Transcript

American Family Association president Tim Wildman discusses Iran attack on Monday

>> Ed Vitagliano: Every day, AFA offers biblical insight on issues that others aren't willing to touch

>> Fred Jackson: in the hopes that you'll become a world changer.

>> Ed Vitagliano: That's why we're offering an in depth, worldview training course called Activate. Thirteen different professors teaching 18 sessions, all available online, including a printed workbook to help you apply what you've learned and one year access to AFA streaming content to give you even more resources. Find out more about Acctivate and sign up today at Acctivate.AFA.net welcome to today's Issues, offering a Christian response to the issues of the day. Here's your host, Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association.

>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, good morning everybody, and welcome to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Thanks for listening to AFR. on this Monday, March 2, 2026, I'm Tim Wildmon with Ed Battagliano. Good morning, Ed.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Good morning, Tim.

>> Tim Wildmon: And Fred Jackson.

>> Fred Jackson: Good morning, Tim.

>> Tim Wildmon: Ladies and gentlemen, because there's not much happening in the world today, we are going to play music now for the next hour and 50 minutes or so.

>> Ed Vitagliano: it's not a day to talk hockey.

>> Tim Wildmon: I know. And not probably. I know that's probably a bad joke.

>> Ed Vitagliano: no, that, that's.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, we're loaded.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I like that. Yeah, that's.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.

>> Ed Vitagliano: This is a heavy, heavy news day.

>> Tim Wildmon: Heavy, heavy news day. Unless you've had your head in the sand. Right, like an ostrich, which, by the way, sometimes that's a good idea.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I feel that way sometimes.

>> Tim Wildmon: On Monday morning, I would have just rather not know all this. but they're the, owner. US Time Saturday morning, Fred? Early. so it would have been somewhere between midnight and 3:00am for most of us here in the U.S. our military, and the Israeli military went to war with, Iran, right?

>> Fred Jackson: That is correct. President Trump was campaigning in Corpus Christi on Friday afternoon and we are told that's when he made the decision, that the mission to attack Iran was a go. What we understand is that, the Israelis had intelligence that, on Saturday morning around, let's say, 8 o', clock, Tehran, time, that the Islamic, regime there and their military people, planned a meeting. So the Israelis knew this. just guessing here, they get in contact with President Trump and now's the time to do it if we want to go after the head of the snake, as some people have referred to. So that's why when we were waking up here in the United States early on Saturday morning, the Attack was well underway. And so we were getting kind of firsthand information. it's unusual. A lot of the military experts were saying it's unusual to do a daytime initial attack that doesn't normally happen. But the goal here was to get the leadership of, Iran in one spot. They were there. Now is the time to go. Of course, the United States has been staging its military assets around Iran for the last three weeks or so. so everything was in place and ready to go.

President Trump says we don't want to get involved in any new wars

>> Tim Wildmon: All right, before we get into what's happened and talk about, even what's happening even today with Iran, I think it's good, it's a good idea to lay the groundwork for the reason for this mission, because it's being, you know, some people are saying, well, this is not America first. And we don't want to get involved in foreign wars and things of that nature, which were part of President Trump's, you know, MAGA movement that he started. That is, you know, no new wars. We don't want to. People were exhausted by Iraq and Afghanistan and Americans were. And I understand that and I agreed with that. So we don't want to get involved in any new wars. Right. So that's one of the, well, that's one of the pillars of the MAGA movement, the Make America Great again. However, that doesn't mean that there isn't a reason, there wouldn't come up a reason along President Trump's presidency, that he would not have to act. Did I use the double negative there? and he would have, I understand what you're saying. Okay. And he would have to make a decision on the part of the, of our country on what is best to do to protect us. So is this where the. Pete Hagseth.

>> Fred Jackson: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.

>> Fred Jackson: I was going to say Pete Hagseth, our Secretary of War, gave his first really formal briefing this morning. And I thought he, when he opened it up, he's answering the question that you're asking as to why are we doing this? Why are we doing it now?

The United States launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran two days ago

So cut number three, Brent.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Two days ago, under the direction and direct orders of President Donald J. Trump, the Department of War launched Operation Epic Fury, the most lethal, most complex and most precise aerial operation in history. Unlike so many of our traditional allies who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, hemming and hawing about the use of force, America, regardless of what so called international institutions say, is unleashing the most lethal and precise air power campaign in history. B2s, fighters, drones, missiles, and of course, classified effects, all on our terms with maximum authorities. No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win and we don't waste time or lives.

>> Fred Jackson: So that was Pete Hegseth. He went on for quite a while this morning, basically saying Iran has been a threat. They voice what they feel about America and Israel, and we knew that Iran was rebuilding its nuclear capability. He talked about they've been stalling with negotiations. Air quotes there. Over the last two or three weeks, but the United States States had intelligence that they were coming back with their nuclear capabilities, their missile, ballistic missile development, and now is the time to act.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so hold on a second. Sneezing doesn't. Potential for sneezing doesn't stop because you're live on national radio.

>> Ed Vitagliano: It pays no attention at all.

>> Tim Wildmon: It doesn't care. So, I have thwarted that right now, okay?

>> Ed Vitagliano: Successful thwart.

Donald Hex: Iran has been threatening the United States and Israel with nuclear weapons

>> Tim Wildmon: So here we go. All right. I think it's important, even beyond what Pete, Hex has laid out there, for people to understand. And this comes down to a matter of whether you believe this or not, what I'm about to say, all right? Because, we have been dealing with Iran. Dealing with Iran, America has for decades. All right, I'm going to lay it out as clear as I can, you guys, correct me or add anything if you want to, because you have to understand the reason why President Trump did what he did and the Israelis did what they did. You have a theocracy, a religious Islamic theocracy in control of a country of 90 million people. In Iran, I think it's 90 million people. It's pretty big, Pretty big country. They have been threatening, with the United States, which, and, and Israel. The United States is the great Satan. The US Is the, I, mean, excuse me, Israeli is the little Satan. They have a theological belief. They control the country and they control the weapons and the army. They have a. The theological belief that it's their job, by given to them by Allah, to kill the infidel, and especially America, Israel. They want to take us. They wanted to take us down. And we've had numerous, examples of them attacking, us by either directly or their proxies. Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, for decades now. And they've issued fatwas. Is that what you call them?

>> Ed Vitagliano: Fatwas?

>> Tim Wildmon: Fatwas. These are religious, dissertations as to what their intentions are. And it is clear that they wanted to kill Americans and Jews And Israelis. But despite there being no other reason other than their religious, beliefs to take out the infidel, there's been these railings, have not done anything to Iran to provoke this. It's just because Iran hates Jews. Okay? So now if you have somebody like I've just described who is driven by their religious dogma and they are about to successfully build a nuclear weapon that can reach Israel and that could potentially reach the United States of America, are some of our, our people in the region that are our friends. A nuclear weapon, in other words, to start a nuclear war, which they believe is is a mission to is a mission from Allah. Okay, so the question right there begins, well, what do you do about it? If you have the capability of stopping this by using force, then do you do that, or do you wait and see? Do you wait and see until they can launch a weapon on and kill millions of people potentially in America or Israel or other parts of the world? Or do you just play the wait and see game? So that's the, that's the decision that the President of the United States has to make a call on, as do the Israelis. And they're more sensitive to this than Americans are. We're an ocean away, okay? Israel is 1500 miles, 12 to 1500 miles from Iran. Now granted, if, if Iran launched a nuclear weapon on Israel, Israel would retaliate, with their own nuclear weapons. I mean it would be a, it would be a top 10 world history event if something like that happened. So my, my quit, my, my point is the President of the United States and his team, had reached a deciding point that, okay, by the intelligence that we had through the CIA and Israelis that Iran was just about ready to complete their nuclear weapon, ah, negotiations had gone nowhere. Americans and Israel had, especially the Americans negotiating with the Iranians had told them, all you got to do is say you're not going to build a nuclear weapon and let us check and verify that you're complying with that. That's all you got to do. Yes or no is the Iranian said, no, we're going to build our nuclear weapon. Now they would say, no, we weren't, but then they wouldn't let us check. You see what I'm saying? So I think what I'm saying, the bottom line of this exhausted explanation is to say that this came down to a judgment call on the part of the President of the United States. Whether or not do you want to take out, Iranians threat now or do you want to see if they're going to use it or not? Now, had. Had Iran got a nuclear weapon and we not done anything here, and they used it because they're, again, there are religious, dogma to kill the infidel. then guess what history would say, well, Donald Trump had all this information that the threat was imminent, and he did nothing because he did, because he didn't want to, he didn't want to get America involved in a foreign war. You see what I'm saying? I'm using quotations. So anyway, what do you think? What do you guys think about what? this came down to a decision, a judgment call on the part of the president, his team, whether it was time to act now or not.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, I just want to just say two things about it. By the way, excellent job.

>> Tim Wildmon: Thank you.

>> Ed Vitagliano: first thing is that I do want to add something in terms of their ideology, the Iranians ideology. And that is not only kill the infidel, but also create the chaos that will lead to world war, which they believe will bring in their 12th Imam, their renowned leader. So this is a partial explanation for why Iran is always funding terrorist groups, even in the Middle east, is not only to go after Israel, but to, to try to foment, displeasure with Muslim governments that are too Western friendly, you know, and overthrow them and have their governments, radical Shiites as well. So that's why they're always involved. That's why they're the largest exporter of terrorism around the world. That's why. I think it's my guess, from what I've been reading, that a lot of these Muslim countries in that are Arab are behind the scenes saying to America and Israel, go for it, because we cannot have that bully with nuclear weapons. Talking about Iran in our neighborhood, in, In. In the neighborhood. The second thing I just want to make mention of is to your point, Tim, about the disagreements that do exist, that have existed and will continue to exist inside this country about what do we do? And I think as much as I hate foreign involvement in war, I was glad President Trump said no more unnecessary wars. this seems like a trigger that had to be pulled, pardon the expression, because the reason Iran was saying, yeah, yeah, we'll talk, we'll talk, we'll have negotiations. Negotiations is, as you said, they were just stringing this out. They wanted a nuclear weapon and they wanted to use it. Right now, I don't know. I don't know how close they are to having gotten one, but our government says they Were close. People, out there listening are saying, you always believe what the government says. No, but I don't have access to intelligence. I'm, talking about, you know, CIA and national security.

>> Tim Wildmon: Israelis believe this, too, because they were willing to commit all their assets and pot and go to, you know, potentially receive the threats that, Iran would launch at them. They believed in this mission so much.

>> Ed Vitagliano: And that's why you have, even within the MAGA movement and in this country, you have anti Israel, anti Israel sentiment. I can barely go on X after this because there are people arguing. I mean, they're doing everything but arm wrestling. They are arguing over whether this is just another Israeli stunt to get us to do their bidding, as opposed to those who are saying, no, I think the world is a safer place with, Ayatollah Khomeini dead. Now the question is, now what? Who's going to be in charge? But that's a question we can handle. But anyway, that's the only thing I would say.

>> Tim Wildmon: So whether you agree with this or not depends on whether you believe President Trump, that Iran was an imminent threat with a nuclear weapon. If you don't believe that and you just say, no, he's lying. Right. He just wanted to go to war. That's a real stretch. I don't care if you.

Tim Ferriss: I doubt President Trump would authorize war with Iran

Even if you have Trump derangement syndrome, that's. That's really a stretch, because I doubt very seriously. Oh, I don't believe it. I don't believe at all that President Trump would go to war, would authorize us going to war with Iran if he didn't believe what I just said.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Listen, with previous presidents had all said, we're talking. Even Barack Obama.

>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, yeah.

>> Ed Vitagliano: They'd all said, we cannot let Iran get a nuclear weapon.

>> Tim Wildmon: Right.

>> Ed Vitagliano: We knew they wanted one. And I'm with you. You call President Trump a liar. How do you know? You tell. You think President Trump's telling the truth about this. How do you know? We don't know. We have to trust our elected leaders. I know trust is in short supply, and to a large extent, the federal government has earned that distrust. But somewhere along the line, we got to have. We got to say, the people in charge are. We have to trust them to do the right thing.

>> Tim Wildmon: Let me just show you another thing here about, this Trump derangement syndrome, which is defined as anything Trump is for, I'm against, or anything he's against, I'm for. Right. Okay. It's an irrational. I don't know. These people don't have the ability to say, I agree with Trump here. I don't agree with him here. I agree with him here. I don't agree with him here. They just said, no, we don't. Anything he does, we're going to dis. We're going to disagree with. That's Trump derangement syndrome. Okay, so what you have here, if you read the words of people like Chuck Schumer, Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, and other top Democrats, here's what most of them are saying. Iran was a bully. They were a threat to the world. Something, needed to be done, but Trump did it the wrong way. Read their statements. It's like Gavin Newsom was. I could read it, too. He's, like, very convoluted. He's saying, you know, this is a. They were represented a real threat. Iran did. But, Trump didn't talk to him long enough. You know, it's really bizarre. You're going like. So you're criticizing what he's done to stop Iran from a nuclear weapon because you don't like him. Right. Basically. Go ahead.

>> Fred Jackson: I heard a comment on the weekend, which I thought was interesting. We in the west sometimes do not understand there is real evil in the world. Like, real evil. I think in the past, including some American presidents, thought, we can negotiate with Iran, we can bring them to the table. But to go to your point, Tim, a few moments ago, the mentality of the Iranian Islamic regime is to take over the world.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: It's a religious ideology.

>> Fred Jackson: It is. And that's what people have to. They are driven, not. They don't want more land.

>> Tim Wildmon: We're not dealing with the Chinese here, who are just atheistic, but. Or the Russians or anybody. We're dealing with a people who don't care about, that they care. They don't care about money necessarily.

>> Fred Jackson: And to that point, they don't even care about their own people.

>> Tim Wildmon: No.

>> Fred Jackson: This Islamic regime.

>> Tim Wildmon: No.

>> Fred Jackson: I heard on the weekend anywhere from 25 to 30,000 of those Iranians that were marching in the streets of Tehran, they just murdered them.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yes, they murdered them.

>> Fred Jackson: We did a story on Friday where, the Islamic regime had people set up at the hospitals where these protesters were to be treated. They were shooting the protesters as they came into the hospital to get treatment. They were telling the medical staff at the hospital, do not treat these people. people were being arrested, those protesters, and then they would execute them at

>> Ed Vitagliano: the jail and bury them in mass graves so that the people. So that the family could not claim the bond yes.

>> Fred Jackson: So don't think for a moment it was like negotiations. That's the United nations mentality, you know, why can't we all just get along?

>> Tim Wildmon: Well, we did. You know, diplomacy was tried here. President Trump, Marco M. Rubio, Secretary of State, tried exhaustively for the last few months to talk some sense into the Iranians, and they would have none of it. They'd insisted on. They would say, we're not building a nuclear weapon. Americans. And the Israelis, particularly Americans, would say, yes, you are. We know you are. And they would say, well, we're not going to stop doing what we're doing, and we don't care what you say or do. Now, remember, President, then President, President Barack Obama, his idea of dealing with the Iranians was to send them, millions and millions of dollars of cash in an unmarked airplane that was found out.

>> Fred Jackson: Remember?

>> Tim Wildmon: Remember that? Yes. Now, to try to get them, I guess.

President Trump says Iran was close to developing nuclear weapon

And I don't know what else he did, Barack Obama, but that was his. That was his idea. maybe we'll buy them off, you know, the Iranians, to keep them from doing something. But this just comes down, basically, the rightness or wrongness of it comes down to whether you or not you believe that President Trump and his team and others that have said that Iran represented an imminent threat, they were that close to developing a nuclear weapon, which they would use.

>> Fred Jackson: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: If you don't believe that, then I can't. Then I can't. what am I trying to say? If you don't believe that, then I can see where you would say, well, we just needed to keep talking to him forever without any change.

>> Fred Jackson: And the rest of the world, whether they're admitting or not. I listened to the NATO Secretary General, Mark Ruthie, this morning. Got number 14. Have a listen to this.

>> Tim Wildmon: The Commander in Chief, the leader of the free worlds, President Donald J. Trump. I really commend what is happening here. Taking out Khamenei, taking out the nuclear capability in Iran, but also taking out the ballistic missile program in Iran. This is crucial. And what I see in Europe, I spoke with all the key European leaders over the weekend, is widespread support for what the President is doing and also making sure that when it comes to logistics access, defending key US Interests in Europe and in the region, the Europeans are really stepping up. Yeah.

>> Fred Jackson: So he's saying. He talked to all the European leaders and they're saying, go Trump, go Israel.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Listen, Khamenei and that Iranian regime, they're a wild card. And they, they have been a wild card, but They're a wild card that was seeking nuclear weapons. Any country that wants to survive, how would you like to be Jordan or Saudi Arabia? If Iran gets a nuclear weapon and they say we're going to launch it at Israel, even if Israel shoots it down, it might go somewhere. Or if it does land in Israel, you got that poison cloud of radiation blowing in, air blowing in from the Mediterranean. It's going to go somewhere. None of these countries wanted Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Whether they come out publicly and say so or not is another thing. Also because Iran was sponsoring terrorism around the world, these European countries didn't want Iran to be doing that anymore either.

>> Tim Wildmon: Well, France was bold, weren't they here, as usual?

>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, they have more Muslims probably, than any other country. They probably have to mine their business.

>> Tim Wildmon: Macron.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Macron.

>> Tim Wildmon: he came out and said, this is dangerous, or something like.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: He was not supportive.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Well, you know what? Fighting the Nazis was dangerous, too.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah.

>> Fred Jackson: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: And anyway, French president's words were not supportive. I would. I don't know that they were necessarily against, but they certainly weren't supportive of Israel and, the United States in their actions here. all right. That joke was fitting in with the French stereotype of waving the white flag before the war ever starts. Right. Maybe that's not fair. I don't know. We'll be back momentarily. Stay with us.

Don Wileman says he noticed his borrowed car might be out of gas

>> Don Wildmon: It's my turn.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Here is your host for M. My turn, Don Wileman.

>> Don Wildmon: It was a borrowed car. Mine was in the shop. I had looked at the gas gauge earlier and it registered half full. But there I was, sitting nearly directly under a traffic light at one of the busiest intersections in town. I had checked the motor out pretty good and decided that the trouble was either a bad fuel pump or just plain a la gas. I raised the hood on the car as a signal to those behind me that I was having trouble. It certainly wasn't an ideal location to have car trouble, but the car was too heavy for me to push out of the line of traffic by myself. I left it unattended long enough to make a phone call to the garage and inform them of my troubles. They said they would send a wrecker immediately after I returned to the car. I decided to give it a try to see if I was indeed out of gas. There was a gas, station just directly across the street. So I walked over and asked the attendant if he had a gas can that I could borrow to get some gas in to take to the car, which he could see. He told me he didn't have one that someone had borrowed his and had not returned it. I, then asked him if he had anything that I could carry some gas in that. My car was stranded in the middle of the street as he could see. And I figured it just might be out of gas. Well, I got the cold shoulder treatment all the way. He said he didn't have a thing to carry gas in and said it in such a way that I got the message. I saw a, water can and several empty oil cans around. But I decided that if he didn't want to help, I wouldn't try to force him. I walked back to the car and stood outside to wait for the wrecker. I guess I waited something like 15 to 20 minutes. Several hundred cars passed me at that intersection. They were all makes and models. Some expensive cars passed and some that were more in my class drove by. Nearly all the drivers gave me a look. They were mixed looks. Some didn't like it because I was blocking traffic. Others looked as if they saw a man who was having car trouble. But it wasn't of, any interest to them. I watched them all pass me by and in my mind was a thought. But isn't anybody going to offer to help? I must admit I got a totally negative reply to my self question. Nobody was interested in the least way in helping me. Well, being a Mississippian, I thought at least someone would stop to help. I was in the hospitality state and I was a native of it. By and by I noticed a very old model car which appeared as if it might stop running at any moment. And it began to pull alongside as if it was going to stop. I noticed that the man who was driving the car was a, black gentleman. He and his wife and family, about five children, were in the car. He got out. I saw he was dressed in clothes full of holes and patches. He came up and spoke. Anything I can do to help? He asked. Well, I explained the situation to him and thanked him for his offer. But the wrecker was on his way and really there wasn't much he could do to help. But as he drove away, I thought of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Indeed, the truths that the Galilean carpenter taught are enforced by the experiences of everyday life.

When you see trash in the media, submit it to 1Million Moms

>> Tim Wildmon: This has been my turn with Don Wildmon A production of the American Family association

>> Ed Vitagliano: when you see trash in the media, submit it to 1Million Moms.com over the years 1Million Moms and our partners have improved advertising choices of programmers and content seen on TV. Just like you 1 million moms want to protect little eyes and ears from the trash that could hurt them. So when you see trash in the media, visit 1millionmoms.com, scroll down and look for the Submit Trash button. 1millionmoms.com.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13.

>> Ed Vitagliano: American Family Radio.

>> Tim Wildmon: This is Today's Issues.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Email your comments to commentsfr.net Past broadcasts of today's Issues are available for listening and viewing in the [email protected] now back to more of Today's Issues.

Some Arab countries in the Gulf are considering military action against Iran

>> Tim Wildmon: Hey, welcome back, everybody, to Today's Issues on the American Family Radio Network. Thanks for listening to afr. I'm Tim with Ed and Fred, and we're going to get back to our, Our. You know, the big news story, obviously, is what's happening with the, United States and Iran. Israelis are involved as well as, Well, those two countries are. And some of the other. Some of the Saudi countries now. Excuse me, Saudi. Some of the Arab countries in the Gulf have, you know, they're, they're, they're considering military actions themselves against Iran because Iran launched missiles into those. Some of those countries, including Coder, Qatar, Kuwait, Kuwait, Dubai. Dubai is not a country, it's a city. But, that's in the United Arab Emirates, right? Yep. Bahran. Is that the way you pronounce it?

>> Fred Jackson: Bahrain.

>> Tim Wildmon: Bahrain. So, anyways, the Iranians launched something at Cyprus this morning. So I think, anyway, so we're going to get back to that conversation, but before we do, that want to talk about something we do here at American Family Association, American Family Radio, that you might want to be aware of and joining us as Chelsea Wildmon.

Chelsea is associate director at the AFA foundation. Good morning, Chelsea

Good morning, Chelsea.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: Good morning. Thank you for having me.

>> Tim Wildmon: what's your. What's your job title here?

>> Chelsea Wildmon: I'm the associate director at our AFA foundation department.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. How'd you get the job? Well, did you know anybody?

>> Chelsea Wildmon: Knew a few people.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay, so you had an inside track.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: But I did have to apply and go through all the proper channels. Wesley said I had to do it by the book.

>> Tim Wildmon: By the book. Well, you did, and you do a great job.

>> Ed Vitagliano: There were several red flags, I do want to say, but we over. We overlooked those.

>> Tim Wildmon: Right, right. Right.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: Thank you for the grace.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, well, the two year jail thing was really.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: Oh, goodness.

>> Tim Wildmon: No, we're only kidding people. Only joking here. we listen. There are, people listening to us who support us, who are, considering, you know, helping us out financially in a way. Beyond just a m. Monthly donation. That's why I wanted to have you in here for just a moment because we have what we call the AFA foundation, which is part of our ministry, to help people in what areas?

>> Chelsea Wildmon: Yes. So we are the financial stewardship branch of the ministry, and we help our supporters and friends put in place charitable gift annuities, and then also help guide them if they are interested in leaving behind a bequest, whether that be maybe some stock, you know, when they pass, or possibly a life insurance policy, etc. And also, we provide a will example if they are interested in that. So what they would do is look at that will example, take that to their attorney, and then that saves on, some, you know, attorney fee time.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. I was in Oklahoma, last week and had a gentleman say, hey, I'm very interested in leaving you guys property that I own in my will. And how do I do that? That was his question to me. So if there are people listening to us right now and they believe in the mission of AFA and AFR and they have, a property or they want to leave us in their will and something of that nature. and are you the person they need to talk to? They need to talk to our, folks in the. In the foundation. They can. Can they call you and talk to you personally?

>> Chelsea Wildmon: Yes, absolutely. 1-800-326-4543. Extension 345 is our phone number. So, yes, give us a call. And I would love to speak with anyone who is interest in including us in their, financial planning.

>> Tim Wildmon: What about the website? Where can people go read?

>> Chelsea Wildmon: Yes, afafoundation.net and I'm so glad you brought up our website. We actually just did a new launch of a new look for our website. It's a little bit more up to date, a little bit, you know, fresher, crisp, clean, not necessarily fancy, just very simple. because we want just, you know, no fluff. We want to get you the information and have you feeling very informed when you leave our website.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay. What's that website again?

>> Chelsea Wildmon: AFA foundation.net I do have a question.

>> Ed Vitagliano: If, talking about people want to donate different things to afa, you mentioned land. Tim, what if. I'm just spitballing here, what if I or someone wanted to donate a family dog? it's a very nice dog, but the time has come.

>> Tim Wildmon: Livestock.

>> Ed Vitagliano: It's, it's. It's a live dog. It's time to part ways. Want to donate it to the foundation. Diane, about this, I didn't say it was me. This is just a hypothetical.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, I'm just.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: Never had that request before.

>> Tim Wildmon: No, I don't think we can.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: No, I don't think we do that.

>> Tim Wildmon: We're, not set up for that, Ed. I mean, we got offices here, but maybe a, I don't know, somebody wants to donate livestock.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I'm asking for a friend.

AFA offers a charitable gift annuity and a timeshare program

>> Tim Wildmon: So, last question. our AFA timeshare program, how long has this been around? And Ed didn't even. He's not even paying attention. I thought he'd get a little laugh out of you on that one.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: We don't have timeshare.

>> Tim Wildmon: We don't have a timeshare program.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: A charitable gift annuity. And that is what we offer the most in the foundation. So our charitable gift annuity is the way that that works is you gift any amount, $2,000 or above to AFA, and in exchange, you would receive a fixed income for life. And that income percentage is dependent upon how old you are and when you give the gift. But you do get some great tax benefits from that. You get a partial tax deduction as well as a partial tax free income and then lifetime income until you pass and then.

>> Tim Wildmon: Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. A charitable gift annuity.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: Yes.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I had. I had already said my thing, Tim. I had moved on. So I was drinking, taking a sip of Diet Coke when you were talking about the timeshare.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: It's okay. I'm married to a son, so I understand you've heard all this humor, you

>> Ed Vitagliano: know, or lack of it.

>> Tim Wildmon: And as I've asked Wriley here, when she's been on this program before, if people call our foundation, do all the women talk like you do?

>> Don Wildmon: We do.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: We do.

>> Tim Wildmon: We have to get a Southern Bell. Well, you're going to get a Southern bale.

>> Ed Vitagliano: There you go.

>> Don Wildmon: Yes.

>> Tim Wildmon: If you call here, you're going to get a Southern Belle. Just be prepared.

>> Ed Vitagliano: But I will say they not only sound smart.

>> Tim Wildmon: Right?

>> Ed Vitagliano: But they are smart. These are all very smart ladies.

>> Tim Wildmon: They are. They really are.

>> Ed Vitagliano: They know what they're doing.

>> Tim Wildmon: Great job. And our foundation has exploded over the last few years. So whether it's a charitable gift annuity, you want to talk about a, will or estate planning, what, was the other biggie? leaving us. If people want to leave us, will in their will, our property. As a gentleman, Oklahoma was talking to me about last week, whatever the case may be. What's the website again? Afafoundation.net afa foundation.net go there and read about everything we've talked about here with Chelsea. Thank you, Chelsea.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: Thank you so much.

Tim Battagliano: Trying to get past that dog thing

>> Tim Wildmon: All right, That's Chelsea Wildmon. Yes. My daughter in law, and, more importantly, mother of my three grand, three of my grandchildren.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Like all the men in this studio. Yeah. Wesley married up. we all got better than we deserved.

>> Tim Wildmon: Right? He's trying to get you. Trying to get past that dog thing where you wanted to give your dog.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I. I didn't. I never said it was me, Tim.

>> Tim Wildmon: You didn't know. you're right.

>> Ed Vitagliano: I. I was very careful to say I'm asking for a friend.

>> Tim Wildmon: I'm saying Diane, to her credit, is Ed's wife is a. Is a. Is a pet, lover, right?

>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes, she is.

>> Tim Wildmon: To the point of taking in, strays and that kind of thing. Right.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Just recently, in fact.

>> Tim Wildmon: But that's happened down through your marriage.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Yes, it has. Many times.

>> Tim Wildmon: The decades of straight stray dog.

>> Ed Vitagliano: 44 years, Tim, that have been welcomed

>> Tim Wildmon: into the Battagliano home.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Not welcomed by everybody. Not by everybody. But it happened anyway, if you get my drift.

>> Tim Wildmon: Oh, we get your drift, all right. We gotta reset.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Yeah, let's reset.

Tim Anderson: Today's military strikes on Iran mark a catastrophic escalation

We got serious things to talk about.

>> Tim Wildmon: Are you listening to today's issues that on afr. Tim, Ed and Fred. Fred, go ahead.

>> Fred Jackson: listening to a report this morning from a Daily Mail correspondent, Alena Shirazi. And, she was addressing how Iranians around the world who have left that country come to the United States, other countries. They are celebrating, what the United States and Israel are doing right now in Iran. Cut number 12

>> Chelsea Wildmon: are telling me, to your point, that they are overjoyed, they are thrilled. They are taking to the streets. you showed some videos here in the U.S. but in Iran, I've been sent videos, videos of people cheering. They're creating blockades. And I'm even hearing reports from inside the country that Iranians are saying that the military has actually somewhat dissipated. And that's not something that we have seen. So that is a huge development here. there's actually a message that I received that really stuck with me here that not only shows what's happening on the ground, but the resolve of the Iranian people moving forward. When you ask what it is that Iranians want, one Iranian told me they're still hiding in the shadows, referring to the military, what's left of them, that is.

>> Ed Vitagliano: We have not seen them.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: Are they afraid of us? Good.

>> Tim Wildmon: They should be.

>> Fred Jackson: Well, one person who disagrees, with that report is the, mayor of NewSong York City. Zoran Mamdani. He is among the first just to condemn the United States, he said on Saturday. Today's military strikes on Iran, carried out by the United States and Israel, mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression. Bombing cities, killing civilians, opening a new theater of war. Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change.

>> Tim Wildmon: You know what I would ask somebody like that? M. That sounds great. In a vacuum, that sounds great. you know, it's just political, rhetoric. Okay, who. Who wants a war? Raise your hand if ever. If you want a war, raise your hand. Are you going to get 100% people saying don't want a war, won't, or what? He doesn't address there. The mayor of NewSong York, NewSong York, who, by the way, should probably stay in his own lane and worry about, getting the streets cleaned, up there after the snow, Armageddon there hit them, getting the power back on. And anyway, I would just say, he needs to stay in his lane, because I would ask him, all right, Orion has a nuclear weapon. About to get it. They're that close. What would you do, sir, to stop them? What's your, what's your, alternative, if you're going to say negotiations. We've tried that, exhaustively. What's your.

>> Fred Jackson: Are.

>> Tim Wildmon: Do you. Are you. Or would you say no, just let them have their nuclear weapon? Is that your. See what I'm saying? This is the question that these critics of President Trump are not answering. All they can say is, we don't want a foreign war. We don't want. We're tired of war. Americans don't want this. Okay. I would say. Who doesn't agree with that? But I would say. But how do you. How do you address the big issue of Iran getting a nuclear weapon? How do you address that? Ed, they don't want to answer that part of the.

>> Ed Vitagliano: The pro. The issue with proliferation of nuclear weapons. And that means that's what they call it when additional countries get nuclear weapons. So I don't think Israel has ever said officially that they have them, but everyone knows they do.

>> Tim Wildmon: Okay.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Other countries have nuclear weapons. And so I have actually read over the course of the last year or so, people saying, well, why can't Iran have a nuclear weapon? You know, other countries have them, Israel has them. I m. Think the, the whole idea behind the arms race and proliferation is we want, we random country, we want to have nuclear weapons because our enemies have them. And this way we can have A standoff.

>> Tim Wildmon: Right.

>> Ed Vitagliano: And nobody uses the nuclear weapons. Iran, on the other hand, is one of the few countries that nobody wants to have a nuclear weapon because they have stated publicly they intend to use it to, to kick off World War iii, to obliterate Israel and the United States. So everyone else says, well, we don't want those nutcases getting one because they're actually going to use their nuclear weapons where everyone else maybe nervously has their nuclear weapons to keep their enemies from using theirs.

>> Fred Jackson: And I would say one thing to Mermam. Donnie, look out your window. Because while he was making these comments, Iranians who live in NewSong York City were out on the street celebrating. So Muslim, Mayor Mamdani, look at your fellow Muslims down in the streets of your city. They totally disagree with you because they have lived the reality of what it's like under an Islamic regime.

>> Ed Vitagliano: you, know, I'll say something else too, and I'm not trying to over blow this, but the fact is, Iran, when it stayed, when these radicals staged their coup in 1979 and took the US embassy, they, that those embassies are considered to be the territory of the country that is represented by the embassy. So in a sense, they invaded US soil, they took Americans hostage. Remember the, the days, you know, day 203 of the Hostage crisis that was under President Carter's administration. From what I've read, the, the President, Carter administration had told members, the Marines whose job it is to guard these embassies, they could have shotguns with rock salt. That is all they were allowed to use. And that kind of soft, understanding of what your enemy is capable of may very well have contributed to the overthrow, at least the taking of the embassy. But that was an attack against the United States in 1979. We're talking 46, whatever, years later.

>> Don Wildmon: Okay.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Now we are dealing with the fallout from that. these issues are very complex. It's not like you said, Tim. It's not just simply, well, let's just all get along.

Zoran Mandani: I'm not crazy about this war

This is a regime birth in bloodshed, and they intend that blood to flow in other countries. And I'm, not crazy about this war. I know President Trump has said here today, he's not even ruling out putting boots on the ground. I would hate to see that. But war is messy and nasty and when you're dealing with radicals who want you dead, you can't just sit back and do nothing.

>> Tim Wildmon: Yeah, listen, there's a Iranian, lady in NewSong York City who is, I guess, fairly well Known there. And she spoke back against Mayor Mom, Donnie. He said, you know, he criticized President Trump, said today's military strikes on Iran, carried out by the United States and Israel, mark a catastrophic escalation and an illegal war of aggression. That's what he called it. Mandami bombing cities, killing civilians, opening up theater where. Americans don't want this. This is him commenting. they do want another war. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change. They want relief from affordability crisis. They want peace. This is what my Mandami wrote. so in response to that, a NewSong Yorker who is, lady, she said this. She said back to him on X, which is formerly Twitter, to you, Zoran Mandani. You stay quiet when you have fake. You stay quiet when we have faced massacre, when Islamic Republic assassins were sent to us here in NewSong York to kill us. Stay quiet now. Stop lecturing us Iranians about peace. I don't feel safe in NewSong York listening to someone like you.

>> Ed Vitagliano: This is.

>> Tim Wildmon: She is just blistering him here. and she also said this. This is the. Anyway, she goes on, to say NewSong York belongs to people who stand against terrorism, not those who. Excuse it.

>> Fred Jackson: I'm not sure this is the same lady, but remember the case. It goes back four or five years now. An Iranian woman who had moved to the United States, outwardly condemning the, Iranian Islamic regime. there were two Russians convicted of trying to execute her. They had been hired by the Iranian regime to execute her, and they were convicted. This all happened in the last two or three years.

>> Tim Wildmon: This is a story on Fox. This lady's name. I have a hard time pronouncing these foreign names sometimes. by foreign, I mean, she's. She's an American, but she's immigrated here, evidently. Or her families of. Of, Iranian descent. M A S I H. Ah. And her last name is A L I, Elijah. I guess it is, but she's just letting Mandami have it. She said. She said also, that the Iranian government has recently killed more than 37 unarmed, ah, citizens. Iranian citizens, in less than 24 hours. She said, you talk about safety.

>> Fred Jackson: Uh-huh.

>> Tim Wildmon: She. She's just mocking him. they shot schoolgirls and blinded more than 10,000. Remember reading about that, how they blinded them? Yep. 10,000 people in the streets. you were busy celebrating the Hajib while women of my beloved country Iran were jailed and raped by the Islamic security forces for removing it.

>> Fred Jackson: Yeah.

>> Tim Wildmon: Wow.

>> Ed Vitagliano: Anyway, this is an absolute evil regime. And listen, I don't I don't blame Iranian, Iranians for wanting to see that toppled.

>> Tim Wildmon: What happens now is the big question, I guess. Fred.

>> Fred Jackson: Well, the son of the Shah of Iran, his name is Reza, Pahlavi. He is, of course, praising Trump and many people perhaps have seen him in interviews, especially on Fox lately. there is a thought that he would go in and he would take over should the, forces, Israeli and United States forces be successful. let's hear from him. Cut number 11.

Tim Noah: People were asking for this intervention. The intervention did occur

>> Tim Wildmon: First, I want to share with you the sense of jubilation that millions of

>> Fred Jackson: Iranians and the diaspora around the world

>> Tim Wildmon: world have celebrated the death of the top henchman or monster of this regime, Allie Khamenei.

>> Fred Jackson: And we thank President Trump for having brought us to a point of thinking

>> Tim Wildmon: that now we have a real chance to take over our country.

>> Fred Jackson: This intervention was really what equalized the

>> Tim Wildmon: playing field for us. This is something we've been arguing all this time.

>> Fred Jackson: People were asking for this intervention.

>> Tim Wildmon: The intervention did occur.

>> Ed Vitagliano: So now we believe that the end

>> Tim Wildmon: is very near and the opportunity to take our country back and bring it back to the right path is now available to us.

>> Fred Jackson: A lot of people are asking, too, with regards to and Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of War, was asked about this this morning. Some reporters said, how long are you going to stay there? they're going to stay there until the mission is done. They're not putting a limit on it. By the way, that same reporter asked, how many, military personnel do we have in the theater and how many more are you going to add? And Hegseth just laughed at this reporter saying, do you think I'm going to tell you in this live news conference how many people we have there, how many people we're going to add? Do you not understand that our enemy is probably watching this news conference right now? It is amazing to me the types of questions being asked by mainstream reporters, as if we're going to tell the world our military plans.

>> Ed Vitagliano: You know, what has struck me over the, over the weekend as I was thinking about this, and of course we all were thinking this was coming over the weeks past as we brought carrier groups into proximity to Iran. is I was thinking about just how messy world history is. I've been listening to a series, ah, this is probably maybe boring to some people, but I've been listening to a series of podcasts m about Rome against Carthage in the Punic Wars. Three wars fought between Rome and Carthage back, you know, before the time of Christ, over an 80 year period. And how messy that was and how it was back and forth. And they had this treaty and then this, this, this side broke that. And, and I was thinking about current world history. You know, our part. We, we're not without blame. I just want to say this in terms of the situation in Iran. There was a duly elected leader of Iran that was wanting to nationalize the oil industry over there that was cozying up to the Soviet Union. And in 1953, that leader was assassinated. There are many people who think the CIA instigated that and then installed the Shah of Iran.

>> Fred Jackson: Okay.

>> Ed Vitagliano: And because it was a pro Western leadership and regime in Iran, the mullahs over there, the Islamic radicals got angry. They instigated and they take over. And the Shah of Iran was ousted. And so there are people who will say, well, that's, you know, the US should have kept its nose out. Well, you know what, we were locked in life and death struggle with the Soviet Union. We couldn't have all that oil falling into the hands of our enemies. So maybe we did get involved. And people say, well, that's, that's bad on us. Okay, well, let me just tell you, you can go back throughout history for thousands of years, it's all ugly, it's all confusing, it's all nasty. You do what you have to do to try to protect your own country's best interests. I think that's what President Trump has in his mind and in his heart. And what former presidents had been doing wasn't working with Iran. You know, the Obama administration, Tim, you mentioned sent that pallet of cash. The Biden administration loosened some sanctions, unfroze money that went back to Iran to help fund their buildup of this nuclear program. Folks, it's all messy. There's, it's, it's hardly anything clear cut in history except for the kingdom of heaven and for the Bible and what, how Christians are to live. But when it comes to governments and what governments do, good luck trying to, to say we need to be lily white in all these matters because that's a countries die.

>> Fred Jackson: Amen.

>> Tim Wildmon: Amen, brother.

All right, we're going to take a short time out for news

All right, we're going to take a short time out. Fred, thank you.

>> Fred Jackson: You're welcome.

>> Tim Wildmon: We're going to take a brief, break here for news and then we will be back with more with Steve Paisley Jordo coming up after this. timeout. Stay with.

>> Chelsea Wildmon: The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.