On June 4, 2024, Greg Lopez, Cain, Jon Boesen, and Marly Hornik joined the show. Republican candidate for Colorado’s CD4 special election explains how the race could determine House control and warns about ballot placement designed to suppress voter participation Task Force Freedom founder exposes pornographic materials in schools, CRT indoctrination, and federal crimes being committed against children by educators pushing ideological agendas Boesen Law.

Start listening at 17:38 – Hour 1

Greg Lopez explains the critical importance of Colorado’s CD4 special election, triggered when Ken Buck vacated his seat and left over 700,000 constituents without representation in Congress. Lopez warns that with Republicans holding a one-vote majority in the House, this election could determine whether the party maintains control during the final months of the 118th Congress.

The candidate emphasizes that voters must search carefully for the special election ballot, which Governor Polis strategically placed at the bottom or back of the primary ballot. Lopez argues this placement was calculated to suppress votes for the special election. He outlines his focus on border security, inflation, and constituent services if elected to serve the remaining term through January 2025.

Lopez also highlights growing Hispanic and minority support for President Trump, noting that these communities are waking up to the reality that Democrat policies have not served their interests.

“And so this is truly something that people need to pay attention to, because this will, and I tell people, this could determine the future of our republic. This could determine whether we maintain our freedoms and our liberties.”

Greg Lopez, CD4 Republican Candidate

Start listening at 33:17 – Hour 1

Cain, founder of Task Force Freedom in Northern Colorado, sounds the alarm about pornographic materials in government schools and the systematic indoctrination of children through CRT and DEI programs. He points to Title 18, Section 1466A of the United States Code, arguing that school board members and librarians who provide explicit materials to children are committing federal crimes.

Cain identifies himself as a “proud American Negro” and challenges the divisive African-American label, which he traces to Jesse Jackson in the 1970s as a tool for division. He argues that CRT teaches white children they are oppressors and black children they are oppressed, emotionally scarring students from kindergarten through high school graduation.

The discussion turns to the case of John and Erin Lee, whose 11-year-old daughter was targeted by an LGBTQ indoctrination group disguised as an “art club” at Poudre School District. The family’s story is documented in the film “Art Club” available at artclubmovie.com. Cain reports that two children in Fort Collins schools who were being groomed have attempted suicide.

“And what people really don’t understand about the pornographic books, these people are committing crimes. It’s a federal law that you cannot provide pornographic materials to children. And at some point, as the political environment changes, these people, these school board members, these librarians, administrators will be held accountable for providing children with porn. It’s a crime.”

Cain, Founder, Task Force Freedom NoCo

Start listening at 61:39 – Hour 2

Jon Boesen of Boesen Law discusses what sets his firm apart in the personal injury field. He emphasizes that integrity means always doing the right thing for clients, putting their interests first. The firm offers extended consultations of up to two and a half hours to ensure clients fully understand the legal process.

Boesen reveals that his firm is now pursuing workers’ compensation claims on behalf of employees who were mandated by employers to receive COVID vaccinations and subsequently suffered adverse reactions. He notes that while those forced to take the jab at work have clear workers’ comp claims, building cases for others is more challenging due to limited medical documentation linking vaccines to injuries.

The attorney expresses frustration that pharmaceutical companies and the government have suppressed information about vaccine injuries, but notes that the lid is becoming harder to maintain as more victims come forward.

“For folks outside the work arena that just believed what they were told and took the jab, it’s getting harder and harder, I think, for Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, and unfortunately, at some level, unfortunately a high level, our government to keep a lid on what happened because so many people are coming forward. We just need more doctors to come forward and speak up and make that link.”

Jon Boesen, Boesen Law

Start listening at 70:02 – Hour 2

Marly Hornik, co-founder of United Sovereign Americans, explains how her organization uses the resolution process to educate elected officials about constitutional election requirements. She argues that Colorado’s mail-out ballot process violates the Help America Vote Act, which requires identity verification before ballots are issued.

Hornik notes that USA is being attacked from both left and right, with the LA Times calling them “far-right election deniers” while the Ohio Secretary of State dismissed their report of 1.2 million suspect voter registrations as “clerical errors.” She describes a double subpoena from New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is investigating their affiliate organization for alleged Ku Klux Klan violations.

Despite the opposition, Hornik reports that citizens across multiple states are bringing USA resolutions to town councils, county commissioners, and state legislatures. The organization hosts Tuesday evening calls to study election law and the Constitution together.

“So, you see, United Sovereign Americans is proving once again, which we all know, that there is no such thing as politicians who really want the United States citizens to choose. This is the problem we have.”

Marly Hornik, Co-founder, United Sovereign Americans

On June 3, 2024, Brian Joondeph, Leslie Manookian, and Bill Jack joined the show. Dr Manookian announced a landmark settlement against Disney in a vaccine mandate case and reported that grassroots pressure successfully blocked totalitarian provisions in WHO’s proposed international health regulations Jack explained his campaign platform through the lens of jurisdiction, arguing that government has invaded the proper domains of family, church, and.

Start listening at 30:56 – Hour 1

Dr. Brian Joondeph joined Kim fresh from his son’s wedding in Nigeria to dissect what really matters in presidential polling. The physician and commentator argued that national polls generate headlines but fail to capture the Electoral College dynamics that actually decide elections.

Joondeph explained that the seven battleground states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona, will determine the 2024 outcome. He noted that Trump leads in all of these crucial states according to RealClearPolitics averages, painting a more favorable picture than national surveys suggest.

On the Trump conviction, Joondeph characterized the case as a “show trial” with a predetermined outcome. He pointed out that the alleged crimes occurred after the 2016 election, making the theory of election interference logically impossible. The reaction from donors, he observed, has been substantial, with reports of $200 million raised since the verdict, including $70 million from small donors.

“To me, it was a foregone conclusion of how this would go. It’s like we’re watching a big show here, and it’s playing out. It’s lawfare. It’s trying to keep him off the ballot, trying to keep him from getting elected.”

– Dr. Brian Joondeph, Physician and Political Commentator

Start listening at 1:10:41 – Hour 2

Leslie Manookian, founder of Health Freedom Defense Fund, broke news of a significant legal settlement against Disney. A receptionist named Pamela Petroff who worked on American Dad and Family Guy requested religious and medical accommodations to Disney’s vaccine mandate and was subsequently harassed by supervisors.

Manookian revealed that internal Disney documents proved the company knew Petroff’s request was sincere yet refused to accommodate her anyway. Disney, which rarely settles lawsuits, agreed to settle the case, marking a major victory for employees challenging corporate vaccine mandates.

The discussion also covered the 77th World Health Assembly, where Manookian reported that grassroots pressure from millions worldwide successfully blocked the most totalitarian provisions of proposed international health regulations. The defeated measures would have granted the WHO authority to dictate pandemic responses, issue medical mandates, and implement digital vaccine passports across member nations.

“What happened was millions of people all over the world have been standing up and pressuring their public servants, the elected officials in their nations, to push back. And you know what? That’s what happened. Different countries were saying that we weren’t going to allow this.”

– Leslie Manookian, Founder, Health Freedom Defense Fund

Start listening at 17:34 – Hour 1

Colorado House District 45 candidate Bill Jack illustrated his campaign philosophy with a story about his grandson Chet, who released 34 chickens from a neighbor’s coop. Jack used the anecdote to explain how government has invaded jurisdictions properly belonging to families, churches, and businesses.

Jack criticized Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program as an example of state overreach, citing rancher Don Gittleson’s losses of 13 cows, four working dogs, and several sheep to wolves. He argued that the state has released “wolves in sheep’s clothing” throughout education, where policies have “ravaged students’ innocence” and “mutilated students morally and intellectually.”

“I’m in this race to guard our citizens’ nest eggs, fight Democrats’ pro-abort policies that destroy our future progeny, and defend against Democrats’ perverted sexual policies being foisted on little chicks. I’m in this because I want to see my grandchildren grow up in a free country.”

– Bill Jack, Candidate, Colorado House District 45

On May 31, 2024, Janak Joshi, Rick Turnquist, Nephi Cole, Jim May, Lorne Levy, and Karen Levine joined the show. Legal immigrant from India discussed his run for Congress, emphasizing immigration enforcement, fiscal responsibility, and school choice while noting Libertarian Party endorsement Called the Trump conviction a tectonic shift in American history comparable to Fort Sumter, urging activists to channel anger into electoral action Warned about two Colorado ballot measures.

Start listening at 4:45 – Hour 1

Kim Monson took an unusual approach to covering the Trump conviction, reading directly from the 55-page post-summation jury instructions rather than relying on media pundits. She highlighted passages she found concerning, particularly regarding intent to defraud and evidentiary standards. The 34 felony counts stemmed from ledger entries, checks, and invoices related to alleged business record falsification.

“I mean, my gosh, if they can convict a presidential candidate, a past president, of making a change in his ledgers and consider that a felony, we’re in I think we’re in a really difficult situation.”

Kim Monson, Host

Start listening at 32:21 – Hour 1

Rick Turnquist, author at To Advance Freedom, called the Trump verdict a tectonic shift comparable to the shelling of Fort Sumter. He warned that the prosecution has opened a Pandora’s box leading to greater polarization and erosion of American traditions. Turnquist urged listeners to channel their anger into activism and emphasized that abstaining from voting for Trump effectively supports Biden’s reelection.

“I literally felt as if an earthquake had passed under my feet because yesterday was a dark day in American history.”

Rick Turnquist, Author, To Advance Freedom

Start listening at 18:52 – Hour 1

Janak Joshi, a legal immigrant from India running for Congress in Colorado’s 8th District, shared his perspective on achieving the American Dream through hard work and legal immigration. He outlined priorities including immigration enforcement, fiscal responsibility, and reducing government involvement in education, noting the Libertarian Party has endorsed his campaign and pledged to withdraw from the general election if he wins the primary.

“I am basically paying back my dues to this great nation, which adopted me and gave me all the opportunities. And I want to make sure that everybody has those opportunities.”

Janak Joshi, Congressional Candidate, CD8

Start listening at 73:41 – Hour 2

Nephi Cole, Director of State Affairs at the National Shooting Sports Foundation, warned about two concerning ballot measures facing Colorado voters. Proposition 91 would ban trophy hunting of cougars with potential to expand restrictions on all hunting. A proposed excise tax on arms and ammunition would add hundreds of dollars annually to the cost of firearm ownership, disproportionately burdening families and those seeking self-defense.

“For this coming election, on the ballot, one of the things that’s on there in Colorado, that certainly Colorado can make a difference in.”

Nephi Cole, Director of State Affairs, National Shooting Sports Foundation

Start listening at 63:20 – Hour 2

Jim May of Lavaca Meat Company delivered an extended recitation of “The Horse Trader” by Sonny Hancock, a humorous poem about a cowboy who trades a troublesome bucking horse to a young kid, only to discover the youth is an exceptional bronc rider. The performance provided a welcome respite from the day’s heavy political discussion.

“It’s Friday. Go have a great weekend. The sun will come up tomorrow again, and everything’s going to be okay.”

Jim May, Lavaca Meat Company

Start listening at 78:17 – Hour 2

Lorne Levy of Polygon Financial Group and Karen Levine of REMAX discussed the Colorado housing market, noting steady prices and new product creativity in the mortgage industry. Levy explained how reverse mortgages and second mortgages help homeowners access equity without sacrificing low-rate first mortgages during inflationary times. Both emphasized the importance of staying informed and having honest conversations about homeownership options.

“I’m seeing products roll out almost weekly sometimes, you know, new, maybe not a whole new product, but a new way of doing things.”

Lorne Levy, Polygon Financial Group

On May 30, 2024, Dagny Van Der Jagt, Daniel Turner, Mark Monson, and Mary Janssen joined the show. Former prosecutor exposes how Colorado ERPO law allows ex parte proceedings against gun owners without their knowledge, operating under civil rather than criminal standards Power of the Future founder exposes how expensive energy policy enriches hostile nations while devastating rural American communities dependent on oil and gas jobs Game designer.

Start listening at 32:46 – Hour 1

Dagny Van Der Jagt, candidate for District Attorney in Judicial District 23, sounds the alarm on Colorado’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law. Van Der Jagt, a former prosecutor in Arapahoe and Douglas counties who now runs her own law firm, details how the 2019 legislation allows ex parte proceedings where accused gun owners face hearings without their knowledge or presence.

The attorney traces the law’s origins to a bipartisan 2018 effort, noting that her primary opponent participated in drafting the original legislation. She explains that the ERPO process operates under civil standards, requiring only preponderance of evidence rather than criminal proof beyond reasonable doubt. Teachers, healthcare providers, and even pastors can now file petitions against gun owners, a 2023 expansion that Van Der Jagt argues discourages people from seeking mental health treatment.

Van Der Jagt advocates returning to Rudy Giuliani’s broken window policing philosophy, prosecuting small crimes to prevent offenders from graduating to larger ones. She emphasizes that elected district attorneys can work with local leaders to promulgate municipal ordinances when the Democrat-controlled legislature fails to support public safety.

“So this entire hearing and procedure is happening, as you say, while you’re at work or sitting at home, not knowing that there’s a court proceeding going on. The court makes a decision at that point with a very, under civil standards. So by preponderance of evidence, is it more likely than not that this person might commit a crime in the future.”

Dagny Van Der Jagt, Candidate for District Attorney, JD-23

Start listening at 73:01 – Hour 2

Daniel Turner, founder and executive director of Power of the Future, connects expensive energy policy to global instability. Turner explains that making energy expensive has enriched bad actors like Iran and Russia, funding organizations like Hamas rather than schools for girls.

Turner describes how energy workers in rural America lack representation in power centers like Denver and Washington, D.C. He recounts how Colorado boomed from 2000 to 2010 as the fastest-growing state economically, driven by fracking and oil and gas development, only to see newcomers bring policies that attack the very industry that created their prosperity.

Power of the Future is actively seeking state directors for Colorado and Wyoming to push back against climate hysteria and advocate for energy workers at county boards and state capitols. Turner ridicules the billions spent on charging stations that produced only seven or eight actual stations, calling the green movement’s financial waste an example of stolen taxpayer money.

“And all of that is because we’ve made energy very, very expensive. And so, yes, I started Power of the Future for those jobs in rural America. But you’re raising an important point. When this government makes energy the enemy and they use their power to go after energy, all Americans are suffering. And quite frankly, all the world is suffering because in the process of making energy expensive, we’ve made some really bad actors extremely rich, Iran, Russia.”

Daniel Turner, Executive Director, Power of the Future

Start listening at 18:24 – Hour 1

Mark Monson brings the entrepreneurial spirit to the board game industry with Legend of the Eight Isles, currently funding through Kickstarter. Monson describes how COVID sparked a renaissance in tabletop gaming, turning it into one of the biggest entertainment industries.

The game accommodates three to six players aged 10 and up, offering flexibility for quick 15-minute sessions or extended two to three hour gameplay. Monson drew inspiration from his own beagle, who appears as a musketeer character and serves as the game’s mascot. Backers at the $200 level can enter a raffle to create their own character for the first edition, potentially owning a collector’s item.

“But certainly I think that’s kind of the American idea. You know, I think a lot of people throughout the history have not had an idea of what to do, but they have just kind of powered through and figured out what they needed to do. And, you know, that’s how we’ve become such a successful country. Absolutely. entrepreneurs all over the place.”

Mark Monson, Creator, Legend of the Eight Isles

Start listening at 64:34 – Hour 2

Mary Janssen of Janssen Photography discusses her husband Glenn’s aerial photography business, which serves real estate clients and documents oil fields from their single-engine plane. The couple stumbled into aviation when Glenn, as Janssen jokes, accidentally bought an aircraft.

Janssen also serves as a volunteer for the Colorado Union of Taxpayers, which took positions on 259 bills during the legislative session. She describes learning to read legislation and discovering how lawmakers use specific word choices to pick winners and losers, affecting TABOR refunds and blocking real tax cuts. The studio is extending Mother’s Day portrait specials through Father’s Day.

“It was. It was. But you know what? Like you said once that I just never felt I was qualified to do this job. But once you start reading them, it’s like you see what they’re doing. It’s like, oh, well, they’re just using this word. If you take that word out, you understand they’re really, you’re right, picking winners and losers, you know, to affect the outcome either of our TABOR refund or, you know, an actual real tax cut.”

Mary Janssen, Janssen Photography

On May 29, 2024, Kenneth Rapoza, Trent Loos, Rich Guggenheim, and J.P. Dunn joined the show. Rapoza explains how Western nations outsourced green technology manufacturing to China, creating a single-country ‘green OPEC’ that controls solar, wind, EV, and battery production Loos discusses Nebraska’s low 28% primary turnout, the attack on animal agriculture through rewilding initiatives, and the importance of food access to freedom Guggenheim updates on.

Start listening at 33:04 – Hour 1

Kenneth Rapoza, industry analyst for the Coalition for a Prosperous America and former Wall Street Journal foreign correspondent, reveals how Western nations inadvertently created China’s dominance in green energy production. Since Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth,” Brussels and Washington have pushed toward a post-fossil fuel economy without developing domestic manufacturing capacity. China eagerly filled the void, building the windmills, solar panels, EVs, and batteries the West would need for its energy transition.

Rapoza explains that until Trump’s presidency, Western nations accepted having China manufacture all their green technology. Now political winds have shifted, but the industrial base does not exist. The United States has only one major solar company, First Solar, while Chinese firms dominate the sector. Even Tesla vehicles cannot operate without batteries from Japanese company Panasonic or Chinese manufacturer CATL.

The analyst draws a stark comparison between traditional energy markets and this new reality. While OPEC comprises multiple oil-producing nations, the “green OPEC” consists of only one country: China. European wind turbine manufacturers are now being overtaken by Chinese company Goldwind, which has tied Netherlands-based Vestas as the world’s largest wind turbine producer.

“There is no other country in the world that has that sort of cornering of all of the three phases of the market that are going to power this post-fossil fuel and transportation and energy grid. It’s only China. There’s no other country that comes close.”

Kenneth Rapoza, Industry Analyst, Coalition for a Prosperous America

Rapoza warns that Chinese multinationals facing tariffs are simply relocating to Mexico, where they can ship products to the United States duty-free under the USMCA trade agreement. Major American and European automakers are actually encouraging this move to maintain access to Chinese battery technology and manufacturing expertise.

Start listening at 17:55 – Hour 1

Rich Guggenheim, Colorado spokesman for Gays Against Groomers, reports on the Protect Kids Colorado campaign gathering signatures for two ballot initiatives. The first would keep boys out of girls’ sports, while the second requires schools to notify parents within 48 hours if their child experiences gender incongruence.

Guggenheim has visited 55 of Colorado’s 64 counties and found bipartisan support for these measures. The initiatives address House Bill 1039, which compels teachers to use students’ preferred pronouns. Research shows 97.5% of children allowed to socially transition eventually proceed to medical transition, while 80% of those who are not permitted to do so eventually reconcile with their biological sex. Many of these children grow up to identify as gay or lesbian.

Speaking as a gay man, Guggenheim criticizes Pride Month events that sexualize children, calling out Denver Pride Fest for hosting child drag shows. Gays Against Groomers operates a truck displaying warnings about age-inappropriate content at pride events and has sent letters to organizers across Colorado.

“If your movement is sponsored by every major multinational corporation and government in Western culture, you’re no longer oppressed. You’re privileged.”

Rich Guggenheim, Colorado Spokesman, Gays Against Groomers

Start listening at 63:32 – Hour 2

J.P. Dunn, Director of Advocacy for Protect the Harvest, alerts listeners to a Denver ballot initiative that could shut down Superior Farm, a lamb processing facility established in 1964. The families behind this business are connected to the National Western Livestock Show.

Dunn explains how animal rights activists use initiatives to attack food production. California’s Prop B regarding hog gestation crates has driven up pork prices nationwide as suppliers must modify facilities to meet California specifications. The Supreme Court ruled this was a state rights issue, leaving producers with costly compliance requirements.

“This is about just driving up the cost of food that comes from animals for the purpose of making it too expensive for Americans to purchase.”

J.P. Dunn, Director of Advocacy, Protect the Harvest

Start listening at 73:58 – Hour 2

Trent Loos, sixth-generation farmer and rancher, expresses concern over Nebraska’s 28% primary voter turnout despite widespread frustration with government spending. The highest turnout came from Cherry County at 60%, which uses mail-in voting due to the distances residents must travel to polling places.

Loos contrasts this with Colorado’s reported 75-77% turnout in 2020. He found Nebraska’s turnout misreported at 62% on one website, illustrating how misinformation spreads. The conversation turns to the 2003 Help America Vote Act’s requirement that precincts maintain election results for 22 months, a mandate Loos says is not being followed.

The discussion also covers rewilding efforts that prioritize wolves over property rights, the devastating effects of vitamin B12 deficiency in children raised without animal products, and the tragic death of rancher Mike Morgan who was struck by lightning while protecting his cattle in North Park, Colorado.

“If you really look at the future of freedom, it’s 100% tied to our access to food. Do not take your food supply for granted.”

Trent Loos, Sixth-Generation Farmer and Rancher

On May 28, 2024, Charles Marino, Ron Stein, Tim Arvidson, and Jon Boesen joined the show. Former Secret Service executive exposes how Biden administration policies have undermined post-9/11 security measures, allowing terrorists and criminals to enter while sanctuary cities protect them from deportation Energy consultant challenges the feasibility of eliminating fossil fuels, explaining that 6,000 products derive from oil and questioning the ethics of green energy.

Start listening at 29:20 – Hour 1

Charles Marino, former Secret Service executive and author of “Terrorists on the Border and In Our Country,” delivers a stark assessment of the Biden administration’s border policies. Marino argues the administration has systematically undermined every homeland security apparatus established after September 11, 2001, allowing criminals and potential terrorists to enter the country with minimal vetting.

The security expert reveals that migrants are flying domestically using only easily counterfeited notices to appear, while approximately 15 million people have entered whose backgrounds cannot be verified. He details how sanctuary cities protect criminal aliens from deportation and receive billions in federal funding despite refusing to cooperate with immigration enforcement.

Marino connects the border crisis to a broader political strategy, noting that every Democrat voted against preventing illegal immigrants from voting in D.C. elections. He warns that the administration’s policies serve political goals at the expense of national security.

“Every department agency policy program you think of it that was put in place by the United States following the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, is being undermined by the Biden administration.”

Charles Marino, Former Secret Service Executive

Start listening at 69:24 – Hour 2

Ron Stein, co-author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated book “Clean Energy Exploitations,” challenges the fundamental assumptions behind green energy policies. Stein explains that wind turbines and solar panels only generate electricity and cannot manufacture the 6,000 products derived from crude oil that modern society depends upon.

The energy consultant points out that eradicating oil usage would ground 20,000 commercial aircraft, 50,000 military aircraft, and strand 50,000 merchant ships. He questions how electric military vehicles would function when charging stations become easy targets for enemy attacks.

Stein raises ethical concerns about green energy supply chains, noting that rare earth minerals for batteries come from China and Africa where child labor and environmental degradation persist. He refuses to purchase an EV for moral reasons, unwilling to financially support exploitation of workers with “yellow, brown and black skin.”

“I would love to be on that panel asking the questions, because the candidates are avoiding it. And you talked about the book that I wrote, Clean Energy Exploitations. You know, most of the exotic minerals and metals needed to go green with EVs, wind turbines, and solar panels. They’re controlled by China and Africa.”

Ron Stein, Energy Consultant and Author

Start listening at 17:36 – Hour 1

Tim Arvidson, running for Colorado State Senate District 2, presents himself as a grassroots conservative challenging establishment Republicans. The 27-year technology industry veteran expresses concern about property tax increases of 19 to 25 percent and potential backdoor raids on TABOR funding.

Arvidson argues that Colorado’s mail-in voting system transformed the state from solid red to blue almost overnight. He advocates for same-day voting with photo ID verification and warns that ranked choice voting uses computer algorithms that override the will of the people, pointing to Alaska as a cautionary example.

“We need to get rid of them because they are rigged. These are rigged systems that the Democrats use to install their candidates at the local, county, state, and federal level. This is probably one of our biggest, if not the biggest issue that we need to change, friends, because without our vote, we don’t have a chance.”

Tim Arvidson, State Senate Candidate

Start listening at 62:12 – Hour 2

Jon Boesen of Boesen Law reports increasing evidence of vaccine injuries and discusses legal avenues for those harmed by COVID-19 vaccines. He notes that immunity protections for Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are beginning to crumble as more information emerges about undisclosed risks and suppressed safety data.

Boesen explains his firm is documenting cases of adverse reactions and deaths, anticipating that legal barriers will eventually fall as the full scope of harm becomes public knowledge.

“We’re getting more and more information about who knew what. The realities of the fact that it was harming folks, was not being reported, was being hidden. It’s all coming out. It’s just a matter of time.”

Jon Boesen, Boesen Law

On May 27, 2024, Doug Groothuis, Paula Sarlls, Doug Sterner, and Roger Mangan joined the show. Explored Pascal’s wager argument, anthropological understanding of human nature as both great and miserable, and comparative analysis of Christianity with Judaism and Islam Described the Memorial Day ceremony at the official Marine Corps Memorial in Colorado, including the swearing in of new recruits and Buy a Brick program Shared remarkable.

Start listening at 1:54 – Hour 1

Doug Groothuis, professor at Denver Seminary and author of over 20 books, examines the legacy of Blaise Pascal through his latest work “Beyond the Wager, The Christian Brilliance of Blaise Pascal.” Pascal, who lived from 1623 to 1662, accomplished extraordinary feats in mathematics, science, and philosophy despite dying at just 39 years old. Groothuis explains that Pascal was homeschooled by his father after his mother’s early death, becoming a child prodigy whose notes to himself proved so profound they were published posthumously as the “Pensees” (Thoughts).

The discussion challenges common misconceptions about Pascal’s famous wager argument. Rather than a crass calculation about betting on God’s existence, Groothuis reveals it as a call to take ultimate questions seriously. Pascal argued that some beliefs matter far more than others, and the question of Christianity’s truth deserves earnest investigation rather than apathy. The philosopher compared spiritual indifference to ignoring potentially terminal health symptoms, urging seekers to investigate their condition before a perfectly holy God.

Groothuis presents Pascal’s anthropological argument as particularly powerful: Christianity uniquely explains humanity’s simultaneous greatness and misery. We create civilization yet commit atrocities; we show heroism yet harbor cruelty. Pascal wrote that man is “judge of all things, feeble earthworm, repository of truth, sink of doubt and error, the glory and refuse of the universe.” This understanding of humanity as “deposed royalty,” created in God’s image yet fallen into sin, provides the framework for understanding both our dignity and our need for redemption through Christ.

“Jesus is a God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.”

Doug Groothuis, quoting Blaise Pascal

Start listening at 9:35 – Hour 1

Paula Sarlls, president of the USMC Memorial Foundation, describes the Memorial Day ceremony planned at the official United States Marine Corps Memorial in Colorado. The event features Sergeant Major Matthew King as guest speaker, the swearing in of new Marine recruits who will meet veterans from Iwo Jima, Vietnam, and Korea, and the state bagpiper. Sarlls emphasizes the Buy a Brick donation program as a meaningful way to honor military service members.

“It is the United States Marine Corps Memorial dedicated to all Marines for all time to honor Marines and remember all who served. So it’s not just a Marine Memorial. It’s for everybody.”

Paula Sarlls, President, USMC Memorial Foundation

Start listening at 46:59 – Hour 1

Doug Groothuis explores Pascal’s comparative analysis of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Pascal argued that while the Hebrew Bible points forward to Christ and finds fulfillment in him, Islam makes fundamentally different claims that cannot be validated by the same evidentiary standards. Muhammad was not foretold in Scripture, worked no miracles according to the Quran itself, and his teachings contradict established Christian doctrine on crucial points including the crucifixion, Christ’s divinity, and the Trinity.

Groothuis notes that Pascal identified “clear and absurd passages” in the Quran, contrasting this with Scripture’s clear passages that are “true and rational.” The philosopher’s method involved testing religious claims against evidence: prophecy fulfillment, miracles, and the coherence of teachings. This approach remains relevant as believers navigate competing truth claims in a pluralistic society.

“The Muslim religion has the Quran and Muhammad for foundation. But was the prophet supposedly the world’s last hope foretold? And what signs does he show that are not shown by anyone else who wants to call himself a prophet?”

Doug Groothuis, quoting Blaise Pascal

Start listening at 67:33 – Hour 2

Roger Mangan of State Farm Insurance explains how AM Best ratings assess insurance companies’ ability to pay claims. With catastrophic losses mounting nationwide, including Denver’s 15,800 accidents in 2023, understanding a company’s financial reserves becomes critical. Mangan clarifies that while State Farm’s general company (insuring Florida and California) faced a temporary downgrade due to rate regulation challenges, the parent company maintains $138 billion in reserves and an A+ superior rating.

“The financial ability to cover your losses, especially what’s going on in the country today, from catastrophic losses to accidents. Denver, for example, had 15,800 accidents in 2023, up about 15% from the previous year.”

Roger Mangan, State Farm Insurance Agent

Start listening at 59:08 – Hour 2

Doug Sterner, military historian and author of over 116 books, discusses his Beyond Belief series released each Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The latest volume features remarkable POW escape stories including the Davao Dozen, the only mass escape from a Japanese prison in World War II. Ten Americans and two Filipinos executed a daring breakout and spent three days evading Japanese forces through Philippine jungles before reaching guerrilla camps. Sterner discovered that one escapee, Paul H. Marshall, was a 1935 graduate of Pueblo’s Central High School who later commanded Philippine guerrillas for General MacArthur’s return.

The cover story follows Roger Locher, an Air Force pilot shot down over North Vietnam in June 1972 who evaded capture for three weeks. When radio contact was established, the 7th Air Force commander ordered the deepest rescue penetration of the war, declaring he would not let doubt about rescue capability damage troop morale. Captain Dale Stovall’s Jolly Green helicopter crew extracted Locher under fire, earning the pilot an Air Force Cross.

“I had to decide whether we should risk the loss of maybe a dozen airplanes and crews just to get one man out. Finally, I said to myself, damn it, the one thing that keeps our boys motivated is a certain belief that if they go down, we will do absolutely everything we can to get them out.”

Doug Sterner, quoting General Vogt, 7th Air Force

Start listening at 82:45 – Hour 2

Doug Sterner traces Memorial Day’s origins to Decoration Day after the Civil War, when veterans and families would visit grave sites to plant flowers and clean headstones. The tradition united former enemies as both Union and Confederate veterans honored their fallen. Sterner urges veterans to graciously accept civilian appreciation even when misdirected, viewing such moments as teaching opportunities rather than occasions for correction.

The discussion explores the poppy tradition’s origins in Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s 1915 poem “In Flanders Fields,” written after the devastating Battle of Wypress where 87,000 Allied soldiers became casualties. The red poppies that bloomed in that blood-soaked soil inspired one of military history’s most enduring symbols of remembrance.

“Take up our quarrel with the foe. To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with we who die, we shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders field.”

Doug Sterner, quoting John McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields”