Tim, Fred and Wesley talk with Chris on top news headlines of the day. Also, Todd Nettleton of Voice Of The Martyrs joins the program to discuss the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Watch Culture Warrior today for free to help Christians win the cultural war
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>> Tim Wildmon: Going to have a hedonistic humanistic society.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Discover the story of the culture warrior Don Wildmon and how he went head to head with Hollywood playboy, the homosexual agenda and the Disney empire. The movement Don started paved the way for Christians to boldly stand for truth and righteousness in a hostile culture. Watch Culture Warrior today for free. Visit culturewarrior movie.
Tim Wildman: Welcome to Today's Issues on American Family Radio Network
>> Tim Wildmon: Welcome to Today's Issues.
>> Chris Woodward: Offering a Christian response to the issues of the day. here's your host, Tim Wildmon M President of the American Family Association.
>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, good morning everybody and welcome to today's Issues here on the American Family Radio Network. Thanks for listening to AFR. It's Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. and I have three, a gentleman in studio with me to discuss the issues of the day. One of them is Wesley Wildmon. Good morning Wesley.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Good morning.
>> Tim Wildmon: And Fred Jackson.
>> Fred Jackson: Hi there Tim.
>> Tim Wildmon: And Chris Woodward. Good morning Chris. Who are we having on at 10:30?
>> Chris Woodward: At 10:30 we're going to be talking with a friend of AFR and certainly a name and a voice people will recognize from his show on afr that being Todd Nett, host of the Voice of the Martyrs Radio, broadcast that we have on the weekends and he is going to be talking with us about the situation that our brothers and sisters in Christ in Nigeria are facing. For those not following the news, it is really terrible, it is a terrible time in Nigeria to be a Christian but these people are boldly proclaiming their faith and they are dying for it.
>> Tim Wildmon: So we are going to talk to Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs about the situation in Nigeria. Nigeria as we mentioned yesterday, is the largest country in Africa. A lot of you listening to me right now maybe know somebody in Africa. Excuse me, In Nigeria. Are you Christian missionaries in Nigeria? Whatever the case, may be Nigeria is you know well known around the world for as a you know a major country on the continent of Africa. So we're going to talk about what's going on there with with Todd Nettleton and a lot of other topics to talk about today including what happened I guess overnight.
Former Vice President Cheney died last night due to complications from pneumonia and vascular disease
>> Chris Woodward: Yes, Dick Cheney, former, ah, vice president, two time vice president, passed away at the age of 84. We have this story on our website afn.net the family says Mr. Cheney died due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. and we have a lengthy statement from the family there on afn.net. we also have some audio from people remembering their time having worked with, Vice President Cheney. for example, former White House press secretary Dannah Perino called into Fox and made some comments on the passing of Vice, President Cheney.
>> Caroline: Clip 12 I also loved watching him in meetings. There's this really funny story. If I have a second, I'll tell you. So in the Oval Office where I sat, I had line of sight with President Bush during these policy time meetings. And that's when the ultimate decisions are being made, after staffers have hashed it out. And Dick Cheney was always sitting to the President's right. And the president and I would kind of laugh because sometimes you would think that Dick Cheney was asleep in the meeting when his head was nodding and President Bush would look and wink at me and do a little tilt of his head. And then inevitably, two minutes later, Dick Cheney would ask the most incisive question that was clear that he was listening to everything the entire time. and the other thing I would say is one time when my dad came to the White House, which was a big deal for me, and the President made it a big deal, but because of that Wyoming connection, Dick Cheney really made it special and easy.
>> Tim Wildmon: ah, that is, who was.
>> Chris Woodward: That former White House press Secretary Dannah Perino talking about?
>> Tim Wildmon: the, Vice President Dick Cheney, who passed away last night at the age of 84. you don't remember Vice President Cheney, do you, Wesley?
>> Wesley Wildmon: I don't. I'm pulling up, his Wikipedia now.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, Fred and I do. Well, we can tell you all about it. He served in Congress for, a long time as, the Representative from Wyoming. I'm talking about the House of Representatives. And then he became, George Bush's vice president. And he was served in that position for eight years. He really had no desire to run for president though, did he?
>> Fred Jackson: I don't remember any. He was Defense Secretary one time. He served in both Bush administrations.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's right.
>> Fred Jackson: And of course he was vice president. He was pivotal. I mean, during the Iraq, war. he was more. And it's kind of interesting, the headline from the AP this morning. One of the most powerful vice presidents in US History. He did not follow the script, that, you know, the Vice president, he's named vice president, then he goes off and does other things.
>> Tim Wildmon: he was like a co president, quite frankly.
>> Fred Jackson: He was. And that's what Dannah Perino was referring to there. kind of like laughing a little bit that, that she and President Bush used to note that maybe Dick Cheney Is he falling asleep? No, he wasn't. He was thinking about what was being said.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's what I tell Allison I'm doing in church.
>> Fred Jackson: It happens to the best.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. When I get the elbow and the ribs about. Yeah. But do you come back, don't go to sleep in church.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Do you come back?
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm thinking about what the pastor just said. You know what I'm saying?
>> Fred Jackson: Deeply.
>> Tim Wildmon: Listen, Dick Cheney was a great, American and served our country in many capacities. I said he was patriotic, and I was sad to learn that he had passed away. But he was 84 years old.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes. And I was not aware of his health problems that go back many, many years, with his heart. He had difficulties through the years. You would not know it by the pace he kept while he was vice president.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, go ahead.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Well, I was going to ask what were a couple of the things that he was remembered for, good or bad?
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, he was, Well, he shot somebody one time.
>> Chris Woodward: He did. Hunting trip.
>> Fred Jackson: Oh, yeah? Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: You ever done that, Wesley?
>> Wesley Wildmon: I've never done.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.
>> Wesley Wildmon: It's called gun safety.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, thanks. No, thankfully nobody was seriously hurt. It was, Right. It was. They were bird hunting or something. You remember that? Something like that. Yes.
>> Wesley Wildmon: That's easy. Bird hunting. There are multiple shotguns and multiple people and that. I can see how that could happen and it not be right. Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right. But on a serious note, he, I guess he would best be remember for the things Fred's mentioned, Secretary of Defense under, George Herbert Walker Bush. that's, that's George Bush's daddy. And then when George W. Bush became president, he served as VP for two terms, so eight years, in the White House. And, and he should say he, he was more like a chief of staff.
He wasn't a traditional vice president traveling around to funerals
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: he wasn't a traditional vice president traveling around to funerals and aspirations to be president one day. he was basically. I think he was older. No, he's about five years older than George W. Bush. So he was basically, his right hand man, I guess you could say.
>> Fred Jackson: Kind of person you would want as your 2ic.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
Today is New York City's mayoral election; President Trump has endorsed Cuomo
All right, next story. Chris.
>> Chris Woodward: Well, it's election day in various parts of the country and big races that AFN net is watching involve New York City's mayoral race in the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey.
>> Tim Wildmon: Who's running for mayor in New York?
>> Chris Woodward: Zo Ron Mamdani.
>> Tim Wildmon: I'm sorry, Chris, who did you say?
>> Chris Woodward: Zo Rod Ma.
>> Wesley Wildmon: I think you just wanted to hear.
>> Tim Wildmon: The way Chris says his name.
>> Wesley Wildmon: I think anybody can say it, but that has a little bit of like.
>> Tim Wildmon: A superhero or something, or a.
>> Chris Woodward: Super villain, depending on.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, that's true.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Supervillain.
>> Tim Wildmon: so we're, It's a, It's a big. Everybody's watching to see what happens is Zoran Mandami is a, socialist slash communist. Yes, unapologetically so. And, he's going to, he would be the mayor of the largest city in America if he wins today.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes, and it looks like he will win based on the polling. For example, he's, leading the two challengers, in today's election. Democrat, former Democrat turned independent Governor, Andrew Cuomo is running as mayor of New York City. He's in second place. And then Republican Curtis Silwa is in third. If Silwa had dropped out, one might make the argument that Cuomo has a real chance here of defeating Zoran Mamdani in the mayoral election. but it looks like, due to things like exit polling and interviews and news articles and all kinds of things, that Zoran Mamdani will probably be the mayor of New York City come tomorrow, barring some sort of comeback, from Cuomo here in the last minute. What's interesting about this race is that President Trump has intervened here and has actually endorsed Governor Cuomo or at least told people in New York City to vote Cuomo. Curtis Silwa doesn't have a chance of winning. Trump, says, so vote, Cuomo. And I have some audio of Cuomo, talking about this, saying, look, Trump doesn't support me. He just doesn't like Zo. Run Mamdani. Clip 5 How does it feel to.
>> Tim Wildmon: Have Trump's endorsement just a couple of hours ago? Yeah, President Trump doesn't support me. He opposes, Mondami.
>> Fred Jackson: Right.
>> Tim Wildmon: He believes that Mondami is an existential.
>> Fred Jackson: Threat to New York.
>> Tim Wildmon: He believes he's a communist. He believes he'll bankrupt New York. So he opposes Mondami. he doesn't support me. It's the opposition of Mondamin. Well, that's true.
>> Wesley Wildmon: It's very true.
>> Fred Jackson: It's true. But that, that is a great political answer because Cuomo is trying to, trying to tell people I'm not tied to Donald Trump, because Cuomo, that's not.
>> Tim Wildmon: A winner in the city of New York.
>> Fred Jackson: No, he is hoping that Cuomo is still hoping that he'll get the, vote of traditional Democrats in New York, and he's hoping he's going to persuade some Republicans not to vote for Sliwa. So he's hoping he can put all that together to perhaps win over Mamdani. We'll wait and see.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Well, leading up until today, or over the weekend, I have tongue in cheek said and I that if my. I kind of pull them from my naughty. Just so they can get what they ask for, so to speak and so that we can get a. The idea would be for me is that the implicit. He would be able to implicate his plan. Assuming he can a lot of it's unconscious impose his imposing plan, then we can see the ripple effect and we can learn from it as a nation.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Without having a general.
>> Tim Wildmon: However. Yeah.
>> Wesley Wildmon: However over the weekend I will say though I had, I was talking to a friend of mine about this issue that we're talking about and they came back and said well that that could happen or it could be like other parts. Was it Michigan where they've hijacked and there's no going back. But basically the. I guess another flip side that could happen is they Mandani wins. Is it mom Donnie saying that?
>> Tim Wildmon: Correct.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Mom Donnie wins and then we concede that ground to a different country and you never go back.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Only.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, well what. Yeah, we'll find out what happens. But yeah, it will be a study in communism, so to speak if Mondami wins. And whether he can accomplish all the things he said he wants to do there in New York City, even as powerful as the mayor's offices would remain to be seen. And, and also what are the implications, ramifications of the housing market. For example, if, if it's true that you know, a fifth of New Yorkers ah, are planning to leave, should he get maybe not a fifth, but whatever it is, it's a substantial number.
>> Fred Jackson: Yep.
>> Tim Wildmon: Planning to leave, if he gets elected. Because he is, he is ah, as far left, as far left as you can get. This. This is what this guy is.
>> Tim Wildmon: So he's very soft on crime, very anti police, believes in free everything for everybody by taxing the rich and
>> Wesley Wildmon: Defund the police. Means no police.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, he's been on that bandwagon too. Now he wouldn't say that today.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Well, he's come back when he got some pushback.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. All right, so we'll watch and see what happens. I'm glad that race will be over today.
>> Fred Jackson: He's very anti Israel too.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's true.
>> Fred Jackson: You know, he has said that if Prime Minister Netanyahu arrives in New York that he would arrest him on behalf of the World Court. Yeah, I mean, there's so many.
>> Tim Wildmon: He did say that. Yeah.
Jay Jones: Donald Trump wants people to vote Republican in New York elections
Yeah.
>> Wesley Wildmon: And you know, it's, it's one thing when we get passionate about something, both sides can be a little bit hyperbolic at times. Obviously, we've seen that. However, when he's a self identified communist. Yeah, there's no, there's. You don't have to. You know, I don't think it, none of us or anybody on our movement has to be hyperbolic about what he potentially could do when he stated everything we've already said as part of his.
>> Tim Wildmon: He's proud of. Yes, I mean, he's proud of it. I mean, his, far, far, far, far left position, you know, in some.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Candidates, you have to go look at where they give money to in order to uncover a few things or where they get money from or. Yeah, or. But in this case, this is pretty obvious.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah, but this is, this is part of a bigger story though. what's going on inside the Democratic Party.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Oh, absolutely. It's been going on for how long? About 10 years.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. AOC Bernie Sanders, I know he's not Democrat, but he votes with Democrats. He is part of that radical left. We talk about the squad members, all of that sort of thing. And this is what your traditional Democrats are concerned about, the success. They're very concerned about the success of Mamdani in New York because they see this element taking over. The traditional Democrats are very worried that this element is not going to go beyond New York City and, they're going to rope it. You were talking about Minneapolis, Seattle, Seattle. All of these are radical, radical lefts. They're all socialists.
>> Chris Woodward: I think the media will, if he wins tonight, tomorrow, whenever, the media will make him into the next Barack Obama or the next Bernie Sanders. Really the really radical person. Somebody will make the case that because he can win in New York City with millions of people and diverse ethnicities and all these other things, he can win the White House, I guarantee you, not the country. Somebody will push. He will win tonight, tomorrow, whatever, and somebody will try to say that he should run in 2028.
>> Fred Jackson: Yep.
>> Tim Wildmon: Next story. well, enough New York mayor stuff.
>> Chris Woodward: Let's, let's do this. because President Trump, in addition to telling, people to vote for Cuomo, he's also out there pitching for really any Republican running for office today or in the,
>> Tim Wildmon: Although Cuomo is not a Republican, he's an independent.
>> Chris Woodward: Correct.
>> Tim Wildmon: Thank you.
>> Chris Woodward: for. In addition to supporting, Cuomo, somehow, some way, Trump wants people to vote Republican in, these and future elections. Clip one.
>> Frank Gaffney: Ah, still in play. They're very close, including governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and the legislature is, all up and vote Republican. And, you know, just, if I just cover one subject, your energy prices will go way down as opposed to your energy prices going through the roof, going to raise your taxes, and the crime will be rampant. The crime will be totally horrible. They'll be protecting the violent perpetrators. They'll be protecting the violent people that caused the crime.
>> Chris Woodward: That was President Trump telling people to vote Republican.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right. Well, he's a Republican, so prize there. Right.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah, that's true.
>> Tim Wildmon: Really, it's, not a lot going on today except for Virginia and New Jersey and New York.
>> Fred Jackson: Correct.
>> Chris Woodward: There are some down ballot things in. What are these places? well, I know from, Debbie, what now of I voter God is now part of the AFA family. Debbie, was on Washington Watch last week with Tony Perkins. I think it was Jody Hice hosting that day. And she was talking about how there were some school board elections in various parts of the country. There's also a lot of ballot referendums. And we're going to be covering this tonight, Lord willing, on afn, where we're going. Well, if the Lord Terry's and we, yes, we're going to be picking on Brother Chris.
>> Tim Wildmon: I know what you're saying. Go ahead.
>> Chris Woodward: You do whatever you want to. As long as I remain gainfully employed.
>> Tim Wildmon: You get a paycheck.
>> Chris Woodward: I have three people depending on me to eat. Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: no, so I got some down. It's election Day.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: I'm anxious to see what happens with the Attorney General post in Virginia.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: This is the Jay Jones running for the Democrats. He is still on the ballot, and he's the guy that talked about putting a bullet in the head of his political enemy back there several, months ago. just terrible things. And, Jason Mieris is the current Attorney General, and I'm told the latest polling actually puts it pretty close.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Fred Jackson: So I'm very anxious to see that. Miharris is a great guy.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah. It's going to be interesting if the Republican continues to hold this office because, you may have a situation where you have a Democrat in the governor's mansion wanting to do certain stuff that the Republican Attorney General doesn't want to go to court to defend.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. So we'll be watching that.
>> Chris Woodward: Okay.
Nat says he thinks Democrats will cave on government shutdown
All right. Hey, the government still shut Down.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Story I've been waiting to get to right here.
>> Chris Woodward: That's what I'm here for.
>> Tim Wildmon: Get enough of this government shutdown story.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes. And as in the case for the last three weeks, Democrats and Republicans continue to point the finger at one another for the government.
>> Tim Wildmon: who's gonna blink?
>> Chris Woodward: to be honest with you, I think, I think Democrats are going to cave because the scuttlebutt has been for the last few days, really the last week or so is supposedly Democrats are wanting to get through election day today to get the Mamdani in there to get Abigail Spanberger, talk about the future of vote for us in the midterms and then they'll cave on the government shutdown. I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Take us back in memory lane here. the, the last shutdown that I can remember that I was around for was in 2015 or 16. I can't. I was, I was on my honeymoon. Okay. I was on my honeymoon and we've got.
>> Tim Wildmon: And I just would upset anybody. That's if this, if a government shut down your honeymoon.
>> Wesley Wildmon: I know. St. Lucia, on our honeymoon. And I got the message on my phone that the government was shut down. And I just remember how the entire time it was a Republicans fault.
>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Ah, they were.
>> Tim Wildmon: The Republicans sort of did get blamed for that one, I think, if I remember correctly. But.
>> Wesley Wildmon: And Trump was the last man m. Standing on that government shutdown. He was trying to, trying to live on principle.
>> Tim Wildmon: We were.
>> Wesley Wildmon: But I just. But we've got that compared to what we're. What we have here now. Trump was in office then too.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, he was.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: There's two things here going on here that we, want. The snap, program.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: What is that short for?
>> Chris Woodward: That Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Food stamps.
>> Chris Woodward: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: Am I right?
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yes.
>> Chris Woodward: Correct.
>> Tim Wildmon: But we used to call food stamps, which is called SNAP today, Fred, that is set to run out of money.
>> Fred Jackson: Yeah. As of last Saturday actually.
>> Tim Wildmon: So what's going on with that?
>> Fred Jackson: Well, what has happened is last Friday, two Barack Obama appointed federal judges told the Trump administration, you have to come up with the money, to make sure that these 40 or 41 million Americans get their, EBT cards, filled up. So what has happened in the meantime in the last 48 hours is that the Trump administration says, we have enough to pay the recipients half of what they normally get. Now believe it or not, folks, this program, this EBT SNAP program costs the taxpayers of America $8 billion a month. Eight billion a month. Trump says, we've got about four and a half billion sitting in a particular fund. We can do this. So they're agreeing to do this now. It doesn't mean those cards are going to get filled up with that money today. It takes some doing to figure out who gets what, but that is the compromise that's there. The other news that I heard this morning on the shutdown front, and, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas was being interviewed. He was asked, are there conversations going on in the background? And he said, yes, there are some conversations going on in the background. Cooler heads that, perhaps once we get through the election day today, get the results, that there will be a coming together of some sort, and we'll get the government back up and going because things are getting serious. If you're traveling by air right now, it is doubtful either your flight could be delayed or canceled completely. It's, because the air traffic controllers are not being paid. They had their last.
>> Tim Wildmon: Neither are the TSA workers.
>> Fred Jackson: That's right. It's. It's getting really dicey there.
>> Tim Wildmon: How long can you go without a paycheck? And I don't understand. Listen, I don't understand how you can compel somebody to go to work without giving them a paycheck. That sounds fundamentally unfair to me. But that's the situation with the.
>> Fred Jackson: They're being asked. They can't be forced.
>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, they're being asked.
>> Fred Jackson: They're being asked. Will you please.
>> Tim Wildmon: So we get volunteers for TSA agents.
>> Chris Woodward: Yeah, I can. I was not this person that was pulled over. But during one of our recent shutdowns, a lot of people joked, well, great. I can. I can do 55 now in the Natchez trace instead of 50. No, they were still pulling people over voluntarily.
>> Wesley Wildmon: So what can end the shutdown?
>> Tim Wildmon: well, somebody will have to cave or a compromise will have to take place.
>> Wesley Wildmon: But let's go both sides. What if it was a dimmer? What is their Democrats are giving up, so to speak?
>> Tim Wildmon: well, they would.
Democrats say they're not supporting continuing resolution because they want Obamacare subsidies
All right, I'm going to let Fred tell this because, I'll get into a word salad if I start trying to.
>> Fred Jackson: Well, the Democrats. The Democrats have said that they're not, supporting the continuing resolution, because they want guarantees, that the Joe Biden Covid subsidies for Obamacare will continue.
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. Which were meant to be temporary.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes. However, they're not. Believe it or not, they're not being completely honest. They want a whole lot more than that. They're Talking about the subsidies, and they're talking about snap, you know, kids going hungry, et cetera. They want to restore funding to npr, National Public Radio. They want to, restore funding to all of these agencies out there, these government agencies all over the world that get, supplements from the government. They want, we are told, about $1.5 trillion, in renewed spending that was cut out in the big, beautiful bill. So that's what it's about. But I think they're going to give in on this, and I think you're going to.
>> Wesley Wildmon: We have some Democrat influencers that have said that the Democrats need to give in, don't we?
>> Chris Woodward: Well, I don't know about an influencer, but I know the head of the biggest government worker union basically said, y' all need to quit fighting, come back to work, get the clean cr and figure this out once you're back open for the government union head to be saying that, it's basically saying, democrats, give it up. And even Barack Obama, during one of the shutdowns in his administration, had talked about how this is what elections are for. So really, this is a midterm election issue, not something in 2025.
>> Tim Wildmon: I wonder what's gonna happen, though, if the SNAP program runs out of money.
>> Wesley Wildmon: People have to go to work.
>> Tim Wildmon: Well, yeah, or they'll go on a theft rampage.
>> Chris Woodward: Some of them do already work, but, yeah, it's gonna be problems.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, well, they'll probably. I said this a month ago. I said they'll probably get this worked out in the next week, but who knows? We'll be back momentarily with more of today's issues on the American Family Radio Network.
Preborn network clinics help women choose life through a free ultrasound
>> Ed Vitagliano: We're living in a time when truth is under attack. Lies are easy to tell, easy to spread, and easy to believe. But truth, truth is costly. And nowhere is the cost greater than for mothers in crisis. When a woman is told abortion is her only option, silence and lies surround her. But when she walks into a PreBorn network clinic, she's met with compassion, support, and the truth about the life growing inside her. That moment of truth happens through a free ultrasound, and it's a game changer. When a mother sees her baby and hears that heartbeat, it literally doubles the chance she'll choose life. Preborn network clinics are on the front lines, meeting women in their darkest hour, loving them and helping them choose life and sharing truth. Friend, this is not a time to be silent. It's a time for courage, for truth, for life. Just $28 provides one ultrasound and the opportunity for a mother to see her baby to help her choose truth and life. Donate today. Call £250 and say baby. That's £250, baby. Or give [email protected] afr that's preborn.com afr.
>> Tim Wildmon: This is today's issues. Email your comments to commentsfr.net past broadcasts.
>> Chris Woodward: Of today's Issues are available for listening.
>> Tim Wildmon: And viewing in the [email protected] now back.
Todd Nettleton hosts Voice of the Martyrs on American Family Radio
>> Wesley Wildmon: To more of today's issues.
>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, welcome, back, everybody, to the radio program Today's Issues on American Family Radio. Today again is Tuesday, November 4th. Tim, Wesley, Fred and Chris. And, we're all in studio here. And joining us now is Todd Nettleton. Todd is host of Voice of the Martyrs, heard Sundays at 10am Central Time right here on American Family Radio. And Todd joins us, I think from Oklahoma, but I'm not exactly sure. Todd, good morning to you.
>> Frank Gaffney: Good morning. Yes. From Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes. and Voice of the Martyrs said that's been your home base for how many years?
>> Frank Gaffney: I believe we moved here in 1991, so quite a while since, since before I started working here.
>> Tim Wildmon: I got you. North of Tulsa, right? Isn't that right, or.
>> Frank Gaffney: Yep, that's correct. Just 45 miles north of Tulsa.
>> Tim Wildmon: Gotcha. Well, Todd, thanks for being on with us. Tell us about the, mission before we get into the story about Nigeria. I know many people listening to me right now are familiar with your ministry, Voice of the Martyrs, and hear your radio program Sunday mornings at 10am here on American Family Radio and also carried in a podcast. But tell our listeners what the, overall, mission is. Voice, of the Martyrs.
>> Frank Gaffney: The ministry of Voice of the Martyrs is a ministry to serve and help persecuted Christians in more M than 70 countries around the world where they regularly face persecution for following Jesus Christ. And the other part of our mission is to tell their stories to American Christians, so that we know what's going on, so that we can honor, the scriptural command that when one part of the body suffers, we're all supposed to feel that pain. And also so that we can be encouraged as we see the faithfulness and the boldness of brothers and sisters in China and Iran and Nigeria. We can be encouraged and hopefully challenged to be faithful and bold right where we live.
President Trump designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern on religious freedom
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, tell us about what's happening in Nigeria.
>> Frank Gaffney: Big, big development, about Nigeria over the weekend. on Friday, President Trump posted to social media, that he was designating Nigeria as a country of particular concern, on the area of religious freedom. And that is something that, typically the State Department issues, those designations, but in this case, the president did it through social media. What that means is it basically gives the US Government a toolbox of things, both carrots and sticks, that they can use to try to nudge a foreign government to provide better protection for religious minorities in their country. And so this kind of opens the door. And, then over the weekend, the President posted another post about possibly using US Military troops to provide protection for Christians or to go after some of the terrorist groups in Nigeria that are persecuting Christians. that, you know, there's a lot of talk about that that certainly got the attention of the Nigerian government. we'll see what that looks like in the months to come. But I think the biggest takeaway is simply that, hey, our brothers and sisters in Nigeria are suffering. And whose government is now paying attention to that?
>> Tim Wildmon: And it's more than persecution, folks. This is, savagery. What's going on with the Christians in Nigeria? they're being hunted down and butchered. and so, who is doing this to the Christians?
>> Frank Gaffney: That's the interesting part of this because the CPC designation really is about the government of Nigeria. Typically, the persecution that is happening in Nigeria is coming from usually one of three groups. So one is Boko Haram. We have probably heard about them. They, several years ago pledged allegiance to isis. They want an Islamic state in the northern part of Nigeria. They want Sharia law. That's one group. The other is Islamic State, West Africa Province. They are definitely a part of isis. and the other is Islamists from among the Fulani tribe. Now, not all Fulani are Islamists. in fact, there are a number of Fulani Christians now. but there are Islamists from among the Fulani tribe that specifically target Christians. And this is typically in the northern part of Nigeria. That's another part of this story. To understand, Nigeria, population wise, is split fairly evenly between Christians and Muslims. But the north is predominantly Muslim. The south part of the country is predominantly Christian. So in the south, you have, literally, you have megachurches that are operating very similar to how maybe your church operates. This Sunday, they're having large gatherings. They're meeting, they're singing hymns. It is safe for them. In the north, you have pastors being targeted and killed. Same country, but very different setting for Christians, depending geographically where you are in the country.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, seems to me, and I'm not speaking for you, you can speak for yourself on this, Todd. Seems to me this is the same old story radical Muslims want to kill Christians to, purge the earth of the infidel. Okay, that's. That's, that's a driving force for much of the terrorism around the world, quite frankly. Go ahead.
>> Frank Gaffney: It is definitely there. There is an aspect of that, there, you know, as you look at the violence, there is also sometimes ethnic and tribal animosity that plays into it. there is, you know, land there. There's conflict sometimes between people who want to farm the land and people who want to graze cattle on the land. But when you see a village that's been attacked and you go, and we've had some of our staff that will go to the village after the attack, and you're like, okay, that house was burned down. It belonged to a Christian. The house right next door is still standing. It belonged to a Muslim. It's like, well, wait a minute. That's not farmers versus herders. That is Christian persecution, because all the Christian houses got burned down and the Muslim houses are still standing.
Voice of the Martyr does not publish a ranking of Christian persecution
>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, what the, what are the top three countries in the world that. Voice of the Martyr. Do you guys rank persecution for Christians, in terms of the worst places, or do you do anything like that? Go ahead.
>> Frank Gaffney: You know, we don't do a ranking, because we feel like our mission is to serve persecuted Christians regardless of where or regardless of how many other Christians in their country have been persecuted. I think when you talk about the toughest places to be a Christian, you have to think about North Korea. You have to think now about Afghanistan with the Taliban back in control there. I, think certainly we would think of Iran. There are lots of Christians in Iran, but they are certainly paying a high price for that. Somalia is a very difficult place to be a Christian Eritrea, but we don't publish a top 50 or bottom 50, depending on how you look at it.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, so you do talk to people on the ground in Nigeria?
>> Frank Gaffney: Absolutely, yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Like, weekly, daily. How often do you communicate with them?
>> Frank Gaffney: I don't necessarily communicate with them directly all the time, but we have staff that oversee that part of the world that are in communication every week with, with our team on the ground there.
Todd Nettleton hosts Voice of the Martyrs on American Family Radio
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, Todd. Todd Nettleton, host of Voice of the Martyrs, heard Sundays at 10am Central Time right here on American Family Radio. How can people get in touch with you guys, follow you guys, that kind of thing?
>> Frank Gaffney: Persecution.com is the main Voice of the Martyrs website. It's an easy one to remember. Persecution.com. we can connect you up there with our free Monthly magazine. We can also connect you with the podcast and, would love to have you come. And, you know, our goal is to help you know what's happening with the body of Christ, to help you be able to pray effectively for persecuted Christians in Nigeria and in other places around the world.
>> Tim Wildmon: All right, Todd, thanks for joining us. we will pray for your ministry, and, thank you for being on with us.
>> Frank Gaffney: You're welcome. Thanks for having me.
Todd Nettleton asks people to pray for Christians in Nigeria specifically
>> Tim Wildmon: That's Todd Nettleton from Voice of the Martyrs in Bartlesville. That's where Bartosville, Oklahoma, is. Their international, headquarters, I guess you could say. You're listening to today's issues on American Family Radio. All I would do is ask people to pray for the Christians in Nigeria specifically because it is bad. You can read about it. it's bad. You know, we think we have problems here sometimes in the US and in Canada and other places, and. And they are real in terms of our religious freedoms and our rights. But these folks in Nigeria, like, live, where the Christians there live, you know, thinking they might lose their house or their family. Go ahead.
>> Wesley Wildmon: One. And just.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Murdered. Yeah. I mean, that kind of thing.
Wesley, share your story. And now do it now. Chris. All right, next story. Um, Wesley
All right, next story. Chris. Well, wait, hold on. Before you do that. Chris. Excuse me. Wesley, share your story. Shared devotion this morning I was going to.
>> Wesley Wildmon: But also, do we need to tease it and do it another later. And now do it now. Now's it.
American Family Radio listener had pancreatic cancer and survived 108 days in hospital
>> Fred Jackson: Okay.
>> Tim Wildmon: Tell people the backdrop and what happened here.
>> Wesley Wildmon: So the reason you didn't hear my voice last week on American Family Radio on today's Issues is because I was traveling with a work event. We took 200 of our listeners and our supporters to the Ark Encounter and to the Creation Museum when we spent two full days together. Early mornings, late nights, and two full days. And while I was there, I got to meet several. As I mentioned, I met out of the 200 I probably shook hands with, probably half, during that time period. And one of the testimonies that was given to me, amongst many, testimonies was a testimony from Kate, I won't give her last name, where she's located, because she. Although I'm friends with her now, and I know her and her husband Ron, who's a really good friend now, she shared with me while we were there that she had had pro. Pretty sure I got all these details right. Prostate cancer. And she went in and the doctor.
>> Tim Wildmon: No, no, pink. That's male.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Sorry. Pancreatic.
>> Tim Wildmon: It was pancreatic.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Pancreatic cancer. She had pancreatic cancer. And she said, I went to the doctor. They all but said, you're not gonna live. it would take a miracle, but we are, but we're gonna go through with what, what's the last procedure possible? They went in and they were taking out her intestines. And they saved just the right amount. They were able to save just the right amount. That with all of the medication and with time there would be a small chance that she would live. So basically they went in with no chance to come out with a small chance. She spends 108 days in the hospital, all the while the doctor saying, you are a miracle that you've made it this far. 108 days in the hospital and she has to take a lot of different medications. Well, while she was in the hospital, there were obviously in her recovery, there were days where she couldn't sleep and she's rolling around and nights become m. Days and days become nights. And she told me that, when she was telling me her this testimony, she said, and you know what got me through? You do you know what got me through? I said, no, ma'.
>> Fred Jackson: Am.
>> Wesley Wildmon: She said, the AFR being able to listen to AFR and JJ's radio program in the morning, she said, but even more so at 3am when I couldn't sleep and I was miserable and rolling around in her, in the bed in the hospital. It was Pastor Joseph Parker's hour of intercessors radio program at 3am in the morning that impacted her and helped her get through that long period in the hospital. And then of course she recovers. She spends about eight or nine years. The last eight or nine years she didn't travel, didn't go anywhere. She went home, from home to picking up her groceries. Very localized, very, you know, very home based, oriented with. Because of all the implications of her surgery.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Wesley Wildmon: And the medication, all that. Then her first trip she was out of the house and traveling was at the ark. Encounter with us nine years after that. So she's a walk in miracle. and because of our listeners, our supporters funding and helping us do the work we do, we're able to provide a 3am radio program from our own. That's our own right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Amen. So hour of intercession with Pastor Joseph Parker is. Airs at 3:00am, Central Time.
>> Wesley Wildmon: That's right. And her name's Kate.
>> Tim Wildmon: Kate. What a story. What a testimony. So she's a walking miracle.
>> Wesley Wildmon: She is. And she, she would, she told us that herself. She said, right, I'M a walking miracle. And she was just glowing too, by the way. By the way, she mentioned, Oh, sorry. She didn't mention. I found this story out after talking with her a couple of different times. Like, my point is, I wouldn't have known all of the impact that they. And there's so many like that testimony. We just don't know the impact that we're having. Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: well, this is all possible because, people listening to us right now who make financial donations to American Family Radio help us broadcast across the country and reach people like Kate.
>> Wesley Wildmon: And funny, at the end of one of our conversations, I talked with her, her and her husband. I talked with them several times. She said, you know what? This is going so well. I may go to Israel with y'.
>> Frank Gaffney: All.
>> Wesley Wildmon: So she is to have her. Yeah, that's her right there. I'm showing the radio.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yes. What we're talking about is a, couple that Wesley met in. At the, Ark Encounter, last week. Was it last week?
>> Wesley Wildmon: That's right. We were up there Thursday and Friday.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's Ken Ham's, Answers in Genesis project.
>> Wesley Wildmon: We went to the Creation Museum on Thursday. We went to the Ark, Encounter on Friday. during fr. Thursday night, we had Dr. Faulkner come by. He talked about the North Star, Christmas Star. And then on third on Friday, we had Dr. Perum. She came in and helped us explain why we can trust the Bible as being God's word.
>> Chris Woodward: I talked to her a lot.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yep.
Chick Fil A on steroids as it relates to customer service and organization
Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Great, Great.
>> Wesley Wildmon: By the way, let me. Let me plug them. They are. They are Chick Fil A on steroids as it relates to their customer service and organization. I highly encourage you, if you have, if you're in the vicinity, to go check out their facilities. And obviously the biblical evidence that they provide is phenomenal. You get a great experience. It's done at top class. And, we'll be going, if it. I'm pretty sure we don't have dates yet, but I'm pretty sure we'll be going next year like we did this year.
>> Tim Wildmon: So when you go, you've been three years, four years.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Three years in a row.
>> Tim Wildmon: So you, you open it up to people, who want to,
>> Wesley Wildmon: Listeners right now.
>> Tim Wildmon: Listeners. Okay. So you announce when that's announced because I know you sell out, like, months in advance.
>> Wesley Wildmon: We did.
>> Tim Wildmon: And how many do you take? 200 total.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Each year we added a bus of 50, but we're capped out at 200. 200 is the most we'll take. And we've Filled that up, we took 200, which is four buses. That gives Tony Battagliano, Walker Wildmon and myself the opportunity to meet everybody. Anything more than that, it becomes right.
>> Tim Wildmon: Right.
>> Wesley Wildmon: It's not as a, person.
>> Tim Wildmon: Pain in the neck.
>> Wesley Wildmon: It's not as personable. That's how I say it.
>> Tim Wildmon: I didn't say. No, that's not true.
>> Wesley Wildmon: That is a lot of people, though.
>> Tim Wildmon: That's a lot of people.
Fred: I love how the Lord is using radio to reach hearts worldwide
All right, you're listening to today's issues. Fred, anything you want to say?
>> Fred Jackson: I love radio.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Amen.
>> Fred Jackson: I love how the Lord is using radio to reach hearts all over the world. We get the testimonies during Sherithon. you can have a radio in a jail cell. You can have a radio in a hospital room. you can have a radio on that 18 wheeler truck driver going across the country. They drive a lot at night. They have a radio on. We get all of these testimonies. TV is powerful, but radio gets places where TV can't.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, absolutely.
>> Fred Jackson: And the wonderful part about American family radio, now you can take it all over the world.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. The app's been a game changer.
>> Fred Jackson: Take it all over the world, folks. And it's ministering. The programs that we have in American family Radio, we do information programming, obviously. We have great preaching programs. We've got a program Monday through Friday, gives financial advice. I mean, we've got this huge menu, exploring the word. You know, it's, it's there for you. All you have to do is press the button, turn it on, on your cell phone. Whatever the case may be, American family radio is there for you. God is using it in a powerful way. Love that testimony.
>> Chris Woodward: One of the first people that I really got to listening to after starting here, I was listening to Dr. Adrian Rogers on the way home. And I really got into it and I was like, man, this guy's great. And, for people who don't know my story, I didn't become a Christian until I was 28 years old. So, you know, all these, all this was new to me, after I started, after I got saved, started working here and all this stuff. But anyway, I'm listening to Adrian Rogers, you know, in his, big booming voice, which I can't do justice to, obviously. But, I was, I got into listening to his show. And then, I'm watching television, with my father in law one day, and he puts it on one of his sermons and I'm like, oh, I love this guy. I listen to his shows all the time. And my father in law goes, yeah, it was a sad day when he left us, and I had no idea. I think I was like the last person that knew Pastor Rogers, had gone home to be with the Lord. But nonetheless, we do have, what I'm trying to say is, even people that have gone home to be with Jesus, and we're still airing their stuff, they're still having an impact on this side of eternity. And, it touched my heart and I, don't know.
>> Tim Wildmon: Radio.
>> Frank Gaffney: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. All right, you're listening to today's issues on afr. Next story. Chris.
Tucker Carlson mocked Christians who support Israel's right to its land
>> Chris Woodward: All right, so this is probably the beginning of a discussion that may carry over after the break, so stay tuned to this program for more on this. but in recent, days, Tucker, Carlsen, had a conversation with a man that many consider to be an anti Semite, Nick Fuentes. they mocked Christians like Mike Huckabee and Senator Ted Cruz who support Israel's right to its land in existence. for example, they claimed Christian Zionists are seized by a brain virus and that their beliefs are Christian heresy. Somebody that didn't care for this one iota was Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council, friend of this program. Tony wrote an op ed, blasting, this conversation. The headline is Tucker Carlson's Mockery and God's irreverable. I can't say this word. Irrevocable call. so Tony is one person out there, and to be honest with you, there's a lot of people blasting Tony, Tucker Carlsen for this, segment.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Not Tony Ducker. Yeah, emphasize there.
Tucker Carlson is being criticized for not pushing back against controversial comments
>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so we talked about this, at our meeting this morning, preparing to do the radio show, our staff meeting, our guys in this room, we discussed this issue. first, let me say I, was a big fan, I think everybody in here was of Tucker Carlsen during his Fox News days. Yes, he was, outstanding as a journalist and as a talk, show host on, on Fox News. He had one of the highest rated programs there, right? Yep.
>> Fred Jackson: Evening show.
>> Tim Wildmon: And then he and Fox News got crossways. I don't know what happened exactly there, but he left. Pardon me? He left there and, started his own podcast, right?
>> Fred Jackson: Yes.
>> Tim Wildmon: And then he started to do some things that I thought and a lot of people thought, what is he doing? What is Tucker doing? What, what is he saying? of course, he's a highly intelligent man. He's been, he speaks for himself and he knows full well he doesn't he doesn't, in other words, he, his thinking, is, is thought out. Can I say that in that way? So, and then he, he started interviewing people like these brothers, these Tate brothers. And I'm going, what's the value of this interview? right here. Didn't he interview the Iranian leader? Yeah, Ah, the Iranian leader. And I don't know and think. But the main thing that's developed in the last week or so is Tucker saying. Do you have him, his quote? He's a, he doesn't believe in, quote, Christian Zionism.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yep.
>> Tim Wildmon: He believes that God doesn't have a, God doesn't have a, a covenant with the Jews any longer.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Right now.
>> Tim Wildmon: I got that right.
>> Wesley Wildmon: You do have that right. I will say this just a caveat. We're not implying or saying that interviewing people of opposing views is the ultimate problem here. I think that's, I don't, I want to be careful that we don't do.
>> Tim Wildmon: Because I agree with that. Although there are lines.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah, there are. Sure there are lines.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Wesley Wildmon: but, but it's the, is the propaganda sizing of issues and it's the, it's the, the miss. it's not given the full story of it and it. Does that make sense? Yeah, let's go out here.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, go ahead, Fred, because, explain what's going on there with Tucker.
>> Fred Jackson: Well, he was doing this interview with this Nick Fuentes. We reviewed a little bit of what Nick Fuentes says on the air. He's a racist, he's Holocaust denier.
>> Chris Woodward: It's awful.
>> Fred Jackson: All of those things where a lot of people are taking issue with Tucker Carlsen is Tucker Carlsen did not push back when Nick Fuentes was saying these.
>> Tim Wildmon: Things like claiming it was like Tucker agreed with him.
>> Fred Jackson: That's the issue here, that people are upset. You know, this guy claimed Christian Zionists are seized by a brain virus and that their beliefs are Christian heresy.
>> Tim Wildmon: Who said that?
>> Fred Jackson: well, this is what came up in this interview. Tucker Carlsen is being criticized because he didn't push back against that. And that's where this is.
>> Tim Wildmon: Why would you have this fellow on your show in the first place?
>> Fred Jackson: That's the thing. You know, I agree with Wesley. You can have people that you can have disagreements about, but when it goes to this extent that this Fuentes guy goes, why give him a platform?
>> Tim Wildmon: And if you're going to give him a platform, you got to vehemently disagree with him on the air to show that you don't agree with him.
>> Fred Jackson: And this didn't happen.
>> Tim Wildmon: Not softball. Not lob softballs.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Right.
>> Fred Jackson: That's it exactly. our good friend Tony Perkins has done an editorial on this. And basically, Tony, being a Baptist pastor, among other things, goes to scripture. He goes to Romans, 10, chapters 10 and 11, where the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans, said, wait a minute. you Gentiles, don't you start thinking that God is through with the Jewish people, because that would be the breaking of the Abrahamic covenant. And Tony said, if God broke his covenant with the Jewish people, if he broke the Abrahamic covenant, maybe God can break his promise to you when it comes to salvation. That's the issue here. That people are. And that's why we have to fight this anti Semitism. We have to fight this idea that God is through with the.
>> Tim Wildmon: Is this called replacement theology?
>> Fred Jackson: Yes, in many quarters.
>> Chris Woodward: In that sphere.
>> Tim Wildmon: Huh?
>> Chris Woodward: It's in that sphere.
>> Fred Jackson: It's in that sphere that God is through with the Jewish people and that the church has replaced the Jewish people in Israel. And Tony Perkins and others are saying that is simply not true.
>> Tim Wildmon: But Tucker Carlsen is saying, if you believe that the Abrahamic covenant still exists today, that you have a brain virus.
>> Fred Jackson: Yes. And, and, and he calls a Christian heresy to believe that.
>> Tim Wildmon: And he called out Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee, didn't he, by name.
>> Wesley Wildmon: yes, he did more and call him out. He's been. He's just being ugly and mean unnecessarily.
>> Tim Wildmon: Tucker was.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: When he gets mad that he lashes.
>> Wesley Wildmon: Yeah.
>> Tim Wildmon: Tucker. This is interesting because Tucker Carlsen has been front and center in the conservative movement for decades.
Long time. He's closely aligned with Turning Point USA
Long time.
>> Chris Woodward: And he had that show with Carville back in the day.
>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Now here we are. He's closely aligned with Turning Point USA, too. all right, we'll be back momentarily.
>> Fred Jackson: Stay with us.
>> Caroline: The views and opinions expressed in this.
>> Tim Wildmon: Broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.