PODCASTS

Tag: #politics
Issues in Education – Regional Consolidation, Politics in the Classroom, more – 9/23/24

Issues in Education – Regional Consolidation, Politics in the Classroom, more – 9/23/24

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“Issues in Education” is a Monday News Feature from Family Life.

This episode includes commentary from former superintendent and current educational strategist Ralph Kerr on significant issues facing families, teachers, school boards and communities:

  • Beyond Civics courses, what roles do schools play in shaping discussions of campaigns and candidates? How should parents monitor election conversations which may happen at schools?
  • New York State education leaders are surveying every public school district, asking how they are serving their students. One outcome might be recommendations for “regionalization” in many places — cooperation between schools, and perhaps more consolidations of elementaries, high schools, or even entire districts. Population shifts and budget imbalances are a big reason why.
  • The State Board of Regents (which oversees most of the education in New York) removed from this month’s agenda a proposed rule which would have mandated that students could cross gender lines for sports, in high schools, middle schools and elementary programs.

Dr. Kerr offers his vantage point on these Issues in Education.
An Insider’s Insights into the Secret Service – FLN – 9/19/24

An Insider’s Insights into the Secret Service – FLN – 9/19/24

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Retired FBI & Secret Service Agent Tim Miller

A Family Life News Interview

With two close-calls on the life of Donald Trump within two months, retired Secret Service agents are speaking out about the dangers to elected leaders, political candidates and their families.

One of those with an insider’s insight is Tim Miller, who had twin careers in the FBI and the Secret Service.
Family Life News Anchor Bob Price talked with Miller from his Florida home, just five miles from the golf course that made international news this past weekend.

Tap “play” on the podcast player for an extended version of this exclusive interview.

LionHeart Security Experts

Retired Secret Service agent Tim Miller now operates an international security enhancement firm. He uses his decades-long experience to provide training and consultations to help churches, schools and businesses to stay safer.

Podcasts of the Family Life Noon Report and the Family Life 5 O’Clock Report are available each weekday from www.FamilyLife.org/newspodcasts.

 
Riley Gaines – Approaches to Women’s Sports (NCAA, NAIA, and Public Action) – 9/16/24

Riley Gaines – Approaches to Women’s Sports (NCAA, NAIA, and Public Action) – 9/16/24

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Riley Gaines – Approaches to Women’s Sports (NCAA, NAIA, and Public Action)

This autumn marks a new chapter in the debates on transgendered athletes in sports for college students, teens and younger children.

With this new academic year, two major oversight organizations deal with collegiate sports will handle the question differently. The NCAA across all three of its divisions will support student-athletes who were born male to be active with women’s sports, women’s records and women’s scholarships. The NAIA which regulates sports for more than 250 smaller and mid-sized schools is going the other direction, with athletes playing either the male or female sports which matches their genetic makeup.

Riley Gaines, a former championship collegiate swimmer is now an advocate for fairness, privacy and safety surrounding transgender policies. She not only is a commentator for Outkick.com, she is a litigant in Title IX lawsuits against the NCAA. In this special Family Life Interview, she says she one significant change over the past year has been the level of public advocacy for protecting women and girls.

Archives of our Family Life interviews with former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines:

  • The Politics of Protecting Female Athletes (full 10-minute interview):  FLN 5/31/2024
  • Title IX, and a majority opinion on fairness which crosses all political stances:  FLN 5/29/2024
  • How Riley Gaines’ vocational calling began, as an advocate for women and girls:  FLN 10/31/2023

Also on the issue of gender, education and politics, Family Life aired a related interview 9/16/2024 with Shena Rossettie of the Twin Tiers Family Forum.

 

 

Riley Gaines testifying recently about her interactions with the NCAA and with a university president:

https://vimeo.com/1000850865#t=1h20m51s Georgia Senate Special Committee

vimeo.com/1000850865#t=1h20m51s
Capital Connection – 9/13/24 (and an invitation to CC’s pair of live, in-person forums this weekend)

Capital Connection – 9/13/24 (and an invitation to CC’s pair of live, in-person forums this weekend)

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“Capital Connection”

Family Life’s weekly roundtable on social, cultural and political issues in PA & NY

This week, the latest from Harrisburg and Albany …. plus a preview of Shippensburg and Binghamton

  • Pro-life cases go to court
  • Protecting parent’s rights — and students’ privacy rights at school
  • Abortion rhetoric in the 2024 election
  • Is this Governor Cuomo’s comeback?

Jason McGuire and Michael Geer are Christian watchdogs lobbying for the protection and advancement of Christians “and” Christian values in Albany and Harrisburg. Each Friday during the legislative seasons, they join Family Life News for their commentary and analysis — on the air, on our live stream, and with this weekly podcast.

 

Also, today’s Noon Report and this podcast offer a preview of Family Life’s two “Capital Connection  Live” events. Our panel will speak to a pair of public forums we hold so that listeners and website visitors can be part of an extended conversation on the major issues now shaping New York and Pennsylvania, as well as what will make the differences in statewide and national elections this fall.

Between the two events — one in Clarion County, one in Broome County — 275 people have already made reservations. Details and preregistration opportunities are available from the EVENTS page at FamilyLife.org.

Admission is free, and free passes will be available at the door for anyone who still wants to attend (up to the capacity of the host sites). Each night’s program begins at 7:00 p.m.

 

Capital Connection Live:  For locations, schedules, speakers’ biographies and free ticket information, go to FamilyLife.org/Events

 

Michael Geer is president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute   [PAFamily.org]

Jason McGuire is executive director of the New York Family Foundation   [www.NewYorkFamilies.org]

Bob Price is news manager for the Family Life Radio Network and anchors the Family Life Noon Report   [FamilyLife.org/newspodcasts]
A Missionary to Our Politicians – The Word on the Hill – 9/10/24

A Missionary to Our Politicians – The Word on the Hill – 9/10/24

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A Missionary to Our Politicians

A special Family Life Interview

Steve Amerson and his wife traveled to Washington D.C. as weekly worship services returned to the halls of Congress. Since 2014, he has gone to Capitol Hill twice a month to meet with Senators, Representatives and Congressional staffers. Each time, he brings 200 handwritten notes with Scriptural encouragement and words of hope — that adds up to 37,000 handwritten notes across ten years.

His “The Word on the Hill” Ministries offers signs of spiritual renewal among all who work on Capitol Hill. Democrats, Republicans and Independents all get visits, prayers, and caring attention for the realities of their lives — amid the loneliness and stress of their government work, and the everyday crises and problems of their personal lives. While the ministry to elected Members of Congress has great value, this interview also includes the story of a young woman who works in a Capitol Hill

Bob Price asked Amerson to talk about his evangelistic and pastoral work, and the spiritual state of our Seat of Government. Tap the podcast player button to hear our interview.

You can discover more about Steve Amerson and the mission successes of The Word on the Hill Ministries from their website and in this video.

 

 

  “Of all the voices in government, God’s voice should be the loudest”

 

 

 
Capital Connection – the Big Issues in PA, NY, and the USA – 9/06/24

Capital Connection – the Big Issues in PA, NY, and the USA – 9/06/24

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“Capital Connection” on Family Life

It’s the “season premiere”, as our roundtable with resident experts about the happenings in Albany and Harrisburg are back

 

The Capital Connection Crew is back and discussing politics, with just two months to go until the election.

Jason McGuire is the executive director of the New York Families Foundation [NewYorkFamilies.org]

Michael Geer is the founding president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute [PAFamily.org]

Among our topics today, they’re talking about a new initiative to get more people of faith to the polls on November 5.

Now that the summer break is over, Capital Connection resumes our Friday broadcasts during the Family Life Noon Report, on air, on app, and via multiple streaming platforms. We also podcast these conversations at FamilyLife.org/newspodcasts.

Resources, links and info about subjects covered in this podcast:

  • “Capital Connection Live”, two public events in NY and PA, with Michael Geer, Jason McGuire and Bob Price on stage for a full evening of discussion and analysis — FamilyLife.org/events
  • The March for Life in Pennsylvania, Monday, September 23 — MarchForLife.org/Pennsylvania/
  • Take the Pledge to register to vote (Christians at the ballot box, and in early voting) — National Family Policy Alliance and the Christians Engaged organization
  • Voter registration deadlines are October 21 in Pennsylvania, and October 26 in New York State. Registration — and updating your name, address or political party (important, if those apply) — can be done at your local country election office, when you apply for or renew your driver’s license, or online through the state government website. Links from many advocacy groups also connect you with this process. Mailed-in applications in both states must be received on or before the deadline date.

 

 
Vote Your Faith – Chris Leader on an effort to boost Christian turnout at the ballot box – 9/05/24

Vote Your Faith – Chris Leader on an effort to boost Christian turnout at the ballot box – 9/05/24

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:54 — 13.6MB)

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A Christian leader, named Chris Leader, is on a 100-day countdown to encourage evangelical Christians to register to vote this fall.

The “separation of church and state” isn’t in the U.S. Constitution, not in that form anyway.  But Chris Leader says many people of faith separate themselves from political and social involvement. His effort “Vote Your Faith” is trying to change that.

In this conversation with Family Life’s Greg Gillispie, Leader explains how some Christians are being intimidated, so they avoid voting, politicking, or even speaking out on the issues in the nation and in the local community. He points to Biblical motivation to get registered, plus how a better turnout of Christian voters could quickly solve many of the current problems in our culture.

Vote Your Faith offers inspiration, resources and tools to help improve the ratio of faithful Christians who participate in campaigns and elections. (Some surveys show that 25 to 33 percent of evangelicals stay away from the polls on Election Day).

 

 

As of the date of this Family Life Newsmaker Interview (9/05/2024), Chris Leader is about one-third of the way through his 100 Day Countdown to November 5th . He posts a new commentary each day.

Here are links to those (soon to be) 100 commentaries and the Vote Your Faith website.

 

 

 

 
Family Life Noon Report – Zooming out to Bigger Views of Election Issues- 9/02/24

Family Life Noon Report – Zooming out to Bigger Views of Election Issues- 9/02/24

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:49 — 45.1MB)

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Zooming Out to Bigger Views of the Issues surrounding this Election

A Special Edition of the Family Life Noon Report

Labor Day – 9/02/2024

The proverbial “start” of the election season traditionally kicks in Labor Day Weekend. As American culture slides past the holiday and into the school year, voters are within a couple of months of Election Day. While much of the public has been plugged in to this year’s unique campaign, others are just now ready to begin to explore who and what will be on the ballot.

In this half-hour special from Family Life News, we zoom out beyond the daily and weekly twists and turns of the candidates and their campaign. Today, we delve into some of the bigger issues about the election:

  • Pennsylvania’s role as one of this year’s most prominent “swing states” to select the president and majorities in Congress
  • One political scientist’s take on the detriments and benefits of the Electoral College system
  • A call for Christian voters to step up better, to cast early ballots or show up at the polls November 5  (Other interest groups have better turnout percentages)
  • While individuals have full freedom to participate in politics, churches actually do not need to “separate” church and state
  • The history of congregational involvement in politics, and cautions about specific partisanship
  • If election results this fall have an obvious lean, will there be a mandate?
  • If key races are close (or fought in court), will the people trust the results?

Bob Price and Greg Gillispie have extended interviews with these expert guests:

  • Dr. Mark Caleb Smith teaches political science at Cedarville University, and is dean of the college at that Christian school.
  • Jason McGuire is executive director of the New York Families Foundation, heads up New York Family Action, and is a commentator on “Capital Connecton”.
  • Kim Roberts researched IRS regulations on charitable organizations and talked with leaders in how faith groups and politics intertwine. Her articles are posted on MinistryWatch.com.
  • Also, “Breakpoint” commentator John Stonestreet talks about the role of Christ’s followers in shaping elections and public debate. He is president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview.

Click/tap each photograph for additional interviews with these guests, plus their biographies, or scroll through additional podcasts at www.FamilyLife.org/newspodcasts.

All Family Life News podcasts are available for listening, subscribing, downloading and sharing. Go to FamilyLife.org or use the Family Life Now app.

 Smith

 McGuire

  Roberts

  StonestreetNewspodcasts

 

An update:  In the conversation about IRS regulations about churches which receive charitable contribution status, our guest mentioned the Johnson Amendment (starting at :19:37 in this recording). Now, the National Religious Broadcasters organization is leading other plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit against the IRS, contending those 1950’s-era regulations seek to place unconstitutional restrictions on free speech and freedom of religion. This new article from MinistryWatch.com explores the issues surrounding this complaint from the faith-based groups.
Churches and Political Actions – Kim Roberts – 8/29/24

Churches and Political Actions – Kim Roberts – 8/29/24

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:51 — 14.9MB)

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Churches and Political Actions

A Family Life Interview with Kim Roberts

Many churches and denominations can be labeled as supportive of one side of the political spectrum or the other. Others avoid politics at all costs.

Part of the reason congregations avoid actions and speech related to electoral politics is fear of risking their non-profit status. However, federal law and IRS regulations do not silence Christian entities which want to promote voting and motivate their people into political action.

Family Life News asked reporter Kim Roberts to detail her research into what is and isn’t allowed when churches and campaigns overlap. Christian individuals can always be active with promoting or opposing a candidate, but when it comes to 501(c)3 organizations, they have to stay non-partisan about candidates. Yet churches and other religious ministries are free to speak out on public issues that weigh on the ballot box. There are no IRS consequences for churches to hold candidate forums, carry out voter registration or get-out-the-vote efforts, or offer rides to the polls. In fact, as you will hear in this conversation, the Church throughout history has been vibrant and vocal in the political and social issues around them.

Kim Roberts, a reporter for the Christian journalism organization Ministry Watch, also discusses how local, state and national candidates reach out to churches, in order to influence their members to vote a certain way. Also, political and culture-fight organizations are finding ways to motivate people of faith to elect certain candidates or stand for particular political issues.

Kim Roberts, MinistryWatch.com

Kim Robert’s detailed article “Church and Politics: What’s Allowed?” is available from www.MinistryWatch.com.  She also has other reporting on many faith-based events and issues.

Among the resources for congregations and church leaders — and other groups — she mentions in this podcast:

  • An IRS document, detailing the distinctions for 501(c)3 organizations on partisan politicking (not allowed) and lobbying (allowed)
  • Election guides for congregational planning from the NAACP and the Alliance Defending Freedom
  • Turning Point USA’s TPFaith efforts to motivate political and cultural action by conservative and mid-spectrum Christians
  • Black Church PAC’s plans to carry out a massive voter mobilization effort this fall
  • A political science professor’s observation that it is extremely rare that the IRS revokes a church’s charitable status, even if they carry out activities that lean solidly toward one candidate or one political party
Inside Out – Loving the Christian Nationalists – 8/28/24

Inside Out – Loving the Christian Nationalists – 8/28/24

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:39 — 14.6MB)

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“Loving Christian Nationalists”

The “Inside Out” Podcast from Family Life News

What are the best ways to love our Christian nationalist friends? Martha talks with pastor Caleb E. Campbell about the topic Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor

 

Christian nationalism promises both security at a time when many Americans feel insecure and powerless. But Phoenix Pastor Caleb E. Campbell points out that only Jesus Christ holds real power and offers true security. That means that people who follow the crucified and risen Christ have good news to share with their Christian nationalist friends.

“The means of American Christian Nationalism are in direct conflict with the teachings of Scripture which call us to love our neighbor as our self, to take up our cross, not the sword, to practice the fruit of the Spirit and First Corinthians 13 love,” Campbell says. “And the fruit of that is that we bear witness to the Kingdom of God not as culture warriors, but as ambassadors to the Kingdom.”

“What they claim that they want is a righteous country. They want a place where justice rules. Those are good ends. But the means by which they’re arguing we should pursue those ends is not a cross-centered posture, but a sword-centered posture,” he adds.

This doesn’t make Christian nationalists the enemy, Campbell says. This makes Christian nationalists the mission field. “We are to set the table of hospitality, study the culture, and show the inconsistencies of their currently-held convictions.”

But we must go on mission knowing that loving, listening, and talking with Christian nationalist friends may not change their minds and hearts. “We can’t change anybody. Only God can do that. So my job is not to bear the responsibility of changing someone. Rather, my invitation is to be faithful to Jesus in the conversations that I’m invited into, or that I invite others into.”

Campbell reminds us that at the core of the Christian faith is this hope: change is possible.

“I firmly believe that there are people that the Spirit of the living God will use our words, our relationship or our hospitality to bring about the fruit of repentance in their life,” he says. “The frustrating part is, sometimes it’s going to take a long time, and oftentimes I won’t be there to see it,” Campbell says. “And so I’m going to entrust that to God’s hands not mine.”

Caleb E. Campbell is the author of the new book Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor.

 

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