Against Nice Podcast: Recent Episodes
Jim Pfaff
Against Nice is a podcast hosted by Jim Pfaff. Jim is a national political leader with nearly 30 years of experience at every level of political activity. From Colorado to Washington, DC, Jim has played a role in influencing politics and policy.
In this podcast, Jim Pfaff addresses the basic problem DeSantis and Haley supporters have with Donald Trump. They believe he is going to lose bad and that he will be a disaster if he is elected President. I disagree.Some DeSantis supporters claim it will be a disaster if Trump is re-elected. I claim Trump is on his way to re-election if things continue as is and if elected how his foreign policy record is what we need. He was among the best of any President. His feud with Tillerson had as much to do with Tillerson as Trump. No one is without blame just because "well, you know....Trump." But the results were real and (I will repeat) in the top of all Presidencies. That's an objective fact. The result are numerous:1) Peaceful relations started with North Korea2) The Abraham Accords3) No wars4) Russia kept at bay and a move to LNG from Russian Natural Gas in Europe5) China at bay6) NATO countries increased their financial participation.NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised the U.S. president: “Let me thank you for the leadership you show on the issue of defense spending. … It is really having an impact because … allies are now spending more on defense.”7) A Middle East regional alliance against ISIS8) Freedom of Navigation (FONOPS) in the South China Sea pushing back against Chinese attempts to control the most significant area of international trade9) Began moving ASEAN to bring the US into fuller cooperation reducing China's influence in that organizationJust to name a few.Maybe the only foreign policy mistake he made (and it's a big one) is not supporting the Hong Kong freedom movement which allowed China to gain effective control of the city-state in violation of the 1999 treaty between Great Britain and the CCP.Support this effortPlease consider a paid subscription to the Jim Pfaff Substack (jimpfaff.substack.com) to provide the financial backing for this effort. If you want a truly secure VPN service, choose the best. Get ProtonVPN for truly private internet.If you would like private email to get away from Gmail or other services tracking everything you do, get Proton Email.Find out more about Jim Pfaff and see all our offers at www.LocateJim.com.
Get full access to Jim Pfaff at jimpfaff.substack.com/subscribe
World politicians and big corporations are scared of Donald Trump. They don’t claim to be. They’re just concerned, so they say. They are wringing their hands about threats to “democracy” and the the propagation of “misinformation” and “disinformation.” In this podcast, I share a video where I explain how Kevin Roberts President of the Heritage Foundation schooled the people at the WEF. Did they listen to him? Not really. They are arrogant and dismissive of everything he says. But he holds his own.I explain what’s behind the WEF arrogance and why Kevin’s responses to their queries were perfect as a response to their pretentious, smug demeanor.
Get full access to Jim Pfaff at jimpfaff.substack.com/subscribe
A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to my subscribers. I sent this out to my subscribers on X, and I wanted to share it with you as well. Please take a moment to listen to the entire video. It’s not that long, and I would very much like to get your opinion on it. Feel free to comment. And please share with others.I also want to ask you to consider subscribing to this Substack.Poll shows mail ballots are actually misused.Here's a link to the Rasmussen/Heartland poll l I mention in the video. It reveals as much as 21% of mail ballots are filled out by someone other than the voter who received it or was submitted by a voter who knew they didn’t live in the state or district where the vote was to be placed.
Get full access to Jim Pfaff at jimpfaff.substack.com/subscribe
Wow! Thank you new subscribers!This has been an amazing month for this Substack. I am so grateful for the hundreds of new people who are joining this community. I need your help. Would you consider subscribing? It lets us continue this work which helping people navigate what’s happening in American politics. I get hundreds of followers asking me to give my insights. Your support helps us do that every day. Please support this effort with a 40% off offer for a 1-year subscription or 20% off for a monthly subscription. Thank you!Yearly subscription 40% offMonthly Subscription 20% offSteak for Breakfast Podcast appearanceI am announcing my new podcast on Substack by sharing my appearance on the Steak for Breakfast podcast just yesterday. I talked about the Impeachment efforts which will be voted on today in Congress. We touched upon the current status of Ukraine funding as well as other issues in DC. Check it out by listening above.Steak for Breakfast had other guests like Cong. Andy Ogles and Cong. Matt Rosendale. They also talked to Karoline Leavitt, Spokeswoman, Make America Great Again, Inc. And they talked to Ret. U.S. Army Col. Douglas MacGregor. You can find Steak for Breakfast at the links below or wherever you listen to podcasts.Apple PodcastsSpotify
Get full access to Jim Pfaff at jimpfaff.substack.com/subscribe
Today on the Against Nice Podcast, Jim Pfaff gives an analysis of what we know about the Devon Archer testimony in a private conference of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in the US House of Representative Monday. We don't yet have the actualy transcript of the private testimony. That will be coming later. But we do have a thread on the X app (fomerly Twitter) which outlines some key parts of the exchange between the Congressmen on the committee and Hunter Biden's former business partner Devon Archer. Here's a link to the GOP House Oversight committee's X thread. Support the Against Nice Podcast by going to https://glow.fm/againstnice. Follow Against Nice at @AgainstNice. Follow Jim Pfaff at @JimPfaff. And as always, you can go to www.PoliticsIsntNice.com to access any of our podcasts.
Join us for a fascinating discussion with Bruce Gore, a professor and retired Attorney from Spokane, Washington, who has invested years into the exploration of the Bible's connections with history and the implications of this knowledge in our understanding of the Scripture. Listen in as Bruce shares his journey from a newsman to college professor, how his growing concerns with dispensationalism, and his discovery of R.C. Sproul, which led him back to his passion for teaching. We delve into his experience with teaching at the Oaks, Classical Christian school, and how this led him to create his unique course 'Historical Context of the Bible'. We're also unpacking the influence of Christian beliefs and the Church on American culture. Bruce and I discuss the origins and evolution of dispensationalism, its impact on how the Church interprets end time scenarios, and how the various interpretations influence how Christians deal with culture. We explore the current darkness in American culture, the role of the Gospel in the public square, and how Christians have responded to the challenges. The conversation doesn't stop there. We navigate through the concept of unalienable rights, the interpretation of Romans 13, and the role of government in society. We discuss the need for Christians to uphold the laws of the Bible, how law is represented in the Old Testament, and the importance of the Constitution. We examine the influence of Christianity in political opposition, the early Church's response to the perceived threat from Rome, and how Christians can use their gifts to make a difference in the world today. Listen in as we explore the political philosophies of the Old Testament, compare Hammurabi's Code with the 10 Commandments, and reflect on the holiness of God as the common thread throughout history. Connect with Bruce Gore at www.BruceGore.com Sign up for Jim's Daily Bible Reading "Justice and Kindness" wherever your get your podcasts, or: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio App, Google Podcasts, and many more. Check out Jim's Substack too. --------- EPISODE CHAPTERS WITH SHORT KEY POINTS --------- (0:03:59) - Exploring Dispensationalism and Biblical History
Bruce Gore's journey from newsman to teaching, exploring dispensationalism, discovering RC Sproul, and teaching high schoolers about Bible history. (0:14:35) - Christian Beliefs and Dispensationalism Impact
Bruce Gore discusses early 20th century dispensationalism, modified by Charles C. Ryrie, largely defined by end time scenarios. (0:27:50) - Church and American Culture Concerns
Bruce Gore and I discuss Armenianism, eschatology, Alexander Tyler's 200-year cycle, gospel in the public square, and dispensationalism. (0:37:52) - Government and Christians in Society
We discuss unalienable rights, Romans 13, law in the Bible and Constitution, and voting policies. (0:50:11) - Christianity's Role in Political Opposition
Christian allegiance to King Jesus, early Church's understanding, Rome's response, and making a difference in the world today. (0:58:19) - History and Biblical History Connection
Bruce Gore and I discuss Old Testament political philosophies, modern faith application, current events, and scripture study. (1:11:34) - Political Philosophy in Ancient Texts
Old Testament political philosophies, God's ideal government, 1 Samuel 8, Moses' constitutional monarchy, and limited government are discussed. (1:18:23) - Comparing Hammurabi and Moses
Bruce Gore and I compare Hammurabi's Code and the 10 Commandments, examining implications for modern society and 19th century archaeological discoveries. (1:29:36) - The Bible's Impact on Western Civilization
Bruce and I discuss Old Testament's anti-Semitism, monotheism, honesty, and impact on Western civilization. (1:35:22) - Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus the Great
Nebuchadnezzar's annals, accomplishments, Old Testament evidence, transformation, and legal system compared to Old Testament Israel are discussed. (1:48:04) - Cyrus and the Persian Empire
We examine Cyrus the Great's character, engineering feats, relationship with the Jewish people, and implications of his respect for God. (1:53:43) - God's Character Throughout History
God's holiness and character is seen throughout history, discussed by Whitfield, Edwards, Luther, Calvin, Aquinas, Anselm, Nebuchadnezzar, and Cyrus. (2:03:23) - Explore Bruce Gore's YouTube Channel
Bruce and I discuss classical education, school choice, Old Testament political philosophies, Babylonian legal systems, and God's holiness.
Facebook has had a very bad week. The 60 Minutes interview with the Facebook Whistleblower Frances Haugen made a big splash on Sunday. That was magnified on Tuesday when Facebook was inaccessible for a number of hours starting at 11:45 am. And then Haugen testified at a Congressional hearing on Tuesday claiming among other things Facebook knows Instagram is harming the psychology of young girls yet does nothing about it. It didn't look pretty.
Conservatives and Republicans, in particular, want Facebook hung high in the air by their necks. Many have advocated for breaking up Facebook as a company and regulating the industry as a whole. They are tired of the systematic censorship in all of social media. But hold on a moment. Have you considered what it would mean if Congress suddenly did regulate social media? Jim Pfaff says it would be far worse than the current situation. He explains why in this podcast of his time on WYDE radio in Birmingham Tuesday, October 5, 2021.
What in the world do we mean "Against Nice." Jim Pfaff shares his idea behind this concept. Aren't "nice" people who we should aspire to be? Don't nice people have good intentions? What does it mean to be nice?
Jim talks about why he says "nice people are often meanest, most evil people in the world. Sure, motivations may seem good. The goals may sound like something we want. But "nice" people have an idea in their mind they want to impose upon you.
On the other hand, kindness is a much different motivation. Kind people think of others before themselves. There are times kindness has a gentle approach. But kindness must at times correct bad ideas and actions. Parents are kind when they discipline their children. But no child thinks discipline is very nice when it's happening.
Listen to the podcast to learn more. And you can read Jim's ideas about the harm in being "nice" at www.PoliticsIsntNice.com.
Nikki Goeser is on the podcast today. She tells a story of loss more tragic than any person should have to face.
It was more than 10 years ago in a bar in Nashville, Tennessee. Nikki Goeser and her husband Ben were doing their karaoke business on the side one evening. Then they saw him. Nikki had been stalked for some time by a strange man. It had been a concern. But to that point it had been managed. Yet there he was in the bar. And then it happened. Ben was shot multiple times in the chest by this murderer in a bar where guns are not allowed. Nikki had made the fateful decision to follow the law and keep her gun in her car. And now she will never know if she might have been able to stop this tragedy. The murderer broke the law carrying in a gun-free zone. Nikki followed the law. And life hasn't been the same since.
I had the honor of working with Nikki Goeser when I was Chief of Staff for Cong. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. I've always been amazed how strong she is having suffered this horrible tragedy in her life. After Ben was shot, she eventually got involved to help others by giving them the chance she didn't have. She became an activist for Second Amendment rights working to remove restrictions placed upon law-abiding gun owners placing them at risk of harm by law-breakers.
Go to StalkedAndDefenseless.com to learn more about Nikki's story. And buy her book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
Joe Biden in the last Trump/Biden debate said that healthcare is a human right. Is that true? Or is there a better way to get everyone covered without excessive government intervention? Well, I decided to ask my friends Greg Datillo and Dave Racer to come on the podcast to talk about it. For decades, they have been researching healthcare. They're experts on the real situation we are facing in the industry now and how government intervention has created the situation we are in now.
Healthcare may seem scarce and unavailable to some on the Left. But what causes the scarcity? It's because the federal government overregulates the industry. Washington, DC regulations that took full force in the 1965 Great Society programs took us down a dark path. And successive federal efforts to shape the system have caused great harm ever since. Healthcare providers--whether insurance companies or the pharmaceutical industry--keep hidden the real costs. We need to reform the system to those of us who use the system know what we're paying for. Datillo and Racer have developed a plan that can work.
In this podcast, we talk about what brought us to this place where government controls healthcare and some ideas about how we can inject free-market solutions. The problem can be fixed.
The plan that Greg Datillo and Dave Racer have put together can be found at their website, Healthcare 2020: Connecting the Dots.
Since 1975, Greg Dattilo has served as an employee benefits consultant offering health insurance coverage to thousands of Americans. He is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dattilo Consulting, Inc., and ClientServ, LLC, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Greg is a lecturer on insurance and health care issues, Greg is the co-author with Dave Racer of four national books about the U.S. health care system.
Dave Racer, MLitt, received his Master of Letters Degree from Oxford Graduate School in 2009. Dave’s master’s thesis is titled A Comprehensive Approach to Health Care Reform in the United States: 25 Keys to Understanding the Challenges. Dave is a writer, researcher, publisher, speaker, and teacher. He has written and/or edited more than 50 books, 21 of which focus on health care and health finance issues, five, including this publication, co-authored with Greg Dattilo.
Gary Varvel is an award winning editorial cartoonist who helped set the stage for today's online political humor. Gary Varvel is a Christian, conservative national award-winning, syndicated political cartoonist for Creators Syndicate. He's one of the premier cartoonists in an art form that once dominated the editorial pages of local and national newspapers. Gary is also a speaker and filmmaker. Cartoonists like he and Michael Ramirez set the stage for satire websites like The Babylon Bee and The Onion.
Gary has a Midwestern touch in his art and politics as a cartoonist. But his influence on political thought has gained a following nationwide. And his ideas and humor have moved political thought across the country for decades.
Gary is the former editorial cartoonist for The Indianapolis Star. Varvel's work is nationally syndicated in over 125 newspapers through Creators Syndicate. His cartoons have appeared on CNN, Fox News and in Newsweek, Time, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New York Post, Newsday, USA Today, Washington Times, National Review, and Sports Illustrated. Varvel has been married to his wife, Carol since 1980 and they have 3 children and 8 grandchildren.
Varvel is also a Board Member of House of Grace Films and Co-writer, actor, and Producer of the films: The Board (2009) and The War Within (2014) which won 7 film festival awards.
Visit Gary Varvel's website at www.GaryVarvel.com
The radical socialist Democrats may be pulling the levers behind the curtain for Joe Biden's presidential campaign.
The ideals of Liberty are sorely wanting in today's American Republic. Some are willing to fight to reassert constitutional principles even though our two-party system resists any attempt to return power to the people. Austin Petersen represents a new generation of libertarian leaders who remain faithful to the promotion of liberty and constitutional principles in the public square. As a former Libertarian Party presidential candidate and GOP Senate candidate in Missouri, he doesn't just sit on the sidelines wishing things would change.
Libertarians have been suspicious of Donald Trump. Whether it's the continuing growth in federal spending, executive orders, and trade sanctions and tarrifs, they often remain skeptical. But as Trump takes on the "military-industrial complex" returning troops and continues to push back against federal power Donald Trump has also taken actions about which libertarians should be pleased. Austin made waves in the libertarian movement recently because he said he might vote for Donald Trump. We discuss the fallout and why libertarians should think about taking the gains Trump has given them. And we consider the state of the liberty movement today.
Austin Peterson hosts the KWOS Morning Show in Jefferson City, MO. In addition to being a Former Libertarian Party Presidential candidate and former GOP US Senate candidate in Missouri, Austin is a former Associate Producer of Judge Andrew Napolitano's FoxBusiness show FreedomWatch. He is the owner of The Libertarian Republic news magazine. He also is the owner of a French Bulldog and a new website, FrenchieBS.com.
Leland Conway. Host of The Disruption Zone. You're about to listen to a really fun podcast. Leland Conway is one of the most interesting guys in media you never heard of. He comes from a liberty/constitutional perspective in his politics. And he has excellent guests on his podcast The Disruption Zone.
We covered a lot here. How will Republicans connect to voters in a post-Donald Trump world? What will be the long-term effects of the protests and riots, and can we survive the fallout? We discuss border and immigration. You'll be surprised because it's not the normal pablum politicians spew out. And we finally discuss the “Conway is the Right Way” Conway/Sasquatch 2020 platform. It covers everything from building a badass military, agriculture reform and banning dudes from wearing Man Buns.
Leland Conway is the host of his podcast, The Disruption Zone. It's a fascinating look at politics and culture. And he always has awesome guests. You can also follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
As Leland Conway always says, "Watch out for Sasquatch!"
Who's that behind Leland Conway!?
Pastor Steve Holt, The Road at Chapel Hills in Colorado Springs, CO. Pastor Steve Holt has been my Pastor and friend for many years. He has a keen insight into what's going on in the Christian church in America. And he is concerned about how disconnected the Church is in our culture and how we got here.
Steve has been praying for and believes God may be moving us toward a Third Great Awakening. I've been talking about this for some years now. American Christians gave up their ability to stand for and reveal the truth in culture through many years of neglect and misguided theology and "church growth" methods. I believe it has a lot to do with the Church abdicating its responsibility. Steve has been working in his community to encourage a "Kingdom Revolution" where Christians revisit Christ's command to influence society.
Steve is the Pastor of The Road in Chapel Hills in Colorado Springs, CO. He is a writer of two books. Worshipper Warrior: A 21 Day Journey into the Dangerous Life of David, and God Wild Marriage.
You can follow Steve on his website or on Facebook and Instagram. You can also listen to his online sermons here.
Pastor Steve Holt, The Road at Chapel Hills in Colorado Springs, CO. Pastor Steve Holt has been my Pastor and friend for many years. He has a keen insight into what's going on in the Christian church in America. And he is concerned about how disconnected the Church is in our culture and how we got here.
Steve has been praying for and believes God may be moving us toward a Third Great Awakening. I've been talking about this for some years now. American Christians gave up their ability to stand up for and reveal the truth in culture. I believe it has a lot to do with the Church abdicating its responsibility. Steve has been working in his community to encourage a "Kingdom Revolution" where Christians revisit Christ's command to influence society.
Steve is the Pastor of The Road in Chapel Hills in Colorado Springs, CO. He is a writer of two books. Worshipper Warrior: A 21 Day Journey into the Dangerous Life of David, and God Wild Marriage.
You can follow Steve on his website or on Facebook and Instagram. You can also listen to his online sermons here.
Bazzel Baz has one of the most interesting personal stories you'll come across. He is a former CIA agent who has seen much when it comes to international intrigue. And he an expert on terrorism and international political movements and how they undermine countries. He is passionate about the Constitution and American liberty. And he is concerned for our country right now. We discuss this on the podcast, and he has some concerning insights about where the violence on American streets could progress to further civil unrest.
Also talk about the COVID-19 response and how it has been affecting our freedoms. As a Christian, he is concerned about how people of faith are responding to all of this. And he has suggestions about what people can do to respond. He says that the Democratic Party needs to be aware that "the Dragon they intend to release is going to come back and eat them." The American people aren't going to put up with the defunding of police and the wanton destruction of property. He sees a strong political revolt coming.
Baz is well-known globally for his expertise in counter-terrorism and international intelligence. He's an ex-Marine Special Ops and CIA agent. He’s the author of "Terrorism Survival Handbook". He's a former CNN and MSNBC spokesperson on the war on Terrorism and Homeland Security. He is also a film and television writer, producer, and actor. He heads up the organization Recovery of Children which uses the expertise of former special ops agents to save children around the world from slavery and sex trafficking. Baz travels nationally and internationally speaking to corporate leaders, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, and other venues. And he is a former actor on television shows especially The Blacklist.
Books:
- "Terrorism Survival Handbook."
- “Something Bigger than Overthrowing Small Governments” Autobiography
- Children’s’ books: “And so he did” and “The Narrow View”
Conservative political comedian Evan Sayet. Cancel Culture is having a big impact on society. It's just another form of fascism. Evan Sayet has been documenting this radical most often Marxist inspired movement for some time. And he wrote the book "The Woke Supremacy: An Anti-Socialist Manifesto" to explain the problem and talk about what to do about it. It's a perfect discussion for the Against Nice podcast.
We've been telling people for some time why it's time to stop being so nice. It's time to push back against the mob. The intimidation and fear the Woke Supremacists are pushing takes courage away from many. Americans have historically opposed these affronts to our freedom. Evan and I talk about why we need to change course quickly before our freedoms are gone forever at the hands of leftist Marxists.
Evan Sayet is the country's leading conservative, political comedian. And he's a close friend. He grew up in New York and ended up in Hollywood to pursue his stand-up career and he was also a writer for comedians like Arsenio Hall and Bill Maher. Evan was a lifelong East Coast liberal. He says on his website he recognized after 9/11 "that he had been acting as a knee-jerk Liberal, but was, in reality, a conservative at heart. From that moment, he has dedicated himself to conserving and promoting the values of America that has given him the freedom and allowed him to pursue his life of liberty and happiness."
Evan is also the author of KinderGarden Of Eden: How the Modern Liberal Thinks.
Matt Kibbe, Chief Community Organizer at Free the People. America is trying to find itself again. You can see it in our politics, in our system of justice, in our institutions, and on the streets. Matt Kibbe has a way of telling the stories behind the turmoil and providing practical answers to our country's challenges. In this interview, we discuss how the COVID-19 response has threatened our liberties and why we must be concerned and take action. We also take a look at an amazing restorative justice effort in Longmont, CO which is transforming lives and restoring a community that has dealt with new challenges in a new era.
As the "Chief Community Organizer" at Free the People, Matt Kibbe is leading a team that tells the stories of American liberty. They are helping inform us how we can preserve liberty and justice for all. Free the People isn't bound by political parties. They promote freedom and a sharing economy which respects the reality that no one knows better how to determine your life than you do. By exposing and breaking down unnecessary government control in education and the cronyism so prevalent in our institutions, we can build a better life. Free the People is inspiring a new generation with this message and how to make liberty a reality.
Matt Kibbe is the President and Chief Community Organizer at Free the People, an educational organization turning the next generation on to the values of liberty. They're reaching the “liberty curious” through social media, video, and storytelling. He is also an Executive Producer at BlazeTV, where he produces the Kibbe on Liberty podcast as well as The Deadly Isms, a documentary series about the dangers of all flavors of authoritarianism.
Lawrence W. Reed. President Emeritus of the Foundation for Economic Education. FEE.org Was Jesus a Socialist? Lots of people in the evangelical community are asking this. But Lawrence W. Reed says they are flat out wrong. If anything, Jesus endorsed of free-market capitalism. Larry Reed explains why in this version of the Against Nice podcast.
Larry Reed believes in free markets and individual liberty. These are fundamental principles in our American republic. Economic freedom leads to overall good outcomes for citizens and an overall benefit to the entire society.
Lawrence W. Reed is President Emeritus of the Foundation for Economic Education where he served as President for 20 years. His book Was Jesus a Socialist? has made waves by turning the discussion back to scripture and away from mere personal opinion and political farce. You can follow him at www.LawrenceWReed.com.
I had a chance to talk with Professor Robert P. George of Princeton University. Professor George is a highly respected and sought after expert on legal and cultural issues. In a recent Twitter thread, he described conversations he had with a number of academics who are concerned about their careers if the Woke crowd picks up on any public comments they make. Professor George and I discuss this problem and why people of goodwill need to stand together against progressive censorship.
Academic institutions have been under attack for decades. As far back as the early 20th Century, progressive and Marxist efforts to control the Academy have been underway. But, in recent decades, academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas have been nearly shut down. Why is this happening? What is the effect upon our present public debate? Can we successfully oppose this assault on the First Amendment and our basic freedoms? Professor George answers these questions.
Robert P. George is McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. He is the co-author of the Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience. He and his friend Harvard Professor Cornell West have been promoting a statement on "Truth Seeking, Democracy, and Freedom of Thought and Expression" to shed light on the attacks against the pursuit of knowledge and free expression.
I had a chance to talk with Professor Robert P. George of Princeton University. Professor George is a highly respected and sought after expert on legal and cultural issues. In a recent Twitter thread, he described conversations he had with a number of academics who are concerned about their careers if the Woke crowd picks up on any public comments they make. Professor George and I discuss this problem and why people of goodwill need to stand together against progressive censorship.
Academic institutions have been under attack for decades. As far back as the early 20th Century, progressive and Marxist efforts to control the Academy have been underway. But, in recent decades, academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas have been nearly shut down. Why is this happening? What is the effect upon our present public debate? Can we successfully oppose this assault on the First Amendment and our basic freedoms? Professor George answers these questions.
Robert P. George is McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. He is the co-author of the Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience. He and his friend Harvard Professor Cornell West have been promoting a statement on “Truth Seeking, Democracy, and Freedom of Thought and Expression” to shed light on the attacks against the pursuit of knowledge and free expression.
Governors are closing down churches all over the country. California has made it illegal to sing worship songs. And the Supreme Court recently ruled in the Calvary Chapel Dyson Valley v. Sisolak that the state of Nevada can restrict church attendance to a maximum of 50 people, but casinos and other businesses can operate a 50% capacity. This is not law. And it's a clear violation of the First Amendment.
I brought my friend Troy Newman of Operation Rescue on the Saturday show I am doing on WYDE in Birmingham, Alabama. We talked about how the COVID scare has put religious liberty at risk. And we also talked about some absurd statements that an abortionist in Tuscaloosa, Alabama has been saying about God endorsing abortion.
This is the pro-life, pro-religious-liberty version of the Against Nice podcast.
Are you concerned about how social media giants like Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon and others are dominating our political and cultural debate? You should be. Rachel Bovard joins the Against Nice podcast to talk about why this is a huge problem and what's at stake for our future.
This interview happened just last week as the House Judiciary Committee was debating the issue in Washington. Conservatives are being targeted on social media. And companies are shutting out competition. Should these companies be broken up through Anti-Trust laws? Should they be required to give conservative voices free rein on their platforms? This is a critical issue for our Republic.
Rachel Bovard has over a decade of experience fighting for conservative policies in Washington. Beginning in 2006, she served in both the House and Senate in various roles including as legislative director for Senator Rand Paul. She works for the Conservative Partnership Institute, an organization founded by former South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint which serves and connects conservative causes in Washington, DC.
Government spending is out of control! And it seems it will never stop. As Ronald Reagan once said, "[A] government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!" We couldn't agree more, but it's much worse now than he could have imagined. And we talk about it on this podcast.
Adam Andrzejewski (ANGIE-EFF-SKI) is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of OpenTheBooks.com, the world's largest private database of government spending. Adam is an entrepreneur. Before founding OpenTheBooks, he co-founded HomePages Directories, a $20-million publishing company.
Government debt is out of control. Did you know that the United States was on track to pay off the national debt back in 2000-2001? You'll be surprised to find out from Adam just how bad it is. The federal debt alone is about $27 trillion. Congressional spending on Coronavirus relief is huge. But it's much worse than that. The effects of massive spending at the federal, state, and local levels is astounding. We talk about the overwhelming effect of government spending on all of us and ask if there is any way out of it.
What can we say about Pastor Ken Johnson? So much! He spent more than 25 years as the Chaplain for the Indianapolis Colts. He has had a public ministry speaking just about everywhere for years. He hosted a Christian matchmaking show for a while. But most of all, Ken is a husband, a father, and a man who impacts culture and helps change people's lives.
Ken and Jim have been friends for nearly three decades. They talk about the Black Lives Matter movement and the cultural upheaval taking place right now. What does it mean? What's the problem with the debate we're having? We're not communicating on a human level making the problem worse. Are we getting social justice or justice? And can we have hope for the future?
Ken Johnson is now pastor of New Heights Church in Indianapolis, IN. And he can be found at his website, www.KenJohnson.org. Check out his ministry. You'll be blessed.
We're celebrating Independence Day on the Against Nice Podcast. For most of us, this is the most challenging Independence Day ever. With the COVID-19 crisis and government shutting down the country, many are avoiding public celebrations. And with demonstrations where some are pulling down statues and questioning who we are as a people, this could be a sad day for many.
But this is a great country. And we have much to celebrate. Mark Twain said this:
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it.
Mark Twain
We discuss what we need to do to get things back to normal. We must assert our liberties again. We shouldn't be nice about the assault on our liberties. We must be patriots and stand up for the Constitution and the principles of the declaration.
This podcast was also broadcast on WYDE-AM and FM in Birmingham, Alabama.
Jim Banks is a Republican Congressman from Indiana. He has also just put his hat into the race for Republican Study Committee Chairman. Jim serves on the Armed Services and Education committees in Congress. Jim and Jim Pfaff have been friends for many years which makes this a fun and interesting discussion.
We discuss the problems which we are having with China. China is a long-term opponent of the US. And the COVID-19 crisis and recent events in Hong Kong have made things even worse. What should we do about this? Will China prevail? Can we provide a rational response?
We also discuss where Banks comes from and the road he took to Congress. It's a free-wheeling talk about early days where and how Jim and Jim met and how that relationship came together.
As a resource on China, Cong. Banks recommends the book The Hundred Year Marathon by Michael Pillsbury.
Victor Davis Hanson is one of the great American thinkers and educators. He is known in academic circles as one of the great classicists and military historians. He is a columnist and a regular guest on national media. Among the many things we discuss on this podcast, he answers the question, "Is there an historical example of a time when a country regained its liberties once lost?"
We discuss his perspective on on how we got to our current political climate. How did we get to the Trump phenomenon? What what effect has Trump had on the GOP? Will those changes be permanent in the future? Hanson gives a short primer on the recent history of Republican presidential politics and how that contributed to the rise of Trump.
Professor Hanson also shares some insights on how the COVID-19 response will affect the country in the future. How have American politicians taken advantage of this crisis? Have our rights been degraded beyond repair?
Victor Davis Hansen can be found at his blog at PJ Media, his personal website and on Twitter @VDHanson.
You all know Charlie Gasparino as a reporter and commentator on FoxBusiness. He's one of premiere reporters in New York with an extensive reach into Wall Street and the political community. His list of sources allows him to break stories leaving other reporters in the dust. Charlie joins Jim Pfaff on the Against Nice podcast today.
We spend some time talking about how COVID-19 has affected the economy. Charlie has insights into what will happen moving forward. Will we recover well? Has the Federal Reserve acted appropriately?
Charlie handicaps the 2020 elections. Has Trump lost ground? Will Biden find advantages after the economic downturn he wouldn't have had otherwise? Will Trump get a break moving into November? Is Biden too weak to mount a strong effort to take the White House.
You can join Charlie on FoxBusiness every day particularly with Neil Cavuto on Cavuto: Coast to Coast and Liz Claman's program The Claman Countdown.
David Brody has been a long-time Washington, DC and national reporter. He one of the top national experts on the effect of churches in culture and politics. He has reported for decades on key political trends among evangelicals and how those trends have affected public policy and national voting patterns.
The COVID-19 crisis has affected Christians in a serious way. We discussed the reaction of churches to forced closures during the shutdowns across the country. How will Christians react to all this moving forward?
We also discussed what evangelical turnout may be in the 2020 elections and what effect that will have for congressional races in November. Key leaders around the country are telling him this will be a "major threat" to those looking for help from the evangelical base. Will it cause trouble for Donald Trump or not? Can Republicans take back Congress?
David Brody is a long-time reporter with the Christian Broadcast Network (CBN) and he is also a Sr. Reporter with John Solomon's website Just the News. He also has a popular podcast called The Pod's Honest Truth.
Jason Jones is a movie producer, pro-life activist, a podcaster and an advocate for those less fortunate or in harms way around the world. He's based in his home state of Hawaii where he has been advocating for opening up the economy. He was recently arrested with others for merely expressing their First Amendment freedom.
We have an interesting discussion on Ayn Rand and Malcom X and how people like them grow up in hurtful situations and end up bringing great ideas and positive movements to society.
We talk about individualism v. the rights of the individual and the ultimate value of man.
And as a little teaser, he shares for the first time something the public doesn't yet know about Andrew Breitbart.
Jason can be found at www.movietomovement.com and at his podcast https://thejasonjonesshow.simplecast.com.
Join our email list Contribute to Against Nice
Col. Allen West once roamed the halls of Congress. He knew it was a mess. He's seen how the political system can go wrong. And during the COVID-19 crisis, he's asking some serious questions. What's really essential? Why do politicians get to say what's essential?
We discuss how politicians and bureaucrats can be held responsible for the decisions they have made which have harmed so many.
What about China? How can they be held responsible for their actions? Is China a friend or an enemy?
Allen West can be found at www.theoldschoolpatriot.com.
Troy Newman was prosecuted under the RICO racketeering law for exposing how Planned Parenthood takes aborted babies and sells their body parts. In the lawsuit, Planned Parenthood admitted they do this right on the stand. Troy shares this story with us.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Troy has been calling upon Christian churches to stand by their First Amendment religious rights. He's taking alot of heat for that. And he discusses this.
He is passionate about American liberty and the overreach of political leaders to shut down the country. Do our constitutional rights come from man or from God? Troy ponders this with Jim Pfaff.
Visit www.operationrescue.org to learn more about Troy and the work of Operation Rescue.
Join our email list Contribute to Against Nice
David Harsanyi in our view is the most insightful and skilled columnist in the country. He writes for National Review.
Are you disgusted with how our constitutional liberties have been dealt with during the COVID-19 crisis? Have the politicians acted appropriately? Are we supposed to listen to the scientists? If so, to what extent? Did the massive, $2.3 trillion have a positive effect? Was it necessary?
David and Jim then have a broader discussion about the philosophy of freedom. Where do freedoms come from? How does the Judeo-Christian ethic inform freedom? Keep in mind, David is an atheist from a Jewish family who embraces this ethic of freedom with all the questions that brings up.
David's articles can be found at https://www.nationalreview.com/author/david-harsanyi/. His love to interact on Twitter at @davidharsanyi.
Cliff Maloney. Young Americans for Liberty Cliff Maloney is President of Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) www.yaliberty.org. YAL leads a growing liberty movement on college campuses. They are also involved in a major effort to elect liberty-minded candidates at the state and local level around the country.
We discuss what's happening on college campuses and the challenges students face dealing with speech codes and opposition to the principles of freedom on campuses.
YAL is also in the midst of a major effort to recruit candidates who will stand for liberty in state legislatures. It's the Mobilize America 2020 effort.
I've had the privilege of serving on the National Advisory Committee of YAL. Cliff Maloney is one of the great liberty leaders in the country. His organization (which grew out of the original Ron Paul youth movement) is making a big difference for freedom and constitutional liberty in our country.
Cliff has an announcement on 2nd Amendment problems they are targeting in Florida.
Subscribe to our email list DONATE
Peter Schweizer is President of the Government Accountability Instititue (GAI) www.g-a-i.org. He is also a New York Times bestselling author who has exposed the worst of corruption and ethical problems in Washington and around the country. His most recent book Secret Empires exposed how Joe Biden used his influence as Vice President to help his son Hunter gain lucrative deals with the Chinese government.
We discuss the problems with many of the excessive measures which have shut down the economy over the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Have these measures been successful? Are people's civil rights being honored?
We also discuss the nature of the political reaction in Washington. Who's been acting naughty and why? What does it mean that they are spending trillions of dollars in response to this.
There are also new reports coming out of GAI. www.cronyism.com.
Subscribe to our email list DONATE
What in the world do we mean "Against Nice." Jim Pfaff shares his idea behind this concept. Aren't "nice" people who we should aspire to be? Don't nice people have good intentions? What does it mean to be nice?
Jim talks about why he says "nice people are often meanest, most evil people in the world. Sure, motivations may seem good. The goals may sound like something we want. But "nice" people have an idea in their mind they want to impose upon you.
On the other hand, kindness is a much different motivation. Kind people think of others before themselves. There are times kindness has a gentle approach. But kindness must at times correct bad ideas and actions. Parents are kind when they discipline their children. But no child thinks discipline is very nice when it's happening.
Listen to the podcast to learn more. And you can read Jim's ideas about the harm in being "nice" at www.PoliticsIsntNice.com.