The world looks very different from the way it did just last week. In this episode of The Narrative, Aaron and Mike explore the decisive US strikes in Iran that successfully took out key leaders of the regime. The guys break down why a Commander-in-Chief must act on intelligence to protect our sovereignty; if you don’t project strength, you invite chaos.

They also celebrate that the Supreme Court recently stepped in to stop California schools from the heinous practice of transitioning children in secret. The Court made it clear that parents have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing and mental health of their own children, and that right is non-negotiable. 

Finally, Aaron, David, and Mike are joined by Mark Meckler, co-founder of Convention of States. With the national debt now soaring past $38 trillion, Mark explains why electing "better people" isn't enough to stop the administrative state. Discover the Article V strategy to impose term limits on the Deep State and fiscal restraints on DC. Ohio is a "watershed" state in this fight, and Mark shares the roadmap for how we can finally restrain a federal government that has grown far beyond its constitutional boundaries.

More about Mark Meckler

Mark Meckler is the co-founder of Convention of States (COS) and a leading authority on grassroots mobilization. A former attorney and tech entrepreneur, Mark applied his business expertise to help found the Tea Party Patriots before realizing that electing "better people" wasn't enough to fix a broken Washington. 

A committed Christian and advocate for traditional family values, Mark’s worldview is grounded in the belief that the administrative state is a structural threat to American sovereignty. His experience ranges from serving as the interim CEO of Parler to starting and selling multiple businesses in retail, restaurants, manufacturing, network marketing, technology, and consulting along with his wife of 31 years, Patty.

Big Tech is hiding behind the First Amendment to profit while their algorithms drive our children toward depression and suicide. In this episode of The Narrative, Aaron, David, and Mike expose how these giants are fighting to keep parents out of the room while they harvest the attention of minors. Countries like the UK and Australia are already moving to ban these platforms for children under 16. These giants fought the "Social Media Parental Notification Act" in court and won a temporary reprieve from a federal judge. CCV is back at the Statehouse to hold these platforms accountable through HB302. 

After the news, Associate Professor Wilfred Riley joins the guys to discuss how mid-level bureaucrats are rebranding the poison of DEI as "belonging" or "togetherness" to stay entrenched. Learn how the Deep State functions at the GS-level and why the Left's mechanical drift only stops when we actively dig the ideologues out of the mole holes.

They also tackle the rising threat of the "Woke Right" and why identity politics is a trap that abandons objective truth. From the absurdity of "pregnant men" to the weaponization of language, the hosts unpack why we cannot give an inch to word games that defy biological reality. 

More about Wilfred Reilly

Wilfred Reilly is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University, and the author of the books "Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me," "Taboo: 10 Facts You Can't Talk About," and "Hate Crime Hoax."

Reilly, alone or in combination with others, has published more than 100 articles across both national media and academic outlets - including Administration and Society, Academic Questions, National Review, Commentary, Newsweek, Spiked UK, and Quillette. His research interests include international relations, contemporary American race relations, and the use of modern quantitative methods to test "sacred cow" theories like the existence of widespread white privilege.

Off work, he enjoys dogs, archery, basketball, and Asian cooking. 

In this episode of The Narrative, Aaron, David, and Mike unpack how legalized betting is gutting our communities, and why Governor DeWine is calling it the biggest mistake of his career. Ohioans are losing approximately $10,000 every minute to gambling, totaling nearly $5 billion a year. Learn how "predatory" data and AI are being weaponized to hook low-income players and why the "Problem Gaming Network" is being sponsored by the very companies creating the addicts.

 They also get into the details on the latest attempt by union lobbyists to silence Christian influence in education, and why it’s actually the State (not the Church) that’s overstepping its bounds.

 After the news, the hosts are joined by Delano Squires from the Heritage Foundation, who steps in to discuss his work on the landmark report, Saving America by Saving the Family.

 The data is grim: 40 percent of kids are being born out of wedlock, and the Success Sequence is being ignored in favor of State-sponsored dependency. Delano reveals the real-world impact of writing fathers out of the social script and offers a radical, life-affirming blueprint to get back on track. From "Marriage Boot Camps" to incentivizing young couples to build a home, this is the conversation every parent and policymaker needs to hear before the next generation opts out of the family entirely.

More about Delano Squires

Delano Squires is Director of the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Human Flourishing, where he focuses on policies and social norms that promote marriage, fatherhood, and healthy families.

 Squires is the author of the forthcoming book The Vanishing Black Family: How Welfare and Feminism Made Marriage Optional and Children Vulnerable.

 His writings have been published by Newsweek, National Review, The American Conservative, The Federalist, The New York Post, World, The Institute for Family Studies, Black Enterprise, Blaze Media, Black and Married with Kids, The Root, and The Grio.

 Before joining Heritage, Squires worked for the District of Columbia government for more than a decade. During that time, he ran a citywide technology program for low-income residents and served in the city’s gun violence prevention office.

 Squires earned his Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a graduate degree in public policy from The George Washington University. He resides in Maryland with his wife and four children.

This week on The Narrative, Mike and David expose the "vice industry playbook" at the Ohio Problem Gambling Conference, where gambling giants like DraftKings and FanDuel sponsor the prevention efforts their business models actually undermine. They break down how gambling and marijuana interests buy silence from advocates while fueling "addiction for profit" revenue.

The guys also tackle the New York Times’ admission that the "harmless" marijuana myth has failed, as daily use surpasses alcohol and teen suicides rise. Finally, they dive into the Affirming Families’ First Act (HB693), a landmark Ohio bill designed to stop the State from seizing custody of children whose parents refuse to bow to radical gender ideology.

After the news, Mike and David are joined by Mordechai Wiseman, the Founder and Director of Israel First Fruits. A Special Forces veteran and follower of Yeshua, Wiseman discusses the "holy pressure cooker" of faith and business in Israel. He shares the heartbreaking loss of his son in Gaza and a powerful moment of reconciliation with his best friend, an Arab Christian, proving God’s love bridges the deepest divides. Wiseman offers a sobering look at how true restoration requires character over treaties.

More about Mordechai Wiseman

Mordechai Wiseman is Managing Director of Firstfruits Funds and Co-Founder, Chairman & International Director of Israel Firstfruits. He has over 25 years of international management, marketing, technology, and business development experience in various industries. Mordechai has served companies and non-profit organizations ranging in size from small start-ups to Fortune 500 multinational corporations.

He is a social entrepreneur and is passionate about equipping people to pursue their calling. Mordechai has a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from Cornell University. Mordechai is a third-generation Jewish believer serving in Israel. He and his wife, Meira, have three children and live in northern Israel.

Learn More about the Minnery Fellowship

The Minnery Fellowship provides ongoing educational opportunities for pastors and church leaders to dive into the practical issues facing Christians in culture and develop, with a cohort of their peers, biblical strategies and messages to respond. Get the details and sign up at MinneryFellowship.org.

States are racing to legalize sports gambling, but at what cost? In this episode of The Narrative, Mike Andrews, David Mahan, and Danny Funt unpack how legalized betting is reshaping families, communities, and even the integrity of sports.

But first, Mike and David celebrate the landmark $2 million settlement for a detransitioned teen in New York—the first of its kind, finally setting a new precedent in the ongoing conversation around pediatric sex-rejecting surgeries.

Meanwhile, Ohio’s Adolescent Health Centers finally receive critical funding for programs that teach character, sexual risk avoidance, and fatherhood skills, giving students life-affirming tools and keeping more of Planned Parenthood's comprehensive sex-ed out of our schools.

After the news, the hosts sit down with journalist Danny Funt, author of Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling, to explore the explosive growth of legalized betting. DraftKings and FanDuel dominate the sports betting market, but their influence comes with serious consequences. Danny reveals the social, financial, and moral costs that extend well beyond the simple idea of “everybody wins.” From micro-bets that can hook young gamblers to the duopoly controlling the industry, this is the crucial information every parent, policymaker, and concerned citizen needs to understand.

If you’re watching the Super Bowl this weekend, this episode is your must-listen primer on the game we really can’t afford.

More About Danny Funt

Danny Funt covers sports betting as a contributor at The Washington Post. His reporting has also appeared in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and the Columbia Journalism Review. He previously worked as an editor at The Week magazine. A graduate of Georgetown University and the Columbia Journalism School, he lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and son.

Headshot credit: Jordan K. Ellis

They’re calling it a school funding crisis, but the numbers tell a different story: since 2018, public schools have lost 270,000 students while state funding has hit record highs. Christian Education Network Executive Director Troy McIntosh joins David and Mike to explain that public schools don’t have the money problem they and their media mouthpieces keep pushing. Instead, Troy brings the data: districts are becoming increasingly top-heavy as they hire administrators while classrooms continue to lack resources.

After the news, David Bereit Executive Director of the Life Leadership Conference and CCV's Senior Fellow for Strategic Initiatives Peter Range join The Narrative to issue a bold challenge to the pro-life movement: stop being pawns for political parties and start holding elected officials accountable. In this hard-hitting interview, the guys discuss why the sanctity of life is a non-negotiable standard that politicians don't get to define.

As pressure mounts to be "flexible" on the Hyde Amendment, David reminds us that our ultimate accountability isn't to a platform, but to our Maker.

TAKE ACTION

Now is the moment to speak up using CCV.org. Through our Action Center, you can quickly contact Senators Moreno and Husted to encourage them to defend the Hyde Amendment. The process takes less than a minute! 

Call on Ohio's US Senator Moreno and US Senator Husted to oppose taxpayer-funded abortion in any “deal” on Obamacare subsidies.

More About David Bereit

David Bereit is an internationally respected pro-life leader, strategic advisor, and dynamic communicator. 

David’s pro-life journey began in Bryan/College Station, Texas, where he rallied 60 churches and thousands of volunteers to drive Planned Parenthood out of local schools, revoke their taxpayer funding, reduce abortions, and ultimately shut down the local abortion center—prompting Planned Parenthood to label his town “the most anti-choice place in the nation.”

David went on to found and lead 40 Days for Life, growing it into the world’s largest grassroots pro-life mobilization. Under his leadership, the movement activated 2,000 leaders and 750,000 volunteers in 600 cities across all 50 states and dozens of nations, leading to 14,643 lives saved, 177 abortion workers leaving the industry, and 96 abortion facility closures.

Recently, top pro-life leaders and philanthropists asked David to launch and direct the Life Leadership Conference—a groundbreaking initiative to unify and strengthen the pro-life movement through strategic coordination, shared messaging, targeted mobilization, leadership development, and a $30 Million venture fund to maximize collective life-saving impact.

A sought-after speaker and media expert, David has addressed over 1,000 live audiences, hosted hundreds of online events, and his insights have been featured in nearly every major media outlet. His work has inspired millions worldwide and helped raise over $100 million for pro-life and faith-based causes.

David and his wife, Margaret, have been joyfully married for 32 years, live in the Washington, D.C., area, and are the proud parents of two adult children.

From day one, The Narrative has been about one thing: equipping you to stand firm, rooted in truth. As believers, we cannot surrender ground by operating on the Left’s terms; we must stand on the natural rights given by our Creator.

Aaron, David, and Mike highlight this call to courage as they review a recent protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota. The guys also discuss the importance of the March for Life and remind listeners to reach out to Senators Moreno and Husted to encourage them to defend the Hyde Amendment.

After the news, the hosts sit down with Daniel Harmon, the creative force behind the viral Tuttle Twins cartoon series. Daniel walked away from a high-powered advertising career to build a record-breaking, crowdfunded media empire. Why? Because the modern university system has abandoned sound economics and natural rights. So Daniel decided to teach them to our kids instead.

Through the adventures of the twins and their time-traveling grandmother, Daniel explains how he simplifies complex topics like inflation, entrepreneurship, and individual liberty so even an eight-year-old can master them. Daniel underscores why it matters that parents, not institutions, remain the primary voice shaping the next generation.

More About Daniel Harmon

Daniel Harmon is the creator and showrunner of the Tuttle Twins TV Show, an award-winning cartoon that teaches kids about the principles of freedom and economics.

Tuttle Twins is based on the book series that has sold over 5 million copies. In 2020, Tuttle Twins set a record as the #1 crowdfunded kids' show in the world!

Daniel is a creative entrepreneur and co-founded Harmon Brothers, a renowned video advertising agency that has driven billions of views and over $700 million in sales. Prior to Tuttle Twins, Daniel served as Chief Creative Officer of Harmon Brothers, where he created, directed, and oversaw ad campaigns, including viral hits for Squatty Potty, Purple mattress, Poo-pourri, Chatbooks, Lume, FiberFix, Camp Chef, and more.

Daniel is also a co-founder of VidAngel and Angel Studios.

They'll know we're Christians because... we don't vandalize buildings?

In this special episode of The Narrative, Aaron Baer, Maria Baer, David Mahan, and Mike Andrews pull back the curtain on Aaron’s recent appearance at the historic City Club of Cleveland and the firestorm that erupted around it.

The team unpacks what it was like to share the Gospel in a room defined by spiritual oppression and LGBTQ activism, while protesters outside resorted to vandalism and intimidation. You’ll hear the behind-the-scenes stories legacy media refused to cover—including the "gotcha" questions that backfired and how accusations of "hate" collided with basic statements of reality like men can’t get pregnant and children deserve protection.

Beyond the headlines, this conversation reveals the deep cultural divide on display and why Christians cannot retreat from the public square, even when the cost is real.

Tune in to hear the story the mainstream headlines refused to tell.

Key Resources

City Club Recording: Watch or listen to the full, unedited event on CCV.org. 

The Hope and a Future Report: Explore the data on Ohio’s #29 ranking in the Family Structure Index and the "Success Sequence" at Hope.CCV.org.

The Minnery Fellowship: Equipping pastors to lead their congregations through cultural challenges with biblical courage. Learn more at MinneryFellowship.org.

Ohio SAFE Act (HB68) Facts: Get the truth about Ohio's law protecting minors from experimental medical procedures at CCV.org.

The Success Sequence: Graduating, working, and marrying (in that order) is the most effective path out of poverty. Learn more about Ohio's SB156.

Two decisions hit Washington this week that could have massive consequences for families nationwide. On the judicial front, the Supreme Court is weighing whether states can protect women’s sports. At the same time, Congress is debating the extension of Obamacare subsidies, this time without Hyde Amendment protections for the unborn. Aaron, David, and Mike explain what’s at stake in these two major ideological battles.

After the news, Dr. David Closson joins the podcast to unpack new survey data from George Barna and the Family Research Council, revealing a troubling gap inside America’s churches.

While many regular churchgoers say they want clear biblical teaching on issues like abortion, sexuality, and religious freedom, foundational Christian beliefs about God, sin, and salvation are rapidly eroding.

When churches go silent, culture fills the gap.

Barna’s research shows that all seven “cornerstones” of a biblical worldview are in decline, even among committed believers. David explains what’s driving this collapse, why it matters for the Church’s witness, and what pastors and Christians must do to reclaim biblical clarity in an increasingly confused culture.

TAKE ACTION

Now is the moment to speak up using CCV.org. Through our Action Center, you can quickly contact Senators Moreno and Husted to encourage them to defend the Hyde Amendment. The process takes less than a minute! 

Call on Ohio's US Senator Moreno and US Senator Husted to oppose taxpayer-funded abortion in any “deal” on Obamacare subsidies.

More About Dr. David Closson

David Closson, Ph.D., serves as the Director of the Center for Biblical Worldview at Family Research Council, where he researches, writes, and speaks about life, human sexuality, religious liberty, and related issues from a biblical worldview. He is the author of FRC's Biblical Worldview Series, which seeks to help Christians and Christian leaders apply the teachings of the Bible to difficult moral questions.

Dr. Closson's work has appeared on Fox News, RealClearPolitics, National Review, The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, Decision Magazine, WORLD Opinions, The Gospel Coalition, Townhall, and The Christian Post. He is the author of Life After Roe: Equipping Christians in the Fight for Life Today (B&H Academic, 2025), co-author of Male and Female He Created Them: A Study on Identity, Sexuality, and Marriage (Christian Focus, 2023), and co-author of the forthcoming book Worldview Basics: A Worldview Curriculum for Students (Fidelis Publishing, 2026).

Dr. Closson is a regular guest on Christian and conservative media outlets, including Washington Watch, FRC's national television and radio program heard on more than 800 stations across 48 states. He also speaks at conferences, seminars, and churches across the United States and abroad, addressing moral and cultural issues from a biblical worldview.

Dr. Closson is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Ph.D.), The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div., Th.M.) and the University of Central Florida (B.A.).

This week, Aaron and David take listeners behind the headlines to break down the explosive growth of fraud in programs like Minnesota’s Somali-run daycares and Medicaid housing services, and the human cost of underregulated refugee resettlement.

They explore the influence of billionaire-funded gender ideology initiatives, shifts in family courts, and victories in red-state policy reforms. They also touch on the political implications of Ohio’s lieutenant governor candidate picks, the ban on AI in higher education, and US actions against Venezuela’s narco-state regime.

Neuroscientist, educator, and bestselling author Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath joins the podcast to reveal why classroom technology may be undermining your child’s ability to learn. From 1-to-1 laptops to constant smartphone access, he explains the research linking screens to lower cognitive performance, disrupted memory, and weaker problem-solving skills—and why banning phones can boost learning by up to 11 hours per week and slash behavioral problems by 80 percent.

Jared also uncovers the hidden motives behind the tech push in schools, the “mode effect” that makes handwriting far more effective than typing, and why teaching kids how to think beats teaching them how to use tools, even in our high-tech world.

More About Jared Cooney Horvath

Jared Cooney Horvath (PhD, MEd) is a neuroscientist, educator, and best-selling author who specializes in human learning and brain development. He is the creator of The Learning Blueprint, an international award-winning program helping educators and students understand how learning actually works.

Jared has conducted research and taught at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Melbourne, and has worked with more than 1,000 schools around the world. He is the author of six books, has published over fifty research articles, and his work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Economist, Harvard Business Review, and ABC’s Catalyst.

Jared currently serves as Director of LME Global, an organization dedicated to bringing cutting-edge brain and behavioral science to educators, students, and communities. To inquire about working with him, or to learn more about his international award-winning Science of Learning programs (The Learning Blueprint for Teachers & The Learning Blueprint for Students), visit lmeglobal.com.