Crosstalk America

Dr. Robert Hoffman is the Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Nationwide Children's Hospital. He earned his M.D. from The Ohio State University, completed his pediatric residency at Akron Children's Hospital, and completed his fellowship at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Dr. Hoffman is also a member of the Scientific Policy Committee of the American College of Pediatricians. He has recently revised an important report titled Marijuana Use: Detrimental to Youth. A recent press release spoke of an "American College of Surgeons report revealing that over 40% of deceased drivers in motor vehicle crashes over the past six years tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana." This alarming statistic underscores a persistent and growing public health crisis. While this study does not specifically indicate the ages of the drivers, previous evidence shows that young adults are disproportionately prone to risky or impaired driving behaviors, particularly when under the influence of drugs or alcohol. While there are claims that marijuana is harmless, there are also many adverse effects that not only impact the user, but also children are being impacted as well.

Here is a sampling of the headlines Jim shared today: • Iran uprising explodes, police defect, IRGC collapses in Tehran as banks burn and towns go regime-free • Iran's crown prince just made a huge statement amid protests against Islamic regime • Blood in the streets: Iranian regime guns down protestors as uprising explodes, regime cuts internet, phones, total blackout • Millions pour into Iran streets as regime nears possible tipping point, protestors looking to Pahlavi • Abortion was the leading cause of death worldwide in 2025, killing 73 million people • 115 abortion centers across America kill viable babies in abortions • GOP, pro-life groups forcefully defend Hyde Amendment amid Trump's backpedaling • Planned Parenthood abortion biz will close three Pennsylvania centers • Minnesota abortions surged 35% under Tim Walz • Colorado to pay pregnancy center $5.4 million after losing bid to ban abortion pill reversal • Wyoming Supreme Court strikes down pro-life laws banning abortions • 'You're going to be Kirked': Leftists threaten Nick Shirley with Charlie Kirk rhetoric • Reporters rage at Tim Walz as he flees without taking a single question • Tim Walz issues extraordinary warning to Trump after ICE-involved shooting • DHS Secretary Kristi Noem set the record straight on the ICE shooting in Minneapolis • Breaking: Agitators flock to Minneapolis federal building, clash occurs • NBC did something no other outlet will likely do regarding the ICE shooting in Minneapolis • Renee Good's lesbian partner made a devastating admission moments after the shooting while on camera • Hilton gives the boot to hotel that refused to accommodate DHS ...and several more!

Steve McCully is the son of Ed and Marilou McCully and the oldest of three boys. Steve was born in 1952 while his parents were receiving missionary medical training. In December 1952 the family sailed to Ecuador where he spent the next 10 years of his life. After just 3 years there his father was killed, speared to death by the Aucas. It was January 8, 1956, 70 years ago today, that five men, Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming and Roger Youderian, were martyred in the jungles of Ecuador. These five men along with their wives and children went to Ecuador to bring the Good News of the Gospel to a tribe that had never before heard this Good News. In the words of T.E. McCully, the father of Ed McCully, "The incident has proved to be one of the greatest chapters in the annals of missionary martyrdom." More information: Several novels have been written about their story. One of the most famous is Elisabeth Elliot's Through the Gates of Splendour. On our website, vcy.org, you will find a lot of information that Randy Melchert has compiled regarding this 70th anniversary.

We are only seven days into our New Year and look at all that's unfolded: • Just after the stroke of midnight of this New Year, a socialist took the oath of office on the Qur'an to be Mayor over our nation's largest city. The ceremony was said to be narrated by an iconic transgender New Yorker. • The Governor of New York lit up 16 state landmarks in the color green to promote Muslim American Heritage Month. This happened in a state that just 24 years earlier was attacked by Islamic terrorists and nearly 3000 were killed. • Tensions are rising between China and Taiwan. • Russia and Ukraine remain at war. • This past weekend, in what was called "a law enforcement operation," the President of Venezuela was snatched from his compound, brought to the United States and indicted on narco-terrorism charges. • This morning two sanctioned oil tankers were seized by U.S. Forces in the Atlantic. • Also this morning a woman in Minneapolis, who allegedly was using her vehicle to ram ICE agents, was shot and killed. • Each day that passes seems to find more and more fraud in Minnesota, in essence the stealing of tax dollars. • This week the head of the LA Fire Department revealed that the analysis of the Palisades Fire that ignited a year ago, the third most destructive in California's history, was edited multiple times to protect the leadership. • And we are on the brink next week of the U.S. Supreme Court hearing oral arguments about biological males in women's sports. There's this and so much more. What a reminder as to how bad this world stands in need of Jesus. How very thankful we should be that amidst all these storms in life God's Word remains, and His Word is truth.

Alex Newman is an award-winning international freelance journalist, author, researcher, educator and consultant. He is senior editor for The New American. He is founder & CEO of Liberty Sentinel and a national syndicator of radio and TV programs including Behind the Deep State which airs on WVCY Television and VCY.tv. This past Saturday the breaking news alerts came in rapid fashion indicating that U.S. Military forces descended upon (as President Trump described it) a "heavily fortified military fortress in the heart of Caracas" to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores." They were flown out by helicopter to a U.S. warship and later flown to the United States. Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that U.S. forces had rehearsed over and over again the procedures that would be followed. The President said, "They actually built a house which was identical to the one they went into with all the same, all that steel all over the place." The U.S. Atty General Pam Bondi has indicated that Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been indicted in the Southern District of New York and charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machine guns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machine guns and Destructive Devices against the United States." She said, "They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts." This morning Nicolas Maduro pled not guilty during his arraignment in federal court. So, who exactly is Nicolas Maduro and what are the implications of this precision-guided operation?

With stories ranging from Mamdani to Minnesota, the news cycle continues to flow as we surge into the new year. Here's a selection of stories that Jim presented: --Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as mayor of New York on the Qur'an and claims he wants to replace individualism with "the warmth of collectivism." --Mamdani used his first day in office yesterday to hit the ground running with new executive orders targeting city landlords and housing development. He said that the city will take precedent setting action to intervene in the private landlord bankruptcy case he said was tied to 93 buildings. --The Council on American/Islamic Relations of New York called Mamdani's inauguration, "a historic moment of progress for American Muslims and the entire nation." --Mamdani announced that Ramzi Kassem, a 9-11 terror lawyer, is going to serve as the city's occupying chief counsel. --Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, at the forefront of expanding federal funding for pandemic-era food and child care programs; those programs are now at the center of fraud allegations among the Somali immigration population in her home state. --U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Monday that the Department of Justice has already arrested and charged 98 individuals with fraud in Minnesota, 85 of whom are of Somali descent. --A child care center licensed under Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's administration raised eyebrows by having a publicly listed phone number leading to Walz's office. --The Health and Human Services Department announced Tuesday it's freezing all child care payments to Minnesota amid allegations of widespread fraud.

Last month, VCY held its fall rally and the guest presenter was Chris Katulka from the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. He spoke on the issue: Why Israel Matters. Why does Israel still matter? Chris had this to say in his opening comments concerning the Bible: "From Genesis to Revelation, this book is Jewish, OK? Do you know that your Savior Jesus is Jewish? You know he never went to church, he went to synagogue. He never celebrated Christmas or Easter. That would be awkward, OK? Jesus celebrated Passover. He honored Yom Kippur. He kept the Feast of Tabernacles. He celebrated Hanukkah. Jesus is Jewish and we believe that if you have a passion for God's Word, then you should automatically have compassion for God's chosen people." That pretty much says it all, but we encourage you to listen to this larger portion of audio from the rally as Chris explains how the existence of a Palestinian state would really be a reward to Hamas. He breaks down Genesis 12:3 (the promise to Abraham) and how it extends throughout the entire Bible. Find out why the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Assyrians and numerous other people groups are gone, yet Israel is still in existence. Other points are examined as well, all to show that Israel still matters!

Paul Dragu is a Senior Editor at The New American. He is an award-winning reporter and host of The New American Daily. He is writer of Defector: A True Story of Tyranny, Liberty and Purpose. All over the country there is a push for AI-driven data centers. CNET.com says, "Think of them as AI factories, churning out your responses from ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and all the other generative AI tools. The cost is staggering. We're talking 7-foot-high server racks with hundreds of cords connected: blue, red, black, yellow, orange, green. These are centers that host our photos and videos, stream our…shows, handle financial transactions and so much more." There is machine after machine all with an unquenchable thirst for electric power. According to our guest today, globalist equity firms are scooping up local energy companies across the country. Should there be concern?

Dr. Richard Schmidt is pastor of Union Grove Baptist Church and founder of Prophecy Focus Ministries. He's the speaker on the weekly TV program, "Prophecy Focus" and the radio broadcast, "Prophecy Unfolding." He spent 32 years in law enforcement until his retirement. He's authored several books including: Are You Going to a Better Place?, Daniel's Gap Paul's Mystery, Tribulation to Triumph: The Olivet Discourse, Globalism: The Great World Consumption and Artificial Intelligence: Transhumanism & the De-Evolution of Democracy. James 4:14 says: "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." Then there's Hebrews 9:27 that says: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Knowing this, you may have more questions such as: Why is there physical death? How did Dr. Schmidt deal with the issue of "going to a better place?" Can we trust in the reliability of the Scriptures? How does the Gospel play into the idea of going to heaven? These are serious questions people must face if they are to find peace concerning their future because unless the rapture takes place in your lifetime, you too will face death. Are you ready for that appointment? Don't live on assumptions. Get your questions answered from the Bible on this edition of Crosstalk.

This edition of Crosstalk began with good news as Jim read Christmas messages from President Trump and Packer great, Brett Favre. However, as we all realize, we live in a world in flux. This is seen by the following headlines, just a sample of what Jim presented during this broadcast: --Authorities say one-third of Kiev is without heating after a deadly Russian drone and missile attack on the Ukrainian capital cut off power supplies leaving hundreds of thousands of people facing freezing temperatures. --President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a joint press conference at Mar-a-Lago following their meeting over a proposed peace deal. Both men signaled that an agreement to end the war was nearing finalization. --Washington has offered a 15 year security guarantee to Kiev as part of a proposed peace plan. --Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida today for a meeting with President Trump to discuss phase two of the Gaza peace plan. --China launched its largest military exercises ever around Taiwan, surrounding the island with warships, aircraft and live fire drills. This was in response to a record U.S. arms sales deal to Taipei. --President Trump said the U.S. launched a powerful and deadly strike against forces of the Islamic State Group in Nigeria, after spending weeks accusing the West African nation's government of failing to rein-in the targeting of Christians. --Antisemitic mobs stormed a Paris performance of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, throwing bombs and attacking attendants and musicians.