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In this episode, the focus is on clergy abuse—a topic made even more pressing by recent headlines. The featured guest, Sandy Phillips Kirkham, shares her harrowing ordeal of being abused by a charismatic youth pastor starting at the age of 16. Sandy discusses the grooming process, the five years of abuse, and how she was ultimately expelled from her church while her abuser was merely relocated. She delves into the long-lasting impact of the abuse on her life and her spiritual journey, how she concealed her trauma for 27 years, and how she ultimately confronted her abuser. Sandy also provides valuable insights and actionable advice for preventing abuse and supporting victims within church communities. Her story is also detailed in her book, ‘Let Me Prey on You,' which offers a detailed account of her journey from victim to advocate. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:47 Welcome to the Podcast 01:32 Introducing Today's Topic: Clergy Abuse 02:17 Sandy Phillips Kirkham's Early Life and Church Involvement 06:22 Meeting the Abuser: The Charismatic Youth Pastor 08:43 Red Flags and Grooming Tactics 13:51 The First Inappropriate Act 16:37 The Abuse Escalates 21:06 The Aftermath and Church's Response 28:15 Life After Abuse: Marriage and Keeping Secrets 32:09 Protecting Future Generations 35:17 The Importance of Sex Education in the Church 36:32 Techniques for Discussing Sex with Children 37:22 Personal Experiences with Sex Education 38:20 Triggering Memories and Emotional Breakdown 40:13 The Journey of Healing Begins 41:31 Understanding Clergy Abuse and Self-Forgiveness 43:52 Confronting the Abuser 47:07 Challenges in Seeking Justice 54:47 Preventing Abuse in the Church 01:00:31 Supporting Victims of Clergy Abuse 01:05:07 Final Thoughts and Resources Sandy Kirkham and her husband Bill enjoy life with their two grown children, two beautiful granddaughters, and two fairly well-behaved dogs. Sandy continues to use her voice to help victims of clergy abuse. She currently serves on the board of Council Against Child Abuse. Sandy has spoken before the Ohio Senate, a Maryland court, and appeared on a local television show in Boston. Her story, “Stolen Innocence,” was told in a documentary produced by The Hope of Survivors. Sandy works with survivors conducting victim support conferences. She has participated in The Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) panels moderated by SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), sharing her perspective from the non-Catholic point of view. Sandy has been a presenter/speaker at major events on clergy abuse including the Hope & Healing Conference. Sandy has earned a certificate of completion from the Faith Trust Institute entitled, “A Sacred Trust: Boundary Issues for Clergy and Spiritual Teachers.” https://sandyphillipskirkham.com/ https://www.facebook.com/KirkhamAuthor/  sandykirkhamauthor@gmail.com  Purchase her book “Let Me Prey Upon You” on amazon: https://sandyphillipskirkham.com/shop/let-me-prey-upon-you/   Link Tree   Website: https://dswministries.org Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/ Social media links: Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Affiliate links: Our Sponsor: 753 Academy: https://www.753academy.com/ Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.org/donate/   Sandy Phillips Kirkham [00:00:00] Special thanks to 7 5 3 Academy for sponsoring this episode. No matter where you are in your fitness and health journey, they've got you covered. They specialize in helping you exceed your health and fitness goals, whether that is losing body fat, gaining muscle, or nutritional coaching to match your fitness levels. They do it all with a written guarantee for results so you don't waste time and money on a program that doesn't exceed your goals. There are martial arts programs. Specialize in anti-bullying programs for kids to combat proven Filipino martial arts. They take a holistic, fun, and innovative approach that simply works. Sign up for your free class now. It's 7 5 3 academy.com. Find the link in the show notes. Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer songwriter, speaker and domestic violence advocate, [00:01:00] Diana Winkler. She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help. Now here is Diana. Hello. Welcome everyone. Welcome to my regular listeners, as well as some new listeners that have joined us today. I have a great guest for you today. We're going to be talking about clergy abuse today. Religious leader, abuse. Pastor, youth leader. You've seen this in the news recently with all these preachers being arrested or charged with sexual misconduct or rape or [00:02:00] pedophilia. I'm sure you've seen the news. Well, today we're going to hear a story about a woman who's been victimized in that way and she's fighting back. So let me read her bio for you. A church is where an insecure 16-year-old girl should feel welcome, happy, and most importantly, safe tragically. For some, the church can become a place of great harm. Sandy Phillips Kirkham details her account of how charismatic youth minister preyed upon her, a betrayal which left her broken with a shattered faith and the ultimate shame of being blamed enforced from the church she loved. Despite a successful and happy life, is a wife, mother, and friend. Sandy successfully concealed her abuse for [00:03:00] 27 years until a trigger forced her to face the truth. Sandy's story will take you on her journey of healing. Her strength and courage will inspire you. Let me pray upon you her book details. Sandy's journey from innocent 16-year-old, a victim to a survivor, and advocate. We please welcome Sandy Phillips. Kirk, welcome Sandy to the show. Thanks so much for coming on. Well, thank you for having me. I'm glad to be here. Wow. So I've been listening to you on the Preacher Boys podcast and thought you had a really great story, and so I wanted to come and bring you on so my listeners can hear your story as well. Mm-hmm. So tell us a little bit about your home and your church environment growing up. Let's [00:04:00] start from the beginning here. Okay. I'm the oldest of five. My parents were divorced when I was about seven, which that was really the impact of my life, of just how it altered everything about that time in my life. Then my mother remarried and we moved in with my stepfather shortly after my father remarried, and so I was dealing with these blended families and it was just very confusing for me at the time, my parents and stepfather did not attend church. So I, I wasn't a part of a church until I was about eight, and that's when my best friend who lived up the street invited me to go with their family, and I went with them and I went every Sunday after that, I absolutely fell in love with church. It was a place that I felt safe. I think it provided for me a place away from home that I felt comfortable and I got attention there. I was very active even as a small child. I went to vacation Bible school, church camp, love Sunday School. I sang in a junior choir. Really, it was a just a great place for me to [00:05:00] be. When I was 13, I was baptized and then my faith really deepened and my involvement in the church became even more so, started teaching Sunday school and teaching vacation Bible school. I started serving on committees with adults and doing more of the activities that would, , just be more in depth than just typical youth group activities. So, it's just no exaggeration to say that if the doors of the church were open, I was there and I loved it. I loved serving God. I felt that was the place for me, and everything about it was brought me joy and peace in the church. Wow. You really, were very sincere in your faith. It was not a fake one. I hear a lot of stories of. Being brought up in the church and being made to go to church and, you just go through the motions kind of thing. But it sounds like it was the opposite for you. It was that you really believed this with all your heart. Was that a fundamental Baptist church you were going [00:06:00] to or what? It was a church, Christ Christian Church, which is similar to the Baptist. It's an independent church. Yeah, that's the church. That was so something happened while you were serving the Lord and loving God. You met your abuser? Yes. Shortly after I turned 16, our church hired a new youth pastor, and from the moment he arrived, he was totally different than anyone we'd ever seen before. He was very charismatic, very dynamic. His sermons were really like nothing we'd ever heard before, and people were just drawn to him. He had a personality that people found themselves wanting to be around him. They wanted to please him. So he was very good at asking people to do things and they didn't hesitate. It, it was just a different kind of atmosphere. When he came to the church, the youth group exploded in numbers. We went from like 25 to almost 200 in a very short time. Even the [00:07:00] adult church was growing because people just came to hear him preach because he was so good at what he did. He was 30, married with two children, but he really acted more like our age group. He dressed like we did. He. Went to our football games at school, he knew our music. So he just, he really, he was tuned into us and in return we found ourselves, all of us being willing to please him and wanna do anything we could to make the youth group and the church better. So when people think of a profile of a child abuser, they usually think, oh, some dirty old man, that his roaming fingers or what have you, but this youth pastor sounded like, okay, he was really good looking and hip and really loved the young people. Mm-hmm. Is that typical of. Well, it's, it's typical in the sense that it's not the, dirty old man hiding in the bushes. Most abusers [00:08:00] are people we know. They're people that we like. They're usually people that, connect with people very well, and that's what makes them so dangerous because they're not obvious with what they do, and they're very good at that. They pretend to be one of us. They pretend to care, but in reality, their goal is to find a way to take advantage of the most vulnerable in, in the group. And so, predators are usually drawn to places where they will find vulnerable people. The gymnastics team is an example of that. The Boy Scouts, anywhere where you can, and certainly the church because we are welcoming into people who are in need. Oftentimes. Then there are many people in the church who are vulnerable to these types of men, and sometimes women. Were there any red flags? That you should have seen or noticed when you were around this youth pastor? Well, he came with so many different ideas and different ways of doing things. And one of the things that he was doing now, this was in the [00:09:00] seventies, so cultures were changing and it was free love and kind of thing. But he came into our church and he expected everyone to hug each other. So we were always hugging each other. And he also expected us to say how much we loved each other and that we love you and not just that I love you in Christ. He would simply walk up, give you a hug and say, I love you. Now you know, that may seem innocent, but that's a little odd for that pastor to be saying those kinds of things. And it also blurs the lines because when you say to someone, I love you, that can be confusing to. Young teenagers and even to vulnerable adults. So, but he did that with everybody. It wasn't like he picked someone else special, but, so the hugging in the contact was kind of a red flag in the beginning. But for me personally, I babysat for his family. His wife worked evenings. Mm-hmm. So one night after he came home, he asked me to go to his basement and listen to a song by Neil Diamond. [00:10:00] Well, it felt a little weird 'cause I'd never. I've been around a pastor that wanted to talk to me about anything but church in the Bible. But I went to the basement. Yeah. I mean a Neil Diamond song. So I went to the basement. I know, but that's a trigger factor for me sometimes. So anyway, I went to the basement and he put this record on and I sat down on the couch and instead of sitting in a chair or another place, he came on the couch and sat very close to me. And I remember feeling uncomfortable, but I didn't say anything. 'cause I thought, well, he is just sitting next to me. It's no big deal. But that's a red flag that I felt because it felt uncomfortable to me. And then the other times that I would babysit for him. His wife wouldn't come home till late in the evening, so he would come home around seven or eight and after the kids were in bed, instead of taking me home, he wanted me to sit and talk with him all evening. So we'd talk about the Bible or we'd talk about church, and sometimes he'd ask me what I thought of his [00:11:00] sermon, which at age 16, I'm flattered that this man has any idea that I would have some opinion about this great sermon that he just gave. So I didn't see anything wrong with that because he's my pastor. But had that occurred with my 30-year-old neighbor down the street, every time I went to babysit, I know I would've come home to my mother and said, okay, this is weird. Mm-hmm. Every time I babysit, this man wants to sit and talk to me all evening. I mean, what interest would I have as a teenager wanting to talk to this 30-year-old married man? But because my pastor was who he was and he tapped into our common connection of the church and God, and again, many times he would give me books to read 'cause he wanted me to get better in my deep, in my spirituality. So I didn't see anything wrong with it because of who he was. And so I just accepted that behavior, which is another tool and technique. They look for ways to get into you. Mm-hmm. [00:12:00] That don't seem obvious. And that was, so those were two red flags for me. Now as far as the congregation goes, I was in his office a lot by myself, but so were other kids, because he would actually call us into his office and say, I want you to come in and tell me what's going on in your life. Talk to me about your problems. Instead of us going to him, he would encourage us to come into his office. So while that probably wasn't a good thing, no one saw it as a bad thing. It seemed normal, but he called me into his office a lot more than the other kids. And later on there were people who did say to me, there were times when I wondered why he said something to you like that, or I noticed something one time. And so I think people notice some things, but no one thought enough of it to say, okay, there's something going on that doesn't seem right. So those were the red flags that I think in the beginning were very subtle. But they were hard to see, [00:13:00] and this is really important to distinguish these things because I was groomed by a guidance counselor in seventh grade. Mm-hmm. But he was one of those dirty old men that, he was doing creepy stuff. Yeah. But I never would have seen myself. A pastor and he's talking about spiritual things and he's talking about God and mm-hmm. He's not talking about sex. He's not watching, you're not watching dirty movies together. No, he's not, buying you sexy lingerie. It's, Hey, he's doing spiritual things. Mm-hmm. It's a setup. It's that grooming process you're talking about. It's pulling someone in to gain their trust, in a very di diabolical way, because he's using the church to do that. That's really scary. That scares mm-hmm. Scares me to death. What were the first times that he did something really inappropriate that you were just like, whoa? Well, the very [00:14:00] first time, was after a youth group meeting that was held in my home. I was the song leader. He put me in a leadership position, and it was very important to him that the evening always go well and that we were to make people feel welcome. And so at the end of the evening, I was nervous because I wanted to make sure that he thought everything went well. And he came up to me in my hallway and began telling me how great the evening was and how proud he was of me. And I was on Cloud nine. I was flattered that he felt that way. I felt good that the evening went so well. And then he just slowly bent down and he kissed me. And it wasn't, it was a kiss, but it seemed somewhat innocent to some extent. And I, I remember thinking, I think he just kissed me. Then my next thought was, well, he's my pastor and I don't think he would be doing anything he shouldn't be doing. And it was just a quick kiss. And he's always hugging people. And so maybe this is just his way of showing his appreciation for the evening. It was really [00:15:00] the only way in my 16-year-old mind that I could justify it because I couldn't think about this man doing anything he shouldn't be doing. And this was a person that everyone loved and thought so highly of, so how could I think he was doing something he shouldn't be doing? So I just let it go. I didn't think anything more about it. I mean, did you have any sex ed or anything? Did you know the birds and bees? Nine. Well, yeah, I'm 16. I did. Yeah, I did. But I wasn't, I hadn't dated much. I wasn't allowed to date till I was 16, so I hadn't had any dating experience. I had one kiss before this with a boy at camp. So I wasn't. Worldly or knowledgeable about all those things. But, and again, it was such a quick innocent type kiss. He didn't grab me, he didn't push me against the wall. I just, and again, I think for me it was okay if he's, if this is more than just a kiss, then what do I do with it? So therefore I'm just gonna say it's [00:16:00] nothing because I don't know what else to do. Um, wow. I let it go. I let it go. But as I babysat for him, he, sometimes when I would leave, he would kiss me and sometimes he wouldn't. So, I didn't see it as a con, kind of a continual thing that he was always wanting to kiss me. He always hugged me. But the kissing became more intense as it went along. So it, it would be another year, before he would have sex with me. And so that grooming process and kind of pushing the boundaries each time he was with me, finally ended with him having sex with me. Oh, wow. Now, some of us listening are like an adult having sex with a child or 16-year-old. Can you unpack that a little bit more, the process of how he got to that point? I mean, that the first time you had intercourse, I mean, did he, you know, go to a hotel with you and you had a candlelight dinner, or was it in the backseat of the car?[00:17:00] Was it an accident? It wasn't an accident. He was very deliberate and I had every intentions of having sex with me that night. I babysat, I was babysitting, I put the kids to bed, I walked down the steps. I assumed that we would go into the living room. Or the family room, sit on the couch and talk about the things we always talked about. But instead, he stopped me at the bottom of the stairs and he took me into the living room, and immediately put me on the floor and began undressing me. Um, and wow, I froze. I, I literally froze and I kept thinking to myself, he's going to stop. He's going to stop. And that the entire time he's whispering into my ear how much he loves me, that he would never hurt me, and that he can, I can trust him. And then he kept asking me, do you love me? Do you love me? And I, of course, I'm answering yes, because well, yes I do, because that's what I've told him for the past year. I, I, I just, I was so confused and what my real reaction was, I froze. Mm-hmm. Um, he, he sort of pushed my head under the [00:18:00] stereo. And so when he is starting to get farther than I thought he would ever go. I blocked, I just blocked it out and I started reading the serial numbers underneath the stereo. Oh my goodness. Just to be thinking of anything else. Um, at one point he then just picked me up and took me upstairs. He literally put me on the bed, penetrated me, and that was it. And I was horrified. I was absolutely horrified. I, I wanted to cry. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what to do. Um, he left the room, told me to get dressed, and he would take me home. And I remember sitting on the bed and I put the bedspread around me because I was so embarrassed that I didn't have my clothes on. Mm-hmm. Oh, wow. Um, and then I just remember thinking I just had sex. I'm no longer a virgin. I just had sex with this man and. He took me home. Now, in the [00:19:00] book, of course, I go into a little bit more detail, but Right, he took me home and just before I got outta the car, he said to me, now, you know, this is something between the two of us, you can't tell anyone. And of course I'm thinking, who would I tell? I, I don't want anybody to know. I just did this. So, that was the first time. And then I think I, at that point I kept thinking, you know, I've had sex with him. So now I'm committed to him again. I'm at this point, I'm 17 years old. I'm still like, what do I do with this? I don't, I don't know what to do with this. Um, and he was convincing me that he loved me. He was convincing me that he needed me in his ministry and that God, this was God's will in our lives. He threw that at me. Eventually he would say to me that we were married in God's eyes. I mean, twisting the scripture and using God as a reason that we should be together. And so. I started to accept that. There were a couple times I went to him and told him that I couldn't do this anymore. I felt [00:20:00] guilty. He would respond in one of two ways. One, he would say to me how much he needed me, how much he loved me, and that he couldn't live without me. So that was the guilt part of it. Or he would respond and by saying to me, you know, you're no longer a virgin. No one else is gonna want you. I'm the only one that knows how to love you, and you are committed to me, and this is gonna be the way it is. And I saw no way out. I didn't see a way out. And so the relationship continued for five years. Wow. Five years. It went on for five years. That is a long time. And it, during that time, he became more aggressive physically. Uh, he hit me. He became sexually more deviant. It just progressed. It got worse and worse. And to a point that I finally, I was, my self-esteem was so low. I hated myself for what I'd been doing. So I finally just accepted that this was my life. I knew [00:21:00] I'd never get married. I knew I'd never have children, and this wouldn't be over until he said it was over. This went on for five years and nobody in the church noticed it. Your parents didn't notice it. You know, people say, well, where were your parents? Well, first of all, my parents were thrilled. I was in church. I mean, this was a time in the seventies when drugs were. Prevalent girls were, having free sex. So for them, what safer place could there be than to be in church? So, and they saw his intention toward me and his involvement with me as a good thing. I mean, he would take me on hospital visits with him. I mean, they saw this as being positive. And they knew how much I loved being there and that it was a place that I liked to go. So they didn't see it. And many in the church didn't see it began because who suspects the pastor of such behavior. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And especially in the seventies when this wasn't an open topic like it is now, you wouldn't have dared thought anything like that. And so [00:22:00] it's not uncommon for people in the church, to miss the signs and to ignore what they really do see, because they just can't believe that it would be something that would be happening in their church because then they'd have to do something about it. Yes, exactly. When did it all come crumbling down? It does crumble. Eventually it does. Two elders became suspicious and followed him one night and found us together in a hotel room. And then from then on, the next month and a half was an absolute nightmare for me. Hmm. It was initially hoped that they could keep what he had done, quiet and keep it from the congregation. Now, I have to say one thing before I forget. This wasn't his first incident of sexual misconduct. Oh. Prior to and just after he was awri, he arrived at our church. A young woman from his first church came forward and accused him of sexual misconduct. When he was [00:23:00] confronted by my elders, he didn't deny it. He said it was true. He asked for forgiveness, that it would never happen again. It was a mistake. So within six months. That's when he was kissing me in my hallway. So this, so these elders were aware that this was the second time that there had been an incident with this man of sexual abuse and misconduct. But in spite of that, they tried to keep it quiet in hopes of moving him to another church. And so I was told during that time where I was to sit, how I was to respond to questions. I wasn't to talk to anyone. I wasn't to tell anyone about what had happened, including my parents. And this was all in an effort to keep it quiet. Well, that effort failed. And so it was determined that he should address the congregation. He did it in a very vague way, just simply said that he'd sinned. He'd sinned against God, and he'd sinned against his wife. And that was his confession. That was it. Two days later, he had me meet [00:24:00] him in a hotel room after that confession in front of the congregation. Now. He was moved to the next church. He was given a going away party. There was actually a vote to maybe keep him, but the vote failed and they decided to move him to the next church. About, two weeks, three weeks later, I was called in by the elders, and this is probably the hardest part of my story for me. Mm-hmm. I was called in by the elders and I was told that because of my behavior I was to leave the church. I was devastated. I loved that church. It was the only church I knew, and here I was being told by these two elders that I wasn't fit to worship there any longer. Mm-hmm. He could be forgiven and given a second, third chance. I couldn't be, I was told that to leave the church. I wasn't given any counseling. I wasn't helped in any way. I was simply told to leave and I did. I left. [00:25:00] And that I told people many times, as horrific as the abuse was, having been told to leave, that church had a greater impact on me spiritually than the actual abuse did. I don't think I ever recovered from that. It still haunts me to this day to some extent. That response of the church really devastated me. So that was the crumbling, as you called it? It came crashing down and I would, I left the church. So did that change your perception of God? What was your relationship with God this time? Yes. You were kicked outta the church, but. Well, I felt a disconnect from God. I never blamed God. I never felt like God caused this to happen. I, in fact, I carry the blame and the shame. I felt guilty for what I had done. And so I never blamed God, but because of the relationship being tied in with God and the [00:26:00] prayers that this man would give, and then, you know, he'd give these wonderful sermons about marriage and sanctity of marriage on a Sunday morning after having sex with me the night before. I had difficulty separating all of that, and there were so many trigger factors associated with the church and prayer that God really did. It was hard for me to have any kind of relationship with God. I did. I didn't become an atheist like a lot of victims do, and who become angry at God. I simply just. I just put him on the back burner. I knew he existed, but I didn't have a connection with him any longer. So for 27 years, I, I never prayed. I never opened my Bible. I went to church because when I met my husband, he was a Methodist. And I thought, well, I'll go to the Methodist Church. It's a different denomination. Mm-hmm. I'll just go on. It should be fine. It didn't work that way. I had anxiety attacks in church. I, his [00:27:00] reminders of him were constant, but I forced myself to go. I made sure that I went because I knew when we had children, I wanted them to have that church experience. But every time I walked past the minister's office, I got a knot in my stomach. Oh yeah. It had nothing to do with that minister. But you understand that. I mean, it, but I did that for 27 years. It became my norm. I just knew that when I walked past that office, I was gonna get a knock my stomach, certain hymns. I can tell you what his favorite hymn was, and every time that was played, that's who I thought of. I couldn't pray. It was so, I did have a deep, deep disconnect for 27 years, and I have to tell you, I missed it. I actually mourn that loss of my spiritual life, but I didn't know how to get it back. Because I'm keeping this secret. I'm still carrying guilt and shame. I couldn't forgive myself. I didn't feel worthy to be in church. So with all of that mixed in, I just put myself on autopilot and said, [00:28:00] well, this is the way my life will be and I'll just have to accept it. It just sounds so unfair. Somebody that loves the Lord so much and served in the church and so innocent and being kicked out. Oh, but it sounded like maybe meeting your husband would've been a positive thing for you. How did you guys meet? I actually worked at his office, so I met him there. We dated for about two years, and I just found him to be a kind, loving soul. He was very unassuming. He wasn't arrogant. He didn't, he wasn't a boastful type of person. He didn't like taking credit for things, even though he deserved it sometimes. He was just a good hearted person, and I just, I fell in love with him immediately. I really did. I thought this was a great, great guy. I mean, I will tell you, I have said many times because before I met him, I was on a destructive path. I did not have any self-esteem. [00:29:00] I saw myself just simply as some sex object that, I was only good for that. And so when I met him, he saved my life because he loved me for who I was and showed me that I was worthy. So I've often said to him, you saved my life, and he will respond back with you made mine, and you can't get any better than that. So meeting him was a turning point for me, but I kept a secret from him for 27 years, and I lived in fear that he'd always find out that I'd had this affair with a married man. And I know in my heart that it wouldn't have made a difference to him. But people who've been abused never forget the words, don't ever tell. And I never forgot those words. And I never forgot what the consequences could be if I were to tell someone. Because when my elders found out, they blamed me. And I, I couldn't bear the thought that if I were to tell him. [00:30:00] Somehow he would find fault with me, or I wondered, would he wonder why I didn't feel confident enough to tell him? Would he feel betrayed that I kept a secret? Would he see me differently sexually? All those fears that I had while unfounded were still present in my mind. And so I never could tell him. And I had to do a lot of play acting and pretending, through our married life in the sense that the times I was having trigger factors, I had to hide them. And I know he would've been supportive, but I couldn't see that. Because while trauma affects you at the time of the abuse, it's lifelong. It doesn't leave you. And so I lived with that for 27 years. So did you have. Intimacy issues when you were together? Was that what you're talking about? The triggering? No, I, know a lot of victims do, and that's understandable. I really didn't, because he was so different from my abuser [00:31:00] and I recognized that my abuser was emotionally violent mm-hmm. And physically, he just wasn't loving in any sense of the word. I was simply used for sex. Mm-hmm. And I didn't have that with my husband. And so I could separate that a little bit. But I think the guilt of hiding the secret had an impact on our marriage as far as my able to be intimate with him in an emotional way. I'm really glad to hear that. I, you are not the first person that I've heard that. The victim has hidden a secret from her husband. I passed her and a pastor's wife and her husband did not know. Mm-hmm. Children didn't know, and it was a family member that was the abuser. And I kept telling her, you've got to tell him. Mm-hmm. You know why? It's because, and I was thinking this when I was listening to your, the other shows that you were on. I'm thinking about your children and your grandchildren. If I was abused, [00:32:00] I would be like. How do I keep my children and grandchildren from going through what I just went through, you know? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Well, that's an interesting thing because most people would assume that my daughter, I would've been all over it and worried sick every time she left the house. Yeah. But I actually had the opposite, reaction because keep in mind, I didn't see myself as an abuse victim. I saw myself as someone who participated, who willingly went into this relationship and stayed in it willingly, which is not the case when you're abused. There's the control, the manipulation, all of those things that play into keeping a victim in a relationship and they see no way out. So for me, I just assumed I got one bad apple in the whole barrel, that this didn't happen to other people and that I had an affair. But my daughter, who I knew, she would never have an affair with a married man, I just knew that. So I. Sent her on [00:33:00] retreats. I sent her to church camp without fear because again, I'm thinking, okay, this just doesn't happen to other people and this is not something I need to be concerned about with her. However, with my granddaughters, it's totally different because now I understand what really occurred and the damage that can occur when you've been abused. And so with my granddaughters, her mom and dad have talked to them, about good touch, bad touch. And I too have talked about to her, but I've been a little bit more probably detailed about it. Mm-hmm. And as she gets older, these men, the techniques change as you get older and they, after they go after teenage girls, so mm-hmm. Hopefully I'll be able to help her understand, what happens when someone's grooming. I want her to understand her personal space, that if you're not comfortable when someone hugs you, it's okay. That's right. Say I, I don't want you to touch me that way. Mm-hmm. Or say if they don't feel comfortable and we put a lot on kids to do that. 'cause here [00:34:00] we're asking a child to say to an adult, no. Mm-hmm. So it's okay to go to your mother or your mom and say, can you tell so and so Uncle Jimmy or whoever it is, I don't wanna be hugged. So we need to make sure our kids understand that their personal space is their space. And if they don't want someone in that space, it's okay to say no. I also think it's important to tell kids that good people can do bad things. Yeah. Because, as we talked about earlier, our abusers are not strangers. They're not mean people. Mm-hmm. They're usually good people. They're usually people who've given us gifts. They're people who help us. They're people who tell us how wonderful we are. So it's hard for children, even adults, to see this individual who. Who on one side is a good individual who does a lot in the church, who's done all these wonderful things. And so we, we have to tell these kids, just because they're a good person doesn't mean they can't do bad things. And so that's kind of the message I hope to get to my granddaughters that I didn't give to my [00:35:00] daughter. And fortunately she didn't have any issues with church or any, anybody abusing her. But I certainly did not, guide her in the right way in that sense because I just, like I said, I just assumed that I was the only one that this would ever have happened to. Well, I think, I hear a lot in the church that they don't teach sex ed because they don't want the kids to go out and have sex. Mm-hmm. And so a lot of these kids are like ignorant as to, what is healthy and what is not proper, yeah. We need to teach 'em that our bodies or are going to respond. They were built that way. God intended us to have feelings. You know, when we are around the opposite sex, that's normal. Mm-hmm. So we need to make sure kids understand. But there are barriers and there are boundaries that need to be taken. But you're absolutely right when we don't talk at it, then we figure it out on their own. And we could, we can all imagine when you're leaving teenagers to [00:36:00] their own devices to figure out things. That's probably not gonna lead in a good spot. No, we have the internet now, which when we, right. When you and I were younger, we didn't have the internet. We didn't have cell phones. No. If you wanted a Playboy magazine, you had to go to that kind of a neighborhood to get something. Yes. You know? Yes. It was a lot more difficult. Yes, absolutely. But too many parents are embarrassed to talk to their children about sex and, you know, everybody listening needs to listen. You need to find a way to talk to them about these things. And one of the techniques that I use with my daughter, just in talking about sex in general, kids don't want to hear their mom and dad talk to 'em about this. So what I did would say, I read a magazine article about this girl who did such and such so that I put it off on something else that's, a non-entity of a person. And I'll say, or Have you ever heard of this? And of course I know she's got a little embarrassed, but I, it opened the dialogue without me coming [00:37:00] out and saying, have you heard of oral sex? Instead, I would talk to her and say, I heard this about this. This is what kids are doing, blah, blah, blah. So you kind of have to find techniques and ways to sneak around it sometimes, but you absolutely need to talk to, because they know it's out there and they're going to experiment. That's just part of being a teenager. Yeah, my parents chickened out. They just gave me a book to read. Same, probably the same book. I got, I forget what it was called. Where did I come from? Or something. It was a cartoon book. Mm-hmm. And I'm grateful for that. And, they just, after I finished the book, do you have any questions? Yeah, yeah. I had a lot of, older people that were friends and I would actually go to my older. Senior citizen friends and ask them questions rather than ask my parents. Right? Yeah, yeah. It's more comfortable that way for sure. Like I said, it's not the topic that we like to talk to with our kids and our kids don't wanna hear it, but being uncomfortable is not an excuse not to do that. And in school you get [00:38:00] the basics of the mechanics of it, but then that ends, that's all you get there as well. And that's not as helpful either. Yeah. The sixth grade menstrual cycle, health class. Yeah, exactly. That's it. They separate the girls and the boys. Yeah. We were all really embarrassed and Yes, yes. Yeah, exactly. Great information. So let's, circle around back to, okay, you've been hiding this secret forever. Mm-hmm. And nobody knows about your past. And then one day you got triggered. So what happened that day? Well, that's the first chapter of my book, and that is one day I was driving to a golf tournament in Tennessee. We live in Cincinnati. I was driving, my daughter was in college. She was playing in a golf tournament. I was driving down there and I was about halfway when I saw an exit sign for the town of Kingsport, Tennessee. And that is the. Town to which my [00:39:00] abuser was sent after he left our church, and it just sent me over the edge. Mm-hmm. All of a sudden I'm thinking, I'm in the town where he lives. Am I close to his house? Am I close to the church where he's now a minister? I mean, even though it'd been 27 years, I thought he was probably still there. I didn't know, but that's what my mind was telling me. I, all of a sudden I felt his presence in the car. I, I could smell him. I could hear him. Oh. I was, it was unbelievable to me what was happening to me. I didn't even know what was happening. I pulled to the side of the road Oh, good. And I sobbed. Yeah. I sobbed for about 20 minutes and I was just trying to figure out what was happening because anytime I had trigger factors before I could manage them, I could control them. I kind of let them happen and then I push 'em back down. Mm-hmm. This one wasn't going back down and I was a mess. I was just an absolute mess. I was able to get through the weekend. I drove back home and all I could think about was, what am I gonna do? What am I gonna do? [00:40:00] I wanted to stop thinking about him and I couldn't. I spent the next two weeks, really in anxiety. I, my husband would leave for work and I would just walk around the house, wring my hands, trying to figure out why I was feeling the way I was feeling. What was I gonna do with these feelings till at one point I finally decided I was gonna tell my best friend, and I was absolutely petrified to tell her because for the first time in 27 years, I was going to utter the words. I was sexually abused by my youth pastor. And I remember thinking, he's gonna find out and I'm gonna get in trouble. I just, I was 49 years old and I'm still afraid of this man. But I did tell her, it was, it took me a long time to, to get the words out, but I did, she was very supportive. She was very kind. She was patient as she waited for me to tell her. And so that started my journey of healing just by telling that first person. I then told two or three other of my close friends, so the four of us spent [00:41:00] many days and many hours on the screened in porch of one of my friends just letting me talk. Mm-hmm. And being able to express what had happened to me. I wasn't ready to tell all of the story. I mean, there's parts in the book that I won't go into here because they're pretty mm-hmm. Embarrassing and some things that I did. So I wasn't ready to tell them everything, but I told them enough that it helped me start to release what had been done to me. And so that was the first thing that I did, I think. And then the next thing I did, which was so valuable, and I encouraged victims to do it as well, I just read everything I could on clergy abuse or sexual abuse in itself. So I began to learn the terms of grooming, manipulation, gaslighting, and then I could see how he methodically used each one of those things on me to get me to do the things he got me to do, and to stay in that relationship for those five years. And that was huge for me. So [00:42:00] it was, for the first time as I began reading, I understood that I had been abused. Now, it still took me a while to admit that I really was sexually abused because I didn't want that label. I didn't wanna be an abuse victim. And there was a part of me. We all wanna be loved. And so there was still a part of me that I wanted to think that there was some part of him that cared about me, that this wasn't just purely about sex and that he wasn't just using me for his own gratification. And I had to get past that. I had to finally come to terms with, no, this man didn't do the no one who loves you, would do the things he did and ask the things he did of me. So that took me a while, to finally admit, okay, this was an abusive relationship. So I told someone, educating myself, and then I had to learn to forgive myself. I had to let, I had to let go of the guilt [00:43:00] and shame because any guilt and shame belongs squarely on him. This was a man that I should have been able to trust. It was in a place that should have been the safest place on earth for me. And he took advantage of a vulnerable teenager who had, I didn't have a major crisis in my life, but he knew my home life was an upheaval at times. He knew that I didn't see my dad very much. So he used that to against me. And I had to forgive myself for being who I was at the time and being able to respond the way I did for the coping skills I had at the time. Sure. You can look back. I, and I think, why didn't I say this? Why didn't I do that? But I couldn't because of, of the re of the relationship he had created between us. Mm-hmm. I had lost all power. He was in complete control of this relationship, so I had to forgive myself and that wasn't easy either. Then, and I don't know that this is something all victims should do, but I just felt this need [00:44:00] that I needed to confront him. I just felt like I couldn't move past this unless I was able to face him. Now, I had no contact with him for 27 years. I didn't even know if he was still alive, but I hired a private investigator and he found him ministering in a church in Alabama. And so I had my investigator contact him and we set up a time and a meeting that we would meet. And I took my husband, I took my friend who was a counselor and another friend who was at the church at the time. Um, I wanted her at this point. You told your husband at this point, I'm sorry. Yes, that's correct. I, it was probably three months after I told my friends, that I said to him I would like to meet him in his office and talked to him about something and. I was terrified. I don't know how else to say it. I just was so afraid. Not that I needed to be, but I was. And I probably sat there for almost, [00:45:00] I would say, 40 minutes and just cried. I was able to finally get out. I'm okay, the kids are okay, and then I started crying again. He couldn't have been any more supportive, more loving. I remember looking at his face and I said I was sexually abused by my youth pastor, and he didn't. His expression didn't change, and then I said. I was their babysitter and his face just dropped. And for the first time, I could see the pain I was feeling was reflected in his face. It was, I almost wanted to hug him to say, I'm sorry. 'cause I could see how much it hurt him to know that this had been done to me, especially as a baby. I mean, the picture became complete for him once I said that. And so he was very supportive. I think he was worried about me confronting this man, for a couple reasons. But one, I think he was worried that I would be disappointed in his reaction, and that I would be expecting too much of this [00:46:00] person to understand what he did to me and show any kind of remorse, and that I, it would hurt me even more. And one of my fears was that, I was afraid he wouldn't meet me. I was afraid that he was gonna say, no, I'm not gonna meet with you. And my husband said, oh, he's gonna meet with you all right? Because if he doesn't meet with you, you just tell him. Call the church secretary. We'll call every elder. We're gonna, he, somebody's gonna hear your story if he doesn't want to hear it. So he did agree to meet with me. I went down to Alabama and the meeting took place and I said the things that I wanted to say to him. I wanted him to get what he did to me. But he didn't, he never could understand the damage. It was almost as if, okay, I shouldn't have done it and I'm sorry I did it. Okay, now what do you want? It was, get away. You bother me? Yes. And his greatest fear as most narcissist, and I believe he was, narcissistic, but his greatest fear was that I was going to demand that he be removed from the ministry. I mean, that's what he [00:47:00] was most concerned about, how this was going to impact him. And he should have been out of the ministry. So I went to his. Boss. I was told this, and something happened 27 years ago. He, we think he's safe. We're not worried, in spite of the fact that during the meeting he had admitted that there had been multiple occurrences of sexual misconduct throughout his ministry. Not all teenagers, some were most were probably women. And then he said he had gone to therapy because he had been identified as a sexual addict. And I kept thinking, who, what? What world, what world? Does this make sense that a man who has been identified by a psychologist as a sex addict belongs in the ministry? Nope. But here was this church. So I sent a letter to his 11 elders thinking, okay, somebody in this eldership is gonna see this. Is I something's wrong here. Not one responded totally [00:48:00] ignored me. 11 elders totally ignored me. Wow. No worries. So then, I decided to go to his denominational leaders, which were in Indianapolis. And there again, while they were sympathetic to my story and apologize that it happened, they said, we're an independent church. Our churches hire and fire their own ministers. We have no control and if they choose to keep this man, we can do nothing about it. And so what, I was shut down and basically I had no place else to go. I had pretty much. Done everything I could do. And it wasn't my place in the man that he be removed. I expected the church to be, the church was to do the right thing. Exactly. I assumed so naively that once they heard my story and once they understood the background of this man, surely someone would say, this isn't right. But again, keep in mind he's very charismatic. He brings in [00:49:00] people, he brings in money. And to be fair, and probably I'm being a little too gracious, these men are very good at manipulating not only the victim but the congregation as well. They're very good at getting control of the congregation so that they find themselves following this man no matter what he would do. Yeah. And that's basically what happened. There was going to be, I got a four page letter from his boss telling me that, know, I'm going to. Ruin this church if I continue on this path and that I'm going to feel all this guilt because I'm gonna be responsible for the damage that I will do to pe people's spiritual lives. I mean that, it was an incredible, I put the letter in the book, I, because it is so incredibly, hard to believe that someone write that to a victim of abuse. Just So that was What year did that happen? 2004. Okay. So we did have. We did have the internet. Oh, yes. And this was after the Catholic, [00:50:00] church had their, exposure of sexual abuse within their church. So yes, this was, it was out there for sure. This wasn't something that you would think, oh, I can't believe this happened. And again, he had admitted to these past instances. I mean, this wasn't someone who was saying, oh, I don't know what she's talking about. Or, oh, this is the only time it ever happened. He had been in therapy because he was a sexual addict, So he wasn't registered as a sex offender? I guess not. And in my case, at the time of the abuse, the age of consent was 16. So I had no legal recourse because of I was either legally age of consent. Now that has been changed in Ohio. It's now 18. It's now 18, but many states it's still 16. There are several states where the age of consent is 16. Now, the interesting about that is. His contact sexual contact with me was not considered a crime. However, if he had been my high school teacher, it would've been a crime. What, so pastors I know [00:51:00] does not make sense. It does not make a leg of sense. No, it does not. So it, they don't consider him a teacher. They don't cons, they don't, they considered an affair. A mutual. Relationship if he'd been my teacher, that's a different story. So yeah, I had no legal recourse. And that was frustrating. But I couldn't change that. So it was what it was. I just had to accept that he, yes, he belonged in jail. Yes, there's no doubt and should be registered as a sex offender, but I'm not so sure that even if he's registered as a sex offender, these people in Alabama and wherever he is now, would. Even take that as a concern. Well, you know, the millennials now, they'll just, they just post stuff on Facebook and Twitter and call the evening news and they have, yes. News people at their doorstep, right. Ready to mm-hmm. Track this guy's name through the mud. Mm-hmm. But you didn't choose to do that, I guess. No, you know, I'm very careful about naming him in the sense that, part of my story is that I [00:52:00] reconnected with his wife. She actually divorced him after they moved, because again, he committed sexual misconduct. She was 20, I think, at the time, so it wasn't a minor, but that's beside the point. This is a man in a position that, a professional who does not cross boundaries like that. So, to no one surprise, he committed sexual misconduct the third time, so she divorced him. And part of, I guess letting go of some of the guilt that I felt, I wanted to. Connect with her to at least tell her, not that I was responsible for what happened, but how very sorry I was for her pain and suffering as well because she was part of the youth group. I mean, she was there at the church all the time. We sang in the choir together. So it was like I had a relationship with her. Oh wow. To some extent. And of course when, we were found, when he was found out by the elders, she was upset and she of course, didn't wanna have anything to do with me, which is understandable. So I actually think I [00:53:00] also wanted to give her the opportunity to say whatever she felt she needed to say to me if she wanted to. I mean, I didn't know what she was gonna say or react. I thought maybe she'd hang up on me. I didn't know. So I called her one day. My investigator found her phone number and gave it to me, and she couldn't have been any more gracious. I, she never blamed me. She understood as she, as the years went on, what this really was just like I did. She's remarried. She's has a wonderful husband now. And so I visited her several times. We keep in contact. And so part of my not wanting to expose him too much is that it would be hurtful to her. And he does have children. Now. I know that, well, whatever consequences are as a result of this are all on him, but I don't feel the need to add to that. That's not my purpose in speaking out. And so, mm-hmm. I've gone to his church leaders, I've done everything I can to get him removed from the ministry. And nothing, it's just [00:54:00] he's still, I don't know that he's still a pastor, but he still remains in good standing within that denomination to this day. Yeah. I mean, sometimes we have to just let God. Right. Dish out the justice. It may not be in our timeline, it may not be the way that we think it should happen, but Right. He's not gonna get away with this. No. And again, I did my part. Yes. So my conscience is clear and I am able to say I did what I could do and whether or not they removed him, I certainly hope that I maybe put some doubt in some of their minds and maybe questioned their motives in keeping this man. I don't know. But, I feel I did what I could do and I feel good about that. I feel good about that. Absolutely, you should. And what I'm really interested in is, you're trying to keep this stuff from happening to other people, so, I mean, what can we do to prevent some of this stuff? Well, it's [00:55:00] difficult again, because these men are among us as wolves in sheep's clothing, and so they're difficult to spot. But a couple things. I think the first thing I would tell people is if something doesn't seem right. Keep your antenna up. Don't just ignore it or just don't think, oh, well that can't be true because he's the pastor. Mm-hmm. If it's behavior that you wouldn't accept in someone else, or it's something that you would question in someone else, then question it in the pastor or the choir director, whoever it is. Don't be blinded by the person. The persona that they're presenting to you. So that's the first thing I would say is keep your antenna up. The other thing is we, and we're churches, I think are doing better about this, but you've got to have policies in place that say, no, you're not taking a 16-year-old girl on your hospital visit with you. Yes. That's, that's not normal. That's not right. What is she doing going on a hospital visit with you in a car? And of course now we have the texting [00:56:00] and there should be absolutely no texting between a pastor, a youth minister, and anyone in the congregation. And that includes, no, don't forget the meeting for the church luncheon. No, there should be no texting because you, it's too hidden and it's too easily moved to the next step. And that's how it starts. You know, all of the abuse when it's someone you know, it always starts with small things and subtle things. It doesn't, innocent things. Innocent things that, yeah, that, that are innocent. But so that's why, so no texting. Yeah. So put in the policy, those places of, when you take a 10-year-old child to the bathroom, you make sure there's another adult with you. Absolutely. That's for your safety as well as for the child's safety. Mm-hmm. So I, I think we need to be aware. And then I would also say watch for the vulnerable in your, among your church or your group. Watch for the kid that's got issues at home and is looking for a father figure. Be aware that they're going to be more susceptible to someone who's a predator and pay [00:57:00] attention to their cues and kind of keep in touch with them as well in a sense of asking questions and how they're doing and be the kind of a person that they might feel comfortable coming to if something were to happen to them because they're the ones that are gonna be most vulnerable, to a predator. So that's kind of, an overview of what. Maybe a help to try and stop and prevent some of this. Yes, I like lots of video cameras. They're cheap now. You can put a camera, you can hide cameras all over the church facility and Yes. And I think too, talking to this about this issue to the congregation before anything happens, maybe having a person in your congregation who is the go-to person on this topic, who, who's researched what all these grooming and manipulation is so that they are even more equipped to, to notice the signs. So you have a person who's kind of in charge of that topic and then address it to the congregation once a year and say, here's our policy and here's what we expect of our pastors and here's what we would hope you would [00:58:00] do if you notice something. So it just brings it out so that people feel like if there is something that they know is going on or something's wrong, they feel comfortable going to someone about it. Those are all really great tips for leaders and, church members. So what, what if I am listening and I am being subjected to some of this stuff, what should I do? Well, what you need to do and what is the hardest thing to do is to tell someone. Yeah. And it's hard to do because when you're in an abusive relationship, you are being controlled by your abuser. And the narrative is what he is directing. And so he's going to tell you, look, you can tell anybody you want. They're not gonna believe you. And he tells you that over and over again. He's also going to tell you that you are going to be in trouble if you tell anyone. And then there's that problem of you sort [00:59:00] of care about this person. Here's someone that has been helping you, who's been your mentor, and you don't wanna get him in trouble. So with all those dynamics involved, it's very difficult for victims to come forward. But I am telling you, you don't wanna wait the 27 years that I did no. And live with this guilt and the shame and the angst and the anxiety. First of all, it's not worth it. You're not doing anyone any favors, especially yourself, because there is help out there. But they can only help you if you're able to be able to tell someone. And believe me, I understand how difficult that is. It's not easy. Mm-hmm. But I would hope that I hearing my story and others that you will understand that there is help out there and you need to tell someone. 'cause it won't end until you tell someone. And if you need to, you go to someone that you trust. And if you need to, you go outside the church. Yes. You tell someone you know is going to listen to you. [01:00:00] Hey, I tell my listeners, you can call me anytime mm-hmm. And email me and I'm sure you'd say the same thing. Exactly. Reach out to Sandy if mm-hmm. You need somebody to talk to. Mm-hmm. Or you don't know what is the next step I need to take here? Right. It is scary to make First step. It's very scary. Very scary. Absolutely. So then there's the rest of us, those that have not experienced clergy abuse, maybe we're members in the church, maybe we're friends or family. What are some helpful things for us to do to support a victim? Helpful things to say, maybe there's things we shouldn't say, well, that's a yes. First, I would say anytime you're aware of a victim of clergy abuse or anybody who's been abused, whether it's clergy or not, reiterate to that victim that it was not their fault and that there was nothing they could have done, should have done that would've prevented this. And by doing that, you are [01:01:00] telling that person they're free to speak to you. And victims need to hear it over and over again because we do blame ourselves. Children as young as five will blame themselves because they allowed someone to touch them 'cause mommy said not to. And the that guilt in that shame that victims carry, it's difficult to let go of it. So to hear someone say to us, it's not your fault is so freeing. So that's the first thing. The second thing I would say is. Let them know that you will listen to them without judging them, and you will hear their story without being shocked that you are able to say, tell me everything you need to tell me, or Tell me as little as you wanna tell me. Give them a comfort place to go to talk. And then I would say, and this is difficult for people who have spiritual lives or who are part of the church, be very much aware that things such as prayer and Bible reading and [01:02:00] scripture can be very triggering for those who've been abused in the church. Mm-hmm. So things that you would find comforting like prayer. Can be a very major trigger factor for victims. And so instead of saying to a victim, I'll pray for you, or Can I pray with you? The best thing you could say would be to phrase it in such a way as to say, I understand because of what you've been through, prayer can be difficult. And so I would like to pray for you, but I would completely understand if you don't want to pray or you won't, don't even want me to pray for you. And so you've opened up the door to say to this person, wow, I don't have to feel guilty because I can't pray. You know, when we've grown up in the church and we've been told how wonderful church and prayer and all those things are, we still carry that guilt too because we're no longer connected to God. So to have a person on the outside. Recognize that these can be trigger factors is again, a gift. It's a [01:03:00] gift. So those things I think would be the most helpful when dealing with a person of clergy abuse. And give them time. Don't push forgiveness. Don't push trying to get them back into church. 'cause some victims will never be able to go back to church if you let them find their own pace of time and you do it without judging them. And I know that's kind of hard sometimes for Christians and people in the church because we love the church and we find it to be such a wonderful place and we want this person back in the church. Yes. But it, it may not be the best place at that point for that victim. Such valuable advice. I That is awesome. And again, back to like, when you're talking about the sex education, open up the dialogue, you know? Yeah. Bring it up. Bring it up before they bring it up. Again, I read in the newspaper that this girl was molested by, a gym teacher. You know that, that ha I know that happens. And then let 'em know that if. It is, like you said, allowing that comfort to be able to [01:04:00] talk to someone. I think for me it was important to give my side of the story. No one had a clue that he was emotionally and verbally and physically abusive to me. They saw this as a little love affair and that we had this, magic little love affair. Evil temptress. Yes, exactly. And so I wanted them to know the full story. That was important for my healing too. And they did that. And, they welcomed me back to the church. I went back, I've been back a couple times for, a youth group reunion that we had. So, and that was difficult. But again, I thought that was necessary for me to move forward. I had to let go of my past. I had to figure out, not to forget it, but how was I going to incorpo

The Ohio Senate unanimously voted for Avery's Law in November.

Scott breaks down proposed new OVI rules in Ohio Senate bill 55 with attorney Jeff Meadows. Also Dr Sal Giorgianni explains the impact on the Trump GLP-1 price deal. Finally intimacy coordinator Brook Haney explains how her industry keeps sex scenes in movies from becoming porn scenes.

Scott breaks down proposed new OVI rules in Ohio Senate bill 55 with attorney Jeff Meadows. Also Dr Sal Giorgianni explains the impact on the Trump GLP-1 price deal. Finally intimacy coordinator Brook Haney explains how her industry keeps sex scenes in movies from becoming porn scenes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott breaks down proposed new OVI rules in Ohio Senate bill 55 with attorney Jeff Meadows. Also Dr Sal Giorgianni explains the impact on the Trump GLP-1 price deal. Finally intimacy coordinator Brook Haney explains how her industry keeps sex scenes in movies from becoming porn scenes.

Ohio State Senator Al Cutrona Joins Bob to talk about the Success Sequence Bill. The bill requires public schools to teach Ohio students about the "success sequence" for avoiding poverty and achieving success as adults. The three life steps: completing high school, getting a full-time job, and marrying before having children. The bill passed the Ohio Senate 25-9, with all 9 Democrats opposing it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ohio is in the middle of a high-stakes redistricting battle that will shape political power through 2032 and gerrymandering is once again threatening fair representation. In episode 144, we're joined by members of the Equal Districts Coalition to break down what's happening, why it matters, and how Ohioans can demand fair maps.Meet the Panelists: Grace Metz is a second-year Computer and Information Science student at Ohio State University. She's a recipient of the Morrill Scholarship and is deeply involved in her campus community. She currently serves as the Advocacy Chair for Ohio State's chapter of the Ohio Student Association, a grassroots organizing group dedicated to improving the lives of all Ohio students.Deidra Reese is an advocate for building power and community. She has more than thirty years in the public policy and advocacy arena. She was the Executive director of two major organizations, the lobbyist of one of the largest Ohio labor unions and even started her own consulting firm to teach her E philosophy — Education + Engagement + Empowerment. Currently she is on the executive team of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative where she leads both the Statewide Voter Engagement program, and the Faith Based engagement and empowerment programs through the Amos Project.Reese is a member of Second Baptist Church and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and she serves on Delta's National Social Action Commission. Deidra serves on several statewide and national committees and boards that focus on people power and advocacy. She resides in Columbus with her fiancé Paul.Gabriel Mann has been the Communications Director for Abortion Forward (formerly Pro-Choice Ohio) since 2015, following six years with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. In 2023, he served as the Communications Director for Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights, the successful campaign to pass Issue 1 and enshrine the right to abortion in Ohio's state constitution. A graduate of The Ohio State University, Gabriel's career has included being a legislative aide in the Ohio Senate and labor organizing with SEIU District 1199 WV/OH/KY.Resources:* Equal DistrictsConnect with USS:* Substack* Instagram* TikTok* ThreadsThis episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:* Website* Instagram Get full access to United SHE Stands at www.unitedshestands.com/subscribe

Chuck Todd opens with a revealing moment that perfectly encapsulates Trump's psychology: after praising Todd on Truth Social for comments taken completely out of context, Trump exposes his desperate hunger for validation and his dangerous ability to rewrite reality, while the six-week delay reveals how information bubbles work in his administration and his "neediness" for historic affirmation drives increasingly erratic behavior that's systematically dismantling constitutional norms. He argues we're witnessing a fundamentally different Trump 2.0 where the resistance that constrained his first term has evaporated, leaving Republicans as a "unified defense mechanism" while Democrats fracture over strategy, all as Trump successfully convinces the country that rules simply don't apply to him anymore. Then, he looks ahead to several key developments shaping the 2026 midterms, from Eleni Kounalakis's California governor exit clearing the field for Rick Caruso, to Sherrod Brown's strategic Ohio Senate bid against likely GOP nominee Vivek Ramaswamy with Amy Acton as a Democratic wildcard, to Mamdani's commanding New York City poll lead over flailing campaigns from Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo. Throughout, he warns that Trump's systematic destruction of institutional norms threatens America's constitutional republic at the exact moment when international credibility and democratic checks and balances matter most for global stability, while his apocalyptic vision of Washington creates a permission structure for authoritarianism that will outlast his presidency.Then, author Jonathan Mahler joins Chuck Todd for a deep dive into his new book “The Gods of New York” which explores the cultural and political forces that shaped New York City during its transformative 1980s era. They discuss figures like Ed Koch who pioneered the "celebrification" of NYC mayors, and Donald Trump who was considered a "fleeting cultural figure" despite learning how to manipulate tabloid culture for attention. Mahler traces the interconnected stories of power brokers like Roy Cohn, who connected Trump with NYC's elite before his death signaled the end of an era, and the complex relationship between Trump and Al Sharpton, who "fed off each other" while Sharpton strategically chose which politicians could attend high-profile funerals like that of murdered teenager Yusef Hawkins. The conversation explores how Trump inserted himself into politics through cultural commentary starting in 1988, mirroring George Steinbrenner's attention-grabbing tactics from the 1970s, while the city grappled with the AIDS epidemic and Ed Koch's failure to meet the moment due to fears of being outed.The discussion examines the broader cultural awakening of the era, from the rise of ACT UP during the AIDS crisis to Spike Lee's movie "Do the Right Thing" serving as a wake-up call for white America, all occurring under the looming presence of Mario Cuomo, who was "larger than life" in New York politics. Mahler details how Trump mastered the art of becoming one of New York's "tabloid gods" before heading toward spectacular bankruptcy in 1990 and entering his "hibernation" period in the '90s, while also drawing parallels between historical political dynamics and contemporary figures like Zohran Mamdani. The episode concludes with insights into why transformational mayors like David Dinkins struggled with reelection and how the Yankees' resurgence became symbolic of the city's broader renewal, providing essential context for understanding how New York's unique political and cultural ecosystem created the conditions that would eventually propel Trump from local celebrity to national political figure.Finally, he answers listeners' questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.Timeline:00:00 Chuck Todd's Introduction03:45 Trump praises Chuck on Truth Social04:45 Trump missed the context of Chuck's comments05:30 It took six weeks for Chuck's comment to make it to Trump06:45 Trump wants to be historic and shows he's needy08:00 Trump is desperate for affirmation, whether it's positive or negative09:15 Trump bullies everyone into believing there are no rules10:15 Trump ran into resistance in 1.0, but not in 2.011:15 Why the pushback to Trump has dissipated14:00 The Republican party is a unified defense mechanism for Trump14:45 Democrats are split on how to push back on Trump18:00 The apocalyptic vision of DC Trump paints is inaccurate20:30 Trump's actions are terrible for the long term image of the U.S.22:15 If we want to stay a constitutional republic, we need checks and balances24:15 Two big developments in CA governor race25:15 Eleni Kounalakis drops out of CA gov race26:15 Rick Caruso setting up run for governor? Would be frontrunner28:45 Stephen Kloobeck and Caruso could eat into each other30:15 Sherrod Brown opts to run for senate rather than governor32:30 Brown puts the Ohio senate seat in play34:30 Amy Acton could present real challenge to Ramaswamy in Ohio38:30 Ohio will be a stress test for Republican brand in a bad year39:30 Mamdani leads by wide margin in new poll, Adams gets no traction40:00 Cuomo campaign is flailing41:30 Jonathan Mahler joins the Chuck ToddCast! 43:00 Jonathan's New York "credentials" 46:00 Inspiration for "The Bronx is Burning" 48:15 Ed Koch started the celebrification of NYC mayors 50:00 Koch presided over a rebirth of NYC before it unraveled 51:15 Why Roy Cohn's death signaled the end of an era 52:30 Cohn connected Trump with the NYC elite 54:00 Al Sharpton & Donald Trump fed off each other 55:30 Trump was considered a "fleeting cultural figure" in the 80s 57:30 The civil rights community wanted to break with Sharpton 59:00 Sharpton publicized the murder of Yusef Hawkins 1:00:00 Sharpton chose the politicians allowed at the funeral 1:01:30 Mario Cuomo was larger than life, loomed over NYC 1:04:15 Trump begins his rise as celebrity beyond NYC in 1988 1:05:30 Trump inserts himself into politics via cultural commentary 1:07:00 The Rise of Act up amidst the AIDS epidemic 1:09:45 Anger that Ed Koch wasn't meeting the moment during epidemic 1:11:00 Koch didn't bring attention to AIDS for fear of being outed 1:14:00 Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" breaks into cultural zeitgeist 1:19:00 "Do the Right Thing" was a wake up call for white America 1:21:15 The "Gods of New York" are tabloid gods 1:22:30 Trump learned how to grab attention in NYC tabloid culture 1:23:30 Steinbrenner in the 70s was Trump in the 80s 1:25:00 The Yankees resurgence importance to NYC's resurgence in 70s 1:26:30 Trump headed for a spectacular bankruptcy in 1990 1:28:15 Trump's "hibernation" period in the 90s 1:29:30 Is there a parallel to Mamdani's victory? 1:30:30 Why David Dinkens couldn't win reelection1:33:15 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Jonathan Mahler 1:36:00 Ask Chuck 1:36:15 Will Democrats' strategy of gerrymandering help or hurt them? 1:39:00 Top cities for MLB expansion? 1:46:00 What's the response to Texas redistricting if not California?

Bernie Moreno, the former auto dealer, wants to crush the railroads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eight people were arrested in the Columbus area for allegedly helping a police shooting suspect evade arrest; Homeowner near Toledo believes her house was shot at because of the flags in her front yard; Ohio Senate passes a bill to prevent local police from impeding federal immigration enforcement; new signs at Cuyahoga Valley National Park are sparking debate.

On June 17 the Ohio Senate General Government Committee held a public hearing on COS Action's Article V application for proposing fiscal restraints, limits on federal overreach, and term limits on members of Congress and federal officials. In this episode of COS LIVE, Senior Vice President for Legislative Affairs Rita Peters responds to the opponents, a strange coalition ranging from the fringe-right John Birch Society to the Soros-funded Common Cause and even Alan Keyes. Rita also shares the proponent testimony, including constitutional attorney Michael Farris. This resolution has already been adopted in 19 states, with 15 more needed to activate the constitutional threshold. 

Ohio's Democratic Party has a new leader. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles talks with Kathleen Clyde about how she plans to win back voters who used to be Democrats. The Republican-dominated Ohio Senate has passed its version of the budget. Ohio Public Media's Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to discuss the plan passed by senators. Plus, while President Donald Trump celebrated his birthday with a U.S. Army military parade in Washington, D.C., Ohioans protested in many cities throughout Ohio.

On this week's episode of The Narrative—recorded live at Center for Christian Virtue's (CCV) 2025 Columbus Gala—US Senators Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted join CCV President Aaron Baer on stage for a candid conversation about the future of Ohio, the importance of faith and family, and what it means to lead with conviction in challenging times. Before the Senators take the stage, Aaron is joined by CCV Policy Director David Mahan and Communications Director Mike Andrews to dive into this week's latest news: ⚖️ The Ohio Senate passed the state budget with the notable exclusion of iGaming. The budget includes legislation that strengthens families, protects children, and restores common sense to public policy in Ohio.

We'll keep electing coroners and state school board members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) has announced she'll step down at the end of this month. And this week, the Ohio Democratic Party will vote on who will serve as its chair after Liz Walters resigned last month. In this episode of the Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles reports on all of the changes ahead for Democrats. And she talks about the changes majority Republicans in the Ohio Senate have been making in the proposed two-year state budget. Listen for this and more in this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop.

The Ohio Senate this week revealed its initial budget proposal, and it included $600 million for a Browns stadium in Brook Park, but from a new funding source. Instead of backing bonds -- borrowed money with interest -- as the House proposed, the Senate proposed taking $1.7 billion from the state's unclaimed property fund to create a Sports and Culture Facility Fund, $600 million of which would be directed toward the Browns project.  The city of East Cleveland currently has two people claiming the title of mayor. The president of the city council, Lateek Shabazz, was sworn in Sunday days after the conviction of Mayor Brandon King. Back in February, Cuyahoga County Probate Court Presiding Judge Anthony Russo had appointed Sandra Morgan to the post after King was suspended pending trial. City council members say the conviction ended that temporary appointment, and the charter says the council president moves into the job. The interim mayor, Sandra Morgan, says she's going nowhere until the judge says she done. We will begin Friday's “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” discussing the Senate budget including the funding to education as well as the East Cleveland mayoral situation.

Contact Mike Lee: https://www.lee.senate.gov/contact Contact your Senator: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121 This week, we're talking about recent changes to the federal budget reconciliation bill and what they mean for hunters and public land users. Some updates and news include: The Wyoming corner crossing case could be heading to the Supreme Court. A large-scale feral horse roundup is scheduled in Wyoming. Colorado Parks and Wildlife kills a wolf after repeated livestock attacks. Ohio Senate redirects wildlife funding from natural gas revenues. President Trump nominates Michael Boren for U.S. Forest Service Director. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daryl Ruiter joined Baskin and Phelps and shared his thoughts on the Browns' offense during OTAs and which of the quarterbacks have stood out the most through the early practices. He also broke down the latest news surrounding a potential dome stadium complex in Brook Park, why it's likely happening, and in what ways the state will use tax revenue to help fund the project if it's approved in the budget.

We discuss the Ohio Senate's proposed budget, a plan that would transform the property tax system and what's next for House Minority Leader Allison Russo.

Jeff and Andy talk about the Ohio Senate's approval to allot $600M for the Browns Brook Park project and what that means for the future of the Browns.

As the state's new operating budget takes shape in Columbus, we're getting a look at what priorities the Senate has for spending over the next two years.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ohio Senate is set to unveil its budget amendments this week. Many have been pushing for a last-minute change to provisions in the House-passed plan. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles looks at the changes being requested. Also, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services leader, Jon Honeck, talks about what will happen at local agencies if work requirements for Medicaid are implemented.

As legislation prepares to hit the Ohio Senate, what is the future of ticket quotas for law enforcement officers? Scott talks with Dan Hils of Frontline Advisors about why it might be time to do away with this policy.

As legislation prepares to hit the Ohio Senate, what is the future of ticket quotas for law enforcement officers? Scott talks with Dan Hils of Frontline Advisors about why it might be time to do away with this policy.

The Ohio Senate proves it is in the pocket of sports betting companies with a suggestion of cutting their taxes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We recorded this a week ago before the Cavaliers/Pacers series began and what did Box tell you? That the Pacers were not to be slept on. You need to know, this show is dope, and that Box knows ball! The Ohio Senate unanimously voted to regulate sales of Delta 8 cannabinoid products so they can no longer be purchased by anyone Shedeur Sanders seems ready to make his mark in the Browns which leads into us taking a good hard look at the Browns QB situation. Box got the kittens fixed, but not without some adventure. Tee's youngest is slowly but surely wrapping up High School. He also had his own adventures in pre-ordering the Nintendo Switch 2 (along with most of the internet). Via our Bake-Off show Tee is but a bacon strip or two away from fame. That discussion randomly led to us deeply interrogating the idea of 100 Men vs. 1 Gorilla and dudes egos making them think they are better than they are. Tee wants to go to Key West for his birthday. Will it happen? Maybe! We then head to Reddit for the week's AITA which oddly enough includes Tee's reviews of a couple of local restaurants as it relates to one of the AITA's we discussed. Word to Victoria's Bakery in Chesterland, OH. We then wrap it up with our entertainment recommendations for the week. Thanks for hanging out with us.See You Next Time, Team SKiM Tatum | TAYREL713 | Lunchbox | LISTEN | RSS | Apple Podcast | Spotify | TuneIn | Bluesky | Amazon Music | YouTube | Email | Amazon Wish List | Merch | Patreon PHONE l 216-264-6311 #Cleveland #Ohio #LiveFromThe216 #ActionBronson #MrWonderful #EasyRider #NBA #Playoffs #TheLastofUs #Delta8 #ShedeurSanders #ClevelandBrowns #Pets #VetenarianVisit #AITA #Reddit #VictoriasBakery #ClevelandBagel #Andor #Sinners #AlanWake2 #TheMurderbotDiaries #AllSystemsRed #ThreePines #Deadlock #BoschLegacy #Conclave #SuitsLAAlternative Title – I'm Punchin' BabiesLinksOhio Senate passes bill that would require hemp products to only be sold at marijuana dispensariesShedeur Sanders Made Bold Proclamation While Speaking to Local Cleveland High School RedditAITA. I lost my best friend of 8 yrs over this situation.AITA for pooping in the women's restroom?AITA if my boyfriend made a meal and asked me how it was and I said "fine"

Yet another crisis for business? The latest Career Optimism Index finds workplace anxiety is skyrocketing (at 13:10) --- Longtime 81st District Representative Jim Hoops has announced his candidacy to succeed Rob McColley in the Ohio Senate (at 21:30) --- It's Tax Deadline Day... If a big refund from the IRS is your largest yearly economic windfall, then you need a better financial plan - and the good news is it doesn't have to be complicated (at 34:13) --- Around Town: City Mission is gearing up for their 3rd annual Brake the Cycle of Homelessness Tour (at 53:07)

The Ohio Senate must weigh in next on what priorities to fund over the next two years, after the Ohio House recently approved the state budget.

The Ohio Senate must weigh in next on what priorities to fund over the next two years, after the Ohio House recently approved the state budget.

Ohio libraries will get more funding under the House's budget, which was passed Wednesday. That after intense backlash over proposed library funding cuts prompted lawmakers to reconsider. Still, there's big worry about future budgets because lawmakers refused to restore the method of funding libraries in place since the Celeste administration of earmarking a set percentage of the General Revenue Fund for libraries in every budget. What will that mean for future library funding? The budget passed 60 to 39 without any support from Democrats and with five Republicans voting against it. The House budget includes the $600 million in 30-year state-backed bonds requested by the Haslam Sports Group to help fund a new domed Browns stadium complex in Brook Park. There was a last-minute push by Republicans to cut the funding, but it fell short. An amendment, though, forced the Browns to sweeten their insurance against failure by putting up $50 million instead of $30 million. We will begin Friday's “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with a discussion of the House budget and the various changed made to it before it passed onto the Ohio Senate. 

On March 11, 2025, the Ohio Senate Committee on General Government held a public hearing on two pieces of legislation sponsored by COS Action: its model Article V application for reining in federal power, as well as a 34|Ready bill that would set the legislature's rules for selecting and governing commissioners to an Article V convention. Sen. Michele Reynolds introduced the legislation and answers questions from the committee. Then, COS Senior Advisor Rick Santorum provides expert testimony. Local supporters with the COS Ohio volunteer team also provided excellent proponent testimony. After the hearing concluded, Senior Vice President Rita Peters and Regional Director Andrew Lusch react and preview what's next.

Join host Mary Anne Christie as she talks with Senator Rob McColley, the Ohio Senate President, about the Senate's legislative goals and updates on the budget.Download the episode for free.

Republicans in the Ohio Senate passed a series of new restrictions on legal recreational marijuana sales this week, saying adjustments were needed to protect the health and safety of the public. Democrats who opposed the changes said legislators opposed to legal pot were undoing the will of the voters, who approved recreational marijuana in 2023 — though sales did not begin until last August. Senate Bill 56 now goes to the Ohio House. We will begin the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable” with a discussion of the changes approved by the state Senate as we focus on the top stories of the week. 

Despite bipartisan opposition, Senate Bill 1 is being fast-tracked in the Ohio General Assembly. The re-introduced version of Senate Bill 83, known by many as the Ohio Higher Education Destruction Act, micromanages higher education classrooms and threatens academic freedom on Ohio's public university and college campuses. Moreover, by prohibiting faculty and staff from striking and limiting their ability to bargain in areas that directly affect their ability to shape the learning conditions for their students, it's the biggest attack on workers' rights in Ohio since Senate Bill 5. And Ohioans are standing up to fight back. Nearly 1,000 people testified against SB 1 before the Ohio Senate voted it through in February. In this episode, we share some of their voices. CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IN THE OHIO HOUSE | After the Ohio Senate approved SB 1 with a vote of 21-11 in mid-February, it moved to the Ohio House to consider. Use this Action Alert to tell your representative why they must oppose the bill in that chamber. WATCH THE SENATE COMMITTEE HEARING | In hours of in person testimony, Ohio students, faculty, organized labor leaders, and other community members offered their thoughts on why Senate Bill 1 is bad for Ohio. Click here to watch the recording on the Ohio Channel.READ THE TESTIMONY | The testimony featured in this episode represents excerpts from the full testimony submitted to the Senate Higher Education Committee. You can read all 1,000+ pieces of testimony here. You can also read OEA's full testimony and/or Adam Keller's full testimony by clicking on those links. SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms, including YouTube. Click here for links for other platforms so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.Featured OEA member voices in this episode: Jeff Wensing, OEA Vice PresidentAdam Keller, Columbus State Education Association PresidentConnect with OEA:Email educationmatters@ohea.org with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topicsLike OEA on FacebookFollow OEA on TwitterFollow OEA on InstagramGet the latest news and statements from OEA hereLearn more about where OEA stands on the issues Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative WatchAbout us:The Ohio Education Association represents nearly 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio's schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio's children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio's schools.Public Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May 2020, after a ten-year career as an Emmy Award winning television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two young children. This episode features testimony from the Ohio Senate Higher Education Committee hearing on February 11, 2025.

NATO allies insist Ukraine and Europe must be in peace talks as Trump touts Putin meeting; PA advocate: Defunding Planned Parenthood threatens affordable health care; Students protest as Ohio Senate weighs higher-ed overhaul; Farmers markets can be a form of climate action.

In today's episode:Joe Biden declares an amendment to the Constitution which immediately becomes as valid as amendments 11-27, which is to say not at allVivek struck out on an appointment to the Ohio Senate seat occupied by JD Vance and may be out at DOGE as wellThe TikTok ban ends quickly as Donald Trump saves the day, he then suggests the US government own 50% of the app in a 'joint venture'Lara Trump declares that our fake elections are fixed even though they clearly are notThe fake president issues preemptive pardons to his family and various members of Trump's oppositionThe fake president partially revokes the "Devolution Executive Order"Donald Trump's powerful inauguration addressThe agenda for Trump's third term.Connect with Be Reasonable: https://linktr.ee/imyourmoderatorLinks, articles, ideas - follow the info stream at t.me/veryreasonableHear the show when it's released. Become a paid subscriber at imyourmoderator.substack.comVisit the show's sponsors:Diversify your assets into Bitcoin: https://partner.river.com/reasonableDiversify your assets into precious metals: reasonablegold.comJoin the new information infrastructure - get Starlink: https://www.starlink.com/residential?referral=RC-1975306-67744-74Other ways to support the work:ko-fi.com/imyourmoderatorDonate btc via coinbase: 3MEh9J5sRvMfkWd4EWczrFr1iP3DBMcKk5Make life more comfortable: mypillow.com/reasonableMerch site:https://cancelcouture.myspreadshop.com/https://cancelcouture.comor https://riseattireusa.com/intl/cancelcouture/Follow the podcast info stream: t.me/veryreasonableOther social platforms: Truth Social, Gab, Rumble, or Gettr - @imyourmoderator Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/be-reasonable-with-your-moderator-chris-paul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's Top News in 10, we cover:    The Supreme Court unanimously decides that TikTok must divest from its Chinese-owned parent company. The Ohio Senate seat left open by soon to be Vice President JD Vance will be lieutenant governor, Jon Husted. Department of Homeland Security Secretary-designate Kristi Noem faces Senate confirmation hearing. CNN loses the defamation trial. The inauguration moves indoors for cold temperatures.  The surprising guests who are attending, and skipping, the inauguration.  Links From Today's Show: Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://www.dailysignal.com/email     Subscribe to our other shows:  The Tony Kinnett Cast: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-tony-kinnett-cast  Problematic Women: https://www.dailysignal.com/problematic-women  The Signal Sitdown: https://www.dailysignal.com/the-signal-sitdown    Follow The Daily Signal:  X: https://x.com/DailySignal  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/  Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DailySignal  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheDailySignal    Thanks for making The Daily Signal Podcast your trusted source for the day's top news. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's Top News in 10, we cover: The Supreme Court unanimously decides that TikTok must divest from its Chinese-owned parent company. The Ohio Senate seat left open by soon to be Vice President JD Vance will be lieutenant governor, Jon Husted. Department of Homeland Security Secretary-designate Kristi Noem faces Senate confirmation hearing. CNN loses […]

The DEI fad is fading among corporations, two recent commercials for car companies display very divergent worldviews and allowing public school students to leave class for religious instruction is getting pushback in some states. Recommendations Recovery Ministries Try to Help Portland Get Clean: Maria Baer in Portland Attend Advent Lessons and Carols service Segment 1 - Companies Backtracking on DEI Walmart becomes latest — and biggest — company to roll back its DEI policies Walmart Abandons Trans Products For Kids, DEI Policies 1792 Exchange Breakpoint: Six Key Worldview Stories of 2024: The Shifting Ground of “Gender-Affirming Care” CNN panel blows up after commentator argues X is balanced platform: ‘You cannot say that' Segment 2 - Worldviews in Car Commercials Volvo Commercial: Meet the new Volvo EX90 Jaguar Commercial: Copy Nothing Mass advertising campaigns on assisted dying spark anger among MPs The Good Life by Chuck Colson Segment 3 - Release Time in Public Schools LifeWise Academy Public school religious instruction release bill gets support, opposition in Ohio Senate committee WORLD Opinions: The myth of the “secular” classroom Prison Fellowship Clergy in the Classroom by David Noebel __________ Support the ongoing production of Breakpoint by becoming a monthly partner at colsoncenter.org/monthly. Double your gift to the Colson Center before December 31 at colsoncenter.org/november.

Amanda brings you news about state laws that affect our daily lives every week. In today's State of The State, we learn about what happened in Ohio and Virginia. The Ohio Senate passed a bill that bans transgender students from using bathrooms that match their gender identity. The Virginia House of Delegates' Privileges and Elections Committee advanced three Democrat-led constitutional amendments on Nov. 13, 2024.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keller, Texas, Mayor Armin Mizani joins to discuss the controversial jokes made at Trump's rally and the real issues people should focus on. Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno joins to discuss his tight race running against a career Democrat who's been in office since the Nixon administration. Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus joins to discuss what either a Trump presidency or Harris presidency would mean for Israel and the Middle East. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glenn looks into past elections that came down to very close margins, showing the importance your vote carries in this election. Woodrow Wilson got his second term with a difference of less than 4,000 votes. Stu goes through the most likely scenarios of which candidate will win which swing states. Keller, Texas, Mayor Armin Mizani joins to discuss the controversial jokes made at Trump's rally and the real issues people should focus on. Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno joins to discuss his tight race running against a career Democrat who's been in office since the Nixon administration. Jase Medical CEO and founder Shawn Rowland, M.D., joins to discuss how disruptions in the medical supply chain could have devastating effects and what his company is doing about it in a new partnership with Mercury One. Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus joins to discuss what either a Trump presidency or Harris presidency would mean for Israel and the Middle East. Center for American Liberty Founder and CEO Harmeet Dhillon joins to predict the possible dangers from the Left if Trump is elected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Tim Ryan looks back on debating JD Vance in the 2022 Ohio Senate race—and how he would coach Tim Walz to win. Guest: Tim Ryan, former representative from Ohio who lost a Senate race to JD Vance in 2022. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther. Disclosure in Podcast Description: A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. As of 9/26/24, the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across the Bond Account is greater than 6%. A bond's yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond's YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule. Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Tim Ryan looks back on debating JD Vance in the 2022 Ohio Senate race—and how he would coach Tim Walz to win. Guest: Tim Ryan, former representative from Ohio who lost a Senate race to JD Vance in 2022. Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther. Disclosure in Podcast Description: A Bond Account is a self-directed brokerage account with Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Deposits into this account are used to purchase 10 investment-grade and high-yield bonds. As of 9/26/24, the average, annualized yield to worst (YTW) across the Bond Account is greater than 6%. A bond's yield is a function of its market price, which can fluctuate; therefore, a bond's YTW is not “locked in” until the bond is purchased, and your yield at time of purchase may be different from the yield shown here. The “locked in” YTW is not guaranteed; you may receive less than the YTW of the bonds in the Bond Account if you sell any of the bonds before maturity or if the issuer defaults on the bond. Public Investing charges a markup on each bond trade. See our Fee Schedule. Bond Accounts are not recommendations of individual bonds or default allocations. The bonds in the Bond Account have not been selected based on your needs or risk profile. See https://public.com/disclosures/bond-account to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Ruthless, the Iranians are threatening President Trump; once again, Trump is in the crosshairs of people who would do him harm. A new Senate report on the first assassination attempt reveals the chaos and incompetence of security forces on the ground. The fellas unpack it all. Plus, an exciting King of the Hill game and the fellas nominate the fattest bear. Stay tuned for the interviews. Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno gives the show a visit to discuss his efforts to unseat Sherrod Brown. Last but not least, a tremendous interview with the friends of the progrum from Americans For Prosperity. Take the next step to improving your health, go to Lumen.me/RUTHLESS to get 15% off your Lumen. Join the fight to win! Go to AmericansForProsperity.org/Volunteer TAKE ACTION! Tell Congress to guard your card and visit GaurdYourCard.com.

Tonight on The Last Word: NYC Mayor Eric Adams faces federal charges. Plus, Vice President Harris lays out her economic agenda. Also, the Ohio Senate race is now the most expensive race this election cycle. And President Biden shares his advice on how to defeat Trump with Harris. Tom Winter, Andrew Weissmann, Lisa Rubin, Sen. Bob Casey, and Sen. Sherrod Brown join Lawrence O'Donnell.

Tonight on The Last Word: Vice President Harris hits Donald Trump's “concepts” of a health care plan. Also, reproductive rights are a key issue in the Ohio Senate race. Plus, Sen. Rick Scott refuses to commit to debating his Dem opponent. And NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban resigns. Anderson Clayton, Sen. Sherrod Brown, and fmr. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell join Lawrence O'Donnell.

Tonight on The Last Word: Jack Smith asks an appeals court to revive the Trump classified documents case. Also, the Harris-Walz campaign builds on its DNC momentum with 71 days until Election Day. And Trump-backed Ohio Senate nominee Bernie Moreno supports a federal abortion ban. Andrew Weissmann, Neal Katyal, Michael Tyler, Sen. Sherrod Brown, and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester join Lawrence O'Donnell.

Addisu Demissie joins Tommy to discuss President Biden's post State of the Union swing state tour, plan to reach Latino voters, and dig into the key 2024 battleground states. They also cover Tuesday's primary election results and the down ballot races that will determine control of Congress next year, including the critical Ohio Senate race between Senator Sherrod Brown and Trump-backed MAGA candidate Bernie Moreno. Then they discuss Trump getting the old criminal band back together as former aides Paul Manafort and Corey Lewandowski are rumored to be making a return to his 2024 campaign team.