This episode was brought to you by Alianz Travel Insurance, your European bike tour is planned to perfection. Then, your bag, with all your bike shorts, takes a detour. Baggage delay coverage can help when travel hassles try to take the air out of your tires. Learn more at AlianzTravel Insurance.com. From the Mighty 990 Broadcast Center, you're waking up in Starnes Country with Todd Starnes.
I don't know if I still believe it, but wow, they're saying 18 to 24 inches of snow. Hello, everybody. Welcome to Stern's Country, and we are proudly broadcasting in the principal Toyota Memphis studio this morning. Great to have you with us. Wow.
This story that just keeps evolving and it started really getting some play yesterday when the National Weather Service announced that we could be in for a major snowstorm hitting the Mid-South. We can tell you right now that the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the Mid-South that is now official, a winter storm watch from now until January 25th at 6 o'clock in the evening. This is going to be insane. The first person I reached out to, well, the second person, because we have our staff meteorologist Laura Huckabee, who watches all of this, but you know, a situation like this is made for the weatherman. And we've got him on our Patriot Mobile newsmaker line this morning, the great Joey Selepec.
Joey, good morning. Good to have you with us today. Good morning, Todd. How are you? You know, I'm doing well, and the entire city is watching your social media feed.
They're wanting to know. Are we going to survive, Joey? You know, I I I wish I had a good update this morning. I don't. It's a bad update.
And I need to give a caveat that we're going to have to stay tuned each day. To get fresh information. Here's what's changed from yesterday to today, Todd. The and I don't want to overcomplicate this explanation. Exactly what we're going to see is still in question.
I do believe we're going to get some major winter impact beginning late Friday and the early Saturday. but the data this morning is pointing me towards a major freezing rain event rather than snow. And I hope that changes. But let me give everybody a heads up just so you can be prepared. There are two primary weather models, okay, everybody gets talked about.
I lean towards the one that's called the Euro, just from experience and time. I prefer it in these situations. As of this morning, it's moving the heavy snowfall, which was really pretty dramatic. further north of Memphis. and moving freezing rain into much of central Arkansas, North Mississippi and all of West Tennessee.
If if t if the current data holds true time. we are looking at the potential For two plus inches of freezing rain, and that is enormous. I was just doing some research on.
Well, this is what that kind of freezing rain does. If you have a quarter inch to an inch. talking about Big, big problems. You get to an inch and above, you're talking about major tree damage. But when you get to two plus inches of freezing rain, You're talking about even structural damage because a freezing rain is nine times heavier than snow.
So I'm s listen, we're still three and a half days out. And I think there will be some adjustments. But I do think we need to start taking more seriously the possibility, depending on where you live, of maybe some power outages. And it's going to be super cold. Here's the other thing I'll add.
I was looking at some of the data after this event. And our overnight lows Sunday night and Monday night are going to be now, this is not the wind chill. four to six degrees.
So after this thing passes. it's going to be even colder.
So we're going to have to really stay dialed in the next couple of days as we really find everybody that's studying this, as we fine tune what's going to land where. Joey, I think the big thing when it comes to southern winter events, the cold weather has to be in place for all of this to happen. And it's always in flux with just about all of these major winter storms. This is shocking information because you're better off getting 24 inches of snow than you are this freezing rate. I mean, that's the reality of it, right?
Yeah, yeah, because you can you can move snow. You can shovel snow, you can plow snow, you can clear roads from snow, you can put Salt and ice on it. You can play in it.
Some people like it. Nobody likes freezing rain because it coats everything, lays everything down, and it makes travel nearly impossible. I mean, you cannot. With snow, there's ways to get around if you drive statefully and carefully. With freezing rain, you cannot, but really the other issue is, and this goes back to Ice Storm 94, which I was a part of.
when it if it really does start to knock out power and infrastructure, Then you're talking about a whole new level of agony, because back then there were people without power for months. Because what here's what happens. When you have a huge ice storm, like what this looks like coming across Arkansas, the teams that have to go and fix it. They get cold from all across the country. Like they're mobilizing right now, I guarantee you.
You're going to start seeing power teams from other states. coming this way, but there's just not enough of them. To get everybody back up and running at once. It takes even mobilizing them from across the nation. You can't get power lines restored fast.
It just takes time.
So this is one of those things where we're going to have to study it every day because if it is a freezing rain event, that's going to have a major impact on some people for a long time. You're right. I mean, and we're talking, I guess, if you go back maybe what, to Hurricane Elvis, when you had those massive outages and it took a long time to rebuild, you're talking about that potential for a wider area of the Mid-South, especially if we get that amount of freezing rain. That's going to bring down trees. Correct.
At this point, I'm hoping new updates will bring the snow back and not the freezing rain. But that's what we need to be prepared for. I overall, we just need to be ready You know, like I've got a brand new, we've got a brand new baby in the family. You need to have food for the baby in case they can't do the grocery store. If you've got, you know, medicines you need to have, get those medicines ahead of time.
Because right now it's not a real clear picture of exactly how we're going to be impacted. But as of current data, we need to be prepared. I'm always a believer, Todd, in prepare for the best, but prepare for the worst.
So I didn't like what I saw this morning on the information, and I'm hoping it changes. But right now, that's in play.
Well, this is all good advice. No, I went down I had to go to Whole Foods yesterday. People were starting to fight over the arugula.
So you gotta gotta be calm, people. Get something other than arugula, by the way. That's funny you say that. My aunt called me from Kroger last night and said not she said the celery was gone. Everything was gone, including the celery and now the arugula.
Oh, no, that's horrible. That means you can't have tuna fish. You got to have the celery for the crunch and the tuna for crying out loud. This is a disaster. Joey Zelopek on our Patriot Mobile Newsmaker line this morning.
Joey, we're going to be checking in with you tomorrow and Friday as well. But, folks, you can go and check out Joey's social media, Facebook. And you also have a great new podcast. Joey, where can people get access to all of this? Yes, it's called The Current Temp.
The Current Temp with Joey Selipek. It's on my Facebook page. You can subscribe on YouTube or Spotify. And yes, that's been a lot of fun. And really, you K Wham and the whole family is my inspiration to get that started.
So I appreciate you guys. But we've been having fun with that. We do it once a week. It airs on Thursday. And We cover great topics like everything from what is absolute truth in religion to To what do you need to know about hospitals that the doctors are keeping from you?
So, yeah, the current sample of Joey Solipat. I love that. It's great stuff. All right, Joey, a little serious this morning, but we've got to take this seriously. And it's all about being prepared and making sure you're doing what you can to protect you and your family.
Joey, be safe, my friend, and we'll be checking in with you. Thanks, Todd. All right, the great Joey Selepec, everybody. And Joey's a straight shooter when it comes to the, well, everything, but especially when it comes to the weather. And he's absolutely right.
I was looking at that ice. There's this huge swath of ice, and I was really feeling sorry for those people yesterday that were going to get that ice. I had no idea that we could be in that swath now. And if that is the case, we're going to be dealing with some very serious problems, very long-term problems here in the Mid-South as if recovering from something like that. All right, we're going to take a quick break.
We have a lot going on today. The Republican Party announcing new leadership. We have an exclusive interview with the new chairperson of the Shelby County Republican Party, Rachel Wall. She's coming up. Also, our good buddies, Anna Martin, Chris Loftus from Strategic Financial Partners.
They're going to drop by. Also, I want to hear from you this morning. And let me just set the stage for what's about to happen over the next several days. We're going to be broadcasting. 24-7 through this storm.
And here's what that means: that means we're not going anywhere. We're bunking down here at the radio station. We're going to be providing you with wall-to-wall coverage to keep you and your family safe. You're not going through this storm alone. We're going to be there right alongside of you.
We're also going to be taking your calls this morning. If you have a lead on where to find firewood, where to find supplies, give us a call and we'll let you pass along that information: 901-260-5926. That's 901-260-5926. And we'll be passing along that information to our listeners. All right, hang tight.
Got to take a quick break. We'll be checking in with Commander Chuck with a look at your traffic. Popular, happy, well-rounded kids across America are being exploited online through a sinister scheme that leaves them broken, defeated, or worse. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the U.S. And to raise awareness, Awareness SalemNow.com is offering Sexploited in America, the four-part talkie series from AGA Media, at 50% off.
Sexploited in America now just $4.99 at SalemNow.com. All right, it is 20 minutes past the hour. The National Weather Service issuing a winter weather watch until, wow, until January 25th.
So, we'll keep you updated on that around the clock here on the Mighty Nine Honey. Welcome back to Stern's Country. We are broadcasting in the Principal Toyota Memphis studio. And if you are looking for a great cart, you go down and visit our good friend Todd Lochner at Principal Toyota. He's going to get you all fixed up.
Well, some big news politically, somewhat of a political earthquake happening last night. The Republican Party of Shelby County electing a brand new chairperson, and she joins us on our Patriot mobile newsmaker line this morning. Rachel Wall. Rachel, good morning, and congratulations to you. Thank you.
Good morning.
So, right away, do we call you like Madam Chairperson, Your Majesty? What's the lingo? What well, as as it turns out in this role, I answer to pretty much anything.
So, uh, That's your choice.
Well, congratulations. It is it's a daunting job, I have to imagine, as well as an exciting job because the Republicans, I think, are really chomping at the bit. They're looking for some big wins here in Shelby County. How do you make that happen?
Well, I think you're right. I and so are we. But um You know, I think that what we have the way that we've approached this campaign season as a recruitment team. is to be really intentional About the races that we choose, the candidates that we recruit. And um And really try and identify what is success in Shelby County for Republicans right now.
And sometimes that can look. different than than some of our rank and file expect. in some races it's keeping our percentages really high, getting our turnout. to improve in the suburbs, where sometimes in the past, it hasn't been all that uh impressive. And so So, yeah, it's sort of multi-dimensional, for lack of a better word.
We want the best candidates that we can, and we want them to be as successful as we can, but we also want uh to reelect in the seats that we already have And um And and and when we're reelecting. our state senator Brent Taylor and looking at governors' races, keeping those percentages Very high. It seems to me that, you know, one great example for us to look at is what just happened in Virginia, where the issue really was the quality of the candidates. And there's no reason why, after the great work that Glenn Young had done, that the Republicans should not have swept office. Instead, I mean, it was just a bloodbath.
And the main argument through the entire campaign and afterwards was the electability of the people that eventually became the candidates. How important is that going to be for you guys here in Shelby County? I think it's really important. We need candidates that resonate with voters. And You know, I I I have In the past made the statement just because you want the job doesn't necessarily mean you should have the job.
Um That transcends. We need We need candidates who really understand the work that needs to be done. We need candidates who are and when I mean work, not just the job for which they're applying. Elections are time consuming and take great effort. And so we need candidates who are willing to do the work to meet the voter and sell themselves to the voter.
And I really think we're trying to find those. People. And hopefully, it will yield on election day. What does that look like? What would the ideal Republican candidate look like for a Shelby County where we're a super majority blue district?
Well, I think it varies in the respective areas in which they're running. Uh you know, in the suburbs, people Voters really want strong conservatives, generally speaking. They want someone that. With whom they can identify, someone that represents their respective values. In different parts of the county, though.
It may be someone, excuse me, who is perceived as working well. Uh across party lines. There's no set way to identify what the perfect candidate looks like. And so we really try and And uh A a meet these candidates where they are and see where the the right fits are. When you look at the list of, and I do this every day, I shouldn't do it, but I do.
I'm obsessed with this. I like to know who's running. And I see page after page after page of Democrats, not many Republicans right now. What would you say is the most pressing issue facing you as you go out there and recruit these candidates? Is there any particular position that is number one for you guys?
Well, you know Well, the the short answer is no. There isn't a singular number one position. The one that I get asked about the most, you know which one it is, it's mayor. Um and so obviously we meet with as many Uh persons that we think would be a good fit for that role. that we can.
I think that the one thing that people forget It really takes great courage. to step out of your comfort zone and say, I'm going to face this difficult challenge. And the reality is I might not win. But it's but it is worth facing that fear and doing it because Because Is worth worth the effort. And I think that's the number one.
There is an apprehensive. Nature to a lot of people in taking this on.
Sometimes spouses are nervous. People wonder how it will impact the family, things of that nature. And those are all really reasonable things to consider. We had gotten some messages, gosh, it's been a couple of weeks back, I think, now about they had received a poll about Mark Luttrell. Is that a possibility for you guys?
I'm curious. Did that poll come from you guys? And if so, what about Mark Luttrell as a possibility?
Well, I know that that that Mark Luttrell is is a highly favored Person in our community. He has great crossover support, generally speaking. But at this stage, no, there's no announcement in terms of Mark Litterl. How important is the grassroots to what you guys are going to do? That's been something that's been fairly unique and new to the party.
This revived 25 group that really came in and just exploded the Republican message onto the scene. I know there's a big race coming up for a vice chair position. How important is that grassroots to what you guys are doing? It's vital across the board in every way. The work that our Volunteers do.
in getting our message out. encouraging people to register to vote. Garnering excitement about the work we're doing really is the lifeblood of the party. our numbers and support. have grown exponentially.
because of the work of our grassroots activists. And so, nothing I do or say at a podium in a meeting. is has any purpose outside of what our our volunteers are doing in the area of grassroots? All right. We've got about twenty seconds here, Rachel.
And as you're looking at the next couple of months, we've got a lot of ground to cover. What's the next big step for you guys and the Republicans?
Well, I think one of the things that we talk about every day is how do we maximize the turnout in the suburbs? How do we remind everyone in the suburbs that so goes the county? goes the suburbs and and the races in Memphis are important to you. And that's as much a part of the campaign as the individual elections. All right.
Well, Rachel, we're going to have to leave it there. We'll get you back on a lot of ground to cover over the next several months. Congratulations to you. And, of course, you're a veteran politico working with Speaker Newt Gingrich, Dennis Hastert.
So we're excited about the future of the Republican Party. Thank you. Thanks for all you're doing. All right, Rachel Wall, everybody, the new chairperson of the Republican Party of Shelby County, will be following your comments. Coming up.
Hang tight, everybody. We'll be right back. This is Stern's Country. Popular, happy, well-arounded kids across America are being exploited online through a sinister scheme that leaves them broken, defeated, or worse. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the U.S.
And to raise awareness, SalemNow.com is offering Sexploited in America, the four-part talkie series from AGA Media, at 50% off. Sexploited in America at now just $4.99 at SalemNow.com. All right, 44 degrees right now, 35 minutes past the hour here in Starnes Country. The National Weather Service issuing a winter storm watch. In effect, until six o'clock on January the 25th.
And you just heard Joey Solopek a few moments ago, Laura Huckabee. Look, the Mighty 990 severe weather team, we're going to keep you updated throughout this entire event.
So don't worry, you're not alone. And any sorts of major weather alerts, we will immediately break into programming with our emergency alert system.
So you are, you're going to be okay. We're going to get through this together. Just make sure that your radio is tuned into AM990. Also, just a reminder: if you do not own a transistor radio, you need to go and get yourself a radio because when the power goes out, the internet goes out, you're going to want to be able to listen to the radio. And you can do that if you have a transistor radio.
Well, it is Wednesday, and that means we've got to talk about money. And our good buddies from Strategic Financial Partners are here. Adam Martin, Chris Loftus. Guys, have you been to the grocery store? Have you had to fight anybody for the bunny bread?
Well, last night, my wife and I just divided and conquered. She went into the grocery store and bought the groceries while I took all the gas cans and got fuel. And it was a madhouse at the fuel line. I can't speak for what's inside the grocery store. Instacart is my friend.
Is that right? That is my.
So is that like you order it all? Yeah, you order it all. They deliver it to your house. You're good to go. You don't have to deal with any of the hooligans who are just like beating each other over the head with the brick for a slice of bread.
You young people. You young people. Where's the fun in that? Hey, you know, it's efficient, Todd. It's efficient.
Yeah, people were fighting over the arrogant Whole Foods last night.
So it was. It was a tough crowd over there. What can I say? Anyway, but you were talking about, Adam, you were alive during the 94 ice storm.
So that's, you know, I don't know, call it PTSD, if you will, but last night after getting the fuel, got 15 gallons. I fired up the generator, made sure all the batteries refreshed and the flashlights. I'd. It was no fun back then as a child, and I have a child myself, so I just want to make sure I'm as prepared as possible. You got to do that.
And folks, again, tomorrow we're going to have some experts coming on to help you with everything from your pipes to generators. We're going to help you get prepared for the big storm today, though.
Well, quite frankly, getting prepared for the big storm might possibly put you in debt.
So I guess it's a good thing that we are talking about debt this morning. Absolutely. Absolutely. Oh, my goodness.
So, anyway, let's just jump into this, Adam. And by the way, Strategic FinancialPartners.com is the website, Strategic FinancialPartners.com. And if you have a money question this morning, you can give the guys a call. They'll answer it for you on air, 901-260-5926. That's 901-260-5926.
So, Adam, New Year, we're looking at debt, and it can be very overwhelming for a lot of people. It can be for sure. And so, the best way that we Like to approach it, I'm all about small victories.
So when we look and do an inventory of what debt do you have, always look for that low-hanging fruit, something that we could potentially pay off in a short amount of time, but that's one debt that's taken care of and frees up money that we can add to the next debt. It's considered. Full pun intended, a debt snowball. Oh, I like that. Very clever.
So you don't want to freeze out. I have no, no, I just use that, and I have no way of using this. There's going to be a theme. What is, Chris, from a younger person's perspective, what would you say is the big hole that people normally fall into as a young person when it comes to debt?
Well, typically it's falling into the habit of out of sight, out of mind. You know, a lot of people end up ignoring it because they just don't, they think. Debt means, oh, I'm a failure. I can't keep up with these payments. Or they think, oh, this is so common.
Everybody's got a little debt hidden somewhere, right? And they just don't give it the due diligence that it deserves. It's actually incredibly common, but instead of allowing yourself to get into that pit, allowing the avalanche, as it were, to hit you, and then all of a sudden you're waking up at the end of the year, midway through the year, at the end of the month, and realizing I've got all of this debt that's accumulated just because I wasn't paying attention. You can take accountability for it, take ownership of it. And that's a natural part of your regular financial prowess by adding it to your portfolio of, you know.
reviewing that regularly. Let's talk about how to pay it all off because a lot of people they're like, okay, I do want to get rid of all this debt, but I also want to save money for the future. Do you have to sacrifice one for the other, or is there a happy medium? I always look at it as how far in the hole are we? Because if I look at credit card debt and the average interest rate is 20%, and that's where primarily all the debt is.
We really want to tackle that. We want to get out in front of it. And that's why we sit down and we help you prioritize it. We help you think through, like, Is this causing me to lose sleep at night? And am I really going to be able to add an adequate amount of money to save for retirement in the short amount of time or the long time frame that we have?
So we really just help you prioritize what's most important. And then if there's an opportunity to where we can kill two birds with one stone, we absolutely will. And we will help you think through: like, do I tackle the highest interest rate first or do I tackle the low balance first? We're here to help guide you in that direction. How do you do that, Chris?
How do you find the balance?
Well, you look at, like Adam was saying, you prioritize what debt you have, first and foremost.
So you have a lot of people out there that have a car note. You have a lot of people out there that have credit card debt and a couple of other miscellaneous things out there.
Well, you look at the interest rate, you see, hey, am I just paying off the minimums? over time thinking I'm actually putting a dent in this thing and realizing you're not.
Well, once you establish that you're doing that, then you get to say, okay, how do I get strategic about this? That's when you have the opportunity to say, okay, I only have this much debt here in this category. I'm gonna go ahead and pay that off first. I keep making minimum payments on the other stuff, but I'm gonna attack that with vigilance. Once you've gotten that, that frees up some more cash flow to get the next debt and then the next debt and the next debt.
That allows you to be able to prioritize different things. Instead of trying to fight a battle on multiple fronts, which ultimately won't get you anywhere because you're you're thinking you're moving a mile when you're only really moving it an inch. Adam, let's talk about debt because there are some things that you should not necessarily rush to pay off. Yeah, I think about in the last five years, a lot of people that purchased homes were in relatively low interest rates.
So, you know, I see a lot of people, especially those pre-retirees that are getting close to retirement, and they said, you know, I just want to take some of this money and pay off my mortgage. And I'll look at it, and it's a 2.75 or a 3% interest rate. And the next conversation that I have with them is. You know, the rate of return on your money that you would use to pay this off is 3%.
Well, we could be doing better in the market. That helps us make sure that your money lasts through retirement and you don't run the risk of running out of money.
So we always look at the, hey, what's this going to really return if I pay this debt off? If it's a low interest rate, we may not tackle that one. We may just say, hey, let's keep cash flowing this and let's address the higher interest rate things. Yeah, I love it. And of course, higher interest rates, you talk about credit cards.
Of course, the president, President Trump is urging credit card companies to knock those interest rates down to what, cap them off at 10%. I think that's a great thing. And going back to like Chris, you know, one thing that Keeping up with the society in the Joneses is one of the things that we see as a big debt problem. You know, we have free money that's really not free or not money at all, it's a credit card.
So, when somebody sees, hey, so-and-so bought this TV and I need a 65-inch plasma or whatever TV, they just go and borrow the funds to go and buy it, and they find themselves in a hole.
So, get in the habit of paying yourself first. You know, if you have a retirement goal or a major purchase goal, Add money to that first before you go and get in debt. Chris, all right.
Somebody listening today, and they're like, wow, I could really use some help here getting a handle on all this debt. They call you guys up. What do you guys do, and what's the first step?
Well, the first thing I'm saying to them is sitting them down, obviously having the conversation, seeing where they're at, and reminding them that. Uh what how do you eat an elephant? You eat it one bite at a time. It doesn't have to be an all or nothing effort, right? This can be a natural, planned out, strategic process of dealing with your debt and eliminating it.
with a vigilance. Once we get to that point We can talk about how all debts are created equal to that effect. Saying, hey, yes, you might have different amounts here or there, but that doesn't mean you have to treat it any differently. Paying off debt and saving aren't really enemies. They're business partners, in fact.
They are a natural part of a regular plan.
So once we have that conversation, understanding, hey, don't worry, don't pump the brakes, don't go into panic mode yet. Once we are able to establish that mindset, then we can move forward and start talking about: hey, what are your goals? Why do you want to pay off this debt? Once you pay off this debt, What are you going to do instead of getting more debt? Right?
Because that's what happens. The last thing we want is for people to get out of the hole and immediately fall back into it because they think they're home-free. This is about starting consistent, healthy habits. All right, guys, Strategic FinancialPartners.com is the website, strategicfinancialpartners.com. Adam Martin, Chris Loftus.
Adam, give us your number if people want to reach out to you directly. That's 901-260-2438. And Chris Loftus. That mine is 901-657. 3324.
All right, correct, guys. You've got your numbers. I was testing you. All right. Adam Martin, Chris Loftus, folks, great guys, and they're going to offer you some incredible financial advice.
Strategicfinancialpartners.com. All right, fellas. Be safe, be warm, and I hope your deliveries arrive, Chris. Me too. Me too.
Otherwise, you're going to be over at Adam's house here. This house is full. That's it. All right. Folks, we've got to take a quick break here.
901-260-5926. Do you remember the biggest snowstorms and ice storms in Memphis in recent memory? Give us a call. 901-260-5926. Here's Commander Chunk with a look at your traffic.
Adam Martin is a registered representative of and offers securities and investment advisory services through ML Investors Services, LLC, member SIPC, Supervisory Office, 949, South Shady Road, 2300, Miffstens C, 3120-901-767-5951. Popular, happy, well-rounded kids across America are being exploited online through a sinister scheme that leaves them broken, defeated, or worse. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the U.S. And to raise awareness, SalemNow.com is offering Sexploited in America, the four-part talkie series from AGA Media, at 50% off. Sexploited in America now, just $4.99 at SalemNow.com.
All right, welcome back, everybody. Good to have you with us. You know, I want to go back, if we could, to the Shelby County Republican Party for a moment, because we've gotten some information that Mark Luttrell was actually approached and was asked, Hey, would you be interested in running on the Republican side? And they actually commissioned a poll. And this was not some random just stand out in front of Kroger.
This was a very well-done, professional poll that showed. A Republican could that Mark Lutterell could actually be very competitive in a county mayor's race, but Lutterell took a pass on that. Here's what needs to happen, and this is why the grassroots is so vitally important. And actually, it's all important, right?
So, not only do you need grassroots, but you also need money as well. And I think Worth Morgan, who is just a good and decent salt of the earth person, was really effective in doing both, generating the big dollar donors and really bringing the grassroots to the base. There's a challenge here, and this is really a warning to all Republicans across the nation. And sometimes, you know, again, I host a national radio show, so we have to sort of take a look at the big picture nationally. And the fact of the matter is that Republicans are different across the country, and some are much more conservative than others, others are more moderate, others are just weird and liberal.
That's just the way it goes. And here in Western and West Tennessee, and especially in the Memphis area, I would say we have center-right. uh Republicans. That's just the nature of who our party is.
However, It was the grassroots that truly shook things up. And it was the grassroots efforts. And there are two people in particular. That have worked their rear ends off for the Republicans, making sure that the grassroots was out there at all the events, volunteering, working, setting tents up. Knocking on doors, doing all of that stuff.
And we call them the real housewives of Germantown. And we say that affectionately: Kristen Hicks and Kristen New. And those two ladies have have just done a remarkable job for the party.
Now, here's the word of caution. You've got the grassroots folks out there, the ones that are busting their butts. Are they multi-bazillionaires? No.
Well, some of them may be, some of them may not be. But that doesn't matter. That doesn't mean you should just push them to the side and say, okay, you don't have a say or you don't have a seat at the table. We just need you to go out there and sweep the floors and set up the tents. That's really a wrong-headed approach.
And I'm not saying that's happening. I'm just offering a word of caution, if you will. That You need to make sure that you bring the grassroots people to the table. And I want to give you a great example in Republican political history. Back in the nineteen back in the nineteen eighties, Ronald Reagan was just brilliant at building this big tent coalition, and he brought evangelical Christians into the Republican Party.
for the very first time, in in large in large numbers, And yet there were other people in the party, and I call it and it and one of them was John McCain, by the way, the late Senator John McCain, who hated the evangelicals. And he called people like Jerry Falwell Sr. and Pat Robertson, some of the evangelical leaders at the time, called them agents of intolerance.
Well, we've got to make sure that we don't go back to those days, the days of the establishment Republicans, the intolerance of the establishment wing of the party, because that is a losing proposition. You know, there is a reason why Republicans are not winning here. And they've got to figure that out. They've got to figure it out. And if I were in charge of the Republican Party, and thank God I'm not, I've got enough on my point.
But if I were in charge of the Republicans here, I would take a long, hard look at the people like Kristen Hicks and Kristen Yu and others, and I know I'm leaving people out, and I don't mean to. But I would look at bringing them to the table. Giving them a seat at the table, and and saying, Okay, what are you hearing out there? What w what what do you what do you recommend? We can't just have big money people.
And that's the thing, right? There's nothing wrong with the cocktail party at the country club. Nothing at all. But if that's all you do, you're not going to win elections. If you're not out there talking to people and you're not winning elections.
Now there's another component of all of this. All you Christians, and by the way, Christians are the base of the party. You folks aren't going out to vote. Forty percent of you voted in the last election. Shame on you.
I mean, you complain about the Republicans not having good candidates or the Republicans not winning races.
Well, how come you're not going out and voting on Election Day? How come you're not throwing your name into the hat? You know, it's real easy to sit there at the Cracker Barrel or down at Bryant's breakfast. and criticize Republican leadership. when you ought to be out there throwing your name into the hat.
So all that to say, I think everybody's got work to do. And until the Republicans actually start winning races because let me tell you, the past couple of years, it's been apocalyptic for the Republicans. But it was so exciting to see these two ladies especially Went out there with their team. They recruited the grassroots and they went out there. And I'll tell you, I've never been more excited to be a Republican than that reorganization meeting when you had hundreds and hundreds of Republicans coming out, many people I'd never even met before.
Coming out and saying, you know what, we're in this, we're going to fight. Hear me on this. If every single Republican in the suburbs comes out and votes on Election Day, Republicans will win and they will win big. But it's going to be a matter of getting off your butt and getting out there and going to vote and getting involved. It's going to be a matter of getting out in communities like Whitehaven and making sure that we're electing Republicans to the school board.
And we'll get it. We didn't even have time to talk to Rachel Wall about that. I know she's got an opinion about that.
So we'll check in with her when she comes back on the show. But we've got work to do. And I believe that Republicans can win in Whitehaven and in Hickory Hill and other areas. I truly of Memphis, I truly believe that. We just have to have a strong message, and we got to know what that message is.
And we've got to get cracking. The clock's ticking, we've and we have an opportunity here, and that's the issue. We have an opportunity. Because the Democrats They said that we were a safe city, and now we know based on the thousands and thousands of people, the thousands of people that have been arrested, very dangerous thugs. That our city was not safe.
It was not a perception problem. And the policies of the Democrats and their refusal to target and go after the criminals put every single one of our families in danger. Put every single one of our children in danger. Put every single one of our businesses in danger. And they need to pay a price for that.
And we need to send a very clear message. To the Democrats, that we're not going to tolerate that anymore. The Republicans are the party of safety, of public safety. Gotta get the messaging.
So, anyway, I'm excited. Let's see how it all shakes out there, but it ought to be a lot of fun. All right, hang tight, everybody. Don't forget, we will have updates 24-7 right here at the Mighty 990 Winter Storm Watch and Effect. There is only one place that's going to give you comprehensive coverage, keeping you and your family safe.
It is the Mighty 990, where Memphis goes for breaking news. We'll see you at 11 o'clock.
