Is all the news, talk hosts, and chatter running your life? Let's push pause and share how we filter the media and constant 24 hour news cycle in order to keep our alignment with the truth. Join us today on the Public Square®.

The Public Square® Long Format Program with hosts Wayne Shepherd and Dave Zanotti

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Release Date: Friday, April 17th, 2026

Friday, April 17, 2026

Welcome to our Weekend Edition with host Liberty McArtor. Her co-hosts are President, CEO, & Chief Counsel of First Liberty Institute Kelly Shackelford, and expert analyst Dr. Merrill Matthews. Topics for discussion include the young men coming back to church, recent religious liberty cases, illegal immigrants getting free transgender surgeries in CA, and other top stories from today.

Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/pointofviewradio and on Twitter @PointofViewRTS with your opinions or comments.

Looking for just the Highlights? Follow us on Spotify at Point of View Highlights and get weekly highlights from some of the best interviews!

It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

Segment 1

• An elder at my church wants to start a group that prays for the Sunday service during the Sunday service. We are a small church that only holds one service, so this prayer group would miss the preaching of God’s Word. What are your thoughts? – Anonymous

• My teenage daughter wants to know if we can actually rebuke stuff in the name of Jesus. Is this just a trendy thing to be doing amongst young Christians right now? – Ash

• Other than the fruit of the Spirit, are there any other signs that a person is filled with the Holy Spirit? – Anonymous

• Is there a historical or biblical precedent for women serving as deacons? – Ean

Segment 2

• I heard you critique a new book recently about somebody taking a trip to heaven. What motivates a person to say these things? Could they actually believe they’re being truthful? – Anonymous

• Would you happen to know any good biblical resources that could point me to how I can help my sons prepare for a career path in their lives? I want my sons to succeed and to help them as the Lord leads, but I’m not sure how to do this. – Ricky

• I have a teenage daughter who fell into the woke world. Things have gotten better after two years, but I would like a few biblical pointers to help me not only endure this trial but also continue to encourage my daughter in a positive, biblical way. – Anonymous

Segment 3

• How do you respond to all the brothers and sisters who are moon landing deniers? My biggest issue with them is that they are denying the testimony of brothers in Christ who walked on the moon (Charlie Duke & Jim Irwin), not to mention the countless others who have worked on the space program. I know it is not a primary issue, but to call brothers and sisters in Christ liars is a big deal. – Michael

Segment 4

• If there is no temptation to sin in Heaven, how did Satan get the idea for an uprising? – Joe

• I am 21 years old and have been married for just over a year now, and my parents have been very adamant about us visiting their church sometimes. They attend a church of Christ, and we do not. We also love worshipping at our own church. What should we do? – Anonymous

• What are some good parenting resources that combat gentle parenting and encourage healthy, biblical parenting? – Anna

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Thanks for listening!

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Mary welcomes back Pastor David Bowen of Interpreting the Times to discuss the rising tide of evil in our world. As much as we think we are informed about many different things, we often fail to connect them in these last days as one continual flow of history and events. And we can never overstate the connective tissue of evil, as the kingdoms of this world give way to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Not only will there be turbulence, but evil – and evil men – will wax worse and worse. Are things more evil than we ever imagined they could be? And equally important, are we underestimating just HOW evil? The enemy of our souls is working overtime with plenty of help from the humans who have come out from the shadows and let us know their intent. We talk about the various ways evil manifests and this culture of death. How can we up our rescue mission in the world? Always an enlightening hour with David.

https://www.interpretingthetimes.com/discernment      https://www.interpretingthetimes.com/sot7

Stand Up For The Truth Videos: https://rumble.com/user/CTRNOnline & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQQSvKiMcglId7oGc5c46A

A principal runs toward the sound of gunfire, tackles a would-be school shooter, and lives. Astronauts wake up near the moon to a Christian song and speak openly about God, prayer, and creation. Then we hit the whiplash of modern life: official acronyms so long they sound like satire, headlines that strain credibility, and policies that test the limits of constitutional authority. That mix is exactly why we do Good News Friday, because hope has to be anchored in something sturdier than the news cycle.

We walk through a providential school safety story from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma and talk about what courageous leadership looks like when seconds matter. We also reflect on the Artemis II mission and why public faith from astronauts resonates so deeply, especially in a culture that often treats Christianity and science as enemies. When someone who has seen Earth from afar talks about the Creator, it reframes the conversation for everyone listening.

From there, we weigh in on culture and credibility: identity politics that turns language into confusion, media narratives about Iran and the Straits of Hormuz that don’t match observable realities, and what it means when people in the “middle” start noticing the disconnect. We also highlight Franklin Graham’s direct letter to President Trump about salvation through Jesus Christ, plus a clear reminder on student loans and the SAVE plan fallout: personal responsibility and lawful policy still matter.

If you care about faith and culture, biblical worldview thinking, and practical takes on today’s headlines, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find Good News Friday. What story gave you the most hope?

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