Bold and Blunt

Ask most Americans who follow politics to name the worst president in U.S. history and Jimmy Carter regularly comes to mind. But because of the utter fecklessness of Joe Biden -- Carter's legacy has changed a bit and now he seems better when compared to the present administration. But the gaslighting can only go so far. One media outlet is even claiming Carter wasn't a liberal -- that he was a conservative who paved the way to Ronald Reagan. As if Ronald Reagan needed paving. Historian and best-selling author Craig Shirley looks at Carter's presidency and talks about the truths of the 39th president's legacy. It's not all bad; but he definitely wasn't a conservative.

We're all commanded to share our faith with others -- but Christians don't always do a good job of it for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they are afraid they won't have all the right answers. Perhaps they are worried about sounding like a Jesus freak. Perhaps they are uncomfortable talking openly about their personal lives. Or perhaps they don't feel equipped to speak on behalf of God because they don't, for whatever reason, think they're good examples of God's grace. Whatever the reason, though, fact is: we're still commissioned to share our faith in Christ -- and this is what Sarah Rivette does on this episode. If you want to hear a touching story of how God works, and why you need God -- from someone who did not always believe in God -- then tune in.

It's Christmas season, so no time like now to hear how God works in the lives of His believers. Billy Hallowell, one of the nation's premier "faith" journalists -- who covers faith issues -- shares how God has worked in His life, through good times and bad, light times and dark. And the takeaway for listeners is simple: God loves you just as much and works in your life just as frequently. The key to knowing God's will, and how He's working, is to listen and to read the Bible.

Christians in Syria are facing a dangerous unknown. Will the de facto leadership grant them religious liberty? Or will they become the latest target of Islamic leaders who abuse their positions to persecute Christians? Remember how the Taliban in Afghanistan promised to respect the individual rights after America withdrew forces -- and then practically overnight broke those promises. The same could happen in Syria. As Rusty Reno warns, Christians in Syria are a bit on edge right now, and justifiably so.

Drones are flying in hundreds of spots above several states on the East Coast and the response from the White House, when asked what they are and who's flying them and what they're doing, is this: eh -- don't worry about it. If Americans could only trust their federal government officials, maybe that'd be an answer that would sell. But trust in government has fallen dramatically in recent decades. And trust in the Joe Biden administration in particular is at a deep, dip low -- and that's because this White House has been feckless on national security issues from beginning to end. As retired Lt. Col. and best-selling author Tony Shaffer says: "It's like a scene from Blazing Saddles" with this White House. That is to say: comical at best.

Is Donald Trump's White House return the fulfillment of prophecy? That's the question asked -- and even answered -- by Troy Anderson, author of the best-selling "The Trump Code," a journalistic look at a fiction title penned 130 years ago that has striking similarities to today's politics and culture, including an eerily copycat image of Donald Trump's son, Barron.

Everybody knows President Joe Biden failed to enforce border control. Everyone knows one of this administration's most dangerous policies for American citizens was the White House's utter refusal to keep illegals out of this country. But guess what: it's even worse than you imagined. The numbers of crimes committed by illegals are even higher than reported. John Lott has tracked the figures and analyzed the data and his findings are this: the costs to citizens from illegals are tremendous -- and it's not just financial, but personal safety that's the issue.

There's a new transgender threat in town, and this one is really hitting hard at the children. Down in Florida is a community that's been allowing men dressed provocatively as women to hang out in a park -- where children play. What is wrong with this picture, America? A few years ago, such displays would've required the intervention of police. Now? They go forth with alarming frequency. Guest Kelley Yates, an etiquette expert who's been warning of the LGBTQ madness for some time, details this latest evil, as well as what she's doing to fight it.

President Joe Biden just gave his son, Hunter, the pardon of all pardons, one that doesn't just erase his known and jury-convicted crimes, but also whatever other crimes he may or may not have committed over the course of a ten-year period. How sweet to be the family member of this corrupt Joe Biden. Meanwhile, back in the federal system, rot away hundreds of others who've been tossed behind bars for the crime of -- protesting? Being a conservative? Supporting Donald Trump? The January 6 imprisoned ones aren't all completely innocent of criminal behavior. But as Ed Martin, one of the attorneys who has been working their cases from Day One, says -- most are facing punishments that far and away exceed whatever crimes they supposedly committed. Some, he says, are completely innocent. What of their plights? Ed Martin discusses.

Special counsel Jack Smith may be stepping aside from his prosecutorial persecutions of Donald Trump -- at least, for the time being. But he leaves behind a trail of destruction. And one such victim, Steve Stockman, former congressman, says he spent three years in jail due to Jack Smith's unjust investigations and prosecutions that came largely in defense of Barack Obama. Stockman apparently made the political mistake of using his congressional platform to investigate Obama -- and for that, he had to pay. Stockman talks about his time in jail and his dealings with Jack Smith, whom he describes as "Obama's enforcer" and a very evil man.

Joe Biden's administration has sent America hurtling down a path of war, with the latest reversals of policy allowing U.S. long-range missiles to be sent to Ukraine for use in Russia. But blink, and Biden's reversed another long-standing policy, i.e., he's also OK-ing America to send anti-personnel mines to Ukraine for use against Russia, as well. Thing is, Ukraine has signed a global treaty committing itself to never using the anti-personnel mines. The mess Biden is leaving Donald Trump is just getting uglier. No wonder America's allies can't wait for him to exit, stage left, the White House. Foreign policy expert Shea Bradley-Farrell discusses how Trump can speedily end the Ukraine-Russia war, just like he promised on the campaign trail.

The elections may have gone the right way. America may be poised to see saner times. Americans may be on the cusp of regaining a better economy, a safer community, a more peaceful atmosphere. But that doesn't mean Christians should sit back and rest easy now and let the politicians do as they will. The exceptionalism of America is that individuals are endowed by their Creator with certain rights -- life, liberty, pursuit of happiness -- and that governments are supposed to be filled with humble servants who simply protect those individual rights and liberties. That requires an active, informed citizenry -- and to keep the "God-given" in place, it requires godly, moral citizens to stay active in government. Christians, an awakening is still needed in this nation. Just because the elections have ended doesn't mean an end to Christians involving themselves in politics and culture. Pastor Jack Graham speaks on the elections and what's in store for America, and why Christians need to stay alert and active in the culture.