Transcript [00:09] happy Monday everybody Welcome to [00:10] Furthermore with Amanda head I hope you [00:12] all had a great long weekend I know [00:14] plenty of you uh that I heard from on [00:17] social media took off obviously Thursday [00:19] for the 4th of July and then Friday and [00:21] then sailed on through the weekend so I [00:23] hope you all have rest it up it is time [00:25] for another heavy news week and we're [00:27] going to start off with Troy Miller he [00:29] is the president of National Religious [00:31] broadcasters you may not necessarily [00:33] know specifically what National [00:35] Religious broadcasters is but you have [00:37] definitely seen their work and you have [00:40] seen it manifested in a number of [00:42] different ways on radio on television uh [00:45] just in media in general so I'm [00:47] delighted to have this guest on because [00:48] I have had the pleasure of meeting him [00:50] in person and having some of these [00:52] important conversations about the [00:54] relationship between American Media and [00:56] religion and faith and so I am delighted [00:58] to bring in Troy Miller is the president [01:01] of National Religious broadcasters Troy [01:03] it's great to see you thank you for [01:04] being here well Amanda it's great to be [01:06] with you thank you for having me you [01:08] know I have followed your your work and [01:10] your career for a long time and knew [01:12] obviously prior to meeting you last year [01:15] at nrb in [01:16] Orlando um so I I knew of you but then [01:19] meeting you in person was just an extra [01:21] special treat and I guess that was when [01:23] me and John had you on the TV show but [01:26] for for our audience you know I think [01:28] probably they even even if they don't [01:30] know nrb even if they don't know [01:32] National Religious broadcasters they've [01:34] probably seen the logo and they probably [01:35] have some idea about the organization [01:38] but just give everybody a little bit of [01:40] background on nrb and yourself as well [01:42] and how you came to work uh as the [01:44] president there yeah sure nrb is the [01:47] largest Association of Christian [01:50] communicators so Christian broadcasters [01:52] radio television broadcasters radio [01:54] television program producers podcasters [01:58] bloggers video bloggers YouTube you name [02:01] it if you're in Christian Communications [02:03] you're a part of nrb uh because we work [02:05] hard on on their behalf to keep them in [02:08] the public sector and to keep their [02:10] voice uh out there and active so that's [02:12] it RV we've been around 80 years so been [02:16] around a long time as an organization [02:18] doing this and uh and as you know today [02:21] there's a lot of fights going on uh in [02:23] this community in this area a lot of [02:26] people would love to silence the [02:28] Christian voice and the religious voice [02:30] out in the public sector today so I've [02:32] been around uh nrb and Christian [02:34] broadcasting for about 24 years now uh [02:38] before that I was in the tech industry [02:40] in Silicon Valley I ran Global it for a [02:42] large tech company uh and since we're [02:45] coming up on the uh uh the holiday [02:48] Fourth of July here I'm also a Navy [02:50] veteran so so this is uh near and dear [02:53] to my heart because Christian television [02:55] was instrumental in bringing me to [02:57] Christ when I was in the Navy so uh very [03:00] important I think uh uh to what we do as [03:03] a country and who we are as a country uh [03:05] to have this kind of communication going [03:07] on yeah absolutely and H happy forth to [03:10] you and to all of our audience um I want [03:12] to ask you because you you said [03:14] something at the top that I think is [03:16] unavoidable in this conversation which [03:18] is some of the turmoil that we are [03:20] seeing on the church side of things and [03:23] how first of all how much involvement [03:25] does nrb have with the the Eco system of [03:30] churches in America or is it really just [03:32] primarily dealing dealing with the [03:34] communication side the the the radio the [03:37] television the film that type thing well [03:39] look there's a lot of pastors across [03:41] this country who produce media for radio [03:44] television and most all of them today [03:46] are producing media for the internet so [03:48] we're very involved with churches uh [03:51] across the country from a communication [03:53] standpoint and from just a standpoint of [03:56] where churches are today in relation to [03:59] the culture in relation to issues that [04:01] are going on in the culture we we're a [04:03] non- denominational organization so [04:05] we're not affiliated with any one [04:07] denomination we work with churches in in [04:10] all different sectors of the Christian [04:12] Community yeah and I think that's [04:14] important because you know I the the one [04:18] Stark example I can think of right now [04:20] is uh pertaining to the United Methodist [04:22] Church but you're seeing so many and [04:23] this is something that we were warned [04:24] about with the Philistines uh we are [04:26] seeing this this further separation [04:29] between the denominations how do you as [04:31] an organization deal with that because [04:34] it almost feels like like a parent [04:36] dealing with problematic [04:38] siblings it is a little bit like that [04:41] but we we do see so many organizations [04:44] do that look we have a statement of [04:45] faith a doctrinal statement that all of [04:47] our members signed to and we also had a [04:49] code of ethics that they sign up to a [04:51] well to hold to that biblical Orthodoxy [04:54] because we we do see so many churches [04:56] today and look the the problem with [04:58] what's going on with church today is too [05:01] many churches have become I don't know [05:03] if you heard this phrase your listeners [05:05] heard this phrase Seeker friendly and [05:07] the idea is is that they that that it's [05:10] the Seeker that is the most important [05:12] person in the church yet yet Christ told [05:14] us yeah to go to All Nations to preach [05:16] the gospel and to disciple those to [05:20] teach those all that I have taught you [05:22] and so we've kind of given up that [05:23] discipleship for the Seeker friendly [05:25] which really has moved over to this idea [05:27] that we need to be culturally friendly [05:29] uh as a church and we don't we need to [05:31] speak truth in the culture we need to do [05:33] it in a loving manner but truth is the [05:36] most important thing yeah it is and you [05:38] know I I fear that we have maybe we we [05:43] are on the tail end of it but I I kind [05:45] of get the sense that we are still in [05:47] this cycle where Christians have kind of [05:50] fallen asleep at the wheel and we have [05:51] seen instances like this over history um [05:54] you know the lutherans in Germany [05:56] surrounding World War II the Russian or [05:59] in Russia the the Greek Orthodox with [06:00] the Iron Curtain and we we have seen [06:02] these historical instances where [06:06] Christians fall asleep at the wheel they [06:08] grow silent they don't feel bold in [06:10] speaking their faith and having these [06:11] conversations with their Community with [06:13] their with their national leaders their [06:15] Community leaders whatever the case may [06:17] be and the sad reality is is that that [06:20] is Upstream from everything that happens [06:23] in its wake and you see you know World [06:25] War II and the Cold War and and [06:27] literally War ensues when Christian stay [06:30] silent yeah I I would completely agree [06:33] with that when Christian stay silent on [06:35] the issues and and and their biblical [06:38] worldview in the culture too often today [06:41] Pastors in particular and Christians uh [06:45] it then listen to them in church they [06:47] they have been um pressured or lied to [06:52] that it's politics and Christianity [06:54] don't mix but you know what governance [06:57] if you if you take that word politics [06:59] that think is is is a bad word but [07:02] governance in Christianity has existed [07:04] for well over 3,000 years and if you [07:07] look at at Christianity Christianity has [07:09] constantly gone into countries and into [07:11] governments and changed the way that [07:15] that societies have worked for the [07:16] better they brought in education they [07:18] brought in hospitals they brought in [07:21] community service they brought in Social [07:23] programs and they stopped some of the [07:25] worst kinds of activities that were [07:28] happening in different cultures you know [07:31] uh back in India when Christianity went [07:33] in there if you died you had multiple [07:34] wives they would chain those wives to [07:37] your coffin uh put you in a river bed [07:40] and then release the river so that your [07:42] wives would be with you in the afterlife [07:44] Christianity ended those kinds of pro [07:47] those kinds of uh activities uh rituals [07:50] across India and across Africa and so we [07:54] today have to step up and realize that [07:56] our job as Christians is to live live [07:59] like Christ but it is to influence the [08:02] culture for the better not to allow the [08:05] the culture to be governed by uh pagans [08:08] who will bring those kinds of policies [08:11] those kinds of things into culture and [08:13] look what we're dealing with today who [08:14] would have thought that we be dealing [08:16] with the the the mutilation of children [08:19] today yeah yeah it's disgusting and I [08:22] mean you bring up that example but it [08:24] really it really bleeds into every [08:26] sector of human society and as far as [08:29] the boldness goes you we had you on the [08:31] TV show a few weeks ago and this was one [08:33] of the things we spoke about 2 [08:35] Corinthians 4:13 I believe therefore I [08:37] spoke I think that's the the new King [08:38] James translation but um the every day [08:42] we as Believers have opportunities to [08:46] and and it may not even be on an issue [08:49] that we see as pivotal but every day as [08:52] Believers we are being looked at and we [08:54] are examples and and you know just as a [08:58] part of the Great Commission it is our [08:59] job as Believers to spread that word it [09:03] is our job as Believers to spread that [09:05] word and it it's also you know James [09:08] calls us in and says look if you really [09:10] believe if you really have faith then [09:13] live it out and not only in our lives [09:16] but if we really believe these things [09:18] then we should speak about them as well [09:20] we should be we shouldn't be afraid to [09:22] talk about the key issues today and like [09:24] you said not all of them are are are [09:26] these pivotal issues that are going on [09:28] in in the culture and politics but just [09:30] to be able to talk about what it means [09:31] to to really truly love your neighbor [09:34] what it means to to have influence and [09:36] to be a social influencer that that word [09:39] today is so big influencer but what does [09:41] it mean to be an influencer for the [09:44] glory of God yeah yeah that's so [09:47] important to think about and to just [09:49] kind of marinate in because for [09:51] everybody you know it looks different if [09:53] you if you work in Corporate America [09:54] then the way that you influence and [09:56] speak about your faith might look very [09:58] different from from me know fortunately [10:00] for me I have a platform um to to speak [10:03] out about these things and not be [10:04] silenced at least at this point um but I [10:06] want to ask you about Christians in the [10:09] media uh I've been having conversations [10:11] with people about faith in science in [10:14] the Science World and there have been a [10:16] number of studies uh dating back four [10:18] years ago and this number continues to [10:20] increase but people in particularly uh [10:23] the physics community and cosmology [10:25] community that the number of physicists [10:28] uh who who believe in a in a an [10:31] intelligent being who believe in a God [10:34] believe in God that number is increasing [10:37] but honestly Troy it feels like in media [10:39] especially in political media that [10:41] number is going the other [10:43] direction yeah you're you're right the [10:46] mainstream media doesn't like to get [10:48] these messages out you know they they [10:50] want to hold on to their ideologies and [10:53] keep that Pro propaganda flowing but [10:55] you're correct uh we work with a number [10:57] of organizations that are in [10:59] area in science and as technology and [11:03] and this is sort of my background as [11:04] technology has increased as we've been [11:07] able to see more uh and to do more and [11:10] to understand more about the world that [11:12] God has created we're starting to see [11:16] without a doubt that this is not a [11:18] random world this is not a a a um a [11:22] product of just chance of random chance [11:25] we're seeing that there's design in this [11:27] world if you remember a while back the [11:30] the CERN project that's over in Europe [11:32] uh discovered what they called the the [11:34] higs bosen which is the nicknamed the [11:37] God particle and when that particle was [11:40] discovered the leading physicist on that [11:42] project got up and he said look what [11:45] what that what that really helped us [11:47] understand was we don't understand yeah [11:50] yeah we we don't understand now we know [11:52] that we don't know yeah now we know that [11:54] we don't know and there are there are [11:56] things out there and and he also said we [11:59] also understand this is not an accident [12:02] that to have these particles around [12:04] shows that there's there's a design [12:07] behind our creation um but you're right [12:09] and it's up to Christian Media and look [12:11] Christian Media has programming all [12:13] across this country you know the members [12:15] of NB reach about 190 million households [12:18] a month um and it's important for us to [12:21] get these messages out because the the [12:24] the left in the secular world is shoving [12:26] all of this misinformation and we talk [12:29] so much about misinformation today but [12:31] pushing this misinformation on these [12:33] issues out to the public and too many [12:36] people take it for granted absolutely [12:38] and you know and I know your background [12:40] is Tech so I want to ask you about you [12:43] know nrb for a long time seem to kind of [12:47] be in the background not necessarily [12:50] active uh to to a great degree in the [12:53] media space but you and I think that [12:56] this this speaks to your Tech background [12:58] you you have really taken nrb into into [13:02] the 21st century talk to us about some [13:05] of the things that you've done to bring [13:06] nrb up toate technologically well yeah [13:09] we've worked hard about that look we're [13:11] in a changing world and a changing [13:13] culture today you know for a long time [13:15] nrb's you know main fight was against [13:18] government regulation and and that was [13:20] the main issue that was going on and and [13:23] we lived in an environment different [13:24] environment when the environment was a [13:26] little more friendly to Christianity but [13:28] now today Today We Live in an [13:29] environment where we have so many [13:31] technological innovations going on um [13:34] it's even hard to keep keep up today [13:36] Tech is everywhere in our life you [13:38] couldn't take that out if you took [13:40] technology out of our Lives most of our [13:42] lives would fall apart and so we worked [13:44] really hard to educate our members on [13:47] all these changes that are going on in [13:49] technology where the communication [13:51] patterns are going today how these [13:53] patterns affect you as a Ministry how [13:55] they affect your message and why we [13:57] should be involved in these different [13:59] uh platforms and we encourage Christians [14:01] today to get involved in all of the [14:03] platforms and it's such a great time to [14:05] do that because look today you can start [14:07] your own podcast just with your [14:09] smartphone uh you know grab your Apple [14:11] phone grab your Android phone start your [14:13] own podcast today and so that's [14:15] important but also Amanda one of the [14:17] other key issues is as I said that fight [14:20] used to be mainly against government [14:22] regulations and government laws but now [14:24] that fight today is really on three [14:27] fronts so we we continue to fight [14:29] against government mandates and [14:30] regulations but now we have a hostile [14:33] mainstream media uh that's hostile to [14:35] Christianity and the Christian message [14:37] and the conservative message and we have [14:40] fights going on in the boardrooms across [14:42] these countries so I came from Corporate [14:44] America from a Fortune 500 company and [14:47] if there's only one voice in those [14:49] boardrooms then we have to wonder why [14:51] those different corporations are [14:53] supporting these W policies and we're [14:55] working hard to get our voice and [14:57] Christian voice into into those [14:59] boardrooms as well so they realize [15:01] there's 80 million Americans that [15:03] identify as Christians as Evangelical [15:06] Christians in this country and look [15:08] Corporate America is not hearing that [15:10] enough yeah and you know I mean you we [15:13] all know how the story ends we all know [15:15] that the King has not moved 1 millimeter [15:17] off the throne and he's not going to we [15:19] know how all of this ultimately uh comes [15:22] to a close at the same time I mean you [15:24] look at the work of the Enemy versus the [15:27] the work of God and look no further than [15:30] boardrooms where boardrooms fall prey to [15:33] things like Dei that really only seeks [15:35] to divide uh the woke LGBT garbage being [15:39] pushed uh through companies and you look [15:42] at that versus the influence that faith [15:44] and religion has in boardrooms and and [15:47] it's incomparable because faith has [15:49] almost no presence in so many boardrooms [15:52] Across America and it it's obviously [15:55] detrimental to society but it also shows [15:58] the power of the enemy what we're up [15:59] against it it you you said it very well [16:02] there it really does show the power of [16:04] the enemy and what we're up against and [16:06] we're really up against a spiritual [16:08] battle right now for the hearts and the [16:10] minds and The Souls of this this country [16:13] and and again that's why Christians [16:15] today I think are speaking up more than [16:18] they they really have in the last [16:19] several decades I think we're seeing [16:21] more Christians get involved we're [16:23] seeing that Christians are started you [16:25] you know the left and the the Satan [16:27] always overplays his hand and through [16:29] the left I think he's overplayed his [16:31] hand today and people are waking up to [16:34] the fact that this is not a neutal space [16:38] uh this is a space where you have to [16:40] communicate your values and our [16:42] Christian worldview makes a difference [16:44] and look charity I I remember when I was [16:47] involved in in in with our organization [16:50] and we worked with like missing an [16:52] exploited children we gave money to the [16:54] boys and girls uh home in the area we [16:57] helped out with the ym CA we were that's [17:00] when corporations understood that their [17:02] role in charity could do things and that [17:04] was because Christians like myself were [17:06] influencing those discussions and and [17:09] and that were going on and today [17:11] Christians have sort of backed off and [17:13] we don't want to talk about those things [17:14] around the water cooler and we don't [17:16] want to talk about those things when [17:18] we're uh around the dinner table well [17:20] tomorrow or or the Independence Day when [17:23] people celebrate this they need to have [17:26] these discussions don't be afraid to [17:28] have these discussions because people [17:29] need to hear the truth they need to hear [17:31] our side of it and they don't have to be [17:33] hostile they can be uh Christians have [17:36] always had a history of really having [17:39] appropriate discussions we don't have to [17:41] get into yelling matches we just have to [17:43] be able to talk our faith and look the [17:46] scripture tells us the number one thing [17:47] we can do our own testimony share our [17:50] testimony what what do it meant in our [17:52] life why is it made me more charitable [17:54] how's it made me more loving how's it [17:56] changed my life yeah you you know and [17:59] and I always people find it interesting [18:02] my take on faith in Los Angeles I live [18:05] in Los Angeles this is obviously a a [18:07] western Sodom and gomorah where so much [18:10] is going wrong but you know I I only [18:13] started reading my Bible every year or [18:16] every day uh I read the Bible in a year [18:19] uh within the last five years and I grew [18:21] up reading the Bible and I grew up you [18:24] know digging into the word but it wasn't [18:25] an everyday occurrence and what was so [18:28] strange to me about when I moved out to [18:30] Los Angeles and when I became involved [18:32] in my church and the faith community [18:34] here is that uh Christians in Los [18:38] Angeles are ready for battle um and it's [18:42] because you know Believers in Los [18:44] Angeles they're going to set every day [18:46] or they work in fields where the enemy [18:49] has such a strong presence so when [18:51] Believers in Los Angeles wake up and go [18:53] to work they have the full armor of God [18:55] on and they read scripture every day and [18:57] they are armed with the knowledge [18:59] and that's one of the the few good [19:01] things I think about living in Los [19:03] Angeles but the church that I attend in [19:06] Troy I know you're familiar with this [19:07] name it's Jack hafer's church and um his [19:10] ministry not only in Los Angeles but [19:12] globally has had such a huge impact on [19:15] people but getting back to the beginning [19:17] of what I was saying about reading the [19:19] Bible reading the word every day I get [19:22] this and I haven't seen any polling to [19:24] support this but I get the sense that [19:26] most Christians don't read the word [19:28] every day and that's a problem it is it [19:31] is a problem it's actually a big problem [19:33] the The Bible Society just came out with [19:35] their recent annual report and [19:37] Christians that that reading the word uh [19:40] I think it was down like [19:42] 133% uh from a year ago and so you know [19:46] less and less Christians are engaging [19:48] and I wonder if that's you know partly [19:50] due because of the amount of time [19:52] Christians are engaged in other things [19:54] like social media at the same time Bible [19:56] reading went down we also see that [19:58] social media and media consumption went [20:01] up um and so those two things you know [20:04] have to have some sort of correlation on [20:06] there but look if you don't none of us [20:08] would be in a [20:10] relationship where we didn't talk to the [20:12] other person we didn't know the other [20:15] person right you know that that's not a [20:17] relationship that's just just an [20:19] acquaintance um and we need to look at [20:22] our faith as a relationship with Christ [20:26] and with God and and how do we get that [20:29] he's left us his word and we need to be [20:31] in that every day and I'm the same way I [20:33] I started that a little farther back [20:35] than you did about 25 years ago but it [20:38] really changes your life when you [20:40] understand every day and I I can read [20:42] the Bible today after 25 years and get a [20:46] verse that that and go ah boom that's [20:50] what it means God's trying to say to me [20:53] that's what God's communicating and and [20:55] it's always opening up and he's and he's [20:57] telling us about not just about our [20:59] relationship with him but our [21:00] relationship with one another I always [21:03] like it you know that Jesus in John when [21:05] he gave his when he was in the upper [21:08] room in in John 12 13 and he was [21:11] speaking to the disciples he said you [21:13] know a new command I give you now this [21:15] command was in the Old Testament he said [21:17] you've heard it said you know love your [21:19] neighbor as yourself he said love your [21:22] neighbor as I have loved [21:25] you he changed it to the point where I I [21:29] loved you how I sacrificed you and what [21:31] did Jesus always do to the disciples he [21:34] always told them the truth amen he never [21:37] shied away from the truth when Peter [21:40] went down the wrong path and tried to [21:42] rebuke him for going to the Cross he [21:44] said get behind thee Satan he shared the [21:47] truth yeah and and that's the most [21:50] loving thing we can do as Christians is [21:52] to know God so deeply that we can share [21:55] the truth with one another amen amen [21:57] okay we're going to take a very quick [21:59] break that's a great time for a pause [22:00] and we're going to be back on the other [22:05] [Music] [22:08] side welcome back everybody I am here [22:11] with Troy Miller the president of [22:12] National Religious broadcasters um Troy [22:15] you were talking about something a [22:16] moment ago with respect to the amount of [22:19] consumption from social media versus [22:21] reading our Bible and and I think that [22:23] that's spoton your analysis of that [22:25] because our time every day is limited we [22:27] only have 24 hours in the day some [22:29] people like me require seven hours of [22:31] sleep or I'm an absolute bear to deal [22:33] with so there is a finite amount of time [22:36] it's a zero some game as far as what [22:38] time we can give and take away from [22:40] certain things and but but what's [22:43] interesting is that I think that there [22:45] is an outsized impact um when we consume [22:49] too much social media and I I harp on [22:52] this this bible verse all the time [22:54] regarding evil communication corrupting [22:56] good manners and pouring those types of [22:59] of mediums into our spirit instead of [23:02] reading the word and it frankly it's no [23:06] surprised that we are where we are [23:08] culturally politically reflecting on [23:11] that oh absolutely where we are [23:14] culturally today and politically and and [23:16] as a society also morally just just [23:20] where we are and where we're heading it [23:22] really it really is about you know where [23:24] our hearts are you know it's often been [23:25] said I could tell somebody's heart by [23:27] looking at two things I can look at [23:29] their their their schedule their [23:31] datebook what they put their time into [23:33] and where they spend their money and [23:35] that those two things are in America [23:37] today and look we we know and and it's [23:40] not wrong but Corporate America we we [23:42] understand and we know these social [23:43] media companies they use algorithms they [23:47] use techniques to keep us engaged to [23:49] keep us locked in because they make [23:52] their money the longer we're on their [23:54] platforms uh the the more commercial [23:57] breaks that they get in uh the more time [24:00] we spend that's where they make so they [24:02] they have an incentive to keep us on [24:04] these platforms but look as Christians [24:07] our incentive should be how do we bring [24:09] glory to God time is finite it is a zero [24:13] sum we only God has only given us so [24:15] much in this life um and that we're [24:18] going to spend eternity forever with him [24:21] in a in a state uh the that of Glory [24:24] where where we won't have to do these [24:26] things so how much time today can we do [24:28] bring glory to him and to our fellow uh [24:32] um Humanity our fellow fellow humans and [24:34] people around us and people we have [24:36] influence on I don't think we realize [24:39] how much influence we have on people [24:41] around us and if we're constantly you [24:44] know glued to social media or glued to [24:47] to uh uh entertainment media then what [24:51] is that saying to other people around us [24:53] absolutely what's our priority yeah yeah [24:55] I mean that that that's a really great [24:57] and you know uh it's a way it's a great [25:00] way to put it but also for a lot of [25:02] people I think that it it it goes back [25:04] to what you were saying about telling [25:06] people the truth and I live in a city [25:08] where there are I think a lot of people [25:11] that need to be told the truth but we [25:13] can do it in love um and you know there [25:16] are some people who disagree with this [25:17] phrase but I I agree with the spirit of [25:19] the phrase which is love the sin or hate [25:21] the sin and we all have uh we all fall [25:25] short of the glory of God we are sinful [25:27] by nature and some people will just have [25:29] uh those shortfalls those shortcomings [25:31] and sins that are more visible and more [25:34] obvious but we all contend with that on [25:35] a daily basis um I want to get back to [25:38] nrb and the work that your organization [25:40] is doing because I remember last year [25:42] when uh we covered nrb there on the [25:44] ground in Orlando I think it was the [25:47] tail end of um litigation that you had [25:51] against and I don't want to bch the car [25:53] company but I think it was Ford with [25:55] respect to a new model of their vehicles [25:57] that they were going to take out AM [25:59] radio which we know has an outsized [26:01] impact on conservative and Christian [26:03] radio can you just recap that and [26:05] refresh my memory on it yeah sure Ford [26:08] uh Motor Company and and a few others [26:11] followed them announced that they were [26:13] going to take out am radios and all [26:15] their future vehicles but particularly [26:17] their their uh uh electronic Vehicles [26:20] their their EVs and um electric vehicles [26:23] and and they said this was well there's [26:25] a technical problem there's an [26:27] interference problem problem uh with [26:29] this well actually the government [26:31] Accounting Office looked into this and [26:33] said no not really it's a $39 part it's [26:35] a shield um and my Navy background I [26:38] know how all this works from the naval [26:40] engineering side yeah and so so so you [26:42] had to look back at why this was and so [26:46] there's a some legislation working [26:48] through Congress that we're working hard [26:49] to get pass called the a uh radio and [26:53] the dash legislation that's going [26:54] through the house and through the Senate [26:56] but really Amanda the issue that that [26:58] finally came to light behind this was [27:00] not about AM radio or technology in [27:03] there it was about who can control the [27:05] information in the car the the car [27:09] companies want now every car all these [27:11] new cars we know have these great [27:12] beautiful screens they're all connected [27:14] vehicles and the car companies want to [27:17] control that that screen and that [27:20] dashboard and they want to control the [27:23] subscriptions uh that go in there uh and [27:26] the things you can get access to because [27:28] there's a lot of money to be made in [27:30] that and we're talking into the billions [27:32] of dollars uh for these car companies in [27:35] continued Revenue beyond the car sale [27:37] itself and so how do you do that well [27:40] you first you get AM radio out and then [27:42] you get FM radio out then you say oh [27:44] well you can get this all through our [27:46] connected car and our internet car but [27:48] we know that's putting somebody else in [27:51] charge of our the information we receive [27:53] so why would you want to take out of the [27:56] car free access to free radio across the [28:00] country that primarily serves the [28:02] Christian Community the conservative [28:05] community and the Latino Community the [28:07] Spanish Community across this country um [28:10] if it's not all about controlling [28:12] messaging and controlling the dollars oh [28:15] man that is such a good point and and [28:17] you're right I mean the the root of all [28:19] of this is silencing certain voices and [28:21] not others um and I asked you about that [28:23] case because it feeds into this [28:26] conversation I know that you you are a [28:27] huge huge advocate of preventing tax [28:30] dollars from being spent on [28:32] organizations initiatives that suppress [28:34] Free Speech because obviously freedom of [28:36] religion is included in that and News [28:38] Guard is one of these organizations that [28:40] many of us especially conservatives have [28:42] been skeptical of for a long time [28:44] obviously it's uh roots and associations [28:47] with the CIA and other governmental [28:49] organizations talk to us about newsguard [28:52] and uh how how they I mean it's proven [28:55] that they give lower ratings [28:58] Ma on the majority side of things to [29:00] conservatives versus liberal news [29:03] organizations yeah media Research Center [29:05] found that newscard uh gave liberal [29:07] Outlets an average of 27 points higher [29:11] than they did for conservative Outlets [29:13] you know and so if you don't know who [29:14] newsguard is newsguard comes across as [29:17] this kind of uh Clearing House to come [29:19] in there and tell you how these [29:22] organizations uh do on whether or not [29:24] they're they're uh uh communicating real [29:27] news fake news I mean just boil it down [29:29] to that that's kind of what they do and [29:31] they give you a rating on that well look [29:34] their their history is they were founded [29:36] by and really funded by initially by the [29:39] government as you said through a lot of [29:41] these DOD and CIA agencies they're still [29:44] funded by the government today through [29:46] these same agencies we already know that [29:49] the government uh has been proven to [29:52] collude with these social media [29:54] companies in order to keep their [29:56] messaging going forward and so why would [29:59] we want to have this organization [30:01] somehow be the gold star Clearing House [30:03] of whether news is real or fake uh when [30:07] we know behind the scenes the the [30:09] majority of funding that they're getting [30:11] that's moving them forward is Government [30:12] funding do we is that really where [30:15] where's the independence of newsguard if [30:17] newsguard was really serious about what [30:19] they uh wanted to do here and they've [30:22] flagged many of our organizations uh out [30:25] there many of of the members of nrb if [30:27] they really want to be serious they [30:29] declare their independence uh from any [30:31] government funding and let's let's see [30:33] them stand up and take that challenge [30:36] yeah don't hold your breath well you [30:38] know the house oversight committee is [30:40] investigating this investigating their [30:42] associations the ratings that you were [30:44] talking about uh that on average 27% [30:47] higher for for liberal news outlets um [30:50] but this is this is an organization that [30:52] a lot of people look to as somewhat of a [30:54] standard Bearer for reliability in Media [30:58] and when you have [30:59] misinformation uh being being given a [31:02] grade A by an organization that is seen [31:05] as an Arbiter of truth that's a real [31:08] problem it's a it's a real problem [31:11] because not not only do many [31:13] organizations you know people look at [31:15] this and say oh this one has a great a [31:17] this one has an f- rating but the key [31:19] users of newsguard are advertisers and [31:22] so by advertising using this they're [31:24] really going at the funding that keeps a [31:27] lot of these conservative and Christian [31:29] organizations uh running out there to [31:31] really Target your advertisers is is [31:34] that's I think the issue is to defund [31:36] these organizations so they can get them [31:38] off the air yeah yeah oh it's terrifying [31:42] um there is a little bit of a Sunny Spot [31:44] though you know we have seen kind of a [31:46] general theme at least during the Biden [31:48] administration of local and state [31:51] officials clawing back their own power [31:54] instead of deferring to the federal [31:55] government and you know education is a [31:58] state issue obviously we have the [31:59] Federal Department of Education which I [32:01] think should be completely abolished but [32:03] education is if you take teachers unions [32:07] out of it education is and should be [32:10] controlled by the state and we are [32:12] seeing a number of states Louisiana uh [32:14] requiring The Ten Commandments to be [32:16] posted in classrooms that receive state [32:17] funding for Education now that obviously [32:19] is going to be litigated to death um but [32:22] you've also got Ryan Walters the [32:24] superintendent in Oklahoma who is trying [32:26] to work Biblical teaching in to their [32:28] school curriculums I just don't [32:30] understand Troy for people out there who [32:32] are even if you're an atheist even if [32:35] you don't believe in God if you think [32:38] that it's a good thing to not cheat on [32:40] your spouse to not murder people to not [32:44] tell lies to not disrespect your parents [32:47] why why do why do people who don't [32:49] identify as Believers or maybe they do I [32:52] mean you find you have a lot of these [32:53] wacko leftist Christians [32:55] who I don't don't even get me started on [32:58] that but why are they so diametrically [33:00] opposed to these foundational truths and [33:04] these are good things it's good it is a [33:06] good thing to not kill people to not [33:08] cheat to not lie why do they have such a [33:10] problem with this yeah you're right it's [33:12] a it's look it's a it's a great thing [33:15] for you to have these values instilled [33:18] in into you and into society I mean [33:20] that's we all want to respect one [33:22] another's property we want to respect [33:25] people and Humanity in general [33:28] you know there's a I really the only [33:31] answer I have to that question is [33:33] there's a blindness in in people that [33:37] don't really understand our purpose as [33:40] humanity and and that we have a purpose [33:43] here and I think a lot of it goes back [33:44] to that and it goes back to a lot of our [33:46] basic issues if we if we think we're [33:48] just here by random if just the [33:51] randomness of nature you know brought us [33:55] into this world and it's going to take [33:57] out of this world and there's nothing [33:59] behind that then you're kind of out for [34:01] everything you can get you know that's [34:04] really all that matters to you is what [34:06] what's in it for me you know and and if [34:10] I limit the if [34:12] somehow religion comes into this then I [34:15] have to step back and think about my own [34:18] humanity and I think I have to think [34:19] about my own conscience and the easiest [34:22] way not to do that is to never hear it [34:25] is to never have it put in front of me [34:27] you know and even to the detriment of [34:30] their own their own lives because look [34:34] at what's going on in the left cities [34:36] today um it's not all about the left [34:40] attacking conservatives it's not about [34:42] Republicans and Democrats anymore it's [34:44] really about the breakdown of society [34:47] and and and morality and values in [34:50] society I mean look look at today you're [34:52] in California I mean I I lived in San [34:55] Diego when I was in the Navy and and and [34:57] we have a lot of Ministries out in [34:59] California you're right light shines the [35:01] brightest in the darkness yeah in [35:03] California Christians know they have to [35:05] live out their their lives because they [35:07] see how bad it is but look at how the [35:09] left is even turning on itself how many [35:12] of these neighborhoods that that when [35:14] the when when these values fall and the [35:17] morality and the family fall in these [35:19] neighborhoods who suffers the people in [35:21] those neighborhoods they're not going to [35:23] other neighborhoods and suffering so I [35:25] don't understand it either Amanda why [35:28] these core values that I think we would [35:30] all agree on we' sit around the table [35:32] and say yeah it's it's all of these [35:35] things are good for society but because [35:38] they're attached to religion we don't [35:39] want them in there yeah yeah oh can you [35:42] imagine that being your filter filter [35:45] through which you see everything that if [35:46] it's attached to religion it's [35:48] automatically something you oppose okay [35:50] uh one more question before I let you go [35:52] do you think that we are on the price of [35:54] a third grade awakening well I certainly [35:57] hope so and there's a lot of good signs [35:59] out there especially amongst the under [36:01] 40s you know we are seeing some of the [36:04] organizations we work with they are [36:06] seeing some of the biggest turnouts in [36:08] their events than they've seen in [36:10] decades of young Christians and young [36:14] people who grew up in the church and [36:16] then walked away from the church for a [36:17] while they're finding out that these [36:20] liberal uh uh ideologies these liberal [36:24] principles that they thought they were [36:25] taught in college uh really they're [36:27] finding out that there's a lie and [36:29] there's no hope and and nobody wants to [36:31] look at Society in despair we all want [36:34] to look at that we want to look at our [36:36] families and so I think the Christian [36:38] message the message of the Gospel of [36:40] Jesus Christ the hope that that brings [36:43] is really starting to shine bright [36:45] across this country so yeah I'm praying [36:48] hard and I know a lot of other people [36:50] are praying hard but that's when God [36:52] moves the most sometimes when it's the [36:54] darkest amen amen and I mean even in a [36:57] state like California you look at at at [36:59] Evangelical movements historically isua [37:02] Biola the the you know Jesus Revolution [37:04] these things that started here and just [37:06] a month ago uh Californians baptized I [37:09] think it was between like 20 and 30,000 [37:11] Californians along the coastline getting [37:13] baptized in the Pacific so I think that [37:15] there are some some very important [37:17] tectonic plates that are shifting and I [37:19] think that a lot of that is due to the [37:21] great work and efforts by people like [37:23] you with National Religious broadcasters [37:25] you guys are doing such important work [37:27] and I so happy to have you on this [37:28] podcast Troy well it was wonderful to be [37:31] with you today and keep up all the great [37:33] work you're doing as well same to you [37:35] same to you you guys are doing some some [37:37] very uh some very important stuff and [37:39] people are taking notice and thank you [37:40] very much for being here sir
