Family Matters with Jim Minnery - The Faith & Politics Show !

U.S. Supreme Court Affirms Parental RightsPlaintiff in Mahmoud v Taylor Case on Show TodayIn 2022, a Washington, DC public school district told parents they were introducing a bundle of LGBTQIA+ affirming books to students to be more "inclusive."One of the books tasked three- and four-year-olds to search for images from a word list that includes “intersex flag,” “[drag] queen,” “underwear,” “leather,” and the name of a celebrated LGBTQ activist and sex worker.Turns out the school district kicked a bee hive and droves of parents took advantage of a Maryland law allowing them to opt their kids out.The school district then decided to double down and take another kick at the hive by refusing parents their right to opt out. Parents sued and lower courts stood with the school district's intent to "advocate a child-knows-best approach to gender transitioning, telling students that a decision to transition doesn't have to “make sense” and that doctors only “guess” when identifying a newborn's sex anyway." and "suppress free speech and independent thinking by having teachers tell students they are “hurtful” if they question these controversial ideologies."Ultimately, the United States Supreme Court took up the case (Mahmoud v Taylor) and on June 27, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the parents have the right to opt their children out of the storybooks. In the Court's decision, Justice Alito writing for the majority said, “Today's decision recognizes that the right of parents ‘to direct the religious upbringing of their' children would be an empty promise if it did not follow those children into the public school classroom.”Jeff Roman, one of the plaintiffs in this historical parental rights legal victory, is on the show today..In a declaration, Roman noted that “We believe that much of what is taught via the pride storybooks is false religiously and scientifically. Issues of sexuality and gender identity are complex and sensitive. Our son is not old enough to be thinking about many of the issues presented in the books MCPS is requiring him to read, and would find them confusing.”I hope you can tune in.Support the show

Abortion Has Just ChangedADF Attorney Denise Burke on the Show TodayA decision recently from the U.S. Supreme Court allows states to redirect taxpayer dollars away from abortion facilities like Planned Parenthood. In Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represented the director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The high court's ruling means that the state can direct Medicaid funding—funds intended to help low-income individuals obtain necessary medical assistance—to comprehensive health care rather than entities that exist primarily to perform abortions.What that means in Alaska is complicated by the fact that the Supreme Court here, one of the most radical in the country, has consistently manufactured a "right to abortion" in our State Constitution. That being said, there is still a road map to protecting unborn and their mothers. The Medina case provides great leverage for employing strategies to redirect the State portion of Medicaid, which is a Federal/State collaborative program, toward real community health care centers that outnumber Planned Parenthood in Alaska 88 to 2. Don't believe the lies about less access to healthcare. What this really means is less access to abortion.On the Legislative front, the Big Beautiful Bill, that narrowly passed the U.S. Senate with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President J.D. Vance, has, for the first time in history, stripped Planned Parenthood of some $500 million. The BBB still has to go back to the U.S. House for a vote on the changes made by the Senate. The provision, originally proposed as a ten year measure to defund the abortion giant, was modified to just one year but it is a phenomenal first step in redistributing Federal funds to the more than 8,800 federally qualified community health care centers around the nation.Today, I have the pleasure of chatting with Denise Burke at Alliance Defending Freedom on these two critical measures that have changed the pro life landscape. As senior counsel Denise is a member of the Center for Public Policy at ADF. In this role, her efforts are directed toward protecting life from conception to natural death and defending the conscience rights of healthcare professionals.Prior to joining ADF, Burke served as vice president of legal affairs for Americans United for Life, where she routinely advised legislators, policy groups, and state attorneys general on life issues. I hope you can tune in.Support the show

I'm privileged to chat with my friend Chloe Cole on the show today. We'll discuss the recent landmark victory for children's health and science-based medicine when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's law protecting minors from harmful and life-altering drugs and surgeries.From personal experience, Chloe has become the leading voice for protecting minors and families from having to go through the trauma of so called "gender affirming care." She is a very special person and her intellect, curiosity and passion have helped her to become a transformative voice in our nation and beyond.Her recent full conversion to faith in Christ has given her even more perspective and motivation to keep pressing. As the Board of Medicine in Alaska continues looking at strategies to put an end to this practice in the Great Land, Chloe will continue to be a treasured asset and resource.Support the show

Parents need all the help they can get to raise resilient, God-honoring, community-contributing kids. In 2010, Eleanor Rodriguez, an elementary school principal in Santa Ana, California, reached out to community leaders for help. Rising poverty, gang violence, drugs, and other high-risk behaviors were impacting the education and well-being of the city's children. The city's youth were being lost. Parents and leaders were desperate for long-term solutions.Ultimately, out of her desire to change the trajectory of her own little slice of earth, Rezilient Kidz was formed.Today on the show, I get to converse with David Frush who helps communities throughout the West Coast establish Rezilient Kidz programs to give parents the tools needed to help their children stand up and take responsibility for themselves and those around them. He hopes Alaska will be the next state.Support the show

Education seems to always be on the public mind.School Choice. School Funding. School Politics. School Performance. And on and on it goes.Today on "I'm Glad You Said That", I'm privileged to chat with Dr. Jessica Parker, the Superintendent of Mountain City Christian Academy about many of these important issues.Dr. Parker is an educational leader with 25+ years of public school experience. She has a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Communication and Administration from Dallas Baptist University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.Dr. Parker stays actively involved in the ASL teaching field and serves as the National ASL Honor Society Coordinator along with being an executive board member of the American Sign Language Teacher Association (ASLTA).She and her husband, Jeremy, have 3 children. Hope you can tune in.Support the show

Congress passed a major piece of legislation on the evening of Wednesday, May 21—the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (HR1) was voted out of the US House of Representatives and moved on to the US Senate.Eric Teetsel, President of Center for Renewing America, joins AFC President Jim Minnery on today's episode of "I'm Glad You Said That" to unpack what the passage of this bill means for families, faith, and freedom.Teetsel also served as Vice President of Government Relations at The Heritage Foundation.He has a long track record of experience in government at the federal, state, and local levels. He was Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri where he also held the roles of Legislative Director and Special Assistant. Teetsel previously served as President of the Family Policy Alliance of Kansas, Director of Faith Outreach for the Marco Rubio presidential campaign, and Executive Director of the Manhattan Declaration for life, marriage, and religious freedom, and more.Hope you can tune inSupport the show

Can Christians know with certainty if a seminary or Christian college is adhering to fundamental tenets of the faith ?Have Christians entered into a new role politically where "preserving the moral architecture" is more important than elections ?Big questions that are related.I'll converse with Andrew Walker about these and other topics on "I'm Glad You Said That" today.Dr. Walker serves as Associate Dean in the School of Theology, and Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Public Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also the Director of the Carl F. H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement and a fellow in Christian Political Thought at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Walker also serves as the Managing Editor of Opinions for WORLD Magazine, one of my all time favorite publications.I hope you can tune in.Support the show

John Daniel Davidson has a wonderfully grounded sense of what is most important.Climbing up the ladder of influence in the literary world on a national stage, he realized that "careerism" isn't what makes us tick as much as finding a place to till and produce and live off the fat of the land with your family.It was Thomas Jefferson who said "Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness."Davidson took that to heart and moved his family from Austin, Texas back to the family homestead in Wasilla where he was raised. He still writes prolifically as a Senior Editor for The Federalist and speaks around the country but his roots are getting deeper in the soil of the Mat Su Valley.I am blessed to chat with him on today's show and thrilled to remind readers that he will be our keynote speaker for our 2025 Spring Dinners in Anchorage next Thursday, May 29th at Main Event Grill and on Saturday, May 31st at his mom's horse barn called At the Barn MatSu, a beautiful venue nestled on their homestead.Please CLICK HERE to get your tickets and join us.For a taste of John's intellect and passion, I hope you can tune in today.Support the show

 I love Bob Bird's intellect. I love his feistiness.I love his passion for his ancestry and his family.Have we had our disagreements through the years? Yep.But we're both quick to recognize that we have way more in common than not and we are cut from much the same mold.Speak up with passion about the things that matter. Place your feet firmly on the rock of Jesus Christ crucified and risen. Be quick to forgive.Today, Alaska's recognized Catholic history expert joins me on the show today to talk about the legacy of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known across the globe as Pope Francis. The Pope chose St Francis of Assisi for his title because of the shared deep connection with the poor, love for peace, and reverence for nature.But there is a disconnect with quotes St Francis made about our own sin crucifying Jesus and how Pope Francis glossed over certain sins. Bob would agree. I hope you can tune in.Support the show

Republicans yesterday were able to uphold Governor Dunleavy's appropriate veto of HB69, the massive education funding increase passed by Democrat-led majorities in both Legislative chambers that included absolutely no measurable outcomes to ensure that public school students would benefit.Today, I have the pleasure of chatting with Senator Mike Shower, a MatSu legislator who leads the Alaska Senate Republican Caucus. Shower, a long time friend of AFC and one who emanates common sense, is not falling for the mainstream media line that the veto and subsequent vote by the Legislature to uphold it, pits pro-education policy makers against those who don't want our public schools to succeed. And you shouldn't either.I hope you can tune in.Support the show

In a fun article in The Imaginative Conservative, that had me admiring C.S. Lewis more than I already did, we learn about how the Mere Christianity author emulated in his life what he wrote and spoke about so eloquently. From that article..."Lewis relished disagreement and debate. George Watson, who attended Lewis's lectures at Oxford and later worked alongside him at Cambridge, recalls how “Lewis was a Christian conservative from around the age of thirty, which is to say before I knew him; and since I am neither one nor the other, there was never any question of doctrinal influence. If I was not exactly a friend, still less was I a disciple. That in no way altered my sense of admiration and affection…. We both thrived on dissent…. The best teacher I ever had, and the best colleague, he did not ask or expect me to share his convictions.”In that vein, I'm happy to have a discussion today with Jeff Landfield with The Alaska Landmine. Although we don't agree on everything, we have been acquaintances, you might even say friends, for a long while. I have called him a unicorn and he took to it. By that, I meant he doesn't fit into a box very neatly. Makes for interesting dialogue.I hope you can tune in.Support the show

David Boyle has spent as much time as anyone thinking about and writing on the issue of education in Alaska. As the former Executive Director of the Alaska Policy Forum, he and his wife, Linda, have a total of 45 years in the Air Force and have three children.We talk education today on the show and he has a lot of insight. I hope you can tune in.Support the show

You know his voice. He's been doing Christian radio forever. Now you get to meet the man behind the voice. Tom Stigelman with Christian Broadcasting Incorporated on the show today. Let's go.Support the show

I get to chat with Scott Baker on today's show.Scott is the Chief Strategist for Cojency Strategic, a nationally recognized public relations agency dedicated to helping pro-life advocacy groups win critical campaigns for life.From their website - Through innovative, data-driven digital strategies, they amplify life-affirming messages, mobilize voters, and increase donor support. With a team of 70 experts, they craft bold, targeted campaigns that outmaneuver the opposition and drive public policy victories, creating lasting cultural change for the pro-life movement.I hope you can tune in.Support the show

According to Wikipedia (cool side note on their founder below), abolitionism is "the political movement to end slavery and liberate enslaved individuals around the world."So, an abortion abolitionist would be the political movement to end abortion and liberate unborn children around the world...right ?I'm on that team. Alaska Family Council has been working in the world of ending abortion politically, legally and culturally since our founding.So what's the issue ?As you might know, abortion abolitionists, generally speaking, do not think incremental approaches to ending abortion are effective or even moral. Oftentimes, they are actively opposing efforts to put any safeguards up unless it is total eradication.There's a lot to chew on with this issue and I'm privileged to sit down with Daniel Cooper, an Alaskan abortion abolitionist, to examine and dissect it. I hope you can tune in.Support the show

My good friend Loren Leman is on the show today.Fisherman.Engineer.Christ-follower.Musician.Former Lt. Governor and Senator.Exemplary husband, father and grandfather.Loren and I will chew the fat on ranked choice voting, abortion and the horrific judicial selection process that has kept our Superior and Supreme Court in the hands of liberals.I hope you can tune in.Support the show

Although Rachel in Scripture did not have an abortion, we know she experienced deep pain on many levels.Click HERE for a wonderful summary of her story and how God worked through it to give her strength and hope in a future that is unblemished.The angst and loss Rachel had is applicable to all of us who make decisions counter to what God has in mind for our own flourishing. And yet...there is Jesus.My guest today on "I'm Glad You Said That" is Tara Haughey with Project Rachel, a ministry within the Archdiocese of Anchorage & Juneau that provides compassion and care for people who have experienced the trauma of abortion.To be pro life is so much more than just preventing abortions.We serve as ambassadors of God best in this arena when we not only work at rescuing those being led to slaughter but also reach out to those who need love and forgiveness and support after a decision to end the life of a pre-born has been made. To stand alongside them not with judgement but with sincere humility and empathy.I hope you can tune in.Support the show

Erin Getz, Senior Director of State Walks with the National March for Life, is on the show today.She is young and really enthusiastic about Alaska becoming the 16th state to host a March for Life. Alaska Family Council is privileged to do so with ProLife Alaska on Saturday, February 22nd in Anchorage.Support the show

A very short time ago, to think there would be an Executive Order from the United State President entitled "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation", would be unfathomable.How times have changed.That we have to protect children from this but more to the point of my interview today, that we are now going all in to try and stop it. The speed of history is, at times, baffling.Today on "I'm Glad You Said That", I have the privilege of speaking with Matt Sharp, a Senior Counsel and Director of the Center for Public Policy at Alliance Defending Freedom. ADF has 13 U.S. Supreme Court victories. They are as good as it gets legally.Matt will go into detail on why this Executive Order is so profoundly impactful and what states can expect from this strong Federal stand to lift up that which is good and punish evil. In Alaska, where no laws are in place to protect children from chemical and surgical mutilation and where these medical malpractices are occurring, this EO opens doors for us to make a difference. It's time to act.Support the show

Dr. Ashton-Lazaroae is a pediatrician who takes the issue of gender ideology and it's harms to children, families and communities very seriously.She was a panel speaker in October of last year at The Christian Post's seminar "Unmasking Gender Ideology" speaking on topics including:I'm super grateful to have her on "I'm Glad You Said That" today. Hope you can tune in.Dr. Ashton-Lazaroae has practiced general pediatrics since 1996. She received her medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine and completed a general pediatrics residency at Vanderbilt University Children's Hospital. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Northern Virginia Pediatric Society and the Christian Medical and Dental Society. She recently joined the American College of Pediatricians and assisted with launching the Biological Integrity website. She was commissioned as a Colson Fellow in 2022, after completing a teaching practicum "Transgenderism: Unraveling the Confusion."Support the show

My good friend Senator Shelley Hughes with the Alaska Senate Republican Caucus is on the show today. We discuss education funding, defined benefits, election legislation and more. It's always a pleasure chatting with such an engaged, thoughtful and Christ honoring woman. Hope you can tune in.Support the show

Sarah Vance, the Alaska House Representative from Homer, is on the show today talking sex trafficking and minors accessing porn online. Despite the Democrats in charge this session, she is pushing forward. Support the show

David Fowler has always been thinking outside of the box.As a former State Senator, choir director, author and my friend and colleague at Family Action Council of Tennessee, David has always challenged current dialogue and jurisprudence that ignores the fundamental definition of what it means to be human.Today, on "I'm Glad You Said That", I get to speak with him about the landmark case heard at the U.S. Supreme Court on whether the Constitution requires medical experimentation on children. As our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom have noted, the United States of America v. Skrmett case is about "the ability of states (Tennessee in this instance) to govern the practice of medicine—a responsibility that states have exercised since our nation's founding."Support the show

How often have you felt like you defiled yourself ?I did again myself this morning with my wife. Said something that I wish I could put "back in the tube" but toothpaste, and words, don't work that way. Thankfully, my wife, and my God, offer forgiveness. But that is most attributed to the fact that I am in relationship with them. What about words we use that harm others that we have never even met or have no real relationship with ?As is often said, the world of politics is a full contact sport. Emotions often run high around beliefs that run deep. Words are used all the time that make assumptions, cast broad nets and have direct and collateral damage.At a recent State Policy Network training event I attended, I came across a session presenting a way of analyzing speech. It wasn't focused on policy or politics or party. It was highlighting the reality that much of the divide in our nation right now has as much to do with how we address disagreements as it does with the disagreement itself.It's called The Dignity Index and it hit me pretty hard. Scripture, as you likely know, is full of words about how we use words. Jesus Himself is called, "the Word of God."  He is the personification of the written and spoken word. The testimony that God revealed through the prophets during the Old Testament period was now made human with the coming of Christ. Hence the Word became flesh.We are image bearers and when we talk about other image bearers, we are to be like Christ.  Not easy and a very high calling but the more we can do it...the more we will be witnesses to the Truth.Tami Pyfer is one of the creators of The Dignity Index and is my guest today on "I'm Glad You Said That". The show is a podcast you can access on most of the standard platforms and it's also broadcasted on Wednesdays at 1pm on KATB (89.3 FM) and at 5pm on KVNT (1020 AM, 92.5 FM & 104.5 FM).Support the show

John Daniel Davidson is a senior editor at The Federalist. His writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Claremont Review of Books, The New York Post, and elsewhere.Raised in the MatSu Valley, he graduated from Hillsdale College, spent time overseas and lived in Austin, Texas before retracing his family's journey back to the Great Land where he now resides in a log home on the Davidson Homestead.His brother Joel, a good friend and fellow master of words, is Editor for the Alaska Watchman. Their family is really good stock.We'll chat on the show today about John's take on the Presidential election as well as the bigger canvas of what has made America great and how it is crumbling.John is the author of Pagan America: the Decline of Christianity and the Dark Age to Come. Follow him on Twitter, @johnddavidson.Support the show

I'm grateful to sit down with former Alaska Attorney General Michael Geraghty today to discuss the judicial selection and retention process in the Great Land.As Co-Chair for Alaskans for Fair Courts, Geraghty has spent a lot of time defending the current system of judges having to go through the Alaska Judicial Council, a quasi-Governmental agency, to get appointed by the Governor.He is passionate and sincere in believing that our process is the envy of the country. I argue that the Alaska Judicial Council's retention evaluation process is severely deficient because it includes no analysis of a judge or justice's overall “judicialphilosophy” regarding the proper methodology for interpreting statutory and constitutional provisions. This is a fatal flaw, because no other aspect of judicial performance has a greaterpotential to impact the lives of all Alaskans – not just those who happen to find themselves in a courtroom at some point in their lives.Hope you can tune in. It's a cordial and necessary conversation.Support the show

Michael Jamieson Williams intrigued and inspired me almost immediately when I met him for the first time at my church in Anchorage this past Sunday.He's someone who attends Holy Family Cathedral downtown but is close friends with members of our congregation and was there to tell his story.It was intense and disturbing and beautiful and not unlike what many Christ followers have gone through. The battle against our fleshly inclinations manifests itself in so many different ways. John Piper has called it "sacred schizophrenia" and every member of The Way struggles with it.Michael's has to do with same-sex attraction.And as he notes, overcoming our desires is not about will power or discipline. It's about complete surrender to the will of God. Yes God loves us but in turn...he wants us to love Him and to do so, we need to listen to what He has to say about true human flourishing. We need to deny ourselves and pick up our cross.I'm honored to speak with Michael on the show today.Support the show

Ben Carpenter is a peony farmer and former soldier on the Kenai Peninsula who has served several terms in the Alaska House. He's fed up with how the Alaska State Senate can't organize around conservative principles of developing our natural resources and managing how much we spend as a Government. Tune in today to hear more.Support the show

Mikaela Emswiler is on the program again because I listened to another horribly deceptive ad from the NO on Ballot Measure 2 folks and realized we may not be able to compete against their dark, outside money pouring in to our state (something they ironically pretend they are fighting against) but we CAN proclaim the truth as loud as we are able.Mikaela is running the Yes on 2 campaign to end rank voting and although she is facing a Goliath who is a lying, pile of money...we might just have the smooth stone to end this madness. Tune in.Support the show

David Hoyt started a classical education academy in Florida but has realized that no matter how strong the school choice options are in the foreseeable future, we can't let public schools continue to rot.As Executive Director of School Boards for Academic Excellence, David is all in on their mission of ..."cultivating and empowering a nationwide network of state-based professional school board associations dedicated to ensuring that every school board member in their state has access to the training, tools, and resources needed to advance achievement-focused educational policies and equip them to serve as strong, competent advocates for the children and parents in their district."That's a big mission but one that is worthy of our time and attention.Hope you can tune in to my chat with David today.Support the show

Bunni Pounds is a bundle of energy. After running a very successful political consulting firm, she founded Christians Engaged to awaken, educate and empower Christians to pray, vote and engage regularly in efforts to improve the nation's well being.Most Christians would agree that our government would be in better shape if more Christians were involved. However, polling tells us that in many places up to a third of the Christian community sits out key elections. Many of the people who share our values simply don't vote.Alaska Family Council has worked hard over the years to increase voter turnout in the pews. But we've lacked a dedicated staff person and solid technology to truly have as great of an impact as we'd like.Until now.Family Policy Alliance, our national partner we've worked side by side with since our founding in 2006, and Christians Engaged (CE), the nation's leading Christian-based, voter turnout operation, have united to form a powerful alliance dedicated to advancing biblical values in our nation's political landscape for generations to come.Bunni and I will chat about it on today's show. For more info about this strategic merger, watch this video.In short, Christians Engaged has developed the technology and tools we need as a movement to inspire and activate Christ-followers to get to the polls. However, CE lacked the national presence to effectively bring the program before the larger Christian community. Family Policy Alliance, and its network of state-based organizations like Alaska Family Council, has the footprint across the nation but lacked the right technological tools.Together, with FPA and CE now fully merged, Alaska Family Council is prepared to immediately implement this program. The goal is to educate and equip one million Christians across the nation—many of them from right here in Alaska—ahead of the November 2024 Elections.Stand by for more details and take a few minutes to tune in today.Support the Show.

Dr. Guy Golan is an Associate Professor of Strategic Communication at Texas Christian University, speaker and author on issues of public diplomacy, geopolitics and social media. His latest book, called My Brother's Keeper ? The Complicated Relationship Between American Jews and Israel, is as hot of a topic as it gets today.Addressing such questions as...Who will American Jews vote for in the next elections?Why are American Jews liberals and Israeli Jews conservative?How has Zionism become a litmus test for American Jews on the progressive left?What gave rise to the new antisemitism on college campuses? And what can be done about it?Why do Evangelical Christians love Jews, while American Jews distrust them?...his book is a must read. I'm very honored to have him on I'm Glad You Said That today.I hope you can tune in.Support the Show.

When ranked choice voting was being thrust on Alaskans, the advocates for it, if you remember, used the horrible analogy of ice cream preferences. Go to the shop and they don't have your favorite chocolate peanut butter ? Easy. You just choose rocky road or vanilla or rainbow unicorn.The problem ?  They didn't tell you that ultimately, you had to choose diesel or manure or acid flavored ice cream.  Sounds yummy right ?They also said it all had to do with getting rid of "dark money" when in fact, the progressives LOVE dark money. The more the better. Between now and November, expect dump loads to come into the Great Land.Today, I get to chat with Mikaela Enswiler, Chair of the Yes on 2 Campaign, an effort to end ranked choice voting in Alaska and get rid of ice cream we never wanted in the first place.Support the Show.

Sue Swayze Liebel with the Susan B. Anthony List is on the show today to chat about what's relevant now in the pro-life arena.The Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America was founded in 1992 as the political arm of the pro-life movement.  Since their founding, SBA Pro-Life America has grown into a nationwide network of more than 1,000,000 Americans committed to serving women and saving babies. Hope you can tune in. Support the Show.

Gabby Ide is one of the nicest people I've met. With a great smile and a ready hug every time we see each other, she has truly become a friend.But don't doubt her tenacity.As a former champion mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, Gabby knows we are in a battle not just physically with our flesh against our spirit. We are fighting against principalities. Evil forces that want to separate the influence of parents over their own children.Not on her watch.And that's why she's the head of the Anchorage chapter of Moms for Liberty. As she notes though, as an athlete getting in the cage, if you are angry with your opponent, you've already lost. She epitomizes the Moms for Liberty brand calling their members to be "Joyful Warriors."Super grateful to have her on the show today.Support the Show.

Why did the Alaska Superior Court undermine tens of thousands of Alaskan families utilizing educational choice options other than Government-run schools ?What does the latest Alaska Supreme Court decision upholding the private and homeschool allotment program mean ?Joel Davidson, my good friend at the Alaska Watchman, is one of the most educated and articulated citizens I know regarding this issue. I'm blessed to have him as a brother in Christ and to have him on the show today. Support the Show.

Shishmaref, as the crow flies, is about 100 miles north of Nome on the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, known in some circles as the "nose" of Alaska.Tyler Ivanoff, a school teacher, community leader and basketball coach, among other vocations, took a break from hunting seals and sea bird eggs recently to chat with me about his campaign to represent District 39 as a House member.He's running as a Nonpartisan candidate against Democrat Neil Foster who has served in the House since 2009 after he was appointed to the House to replace his father, Richard Foster, who had died in office the previous month.In 2022, Foster edged out Ivanoff by less than 100 votes. Ivanoff has said he is unwilling to join a coalition majority in which the opposite political party controls a majority of seats. He's also noted that his priorities include "safeguarding our children and their futures, enacting legislation to protect salmon, preserving the Permanent Fund Dividend, and ensuring the integrity of girls' sports." In legislation passed by the House last month, Foster joined with all the other Democrat lawmakers voting to allow biological males to compete against girls.Grateful to have the opportunity to visit with Alaskans from the farthest corners of our state. I hope you can tune in.Support the Show.

We live in extraordinary times as Christ-followers.Not that there hasn't been chaos and antagonism or being marginalized for holding to scriptural truth. People of the Way have always been a minority. As C.S. Lewis noted, we are in..."Enemy-occupied territory---that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.”What is new, and is one of the central themes in local author and influencer Leigh Sloan's new book Pride and Privilege is that words and their meanings have changed. The book's title is in fact a play on words that in today's context, mean something far different than in another era not that long ago. Leigh gives sound advice on what it means to put on the "glove of cultivation" in terms of how we engage with those around us with different realities, different assumptions, even different vocabularies.We are each placed in a particular place at a particular time to engage with particular people. Are we doing more than complaining ? Leigh has provided clarity for those of us who really want to be salt and light as Jesus asks. I'm honored to call her a friend and grateful she's on the show today.Support the Show.

Zeke Kaleo Thompson is a discipler of students at Cru...and a killer drummer.Join me today for a chat with a young influencer in the college arena in Alaska. You'll be encouraged about the baton of faith being passed.Support the Show.

Joel Penton knows what it means to tackle things.As a former defensive end for THE Ohio State University Buckeye football team, he has plenty experience identifying a target and wrapping it up.For now though, he's tackling much bigger issues.Joel is the CEO of LifeWise Academy, a religious education program that provides Bible studies to public school students DURING SCHOOL HOURS.And this ministry is literally exploding all across the country ! CLICK HERE to join the effort in the Anchorage School District that is already in the planning stages.A U.S. Supreme Court opinion has long ago clarified the legality of such programs as long as they are 1) off school property 2) privately funded and 3) opted in by parents.  Alaska Family Council is working closely with LifeWise Academy to bring this exemplary program to every school district in the Great Land.Their proven record of significant improvements in the areas of character education, mental health, academic outcomes and community involvement has created massive interest from schools and families.We're excited to ride the wave and I'm thrilled to shoot the breeze with a fellow Buckeye :-)I hope you can tune in.Support the Show.

Joel Penton knows what it means to tackle things.As a former defensive end for THE Ohio State University Buckeye football team, he has plenty experience identifying a target and wrapping it up.For now though, he's tackling much bigger issues.Joel is the CEO of LifeWise Academy, a religious education program that provides Bible studies to public school students DURING SCHOOL HOURS.And this ministry is literally exploding all across the country ! CLICK HERE to join the effort in the Anchorage School District that is already in the planning stages.A U.S. Supreme Court opinion has long ago clarified the legality of such programs as long as they are 1) off school property 2) privately funded and 3) opted in by parents.  Alaska Family Council is working closely with LifeWise Academy to bring this exemplary program to every school district in the Great Land.Their proven record of significant improvements in the areas of character education, mental health, academic outcomes and community involvement has created massive interest from schools and families.We're excited to ride the wave and I'm thrilled to shoot the breeze with a fellow Buckeye :-)I hope you can tune in.Support the Show.

PragerU Kids is all about nourishing your child's mind...values...and character.You know, things public education providers should be very interested in.And Jill Simonian, Director of Outreach for PragerU Kids, is passionate about her job as the face and creative talent behind this exemplary resource that is utilized by hundreds of thousands of parents, homeschoolers and now...public schools across the fruited plains.Yes...PragerU Kids videos are now available in public schools as an approved resource to help teachers. Alaska might be next.I hope you can tune in.Support the Show.

Rick Smith is a long time Eagle River resident who is one of MANY residents in that spectacular setting who are saying it's time to say goodbye to Los Anchorage. Tune in and find out what the buzz is all about.Support the Show.

Much has been written about Biblical Citizenship but what does it really mean ?How are we as Christ-followers called to engage with our leaders who implement laws and regulations influencing our lives ? We have dual-citizenship according to Philippians 1:27-2:4 but how does that manifest itself in our walk?Today on "I'm Glad You Said That", I get to chat with Loran Baxter, an Alaskan working with the Patriot Academy to reach the Body of Christ in our state with how to apply Biblical Citizenship principles in order to transform culture and glorify God.Loran is a quiet, passionate and committed influencer who is making a mark in the Great Land.I hope you can tune in.Support the Show.

In many respects, when people think of Seattle, what comes to mind is progressive politics, homelessness and tent cities and protesters taking over city blocks to create police-free 'autonomous zones. Turns out that didn't work so out so well after all.But we're called to seek the welfare of our city where God has placed us (Jer 29:7) and for Brian Noble, Seattle and the state of Washington is that place.As a former pastor and now head honcho at the Family Policy Institute of Washington, Brian knows what it's like to face a legislature that is just shy of holding a super-majority against all that our movement stands for. But he hasn't let that reality stop him and his team from setting very specific and purposeful goals to transform the Evergreen State into a place where God is honored and Biblical values are lifted up high.  It's my blessing to chat with my friend and colleague today on I'm Glad you Said That.Support the Show.

For many of us who are unapologetically Christian and believe that America has been blessed by God as a general influence for good in the world, the term Christian Nationalist is seen as pejorative. For other Christ followers, they wear the label as a badge of honor.But definitions matter.What leftist Rob Reiner portrayed in his recent, and abysmally received documentary, God & Country, is a movement of Neanderthal simpletons intent on creating a theocracy in America. Nothing new under the sun. Politically active Christians are offensive and should stay in their churches.Others, like Douglas Wilson write books like Mere Christendom, “encouraging the transformation of American culture into a Christian nation.” Wilson, a prominent Reformed theologian, prolific author, and pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, has helped found several Christian institutions and claims Christian nationalism “is a position that all consistent Christians need to take.”Today on I'm Glad You Said That, I'm privileged to speak with Sharon Dierberger, Senior Writer at World Magazine, about her cover story on what Christian nationalism means in different circles and how the Body of Christ needs to wrestle with this label. Hope you can join us. Support the show

Patricia Silva's Planet Fitness membership in Fairbanks got cancelled. Her crime ?Reporting on a male who was shaving in the female locker room. She took a photo of him in the locker room and made a video in the parking lot that went viral.In light of the incident catapulting into social media, Planet Fitness stock dove, members cancelled their membership in droves and once again, we're at a cultural moment where people still believe the Emperor has clothes on.I'm honored to have this conversation with Patricia on I'm Glad You Said That today because we cannot remain silent and we shall not live by lies. As importantly, as Patricia brings up in our chat, people who identify in this manner are made in the image of God. They need truth and they need love and counseling. It's a frightening reality we live in today but also an opportunity to draw people to the foot of the cross. It's always been that way. Balancing truth with grace.Support the show

The issue of birth control has a wide range of opinions within Christendom.To be sure, as my friend Bob Bird pointed out in this article, "as casual sex springs up, along with divorce and STD rates, and new pressures placed upon women: not only to succumb to seduction but also to take care of the undesired results of sexual union."And...as he notes in the same article, "Malcolm Potts, Planned Parenthood's thoroughly accurate and honest medical statistician, said in the 1970s during a speech at their annual gala convention: “Contrary to what you might think, when a nation legalizes contraception, the abortion rate goes up, not down."More people having sex, more unintended pregnancies. Even when birth control is used.At the same time, many Christ followers, including John Piper and others, believe there is a place for thoughtful regulation of when children come and how many come.The issue I discuss today with Democrat Alaska House of Representative member Ashley Carrick has to do with whether insurers, including Medicaid, should be required to cover 12-month prescriptions of birth control. Alaska Family Council is absolutely opposed to legislation that opens the door to abortifacients and morning after medication like Plan B that prevent fertilized eggs, also known as embryos or human beings, from attaching to the uterine wall.Carrick maintains that her bill, HB17, does not in fact, open that door up and, to my great surprise, states that she believes the old Democrat line coined by President Bill Clinton that abortion should be "safe, legal and rare." That view is archaic now in the Democrat world where women are encouraged to "shout their abortion" in celebration.I was absolutely thrilled to converse with Carrick as she demonstrated true humility, kindness and a genuine desire to close the chasm when it comes to discussing this divisive issue. Hope you can tune in.Support the show

Dr. Douglas Frank would rather be working on gadgets in his home laboratory than shining a bright light on election fraud across the country. But duty called.Frank earned a Ph.D. in Surface Electroanalytical Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati in 1990, has 60 peer-reviewed publications, and has feature articles in Science, Nature and other journals.He discovered and developed a new type of microscopy capable of producing three-dimensional images of molecules resting on metal surfaces. This gave him international credibility and his work is prominently featured in college textbooks.After leaving university academics in 1996, he began consulting and manufacturing surface analytical devices for national defense and various industries, where his custom electronics, software, inventions, and products continue to be widely used.Most recently, he has dedicated his energies to identifying, exposing and addressing election fraud across the nation. His mind is sharp and his friendly but persistent demeanor is something that has driven progressives wild. I'm thrilled to have him on I'm Glad You Said That today. Hope you can join us.Support the show

A Catholic couple in Indiana has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hold the state accountable for removing their son from their home because they wouldn't identify him as a girl. I'm privileged to speak with their attorney, Josh Hersberger, today on "I'm Glad You Said That".Josh is the lead counsel on the case and works with our sister organization, the Indiana Family Institute.In M.C. and J.C. v. Indiana Department of Child Services, Indiana investigated Mary and Jeremy Cox because they would not refer to their son using pronouns and a name inconsistent with his biological sex. State courts allowed Indiana to keep the child from their home because of their disagreement with their child—motivated by their religious beliefs—about human sexuality. With the help of Becket and Hershberger, the Coxes filed their reply brief at the Supreme Court, asking the Justices to take their case. Mary and Jeremy Cox are a faithful Catholic couple living in Indiana. In 2019, their son informed them that he identified as a girl. Because of their religious belief that God creates human beings with immutable sex—male or female—they could not refer to him using pronouns and a name inconsistent with his biology. The Coxes also believed that he needed help for underlying mental health concerns, including an eating disorder. To address both issues, they provided therapeutic care for their child's gender dysphoria and scheduled appointments with a specialist to help him with the eating disorder. In 2021, Indiana began investigating the Coxes after a report that they were not referring to their child by his preferred gender identity. Indiana then removed the teen from the parents' custody and placed him in a home that would affirm his preferred identity. I'll chat with Josh about why this case is so important for parental rights today in America.Hope you can join us.Support the show

Isabel Brown is a Gen Z influencer on a grand scale.As a full-time streamer and independent content creator, author, and speaker, this 27 year old has figured out her Generation has to accept the baton at breakneck pace.And she's joyfully and ambitiously embraced that challenge.In her latest work, The End of the Alphabet - How Gen Z Can Save America, she says these "young and often underestimated Americans are here to fight for a better future—and we won't wait for permission to lead."Amen.Hope you can join us.Support the show