Samuel Ben-Ur - Is Christian persecution a warning sign for America's enemies?

Samuel Ben-Ur - Is Christian persecution a warning sign for America's enemies?

Around the world, Christians face violence, imprisonment, and government repression from terrorist groups, authoritarian regimes, and hostile governments. Some foreign policy experts argue that where Christians are persecuted, broader threats to freedom and stability often follow. Should religious persecution play a larger role in shaping American foreign policy? Samuel Ben-Ur is a research analyst focusing on the Middle East at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He joins the show to discuss global Christian persecution, the Trump administration's efforts to elevate religious freedom as a foreign policy priority, and what attacks on Christians in places like Nigeria and China reveal about America's geopolitical adversaries. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2602482/fan_mail/new]

Rep. Jim Walsh - Is he preparing a run for Washington governor?

Washington Republicans are already looking ahead to 2028 as questions grow about who can build a statewide conservative coalition. Could Jim Walsh be the one preparing to lead that effort? Rep. Jim Walsh serves as the State Representative for Washington’s 19th Legislative District. He joins the show to discuss whether he is considering a future run for governor, why he believes conservatives need a stronger statewide ground game, and what a coordinated Republican strategy could look like in Washington. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2602482/fan_mail/new]

Mateo Forero - Can a state force sheriffs to ignore federal immigration law?

A group of Maryland sheriffs is challenging the state's new sanctuary law, arguing it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities and puts them in conflict with federal law. Does the Constitution allow states to restrict that cooperation? Mateo Forero serves as counsel for the Federation for American Immigration Reform and represents seventeen Maryland sheriffs in the lawsuit. He joins the show to discuss the legal challenge to Maryland's Community Trust Act, the constitutional questions at stake, and whether sanctuary policies make communities safer or undermine immigration enforcement. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2602482/fan_mail/new]

Dr. Nicholas Kardaras - Is AI making us dependent on machines to think?

A new study from researchers at Carnegie Mellon, Oxford, MIT, and UCLA suggests even brief exposure to AI tools can reduce independent problem-solving ability and persistence when the technology is taken away. Are Americans becoming too dependent on artificial intelligence? Nicholas Kardaras is the Founder and CEO of Omega Recovery and author of Digital Madness and Glow Kids. He joins the show to discuss the latest research on AI's impact on cognition, the growing concern over digital dependency, and whether constant reliance on technology is weakening the skills needed for critical thinking and lifelong learning. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2602482/fan_mail/new]

Rod Lockwood - Could a Freedom City save Detroit?

A Michigan developer wants to transform Detroit’s Belle Isle into a privately funded special economic zone with its own tax structure, governance model, and economic rules. Could a Freedom City attract investment and revive one of America’s most challenged urban areas? Rod Lockwood is a developer and former chairman of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce board. He joins the show to discuss his proposal to turn Belle Isle into a special economic zone, why he believes lower taxes and fewer regulations could attract residents and businesses, and whether the Freedom City concept could become a model for urban revitalization across America. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2602482/fan_mail/new]