We return from a short break to unpack Minnesota’s daycare fraud scandal, a fatal ICE encounter with an activist, contempt for congressional process from the Clintons, a debate on decorum after a presidential middle finger, and Iran’s potential regime shift. Facts, video evidence, and accountability drive the conversation.

• hiatus over and format update 
• Minnesota daycare fraud scope and mechanics 
• systemic grift through translation and transport services 
• evidence versus denial and media narratives 
• tribal loyalty contrasted with empirical facts 
• ICE shooting timeline and legal standards on deadly force 
• myth busting: “shoot the tires” and intent claims 
• paid protest culture and personal responsibility 
• image crafting to steer public sympathy 
• protecting agents’ identities and families 
• subpoenas to the Clintons and rule-of-law credibility 
• decorum, hecklers, and speaking the room’s language 
• Iran’s protests, internet blackouts, and casualty undercounts 
• how a secular Iran could shift the Middle East

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Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more th...

The guest fell through, but the conversation we needed showed up anyway. What starts as a solo pivot becomes a candid look at why emotional performance so often replaces grounded compassion—and how a recent Minnesota tragedy revealed the script in real time. I unpack the psychology of meaning-making, the shift from “I do activism” to “I am an activist,” and the social rewards that elevate feelings as proof of virtue. When identity fuses with ideology, dissent reads as harm, analysis gets labeled cruel, and symbolism races ahead of facts.

We also talk about the role of institutionalized guilt and the anxiety it breeds: overperformance at vigils, faster condemnations, louder declarations that center the self while sidelining the person who was harmed. Media ecosystems compound it with binary frames that can’t hold nuance, turning complex events into morality plays. I walk through the Minnesota case details, why evidence matters, and how tragedies become props when narratives demand instant certainty. This isn’t a hit piece—it’s an attempt to understand how smart, sincere people can still drift into brittle certainty, where empathy without truth becomes manipulation and debate gives way to megaphones.

There’s a different path. Anchor emotions to something outside the self: responsibility, order, and humility. Let grief be sacred, not strategic. Ask what we know and what we don’t before we pronounce judgment. Real strength requires restraint; real compassion requires listening; real justice requires truth. If that resonates—or rankles—lean in. I want to hear your take, your pushback, and your added layers.

If this conversation challenged you or clarified something you’ve been feeling, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review so others can find it. Then tell me: where should empathy end and truth begin?

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Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more th...

What if the question holding you back isn’t “Why me?” but “Why not me?” We sit down with Dr. Ed Newton, lead pastor of Community Bible Church and author of Why Not You, to unpack a life-changing shift in identity and calling. Ed opens up about battling rejection, dyslexia, anxiety, and a season so heavy he almost didn’t make it through—then shows how counseling, community, and the Holy Spirit rebuilt courage from the inside out.

We explore why shame quietly fuses failure to identity, how guilt can lead to repentance without defining who you are, and why most of us carry “rent-free” voices from the past that still drive today’s choices. Ed shares a practical path to renew your mind, grounded in Romans 12: capture the thoughts, test the story, replace the lie with truth. He makes the case that your design is not an accident—image of God is your baseline—and even your supposed kryptonite can become a superpower when it’s surrendered to purpose.

The conversation lifts from the personal to the practical: a pregame talk to a losing basketball team becomes the spark for a book deal, a fresh reminder that calling is usually discovered through ordinary faithfulness. We talk imposter syndrome, true humility versus self-deprecation, and the leadership question that rewires self-awareness: What’s it like to be on the other side of me? Along the way, Ed points you to simple next steps—daily devotionals, teaching, and tools—to keep your inner script aligned with who God says you are.

If God will use someone today, why not you? Hit play, reframe the question, and take your next bold step. If this resonated, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help others find the show.

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Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more th...

The ocean doesn’t care about your plan, and that’s exactly why we love it. We invited part of the Taylor Jean crew aboard the show to share how a handful of friends—bankers, builders, and tinkerers—built one of the most respected teams on the offshore tournament circuit. The story starts with a seasick freshwater angler who fell in love under a sky full of stars 80 miles out, and it unfolds into a masterclass on preparation, judgment, and trust when the seas get sporty.

We dig into the craft behind the glamour: why some captains believe certain hulls “raise fish,” how swapping to a Viking changed hookup rates with the same crew and tactics, and what it takes to rig for success when a nicked leader can cost six figures. Blaine walks us through the pre-season grind—thousands of hooks, fresh line on every rod, backup everything—and the game-day calls that make or break an eight-hour window. Jay connects the dots between life skills and fishing skills: communication, composure, and the discipline to do the boring work so the exciting moments go your way.

Then the ocean tests the plan. A rogue wave breaks over the house, the cockpit floods, a rod disappears, and the call is to head in—until a blue marlin eats and forces the team to execute in chaos. They finish the fight, release cleanly after lines out, and live to fish the next day. Along the way, we talk release-first ethics, guest anglers, and the traditions that stitch a team together, from first-billfish jumps to prank wars on rival boats. COVID-era adjustments—dinners delivered to the dock, fewer tents, more focus—sharpened their edge and reminded them why they chase fish in the first place.

If you’re curious about offshore sport fishing, tournament strategy, and the strange alchemy of passion plus preparation, this conversation puts you right in the cockpit. Hear about wildlife encounters like a giant loggerhead and the famed Dolphin 56, learn why weather windows dictate 120-mile runs, and see how camaraderie turns pressure into performance. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves the water, and leave a review telling us your favorite moment—we read them all and it helps more anglers find the show.

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Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more th...

What happens when a daughter writes two letters a week to her mom for ten years while breaking into one of the most male-dominated industries in America? You get a time-capsule memoir packed with real deals, real setbacks, and real strategies that still work. We’re joined by Dr. Mary Mitchell, who rose through the 1980s pulp, paper, and timber world negotiating 60 contracts at a time, feeding mills through strikes and shortages, and outmaneuvering intimidation with a calm, data-first style.

Mary walks us through the volatile market forces that defined the decade—interest rates near 20 percent, housing crashes, export booms—and how she turned chaos into leverage with scenario planning, meticulous market intel, and relentless relationship-building with everyone from tug dispatchers to scale houses. She unpacks her “plain vanilla” negotiation approach: ignore the theatrics, return to price and inventory, anticipate failure modes, and have ten counters ready when they hit. The stories are vivid: rescuing a mill with hog fuel dug from a forgotten valley, barging sawdust into San Francisco, and earning a rival’s backhanded compliment for never leaving a dime on the table.

We also talk about boundaries and resilience. Mary shares how she handled inappropriate advances by steering back to business, why preparation disarms bullies, and how confidence grows when you ask the “dumb” questions first. For students of negotiation, supply chain pros, and women navigating male-heavy fields, this conversation doubles as a practical playbook and a compelling narrative. Her letters are now a memoir, and her methods are as relevant to today’s complex markets as they were when strikes shut down mills and trucks lined the yard.

Grab the book on Kindle now, with paperback, hardback, and audio on the way. If the conversation helped you think sharper or negotiate braver, follow the show, share this episode with a friend, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find it.

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Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more th...

The hardest moments don’t just test our faith—they rewrite it. Author Elizabeth Harris sits with us to share how grief, motherhood, and the daily work of love turned her from religious motions to a living relationship with God. After losing her grandfather, she began writing letters to heaven, a humble practice that shifted from ink on a page to prayer with a pulse. Those pages became a map out of despair, teaching her to feel what is real, name it without shame, and surrender what she couldn’t fix.

Our talk moves from the silence of loss to the music of nature. Elizabeth describes standing in a tropical grove as wind changed tone across different trees, a simple moment that revealed a language of the Spirit—one breath expressed a thousand ways. That insight fueled her choice to blend poetry and prose, because some truths need the space of a line break and others need the steadiness of narrative. We also walk through her unexpected path into late motherhood and the seismic shift of raising a son with autism and cognitive delay. Denial gave way to an honest, gut-level lament that cleared room for peace. Along the way, she learned to see people who wound us as carrying their own special needs of the heart, and to live from the inside out instead of performing for the room.

Elizabeth now describes herself as a heartist, offering prayerful Reiki as gentle care that smooths stress and pours love without fanfare. Her throughline is disarmingly simple: be the child of God you are, and the rest finds its place. If you’ve been navigating grief, faith deconstruction, autism parenting, or the fear of sharing vulnerable work, this conversation offers practical hope and thoughtful perspective. Listen, breathe, and consider what love this moment is asking of you.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs courage, and leave a short review—it helps more people find these stories. Find the book HERE

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Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more th...

Support the show

Elsa's AMAZON STORE
Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE

Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more th...

We dive into courageous reinvention with Dr. Kari Borgmann, tracing how a lifetime in accounting turned into a trilogy about love, loss, and second chances. Craft, fear, and practical writing habits meet hope, research, and a surprising new ghost romance set in Ireland.

• moving from accounting career to authorship
• channeling fear and grief into story
• reinvention in midlife and identity shifts
• writing process between plotting and discovery
• building a trilogy with a planned ending
• editing for clarity, depth and sensory detail
• the power of support in long marriages
• new project: Irish ghost mystery romance
• where to buy books and upcoming events

Please go give those books a five-star review when you read them! https://amzn.to/4rTeTW3

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Elsa's AMAZON STORE
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Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more th...

We dig into whether unsealing the Epstein files can restore trust without real accountability and why the release may disappoint. We debate Supreme Court ethics, the NDAA’s priorities, and the risks of releasing sensitive drone footage in the AI era, then pivot to campus speech, Texas politics, media power, and sports double standards.

• Epstein files transparency versus real accountability
• Public trust, redactions, and expectations management
• Supreme Court resignations, ethics, and recusal norms
• Lifetime tenure versus competency assessments
• NDAA priorities, foreign aid, and America First strategy
• Israel and Ukraine funding, industrial cooperation
• Drone footage, secrecy, and AI manipulation risks
• Campus free speech and viewpoint-neutral grading
• Jasmine Crockett’s Senate run and viral politics
• Late-night TV renewal and media consolidation
• Steroids in baseball, Hall of Fame standards
• Kaepernick debates and fan contradictions

“Next week should be our annual holiday show—drop your ideas in the comments. You’ll probably get something lighter, more celebratory, more holiday focused.”

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Elsa's AMAZON STORE
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Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more th...

We sit down with author and veteran teacher Judith Husker to explore how a childhood of forts and frogs became a debut fantasy full of born ones, chasm guards, and a reluctant hero learning to trust himself. Along the way we talk craft, teaching, and why celebrating your own life is the bravest magic.

• Growing up on a family farm and building a lifelong imagination
• Translating teaching into storytelling that feels real
• Writing process as a pantser and embracing surprise
• The Dreamer The Seeker world, magic systems, and stakes
• Kaori’s arc from insecurity to strength
• Villainy with purpose and creatures that raise the tension
• Themes of self-worth, identity, and belonging
• Easter eggs, cliffhangers, and a sequel in progress
• Practical encouragement for aspiring writers to just start
• Where to find the book on Amazon and Kindle

Go pick up The Dreamer The Seeker on Amazon; the link is in the show notes

Support the show

Elsa's AMAZON STORE
Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE

Elsa's BOOKS
Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more th...