Tim, Ed and Fred talk with Chris on top news headlines of the day including a discussion on the bias of the mainstream media. Also, Jan Markell joins the program to give an update on the latest in the Middle East.
Tomorrow we will have more religiously themed programming because Good Friday is holy
>> Jeff Chamblee: This Easter season we're offering a special downloadable resource that will inspire you and deepen your faith. He has Risen is a digital booklet featuring powerful articles from the STAND and AFA Journal that explore the life changing truth of the resurrection, the significance of Easter and how to share these foundational truths with others. For a limited time only, it's our gift to you for any donation of $5 or more. Help us continue to share biblical truth, defend Christian values and equip our families. Visit afr.net offers welcome to today's Issues, offering a Christian response to the issues of the day. Here's your host, Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association.
>> Tim Wildmon: Foreign. Hey, good morning everybody and welcome to Trivia Friday. Except it's not booed ya. It's Thursday. It's Thursday, April 17th, 2025. I'm Tim Wildmon here on Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Ed Battagliano on studio with me. Good morning, Ed.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Good morning, Tim.
>> Tim Wildmon: Fred Jackson.
>> Fred Jackson: Good morning Tim.
>> Tim Wildmon: And Chris Woodbert.
>> Christopher Woodward: Hello.
>> Tim Wildmon: And we thank you for listening again to afr. tomorrow we normally have Trivia Friday but each Good Friday rolls around once a year. We have something different. Right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, we're going, we are going to have Chris, I don't know how to say this, religiously themed programming during the time when we usually have Trivia Friday, simply because Good Friday is, we've just decided over the years you don't really want to just be yucking it up. And you know we, we can, we can act a little silly sometimes and, and it's a, it's a holy day. And so tomorrow we will have more, ah, Christian themed programming. the first hour, help me out, Brent. I forget the first hour. The, the third segment from 11, to 11:30 central time is going to be, Dr. Ray Pritchard. He has a special. What's the first hour?
>> Christopher Woodward: The first hour is going to be exploring the Word.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes, we're having Exploring the Word for.
>> Tim Wildmon: Tomorrow at 10 to 11 Central.
>> Ed Vitagliano: So the, the whole hour and a half that we usually do trivia focused on Easter. Focused on Easter, that's correct.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, well that's coming up tomorrow. Today, a lot to talk about again, we appreciate you joining us.
Rachel Moran was sexually assaulted and murdered by an illegal immigrant
what's leading the news?
>> Christopher Woodward: Well, it's something that people on Fox News and other outlets were still talking about this M. Morning. Yesterday afternoon a quote, special guest appeared at the White House for a special press briefing. It was Patty Moran. She is the mother of murder victim Rachel Moran, and she was on to share details of what happened to her daughter. Rachel Moran was sexually assaulted and murdered by an illegal immigrant. That man was arrested and has recently been convicted for those crimes. And Patty went into great detail in front of national reporters and national television to explain the gruesome things that her daughter experienced in her final moments. We did not purposely air those sound bites because they're too graphic. but at the end, after taking 5, 6, 7 minutes to explain what happened to her daughter and how it happened to her daughter, Patty did go on to say that we need to deport dangerous illegal aliens to protect Americans like her daughter. Clip 1 these are the kind of criminals President Trump wants to remove from our country. These are the kind of criminals that.
>> Amber Brown: We need to remove from our country. We are American citizens.
>> Christopher Woodward: Why should we allow people like this.
>> Amber Brown: Violent criminals that have no conscience at all, to murder our mothers, our sisters, our daughters?
>> Christopher Woodward: What's what? I don't understand. Now, she appeared before these reporters to share these, to make these comments to reporters because Democrats, led by Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland were going on what they have described as a rescue mission to El Salvador to get the man that media keeps referring to as a Maryland father who was wrongfully, deported to El Salvador even though the government says he was an MS.13 member.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Now, am I correct in some, of these stories? I do get mixed up. I, think Fox covered this lady, live.
>> Christopher Woodward: Yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: But other media did not. They, they almost ignored this press conference. Do I have that right?
>> Christopher Woodward: Just bingoed. Cnn, MSNBC are among the news outlets that purposely air. Chose not to air it. And the Trump administration after that, after finding that out, they ripped those networks for refusing to air her comments. They called it shameful.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so the backstory here, if you want to know it, is there was a illegal immigrant.
>> Tim Wildmon: Who was arrested. There's been a lot of them arrested by ICE in Maryland, right?
>> Christopher Woodward: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: When was this? A month ago or so.
>> Christopher Woodward: she was murdered in 2023.
>> Tim Wildmon: No, that isn't what I'm asking.
>> Christopher Woodward: Oh, I'm sorry, I asked you.
>> Tim Wildmon: When was he arrested? The fellow? That was like two, three weeks ago. Do we know?
>> Fred Jackson: No. Are you mixing up the guy who's been shipped to El Salvador versus the guy who did the raping against Moran?
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: there's two separate people. I'm not mixing them up, Fred.
>> Fred Jackson: Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: I've got them separated.
>> Fred Jackson: Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: But I know. Does that sound like a smarty right there no comment, huh? well, you're.
>> Ed Vitagliano: You're. You're defending your honor. We expect a little pushback.
>> Tim Wildmon: Ok, no, here's what I'm saying, and I apologize if I did sound that way. I'm telling you what led up to this press conference.
>> Fred Jackson: Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. So the fella that was deported, who? The senator. The United States senator from Maryland, Van Holland. Okay. He went to El Salvador yesterday.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: He went to get. Try to get back a man that he says has been wrongfully sent to the Salvador. El Salvador, in prison.
>> Fred Jackson: That is correct.
>> Tim Wildmon: But our Trump administration says no, he. He is not innocent. Right?
>> Fred Jackson: That's correct.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so what, Smothers talking about is that this same Maryland senator had nothing to say when her daughter, who was a Maryland citizen, was murdered.
>> Fred Jackson: That is correct.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right. So, what we have. If all that is the case that I've just said, obviously, the mother would be outraged and the average citizen would be outraged that a United States senator from Maryland who had nothing to say when a Maryland citizen was murdered by an illegal immigrant, now is trying to get one freed, flying all the way down to El Salvador in the name of freeing a, man that he said. What does he say is innocent.
>> Fred Jackson: Van Hollen says that Republicans are lying when they say this guy was a member of Ms. 13.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, okay. But Republicans, who you believe.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, but Republicans yesterday noted that back, this is Garcia, the guy that's.
>> Tim Wildmon: Now in El Salvador. Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: they say there were two judgments against Garcia, back. And he's been in the country since 2012, I think entered illegally. There's been two judgments that have identified him as a member of Ms. 13. The other thing the Democrats have done and some of the networks have done this is show, Garcia's wife pleading for the return of her husband. But what happened yesterday, I think it was the Daily Signal or a news agency went out and they went to court documents where Garcia's wife in the last couple of years has filed two domestic violence, criticisms, charges.
Fred Salvador: Democrats don't care about victims of illegal immigration
Against her.
>> Tim Wildmon: Call the police.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes. Yes. Against her husband.
>> Tim Wildmon: M. Okay. Now she's trying to save him.
>> Fred Jackson: Now she's trying to get him to come back. Whatever is prompting her to do that is unclear.
>> Tim Wildmon: But anyway, the point of this press conference yesterday at the White House was, well, this, lady, this mother who we heard from Patty, appearing at the press conference, the Trump administration at the White House wanted to make a point that the Democrats don't care about, the people who are being victimized in America by illegal aliens. Or illegal immigrants. They only care about the victimizers, the ones who do the crimes. They want to protect them, then they want to protect more of the US Citizens. Have I got the point?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. That's going to be a big problem for the Democrats going forward. This is not a good look. This is not a good look for the Maryland's, Senator, Chris Van Hollen.
>> Tim Wildmon: I think he's pandering, let me tell you. Don't you think he's pandering?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Oh, absolutely, absolutely.
>> Tim Wildmon: He's pandering to the Hispanic community, I think.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. Or it's just the leftist view. Now, the. One of the charges that has been levied against President Trump and the Trump administration is denial of due process. Okay. That's what they're saying is. And pushing. What they're pushing for the Democrats is they want each and every one of these people who are being deported to have a day in court and to have a hearing.
>> Tim Wildmon: Lawyer up.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Lawyer up.
>> Tim Wildmon: All those hundreds of thousands of people.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, millions. Millions of people. but the Democrats had this problem in the, in the 60s, on into the 70s, even into the early 80s when Democrats are running against, Ronald Reagan, soft on crime. That has always been a charge against the Democratic Party soft on crime. And it's manifested by the appearance of a concern for the rights of criminals rather than the rights of victims. And that probably led to some of their losses to Richard Nixon and to Ronald Reagan, in the aftermath of that. And I think they're cruising towards the same.
>> Fred Jackson: one of the big things that really sickens and angers me about this is the COVID the Democratic Party continues to get from the mainstream media. They're refusing to deal. Like Chris has noted, they didn't cover this news conference yesterday with Patty Moran. Also, they're not telling the truth, as other news agencies are, that this guy Garcia has been. Has been noted in courtrooms as a member of Ms. 13.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: The other media is not doing their job as far as the wife of Garcia having gone to police and made formal complaints against.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, he.
>> Fred Jackson: She says he beat her twice.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. we all know why this is going on, pretty much. But, it was said out loud by what. I mean, this is going on, this cover for the Democrats and not crediting the Trump administration on illegal immigration.
>> Ed Vitagliano: You remember, that's the big issue.
>> Tim Wildmon: Chuck Todd.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Chuck Todd is the NBC host of Meet the Press. Have I got that right?
>> Christopher Woodward: Well, he was. He's since moved on.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. But he was doing an interview the other day With Piers Morgan.
>> Tim Wildmon: And the independent journalist you see out there, the British guy, he, Piers Morgan pushed him on why the, news media covering the White House did not expose Biden's mental, decline. Why they ignored it, didn't make it a story. And Chuck Todd admitted, he said, because we didn't want to help Trump. Now I'm, paraphrasing there. And he did. And by we, I mean he was saying the liberal mainstream media. So when we say that there are biases, liberal, biases against conservatives, that the liberal media, which make up the vast majority of the mainstream press, the three letter, you know, that we would know television, networks and so forth, they are deliberately. And they're on the Democrat team. Okay. So the progressive. They're on the progressive team. progressive. Okay. And I'm talking insurance here. And so, to your point, Fred, what they do on the story, like here, where this, this woman who was murdered's mom is, is very emotional. And at the White House, at a press conference, at the press conference, daily press briefing, telling her story and contrasting that with the Democrats going to El Salvador to try to get this guy freed. The mainstream media, look at that. And they say, you know what, that favors the Trump administration because that woman has a very emotional and logical case to make. And we don't want to present that because that will help Trump and hurt the Democrats. Thus msnbc, Cnn, others. Is CNN one of them? Oh, yeah, yeah. They, they can't do something that might make their team look bad.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Listen, we're talking about the Democratic Party who, during the State of the Union address by President Trump.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Or his inaugural address. Excuse me, refused to stand up and clap for a young man who was battling cancer. Remember that?
>> Tim Wildmon: I mean, that's who they are. Yes, that's who they are.
The mainstream media is losing viewers, but they don't appear to care
>> Ed Vitagliano: Because Trump brought this young man in, he wanted to make a point. And they couldn't set aside political differences enough to applaud that.
>> Tim Wildmon: This is the reason for Fox News's rise in viewership.
>> Christopher Woodward: Oh, sure, yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: over the last 20, 25 years and other radio and television networks is because people, realize, the liberal media is lying.
>> Fred Jackson: And if you think we're exaggerating the point about the liberalism, the mainstream. Stop and think about this. The mainstream media is losing viewers, but they don't appear to care. The reason they're losing viewers is because of their bias. They're losing viewers, therefore they're losing millions of dollars in ad revenue. But they don't Care. They are so dedicated to the left wing ideology they're willing for their businesses to go down the tubes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I personally think that part I agree with what you're saying. Part of the reason though is also that they have been their newsrooms and even the upper echelon of these corporations, news media. That's all that's corporate. they've been infested with these woke radical leftists.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And they understand that if they take a turn towards the middle.
>> Ed Vitagliano: These people will all rebel. They'll lose their entire staffs.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: So CNN's trying or they were trying. CNN recognized their, their model of, of promoting the liberal agenda was not working from a business standpoint. This was widely reported about a year ago. Remember they changed, they changed CEOs and change whether so they, they want to appear at least to be trying to be more objective and be the CNN of old. You know where they were. They were pretty reliable and dependable at least for news coverage.
>> Fred Jackson: But look what happened at the Washington Post. Bezos when he tried to make some reforms. There was a rebellion.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, it's a rebellion. Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Because it's group think liberalism. inside the newsroom in the editorial room.
>> Christopher Woodward: CNN could have just aired the press conference featuring Patty and then brought out their panel to which some liberal, and CNN is chock full of them. But some liberal could have said well she was emotional, she wasn't thinking straight. And then they could have had Scott Jennings say you're wrong, you're a liberal and then moved on and called it coverage. And I think most people would have been okay with that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Listen, cnn, Scott Jennings appears to be one of the darlings of whoever's watching cnn. And, and that to me is proof that people want at least balanced media.
>> Christopher Woodward: I'm looking at News Buster's website, they're chastising PBS saying they ignored the murder by the illegal in favor of sad deportation coverage. CBS meanwhile spent 20 times more on Gayle King going to space than the whole flight crew. CBS News personality Gayle King was one of the ladies that went up to space. I mean there's for 11. If you ever want to know what mainstream media is wasting its time on, go to NewsBusters because God bless. And people like Clay Waters, Nicholas Fonda, Caro Curtis Hauck, they all talk about stuff that networks are focusing way too much time on. For example abc, NBC, Trumpet, Sleepy Joe's first post, Post Office speech, bashing Trump and Social Security. I mean they're wasting a lot of time.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, you're listening to Today's Issues. That's the name of the show on the American Family Radio Network. Tim, Ed and Fred, next story.
Chris: I think the Democratic Party is in serious trouble because of tariffs
>> Christopher Woodward: Chris from time to time, when we talk about time to time and the crazy things that liberals, specifically leaders of the Democratic Party are doing, or not doing, sometimes people wonder like who is running the party? Is it aoc, is it Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer or somebody else? apparently some of the younger people in the party now that have climbed the ranks and gotten cushy positions like David Hogg. a lot of young people in the DNC are talking about raising money and going out and primary ing Democrats to try to get rid of them and get in younger, more woke people, in the Democratic Party. so that's, that's one thing. And Fox in a coverage of this today, had a segment on with Republican strategist Tiffany Marie Brandon. She said Democrats are just in complete disarray.
>> Amber Brown: Clip 5 I think it's a desperate move. I think that at the end of the day, David Hogg is a 25 year old Harvard grad who is a bit of a narcissist with a still yet undeveloped prefrontal cortex. And at the what we're seeing in this trend is the left starting to eat their own. What they're not realizing and recognizing and are starting to panic about is that they are not meeting the American people on the subjects that are most important to them. Look at the transgender issue. We have a 79% approval rating nationwide. That's 97% of Republicans and 67% of Democrats that believe that transgender athletes should be banned from women's sports courts.
>> Christopher Woodward: Yeah, she went on, but we had to cut it somewhere.
>> Ed Vitagliano: listen, I, I think the Democratic Party is in serious trouble because of exactly what she's talking about. We are, we are watching the Democratic party who in 2020 and during the primary season invited in the socialist wing of the party, plus the woke blm, antifa, all of those folks invited them in when they realized that Bernie Sanders might get the nomination and they wanted Joe Biden who they thought would be a more establishment, establishment guy. And they made the promise. I'm guessing they made the promise, if you will, all coalesce behind Joe Biden. Get him the nomination would let you guys into places of leadership. And now they're taking at their word. And the very, at least part of the reason why Trump got elected was because Biden his policies, were, I think, being directed by this more radical wing of the party, maybe without his knowledge, at some point towards the end of his administration. And that's part of the reason why Trump won fairly handily. and now the Democratic Party is facing a takeover. You have James Carville a week or so ago, saying, we need to get those woke. People need to just leave, start their own party. But it's too late for that, James. These are. These people are in charge. And if Chuck Schumer might face a primary challenger, they're all in trouble.
>> Fred Jackson: Yep.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. you know, the only thing I agree with you, that the Democrat Party as a whole is in, There in a, Malays. They're in a, you know, no man's land. There's no leadership there, no direction really. The energy lies. The energy, as it were, lies with the Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and that. The squad that. That m. That part of the, party. Because they actually, they're. They're wrong, but they do believe in something. Right. They try to fight for what they believe in. But I think that, the only thing that could derail the Trump and the Republicans right now is, Trump's tariffs. If Trump's tariffs don't work, then the reaction will be against the Republicans and the Democrats will be the benefactor, even if the Democrats are in decline.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: You see what I'm saying?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: So I think that Trump's tariffs. We haven't had tariff talk today, so I'm prepared. Are you? Okay. time now, ladies and gentlemen, for tariff talk with.
The economic program of President Trump will make or break his administration in 2028
Hello, Today's issues panel. We go live. so, that's, to me, that's the. The economic program of, President Trump will make or break his administration and the Republican Party in the fall of 2028. Right. Or, 20.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, 2026.
>> Christopher Woodward: Now we're in the throes of primacy.
>> Tim Wildmon: So what I'm saying is this domestic, agenda. Ah, that President Trump has, not the economic agenda, but everything else. I think the American people, that's why they voted for Trump and the Republicans, and, And he is bringing it on all those issues. And people are applauding and saying it's about time on all of what Elon Musk is doing, and exposure, waste, fraud and fraud and abuse and all those things. By and large, the general public opinion says, keep going, this is what we need. But again, when you bring up tariffs. I was talking to a couple of guys yesterday who are. They don't work here. They're Conservatives, just like us, Christian conservatives, economic conservatives. And they were like, I don't know, hopefully it works. I hope he knows what he's doing. Talking about Trump and tariffs, you know, and these were smart guys, business guys, and they didn't know which way this thing was going to break.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, well, the, the American people, will support ideas like make America great again and bring manufacturing back. But those are all abstract. If they're suffering at home.
>> Christopher Woodward: Right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Okay. Those are all abstract, plans.
>> Tim Wildmon: But if Trump, if Boeing goes down the tubes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. If Trump's policies result in economic, catastrophe fee at their kitchen table.
>> Tim Wildmon: It won't matter.
>> Ed Vitagliano: They don't care about abstract.
>> Tim Wildmon: No. Then the, then the Democrats will say, look what he's done to the economy. We'll be back momentarily with more of today's issues on the American Family Radio Network.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Will you take a moment and celebrate life with me?
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>> Jeff Chamblee: This is today's issues. Email your comments to commentsfr.net Past broadcasts of today's issues are available for listening and viewing in the [email protected] now back to more of today's issues.
American Family Radio Network offices and studios will be closed tomorrow for Good Friday
>> Tim Wildmon: Welcome back everybody to today's issues on the American Family Radio Network. Today's Thursday, April 17, 2025. Tomorrow is good Friday. Sunday is Easter. And our offices and studios will be closed tomorrow as will many, many. You be off work tomorrow as it is Holy week. And so we will have a, we have a couple specials during the trivia Friday hour. We do that on, on Good Friday because we, as Ed said earlier, we want to play Pay Popper. Come on, Tim. You can do this. Play. Pay proper respect to.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: The reason for, Good Friday. Well, I struggle with that one there, didn't I? Well, nobody helped me already just looking at me.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, I wasn't quite sure what you were going for.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's why that was the problem. I didn't either. Exactly. I couldn't get it out. I had two p. Words back to back.
>> Ed Vitagliano: We all help each other out. If we were struggling over words and stuff. We got a big crowd of folks who are visiting, and they're outside the window of our studio.
>> Tim Wildmon: They all look retired. Yes, I'll say. Do you?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, they could be.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, sure. Yeah. But anyway, we'll talk to them. But we welcome folks to come by our studio.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Absolutely.
>> Tim Wildmon: You don't tell them how they can do that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, they just go to afa.net and.
>> Tim Wildmon: StubHub and get tickets. Go to Ticketmaster, go to StubHub.
>> Ed Vitagliano: if you go to, ah, afa, uh.net and hang, on. I've got to click off this menu here and you go to, Contact us. The little drop down menu. At the very bottom of that drop down menu, it says tours.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: So you have to fill some stuff out. We got to make sure, you know the law is not after you.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And, if they are, we're not hiding you here.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's.
>> Ed Vitagliano: That's right.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm gonna call.
>> Ed Vitagliano: not for free, we won't.
>> Fred Jackson: There was a Canadian at the front door this morning that we didn't let in.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, wow. Was that you?
>> Fred Jackson: No, it was a Canada goose.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Oh, Canada.
>> Fred Jackson: I'm serious.
>> Ed Vitagliano: It, was at the front door.
>> Tim Wildmon: Canadian goose.
>> Fred Jackson: A Canadian goose.
>> Tim Wildmon: Some kind of liquor.
>> Fred Jackson: He was at the front door and he was yelling.
>> Christopher Woodward: It was a warning from Trudeau.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I want in or I will slap tariffs on you.
>> Tim Wildmon: But it is nice to have folks visiting with us today. And, But anyway, we won't be here tomorrow with live programming during the Today's Issues Hour. That's one of the people to know that.
Everything hinges on success of President Trump's trade tariffs, right
All right. we are covering the news and current events here, and we do that each and every day on American Family Radio. Before the break, we were talking about President Trump and the fact that he's laid it all on the line was his tariffs, for the world. Kind of like we are the world on holding hands.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: So we are slapping the world with tariffs and. But everything hinges on the success of that. Or not.
>> Christopher Woodward: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And this is not a new idea that popped into, Trump's head. He's been talking about terrorists for 40 years. So this is, this is something he believes in. He believes America, should. American economic policy should put America first. And that includes our trade deficit, which last year was over a trillion dollars.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: So.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, well, we'll see. A lot depends on whether that works or not.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Because everything else that President Trump is doing domestically, which we've all applauded here for the most part, that will. That hinges on what is economic, and.
>> Ed Vitagliano: It won't matter to voters if we go into a recession. That's. That's.
Fred Kaplan welcomes Jan Markell to Understanding the Times on American Family Radio
>> Tim Wildmon: Who's our guest now, Fred?
>> Fred Jackson: Our guest is our very special guest every couple of weeks here on today's issues. I say this. She doesn't need any introduction, but I'm about to introduce.
>> Ed Vitagliano: You got to introduce her anyway.
>> Fred Jackson: Jan Markell, host of Understanding the Times, which is heard right here on American family radio at 1pm Central on Saturday and then again on Sunday at 12 noon. Welcome, Jan.
>> Amber Brown: Thank you, Fred, and everyone. I appreciate it so much.
>> Fred Jackson: Are Canadian geese welcome at your place?
>> Amber Brown: Oh, they're all over my backyard. Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. I saw him flying overhead the other day, and I was in the yard and I said, welcome home, boys. Because it's getting close to spring and summer.
>> Fred Jackson: That's right. That's right, Jan.
>> Amber Brown: They don't have far to go here, you know.
>> Fred Jackson: That's right.
>> Amber Brown: A few miles.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. The Canadian geese there wear, earmuffs in the wintertime, just. That's exactly right, yes, Jan, a couple of stories involving Israel in the news this morning, and we have another round of talks, that are going on this weekend between the United States and Iran on trying to force Iran to diminish or not to produce nuclear weapons. But also, we learned that there's. There's news this morning that, the Trump administration apparently persuaded Israel. Israel had plans over the last several weeks to indeed attack Iran's nuclear facilities, and President Trump asked them to stand back from that plan while he was trying to negotiate. Jan, this is critical. If we cannot persuade Iran and be convinced that they are not producing nuclear weapons, dear knows what's going to happen. How does that fit into Bible prophecy? And where do you think this is going?
>> Amber Brown: Yeah, those are really good questions, Fred. The president, of course, has said that we have a problem with Iran, and I think he's being rather generous there because the Iranians would love to buy time, as Joel Rosenberg and others have said, by dragging out negotiations with President Trump as long as possible. And I think Donald Trump will go along with that for a while, but certainly not forever. But what is the alternative? And the alternative is indeed an American attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, which, by the way, is a supreme challenge. They're underground, they're within mountains, they're strategically planted, facilities that are extremely difficult to get to. Now, would Israel cooperate in this? Of course. And, this has kind of been put off. At least it's on delay. It was going to happen in May, Israel was going to attack in May. And the President said, you know, we got to wait, we got to talk and talk and talk.
>> Fred Jackson: Well, as I say, there's. There's another round of talks this weekend in Rome between, American officials and, Iranian officials. But also, we learned this week, and Ed and I were talking about this this morning, there's another carrier group that has entered the area. And that, I think, Ed, just kind of increases the tension and trying, I think the Trump administration trying to increase the pressure on Iran to come to some kind of deal.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. Because, Jan, you can comment on this. It's, ah, it's clearly a threat to move a second US Carrier group into the region. everybody understands that. it's interesting that when you have a dictatorship, which is what Iran is, it's a religious dictatorship, you have, you can have consistent foreign policy. But, to the point I think that you were making earlier, if you have a free country like ours, you have elections every so often and you can string out the, negotiations until you get a different president and hope for a different foreign policy. So, it's going to be interesting to see how the religious leadership of Iran, responds to a second carrier group, because it's going to seem like a threat. How, how do you think they're going to respond to it?
>> Amber Brown: Well, let's just consider it from a biblical perspective for a moment. And that was a question a moment ago. From a biblical perspective, Iran is not going away. I mean, Iran certainly could be delayed, with her nuclear program. But we know, According to Ezekiel 38 and 39, a future prophecy. How far future, we don't know. Israel will come against, well, Russia is going to invade Israel, let's put it that way. Russia, Iran, Turkey and some more minor players are going to invade Israel in the Gog Magog war of Ezekiel 38, 39. That could be tomorrow, it could be next year, it could be in 10, five years, who knows? We don't know. my only point is we can talk about stalling Iran, stalling our nuclear program. And we should. But the, Iranian powers. Mullah power is not going away. Now, having said this, you know, America or Israel is not going to war with the people of Iran. It's these doggone mullahs that keep doing this to the Iranian people. Iranian people aren't the least bit interested in what we're talking about. but my only point is the Bible says Iran plays a major role in future events. So what we are going to. What we or Israel could do could delay things. But eventually, Gog Magog takes place. Iranian empire not going away, but this certainly could delay things.
Jan says Israel will maintain military presence in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, well, go ahead.
>> Fred Jackson: No, just one more question. Israel announced this week, Jan. That they are going to maintain a military presence, into the distant future, not only in Gaza, but also in Lebanon and Syria. I think it goes to the point that Netanyahu is serious this time. They are not going to allow another October 7th.
>> Amber Brown: Exactly. that was so devastating a year and a half ago. anybody who was watching sort of things unfold that particular weekend, we're still in shock. I've got Michele Bachmann this weekend, and the following weekend, we'll talk about these things, because I really think the world is at a crossroads. I mean, are we going to deal with the thugs in Iran and other places of the Middle east as well? I don't think we have an administration that's going to do. We had the previous administration, which, as you gentlemen said, look at the difference in administrations. The Biden administration let them get away with anything, but, this administration won't. And so I think we're coming to a showdown is my only point. And I think we need to be watching this like a hawk, and I think we need to have experts speak into it, because we got troubled days up ahead. I think no matter what path we go down, we've got really rough times ahead. But I'm so thankful we have a president standing up for, freedom like we have now.
>> Tim Wildmon: Did y'all already ask her about Mike Huckabee? Because I wasn't here, I had to step out. Jan, Tim here. I wanted to ask you, what do you. You know, Mike Huckabee was confirmed as ambassador to Israel, and we're just tickled here. I don't know your thoughts on that.
>> Amber Brown: Absolutely. This, is one of the sort of the Middle east bright spots. And, obviously, based on what I just said the last few minutes, it can be very dark. But Mike Huckabee A ray of sunshine and pro Israel community. Ah, Very, very pleased about this. Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right. Thank you, Jan. Take care. Have a, wonderful Easter weekend celebration.
>> Amber Brown: And you. Goodbye now.
>> Tim Wildmon: Thank you.
Jan Markell says Christians look forward to Jesus returning, not nuclear apocalypse
That's, Jan Markell joining us from, I just call her Susie Sunshine right there with end of the world scenario. Nuclear. Well, she's nuclear obliteration.
>> Ed Vitagliano: She's talking Bible, though.
>> Tim Wildmon: I know.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: well, listen, I mean, there is going to be, There is going to be trouble, around the globe.
>> Christopher Woodward: It's truth from beginning to end. It focuses on the end often.
>> Ed Vitagliano: But to your point, nobody looks forward to that. In fact, I think it's an Amos.
>> Tim Wildmon: We look forward to Jesus returning. Yes, that's right. Christians do. But we don't look forward to all the. Who does. The trouble that's coming, to planet Earth.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I want to say it's the prophet Amos, but he's talking about the day of the Lord. Lord. And he says, all of you who are looking forward to the day of the Lord, don't, because it's a day of. And he starts to list all the. All the difficult things that will come. So a normal person doesn't look forward to those kinds of things, but does look forward to, the Lord's return or, good grief, just. Just going home to be with the Lord.
>> Tim Wildmon: Amen.
>> Ed Vitagliano: M. Didn't have to be at the end. just as long as I tell.
>> Christopher Woodward: You there something I'm looking forward to in glory. No pollen. Time doesn't change. There's, no more tariff talk. Although I am fully prepared to do more on this. You know, we don't have to worry about these things. We'll be with the Lord forever.
>> Tim Wildmon: Those are your top three reasons.
>> Christopher Woodward: well, let me tell you this. I don't deserve.
>> Tim Wildmon: Have you talked to your pastor? Have you been listening?
>> Christopher Woodward: Yes, I have. Yes, I have. And I mean, listen, I don't deserve.
>> Ed Vitagliano: No, no pollen. That was in his top three.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's.
>> Fred Jackson: That's the Servant series coming.
>> Christopher Woodward: No more falling Bradford Pear trees don't stink. I mean, come on. That's preaching.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, it's preaching, all right.
>> Christopher Woodward: Yeah. Brother Rob, right out of the message Bible, I think, man, I tell you this on Sunday. If he looks dead at me, points at me, I've touched a nerve.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Does your pastor listen to our show? I believe he does.
>> Fred Jackson: That's our m. Millennial race.
>> Ed Vitagliano: No more pollen.
>> Fred Jackson: No more.
>> Ed Vitagliano: No more high gas prices.
>> Christopher Woodward: This morning, this morning we were talking about, our favorite foods. And during the, news meeting, as we were all gathering for some reason, Bronson brought it up and we were all talking about it. And I did say that I hope Jesus is building my place next to a Mexican restaurant because it is my favorite type of food. So.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, man, Chris, you need to go on tour, brother. You're just bringing it.
>> Christopher Woodward: Let me tell you this.
>> Tim Wildmon: You be careful. You are wound up right now.
>> Christopher Woodward: For those that have never heard me share the story, and I'm happy to do that at some point if anybody wants to call or email me, I came to know the Lord thanks to Fred. So, Fred's my spiritual, connection to the Lord.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Can I just raise.
>> Christopher Woodward: I don't know if it's the Paul to my Timothy, if you will.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't want to know if Fred wants credit for that right now or not.
>> Christopher Woodward: Maybe not.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm sorry, can I just add a strange story to the mix here? I was just looking on fox, news and there's a story on fox, news, about ufo. footage captured by u. S. Navy shows mysterious aircraft launching from the sea. So I'm scrolling down while Chris is prattling on about, ah, his wish list for heaven.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: and they have a story, I guess, from, from fox, news. These states are best prepared for an alien invasion. Explains UFO expert. Not California, number one. No, no, I am, I'm kind of disappointed. Here are the five states. Five states. Virginia.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts and Alabama.
>> Christopher Woodward: I could see Alabama. I would think Texas would be on that list.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, I just, born you get a gun.
>> Tim Wildmon: Those are the five states that are.
>> Ed Vitagliano: What now best prepared for an alien invasion. Now, I don't know the reason for that because I just, I just, drifted down the page.
Alabama is best prepared for an alien invasion, according to a billboard
but that's kind of a weird selection of states.
>> Christopher Woodward: If governor Ivey is listening in Alabama, she should put that on the billboard when you cross the state line. Best prepared for an alien invasion.
>> Tim Wildmon: Five, oh, man. I think, my guess would be Virginia because they have the naval. I, don't know. What am I. We're starting.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, okay. I, I just, it just struck me as interesting. Five states after I got this show. I'm, I'm checking this out and want.
>> Christopher Woodward: To find out your use of prattle on was.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, I think, you know, that could be used against a candidate who's an incumbent. You know, you could say, hey, did you see the reasons the guy running against the governor.
>> Ed Vitagliano: How come our state is prepared?
>> Tim Wildmon: We're dead last. We are dead last. In preparation for Alien innovation and you get all yourself a leader.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's all I have to say.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Let's get on it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Christopher Woodward: All right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Vote for me. So where, where we found this story.
>> Ed Vitagliano: This is on Fox News.
>> Christopher Woodward: Speaking with space. I did not realize this until I was looking at it a minute ago on the, on this day in history that Britannica puts together.
Today is the anniversary of Apollo 13, uh, crew returning to Earth
Today is the anniversary of the Apollo 13, crew returning to Earth. You may be back. Obviously this, yeah, this happened, long before I was born, but you guys, lived through this. I mean, like, what was it like? Number one, knowing that astronauts were stuck in space.
>> Tim Wildmon: And what year was that?
>> Christopher Woodward: 1970 is when they returned to Earth.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so the Apollo. What do you, what do you call it? Mission missions. They had missions for those who don't know, those were the, trips to the moon, right?
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Did they have 13 of those or did they all go to the moon?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Did they have. I think they had 18.
>> Christopher Woodward: The. Houston, we have a problem. Was the 13th one.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, that's the origination of that phrase, Houston, we have a problem, which was really said by the lead astronaut.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, there's. But, now there was the movie. I didn't see the movie. I've seen bits of bits.
>> Ed Vitagliano: You've never seen that movie. That's really a good movie.
>> Christopher Woodward: Kevin Bacon's in it, Gary Sinise and then, Ron Howard directed it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Yeah, I need to watch it. But I have. You know how you catch bits and pieces of movies. But I've seen that. But I knew Tom Hanks was the, was the lead actor there. But,
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Apollo capsule explosion
So today is the day that happened in 1970.
>> Christopher Woodward: Yes.
>> Fred Jackson: Is today the day of the explosion that we learned the explosion or that they came home?
>> Christopher Woodward: Today is the anniversary that they came home. The splashdown.
>> Fred Jackson: Okay.
>> Christopher Woodward: Ending one of the most tense chapters in space history. Four days earlier, an oxygen tank had exploded, threatening the lives of the three astronauts.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, and that the reason the movie is so fascinating is how they jury rigged.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Ed Vitagliano: The, the, Apollo capsule or whatever, to get back, say because they had some system failures. and I put that right up there in terms of bravery and engineering with the five women who went up to space a few days ago for 11 minutes that I put those together in terms of,
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: The brilliance of the people who went up.
>> Christopher Woodward: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And then were able to come down.
>> Tim Wildmon: See where, you know Katy Perry, the singer.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Oh, huge fan.
>> Tim Wildmon: I could tell she's a pop singer. I know, that I couldn't name singles One song. But, that's not my era.
>> Christopher Woodward: Pretty sure her first one AFA had a issue with. And for good reason.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Ed Vitagliano: She. She was. Anyway, m. Go ahead.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. I'm not here to review her career. No, I'm only here to say this. She was on the flight yesterday.
>> Christopher Woodward: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. Was it yesterday?
>> Christopher Woodward: It was earlier.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's Jeff Bezos's Beyonce.
>> Christopher Woodward: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: It's not Beyonce, fiance. Oh, Beyonce. what's her name? Sanchez or something.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Anyway, but she. And like four of the women, Gayle King from CBS and. And Katy Perry and I don't know who else went, up to. And did the, up, up and step in the space for 4 minutes, 5 minutes, and then come back down to earth. Do they, do they, come down where they left off?
>> Fred Jackson: Fairly close, I think.
>> Tim Wildmon: I don't know how that works exactly, but of course I didn't do well in chemistry.
>> Christopher Woodward: That's what I think.
>> Tim Wildmon: But anyway, hold on a second before you think.
>> Christopher Woodward: I'm sorry.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Because, we never know where that'll go, do we, Chris?
>> Christopher Woodward: Let me write down my thoughts.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, please write them down first.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm enjoying this beat down.
>> Tim Wildmon: But anyway. Yeah, I love Chris, but, Katy Perry, the singer.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: She, got off the 711 minute trip.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Kissed the earth.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: It was like she's being mocked universally. about.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Deservedly so.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes. She liked it. Especially after the astronauts who were stuck for nine months just got home.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. And. And there's no. There weren't. There was probably less coverage of that in the mainstream media because it was Elon Musk going up and getting down under orders from President Trump made him. There was less coverage of that than there was of these five, women going up with their makeup on and then coming back down. It's just.
>> Tim Wildmon: And acting like this Katy Perry acting like they're all bender.
>> Ed Vitagliano: They're so brave.
>> Christopher Woodward: Yeah, well, that's the thing. Like, it's an insult to women like Sally Ride that, you know, work their. Their really hard, to. To get where they were. They fought sex, sexual discrimination, all these things, and they, they become. They finally achieve it. And then like some people that have money or are married into things, get to go to space. It's an insult to people like Sally Ride. I'm interested to see.
>> Ed Vitagliano: She was, she was one of the astronauts that died, in the launch in 84 or something like that. Yes, it was the, first.
>> Christopher Woodward: American female astronaut with selling ride.
Chris: How are you going to colonize Mars? Well, that's
Now I'm interested to see which billionaire kind of wins the space race, if you will, because Elon Musk has SpaceX. Jeff Bezos has Blue Origin, as it's called. Blue Origin seems to be more like space tourism. Whereas like, Elon really wants to do things that somehow benefit.
>> Ed Vitagliano: He wants to colonize Mars.
>> Christopher Woodward: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Which I think is one of his wackier ideas.
>> Christopher Woodward: Yeah. Would you go to space if you had the opportunity?
>> Ed Vitagliano: No.
>> Tim Wildmon: How are you going to colonize Mars?
>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, that's, that's what a lot of people are asking. it's I mean there's, there's all sorts of problems anyway.
>> Tim Wildmon: I guess you got to have some.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Gravity, the the ability, you know, there's ideas about maybe terraforming to try to create some sort of atmosphere, but the gravity is not strong enough to hold on to an atmosphere. It's, there's all. And then. Plus it takes a long time to get there.
>> Christopher Woodward: Yes. several years ago Elon Musk was quoted as saying he wanted to nuke Mars and create global warming on that planet to make it to where people could live on it.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. I'm sorry, he's dreaming.
>> Christopher Woodward: And I would put my atmosphere, my.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Vast scientific knowledge up against Elon Musk any day. Hey listen, we we talked about Katy Perry when she raised in a Christian home.
>> Christopher Woodward: She was, and she sang songs and about you know, alternative lifestyle experience.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah. I just, I would want to encourage people to pray for her and not just mock her.
>> Christopher Woodward: This would be a great weekend to do that.
>> Ed Vitagliano: You can mock her a little bit, you know, but, but pray for her.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And for these, these pop singers. There's several of them who were raised in a, ah, Christian home and, and now mock the Christian faith. It's a, it's a sad thing. So pray for, pray for Katie.
>> Christopher Woodward: Amen.
>> Ed Vitagliano: And we're all happy that she made it home after an 11 minute stay in space. And the rest of these ladies.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. All right. So I wonder how that works. Elon Musk does that too. Doesn't he, doesn't he have a spaceship that goes up and comes down in 15 minutes or so or somebody does. That's a.
>> Ed Vitagliano: His go up and come down for the most part.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm talking about, that's besos.
>> Christopher Woodward: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: Only him, the, the rocket that launches them comes back down by itself and lands.
>> Ed Vitagliano: You're talking, you're talking about for tourism.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm not sure Musk does a lot.
>> Christopher Woodward: Of that, has that on lockdown.
>> Tim Wildmon: Thank you, Chris.
>> Christopher Woodward: Thank you.
>> Tim Wildmon: We shall return momentarily.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Stay away from that pollen, Chris.
>> Tim Wildmon: We'll be back in five minutes. Stay with us.
>> Amber Brown: The m views and opinions expressed in.
>> Ed Vitagliano: This broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
