks and balances. He is that standard bearer from what the founding fathers put in place. He wants checks and balances and he wants to make sure everything goes well.
SPEAKER 18 :
he doesn't want checks and balances because if all three branches of the government are likely to work well together on something, and it's not something where Trump forced people to vote certain individuals into power in the house or in the Senate. And I know Trump got, I guess, lucky if that's what you want to call it in the amount of appointments he got to make to the Supreme court. But I will tell I'm blue in the face, actually tell people that the Supreme court makes a lot of left-leaning decisions that you'd be surprised they make is those don't make the news. Yes, they make right-leaning decisions too. Yes, some of those get heavily talked about, but there have been several decisions by this Supreme Court. Just look them up for yourself that wind up aligned with democratic ways of thinking and not conservative ways of thinking. Conservatives have lost arguments. It's not like it's a rubber stamp version of a part of our system and it gets acted like. It is. The judicial system is definitely not one that is heavily controlled by just conservative mindsets, even if it has more conservatives than liberals on it, although they're not exactly. Anyway, I digress. What I think is crazy about that is to call this checks and balances. It's the same thing as when Biden said he would not pardon his son, Hunter Biden, for crimes that he was found guilty of. Felonies as well, by the way, that he was found guilty of. Joe said he wouldn't do it. He wouldn't do it. And people praised him for being presidential and understanding that you're supposed to be above the needs of your family. et cetera, et cetera. And then he did it. And then he went ahead and he's like, and I pardon him anyway. And I pardon him all the way back to 2014 for crimes he has or hasn't been accused of, which was sort of nuts. It also made you think like, hey, what else did Hunter Biden do that you're aware of that some of us aren't as aware of yet that you're trying to protect him from also getting in trouble for? That's insane. But nonetheless, like these kind of things, they just happen all the time. And so it's amazing to desire so badly to think that you're the good guys, which I think happens not just for politicians, but more for voters on a certain side of the political aisle, that you will listen to anything and you will believe anything as long as part of the argument is, and we're doing this because we're the good guys, regardless of how much it makes us absolutely seem like the bad guys to everybody but us. And it doesn't matter. We're the good people. We're doing things for the right reasons. Everyone look away. Another story out there that's been a big deal. That boxer, the one in the Olympics who got a whole lot of discussions about her because she had male chromosomes in her body. Essentially, a lot of people calling her dude. I'm not going that far not to try to be woke or anything like that. As far as I understand the story at this point, all this time later, is she was born both male and female. And I don't really know how to understand that situation more. If she has a biological advantage, which it sounds like she did, she probably shouldn't be boxing in women's athletics as no one who has a biological advantage should be allowed to compete. But it's uniquely different than some of the discussions we talk about, as woke as it sounds, to say if you were born both. I don't know how to say that different, and I'd rather not talk about it any longer than I already have. But making her the number three female athlete of the year seems ridiculous. And that's what the AP did. They voted her the third most important female athlete. If you were a female athlete that didn't have a biological advantage tied to you because you're actually fully female, then you're not going to be so thrilled. that someone who would not fall into that same category just beat you out as a better female athlete than you. It's the same discussion you have all the time. You can make this simple. You don't have to make this sound like it's a thing where even though I'm accused of being hateful, hate's actually involved. It's just matter of fact. I don't want my baseball players taking steroids because I think it creates an unfair advantage for the people who are on steroids because they have a medical, a biological, whatever you want to call it, you know, a thing that they're putting in their body that's making them more capable than people who aren't doing that. The same is true in these cases, even in the case of this woman, this boxer who went viral during the Olympics because she was disqualified from a previous event for having male chromosomes. Now, again, I'm not going as far as to call her a dude because I guess she was raised her entire life as a girl. Because, again, when you're born with both, I guess somehow that decision is made somewhere. But she's certainly someone who deserves to have the discussion about whether or not a biological advantage precludes her from the ability to compete in a sport where she's beating the crap out of other people. And even more than that, you know, getting named athlete of the year or one of the athletes of the year seems like a slap in the face to a whole lot of other people. You can say that, all of that, and not be hateful. I know, shocking. And I know some people think I was just weak and overly woke in what I said there. Hey, I can't help it, man. If you're raised your entire life As a woman, some part of me actually respects the idea of calling that person a woman, even if I can say out loud they also potentially have chromosomes that make it unfair for them to fight in a fight against a fully biological woman. All right, quick break. A lot more. Craig Collins filling in. This is The Dana Show.
SPEAKER 10 :
Lights are going up. Snow is falling down. There's a feeling of goodwill around town. It could only mean one thing. McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing.
SPEAKER 14 :
McRib is here. At participating McDonald's for a limited time.
SPEAKER 01 :
Welcome to Pro Tips for the Pros, brought to you by Florin Decor East Brunswick. In this series, we'll explore essential advice for professional contractors to deliver outstanding renovation results. Let's dive in. Keep the work area clean and organized throughout the renovation process to create a positive impression and minimize stress for the customer. Regularly clean up debris and dust to maintain a safe and comfortable living environment. Thank you for joining us for this pro tip on planning thorough renovations. Stay tuned for more expert advice brought to you by Floor & Decor East Brunswick.
SPEAKER 03 :
A lot of people tolerate ordinary. Ordinary bathrooms, kitchens, entryways. Well, not on your watch. If you're a pro, you've got a new partner in town. Floor & Decor. From tile to wood to stone, Floor & Decor has more styles and job lot quantities of Schluter, Mapei, Ladecrete, and other brands pros trust. Come see a whole new way to wow with Floor & Decor. Now open in East Brunswick.
SPEAKER 04 :
It's his life mission to make bad decisions. It's time for Florida Man.
SPEAKER 18 :
That's right. It's time for Florida Man on the Dana Show. My name is Craig Collins filling in. Dana is back after the holidays. First, this is, I guess, a Florida people, more than just one Florida man. But a guy named Sam, who's 22 years old, went viral on the Internet. He went to Reddit specifically to complain. He's actually the manager at a frozen yogurt stand in Florida where he said multiple employees who were Gen Z, much younger, say 15, 16 years old, had marked bills fake that were not fake, $10, $5 bills, things that were older than, say, the late 90s. So they look different than the bills of today, but were definitely real, actual currency. They even wrote things on them in black Sharpie, like fake, do not accept, fake, reject, et cetera, et cetera. And the guy is really upset. He's like, why do they not know that these are regular bills? I know this is a Florida story, but this probably happens other places too. Not a great look. Figure out what a bill looks like from pre-1999 before you reject it and write all over it because people were trying to pay with actual money and had it confiscated, which probably made people go nuts. But then eventually the guy steps in and fixes it. That's one Florida story. Another one involves a gym teacher in Florida, in Scheffner. This guy was arrested after he shoved a student to the ground. The reason the gym teacher did it, and he shoved a 12-year-old, he said was that he had a dodgeball thrown at him. Apparently the kid did it by mistake, or even if the guy did it on purpose, the 12-year-old child, it's a ball. You'll be fine as a teacher, and I can't believe this would be the first time this has ever happened. But the guy got mad, and in response to that, shoved the kid. That is child abuse, and you go to jail for that. Now, granted, pushing a kid down, if it's the only time you've ever done anything remotely bad as a gym teacher, it does feel like the kind of thing that maybe some leniency could be found in the court system itself. If you're the parents of the kid, I don't know if you feel that way because he got shoved to the ground, could have gotten hurt, didn't. But all of this being over a thrown ball is one of the more hilarious and dumb things I've heard in the world. The teacher's name is John Steele. He lost his cool and obviously probably shouldn't be a gym teacher if you can't be hit with stuff during gym class. That feels like a prerequisite of the situation. And then one last Florida guy story. This one out of Indian River County in Florida. First, a guy got arrested for being just a piece of crap. He got arrested on a domestic violence phone call in which it seemed that the woman actually was injured. So the guy's just a piece of crap. That part's not funny or amusing. It's just a reality. this 42-year-old dude off to jail. They have to do a search of his body at some point to see if he's got anything he shouldn't have before he gets checked into the night or hopefully a while into prison. And apparently, and this is a quote, he had cigarettes hidden between his genitalia. I can't clean that up for radio. That's the way I got to say it. I don't know what that means, and I don't want to know what that means. I know what I think between could mean, but the fact that they were less specific about the other part makes me curious as to where it was going or what was being hidden. When asked why he took that, something that was not allowed in the jail, with him on his person the way he did, he said he wanted to smoke him when he got to jail because he wanted to think about what he'd done, which does not make it any more allowed. If you're trying to say that these are cigarettes I'm going to smoke to reflect on the decision making I've made in life. So that's why I hid them there, officer. It doesn't wind up being less illegal. This is still very illegal. He added another charge to the crimes against him for trying to smuggle contraband into a facility. But that is that is something. And the fact that the cops said they just got a sense that something was off with this guy. I don't know if it was the way he was like walking, depending again on where things were hidden or the decision making beyond it. And the guy is uniquely a piece of crap for hitting a woman. But nonetheless, or at least accused of hitting a woman, I should say, although they found the woman with visible reasons to think that this was going on. But nonetheless, beyond that too, it's just the fact that you thought you were going to get away with this. I don't know. I don't know why you thought this was something that they wouldn't be able to figure out at some point down the road. And luckily they did. And it just adds to the issues for this Florida man. And also I do wonder about one thing, like when you hid this, the place that it was hidden, because it sounds like the cops were there for a decent amount of time and you were being talked to and then arrested. So it had to be hidden before they showed up. which adds a whole bunch of layers of questions to this conversation that I don't want answers to. I don't want to know why somebody would just assume, hey, I'm probably going to jail later today. Might as well hide these things in this spot just in case, because I would like to have them if I am in prison later. A unique piece of crap there for a variety of reasons. Also thinks he's part of a mafia that doesn't exist, but I'll get to that some other day. Greg Collins filling in on the Dana Show. This is the Dana Show. My name is Craig Collins. Filling in. Thrilled to be with you. Dana back just after the holidays. D-Lash or Dana Lash Radio. Great ways to stay connected to her. Someone actually, this is the Daily Caller, did a deep dive into the biggest lies that Corinne Jean-Pierre told. During her time as the White House press secretary, lots and lots of fibs and incorrect information shared by this White House press secretary, even though she told the press that she would tell them the truth. That was the big thing that was going to change between her and people who had that role when Donald Trump was last in office. A terrible, horrible person that is Donald Trump, according to a whole lot of people on the left. Several lies are pretty interesting. Of course, saying that Joe Biden was the candidate and not going to drop out of the race is one of many that wound up being untrue. One of my favorite ones that was listed here was when a neurologist had visited the White House and Corinne Jean-Pierre tried to say with a straight face to the American press that it had nothing to do with any concerns about mental health. uh, for Biden or dementia claims or any of that stuff. It was just, it's, you know, uh, normal is the kind of thing that happens all the time. It was preplanned. Wasn't, we didn't even really need to do it. We just kind of did it. That was amazing. That was not true. Um, but then the best one and the one that most people are citing as the most egregious lie, uh, although to be honest, uh, She was told this so many times by the president who would say it as well out loud that she was just kind of echoing a message that she was somewhat convinced would actually wind up being true. However dumb that was to believe this. But she said several times that Biden would not pardon Hunter.
SPEAKER 19 :
But from a presidential perspective, is there any possibility that the president would end up pardoning his son?
SPEAKER 05 :
No. I just said no. I just answered.
SPEAKER 20 :
The president would not pardon or commute sentences for his son, Hunter. I just want to make sure that that is not going to change over the next six months. The president's saying he would not.
SPEAKER 05 :
It's still a no. It's still a no. It's still a no. It will be a no. It is a no. And I don't have anything else to add.
SPEAKER 18 :
Except it's a yes. Except that's what you want to add later on after this happened. That goes on. There's like a two-minute video viral online right now resurfacing of all the times she said no to that one. But just one of several. Lies that was told by this White House press secretary and not even done well. The real knock on Corinne Jean-Pierre, and I know people get mad if you call her a DEI hire, even though the Biden administration for anyone they put in any position that was a minority or anything else, the Biden administration told us about it. They said, look at this person who's breaking this barrier. And one of the reasons we put them into this position is You can't ask for credit for doing something a certain way and then claim that's not the reason you did it. You can't say, no, she fully deserves the job, but also we gave her the job because of this, because that kind of shoots the first statement in the face. More than anything, what Corinne Jean-Pierre was really bad at, that even Jen Psaki was better at, was lying convincingly. or lying in a way that made some amount of sense, or dodging questions in a cyclical statement of word-vomity stuff that at least you thought might have answered the question. It was too transparent too often when Corinne Jean-Pierre was lying, or when Corinne Jean-Pierre was struggling to answer a question. And her favorite thing to say in most press conferences was, I've got nothing for you on that. I'll have to get back to you. You have to check with somebody else about that sort of thing, which really doesn't give you any sort of confidence that any of the information you're being given is, well, a valuable, important or even accurate. That was a constant complaint as well of this White House press secretary who stayed in the position. Far longer than people thought she should have stayed in that position. But the biggest reason why she was there was probably the other thing that we're not supposed to talk about, the DEI hire part, which also made her harder to fire, I imagine. If you want the political win for your side of the aisle, however weak or strong it is, of putting someone in a position that you're happy to be there for reasons other than their job performance, it's also hard to fire them when the job performance is not living up to whatever expectation you had. All right. There's something else I want to play. I kind of contemplated not playing this audio today, but I do want to rip it apart as just a tremendously dumb. And so for that reason, I guess we're going to play it. A joy read of the failing MSNBC. Its ratings are in the tank, as most reporting is saying. And Elon Musk is at least jokingly contemplating buying it, which would be hilarious. If that happened, I can't help but laugh when I say that. But Joy Reid is throwing out a new theory. First, people on the left were trying to get under Trump's skin by claiming that Elon Musk is really the president and that he's not calling him President Musk and whatnot. So much so that Trump did respond to it in a statement over the holiday. saying out loud that Elon can't be the president because he wasn't born in this country. So maybe that ends part of that discussion. Maybe not. Elon also tweeted out that anyone trying to bridge a gap between him and the president or the president elect will fail. because that's the whole reason for that rhetoric is just to try to create some sort of distance between the world's richest man and the owner of one of the most influential social media platforms in society and the guy who will be the world's most powerful man, or at least if you're not Joe Biden, you wind up being powerful because you lead the United States of America. So there will be a lot of interesting intersection between those individuals. But Joy Reid wants to go a step further and accuse Trump and Elon of listening to somebody else somebody who's definitely not a person that we would want in charge of our country. Here's her conspiracy theory.
SPEAKER 22 :
An interesting development that may have changed the calculation a little bit today, that we found out that Trump, our would-be strongman, is in a sense answerable to a bigger strongman, not Vladimir Putin, Elon Musk, who also allegedly, at least according to reports, has lots of conversations with Putin. What does that do to the calculation on how Americans should deal with Trump?
SPEAKER 1 :
Nothing.
SPEAKER 18 :
First, I want to answer the question myself. Nothing. She goes on to say that she thinks Elon Musk secretly is having, you know, conversations with Vladimir Putin that shapes what Elon Musk thinks about stuff, meaning Putin is pulling Elon strings and then Elon is pulling Trump strings. It's so stupid. It's so dumb. The biggest reason why it's dumb is no one who's even remotely familiar with Donald Trump, the person, thinks he can be manipulated by anyone. A case in point, and Joy Reid would be thrilled to talk about this, which makes me not all that thrilled to bring it up, but is the 2020 election. The biggest defense Trump was going to use in any courtroom anywhere in the world to why he did any of the things he did, if they were going to claim they were illegal, is that he believes the 2020 election was stolen. He still believes that right now. And even if people told him it wasn't, he didn't care because he thought that what he was seeing was different than what they're seeing. Now, I'm not trying to relitigate that discussion with you. I don't care to anymore. Trump's back in office in 2024. And if there's proof of certain things that we haven't seen before, I very much hope that Trump demonstrates that proof and releases that proof. But nonetheless, what I think is amazing, and Elon Musk is the same way, by the way. He feels like a fairly confident person now. So it's amazing to think that anyone, Vladimir Putin or anyone else, could just willingly control these guys to the degree that they do or just, you know, trick them into following their advice all the time. There is one caveat I'll say to this. I'm sure it's backing up Joy Reid's statement, or at least what she thinks is true. Trump has made jokes about wanting to buy Greenland, and apparently media in Russia, state media, said it was a great idea. They threw their support behind Trump owning Greenland or the United States owning Greenland through a deal with Trump. Now, what's interesting about that, too, is that there would be another president at some point to come along that you would assume Putin would get along with way less than he gets along with Trump. And we would still own Greenland if we got to purchase it while Trump was in office. So it is interesting, for whatever reason, Russia would support that and believe that maybe they can make better deals with us than with anyone else as far as the resources that exist there. But it's just fascinating to me because anything like that might back its way into being a Well, this means that this is what Putin wants all along, even though a whole bunch of people would say it would benefit the United States for us to own Greenland or to own other places. Not that I think it's going to happen. Greenland is not for sale. But nonetheless, it's just amusing and sort of amazing to me that these kind of conversations happen and that people like Joy Reid can float insane conspiracy theories and not be called out for them. And then the minute that a conspiracy theory exists on the other side can attack it as though it's the most insane thing they've ever heard, as if that actually makes sense. The whole like, you know, you can't scream a fire in a movie theater, even though you actually can. That's a misunderstanding of how that actually works. And she seems to be screaming it on the daily, but then also yelling at anyone else that she accuses of screaming a fire in a movie theater. All right. I want to play this audio, too, just because I mentioned Greenland. I find it interesting. Scott Jennings, a guy on CNN who says a lot of stuff that the rest of CNN hates him for saying, said that he'd love it if Trump took over Greenland, bought it from Denmark, because it'd be great for us.
SPEAKER 19 :
Yes, we need Greenland. Greenland is an amazing thing to have. It's like you ever play Monopoly? You know, like the first row of properties like that are cheap. Maybe I don't need you need those. Those are vital properties. I am for Greenland. I wanted him to do it before. I want him to do it now. And I am personally and on television applying to be the military governor of Greenland. if in fact we do take control of it.
SPEAKER 18 :
Yeah, I don't think that's going to work out. By the way, I don't know if I would equate it to like the cheapest properties in Monopoly. It's going to cost us like $1.7 trillion to buy Greenland, even if it is cheap compared to other places, territories, parts of the world. If Denmark actually put it up for sale, it still feels really expensive. So I think I would equate that more to the boardwalks and park places of the world than anything else, just because the number is too high for me to consider it one of those purple ones at the beginning. But anyway, Scott Jennings offering to have his services tied deeply to Greenland, if so desired. And again, even Russia on board with that plan, which are possibly or probably convinces Joy Reid that that's what's going on. It's all a dirty plan. And Putin's actually in charge. Four more years of Russia, Russia, Russia would be incredibly annoying, but it's probably likely to happen, and we'll see how many of those desperate moves are made by the side that is so, so upset that someone's about to take power in about a month. All right, quick break. A lot more. Craig Collins filling in on The Dana Show.
SPEAKER 10 :
Lights are going up. Snow is falling down. There's a feeling of goodwill around town. It could only mean... McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing.
SPEAKER 14 :
McRib is here. At participating McDonald's for a limited time.
SPEAKER 01 :
Welcome to Pro Tips for the Pros, brought to you by Floor & Decor Parsippany. In this series, we'll explore essential advice for professional contractors to deliver outstanding renovation results. Let's dive in. Keep the work area clean and organized throughout the renovation process to create a positive impression and minimize stress for the customer. Regularly clean up debris and dust to maintain a safe and comfortable living environment. Thank you for joining us for this pro tip on planning thorough renovations. Stay tuned for more expert advice brought to you by Floor & Decor Parsippany.
SPEAKER 03 :
A lot of people tolerate ordinary. Ordinary bathrooms, kitchens, entryways. Well, not on your watch. If you're a pro, you've got a new partner in town. Floor & Decor. From tile to wood to stone, Floor & Decor has more styles and jaw-block quantities of Schluter, Mapei, LATICRETE, and other brands pros trust. Come see a whole new way to wow with Floor & Decor. Now open in Parsippany.
SPEAKER 13 :
On the go and need a quick news fix with a fun twist? Follow Dana's Absurd Truth Podcast for bite-sized, informative episodes perfect for your busy schedule on Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.
SPEAKER 18 :
This is The Dana Show. My name is Craig Collins filling in. Time for a quick five.
SPEAKER 04 :
And now, all of the news you would probably miss. It's time for Dana's Quick Five.
SPEAKER 18 :
That's right. First, apparently, according to at least one quote unquote expert, although I'm not sure this guy's an expert in anything. If you want to make New Year's resolutions that work, turn them into a goal bingo board this holiday season. Meaning you put all the goals up on a board and every time you get a bingo by putting a row or something in there, you get some sort of prize that you give yourself. I think you could just award yourself without the bingo concept if you need a prize to do stuff. But the New Year's resolution bingo board is an idea that's out there. I think ABC News reported on it in the morning with one of their moron experts who said this would work somehow better than something else. Another story that I love a lot, granted a little bit older from December. is about a sweep-free encampment that popped up near City Hall in San Francisco. This was billed as a place that the police had promised not to sweep, not to essentially remove people from. Two days after it popped up, police swept it and removed everybody from the area. The thing that organizers did not tell anyone is that they kind of hoped that sweeps free would be a thing they could just say that the police would follow and not something that they'd actually agreed upon with the police about. That does not work. If you just advertise a location as something, hey, they're going to leave us alone here. They don't actually listen to you as if you make the rules, and they don't. A fisherman hooked a woman that was drowning. He actually tried to cast his fishing rod on purpose. He didn't catch her with the hook in the body. It actually stuck to her jeans pants. and he was able to reel her into safety. This is a real story that happened. I think it happened in South Africa. When the woman got to waist-deep water, other fishermen jumped out of their boats and helped her get out. This guy missed an opportunity. He should have taken a photo with the lady holding whatever version he could of the string, the fishing line that attached her to his fishing rod, because that's the best catch he'll ever have in his entire life. He literally caught a woman I don't know if she's single. I don't know what's going on between the two of them now. But he saved her life. She was drowning and authorities weren't able to respond quick enough. The dude reeled her in. By the way, if I was ever saved by a guy that was fishing, I would never tell anyone. That would be the kind of secret that would die with me because of the amount of embarrassment I would feel for being reeled to safety. But darn it, if you're dying, you don't care. And I'm sure she didn't care. And she might have posed for the photo. So again, the biggest miss in the internet is that we don't have that photo of the two of them standing next together and him holding her up like he caught her because darn it, he did. All right, two other things out there. A living Nostradamus, a dude from Brazil who apparently claims to have predicted COVID-19, the death of the Queen of England, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other stuff, has made his predictions for 2025. Three of them have made the news. He thinks that humans will get genetically modified to be resistant from diseases. That'll happen this year. That sounds interesting. He also thinks the robot uprising will happen. Artificial intelligence will be out of control. And the digital apocalypse is upon us all this year. Oh, and then also aliens. We're going to make contact. So a lot of things happening, according to the Nostradamus who made other predictions for 2025. I feel like he's the kind of guy that says a lot of really crazy stuff. And then if one of them works out, says that's the only thing he predicted. But he's pretty much throwing everything at the wall. with those three predictions. If they all happen, darn it, I'll be thrilled that Trump's president for that stuff. Because I did say my biggest disappointment if we had contacted aliens during the last four years is how terrible the press conference Biden would have done, but how glorious it would be with Trump if he's standing next to an alien. Depending on how the alien feels about him, I feel like it could go any way we want it to go at all. And then one last one that I guess I'll get to a little bit later on. Schools in places like Poland are convincing teachers to be ready for fights by giving them gun training. Doesn't seem so bad. It seems to be working there. More on that in a bit. Craig Collins filling in on The Dana Show.
SPEAKER 10 :
Lights are going up. Snow is falling down. There's a feeling of goodwill around town. McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing.
SPEAKER 14 :
McRib is here. At participating McDonald's for a limited time.
SPEAKER 01 :
Welcome to Pro Tips for the Pros, brought to you by Florin Decor East Brunswick. In this series, we'll explore essential advice for professional contractors to deliver outstanding renovation results. Let's dive in. After completing the renovation, follow up with the customer to ensure their satisfaction and address any remaining concerns. Provide maintenance tips and guidance to help them preserve the results of the renovation for years to come. Thank you for joining us for this pro tip on planning thorough renovations. Stay tuned for more expert advice brought to you by floor and decor East Brunswick.
SPEAKER 03 :
A lot of people tolerate ordinary. Ordinary bathrooms, kitchens, entryways. Well, not on your watch. If you're a pro, you've got a new partner in town. Floor & Decor. From tile to wood to stone, Floor & Decor has more styles and job lock quantities of Schluter, Mapei, LATICRETE, and other brands pros trust. Come see a whole new way to wow with Floor & Decor. Now open in East Brunswick.
SPEAKER 13 :
Keep your finger on the pulse with the Dana Show podcast, delivering timely news with insightful analysis. Whenever you want, straight to you on YouTube, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
SPEAKER 18 :
This is the Dana Show. My name is Craig Collins filling in. Thrilled to be with you. Bunch of stuff to talk about. There is some debate online about a story that happened in Houston, Texas just about a day or so ago. So a group of kids is the way they're being referred to by mainstream media, although even though they're ages 12 to 14, they were holding guns and robbing people at gunpoint. But these group of individuals walked up to a man and attempted to rob him at gunpoint. He happened to be a gun owner himself and defended himself by shooting three of the people that were threatening to kill him. Now, granted, since the ages of the kids, again, how they're being referred to in media, is 12 to 14, a big fallout portion of this conversation, even if the man acted legally in defending himself when he was standing there with people pointing guns at him, is because one of the people is in critical condition. But the discussion becomes like, did this man do something wrong? Because the age of the victims or the age of the people who were the criminals in the case has become at the forefront of the discussion. I'll play some audio of it first, then I'll react to it. But I do think that there's something sort of insane about the way this discussion is going, where you have to remove one variable in order to even get to the place that a lot of people are getting to. But here we go.
SPEAKER 21 :
Amy, in the course of the investigation, deputies learned those kids were just between the ages of 12 and 14 years old, and they tried robbing a man with a gun. Deputies say at least three of those kids were shot. One of them is still in critical condition.
SPEAKER 18 :
By the way, there were multiple guns recovered at the scene, not just the one used by the man defending himself. So multiple of these 12 to 14 year old people was holding a gun when they came up to rob.
SPEAKER 21 :
At last check, when Harris County Sheriff deputies showed up here, they found one of the kids with several gunshot wounds. He was taken to a nearby trauma center in critical condition, as I just mentioned. And as paramedics were attending to him, two other kids were found with gunshot wounds. Both were taken to the hospital and are stable. Shortly after that, the suspected shooter, who deputies believe the teens were trying to rob, returned to the scene and turned himself in.
SPEAKER 18 :
And by the way, they then cut to audio of a neighbor. And this is what's really interesting about this story. It is Texas. It is a place where you might assume that people are more likely to have a gun than, say, other parts of the country where it's harder to have a weapon to defend yourself legally. Those who do it illegally never care about the laws. And, of course, 12 to 14, not allowed to have guns, but they do. But here we go.
SPEAKER 15 :
I heard some gunshots, sounded like they were basically at my front door. And of course, as you can see from behind me, they were down the rail a little bit. To be frank and honest with you, I grabbed my gun, which is in a holster, and walked outside to see what was going on.
SPEAKER 16 :
It is believed the incident occurred due to an attempted aggravated robbery.
SPEAKER 18 :
Yeah, so I'll stop it right there. First, I'm not surprised that more people are holding guns. The other guy's like, well, I grabbed my gun to protect myself. Second, this is uniquely sad. I'm not going to pretend it's not, but we've seen a lot of stories out there where younger and younger people are committing crimes like this. 12 to 14 years old is not as abnormal as it used to be, especially when it comes to like, you know, stealing cars, joyriding in them and causing all kinds of damage and potentially putting people's lives at risk. You're seeing lots of stories of younger people doing that. But you are seeing violent crime, gun-related crime, and even shootings between people in those age groups, too. So what do you do? I'm a lawful gun owner, proud to be a gun owner, and someone that's learned how to shoot over the last couple years. And if you're holding a weapon to defend yourself in case someone threatens you, And three or four people walk up. I'm not sure exactly what they look like because the individuals haven't really been shown on any sort of camera that I've seen. So I don't know if they look their age or if they look older. I don't know if that's something that runs through your mind when you're thinking, is this person going to fire on me even though they're threatening to? I don't know. at what point it would be justified in the average everyday American's mind for an individual to think that they were in harm's way. But I would think that it's justified because someone's pointing a gun at me. And one of the first things you do learn if you are someone that takes any level of like gun class, I'm not talking about like, you know, cops or military and the level of training they get, but just regular everyday training. And one of the things that you're told is if you point a gun at someone, you should be willing to fire it. So don't point a gun at anyone that you're not willing to fire upon is part of the reason that you never point a gun at anybody in your day to day life, even if you think it's not loaded or something like all of those things. So if people are pointing a gun at me, I would assume they're willing to fire. And if I have a way to defend myself, I would think that it was my right and it is my right to do it. So. This conversation is causing a whole lot of fallout and other discussions, and I doubt that there will actually be any charges against the man, but some demand for that simply because of the age of the individuals. And you can't change other people's behavior no matter how much you want to. What I mean by that is just because these people are 12 to 14, and you might know somebody that's also in that group that you couldn't even imagine being in a situation where they'd threaten harm with a gun on someone else. It doesn't mean you can add those attributes to these individuals who made this choice. They acted like adults, whether they are the age of adults or not in the crime they chose to commit. And the way in which the response to the crime happened is one that again, and I don't mean this, you know, trying to be judgmental or whatever you'd say it is, but, uh, but Texas is a place where more people are likely to defend themselves this way. And that I think is actually a good thing. And it would be a deterrent to people doing this to begin with, although it wasn't a deterrent for these young men, but three out of four individuals were shot one in critical condition. Last I saw, I'm not sure if still in critical condition now, but a big story and a one that a lot of, you know, regular everyday people are reacting to online with different takes. All right. There's another story out there. That's fairly big. I'm not trying to do this story woke. I have no reason to be afraid of saying it differently. I just truly believe this to be the case. So I'm going to refer to it the way that I think it deserves to be referred to as far as the individual in this story. So there is a woman who was a boxer that made a whole lot of news as part of the Olympics because she's got male chromosomes. The way that that happened, as far as I understand, and the reason I call her a her is because she was born with both. She was born a way that very few people are ever born and then raised as a girl. So I will refer to this individual as a woman. However, I will admit easily, as anyone should, that you have a biological advantage in boxing against women if you have male chromosomes in your body, which is a thing that she has. So anyway, she was named the AP third place female athlete of the year. She didn't get first or second. Thank God. Like when Caitlyn Jenner, I think, won female of the year a while back, which was odd. But she got the third most significant female athlete. And that's got to make people mad who, I don't know, don't have male chromosomes in their body and feel like, how did I lose to this person? But anyway, that was almost like a Seinfeld moment. I was trying not to. Well, he would never joke about that. But the sound of it. But nonetheless, what I what I don't understand about this, what I don't get about this is how we can't have that conversation, you know, in that way. And you can say it whatever way you want. Call her a man if that's your prerogative. I don't really care. I'm not telling you not to do stuff. But what I am saying is that if you're sitting in front of people and trying to explain to them why you think something is unfair. And all you have to say is there's a biological reason that someone can't compete with somebody else. That should be enough to win the argument that this is unfair. It's the same thing. I've equated it before, and I'll do it again, to taking steroids and baseball, which I'm very against. And I love baseball. People who took them had an advantage, medicinal, I don't know, as biological, but yeah, over people that weren't taking them. He got bigger, stronger, recovered faster, all that stuff. Those are some of the caveats of this discussion. It just can't be had in our society without a whole bunch of people yelling like racist, sexist, homophobic, whatever you want to yell. And then other people give awards. to individuals. That again, if I was the father of a female athlete, or if I was a female athlete, which is a weird sentence to say, I'm not, I can't be, I got male chromosomes. But nonetheless, if I was, I would be very upset that she won third and not me, because I'm without the male chromosomes that she has. But that was a big story that's out there that's all over. It just seems stupid. Honestly, it seems like it's a way for us to argue and create more controversy anyway. to have those discussions when they don't need to be had and to try to fight each other over stuff that isn't terribly important to most of the people who have the loudest voices. Again, if you're actually an athlete or the parent of an athlete, you have a reason to be in on this fight. If you're everybody else, I don't really know what the point is to be yelling and screaming about it. I'm not telling you to shut up. And I'm sharing my opinion. And I didn't fall into those categories. But nonetheless, I don't get part of how these topics wind up dominating what a lot of people talk about. Like you could sit down at Christmas dinner or Thanksgiving dinner earlier this year or be around people for New Year's Eve. This story could come up. You'd want to say a tremendously rational thing. And I don't really think it's fair if there's a biological advantage for one person and not the other. And people would just attack you. They'd go, how dare you say those things out loud that are true as statements and not at all inaccurate as statements. How dare you say them because they mean something else. I think that's the problem, and I've complained about this before. A lot of times in these discussions, people want to add some words that you may or may not even be saying because they want what you say to mean something worse than just being simple matter of fact. Men and women are different is a simple statement of fact. It's not anything other than that. All right, quick break. A little bit more coming up. Craig Collins filling in on The Dana Show.
SPEAKER 10 :
Lights are going up. Snow is falling down. There's a feeling of goodwill around town. It could only mean one thing. McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing.
SPEAKER 14 :
McRib is here. At participating McDonald's for a limited time.
SPEAKER 01 :
Welcome to Pro Tips for the Pros, brought to you by Floor & Decor Parsippany. In this series, we'll explore essential advice for professional contractors to deliver outstanding renovation results. Let's dive in. After completing the renovation, follow up with the customer to ensure their satisfaction and address any remaining concerns. Provide maintenance tips and guidance to help them preserve the results of the renovation for years to come. Thank you for joining us for this pro tip on planning thorough renovations. Stay tuned for more expert advice brought to you by Floor & Decor Parsippany.
SPEAKER 03 :
A lot of people tolerate ordinary. Ordinary bathrooms, kitchens, entryways. Well, not on your watch. If you're a pro, you've got a new partner in town. Floor & Decor. From tile to wood to stone, Floor & Decor has more styles and job lock quantities of Schluter, Mapei, LATICRETE, and other brands pros trust. Come see a whole new way to wow with Floor & Decor. Now open in Parsippany.
SPEAKER 13 :
Make some common sense of the crazy headlines with the Dana Show podcast. Your on-the-go guide for getting up to speed on today's most important stories. Subscribe on YouTube, Apple, or your favorite podcast platform.
SPEAKER 18 :
This is the Dana Show. My name is Craig Collins filling in. Thrilled to be with you. A bunch of stuff to talk about and very little time left to do it. I do love this story as far as stuff I left on the cutting room floor until now, or at least I think I did. A kid wrote an angry letter to her parents after she found out something about Christmas that she thought was true, was in fact a lie. Someone that's not real. So she went to the parents. She asked a question after a little boy in school told her some things. And when they admitted to her that, yes, that's not in fact real, that this is a lie, she said, I need to collect myself. I need to take some time in her father's den and write a letter. And so she wrote a message to her parents calling them backstabbers, liars. and saying that she'll never trust them again. It's actually kind of adorably sad. She said her heart was broken to learn the truth, but also that she now knows that people would lie to her for as much as eight years, her entire life, before she finds out the truth. She was very upset. To say the very least, the parents are amused by it. The kid will eventually get over it, of course, and at some point it'll probably be used. I think the parents even responded to a social media reaction to the story by saying that they are going to frame it and roll it out at the wedding to show how passionate their young child is about a lot of things, including the truth. But it reminded me of something else that's gone viral on social media. just because I think this little kid would love this audio. Kamala Harris back in 2017 got mad at the idea of people saying Merry Christmas. And this audio went viral this year on TikTok with people laughing at the fact that she almost became our president and that she had some hot takes on a whole lot of things when she was a senator out of California. But this is the audio. You can find it all over TikTok, all over social media of people even pretending to say it themselves or laughing and reacting to it. And this little eight-year-old girl definitely needs her version of the video up where the letter gets posted and you hear this.
SPEAKER 06 :
And when we all sing happy tunes and sing Merry Christmas and wish each other Merry Christmas, these children are not going to have a Merry Christmas.
SPEAKER 18 :
No, she's not the eight-year-old.
SPEAKER 06 :
How dare we speak Merry Christmas? How dare we? How dare we?
SPEAKER 18 :
No, no, no. Kamala, please stop. How dare we speak Merry Christmas to each other? How dare you? How dare I? How dare anybody? The kid who's calling her parents backstabbers and liars probably feels the same way that the, you know, vice president does, which is saying something about one of those two individuals. And it's not the eight year old kid. Another story I saw, it's an op-ed, I think it's in The Guardian, was about how virtual reality has gotten more convincing. This is a technology guy who writes about this stuff. He said many of the glitches of virtual reality have been removed. He actually can now work in a virtual reality space where he puts on goggles and thinks he's sitting at some other desk somewhere and interacting. And he said that this is a tipping point. That we're about to be in a situation where more and more people might embrace virtual technology because of how convincing it is. I don't think that's a good thing. I don't think any part of that's going to be a good thing. I think we're barreling toward more and more bad things and not good things. And eventually we'll be like the movie WALL-E when we're all just riding around in our own chair that's doing our own virtual reality stuff and no idea what real life is like. You already have people that claim they can't have face-to-face conversations. I don't think we should make it worse by going this road with it instead of any other road with it. But darn it, this guy is saying that things are getting better in that field of that technology. So expect more, not less, in the future. And I feel like this connects to the guy I mentioned a little bit ago. the Nostradamus dude from Brazil that said that we're likely to have the robot uprising happen this year. I know this is a hell of a way to end the show, hell of an uplifting thing, but nothing sounds worse to me than robot uprising plus virtual reality, because then we just become the Matrix. That movie just becomes a real-life thing then for us, and that's not good. I feel like that didn't end well for anybody involved, but maybe I don't remember all the three movies as well as i thought i did uh but they're out there and they're a thing and we can check on them because at least one an ostradamus person is saying to pay attention uh one last story really truly last story it's about humbug woman uh there was a woman that went viral on social media because she said she wanted some free gifts from her local church for her kids she said she's in need of the free gifts she however didn't like the idea that she'd have to attend church to get them, which seems uniquely strange. She said in order for the church to know that she needs the gifts, she'd probably have to go, and that members of her community urged her to go to church to be a part of the service to then get free stuff from the church. And she said that's inappropriate. How dare charity have strings attached to it, like going to an hour of mass once in order to get free stuff from a church that you don't actually go to, that you want free things from, which is insane, by the way, to me. I think that this is the most bah humbuggy thing of any bah humbug I've heard. I don't think it's that big of a deal. If you actually had to attend a service, even if you don't agree with or believe in anything or walk out of that church feeling any different about anything, if you're asking for free stuff from them and you're not on their radar already, I don't know why you thought you would be. But I love how angry she is. Like, how dare I have to do anything? I want the free stuff and I want it for no reason whatsoever except for the fact that I need it and I'm telling you I need it and therefore you should give it to me. I am happy that a lot of people online did react by saying she was nuts and saying she was insane and saying it doesn't seem like it's that big of an ask as far as anything else is concerned and maybe at some point later on if you even develop a relationship, even if you don't change your religion and go to the church, then maybe you could donate toys to other kids if you wind up in a better situation in the future. All these are possibilities. If you just go to church once for one hour and then leave with a bunch of things. But again, she said that that's inappropriate and not what should be the rule at all. And darn it, she wants these things to change, which is the society we live in, people. It's horrible in a lot of ways, but it is what it is. All right. That's it for me for today. I am back with you guys tomorrow. Dana is back after the holiday. Thrilled to be filling in for her. DLash or DanaLashRadio. Great ways to stay connected on X on Twitter. Craig Collins filling in on the Dana Show.
SPEAKER 10 :
Lights are going up. Snow is falling down. There's a feeling of goodwill around town. It could only McRib is here. People throwing parties, ugly sweaters everywhere. Stockings hung up by the chimney with care. It could only mean one thing.
SPEAKER 14 :
McRib is here. At participating McDonald's for a limited time.
SPEAKER 01 :
Welcome to Pro Tips for the Pros, brought to you by Floor & Decor East Brunswick. In this series, we'll explore essential advice for professional contractors to deliver outstanding renovation results. Let's dive in. Keep the work area clean and organized throughout the renovation process to create a positive impression and minimize stress for the customer. Regularly clean up debris and dust to maintain a safe and comfortable living environment. Thank you for joining us for this pro tip on planning thorough renovations. Stay tuned for more expert advice brought to you by Flor & Decor East Brunswick.
SPEAKER 03 :
A lot of people tolerate ordinary. Ordinary bathrooms, kitchens, entryways. Well, not on your watch. If you're a pro, you've got a new partner in town. Floor & Decor. From tile to wood to stone, Floor & Decor has more styles and job lock quantities of Schluter, Mapei, Ladecrete, and other brands pros trust. Come see a whole new way to wow with Floor & Decor. Now open in East Brunswick.
In today's episode, we present thought-provoking sessions from the Pray, Vote, Stand Summit, highlighting critical cultural topics. Engage with the panel featuring detransitioner Walt Heyer and Dr. Jennifer Bowens, as they tackle the complexities of the transgender movement, uncover the deeper issues of trauma, and discuss the importance of addressing these challenges with biblical compassion. Through eye-opening discussions, our speakers provide a comprehensive overview for those seeking to navigate and support vulnerable populations in today's cultural landscape.
SPEAKER 11 :
from the heart of our nation's capital in Washington, D.C., bringing compelling interviews, insightful analysis, taking you beyond the headlines and soundbites into conversations with our nation's leaders and newsmakers, all from a biblical worldview. Sitting in for Tony is today's host, Jody Heiss.
SPEAKER 17 :
Good afternoon and welcome to this special edition of Washington Watch. I'm Jody Heiss, the Senior Vice President here at the Family Research Council and President of FRC Action. So honored to be filling in today for Tony and glad to have you on board with us as well. We hope you all had a very, very Merry Christmas. Well, today we want to bring you some special content from our most recent Pray, Vote, Stand Summit. Now, for those of you who may not be aware, the Pray, Vote, Stand Summit is our annual event that draws Christian voters from literally all across America to our nation's capital. And the summit addressed many important issues. It included sessions with political as well as theological experts who talked about things like Israel, education in America, corporate wokeism, global governance, the war on women, and so, so much more. It was absolutely a phenomenal event. Well, today we're going to share with you two sessions from that summit. One is the session featuring children's rights advocate Katie Faust, who spoke on the threats that are facing our children today. The second is a panel discussion on the transgender movement, and it featured the transitioner and senior fellow here at FRC, Walt Heyer, as well as Dr. Jennifer Bowens, who's the director of FRC's Center for Family Studies. And like all the speakers did at the summit, Katie, Walt, and Jennifer really knocked it out of the park. So we've got a great show coming your way today. And of course, if you miss any portion of it, you can always catch it by going to our website at TonyPerkins.com. All right. As I mentioned, this past October, we held our annual Pray Vote Stand Summit. That would be by FRC as well as FRC Action, drawing Christian voters from all across the country to our nation's capital. It was spectacular. Again, among the speakers at the summit was Katie Faust, founder and president of Them Before Us. That's a global movement that strives to put children before adults in every conversation about marriage and family. And in her address, Katie talked about the threats facing children today and how many of the issues that we're fighting today are the same issues faced in the early church in the first century. Let's start with her discussion on parental rights. Here's Katie.
SPEAKER 13 :
Children's family is also under threat because parents' right to their own children is being threatened. specifically by schools who seem to answer the question to whom do children belong with the word us. The left seems to think that children belong to the schools, the doctors, or the community. And really what that means is the activists. That's what it means. But children have a right to their mother and father and mothers and fathers have a right to their children. And that is being threatened, unfortunately, by the schools that we send our kids to so much of the time. It's also threatened by laws such as in California and Minnesota that will remove children from the homes of parents that do not consent to child sterilization and mutilation in the name of transgender treatments. So when it comes to voting, what are we supposed to do? We vote for candidates and policies that always reinforce the parent-child relationship because there is no substitute for it. Children's minds are under attack. Children actually have a right to innocence. And this is not something that a lot of people have had to argue about in the past. But children have a right to not have innocence violating sex ed curriculum forced on them in fourth grade. They actually need protection from pornographic library books. Kids can't defend that themselves, right? We have to do that for them. Children's minds are being victimized by a lot of the materials that we are siphoning into their worlds through curriculum. Children's minds also need to be protected by pornography. Right now, the average first age of looking at porn is the age of 12. Pornography can very easily turn into an addiction and has significant impacts on children's development, emotional and psychological health. We have got to start standing up to big tech as it relates to porn. We have got to advance laws that require age verification so that a 10-year-old boy cannot look at more naked women before his feet hits the ground in the morning than most men have ever seen in their lifetime. This is child victimization on a mass scale. So how should we vote if we want to protect children's minds? for candidates and policies that support school choice so that kids can get out of bad schools and into schools that are serious about protecting their innocence. And we need to vote people in who are talking about the harms of porn and their willingness to protect kids from it. Children's bodies are under attack. Their bodies are under attack, and Vanessa just talked about that. It is a very serious victimization that we haven't seen for about 2000 years, because it's not the first time we've distorted children's bodies for the sake of adult servicing ideologies. Children's bodies are being victimized. They are not being transformed from a boy to a girl. They're being transformed from a healthy boy into a boy that will be a lifelong consumer of cosmetic surgery and big pharma. That's what transgender treatments are. These children, two-thirds of whom suffer from all kinds of comorbidities, that is other psychological disorders, depression, suicide, dissociative disorders, unresolved trauma, are now still going to have to confront those mental illnesses, but they're going to have to do it with a body that is dysfunctional. It is going to go down as one of the greatest medical scandals of our time. We have to fight against it. children's bodies are also being threatened when their sex-segregated spaces, such as locker rooms, bathrooms, and changing rooms, are being determined who can use them based on gender ideology or gender identity rather than biology. Why is that such a risk to kids? Well, when you look at the numbers, a trans woman, that is a man who is masquerading as a woman, is 131 times more likely to sexually assault, commit sexual assault, than an actual man, than a man who is not masquerading. And about 630 times more likely to assault that child than a real woman. There is something, and a lot of people don't like to say it, but I'm gonna tell you, there is something about the cohort of men especially who adopt a transgender identity, who are more likely to victimize others, And we should never put them in spaces where there are no windows and locked doors. We simply should not. So when it comes to protecting children's bodies, how should we vote? We vote for anybody that rejects the idea that anyone, adult or child, can change their gender. We simply say no. We say no. So in all of these areas, children's life, family, mind, and body, they are under attack. A lot of people would say that, well, these are political issues. Don't get involved in that. That's politics. And I would say, no. This is actually what the church has been doing for the last 2,000 years. When the church was born into the pagan world, the Roman world, children were being victimized, their life, family, mind, and body. Abortion was rampant. So was exposure. That is allowing underweight, undesirable, disabled, or female infants, toss them into the river, onto the dumpster, allow the elements to take their course or for those children to be ravaged by wild animals. Look what we're seeing today, abortion. And you know what else we're seeing? Exposure. I know in the VP debate, and actually in the presidential debate, that topic came up of letting kids die after a botched abortion, and somehow the fact checkers simply couldn't fact check it. But in Tim Walz's own state, we know, even though he gutted the Born Alive Protection Act, that since he's been governor, at least eight children have been exposed, left to die after a botched abortion. So we are fighting against a lot of the same issues that the first century church came in and beat back when it comes to defending children's right to life. What about children's families? Well, when it came to sexual standards, the standard was the man, the free man of the household could do anything he wanted with whoever he wanted. Women, children, slaves, whatever. Anything that he said was permissible was permissible. So you had rampant child victimization on a sexual level, but also that permissibility, that allowance for sexual congress to take place outside of a married mother and father created a lot of fatherless kids. The Christian world came in and said, no, sex only between a man and a woman. Don't touch the kids. and you need to have sex only with your husband or your wife. What that did is it meant that children born to those Christian homes, at least, were always raised by their mother and father, the two people who are the most connected to, invested in, and protective of them. It meant less children were fatherless. It meant children were not being used as sexual objects. So Christianity was born into a world where simply the sexual ethic, simply the requirement of total monogamy within marriage and chastity and abstinence before marriage massively protected children. What about children's minds? again, rampant sexualization of children, oftentimes lewd displays happening out in public. Christians said, no, no, these are image bearers. They deserve protection. They actually dignified, the first century church actually dignified children to such a degree that some sociologists posit that Christianity invented childhood because they allowed kids to be kids in ways that the pagan culture didn't and wouldn't. And what about children's bodies? Children's bodies were also mutilated in the first century. It wasn't uncommon for a young boy, especially, to be made a eunuch so he could serve in a wealthy household or in government in ways that wouldn't threaten the leadership. Well, I'll tell you, there's an organization, a transgender advocacy group called WAPATH, and they created a new sexual identity two years ago. You know what it is? Eunuch. So what we're facing right now is the same thing that the church eradicated in the first century. We are seeing them all again because Christians have withdrawn to such a degree that our culture is being repaganized. Only Christianity has the answer. Only Christianity dignifies children. Only Christianity insists that their life, family, mind, and body must be protected, not just in our own personal life, but in our political decisions as well. The first century church, they didn't have the power to vote. We do. And I would encourage you to use your vote to do what Christians have always done and advance child protection.
SPEAKER 17 :
That was children's right advocate Katie Faust during the 2024 Pray Vote Stand Summit. You're tuned in to Washington Watch in a special edition. We're glad to have you joining us. By the way, let me just tell you, if you missed any part of the summit, or if you'd like to go revisit some of it, you can do so, but you must have our Stand Firm app first to get that. Go to the App Store or Google Play, wherever you get your apps, or you can also simply text the word APP to 67742. That's APP to 67742. All right, after the break, we'll share another session from the PrayVote Stand Summit, our panel discussion on the transgender movement. So stick around. We'll be back in just a moment.
SPEAKER 04 :
During these challenging times for our nation, Family Research Council continues to serve as a watchman on the wall for faith, family, and freedom. And together, thanks to your support, we're making an eternal impact. 2024 has been another year of shining the light for biblical truth in Washington, D.C. This fall, over 1,000 spiritually active, governance-engaged conservatives gathered for the Pray Vote Stand Summit. to pray for our nation and ensure that the issues impacting sage cons were understood and advanced. Washington Watch with Tony Perkins marked a major milestone this year, its 900th episode, and added the Washington Watch News Desk, a new production that presents the top news each day from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand published 2,000 articles of news, commentary, and podcasts in 2024, garnering over 5 million views. FRC's outlet for news and commentary continues to pursue the truth on the issues that matter most to you and your family. And with the launch of the Stand Firm app, you can listen to, watch, and read our content in one simple place. Pray for current issues, stay rooted in the scriptures, and engage the political sphere with a community of believers on our new platform. In 2024, FRC shaped public policy and culture, organizing the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance, where members of Congress and Christian leaders came together to seek God's intervention in America. In May, FRC called upon believers to pray for and stand with Israel by dedicating a portion of their worship services to pray for Israel's peace, prosperity, and protection. With Pray, Vote, Stand Decision 2024, FRC and Real Life Network led a powerful evening of election night coverage to analyze the election results and pray that our nation would turn back to God. We also filmed a transformative educational course, God and Government, Launching in January 2025, this series will explore the biblical and historical foundations of our government, empowering you to stand confidently in your role as a citizen of heaven and earth. Family Research Council thanks you for partnering with us for another year of standing for faith, family, and freedom.
SPEAKER 09 :
Looking to grow closer to God in the new year? FRC's Stand on the Word spiral-bound journal is here to help. Dive deeper into scripture with thought-provoking questions, note-taking space, and context for each book and author. This second edition, covering Isaiah 2 Revelation, will guide you in tracking your journey through God's word while deepening your faith in Christ. Order now at frc.org slash store or text journal to 67742. Perfect for you and your loved ones.
SPEAKER 17 :
Good afternoon and welcome back to Washington Watch. I'm your host Jody Heist. Our website TonyPerkins.com. Today we're broadcasting special content from the 2024 Pray, Vote, Stand Summit that was held in Washington, D.C. Now in this next part you'll hear from detransitioner and FRC senior fellow Walt Heyer and our director of the Center for Family Studies, Dr. Jennifer Bowens. Now together they're going to talk about what's behind the transgender movement. This is a powerful, powerful segment. Here's Walt.
SPEAKER 16 :
I started the website 16 years ago, almost 17 years ago, Sex Change Regret, because I wanted to find out if I was the only one that had regret. And as I put in the video, 2015, we had 350,000 people come to the website. We've really had over... four or 5,000 people that we've actually helped through our website working with them one-on-one who've come back and restored their life. Four or 5,000 just from one website. So what's been really the key point, Travis, is that when people contact me, I realize that, and I know some people may be, this might be new to you, but when people approach me and they say I'm a transgender, I transitioned, and I have gender dysphoria, I always say, well, you're not a transgender, you never transitioned, and you probably don't have gender dysphoria, but we're gonna find out what happened so that you can be redeemed and restored through the power and grace of Jesus Christ. Because the truth is, Travis, when they find out that it is categorically impossible to change your gender with hormones and surgery, it doesn't happen, that it's all like plastic bananas, that they realize there was something else that happened. My story, I was sexually and physically and emotionally abused as a child. That's not gender dysphoria. That's trauma. And that's where you come in. And that's why our book really points to the issues that are underlying issues. That's what we need to address, not gender. gender dysphoria. They have dysphoria, but oftentimes it's not related to their gender, it's related to something else.
SPEAKER 03 :
Jennifer Wall just mentioned the issue of trauma. Can you share a little bit about how that's related to this issue and even what you've done in your background, how you see it coming to bear on the issue we're discussing right now?
SPEAKER 15 :
Yeah, basically, so I'm coming from the trauma field and all of the issues that sort of manifest as a result of going through trauma are present in the transgender identifying community. And what's disturbing is that none of my colleagues really look at this and are curious enough to say, why is this? Because in the research world, what should be happening is all of these, if we know that trauma is high in a population, what we should be doing is including that variable in every piece of research that we produce. Because it's significant and we need to understand the population well. but not when it comes to the transgender research literature. They don't include it. They're not curious. Why is self-harm so high in this population? And in fact, the very act of gender-affirming care, right, is self-harm, which is an expression of trauma. So that's one of the things that Walt and I wanted to look at and to bring out into the open is what are the manifestations of traumatic stress and what's the overlap there with the trans-identifying population?
SPEAKER 03 :
Jennifer, is it, as you're sharing, I'm thinking, it almost seems like, for those of us who've been following this issue in the media and the culture and the political discussion, it's like we're presented with this idea that the battle is over the trans issue, over using the terms that we've heard discussed, but it almost seems like the real issue, which is not being discussed, is the question of underlying trauma, is the question of how academia has approached the research and how that's filtered into the media and the culture.
SPEAKER 15 :
Yeah, two things here. So one of the main arguments that's given for the trans population is that they have minority stress. So in other words, if you are a person who is a minority, then you're going to be more likely to be bullied. But here again, it goes back to what I just said. You have to parse out what is actually attributed to trauma. And what is something else? Well, this is the same population. It's very often people who are trans identified have trauma, and very often people who have trauma are bullied. So, you know, again, they're not parsing that out. The second issue here with the academy is, I think it's really important to note that 100% of research psychologists have, according to federal election data, have given to a liberal Democrat candidate.
SPEAKER 1 :
100%.
SPEAKER 15 :
92% to about 96% of psychologists and social workers are giving to a liberal candidate. So what does that tell you? It tells you that the interventions that are researched to intervene for any type of mental health issue or those intervening and the actual workers who are implementing those interventions are probably from a liberal mindset, right? So this is our opportunity, and this is the call for many of us here, which is why Walt and I produce this research. A lot of times on our side, we're responding to a discourse rather than creating a discourse. And what we want to do is we see a population that is vulnerable, that has been taken advantage of, that has no means of intervention, because once they go through gender-affirming care, there's no insurance to go through a detransitioning process. There is no insurance to cover the trauma that happens to someone who's been told by the medical community, this is the way you're going to get better. build that lie, there's no answer for them. There's no insurance code to go through that. So this is where we as the church of Jesus Christ have a grand opportunity. Because for one, people are looking for compassion. They're looking to be heard. We are in a mental health crisis and we can be that answer to that mental health crisis by showing the true answer, not another ideology that's gonna lead people down a path that is basically leading them to the need to have another solution. So that's really the heart of why we're writing this, is one, to understand, to bring to light what are the true issues behind the transgender movement, but also as an opportunity for us to really connect and get our own issues, you know, kind of dealt with. Because we can only give away what we ourselves have received. You know, freely you've received, freely give. And as we become healthy people, it becomes really attractive to the world. And then we're able to intervene in a really great way.
SPEAKER 17 :
You're tuned into a special edition of Washington Watch. We've got much, much more coming your way after the break. We'll continue the discussion in just a second.
SPEAKER 07 :
So if you like to think and you like to pray, FRC is the place for you. I think it is the best program out there.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah, I've absolutely loved my experience interning at FRC.
SPEAKER 07 :
They really are making waves out in the political world and doing it from the light of the Lord. It's really humbling for me as a college student who has been involved in the life movement for only a couple of years to be able to witness it alongside of some of the people who have spent their entire lives fighting. A huge thing that sets FRC's internship apart from others is they are looking for what they can pour into you instead of what they can get out of you. I have talked to so many of my friends who have interned. other places and they're responding to emails or taking phone calls and doing things like that but here we get real hands-on experience and get to talk to important people and do important things that we get to see the impact of
SPEAKER 06 :
The throne of Jesus Christ is unchallenged. His name was never on the ballot to begin with, and it's never gonna be on the ballot. He's the King of Kings, and He's the Lord of Lords, and nothing's gonna change that. And so our mission stays the same, preach the gospel, make disciples, get ready for heaven. In the meantime, that we're to advance the concerns of the kingdom of God here on earth.
SPEAKER 05 :
America has entered a critical and vulnerable period from now until January the 20th. Join Family Research Council for Operation Prayer Shield, a 10-week prayer initiative for our nation. From now until January 20th, our country faces global challenges, a transition of leadership, and a lame duck session of Congress. This season calls for heightened spiritual vigilance, discernment, and prayer. Text the word SHIELD to 67742 to join us. You'll have access to prayer points, scripture, prayer calls. Text SHIELD to 67742. Unite with us and pray for our nation.
SPEAKER 17 :
Good afternoon, welcome back to Washington Watch. I'm your host Jody Heiss filling in today for Tony and glad to have you with us as well. All right, today we're broadcasting content from the 2024 PrayVote Stand Summit. In the last segment, we shared the panel discussion featuring detransitioner Walt Heyer and Family Research Council's Dr. Jennifer Bowens. Now in this next part, we'll continue with that discussion, starting with a question by the moderator, Travis Weber, on the resource that Walt and Jennifer worked on together. Here's how that went.
SPEAKER 03 :
These are issues that many of us might think, well, how do I navigate that? This leads me into this question of, I'd like you to talk about the resource you guys are producing, Bracing God's Design. And just to set the stage, this is a resource that Jennifer and Walt are co-producing, drawing from each of their backgrounds. with an eye towards every aspect of a crisis, with an eye towards something for every person who wants to help themselves or others address this. So I'd like to talk about this a little bit and just explain for folks what's in this new resource you guys are developing.
SPEAKER 15 :
Yeah, so we definitely aimed to address the spiritual side as well as the psychological. So we've been talking a lot about trauma. But I think, first of all, just to say, God divinely connected the two of us. And I mean, you just can't make this up. I mean, we can share offline about God's genius because we couldn't have orchestrated this if we tried. My background is in trauma counseling in more of a secular setting and doing research, teaching at Rutgers University. But I also taught in a seminary context. And so what I've done, my history is melding those ideas together with pastoral counseling, but also the knowledge that I have from the research in the trauma field. And I've helped churches develop teams to be able to intervene and deal with some of the things that a lot of pastors feel ill-equipped to deal with when it comes to trauma. And then the cool thing too is that my comrade here has also worked in churches and has helped be a counseling source
SPEAKER 03 :
So on that, I'm curious, yeah, I'd like for you two to talk. How have you both seen the Lord compound your efforts and what he's given you by working together on this project?
SPEAKER 16 :
Well, I think for me, you know, when she contacted me and said that she wanted to come and talk to me, and I chose to note in my email, and I asked my wife, I said, find out her phone number because I didn't know her. and call her and I got her on the phone and I said, why in the world do you want to come and talk to me? And so that's how the book got started. And so we spent three days together talking about how to develop the book. And I think one of the key things about helping people is changing the language, which you mentioned briefly, is when somebody contacts me and we have a discussion, I always ask this one question. Anybody can do this. I always ask them, what caused you to not like who you are? I mean, that's such a simple question, and it provokes some real interesting feedback. And when we begin to look into this, we find out that something happened to them that caused them to not like who they are. And I learned that from my own experience. And so I think this is where we were able to change the dialogue. Instead of saying, oh, you have gender dysphoria, you're transgender, and you can get take hormones we don't do that at all when i work with somebody i said no you're not you you know so far uh no one has ever changed genders they've changed their persona you can make a man look like a woman you can make a woman look like a man but they can't become a man or a woman if they changed it doesn't happen never happened And it's never going to happen. So I, you know, after eight years of living as Laura Jensen, identifying as Laura Jensen, I went to a gender therapist at Stanford University and stood in front of her and I said, so when does this start to work? I've been doing this for eight years. And the therapist looked at me and said, you need to give it more time. I said, what, nine years, 10 years, 11 years? And so when I took my gender therapist and the surgeon to Superior Court of California in 1990 and asked them to tell the court what hormones and surgery does and how effective it is, they documented it, both signed the letter saying hormones and surgery do not change anybody's gender. It's on file. It's not me making it up. Walker wrote, my doctor wrote the standards of care, the WPAS standards of care. And he's the one that diagnosed me. He got it wrong. And they're getting it wrong every day. We don't, there isn't one person, not one person that needs hormones and surgery for the purpose of changing genders. Never, never, never. The insanity must be stopped. If I had it my way, we would close every gender clinic in the United States and stop this nonsense. We need to get a backbone, and we need to stand up and say we are destroying lives. We are not helping people. I was an associate design engineer on the Apollo space missions when I went through the surgery. I was homeless. within a few months after the surgery, living in a park in Long Beach, and struggled until the Lord came during a prayer that I had, came to me and redeemed my life. And I am so grateful to be here to be able to share that testimony with you today.
SPEAKER 17 :
Well, that was D. Transitioner and FRC Senior Fellow Walt Heyer speaking at the 2024 PrayVote Stand Summit back in October. You're tuned in to Washington Watch. After the break, we'll share the rest of that panel discussion on the transgender movement. So stick around. Much more coming your way here on Washington Watch.
SPEAKER 05 :
Hello, I'm Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council here in Washington, D.C. Behind me is one of the most recognizable buildings in all the world, the U.S. Capitol. What does it stand for? Well, most people say government. But you know, the Bible talks about four institutions of government. You know what they are? And do we have a republic or a democracy? Well, what do you say? Also, what about this thing, separation of church and state? Does that mean Christians shouldn't be involved in government? Guess what? We address those issues and more in our new God and Government course. I invite you to join us to see what the historical record and the Bible has to say about government. Join us for God and Government.
SPEAKER 14 :
Let's not be discouraged. Don't lose heart. Don't lose the faith. Stand now strong because the Lord has given us the great privilege of living in a time when our choices matter, when our lives matter, when our courage matters. So let's stand together and save this great country. God bless the United States of America.
SPEAKER 02 :
The American Republic has a freedom like no other. It has roots in the scriptures far more than any other heritage. And if we as followers of Jesus and conservatives don't defend it, who will?
SPEAKER 12 :
Neutrality is not an option. There are many Christians who believe that if we just keep our heads down, if we just don't say the wrong thing, that somehow we will come out of this unscathed. You're naive if you think that, because what they want from us is not our silence. What they want from us is our submission.
SPEAKER 10 :
Part of the dilemma of Christianity in our generation is that we've relied a little too much on human wisdom and human reasoning, human strength, human resource, and we've relied too little on the power of God and God's ability to open doors that we can't open and do things that we couldn't even hope to begin to do.
SPEAKER 08 :
This may not be an easy task, But we are living in a moment of challenge, but also a great opportunity. And we know, always, that we are not alone, that his spirit empowers us and protects us, and that he can do the unimaginable. Dobbs, after all, was never supposed to happen.
SPEAKER 05 :
Father, we thank you. You have entrusted us with this moment in history, and I pray that we would be found faithful, and that as a result of our faithfulness to you, that thousands, millions would come into the kingdom as they would experience the forgiveness of sin and the new life that is found only in Jesus Christ. Amen.
SPEAKER 17 :
Well, good afternoon and welcome back to Washington Watch. I'm your host Jody Heiss, an honor to be filling in today for Tony. Thanks for tuning in to this special edition. We've been playing some of the highlights from the 2024 Pray Vote Stand Summit that was held in Washington, D.C. Really hope you've been enjoying this special edition. And to close out today's program, we're going to finish up with the panel discussion on the transgender movement that featured detransitioner Walt Heyer and FRC's Dr. Jennifer Bowens. In case you missed the last segment, we'll start off with this next part with Walt's confrontation with his gender therapist after eight years of trying to live as a woman. Here's Walt.
SPEAKER 16 :
You know, after eight years of living as Laura Jensen, identifying as Laura Jensen, I went to a gender therapist at Stanford University and stood in front of her and I said, so when does this start to work? I've been doing this for eight years. And the therapist looked at me and said, you need to give it more time. I said, what, nine years, 10 years, 11 years? And so when I took my gender therapist and the surgeon to Superior Court of California in 1990 and asked them to tell the court what hormones and surgery does and how effective it is, they documented it, both signed the letter saying hormones and surgery do not change anybody's gender. It's on file. It's not me making it up. Walker wrote, my doctor wrote the standards of care, the WPAS standards of care. And he's the one that diagnosed me. He got it wrong. And they're getting it wrong every day. We don't, there isn't one person, not one person that needs hormones and surgery for the purpose of changing genders. Never, never, never. The insanity must be stopped. If I had it my way, we would close every gender clinic in the United States and stop this nonsense. We need to get a backbone, and we need to stand up and say we are destroying lives. We are not helping people. I was an associate design engineer on the Apollo space missions when I went through the surgery. I was homeless. within a few months after the surgery, living in a park in Long Beach, and struggled until the Lord came during a prayer that I had, came to me and redeemed my life. And I am so grateful to be here to be able to share that testimony with you today. Thank you. Thank you. You see, the story is about Jesus. His story is about the power and grace of Jesus. He just used me to tell his story, and I am richly blessed.
SPEAKER 03 :
Amen. Amen. Thank you, Walt. I'd like to talk a little bit about, I mean, Walt, we were praying for your testimony to come through in the resource that you guys are developing, embracing God's design. And it seems to me that this resource is time for the moment our country and the world is in, really, the world is in, with this issue. Because it's spread around the world. It's not just in our country. And so... Jennifer, I'd like to kind of just give folks a little maybe outline of the stages and sections of the resource of just a little bit of what's in there so they know what they can look forward to.
SPEAKER 15 :
Throughout this whole book, you're gonna hear stories like, Walt, we take you through people who've been transformed by truth and by addressing the real issues. And I mean, that's really, that's what Jesus would do. He would speak to the heart of the matter and not to, you know, an illusion. He's gonna dispel the illusion. So really, we start the book out talking about what is God's design? We know what the transgender design is, but what is God's design for family? And God's, the whole reason he created humanity is because he wanted a family. Ephesians 3 tells us that every family who is named in heaven and earth, he is the father of. So the transgender movement isn't about just erasing an individual image of a person. It's about erasing the whole family unit, which from the very beginning is meant to reflect Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So we have family for that reason. They were supposed to be our initiation into a connection and a reflection of how we can connect with all of God. And so when you have a man saying, I can breastfeed my baby, You know, it's a distortion that gets imprinted into that child from very on when really that mother-infant dyad is supposed to point to, as we behold him, we become like him, right? As we behold our mother, we become like our parents. And that's just a reflection. God put that in nature. Everything he put in nature is meant to point to who he is. So, you know, we spend a little time talking about that for those who haven't thought that this is an affront to the very foundation of the family, the building block of our society. And, you know, of course, we give some practical information about how this movement came because we want people to understand that You know, it seems to a lot of us this just came out of thin air, but there has actually been a concerted effort for many years, both in the academy and, you know, in the psychology, the social sciences, and the money funding it. So we do go into that. But then we spend a lot of time talking about gender dysphoria and the psychological issues that surround that. And Walt and I are very passionate about this issue of that diagnosis because even some of our colleagues that would be with us on that transing kids isn't a good idea, there's still this idea that gender dysphoria exists. And we wanted to say, this is a constructed diagnosis. You know, these ideas, everything in fact, you know, I'm in the field and so we use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. And oftentimes what I do when I'm counseling with someone is I pray and ask the Lord to remove every label that has been put on people through diagnosis, through any issue, because we're not, we're child of God. I am not a diagnosis. You are not a diagnosis. We've talked about people who are struggling with alcoholism. You're not an alcoholic. You might struggle with that, but that's not your identity. And so even when it comes to the trans movement, people are clinging to, I'm transgender or I'm a detransitioner. No, you're not. If you know God, you are first and foremost a Christian, and that is powerful. Had he known, he wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory. Why? Because all of these little anointed ones are popping up. So that label of being in Christ is the most important label that we can ever bear. And so even now, I just pray anyone in this room who has received a diagnosis from a psychologist, social worker, I just pray for you right now, for that label to be lifted off of you, and that you would come into the identity of who God has created you to be as a child, first and foremost of God, and that any words that people have spoken over you in this regard would just fall to the ground.
SPEAKER 03 :
Jennifer and Walt, I know the resource you're producing is, we're seeking to help everyone navigate this. So I'm wondering if we can just share the types of people out there who the resource will help. Who is this for? Who will benefit from reading it?
SPEAKER 16 :
EVERYBODY. REALLY. EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT WORKING WITH PEOPLE YOU'LL BENEFIT FROM IT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH DATA AND SO MUCH HISTORY AND SO MUCH CONTENT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY IT AND YOU WILL COME AWAY FEELING LIKE WE DO THAT WE'VE BEEN OFF THE WRONG TRACK FOR A LONG TIME. There really isn't anybody who can't benefit from this, whether you're a therapist, a pastor, grandma, grandpa, uncle, aunt, mom, pop. You're gonna benefit from it.
SPEAKER 15 :
Yeah, I mean, we wrote it to be accessible. I mean, I can geek out with anyone, but, you know, I didn't want to, like, put it so, like, you know, research-oriented, but there's enough research in there that it'll still be interesting.
SPEAKER 16 :
And it's not too technical because I do the writing. I mean, she does the technical writing. I'm just a street drunk, right? And so I can bring that element where that's really what makes it magical. And I think one of the things that's so important, if you don't remember anything else, remember that when we introduce a child or an individual to the idea that they can change genders, we devalue who they are in Christ, right? The second thing is when we give them hormones, we dehumanize who they are in Christ. And when we cut body parts off these individuals for the purpose of changing their identity, we destroy who they are in Christ until the Lord Jesus Christ can come and redeem their life and bring them back to living for Christ.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, I believe there's a graphic up on this side, but if you don't see it, the website is embracingthedesign.org, embracingthedesign.org. You can go there and see what is forthcoming as the resource is finalized, rolled out, and released on that website. Jennifer and Walt, I believe this is going to impact many. It's going to help many. And it's going to serve not only those struggling, but the body of Christ, help walk alongside of those who need help. And so as we get ready to close it out today, I just would like to ask each of you to pray as the Lord leads, but I'd like to pray for... Everyone here, everyone within earshot who watches this and those struggling and really for the Lord to use this to address the crisis. So Jennifer, would you start? Walt, I'll ask you to pray and then I'll close this out.
SPEAKER 15 :
Father, we just thank you that you are the healer, that every good and perfect gift comes from you, Father of lights. And Lord, we just thank you for what you've been doing on this topic. We thank you for the victories and states and the hearts and minds that are being turned back to your design, Lord. And we just pray for revelation to continue to run through our nation, Lord, that people would hunger and thirst to know you and to know the creator and how they've been made. And so, Lord, we ask you that you would use this resource, but you would use, more importantly, Lord, that you would use us to be equipped and ready to receive the harvest. We know that you said, lift up your eyes, the harvest is ready. And so Lord, we ask you today that you would make us ready and that our hearts respond, here am I, send me, Lord. Here am I, send me. So Lord, I pray for your people. I pray that you would begin to stir their hearts today that you would show them their place on the wall in this hour of harvest, Lord, that we would rise up with hope, we would rise up with healing, and we would ride on our God who has healing in his wings. And Lord, we thank you for our nation turning back to you. In Jesus' name.
SPEAKER 16 :
I PRAY THAT WE WILL HONOR AND GLORIFY GOD AND THE POWER AND GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST IN ALL WE DO, AND TO DO THAT, WE MUST PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, NOT ALLOW THEM TO BE CUT UP, CARVED UP, AND FILLED UP WITH HORMONES, AND I PRAY Lord, that we in this group, the people that can hear us today through these prayers have the power to do this and to be able to save our children and save our families, save marriages and save people from totally unnecessary hormones, surgery. And we just pray this in your precious name. Amen.
SPEAKER 03 :
Lord, we thank you for this time, Lord, and I ask that your perfect will be fully accomplished. With Walt and Jennifer, Lord, we ask that the way would be straight. And for all of us, Lord, may we link arms in unity. Lord, coming around, rallying around, Lord, what you are saying about the topic, Lord, as your word goes forth by the power of your Holy Spirit, Lord, we step forth boldly to be of service to you, Lord, stepping into places where you desire to step into, Lord. to take ground from the enemy lord as you lead your people by the guidance wisdom power grace and mercy of the holy spirit lord so i just ask for a blessing upon them right now in this resource lord may your may people embrace god's design as your people display and proclaim god's design so lord we commit this time to you lord may you seal it and send this word forth in jesus name amen thank you all
SPEAKER 17 :
I'm Jody Heist. Thanks so much for tuning in to this special edition of Washington Watch. What you just heard was a panel discussion on the transgender movement that was part of the 2024 PrayVoteStand Summit. By the way, if you want to find out more about the resources Jennifer and Walt worked on, you can visit embracethedesign.com. What a great, great resource that's available there for you. And I also want to encourage you to join Family Research Council in shining the light of biblical truth as we go into brand new year. You have from now until December 31st to double the power of your tax deductible gift to FRC. You can do so right now by simply texting the word LIGHT, L-I-G-H-T, LIGHT to 67742. Well, that's all we have for today. Thank you so much for joining us. Hope you are able to come back with us again tomorrow right here on Washington Watch. God bless you. Have a great evening.
SPEAKER 11 :
Washington Watch with Tony Perkins is brought to you by Family Research Council and is entirely listener supported. Portions of the show discussing candidates are brought to you by Family Research Council Action. For more information on anything you heard today or to find out how you can partner with us in our ongoing efforts to promote faith, family and freedom, visit TonyPerkins.com.
On this episode of Sekulow, we delve into President Biden's controversial last-minute commutation of death row inmates' sentences, a move that has sparked debate across the nation. With only a few days left in his presidency, Biden's decision to commute the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates has been scrutinized for its potential political motivations and timing. Join us as we examine the implications of this decision and its impact on his legacy, with insights from legal experts and guest contributors.
SPEAKER 07 :
Today on Sekulow, Biden disregards crime during his last days in office.
SPEAKER 05 :
Keeping you informed and engaged now more than ever. This is Sekulow. We want to hear from you. Share and post your comments or call 1-800-684-3110. And now your host.
SPEAKER 07 :
Welcome to Seculo and we hope you all had a Merry Christmas, a time to celebrate the birth of Christ with your family and your church and those that you love. And we are talking about today on this day after Christmas, something that may have happened, uh, under the radar for you as you celebrate the holidays. I know many of us don't like to get too bogged down in the news over the Christmas holiday, but President Biden issued a commutation as he's been building up these numbers of commutations and pardons across the last few weeks, which is normal at the end of a presidency when the president exercises the pardon power and commutation power that he has. But this one was a little bit of a head scratcher for many. And this was a statement from President Joe Biden on federal death row commutations. This came on December 23rd, a time when many people are traveling, already spending time with family, getting ready for Christmas Eve services, wrapping presents and the like. And what President Biden did here was he commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row. Now, he's not releasing them from prison. They're not being pardoned. But it's a commutation from a death penalty conviction down to life sentences without the possibility of parole. And at this time, as his legacy is being cemented, as his time in office is coming to an end, it still seems like the president is playing politics with his pardon power and with his executive powers. The 37 of these 40 individuals, three which will remain on death row, are notably Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who was one of the Boston bombers, the perpetrator of the Emmanuel Baptist Church shooting, and the Tree of Life synagogue shooter. I don't even want to say their names because they are horrible criminals that are on death row. And now there is a very lively debate around the use of the death penalty around the world and the federal level. But it is a curious timing that President Biden, decides to commute these sentences of these convicted mass murderers in many cases down to the life in prison without the possibility of parole, with the exception of three, which he gives the explanation of these. These commutations are consistent with my moratorium. My administration is posed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate motivated mass murder. So he has exceptions about something that he is convinced the federal government must stop the use of. We're going to talk about it with Harry Hutchison in the next segment, and we've got a lot more ahead. But it just seems inconsistent and more of a political game to mess with the incoming Trump administration. More than anything. And he does it right during the Christmas holiday. So we'll get into that. And we have a lot more ahead on the show today. If you're watching, go ahead and hit like and subscribe. Leave a comment. Tell us where you're watching from. Or if you have a comment about this, you can also call in at 1-800-684-3110. We've got Rick Grinnell coming up ahead. But I also want to remind you that we are... as this year is almost over, if you can believe it, in the final days of our Faith and Freedom year-end drive. This is the most important month of the year at the ACLJ. It enables us to do all the work you see forward-facing, like this broadcast, like the big victories in court you hear about, but also all of the legal work and analysis and education that we provide here at the ACLJ at no cost to our clients because of those of you that give faithfully to the ACLJ. If you donate today, your gifts are doubled. Go to faithandfreedomdrive, year and drive at aclj.org. You can scan that QR code if you're watching on one of our many video platforms. But donate today, have your gifts doubled, aclj.org. Welcome back to Sekulow. I'm joined by Harry Hutchison here in the studio, and we'll get to that. More analysis of this commutation by President Biden just days before Christmas in just a moment. But I do want to remind you, if you are watching right now, we are in the final days of our Faith and Freedom year in drive. And actually, today begins a triple match. So we have had gifts doubled throughout this match, but because of ACLJ champions and those that provide that matching fund, we are with just five days left Unlocking a triple match. So it's no longer just your gift doubled. A $25 gift now becomes $75. A $100 gift becomes $300. It is your tax deductible gift is triple matched at ACLJ.org. And this provides the funding as we budget into the next year to fight many cases. We'll talk about some of those cases here today. But these cases are fought at no cost to the client. When a track team is told you can't pray by their coach at a public school before your meet. And the courage that it takes for a high school student to say, I know this is wrong. I need to fight it, but I don't know how. That's where the ACLJ comes in. And we're victorious. When we fight those cases, we know we have the law on our side and we know we can take it on. And we know that it's not going to cost those courageous teenagers or in many other cases. And we'll talk about those, too. The individual doesn't have to worry about, how am I going to pay a lawyer to fight for me? They come to the ACLJ and they get those services at no cost to them because of you, the donor who stands up. We had 175 pro-life legal matters this year of 2024, 197 free speech matters that we fought this year. 142 religious liberty matters and 126 legal actions battling the deep state and hundreds more that don't necessarily fit into that clean category of just free speech or religious liberty. But we fight these at no cost to the clients. And that is such a profound impact on our nation, on ensuring that our Constitution is followed, and that these individuals' rights are protected. And it's been a rough time for individual rights and religious liberty in fighting the deep state over these past four years. But just because there's a change in administration doesn't mean that that everything goes away that we have to fight. Many times we have to fight it harder because then it's the individuals at these bureaucracies or these states that don't believe in protecting the freedoms that we have in our constitution that start to go on the offense. And that's why the ACLJ is here. The federal government can do a lot, the new administration, to protect rights and to reestablish the guidepost for how this nation should behave. But that doesn't mean it goes away. That means the bad actors sometimes come out in more force. And that's why it's so important to give today in our Faith and Freedom Year in Drive. Go to ACLJ.org. Have your gift tripled today. and make sure that we are prepared at any challenge that is thrown our way in 2025. But I want to get back to this comment and this commutation by President Biden, because Professor Hutchison, I know there's a very robust debate around the world, in the United States, about even the use of the death penalty. And that's not what this is about in this issue here for me. But what it is about is the Biden administration trying to hamstring the next administration. It's also about the ability of the president to show consistency, which he currently is not, I believe. And it also brings up the issue of where have you been on this issue for four years? Why now, as you try to cement your legacy in what you hope will be a positive one, with just a few days left in the administration? What were your thoughts when you saw this come out over the Christmas holiday?
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, number one, I think it's crystal clear that President Biden's enduring legacy is his ongoing mental decline. And so consistent with his ongoing mental decline, he offers arguably an inconsistent explanation for commuting the death penalty for death row inmates. And you are quite right, Will, to point out there is this huge question out there. Where was Joe Biden two years ago, three years ago, four years ago? He had the opportunity to commute these sentences much earlier. It's important to keep in mind, as you correctly point out, that there is an open debate surrounding the death penalty. One of the arguments against the death penalty has always been the possibility that one of the defendants is in fact innocent. But there's no evidence, at least that I've seen on the record, that any of the commutations that he issued recently fall into that category. In other words, none of these prisoners were innocent, and there's no evidence of innocence which could potentially justify a commutation. But it's also imperative to look at the background. Joe Biden has basically offered a commutation clemency festival. Keep in mind, on December the 12th, he offered clemency to 1,500 inmates. He recently pardoned his son, Hunter, And now he's offering a commutation for 37 death row inmates, notwithstanding the fact that the victim's families have gone through a trial and sentencing phase. And he basically says to the victims' families, I don't care about your sense of justice. So at a minimum, he should have demonstrated that he was willing to talk to those victims before offering a commutation. But I would also quickly add that would be asking too much of President Biden given his mental decline.
SPEAKER 07 :
Well, and there was that – big report out of the Wall Street Journal last Friday, where it appears that the decline of President Biden happened even during the campaign in 2020. And that for four years, he hasn't fully been operating as president. He held far fewer all cabinet meetings than his predecessors. He stopped meeting with the Secretary of Defense regularly, which was happening earlier in the presidency. but people were alarmed at how infrequent it became, especially when there were two global conflicts that America, at least by proxy, was involved in, the war in Gaza as well as the war in Ukraine, and his meetings became less frequent with his Secretary of Defense. And you look at these issues, and it does bring concern, and all of this is hindsight. There is a future ahead with the new administration. But One, it makes you question who is making these decisions, who is calling the shots. But also, if this were something that were a deeply rooted moral issue for the president, as he brings up, that he believes that I'm more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. Well, they did put them on hold. There was a moratorium on carrying out the executions during this presidency, so that is why no one was executed. But then he took the step of granting the commutation of the sentence from a death by execution down to life without the possibility of parole. But once again, if it's that moral issue, and I do believe there are – many, many people, even conservatives, liberal across the spectrum that don't believe, especially as you brought up, because of the issues that can happen in jury trials across this country, that necessarily the death penalty is the right thing for the state to have the power. However, Why, if this moral issue is so necessary at this time, were three left off? We're not going to talk about the crimes that were committed by those that got their sentence commuted, but I read some of them, and they are horrific. But yet, the three... equally as horrific crimes were left their penalty and the others were not. We're going to continue on with this discussion and much more, and you can call in at 1-800-684-3110 to join the conversation. But remember, we are in that triple match. If you donate to the ACLJ today in our Faith and Freedom year-end drive, your gift is effectively tripled. A $25 gift becomes $75. A $100 gift becomes $300. It's important now more than ever. that you join us in this fight as we look forward to 2025, a year with so much opportunity, but also with many, many fights ahead. Donate today at ACLJ.org slash faith and freedom to have your donation tripled. Welcome back to Seculo. We hope you had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas with your family. But we at the ACLJ are back at work. We are wrapping up 2024, which has been a very eventful year. But we also look forward to the fights ahead in 2025. I'm joined now by ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow. We are looking at the fights we have ahead. And you know more than anyone that just because there's a friendly administration in the White House sometimes means that the fights become harder as you fight harder. more localized fights with states, with cities that are almost lashing out at the change in the administration and the way that the country is run. How great of a threat do you see both the deep state as well as just governments on a smaller scale or bureaucrats that want to push back and fight against the freedoms that we celebrate and fight to protect here at the ACLJ?
SPEAKER 06 :
so sometimes and this has been true over many years you'll see that even with an administration that would be more friendly uh obviously in this situation um with president trump incoming president trump but the fact is that the bureaucrats are entrenched and if you look at some of our biggest fights We were in the middle of them. I remember when it went from President Obama to President Trump, we had the IRS targeting cases. And ultimately, it took a while for the new administration, you know, for everybody to catch up to speed. But we were able to get that case resolved successfully for our client because we utilized the benefit. of having lawyers that were taking a fresh look at this now within the government who acknowledged the wrongdoing of the Internal Revenue Service. Well, I think about the, right now, I think about the whistleblowers that we have. And we've been very aggressive in court and fighting back very aggressively. But the fact is now, we can now use other processes internally within the FBI, now that we're going to have a new FBI director and a new attorney general in Pam Bondi, to get justice for clients that have been wrong. I think of Garrett Elboy, I think of a whole group of them. So there's going to be those, but rest assured also, there will be new cases and new issues. I think you're going to see a lot of congressional fights. Our government affairs office is going to be very, very busy, but we also have a great opportunity to reshape the law in a positive direction that literally brings equal justice under the law to everyone. I want to take a moment here on behalf of the Sekulow family, but also on behalf of the American Center for Law and Justice and all of our teams on radio, on government affairs, our lawyers, people that work in the social media to say a huge thank you to our donors who are supporting our ongoing work at the ACLJ. Your donations right now mean a lot because this is literally it. The last five days here are the biggest five days of our year for the ACLJ. So I would encourage you, if you've donated, thank you. If you haven't yet, I encourage you to do so at ACLJ.org because the impact will be great. We're expanding. We have a lot of new opportunities ahead. And I'm excited about what's coming, but we've got to be realistic that these are going to be a lot of fights. And you're right, Will, a lot of these will end up on the local level.
SPEAKER 07 :
And you look at where we were at this point last year when we were preparing to fight at the Supreme Court over the 14th Amendment. And it's just a vast difference of where we were just 12 months ago to where we are today. But that it took that fight of the ACLJ standing with the Colorado Republican Party and also the Trump team fighting for ballot access there as well to even get where we are today. And that's happened this year.
SPEAKER 06 :
I mean, the 14th Amendment case was huge on a whole host of levels. And that was, of course, the idea that you would remove a duly qualified candidate from running for president, which is what the Colorado Secretary of State was trying to do, to win it at the Supreme Court and then ultimately win it overwhelmingly. Everyone recognizing that you can't do what Colorado tried to do. Then you had the immunity case, which we were heavily involved in because as someone who is represented in uh the president while he served as president i know what the demands are like and the idea that um you lose immunity would be ridiculous no president would be free to make a decision that they need to make in protecting the country because everybody there's already enough lawyers involved let me just put it that way you don't need a dozen more but that's the truth uh so those are listen we had a great run at the supreme court this year there's no doubt about it but as i said without the support of ACLJ donors and members around the country. None of this happens. No daily radio broadcasts, no broadcasts on YouTube and Rumble and Facebook and X. None of that happens without the support of the people that are listening to this broadcast or watching this broadcast right now. And we encourage you to support the work of the ACLJ. Look, I mean, we're at a strategic time and you want to take it... In the last administration, obviously, we were fighting the administration a lot. That doesn't necessarily change in the sense of some of the ongoing cases may continue, and certainly in the beginning until the new Justice Department's in place. But we do have great opportunities to get justice, and that's what we're going to focus on.
SPEAKER 07 :
That's right, and that's why we are here broadcasting December 26th to let you know what the fight ahead looks like and also how you can join the ACLJ and take part in this triple match here, these final days of our Faith and Freedom year-end drive. but we also have had many cases that aren't the headline gripping cases that you see like the 14th amendment and things of that nature. But even the ACLJ work continues down where we protect individuals, individuals that, Can't pray at a track meet before a track meet because their coach violates their rights or the student that we finally after years of fighting in Nevada was forced to read that monologue. And we got victory against that school district for that family as well. These victories are very important as well.
SPEAKER 06 :
Oh, listen, that's how we started as an organization was representing individuals. And we still, that's mostly what we do. People that could not afford lawyers that represent a president, but they, because of the generosity of our donors, they can be lawyers that have that kind of skill set let me take it a step further will on you you mentioned the school case and that was a tough case and you know we had a really fight uh to get justice in that case for the student and her mother let me tell you there are other ones we've got a case coming that's out of florida on a prayer meeting that was held a prayer vigil actually for a community that was challenged by an atheist group And we're fighting that out now with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and at the district court and ultimately go to the Supreme Court of the United States. We have a case that's at the Supreme Court right now on pro-life sidewalk counselors. So there is, whether it's at the school board level or the Supreme Court of the United States or the International Criminal Court, which is now officially indicted, The sitting president, Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, the ACLJ, heavily involved in that defense as well. So that's our global offices. Logan has been over in our office overseas and has been visiting there and talked to our executive director, the head of the programming there, and they're doing great work. So there's a lot of activity that goes on, like you said, Will, that you can't report every day because there's so much of it. But that's what we do every single day at the ACLJ.
SPEAKER 07 :
That's right. And we've just got a minute here, but Jay will be staying with us in the next segment as well. So don't tune out and go ahead and give a thumbs up and like and subscribe wherever you're watching. And make sure you go to aclj.org slash faith and freedom to have your donation tripled. here through the end of the year donations will be tripled you're hearing about the important fights that we fight every day at the aclj and as we try to navigate and predict what those fights ahead will be that's where you come in when you donate it helps us budget out for the year it helps us know what areas we can go how aggressively we can fight and we fight aggressively at the aclj So go to aclj.org slash faith and freedom. Have your donation tripled today. We'll be right back with more on Sekulow.
SPEAKER 05 :
Keeping you informed and engaged now more than ever. This is Sekulow.
SPEAKER 07 :
Welcome back to Sekulow for our second half hour of the broadcast. We hope you all had a Merry Christmas with your family and friends. And now we talk about the fight ahead. And we have ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow joining us on the phone. And we've been talking about kind of that fight here domestically but we know the issues whether it be israel you mentioned the arrest warrants by the icc against prime minister netanyahu and even poland recently announced that if he were to go to the memorial at auschwitz they would they would actually have to carry out that arrest warrant because they are signatures to the icc how big of an impact and fight ahead is that for the aclj
SPEAKER 06 :
It's going to be gigantic. And let me just say something. You talk about disgusting. Think about this for a moment. The sitting prime minister of Israel has been indicted on bogus charges. It's nonsense. OK, this was in reference to Israel's response on October 7th. So they're going after the prime minister, who's now told that if he goes to and I've been to the March of the Living, I've been to those memorials. that if he goes to Auschwitz, where relatives of mine and many Jewish people around the world lost relatives, the Jewish prime minister of the Jewish state can't go to the Holocaust memorial because the International Criminal Court in The Hague has indicted him. Meanwhile, every dictator around the globe gets away with impunity. And here, Netanyahu did nothing. So what's the fight going to be like? It's going to be long. It's going to be hard fought. But you've got to understand something. Look, I'm one of the few lawyers that have argued in front of the International Criminal Court in The Hague a couple of times. And it's like nothing else you've ever experienced. We've showed that video before. But we're committed to standing with the Jewish state. We're committed to standing with Israel. And we're going to fight. And I think we will ultimately prevail. But it's going to take time and resources and a big international effort to do it.
SPEAKER 07 :
That's right. And I was even seeing reports, and this goes back to the importance of even this broadcast in the media that we put out. The AFP, the Agents Free French Press, they put out a whole article yesterday about Christmas in Bethlehem because of the war in Gaza. And the entire article just referenced that Bethlehem is occupied by the Israelis and also said that Gaza and the West Bank, the Palestinian territories, are separated by Israeli-occupied land.
SPEAKER 06 :
You know what, Will? It's interesting that the AFP said it, but let's get it a lot closer to home, which is a case we have right now. How about the FBI in the United States saying it? That is real. They recognized the state of Palestine officially as a diploma was handed out to a Palestinian security officer, okay? And it is handed out and they announce it as the state of Palestine, which neither the United States or the rest of the world legally recognizes as a state. So this shows you the level of that hostility. And that's why we're fighting back on the domestic front, because that we send in that Freedom of Information Act request. I am sure they will not respond. And I'm sure we will be in court and we will prevail.
SPEAKER 07 :
We will prevail. And we also know where to direct a new FBI director and administration to be looking.
SPEAKER 06 :
That's exactly right. Look, we have relations with these people. I mean, Pam Bondi was on our impeachment team. Of course, Tulsi Gabbard is a team member of the ACLJ. Rick Grinnell is now the special envoy and is a team member. I mean, think about that for a moment. of the people with the ACLJ that have heavy involvement in the next administration. It's very impressive. It's impressive because God opened doors and our supporters have supported the work of the ACLJ. Let me say this really clearly to everybody. Your support is now more critical than ever. And, you know, we had that Now More Than Ever campaign, which was very successful for the ACLJ. And the truth of that is, this is, folks, we got a moment here where we can see some really great things. We have to seize the moment. And that's where your support comes in.
SPEAKER 07 :
And you can do that today at aclj.org slash faithandfreedom or just aclj.org and have your donation tripled. The impact is tripled. These final days of the year, go to aclj.org slash faithandfreedom. We talked about these matters. We had 175 pro-life legal matters in 2024, 197 free speech matters, 142 religious liberty matters, and 126 legal actions against the deep state. And that's just scratching the surface, folks. We fight every day here at the ACLJ. Join us, ACLJ.org. Welcome back to Sekulow. If you want to have your question or comment on air, go ahead and call us at 1-800-684-3110. I'll be taking phone calls in the next segment of the broadcast. But right now, I'm joined by Rick Grinnell. who has been on this broadcast many times, and we are always happy to have Rick's insight into these many complex issues that we face. But I saw this in The Hill. It seems like the left just doesn't know how to lose, so they have to keep digging up old arguments in trying to stop the Trump presidency. But this headline... Congress has the power to block Trump from taking office, but lawmakers must act now. Rick, I thought this time last year when the ACLJ was preparing to file at the Supreme Court on the 14th Amendment cases and then we had a resounding victory at the Supreme Court, That issue was going to be dead, and we didn't have to deal with that. But it seems like the short-term memory of the left is ever pervasive, and we're seeing now history repeat itself as they try to get Congress to not certify an election, which I thought also was an insurrection. What are your thoughts on this, Rick?
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, first of all, the one thing that we always know that will always happen, death taxes and the hypocrisy of Washington. Politicians will always be hypocrites, and we see this now. If we play by the same rules that they played against us, these lawyers who are filing cases to undermine democracy, this is their words, they should be disbarred. They should be canceled. They should be debanked. That's what they did to us. And while I'm not advocating for that, because I think that it is a reckless trap for America, the reality is that this is what they did to us. And I'm not sure what it's going to take to get them to stop. They started this whole thing, remember, in 2016, which most people forget. 75 Democratic congressmen and senators refused to go to Donald Trump's inauguration. They said it was stolen, it was illegitimate. So they didn't even go. They didn't show up. They boycotted the peaceful transition of power. And it was just a very short time later that they were then screaming about undermining democracy while they were selecting rather than electing their candidate. And so the hypocrisy is just huge. Here is the problem, Will. In Washington... It is called a Tuesday. It is not unique. No one is surprised. It won't be called out by the press rooms because they love the power of Washington and making sure that they protect that power. For the rest of us, you know, we ignored the media in the 2024 election. They piled on Donald Trump. They said, you know, terrible things. And the American people just came out and voted for him anyway. They know the truth. And I think the big news here is that the power of the media is really waning.
SPEAKER 07 :
And as you look at also the things that are coming out of the media now, after they participated in the cover-up of the state of our president for the last four years, they're now feeling free to tell the full story. You saw that Wall Street Journal report that came out just before Christmas, so congratulations Timed perfectly to not get a ton of press, but still to be in the national record that really the decline of President Biden happened before he even took office when he was running for office. And they were trying to downplay how much Jill Biden was campaigning because it looked bad because President Biden wasn't able to. And then you think about how much has been done under this presidency with a president not fully in charge. How much more was the deep state empowered by having the bureaucrats run the entire show with no real check from the president? And now we have to go in. We thought the swamp was swampy in 2016. How much worse is it now after four years of unchecked bureaucratic power, Rick?
SPEAKER 03 :
Look, I think that every single person that was around Joe Biden and stayed silent, the entire cabinet, the entire staff of the White House, they need to be held to account. They lied to the American people. They knew that he was declining. They said he was fine all the way through the summer. And we all know that that wasn't true. And you have people like Barack Obama and Hollywood types that were saying, oh, I was with him. He's as sharp as a tack. General Milley, for instance. How dangerous is it for General Milley to act so political that he overlooks a failing and declining president who can't make decisions in order to keep his job? That is really scary in America that that has happened. But that's exactly what happened. People were afraid to stand up. And yet what do they do? They always say that, you know, the other side is afraid to stand up. And and we see it very, very clearly. And I think they should be held to account. I'll add this. I don't think that the pardons that all just came out, the outrageous pardoning of murderers is something that Joe Biden did. I think his staff set him up, maybe even auto penned what happened. But Biden is in no position cognitively to make these decisions. And somebody should have stopped it.
SPEAKER 07 :
Well, and Rick, we talked about that earlier in the broadcast, the commutation of 37 out of the 40 death row prisoners down to life imprisonment. But even that... was so loaded with a political game because they, in their statement that was purportedly from President Biden, that he believes this is not a practice that the federal government should be doing, but he still left three on there because whoever was writing this policy and deciding this would go forward knew how untenable it would be for the American people. If you pardoned the Boston Marathon bomber and the Tree of Life synagogue shooter and the Emmanuel Baptist Church shooter. that there would be outrage across this country that you lessened the sentence for those violent, terroristic criminals. But the stories that people don't know, they knew they could get away with this to help, I guess, cement a little bit better legacy with the left. It really just boggles the mind.
SPEAKER 03 :
Look, it's politics that permeates everything. And this kind of far left, We're against the death penalty, uh, is exactly what the staffers did. They looked for every case of someone on death row and they just swept all these cases together and they asked Joe Biden to sign them, or they just got them to, uh, shake his head and they auto-pended. This is, this is outrageous that it's happening in America. Uh, these people need to be held to account. Every single person who works in the white house, the chief of staff, Jake Sullivan, All of these individuals, including the cabinet, Pete Buttigieg is going to try to run for office in the future. Jennifer Granholm, all of these people sat by and watched the president lie to America and they participated in it. This is something that they should be run out of town for, not try to get elected to come back to Washington to do some sort of job.
SPEAKER 07 :
And Rick, we are in the last few days of our faith and freedom year in drive. And one of the things I've been telling our audience is that there's a big job ahead for those filling positions in this new administration. And because of how recklessly the bureaucrats have acted over the past four years, Many times they need even the expertise of the ACLJ through our FOIA process, through pointing out to these administrative branches that here's where the issues are. It's so much mess to try to clean up when you just are thrown in there, but that's why we will stand alongside these administrative departments, these agencies of the federal government, and point out, here's where the problems were. We've been watching it for four years. Go look here to clean up this mess.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, look, the institutional knowledge of all the corruption is exactly what ACLJ does. The government is going to need help showing how to reform these agencies. We're about to launch the most incredible reform effort in Washington. Outside groups like ACLJ that have enormous clout, great resources of lawyers, offices around the world. We need to support ACLJ. I hope people will recognize here at the end of the year that they should support an organization like ACLJ, which is doing the good work.
SPEAKER 07 :
Thank you, Rick, for joining us today. I hope you had a Merry Christmas, and we'll be talking with you soon. But as Rick said, now is the time to support the ACLJ. Go to aclj.org slash faithandfreedom. You can scan the QR code that's on your screen if you're watching on one of our many video platforms. We encourage you to do that if you only get the audio version. We have a beautiful studio, robust broadcast. that you can watch five days a week. Go to aclj.org, support the work of the ACLJ and the work ahead, more importantly. The Faith and Freedom Year-End Drive. It goes to help us budget for the next year. to know where we can fight, where we can direct our resources in the year ahead. And we need your help to do that. Go to aclj.org slash faith and freedom. From now until the end of the year, your gift is tripled. Your gift is tax deductible and your impact is tripled. aclj.org slash faith and freedom. We'll be right back. Welcome back to Seculo. Executive producer Will Haines sitting in today. And if you want to be on air, I'm about to take phone calls. Go to 1-800-684-3110. 1-800-684-3110. You can call and we've got a few lines open and I'll get to those calls as they come in. So I'm going to do that right now. I'm going to go to Robert calling from Maryland on line one. Robert, I hope you had a Merry Christmas. You're on Seculo.
SPEAKER 04 :
I did. Thank you, Will. It was a wonderful Christmas and still enjoying it. And I wanted to ask you, and I think you probably partially answered the question, what may be the primary motivation for President Biden to commute the sentences of three individuals, one that committed an act of terrorism and two committed some hate crimes? He committed some terrible crimes. It's not like it sounds like any of these men of the sentences that he commuted worked with the government to break up other criminal organizations or to bring some other criminals off the street. That's why I was asking that.
SPEAKER 07 :
Well, from his statement, if you take it at face value, is that he is convinced more than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level and that this is carrying that out. President Biden talks proudly about his Catholic faith. The death penalty is mostly not held as something that the government should be involved with within the Catholic Church. The Pope speaks out about the uh the evils of the death penalty and that government should do away with that um so i assume that the rationale and this is this is from an outsider's perspective would be something tied to that and that doesn't believe the federal government needs to be involved with it but that's where it does seem to be the disconnect if if it is something like your faith driving you to to say that the federal government needs to be out of the business of the death penalty. then why is the commutation not for all 40, just for the 37? Now, the heinousness of what happened, this Boston Marathon bombing, an act of terrorism that gripped the nation for days as that manhunt took place, or the horrific tragedies of the targeted shootings of the Tree of Life Synagogue, a horrible act of anti-Semitism and hatred, or the racially motivated Emmanuel Baptist Church shooting in South Carolina. Those things are all heinous crimes. The other crimes that these others committed where they took the life of children in many cases, equally as heinous. These are horrific things that these people did to get themselves convicted of these crimes and put on death row. So I don't personally understand the distinction between someone who is committing acts of violence and killing children. to commute that sentence, but the mass shooters not commuting theirs, it doesn't seem to have an ideological square to it, where if you believe that it should be gone and all of them should just be in life in prison without parole, then I think that that would have been the ideologically honest approach here. But as Rick said, it seems that Potentially, someone else was involved in this decision-making process, and it wasn't just President Biden who came up with the idea to commute the sentence of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates. Somewhere along the line, someone got political and said, there is no way that your legacy can be commuting the sentence of either mass shooters or that committed religious and or racially motivated killings, or a terrorist, the Boston Marathon bomber, that put the entire Northeast in a state of fear, and America was gripped by watching that story play out live on our TV screens. So I think that there was politics mixed in with that motivation, not just pure ideological honesty, if you want to put it that way. Let's go to Courtless calling from Florida on line two. Courtless, you're on Sekulow.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yes, hi. The world saw Biden's last debates I wanted to know, why isn't anybody legally challenging all of his bad decisions up until the end of his presidency, claiming that he is incapacitated?
SPEAKER 07 :
Well, courtless, the method for challenging the president in office, whether he has the ability to serve, would be using the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. There is a process laid out, and it would take members of the cabinet and the vice president it would take them to really start that process. And that is not something that we have seen any will to do. And whether or not it matters at this point with under 30 days left in his presidency, I think is one thing. But I also, I think many of the decisions, because the ideology of those cabinet members and the vice president And anyone who would start that process is in line with President Biden, or maybe they are the ones. making a lot of the decisions. So why would they want to pull the rug out from under what is an easy time to make big policy changes and big policy shifts here at the end? I mean, even the fact that we mentioned earlier, the FBI at that ceremony announcing someone from Ramallah, the state of Palestine, that is a the FBI appears to be changing U.S. foreign policy against U.S. law. about what Palestine is recognized as here in the final days of the administration. And should that be challenged even from within the Biden White House? Because the FBI is under the executive branch. Yes, it should be. That should be an issue. But it's not because they're coasting their way out, changing policy as they go. Planting landmines, so to speak, for the incoming administration to have to deal with so that they can't be as effective as they need to be on day one of cleaning up the mess. But that's why the ACLJ immediately filed a FOIA request to the Federal Bureau of Investigation about who made this policy. Who okayed this script? Who said that a table could be put up at a reception that says State of Palestine with a Palestinian flag covering the entire state of Israel so that there was no Israel on the map at Quantico? That's what we're going to find out. And then with an easier route forward with a more friendly administration, we can fight to get those results quicker than the Biden administration like to give them to us. It took years to get certain things, but we don't give up. We keep fighting. Those FOIA fights, especially under a hostile administration, take years because we have to go to court. We have to fight. in court to get a judge to tell the administration, give them the documents they're required to be given to the ACLJ under law, the Freedom of Information Act. And then we have to dig through the tens of thousands of pages they dump and we find that nugget and we find out where the corruption was and we find out who made the policy change, who deleted the video, who lied to the American public. We do that every day here at the ACLJ, just like we fight for students' rights to pray before a track meet, or parents' rights to protect their children from content being forced upon them in the schools that is inappropriate, or whether we're fighting for the state of Israel at the International Criminal Court, or whether it is fighting for your rights to free speech and religious liberty. Donate today, ACLJ.org. Your gift is tripled.
In this episode of the Mike Gallagher Show, Joey Hudson steps in to deliver insights on the day after Christmas, engaging listeners with discussions on the upcoming Trump administration's aggressive plans regarding immigration. With analysis on how Mexico is preparing for an influx and the possible strife on U.S. soil, Hudson provides a rundown of policies set to be enacted swiftly after inauguration.
SPEAKER 18 :
He's the happy conservative warrior. From the Relief Factor studios, sitting in for Mike today, here's Joey Hudson.
SPEAKER 15 :
Welcome in on this day after Christmas. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. with your family, with your friends, and just had some time off just to relax. Probably did a lot of cooking, a lot of eating. Just hope it was a blessed day for all of you. We've got a lot to cover today. And, of course, you'll be a big part of that. Love to hear from you. 800-655-MIKE, 1-800-655-6453 is how you join today's conversation. You can call. And Teresa will put you in queue. We'll talk as time permits. You can text your comments on the MyPillow text line. We'll read as many of those as we can. And emails are welcome, joey at joeyhudson.com, of course. In anticipation of the inauguration of Donald Trump coming up on January the 20th, of course, one of the key... issues that he has talked about is deporting illegals who are in our country illegally. This is a major part of what Donald Trump ran on this year. And the American people are ready for this. It's going to be quite interesting to watch because just logistically it's going to be tough to literally gather millions of people and then get them back to the country that they came from. Evidently, though, the Mexican government realizes that Trump is serious about this as they have started planning on their own of how to deal with this mass influx of people coming back home. The Mexican government, over Christmas, announced that they are opening 25 new shelters to accommodate the anticipated surge. And they're anticipating it to start day one, January 20th. As soon as Trump is signed in and starts signing executive orders, Tom Holman says that he and his team are ready to start. And evidently, Mexico is anticipating that influx that day. They're saying that, and this was from Bajaj, California, Governor Marino Avila-Almato confirming the initiative. She says that there will be five shelters in Tijuana with two more in Mexicala. They did not disclose where the other shelters. would be located, but she said this is a strategic plan to accommodate exclusively people who get deported after January 20th. She emphasized that the shelters will be exclusively for Mexican nationals returned from the U.S., saying that Mexicans will be welcomed back to their country and their human rights will be respected. The shelters each have a capacity of 500 people each. They'll be there temporarily until they can be returned to their hometowns. Specific shelters will be set up to cater to men, women, families, and unaccompanied minors. The shelters are also set to open January 20th, coinciding with the inauguration, reflecting Mexico's anticipation of a much stricter U.S. immigration policy. Incoming White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt confirmed that Trump would take immediate executive action on the border on day one. Measures could include revisiting Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that allowed officials to turn away migrants at the border. Additionally, Trump plans to empower federal and local law enforcement officers to coordinate efforts to identify, detain, and deport undocumented immigrants. Trump has appointed South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary and, of course, Tom Holman as the border czar. And Tom Holman is just like a dog with a bone. He is ready to go. It's going to be very interesting to watch how this guy gets this job done. And I have no doubt that he will get the job done. It's going to be – again, it's going to be interesting to watch because you've got a lot of the sanctuary states, sanctuary cities who are preparing – to not cooperate with the Trump administration. And that's what's going to be fun to watch because Tom Holman says he's just going to work around them. He doesn't care if they try to obstruct what he's doing. One way or the other, he is going to make sure that the illegals in this country are sent back home. So we'll see. 800-655-6453. is how you join the conversation on the MyPillow text line, 800-655-6453. Your texts are welcome. Be sure and always use promo code MikeG when you go to MyPillow.com and get the very best price that you can. Joe Biden, you may recall, spared the lives of 37 federal death row inmates just prior to Christmas. Has not shown the same compassion for others. And one example that came up that was reported on over Christmas is a story of Jonathan Darnell. Darnell is a pro-life activist. Darnell frequently protests in front of abortion clinics. Darnell found himself on the wrong side of the law, or the Biden law, after one of these protests. When he was arrested... Prosecuted, found guilty. They used the FACE Act, the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances, to prosecute him. This was in 2020. Darnell was part of a group of 10 protesters who chained themselves to an abortion clinic entrance. All were convicted under the FACE Act. which is a 30-year-old law that prohibits obstructing access to both abortion clinics and to pro-life pregnancy centers. So Darnell, of course, is critical of Joe Biden offering clemency and offering grace. giving these killers, and these were some bad people that Joe Biden gave a second chance to, or at least is going to let them live the rest of their natural life. They're some bad people. Darnell was sitting in a federal prison because he was protesting outside of an abortion clinic. He criticized the Biden administration for what he sees as selective enforcement of the FACE Act. He says that 32 of 34 people convicted under the law since Joe Biden took office have been pro-life activists. Meanwhile, nearly 100 attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 went unprosecuted. So typical Biden administration DOJ, They choose who they want to as far as prosecution. So you've got pro-lifers who are sitting in jail because they were protesting in front of an abortion clinic, but yet you can have people who are objecting to some of the pro-life pregnancy centers where they work with these young women to encourage them to have the baby, maybe put the baby up for adoption, but to have that baby, not to abort the baby. These folks, when they disrupt those centers, and in some cases they damage the centers, they're not prosecuted. That is very evident of Joe Biden's two-tier justice system, right? 800-655-6453. I'm Joey Hudson. In for Mike Gallagher today.
SPEAKER 18 :
Salem Media is giving you a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime inauguration VIP experience, a trip for two to Washington, D.C., tickets to the Trump inauguration, and tickets to an inaugural ball. To enter, text TRUMP to 94878. That's TRUMP to 94878.
SPEAKER 16 :
I want to welcome some brand new partners to the Mike Gallagher show like Equity Protect. And this is a big, big deal. Your home's title is often the most valuable thing you own. Next generation criminal technology is more advanced than ever. I've been an identity theft victim. It is no fun. You got to have Equity Protect in your corner. If you own your home mortgage free or you got a lot of equity, you got to have Equity Protect so that scammers do not steal your equity or title. For a limited time, Equity Protect is offering you a tremendous deal, 30% off your first year, giving you one year of protection for less than $12 a month. Just go to EquityProtect.com. Use the discount code Mike30. That's EquityProtect.com. Use the promo code Mike30. Once you have Equity Protect, you don't need to check. Trust the team at Equity Protect. Go to EquityProtect.com and use the promo code Mike30.
SPEAKER 12 :
The Mike Gallagher Show. Let me ask you, Time Magazine. You have someone who inspired an insurrection. You have someone who, without a doubt, the evidence is there, tried to overturn a free and fair election. You had someone who had multiple criminal counts and found guilty on multiple criminal counts. And you named them person of the year? Is this a joke? Did we get something wrong? Did someone scam us?
SPEAKER 18 :
In the relieffactor.com studios, here's Mike.
SPEAKER 15 :
And Joey Hudson in for Mike again today. We'll be today, tomorrow, as we get through to the new year. Glad to have you. Lots of ways for you to join the conversation today. Hope you will. You can email me directly, joey, at joeyhudson.com. You can call 800-655-MIKE, 800-655-6453. You can talk with us. Tracy will put you in queue. We'll talk. It's time for minutes. Or you can just leave me a quick message on the MyPillow text line. Always use promo code MikeG when you go to MyPillow.com and place those orders. Hey, let me quickly remind you of a great if you'd like to see Alaska next year. This will be a trip of a lifetime. Peg and I did it this past year, this past July. Never had been to Alaska, and boy, I tell you, the beauty is just amazing. This is the Patriots Alaska Cruise. It's coming up August 16th through the 23rd. of 2025, so now's the time to go ahead and book and plan ahead. This isn't just any cruise. It's a Patriot Alaska cruise where you're going to get a chance to spend some time not only with Mike Gallagher, who will be one of your hosts, but Larry Elder, Joe Piscopo. Jennifer Horn. It's a great time. You see the beauty of God's nature throughout Alaska, but then you have some great programs with your host on the ship. Lots of good food, lots of good activity. So if you're interested in seeing Alaska, but better yet, just spending some time with several hundred of like-minded people along with some of your favorite radio hosts, This is a trip for you. Go to TravelWithSalem.com. TravelWithSalem.com. You can get all the details there. Go ahead and book or call 855-565-5519. 855-565-5519. Go ahead and book so that you get first shot at the stateroom that you would like to have. I'm sure that you got a lot of Christmas gifts prepared. From Santa and from your friends and family, according to a study, one in six gifts will be returned. a significant portion of what some of the retailers are doing right now, they're getting ready for that onslaught of returns that you and I will be making. Which kind of leads me to the question, you know, as you're sitting there receiving gifts, and you get one and you don't have any idea what it is. Or you know it's just something you're never going to use and you're thinking, okay, I'm going to return this. What do you say to the person giving you the gift? Did you spend any time over the holidays when you're opening gifts, looking around the room, and you know someone got something and you know they don't have a clue what it is? Love to hear from you how you respond. I mean, do you just take it, thank them, say nothing with the idea that you know you're going to return it? Or do you give it to someone else? You re-gift it. A lot of re-gifting going on. You have to be careful, though. Make sure you don't give it back to the person who gave it to you. But retailers say that they're processing and managing returns. That'll be a big thing starting today. averaging $27 for every $100 online order due to some of the expenses of shipping, sorting, and repackaging these returns. Many items are not resold, they say, with only 30% making it back to the shelves. The rest are sold at auctions, donated, or discarded. So this is where you get some of those big deals on sites like MacBid and some of the other auction sites. So 800-655-6453. Text me on the MyPillow text line. Give me a quick call. Tell me about your experience and how you handle those gifts that you know you're not going to use. The gifts, in some cases, you don't even know what they are. Again, do you just graciously accept them? Or do you say, look, I don't know what this is. Tell me what this is. 800-655-6453. Let's go to the phones. William is waiting patiently in Flint, Michigan. Welcome, William.
SPEAKER 08 :
Good morning. I shouldn't have said that. The issue is simple. Our gift related to Donald Trump... is three-quarters of the spindle-top oil fortune of 1901. We would like to see the Republican Party revamp the public education system in America so that at the end of a three-decade period, Donald Trump's legacy would be mega on steroids. He made America great again by educating our children about two years college and a 12K through 12. But the key issue, sir, forgive me, I have asthma, is to put the Pledge of Allegiance back in the schools, teaching our class for each grade that this is a republic for which it stands. And if you're born in America, you are an American. If you're born in a republic, guess what? We're all republicans. Type A, type B, and some Zs in there. But Donald Trump could dissolve, there's the Trump order, dissolve the Republican Party over a 30-year period by educating our children with the Pledge of Allegiance. That we're all Republicans.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, William, I appreciate your phone call. I'll take it one step further. Yes, we need to put the Pledge of Allegiance back in the schools. We also need to put prayer back in the schools. When I was growing up, I remember my fifth grade teacher, Miss Scipio, we would do the Pledge of Allegiance. She would play the Lord's Prayer. uh every morning too before we started our class so i would add that to the list uh kim is in uh corydon indian uh india indiana i guess kim how are you no not india you're in indiana
SPEAKER 10 :
That was a good slip-up. What am I going to call South Carolina? Anyway, I graduated high school in North Carolina. Oh, yes. Here's what I say about Christmas gifts. Be thankful that somebody remembered you. You might not like it, but deal with it. And say thank you. And if you don't like it or you're not sure, just deal with it. That's my philosophy.
SPEAKER 15 :
That's a good point, Kim, because regardless of what it is, that person took their time and their money to get that for you, in most cases wrapped it up and brought it to you, so that should mean something.
SPEAKER 10 :
Yes, and if you want Christmas for yourself, then be selfish and go buy it.
SPEAKER 15 :
Yeah, yeah, good point, good point.
SPEAKER 10 :
Yes, thank you very much.
SPEAKER 15 :
Thank you, Kim in Indiana. Have a blessed day. 800-655-6453, one line open for you. Lori is in Beaverton, Oregon. Welcome, Lori.
SPEAKER 09 :
Hi. Oh, that was a surprise. I was just wondering if I should be going to the inauguration ceremony.
SPEAKER 15 :
Well, if you can, I would highly recommend it. It's going to be a great time. I'm planning to be there. My wife, Peg, and I will be there. It's going to be a busy time, but, yes, I mean, it's going to be a historic event. Is there a reason why you're hesitating?
SPEAKER 09 :
I don't really know. I'm just afraid about all the crime or if – The crime is going to be there or not.
SPEAKER 15 :
Yeah. Well, it'll be very well protected. I mean, you know, the Secret Service, of course, will be there. The National Guard will be out. The local police in the Washington, D.C. area. I mean, it's going to be the protection is going to be there. There's risk in anything, any public event like this. I mean, we saw stories of Christmas yesterday, of a taxi cab, you know, running into a group of people in Manhattan. We saw the same thing happen in London. So if you go outside of the doors of your home, there's always risk. But, you know, I'm willing to take that risk because I want to see Donald Trump inaugurated.
SPEAKER 09 :
Yeah, yeah, that would be a good thing.
SPEAKER 15 :
It would be. So, Lori, I hope I see you there.
SPEAKER 09 :
Okay, well, thank you very much.
SPEAKER 15 :
Sure thing. Have a blessed day. 800-655-6453. Yeah, you know, I've had several people talking about, are you afraid to go to the inauguration? And particularly with all the activity of the drones, I have a buddy who's just convinced that there's going to be a drone attack on Inauguration Day. But if you live in fear of these things, you won't do anything. You won't ever go anywhere. So I'm going to be standing there in front of the Capitol watching Donald Trump take the oath of the office. We're going to be headed to the South Carolina Ball. That's going to be a lot of fun as well. So, yes, I will be there. Quickly to the phones. Tom is in Houston, Texas. Welcome. You're on the Mike Gallagher Show.
SPEAKER 04 :
How do you do, Tom? I want to talk about gifts and receiving and sending gifts.
SPEAKER 15 :
Yeah, how do you handle that?
SPEAKER 04 :
Well. I just turned 60. And years ago, my family got together for presents, and I bought and wrapped and everything for my nephews.
SPEAKER 15 :
Yeah.
SPEAKER 04 :
And two of them, right there in front of the Christmas tree, threw a tantrum. This ain't what I wanted. Blah, blah, blah. And at that time, I was a single man, no kids. You know, I thought I was being good uncle and everything.
SPEAKER 06 :
Yeah.
SPEAKER 04 :
It really drew me down. And what really hurt me was my sister didn't say nothing to them children. And, you know, I've been watching this thing on the, I don't know if you know Larry's Country Diner on the music channel. Yeah. He did a Christmas series, and I guess it's the same one that's been running for about 10 years. But all those older people... Yeah. Yeah. Right. Yeah.
SPEAKER 15 :
Yeah, some people get nothing for Christmas. So be thankful for what you get. Hey, Tom, good story. I'm sure there's a lot of other stories just like that. Appreciate your phone call. Hope you had a merry, merry Christmas. Some of these kids, they're unappreciative, and they don't know how to react like that. We'll see. Love to hear your story. You can text me as well on the MyPillow text line. I always use promo code MikeG when you go to MyPillow.com and place your order for some of the great after-Christmas sale items that Mike Lindell has. I'm Joey Hudson, in for Mike today.
SPEAKER 05 :
The glories of Christmas as long, long ago.
SPEAKER 10 :
It's the most wonderful time of the year.
SPEAKER 16 :
Christmas means giving, and for my money, Christmas means MyPillow. Make it a MyPillow Christmas for somebody on your list because the Christmas extravaganza is well underway. Because a big box retailer canceled an order, Mike Lindell has thousands of MyPillows to move. Well, he wants to pass the savings on to you, so check out this offer. You can order a standard classic MyPillow, and it's normally $49.98 for just $45. $14.88 with promo code MikeG. Limit of 10. This is the pillow that started it all, the pillow that never goes flat, stays nice and cool all through the night. You can throw it in the washer and the dryer as often as you want. You can get a classic standard MyPillow for $14.88 with promo code MikeG. A queen size, normally $69.98. You'll get it for just $18.88 with promo code MikeG. Or a king size, Normally $79.98. You can order it for $19.88 apiece. Limit $10, please, during Mike's incredible Christmas extravaganza from MyPillow.com. Look, if you haven't been to the site in a while, you can get all your Christmas shopping done by going to MyPillow.com. Look for the Mike Gallagher Specials Square. Click on that box, and then with any order you place, enter the promo code MikeG, and you'll save big. MyPillow.com. Promo code MikeG. MyPillow.com, promo code MikeG, or call 800-928-6034, 800-928-6034. It's the Christmas extravaganza sale going on right now at MyPillow.
SPEAKER 15 :
Mike Gallagher. Joey Hudson in for Mike today. Portions of today's show brought to you by Equity Protect. Your home's equity is often the most valuable thing that you own. Next generation criminal technology is more advanced than ever. And these newest schemes are set up to steal your most prized possession, something you've worked hard on. And that's your home. That's the equity you've built in there. You don't need just any deed monitoring. You need a partner with a process that eliminates a threat. And that's Equity Protect. Equity Protect has a patented ID verification process to stop title transfer without you physically approving. So if you own your home mortgage-free or if you have a lot of equity in your home, you need Equity Protect so that scammers won't steal your equity, your title, or your property. For a limited time, Equity Protect is offering an amazing deal for new customers, 30% off your first year, giving you one year of protection for... less than $12 per month. Go to equityprotect.com, equityprotect.com. Use the discount code Mike30. That's equityprotect.com, and use the discount code Mike30. You don't even have to check. Just trust the team at Equity Protect. Here's another instance of President Joe Biden's soft on crime policies and how it affects innocent families. As we discussed earlier in the week, just days before Christmas, Joe Biden decided he was going to commute the sentences of 37 of 40 federal death row inmates, including a man who mercilessly gunned down two innocent women in my home state of South Carolina in 2017. This was done during a bank robbery. The victim's families, what kind of compassion did Has Joe Biden shown the victim's families? They weren't even given the courtesy of a meaningful conversation before the decision was made. Let me introduce you to Donna Major, 59-year-old bank teller and Catherine Skeen, just 36 years old. These women were brutally executed by Brandon Council. He was a career criminal, and while they were simply doing their job at a Crescom bank in Conway, South Carolina, surveillance footage showed how Council walked into the bank, He spoke briefly to Donna Major, pulled the gun out, shooting her multiple times. She didn't have a chance to respond. He then jumped over the counter and shot Catherine, who also had no chance to defend herself. Now, imagine being a member of Donna Major's family or Catherine Sheen's family during this holiday season. Imagine reliving the horror of what happened to your loved one only to find out that the man who killed your mom, the man who killed your wife, was being shown grace by Joe Biden. Imagine that the jury who put this killer behind bars with the intent of taking his life because of the lives that he took, and then along comes Joe Biden, and says, no, I'm going to show some compassion here. We're going to let him live the rest of his natural life in prison because we know that Donald Trump's going to start executions as soon as he takes office. We don't want that. Donna's daughter, Heather Turner, described her reaction in cut number one as angry, hurt, and frustrated.
SPEAKER 14 :
Heather, what was your reaction when you heard the news?
SPEAKER 13 :
Anger. Absolute anger. We were told from our prosecution team on Sunday afternoon. I was actually gathered with my in-laws for our family Christmas. My sister was gathered with her in-laws and we got the call and I was angry. I'm still angry. I am upset that... This is even happening that one man can make this decision without even talking to the victims, without any regard for what we've been through, what we're going through. I'm completely hurt, frustrated and angry.
SPEAKER 15 :
So, Heather, nobody gave you an answer. That's what the family is feeling because Joe Biden didn't bother to check with them. He was too busy commuting the sentences of the bad guy. More on this coming up. I'm Joey Hudson in for Mike.
SPEAKER 11 :
I don't really like working. I'm going to need a priority parking space. I only work remotely. How are your safe spaces? Can I bring my dog to work? Will your company protect me against microaggressions? You're triggering me. Is this interview almost over?
SPEAKER 01 :
You don't run a daycare. You run a business. So why use high-priced recruitment agencies who charge you up to 40% of an employee's first year salary? So they're focused on getting you the costly talent, not the best fit. Which means you get more of this.
SPEAKER 11 :
What's your policy on paying employees to attend protests? I demand eight weeks of vacation. I need at least 12 weeks of paid vacation. I'm going to need a lot of mental health days. Do you have a game room? My pronouns are Zs and Zs.
SPEAKER 01 :
Isn't it time you hired grown-ups? Call RedBalloon.Work and skip those high-priced recruitment agencies. Call 833-880-0600 for a free consultation. That's 833-880-0600 for a free consultation.
SPEAKER 02 :
The Mike Gallagher Show. You read the Hallie Biden transcript, and that's Bo's widow. And essentially, he turned her into a crack addict. And this was all happening in 2017, 2018. And Joe and Jill Biden were so concerned about their family that they decided to run for president. So when you talk about the word selfish, their decision to run for president put the entire Democratic Party and the United States of America in the position that it's in now.
SPEAKER 18 :
In the ReliefFactor.com studios, here's Mike.
SPEAKER 15 :
Continuing this day after Christmas show, I'm Joey Hudson in for Mike. We're talking about these 37 people that Joe Biden commuted their sentences. 37 killers. 37 bad guys. And he wanted to show grace. A lot of the families and the victims are speaking up now, asking the question, the valid question, what about grace for us? One of those is a family from South Carolina. Donna Major was a 59-year-old bank teller when Brandon Council walked into the bank that she was working in in Conway, South Carolina, and shot her and a co-worker to death. Never had a chance. Her family is wanting to know where is the compassion for them. A very tough trial took place. A jury of this man's peers. He was a career criminal. It wasn't the first time he had committed a crime. And the people on the jury deliberated. It was a long, drawn-out trial. And they decided the appropriate sentence was death. And Joe Biden, without any consultation with the families, decided, well, they got it wrong. We need to show some compassion. Danny Major, Donna was his wife, spoke out on Fox News yesterday. over the Christmas holidays, saying that Joe Biden had not consulted with them and that he doesn't feel like that the Biden administration had shown any compassion for them whatsoever. And cut number two, this is Donna Major's husband, Danny.
SPEAKER 14 :
Danny, Joe Biden or whoever made this decision, because it is entirely unclear whether this came from him directly or his people. He's showing mercy to your wife's killer. Was your wife shown any mercy?
SPEAKER 17 :
She was shown no mercy at all. This man walked into the bank, never said two words to her, shot her three times in total, went and shot her co-worker, Katie Skeen, as well. He was totally defenseless and unaware that anything was happening. It's just beyond me that I can't even believe that this has actually happened, a commuting of sentences like this of 37 victims, all but three, which was certainly a political scheme. Undoubtedly, Joe Biden was also told by the Pope that he should stop these executions. Now, what the Pope has to do with anything in this country, I don't know. But Joe Biden certainly has no convictions. He's a senile old man. He couldn't tie his shoes, I wouldn't think, if you could see him in person. It's absolutely disgusting.
SPEAKER 15 :
Danny Major talking about the slaughter of his wife, Donna, in this bank robbery. And there's been a lot of mention of the idea that people are speculating that the reason Joe Biden did this was after his conversation with the pope. But I wonder why Joe Biden bowed to the pope on this issue, but yet when the pope has talked to him about abortion, he ignores the pope. How do you reconcile that? And how do you reconcile the fact that these are Americans who were killed, slaughtered, and in some of the cases, kids involved? One of the 37 had killed two 12-year-olds. Just some horrific crimes, and Joe Biden wipes it clean. Now, they'll spend the rest of their time in prison. One texter on the MyPillow text line says, Joey, will these guys be set free, or will they remain in prison but not executed? They will remain in prison. It's life without parole. But still, if you're a victim, if your mom, your spouse, your sister, was murdered and a jury of his peers declared that the murderer should be executed, are you okay with Joe Biden saying, ah, let's show him some grace, some compassion? Let's let him live the rest of his natural life in prison. I don't know. 800-655-6453. Your comments are welcome on the MyPillow text line. I always use promo code MikeG when you go to MyPillow.com. And you'll get the very best price. There's some great prices on there. The MyPillow slippers are just a fraction of the cost. Towels, 50% off. The six-piece towel sets. The bathrobes. I ordered some new slippers myself right before Christmas. Mike Lindell very rarely puts the slippers on sale. And right now, they're usually $119.98. With promo code MikeG, you can get them for $59.98. So go to MyPillow.com, use promo code MikeG to get the very best deal that you're going to get. Let's go to the phones. Don is in New York. Welcome, Don. You're on the Mike Gallagher Show.
SPEAKER 07 :
Thank you. My point is that this commutation of sentences is playing right into the Democrat playbook. There is a A couple of economists by the name of Cloward and Pivens that theorized the best way to take the country down without firing a shot is to overload it with debt, which the Biden administration has nearly doubled the debt they've added all their life. I think around $10 trillion of the national debt. They're trying to destroy this country. And Biden, I don't think he could even name one of the people he's pardoned. It was his handlers playing into the Cloward and Pivens playbook.
SPEAKER 15 :
Yeah, yeah, I think you're right, Don. I doubt that, and that's kind of what Danny Major said. He doubts that Joe Biden even knew who he was offering these commutations to. Dennis is in St. John's, Florida. Welcome, Dennis.
SPEAKER 19 :
Hey, good morning. Hey, the reason I'm calling is I have an angle on why, to answer your question, how do you reconcile this. I don't think he's been calling the shots for years. And I don't know who it is here, but I think his wife has been dealing with some of the more personal things. And I think they are the most self-serving people. And if you think about it as self-serving sociopaths, I think that they did this to soften the blow when they pardoned their own son. Yeah. You know, they're not self-serving, but they're compassionate people with everyone, not just your son. And they could care less about the country and those people that have been killed and the families. They couldn't care less.
SPEAKER 15 :
Yeah, I think you're right. And look, if they're really compassionate and they're worried about people being in prison, he should pardon some of the protests. First off, the Jay Sixers, but some of the protesters who have been prosecuted by his Department of Justice who were simply protesting outside of an abortion clinic. There's evidence that the Biden administration, the DOJ under Joe Biden, has purposely prosecuted people in front of abortion clinics, yet they haven't applied the same law. It's called the FAIR Act. They haven't applied the same law to those who have literally burned down pro-life organizations. Those who are trying to counsel young women to have their child, to have the child, put it up for adoption or whatever, there have literally been some of those that have been burned down, and no one was prosecuted for it. There's clearly a two-tier system in the Biden administration. I don't know who's calling the shots either. I agree that it's probably not Joe Biden. Bill is in Scottsdale, Arizona. Welcome to the Mike Gallagher Show, Bill.
SPEAKER 05 :
Hello. Say, I'm wondering what Biden has done with those 37 prisoners and how senile he's gotten. Is it possible that he could be giving... illegal people uh citizenship is there any i mean what what is his authority to uh be doing what he's doing uh well i mean he has the authority to offer these pardons and commutations as far as citizenship uh i don't i don't know i'd have to research that well that would be just uh overwhelming if he uh if he did something like that with uh
SPEAKER 15 :
So many millions of people in the country now that you're here. Bill, let's just not talk about it. Let's not give them any ideas, okay?
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah. Good thought. I never thought of that.
SPEAKER 15 :
Yeah, let's just keep that between us, Bill, okay?
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, okay. You bet.
SPEAKER 15 :
All right. Appreciate your call. Happy New Year to you. 800-655-6453. Renato, is it Renato? Is that right? Minneapolis?
SPEAKER 03 :
Yes, Renato.
SPEAKER 15 :
Renato. How are you, sir?
SPEAKER 03 :
Very good. Thank you. Just wanted to bring, I don't know if you guys have seen the movie of Jack Reiter, where it starts the movie with a killing of five supposedly random people, but then the plot was that one of them, a victim, was the purpose of the crime, and then they tried to hide with the others, making it appear like a random thing. I really, really would like to ensure that these kind of commutations is not some sort of plot just to help somebody that has bought those pardons. Because among those that have been commuted, there are powerful people that are still giving order from prison.
SPEAKER 15 :
Yeah. Well, look, there's nothing... Nothing fair about any of this, and I agree with the caller earlier. I dare say that Joe Biden has even read the names of all the people that he has either pardoned or commuted their sentences. I mean, how many are we up to now, about 1,600? And that many, there's no way you can do the background on them. And I think the DOJ has even surprised themselves when you get pushback. Like, for example, the police officer in Columbus, Ohio, the Fraternal Order of Police are literally standing on their head because this police officer, this cop killer, was granted some grace by Joe Biden. Just no regard whatsoever. And I probably agree that Biden probably had very little say in this. Somebody in his office, somebody who's just an extreme leftist who believes no one should even be in prison is making these decisions. We don't know and probably will never know. Your phone calls and comments on the MyPillow text line are welcome. 800-655-6453. I'm Joey Hudson, in for Mike today.
SPEAKER 18 :
Salem Media is giving you a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime inauguration VIP experience, a trip for two to Washington, D.C., tickets to the Trump inauguration, and tickets to an inaugural ball. To enter, text TRUMP to 94878. That's TRUMP to 94878.
SPEAKER 06 :
Thank you.