Are We in the End of Days? Glenn Beck Joins Todd’s Show

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I'm sorry. Love is American. Touch start. All right.

Well, hello, everybody. Welcome to the Todd Stearns Radio Show. What an honor to have you guys with us today. CPAC getting underway right now in Dallas, Texas. And a lot happening, a lot happening over there today.

By the way, we have some very special guests, including our good friend Liz Peak from Fox News. Also, our good buddies from Strategic Financial Partners will be along a little bit later on to talk about your financial issues, answering your questions about finances. And I'm really excited about a. A Memphis business owner who was invited by President Trump to be a part of this roundtable on how to make America safe again. His name is Tim Pugh.

He's the co owner of Pugh's Flowers, and we're excited to have him in the studio today. That is going to be a wonderful, wonderful conversation. By the way, write down our telephone number at 901-260-5926. Again, that number 901-260-5926.

So last night on the um On the Todd Stern Show. on Newsmax. We had a really fascinating conversation with Glenn Beck, who has a great radio program. Many of you watch Glenn on The Blaze, and he has a very powerful new documentary out. about the the rise of Islam.

And it's an issue that a lot of people in this country are not paying very much attention to. But quite frankly, I believe it is the absolute most important thing that we ought to be doing and that we ought to be focused on.

Now, we've been covering it, it seems like quite a bit over the past couple of months as we have seen many cities and towns fall under the control of the Islamist here in this country. We have seen many Democrats and, quite frankly, Republicans in states like Texas, for example, that are embracing Islam. As a matter of fact, today the governor of New Jersey, a female, visited a mosque and she wore a full hijab. And at the end of the day, these folks are going to be very disappointed when they discover that the Islamists are not here to be our friends. They are here as conquerors.

And their goal is to destroy the Christians and the Jews and to kill off the LGBT community. That's the ultimate goal here. And you've got a lot of folks in the social media world, and I'm not going to name names. I know many of you want me to name the names. I'm not going to name the names, and I want to explain why I'm not going to name the names because.

I have suspicions, I do not have proof. But let me just ask you a question. This is sort of a hypothetical question here. If Todd Stearns, one day, you know, and for the past, I don't know, 50, well, for the past 35 years, I guess when I really started following politics, maybe it was 40 years, 40 years when I really started following politics. Jeez, Lou, I'm old.

Dylan, so I've been following politics for a long time. From day one, I've always been pro-life. And I've always been pro-Israel. Always. And both of those things, by the way, they're not influenced by my politics as much as they are my faith.

And my faith flavors everything I do. And it flavors my politics, which is why I became a Republican. And Let's just say that just one day out of the blue, Todd Starnes Announces that he is anti-Israel. and that he is pro-choice. And all of a sudden I have a multi-million dollar beach home.

And I'm also driving a what's a big fancy car, Dylan? That's a people. Rolls Royce. A Rolls-Royce. Pulling up in a Rolls-Royce.

Ben Dieters, my chauffeur. What do you th What would you think happened there? No rhyme or reason. I've just one day woke up and decided that, you know what, I'm going to be pro-choice. I'm going to be.

Uh pro or anti-Israel. And when people ask about it, you're like, well, I just, you know, I've had a change of heart. Really? Is it Is it really a change of heart, or is it possible, just possible, that I was influenced by a change in my bank account?

So all that to say, I suspect that a lot of the people that are going out there and these podcasters and these social media influencers and the reason why they have turned their back on not only Israel, not only America, but also President Trump, the reason they're doing that is because they are being influenced by the Almighty Dollar. From Arab Nations. and possibly from people who hate this country and want to destabilize this country. Don't you think that's a possibility? That a lot of these people, for years I've been telling you about this.

That a lot of the people that you see on TV In the conservative world, a lot of the podcasters you see are not really conservatives, they're just playing a part, they're grifting off of you. And a part of that grift Has resulted in what is a fracture right now in the Republican movement. You guys can feel it, right? You can see it. And it pains me to say all of this.

It really does. But it's not surprising.

Now, there are many, for example, Mark Levin. Mark Levin didn't just wake up one day and be pro-Israel, that's the way he's always been. Mark Levin's opinions and values have never changed. When if you've heard Mark Levin, I love Mark Levin, the great one. That's my markle event impression.

His opinions have never changed. But now, all of a sudden, you would think that he is some sort of, I don't know, a double agent for Israel working against America? That's ridiculous. I'll give you another example. And again, just.

All right, I said I was. No, I'm not going to mention that. I'm not going to mention these, but there's one in particular. And He's going after Mike Hockabee.

Now, all of a sudden, Mike Hockabee, who's held the same set of beliefs that I've held, is now anti-American. Franklin Graham, now all of a sudden considered to be anti-American. You see where all of this is going. There is an effort to destroy the true leaders. And the true influencers within the conservative movement and within the evangelical Christian community.

That is a nefarious thing. And ladies and gentlemen, I want to just posit a theory here. Could it be possible? That the Muslims, the Islamic radicals, who are incredibly well funded. Could it be that they are using some of these podcasters and social media influencers?

To not only infiltrate the Trump administration, which has been done. But also to divide all of us. And that's why it is so very important for you to make sure that you are doing your homework, you're researching. And you're coming to the table armed with facts and not what somebody is spewing at you from some sort of a podcast. Because they have millions and millions of followers.

And it is having It is having an impact. And I will say this. And we're going to get into the elections yesterday. President Trump, a little, it's a black eye for the president when the state representative, the state lawmaker there, a Republican, lost to a Democrat. President Trump now represented in Florida by.

A Democrat. At least for right now. And you know what people are saying?

Well, you know, it's just it doesn't really matter. These are special elections. They don't really matter. Republicans don't got go out to vote for special elections. Why not?

Why? Why? What's go no, is it possible? Is it possible? That the fracture has resulted in demoralizing and destabilizing the Republican Party.

Is it possible that Republicans just don't feel like getting up and going and voting right now? And that's why this has become an issue that we're going to talk about.

So Glenn Beck joined me last night on my Newsmac show, and we had a long conversation about this. We're going to play some of that in just a little while. But Glenn Beck believes that the rise of the Islamist. Is the most pressing issue facing our nation, and here's the reason why. Do you think the do you think the Islamists are going to stop with Belgium or France or the UK, do you think they're going to be satisfied with.

Conquering those nations? No, I don't believe so. Because those nations really aren't all that free. I mean, yes, they do have. I mean, there's a lot to admire and respect.

And of course, they're our allies. And I don't mean them anything except for the French who just annoy me. But But ultimately The greatest prize for the Islamist Is to conquer the United States of America. And you know how they're going to do that, folks? They're going to do that through empathy.

There is a large swath of the Christian community here in this nation. And they're weak. They're limp rested. They're lily livered, as we say in Mississippi. And they don't mean anything by it.

That's just who they are. That is their nature. And they believe It's sort of like a church version of DEI. They believe that the diversity of the nation's religious community is what makes us stronger, when in fact it is exactly what is making us weaker. Because we are meant to be a Christian nation, and we're not going to go through all of that again today, but we have well documented this in many books.

About how our founding fathers meant for us to be a Christian nation. That doesn't mean forcing people to go to church, but it does mean that our guiding principles are all based on holy scripture. And as a result of that, you do have a choice to worship God or not worship God, and you're not going to get in trouble for that. Nobody's going to yell at you. You're not going to get in trouble if you're a Methodist or a Baptist or a Presbyterian or a Pentecostal.

It doesn't matter. If you want to be a Hindu or a Buddhist, you can do that.

So long as you don't blow the rest of us up, we don't care. But that philosophy only works under our form of government. And what have they been doing? They've been chipping away at it. day after day after Day.

And Donald Trump steps in, and he's done a terrific job of shoring back up the foundations. But we've taken a lot of sucker punches, and the biggest, I think, was when the China virus happened and the government shut down our churches. Let me stop there. My apologies. We let the government shut down our churches.

That was, I think, the turning point.

So ultimately, the grand prize in the conquest. is going to be the United States of America. That's what the Islamists want to Destroy. They want to destroy our way of life and they want to take over They want to take over our nation. And Glenn is going to talk about this, and we're going to play some of the audio from that interview coming up at the bottom of the hour.

Our telephone number: 901-260-5926. That's 901-260-59260. Another question here is. Why the Democrats, and why do you believe the Democrats keep winning these special elections? I mean, out of all places, Florida, there were two.

Two Republicans lost their races in, of all places, Florida yesterday. Why do you believe that is? And should we be concerned about that? Do you believe that we ought to be paying attention here? And if there's something broken, what needs to be fixed?

Again, our number 901-260-5926. This is the Todd Sterns Show. Hey, everybody, Todd Stearns here, and I've got to tell you about my friends at PhD Weight Loss, my very good friends at PhD Weight Loss. I'm down 12 pounds already. And at PhD Weight Loss, they've identified that one thing and they built a plan that works with your body and not against it.

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Uh I saw one part you had a statue of Jesus.

Now, I know you laugh, but do you think that for many listeners they would find that so deeply offensive to take a bat and to smash Jesus into pieces? Wasn't it Madonna, by the way? No, it wasn't. There was one, I think, of the Madonna and the Child, and there was one of Jesus.

So, the thing, that's a very good question because I think it might offend people. I think in Belgium, not really. We're not a very religious country. Anymore. Definitely not the listeners of Studio Brussels.

But what we did, all the things we smashed, we made it very clear as well that these were all things that were already broken.

So the statue, it was turned face towards the back of the room, so you wouldn't see the face as well, because that was already, it was a broken statue as well. But I think. I would have been more careful in another country, definitely. In Belgium, it is not a big issue. Let me ask you this: if you were doing the video again.

Would you smash a symbol of the Prophet Muhammad? That is a very dangerous one. You wouldn't do it. Why not? No, because that would be inappropriate because in Belgium there are many uh there are Christians too.

I know the Pope visited Belgium recently. No, no, I'm I know there are Christians, but it's um since we are all from the Christian tradition, I think it's like laughing with your self. Or, like, I. You would never do it with Muhammad. No, no, no.

Star of David for Judaism? I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't do it. No. All right, there you have it.

Those are Belgium radio hosts. Christians, fair game. But whoa, Nelly, we're not going to be talking about the Muslim. No, no, no, we're not. No, please.

Radio hosts go boom. Nobody wants that. Let's go to the phone lines here, 901-260-5926. Bob is calling in from Ocala, Florida, WOCA, our great affiliate there. Bob, what in the world is going on in your state?

Oh well. Bye. Yeah. The uh But Flor Florida is um pretty decent. They it it ha it has its defects, but it's a pretty decent place.

I'm I'm I want to talk to you about uh New York. I was elected official in New York. And so I keep in touch. And many of many of the people that I know of that were good good to conservatives they've Move out of New York. And and uh This is what the What the supervisor in in uh the town I came from.

Yeah. And uh really discussing uh the politics. And I said, well, uh What what's the Democr what's the Democratic Party? going to do about this. And he looked at me and he said, There is no Democratic Party here.

And he says, What? He says no, there's no Democratic Party. He said the uh the town, the word wants to put their live in partners Uh And the Um Health insurance. and have the taxpayers paid for the health insurance. And I said I said, well.

How can that happen? He says, Well, the people that have been elected to town board. are really not Republicans anymore, they're the Democrats. The Democrats are taking over the town board. And so what I just want to tell you is that Oh, it's not a big step.

for the Muslims to now step over and take over the Republican Party. And so that that's what I want to tell you.

Well, Bob, I appreciate you calling in. And let me just say this: that when you do look at the Democrat Party, they have surrendered to the Muslims. There's no doubt about that. And of course, we're seeing that play out in many American cities. I suspect we're going to be seeing many, many more Islamists who are being elected to office.

And a lot of it has to do with the fact that Republicans are just terrified. Republicans don't want to be labeled as Islamophobic.

So I'm not terribly surprised by that. But I'm curious, what do you folks think is going on here? Because since President Trump was elected, Democrats so far have flipped more than two dozen seats. In Republican or battleground states, including Arkansas, by the way, and New Hampshire. Republicans, on the other hand, have not captured any Democrat seats at all.

So Democrats are making gains. And the argument is, well, you know, this just always happens. Really? Is that it? Or is there something else going on here?

901-260-5926, our number, that's 901-260-5926. This is the Todd Stern Show. If you're a therapist listening, you already know your work doesn't magically end when the session does. There's scheduling, notes, billing, insurance follow-ups, all of the admin that happens before and after the work you actually care about. That's where Simple Practice comes in.

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So, look, here's the situation, circling back to what Glenn Beck is very concerned about. He believes. that we are living in the end of days. He believes when you look at all of the signs that we are living in the time of the rapture. And you'll hear him talking about this.

The starting-off point was the fact that. The Islamists desecrated the 9-11 memorial for firefighters in New York City. When they draped the memorial with Muslim prayer rugs. They know what they were doing. I d I do not find that to be coincidental at all or incidental.

Here's the conversation with the great Glenback.

Well, joining me now is Glenn Back, host of the Glenn Back Program, founder of The Torch, and he has a very important documentary out exposing the Islamist blueprint for conquering the West. Glenn, good to see you. I'm just curious, what do you make of what happened at Fire Department headquarters there in New York City? You know, not knowing any of the groups involved, you know, I would only be speculating, but I after. After doing this documentary, it took us four months to make it.

And after Putting it together, I just don't believe that there's such a thing as a coincidence. I mean, it is a stated goal. to um Turn America into an Islamic state. Get rid of our constitution, our constitutional freedoms, and it is a very well-laid plan. I mean on the documentary we showed that A group that was actually tied to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is a terrorist organization.

Was scheduled to meet with George Bush in the Oval Office on 9-11. Uh, 2001. It was supposed to happen at 3:05 in the afternoon, and that just shows access. They have been working on access. for a very, very long time.

I had Senator Tommy Tubbervelt on the show just last week, and I want to play a bit of our conversation about this issue. I'm just wondering, do you have any regrets by what you posted? No, I don't have any regrets whatsoever, Todd. The enemy is inside our gates. We got them here.

Joe Biden and Barack Obama brought them here by the thousands. It's a disgrace. You know, if you preach or teach Sharia law, You need to go home. Yeah, Glenn, I know a lot of folks saw that. What do you think about what the senator just said there?

100% agree. If you're into Sharia law, that is absolutely un-American. It's not constitutional. And remember, Sharia law is a political and governmental base. It's not religious.

When we're talking Islamists, You're not talking a religion. You are talking about a political movement to overthrow countries and take control of the country. Um Sharia law, we cannot have two sets of laws. We can. We can't.

It will not survive. England is going through this. Germany is going through this. If we don't wake up now, they're about maybe, maybe five years ahead of us. But as the documents show that we showed on my special, America is the number one target.

for a global caliphate, they must have America, and they are targeting it, and it's time we take it seriously. After nine eleven, all we paid attention to were the explosions and the terror vests and the bombs and the airplanes and everything like that. We did not pay attention. In fact, we've ignored. What is happening in our own communities, dearborn?

How about Minnesota? What is happening? This is not a coincidence. This is not. They are not melting into our society.

This is a problem because for many, the goal is Sharia law.

So, Glenn, I want to talk about the documentary here, exposing the Islamist Blueprint for Conquering the West. And again, it is available exclusively on The Torch. You say that we're sort of missing the real long-game strategy here. Again, everybody wants to focus on 9-11 or the recent terror attacks. But what do you mean by the long-term strategy, long-game here?

At Global Caliphate. You know, you remember the days when I had a chalkboard. um years ago and I put on the chalkboard Islamists Socialist, communist, radicals, anarchists will work together. To destabilize the Middle East, Europe. And America.

to overthrow the Western world. And everyone said that was crazy on so many fronts. One, they would never work together. The Green Red Alliance. I didn't even know what that was.

I'm not even sure it was named that when I first put that chalkboard up. It is the alliance of the Marxist Those radicals, along with the green radicals, which are the Islamists. uh the ones who want uh Sharia law. They are working hand in hand because they have one goal in hand, and that is the destruction of the Western world, the destruction of capitalism. It is well documented.

I mean, go to Stop the Conquest. If you watch the special, I think on Thursday, I'm coming out with a. A handbook on it that gives you all of the documents in their own words, what they are saying they're doing to America. You know, in 1999, I was on the air at WABC, and I actually stood up for the action that Bill Clinton took when he bombed the aspirin factory. I don't know if you remember that.

And the reason why, I said, he's going after a guy named Osama bin Laden. And I had not heard of him before, but I looked him up that day and I read his words. And no one took me seriously then. And I said, I'm telling you, within 10 years, there will be blood bodies and buildings in the streets of Manhattan, and it will have his name on it. That was 1999, 2001.

We saw his work. The same warning I issue now. They are telling us what they're doing. In their own words, they're telling us what they're doing to the West. We must pay attention.

Have to. Glenn, here's what concerns me. I'm an evangelical, and I don't see our evangelical churches standing up en masse to this fight, even so much as educating Christians about what the Islamists really want. I think we're certainly seeing a robust experience, people going back to the Catholic Church. But do you see the Christian community at large here in America understanding what I consider to be a clear and present danger?

So, I will tell you, I'll go further than you will, and probably most will, and probably what's good for me. But I believe there is a possibility that we are living in the end of days. They especially what's happening in with the Twelvers in Iran. I've been talking about them for thirty years. They were so radical that the Ayatollah Khomeini said they could not be part of the revolution.

Which, by the way, the revolution to overthrow Iran was Marxist. Taking the colleges and the Islamists, taking all of the religious. Combining and overthrowing. And then, after the Islamist revolution with the Marxists, they killed all the Marxists. But anyway, the Twelvers are so dangerous because they believe.

That the twelfth Imam, the Mahadi, is coming. And when you wash the world in blood, The Mahadi will come, and that will bring, they will bring Jesus, who they believe will testify to Allah. Um and say to Christians, you're on the wrong side. They are right now. Many of the Twelvers in Shia Islam are saying that Donald Trump is the Dijal, the antichrist.

They are fighting a religious battle. Whether you like it or not, it doesn't matter. They are, right? Thomas Jefferson said, Our first foreign war was with the Barbary pirates, the Muslims. He didn't understand.

He got the Koran, read the Koran, printed the Quran. I have one of the first American copies in English of the Quran from Jefferson. He put a warning in there. One of the things he said at the end of that war, because we didn't finish the job, he said, we must pay attention to these people. He said, they are serious about their religion.

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Uh All right, let's try to work in some calls here at 901-260-5926. I'm telling you, I've got so much material to talk about. We're going to try to get it all in. But, Dylan, before we go to the phones, I got to tell you: guess who's going to be on the Newsmax show? This is very exciting tonight on Newsmax.

The guy from High Point University on the basketball team, the guy who scored the shot that took them, you know, they what beat was it. Who do they beat? Wisconsin. Wisconsin, yeah. Wisconsin.

So that dude is going to be on the show tonight. That's awesome. And I'm going to tell him: I had you guys in the brackets. There you go. I was the true believer.

One of the two teams that you actually wrote down. You have to say that. I also wrote in the Mormons, but I don't think that counts. No offense to Donnie and Marie and the Osmonds. That's exciting, though.

Yeah, it's pretty exciting. It's going to be a lot of fun. 5 o'clock Eastern. All right, let's go to the phones here. Robert in Georgia.

Robert, what is on your mind?

Well, I feel that uh The Cats are in our country as the Democratic Party. The demon possessed.

So you believe the Democrats are demon-possessed. Is that right, Robert? Oh US and that's it. Only an idiot can't see it. Give me some what are some clues?

What you know, you're you're making this assertion here that and I'm not disagreeing with you because I call them demon rats myself, but what is it what is it that clued you in that these folks are demon possessed? Schumer needs to go to an airplane. And what what body and the Democratic Party has done to this country Letting these people in. It's craziness. He said B.

But before a final score I'd be shot.

Well, Robert, look, here's the deal: if anybody has committed treason and they've got the evidence, I got no problem putting them on trial. And whatever the law says we ought to do, we ought to do. But you've got to go through the court process for something like that. Robert, thanks for the call. That sort of escalated quickly, did it not, Dylan?

Just a little bit. Yeah. It is what it is. It's update. What are you going to do?

Let's go to Ron in Salem, Oregon, listening to us on K-Y-K-N. Ron, what's on your mind? Oh, man, you need to play chef because I'm going to tell you right now, Well, our problem is I'm watching Michael Steele two point zero with the RNC chairman, and I've been involved with the Republican Party for ten years. And I'm going to tell you right now, This top-down mentality, oh, we're in the Pharisees' seats, everything's good because we got an election. And we're 0 and 12, not counting the 13th when we lost a congressional defeat down in Tarrant, Texas.

Um It's wrong. It's it's it's it's it's complacency. It's just like what Ben Franklin said: if you forsake your liberty for security, you deserve neither. And they're just going alone and just saying, we know what's best. Grassroots don't know much.

And uh, you know. If Laura Trump and Michael Watley ran the RNC, They were always proactive, even before they even took the seats and discussed things and tried to rally the base, the grassroots, and trusted, and listened. And the point is, when we when we're going as far as when people have conversations, you think I'm gonna use Zoom with China? Giving information to the DSA to the Democrats and your enemies? No.

Ron, may I ask you a question? Do you hear music somewhere, Brock? Is that just me? Oh. Right on, brother.

I'm telling you right now, I'm ready to dance. Uh-oh. I'm getting my soul on. Oh, yes. We better get the song trained dancers out right now.

Don't have to get BB. Hey, now. Hey now. Shut your mouth. Shut your mouth.

No, right, bro. Right. Keep that going there, Dylan. You know, Ron, it's interesting because when we're, you know, you raise a great point, and I do wonder if these Republicans really do want to win. And I'm leaning towards a national conspiracy where they're trying to sabotage Trump and they want to shut down his agenda.

I exactly agree with you because here's the point. People view they're like the Pharisees in Je Jesus Christ's time. They allowed a sit and sees in the peace Jezebel and Ahabs and Caesars. And say they're doing something while they let the people suffer and be deceived by the devil's intents. I think, Ron, what you're trying to say is that the Republicans are giving President Trump.

the shaft. That's right. I'm sad to say, but we need Jesus. Put this to the grain of sand, we can get power. We have the history, we have the Bible, and we gotta have a little season of faith.

And if we can go through and talk to the people instead of trying to use data and media, what they're doing in my state, and think that's gonna get you across the finish line, when I talk to over 484 people since October, over 6,400 since 2021, don't matter, Democrat, Republicans, Americans. And the three things they say: law and order, don't mutilate our children, criminal rights. At the same time, we got with a peasant truck opening up 2.5 million acres in the middle of the market. All right, brother man. Brother Man, we got to leave it, Ron.

All right.

Good man right there. Dylan, how long is this intro? 20 more minutes left. Sweet Lord. We're gonna have to ask for another hour.

Oh, here's the text machine dollar chips. Todd. Oh, I'm sorry, Shane. Duncan. Who is the man that would risk his neck for his brother man?

Donald. Can you drunk? It's a Yeah, I I can dig it. Uh yes. Yeah.

Maybe we need a new theme song for the Todd Stern Show. I would not be opposed to this. Right? I yeah, I mean, it's. I've got a little bit of soul.

I've got some rhythm. Yeah, it would take away half your segment, but. You could do it. Could you imagine poor Marcia Blackbird? You know what, though?

She'd be sitting in her office. She'd be doing a little bit of a move. She's got the move. Come on, Marcia. You know she's a good dancer.

I didn't know this. It's true. That's the rumor. I'm just saying. All right.

Thank you, Dylan. Oh my word. What? We have already lost control of the show. This is not good.

By the way, coming up in just a few moments, we're excited to introduce you to a great American patriot, one of the top business owners in Memphis. And President Trump invited him to be a part of this incredible roundtable on crime in Memphis, Tim Pugh, co-owner of Pugh's Flowers. By the way, Is it true that the lovely Helen, our call screener, got flowers today? From Peace Truth. Confirmed.

Very nice. Liz Peake is going to be joining us as well. Also, our good buddies from Strategic Financial Partners are going to be along with that, as well as Jeff Stein from KXEL, who's just texting me. And I have no idea why, but he's sending me photographs.

So we'll fill you in on all of that. That sounded weird, didn't it? I didn't know it. Oh, I think it's a pork cutlet. We have some very interesting folks.

Now, follow this show. All right, hang tight, everybody. Hour two of the big show coming up.

Now, this sounded euphemism, it really is a giant porn cutlunch. We'll be right back, everybody. Live from the Liberty University Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, it's common sense conservative commentary from Todd Starn. I love Love is American. And rise.

And hello and Everybody, welcome to the Todd Stearns Radio Show. Great to have you with us. Hour two of the conversation underway. I got some notes in the break about the Glenn Beck interview we did in the last hour. If you missed a portion of that, you can download our podcast.

Go to toddstearns.com. That is a free podcast for you there. And you'll be able to listen to all of that conversation with Glenn, who, by the way, is going to be joining us on the radio live for a very long-form conversation.

So we're working out all the details there. CPAC, hopefully, we'll see you guys down there in Dallas, scheduled to lead a panel tomorrow on faith and politics.

So those are the two topics you're really not allowed to talk about or shouldn't talk about, but we're going to be talking about them at CPAC tomorrow in Dallas. By the way, our telephone number, if you want to weigh in on the conversation today, 901-260-5926. That's 901-260-5926.

Well, crime has been a big issue across the nation. I think a number of George Soros. Style district attorneys, soft on crime, defending the criminals and treating victims as if they're the bad guys. And it has been mayhem in our country. As a matter of fact, Memphis, Tennessee, the deadliest city in America, the most violent city in America.

A city controlled for decades by the politics and the policies of the Democrats. President Trump was on this very radio program. I told him about how bad things were. He promised he would look into it. And a few months later, National Guard boots on the ground here in The Bluff City.

Well, a few days ago, I was invited to visit with the president backstage before his roundtable discussion in Memphis. We had a wonderful conversation. And for the president, You know, ultimately, everything sort of falls back to business. And when you've got high crime, you've got bad business. It's not good for business.

And so, a part of the roundtable, the president invited one of the most prominent businessmen in Memphis to be a part of the conversation. His name is Tim Pugh, and he is the co-owner of Pugh's Flowers. And it's a wonderful flower shop, and we utilize them for all sorts of things, and they do a wonderful job. And Tim is joining us in the studio in Memphis today. Tim, good to see you.

Nice to see you.

So, congratulations. That must have been quite the experience being up there on the podium with the President of the United States. It was amazing. First time I'd ever done anything like that. I don't know how well I did.

But it was amazing to meet him and all the people on the panel and backstage.

So, you had a chance to. Did you have a chance to talk to the president one-on-one? Not a lot. Most of the other people hung around for a while. Uh They had said before we met, my wife actually said, Do you think I'll meet Trump?

And he said, Well, he. He really wants to go to Graceland after, so he may. Head out the back door afterwards, which he did. I briefly talked to him for a minute or two. He told me.

Good job, I'm proud of you, just really nice girl. You know, the whole day it was just somewhat surreal, but to see Memphis on display really for the whole nation, I'm just curious, you know, the message that you brought for folks that maybe were not watching it in real time, what was the message that you brought to the President?

Well, they'd asked me, we have, of course, our flower business and our landscape business. And we've been affected by crime. We've had a van stolen, we would go up to somebody's door, deliver flowers, turn around and the van would be gone. You know, it's ridiculous. We'd had uh We've had trucks stolen at gunpoint from our landscape drivers.

We've had to make sure we lock equipment on a job site while we're there. We've had to put cameras and electric fence around our main store for all our landscape equipment and trucks.

So it's affected us. And I've been here all my life. My parents were raised here.

So we go way back in Memphis, and so the crime is an issue for everyone. I didn't want to go and get political, but if Biden had a sentence, The task force again invited me. I'd have gone, and so I knew I'd get some backlash, but I went and I was proud to do it. and I told him that the crime is way down. Have you noticed that?

I mean, from your employees, the folks that are out there, have they noticed that there's been a drop in crime? I've got a this is about a month ago.

Some of the girls who worked, the flower designers, they're in their 20s. They came back on a Monday. And I'm like, what are y'all talking about? I was so excited. We went to Bill Street last night.

She goes, It's the safest place we've ever been. Had their pictures taken with the FBI, the National Guard, and they said, We felt so safe, we hadn't been in years.

So I mean just Things like that you hear all around. We were having, as you probably know, carjackings. Almost on a daily basis, where I wouldn't let my wife go pump pump her own gas. And and now I haven't heard of one. You see, people, when they hear that, they're like, no, that can't be.

Really? In America? But that was our way of life. It was, and it was everywhere. Good parts of town, bad parts of town.

So you wanted to pump gas before it got dark. And you always looked at your surroundings. And it has really changed. Oh, here's one for you. When I had just moved back from living in New York City for 15 years, moved back to Memphis, and I was at the traffic light in front of the Ruth's Chris, which is a really nice part of town.

And the light turned, and the car in front of me did not move.

So I just did a little, you know, the love tap. As soon as I did, the gun comes out the side of the car. And the driver was, you know, fortunately, I guess he was in a good mood and didn't shoot me. But you're like, geez, Lou, you just don't think about those kinds of things happening in an American town. No, but it really happened in Memphis.

I would tell my wife, she gets all frustrated in traffic and will hold her hands up. And I'm like, Christy, you know what that means. And so you cannot do that. Just. Just be quiet and pay attention and let them go in front of you or whatever.

Just be calm. That's it. I mean, you got to do what you got to do. But again, after a while, you almost, I think for the mom who was there, and she was, she told her story originally on the radio station, KWAM, our station here in Memphis, and then came on our Newsmax show. And the idea that she could let her kid play in the front yard and she could sit on her front porch and drink iced tea really moved a lot of people, I think.

It did. I mean, that's the way we grew up. I went to. Uh uh Public school out in Raleigh, Craigmont High School. And we just didn't have the crime then.

You just didn't think about it. As probably you know, when we were kids, we left the house on a summer morning and you came home for dinner, then you left again until your curfew. And your parents had no idea where you were, but they weren't too worried about you. That's right. That's right.

Don't come back home until the streetlights come on. Exactly.

Nowadays, you want to make sure your kid has their cell phone and you're checking where they are always. And I think the president did a great job of conveying that this is, look, this is a universal problem with us. It's not a black problem or a white problem. It's an everybody problem. And we all want the same things for our kids.

We don't want them to get shot at going to a park, like the poor little seven-year-old boy that was robbed at gunpoint of his $10. You know, people should not have to live like that. No, they shouldn't. And, you know, like even if you're in school, we knew that. The top 10 kids that made all the trouble.

You get rid of those top 10, you've got a safe school. It's the same thing in the city, they know the top. five hundred criminals, you you get them off the streets and you don't have the crime anymore. Tim Pugh is joining us here in the studio. He is the co-owner of Pugh's Flowers, P-U-G-H, Pugh's Flowers.

And you guys do deliver nationally, right? We do. I'm just going to tell you, every Monday we get these incredible flower arrangements sent to us here at the radio show. Just unbelievably gifted and talented the designers are that you guys have.

Well, thank you. It's a family business. It's me, my two brothers, and our landscape company and flower shops. My three children work in it. My niece works in the business, so it's a truly a Family business.

So tell me, you mentioned it's a family business, and you guys have been here for so very long. Tell us about how the Pews story started here.

Well, it's been 50 years this year. Uh my father was a a banker in the mid seventies. got tired of uh Bureaucracy and politics and banking, and quit one day. He had worked at a flower shop in high school here in Memphis and decided he would. buy a small flower shop.

And so he did in the late 70s, and then about seven, eight years later, he suddenly got cancer and passed away.

So I was 19, my brother was older, we decided to ask my mom and his partner if they would take a note and let us buy it.

So they did.

So it's me, my two brothers, A few years later, we needed to grow. Make more money. There's three of us, you know.

So, my younger brother started a landscape and brought that in with us, and so it's grown a lot. You know, I um. And that's really what I want the radio station to be K-Wham. I moved back home, bought the news radio station, and I really felt it was important for us to have a local station, a locally owned radio station, so we could talk about the issues that a lot of other stations are not allowed to talk about by their corporate overlords. And one of those was, in fact, crime.

And I think our lawmakers understood when people would be calling in to the radio shows or going on our social media platforms, they realized, oh, wait a second, this is a lot worse off than we thought it was. Yeah, you really don't realize if you're around the country in your own little world, Um We would constantly tell our children there's no need to go downtown on Friday night or you don't need to go downtown on Saturday night. Just stay out east or whatever. And so you worry about them.

Now it's really changed. You feel it's different. You know the st statistics. Crime is down way over 40% and 50% In some categories, but you also can feel it. You can feel it, right?

You're absolutely right. You can feel it. It's, I don't know, the Gen Zers call it a vibe. You know, I mean, it's a great vibe. Did I use that correctly, Dylan?

Are we vibing? Yeah, it's good. No, no, you got to help us, Tim and I. We're kind of the same. The vibe is good.

The vibes are good. What are the vibes? Yeah. Okay, thank you. I've got to learn from my children.

They're in their 20s. I tell you, it's tough. It's tough. But thank you for that, Dylan. But it does.

Now you don't worry about your kids as much. You don't see the cars going around the expressway at 110 miles an hour, almost cutting you off. And the highway patrol came in a few months ago, very strong. And it's all of everybody together: Memphis Police, Shelby County Police, they're all working together, which is making it work. I was at Target.

about a month ago. and in the parking lot there was Memphis police, Uh Shelby County Police. FBI, National Guard, they're all in a big group just Talking, kind of laughing, huddled up, hanging out. You're like, God, that's perfect. They're all doing the same thing.

That's what it's all about. I know our good buddy Jim Lesapio, he owns Rum Boogie down on Beale Street and Dale's over in South Haven. And you walk into those restaurants or pubs or whatever, you're going to get a free meal if you're wearing a uniform. And I just love how the business community has really embraced the National Guard and the task force, but not just the business owners giving free food or chiropractor work or whatever, but also the citizens just saying thank you. And one of the things that really bothered me, and somebody sent me a note about this yesterday, all the media coverage, they did not mention how many people in, like, for example, the minority communities were out there saying, Welcome to Memphis, President Trump.

They didn't put those folks on the TV. And I think, well, crime is not political, only for politicians.

So I was I was at Win uh uh Walmart on Winchester, it's in Hickory Hill part of town. Uh last Sunday before last. And there was National Guard in there. And no matter what color you are, everybody was just happy to see them. Because they're like, oh, probably not going to be a crime in here today.

Right. It's a great point.

Now, that being said, so the president invited you as a patriotic American, you accepted the invitation, and it was a wonderful event. And it really wasn't about politics, it was just about fixing crime and dealing with crime here. And I understand you've actually been getting blowback for being on that panel. Is that true? Yes, I went on there because I love Memphis.

My family lives here. My new grandbaby lives here. I want it to be safe.

So I knew anything you do that has a Trump name on it, there's going to be people that go crazy.

So I knew it before I went on, but I said it. Even if it was Joe Biden and he brought a huge task force to Memphis and made us safer, I would do the same.

So I thought that's not going to be political, even though it's probably going to be perceived that way.

So I went on and and and told them what I thought, that my family lived here. It is safer. I said, I get an email every Friday from the mayor, and we all do, if you're subscribed to it, and he talks about crime statistics. Last Friday he said it's well down over 40 and 50 percent.

So that wasn't me saying it, that's me, the mayor, saying it, and I can feel it, and I said that. And so I didn't go as political as excited to go, of course. And it was it was a lot of fun. And you've gotten some blowback, though. Oh, I've gotten a lot.

Well, I had to get off social media. Because I've been getting a lot of blowback, which I knew I probably would. Uh yeah my daughter, she's my big protector, so she's been going on there. She finally had to get off to it. I said, Just let's just all get off and maybe it'll blow over.

Well, no, and it will. It will. And I think the average folks here in Memphis, they love you guys, and we all feel the same way about the crime situation. And I know our national audience as well. And like I said, folks, Pews Flowers does deliver nationally.

And I want to give their website address. I want you to write this down.

So if you want flowers, we use these guys, and they're just so wonderful. pews.com, P-U-G-H-S.com, Pews.com. And why don't you show them some love and check out the great flower arrangements they have? And again, just we just appreciate what you guys are doing to make Memphis great. Thank you so much, Todd.

I mean, it's all about. Our beautiful city. It really is. It really is. We have great flowers here, and we got great chocolate.

You know, Becky Dingel's a big fan of the radio show. Yeah, she's great. You have great candy. You guys, you guys are the combo platter for a great Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. All right.

Well, we sure appreciate you coming on today, and we wish you guys nothing but the very best. And thank you for being a part of that great roundtable. Thank you for having me. All right.

We've got to take a quick break here, folks. Our telephone number, 901-260-5926. Again, that's 901-260-5926. I want you to, we're going to give out the website address a few more times: pews.com, P-U-G-H-S.com. Go check them out.

Get some flowers. Tim Pugh and his great team are going to take very good care of you. We'll be right back, everybody. All right, coming up, Liz Peak's going to drop by. We're talking politics.

Wrote a little something that got me in trouble on Twitter last night. I will share all of that as well. But I want to circle back here. May I just say that. The Pughes family here in the Memphis, Tennessee area.

They are just as good as gold. And it really angered me that you've got the leftist mob. And the only thing that he did was accept an invitation from the president. That's it. And this is just an incredible business owner.

They do so much good for our community. But let me just tell you something. I'm not like a. You know, I'm not a visual flower kind of a guy, but I know what looks good, right? You know, it's, I'm not one of these, you know, abstract artist guys, you know, where you got all this crap plastered on the wall, and, you know, I don't know, whatever, and they call it modern art.

I don't, but I know when I see something that looks beautiful, it's like, I know that that is like, wow, that's beautiful. And these guys do it with their flower arrangements, and they are just. Unbelievable. They're really stunning. And every Monday they deliver a beautiful arrangement to us here at our news bunker.

And I want you to go to their website because they have a lot of great Easter flowers, Mother's Day coming up. And I know many of you order your flowers. I want you to order it from a family that loves America. And they are patriotic. And that's what we do on this program: we support patriotic.

Patriotic businesses in this country.

So, again, the website address is pews.com, P-U-G-H-S.com, and you'll see their slogan: Bask in Beauty, the First Fragrance of Springtime.

So just take a big, mmm, that smells good. Yeah, that's, no, the beautiful, the flowers smell great too. Anyway, pews.com, go check them out. Order something, show them some love. We need to stand alongside our patriotic businesses.

Liz Peake coming up next. All right, welcome back, everybody. It is the Todd Sterns radio show. I want to go right away to the Patriot mobile newsmaker line and say hello to our good friend Liz Peak. She is the proprietor of LizPeak.com.

And also one of my favorite writers in America. Liz, hope you're doing well today. I am, although I have to tell you, I'm very concerned about this. Democrat upset in South Florida, which You know, it's a local seat, it's a state seat in Florida, but it is exactly the kind of Outcome, Todd, that people in Florida, people in Texas are panicked over. these states where you've had this huge influx of Democrats fleeing The high taxes and unaffordable living in New York and New Jersey and Illinois and California, they arrive in places like Texas and Florida, and what do they do?

Lifelong Democrats, they revert to form and they start voting Democrat. I mean, it's really an unbelievably stupid, mindless thing to do, but that's what's going on. And I think people are really concerned about it. I'm concerned about it. having bought a place in Florida, the last thing you want Is for everything to turn around and you know, Florida starts looking like New York.

And I know this is like. You know, only one indicator, but it's sort of like the nose under the tent, right?

Well, look, we talked about this earlier in the show. We actually had a guy who lives in the Ocala area who is from New York, and he's a good guy. He's a Republican, and he maintained his Republican status when he moved to Florida. But he said this is a big problem. And when you.

I was looking at some of the data from last night, Liz, and the issue was not Republicans not showing up. The Republicans showed up in their regular numbers, but the problem was, you know, there were just a lot more Democrats who voted.

Now, people tell me, Starnes. We don't have anything to worry about.

However, Liz, according to the New York Times, more than two dozen seats have flipped since the presidential election, and they've all flipped in favor of the Democrats and not the other way. What is going on here?

Well, you know, I think that it's um It's one thing to have Trump on the ballot as we did last year. year and a half ago. Uh and he carried a great many candidates. I think that is a fair statement. He was popular, and he campaigned on popular issues.

People were very concerned about the open border of Joe Biden, concerned about law and order. Uh So I think Trump was a very powerful positive element. And now, what the New York Times would say, and I don't think you can totally dispute this. There is such hatred for this President now. Yes, he his base is intact, but the other side Is like Brainless.

I mean, the fury and anger and hatred being. Directed at Donald Trump is actually something incredible to me. And when you see people on the progressive left, people like Chris Murphy, who is a really detestable Senator from Connecticut. Talking about how ICE agents are gonna go into the airports and they're gonna kill people. I think he literally said that.

Or you know, others sort of talking about how Iran Is the worst mistake we've ever made. This, while our men and women in uniform are over there trying to win a war. you just have to sort of say people are unbalanced on the other side. And There is enormous amounts of misinformation, pure out-and-out lies about. The Trump administration about what they're doing, et cetera, about ICE and You know, so I think I think a lot of people don't really do their own homework and don't really try to get to the bottom of all these issues.

They really hate Donald Trump and they're trying to Act that out or act out by voting against a Republican that has any kind of endorsement. This guy, Maples, in South Florida, was endorsed by Donald Trump. And he I've seen ads by him. He's a very attractive black businessman. I have no idea why he lost.

And you, I think, have done more research. I am just beginning to read it. It's it's pretty discouraging. It is discouraging. And, you know, again, I just think these are wake-up calls.

When you look at what happened, look at what happened in Virginia and the elections. And I think there the Republicans seem to be, there seems to be a bit of a groundswell now to stop the redistricting effort. But that is going to be, it's going to be problematic for us in the midterms. And again, I'm with you. I do think this hatred of Donald Trump.

But Liz, I'm also wondering about these, and I wanted to do the name calling, but the social media influencers and the podcasters, do you think that's causing rifts in the America First Movement, the Conservative Movement. You know, I tend to discount that, and perhaps at my peril, because I find these people. And I will name them: Tucker Carlson, and the others who are Candace Owens and so forth, who are.

So loud and so strident in there.

Now um Their sort of anger at Donald Trump. for engaging with Iran, for trying to suppress forty-seven years of terror in the Middle East. But they seem like wingnuts to me. And I really can't. I would love to think that conservatives generally are too smart to think that Israel is the master puppet pulling the strings.

Has anyone ever tried to pull Donald Trump by the nose to do anything? Nobody, I mean, the biggest complaint about Donald Trump in His inner circle is that no one can convince him to do anything. He wants to do what he wants to do.

So the idea that. VG B Netanyahu is behind Are getting into a war in the Middle East, I think it's crazy. I actually think these people are slightly lunatic. And they are driven, Todd. By the fact that they have to create their own revenues, they have to create their own presence.

And the more, and you and I both know, the more outrageous you are, the bigger footprint you have these days. And sadly, that's true on the right as well as on the left. And I refuse to go there. I think you refuse to go there. It's just too.

offensive to bend your convictions and the truth To get a few more clicks. And I think that's what they're doing. Liz, a thousand percent. I am in such agreement with you on this. And you're right.

It's for many of them, it's about the almighty dollar. When you're, and we use the example, it's like, okay, let's just say for your entire career, you've been pro-life and pro-Israel. And then one day you announce I'm pro-choice and I'm, you know, anti-Israel. And all of a sudden, you're driving around in a, you know, a Rolls-Royce and you're buying beachside property. You're wondering, wait a second, was this some sort of a genuine ideological shift, or are you being paid to change your opinion?

And you hate to think that, but the reality is they're calling people like Mark Levin. I mean, just think about this: Mark Levin, President Trump, Mike Huckabee, Franklin Graham now are, I guess, enemies of the state, according to a lot of these podcasters and influencers. It's absurd. It's absurd. It's hateful.

And it's totally divisive, as you said. But again, I just hope that there are enough people with common sense Again, who do their own homework and kind of come to their own realizations? For me, probably the greatest outrage is that they've turned on Winston Churchill. Oh my God. Anybody who has read anything about the history of World War II reveres Winston Churchill.

He was a bold, courageous leader at a time when otherwise England, frankly, would have been gone. I mean, you know, they needed someone to stand up and lead that country in a perilous time. I tell you what, I think Donald Trump is that person here in our country today. And I cannot explain to you anyway, the answer is I relegate them in my head to a fringe, nonsensical group. I could be wrong.

It could be that they are hurting him. When you look at the polling, Todd, it doesn't really seem that way. It seems like most of the people who voted for Donald Trump are still pretty much on his team. Yeah, I think so. And again, there's a lot to wash out between now and Election Day.

And we'll see how all this plays out. But I think alarm bells should be sounding. I've been really, really disappointed in the RNC. I just don't see them being effective anywhere right now. And I don't know what that's all about, but they've got to get it together.

Yeah, I agree with you. And it's not like they don't have money. They do. And I don't know whether they're spending it in the wrong places. Um I don't know.

In New York, uh where I live, You can't really read much from that because the New York Republican Party is sclerotic at best. That's the best description I can give it. Uh and not very aggressive. But elsewhere, for example, in this little special election in Florida, I also think, Todd, in a place like this, my guess is. Or in a place like South Florida, there's a certain complacency.

I mean, this area has been pretty much Republican-dominated, Republican successful for so long. Maybe they're just not I'm guessing they just didn't think it was a big challenge, and so the RNC may not have gotten involved here. I don't know. You know, just to show you how crazy people are, just before you came on, of course, the president was in Memphis to do the big roundtable and got a chance to be with the president and the attorney general. And people here are just so excited and delighted.

And they invited a local business owner. His name is Tim Pugh. They own a flower shop here, very successful flower shop. And he was just explaining, he was invited on the panel as a businessman to say, yeah, you know, we've had to like lock down our flower. You know, our flower trunks have been stolen during deliveries.

It's insane. Do you realize the flower shop is now coming under attack because he dared accept the president's invitation? It's insane. Oh, how sad. It's a little bit like the hockey team, men's hockey team, getting blasted by so many people for going to the Oval Office, going to the White House to meet President Trump.

If you were a young person and you had just achieved a marvelous victory in the Olympics and represented our country, don't you think you deserve to go to the White House if you want to and if you're invited? I mean, honestly, I really, again, the level of hatred that I see out there. For President Trump, I've never seen anything like it focused on one person. Interestingly, I Talked to some people who had dinner at Mar-a-Lago the other night. He was there, and they said he was in a great mood.

You know, he was clearly enjoying himself. I don't think. I mean, the amazing thing is it isn't getting to him, Todd. How can it not get to him? He is so.

sure that what he's doing is the best thing he can be doing for our country, that I think all these attacks from the left are just sort of bouncing off him like ping pong balls. He just doesn't care. And good for him because it isn't he isn't cowering in his corner. He's not Chuck Schumer scared to death of AOC primarying him. Trump knows he's got to do what he's got to do.

He only has two more years left or two and a half. And so he's going to do what he thinks is right. And boy, that's a great place to be. It really is. And let me tell you something.

He was in a great mood in Memphis, and he was so excited. He got a private tour of Graceland, and the man was in hog heaven. I mean, he's living his best life.

So good for him. He deserves it. After all they've thrown at him, all the nastiness and the vilification and two attempts on his life, etc. I got to tell you, if he wants to go to Graceland and have a good time, he sure deserves that. And Liz Peak, there's no excuse.

The president has visited the jungle room.

Now we need to get Liz Peak down to Tennessee. I will do that one of these days. I would love to do it. We're going to make it happen. We're going to make it happen.

All right, Liz. Thank you. Great, great analysis. As always, LizPeak.com. Have a great one, Liz.

You two, take care. All right.

Great lady right there. Could you imagine Liz Peak doing like karaoke, like hunk of burning love or something like that, Dylan? I guarantee you she's got a good singing voice. She seems like she would, like a secret talent. Right.

No, I'm telling you. We've got to get, we need to have like, we need to have like a family radio show reunion. Yes. Bring every all the listeners, everybody comes to. I'm wondering, you know, we should ask our listeners: would you guys like to do something like that?

And we could like do the whole radio show. We could have Liz and Mary Walter and. Steve Gill. All those folks like on stage together. And we have to sing karaoke, obviously.

Oh, definitely. Maybe we do the whole thing at Gracely. You know, they got a great hotel over there. We could just do the whole thing over there.

Sounds like a great time. By the way, Jeff Stein says, Todd, we're celebrating National Ag Day Farmer Appreciation Luncheon. And all I can tell you is they eat well in Iowa. Oh, I got the pork there, cornbread. Looks like something corn pudding, maybe?

I don't know. Corn casserole. Stein will give us an update on the menu. Anyway, well, happy. Happy National Ag Day to all of our good friends over in Farm Country.

We got to take a break going right to the phones. 901-260-5926. What do you guys think about this? Should we do like a weekend, like Todd Stern Show family reunion? 901-260-5926.

We'll be right back. All right.

Tonight, 5 o'clock Eastern, the Todd Stern Show on Newsmax, Chase Johnston joins us. He's the star of the High Point University basketball team. Also, Congressman Andy Ogles joins us. And we're going to be talking to a lady who uncovered a huge scandal at a school out in Washington State, an anti-Trump art teacher. By the way, speaking of Newsmax, they've got a wonderful deal.

free of charge for all of our listeners. There's a new study out that shows 70% of Americans don't get the full benefits they need or they deserve from Social Security, but we have discovered five key strategies to increase your benefits by as much as $188,000 over a lifetime. It's all in a free special report, courtesy of Newsmax. Give them a call. You can get it free, 800-999-9690.

That's 800-999-9690. That's call now, 800-999-9690. Text and data rates may apply. Let's go to North Carolina. Charles is on the line.

Hi, Charles. What's going on? Hey, Todd, I was just listening to you the conversation you were having with Liz Pink and just wanted to weigh in on that. I'm concerned about what happened in Florida at the state level as well. But Todd, I think what's going on there is is All an indicator of just a lack of enthusiasm among Republican voters because of their the Republicans' lack of getting anything done at the national level.

I think that it people are just getting weary and they're getting picked off. And case in point is this Save Act guide. I mean, you've got 80% of the country. and supermajorities of Democrats, Republicans and Independents that want this thing passed. And yet it's not passed.

And I don't understand. You spoke with President Trump last week, and maybe you guys talked about this. If so, I'd like to hear about it. I think that the President needs to do like an address to the nation to give it more of a sense of urgency. And he needs to explain to the American people what the Save Act is and why we need to pass it, given everything that happened in 2016, 2020.

The 15 million illegal aliens. Assassinations attempt, all of this stuff. He needs to go before the nation, lay it out. and just demand that this act is going to pass. And he's going to invoke Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution.

which is an emergency legislative session Of Congress, he can do both houses or just one, but emergency session of the Senate and tell John Dune. that the senators are not leaving Washington, D.C. until they pass the State Act. That can be one week, it can be seven months. but they're staying there and they're doing their jobs.

We haven't come this far to risk losing it all by allowing a bunch of illegal aliens to influence the twenty sixth and twenty eight election. It's just that important.

Well, it is important. And we're Charles, I'm going to talk more about this coming up in just a few moments at the top of the next hour. I have a lot to say about that. And the big concern now is senators going into recess, possibly, without voting on the Save Act. If that happens, We're going to have major problems in the midterms.

Charles, it's a great thought. Hang tight, everybody. Got to take a break. 901-260-5926 is our number. That's 901-260-5926.

We'll be right back, everybody. You're going to stick around and hear what I've got to say. Live from the Liberty University Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, it's America's conservative blowtorch. Bye. I love Love is American.

And rub. Todd Star. All right.

Well, hello. I just want to give you an update here. Chucky Schumer. Has Has decided it's his way or the highway. He says there will be no compromise that Republicans must.

Capitulate to every single one of their demands when it comes to reopening Homeland Security. Ladies and gentlemen, at some point At some point, we're either going to have to determine that the Democrats are in control of Washington or we're going to have to light a fire under these Republicans. But Chuck Schumer is doubling down now and saying they will not be. They will not be making a deal with Republicans. They say Republicans have to capitulate on.

Everything. All right.

Wow. We'll keep you updated. But That's what's going on. By the way, may I just say something here about Florida? And the fact that the Florida Republicans just lost two House seats.

Last night, President Trump. Mar-a Lago now being represented by a Democrat, One of the reasons why is that there's a sense of complacency. And you heard Liz Pete talking about this. Do you realize that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis did not put out any messages yesterday? Urging people to get out and vote.

urging Republicans to get out and vote.

Now I'm just telling you, I am seeing this at the local level. I'm seeing this kind of attitude at the state level and now at the national level, where these Republicans think that you guys owe them something. That the Republicans don't have to work for anything. And I've seen this sort of holier-than-thou attitude coming from a lot of these Republicans. And a lot of them, and I told the story yesterday of one Republican leader, they wanted to do something nice for the donors, for the big dollar donors.

So they bought these little White House Christmas ornaments and they put them in wrapping paper with Donald Trump's face on it. And they said, no, no, no, no, no, we can't do that. We're moving on. We're moving on from Trump.

So there there's a lot of that going on here.

Well, you know what? Donald J. Trump is still your president, ladies and gentlemen. And I don't know who in the Republican Party needs to hear that, but Donald J. Trump.

is still your president. And the fact that we're not knocking down doors for every single election. That is incredibly disturbing to me. As a matter of fact, most people in Florida didn't even realize on the Republican side of the aisle, they didn't even realize there was an election yesterday.

So it's time to have a swift kick in the pants when it comes to the Republicans because. They are heading us. They're they're heading towards a cliff. I want to read to you what generated a lot of controversy, a lot of buzz on X yesterday. Late last night.

Here's what I posted. And again, I try to, you know, I speak more bluntly to you. This great radio audience, because I know you guys know where I'm coming from, and you kind of hear the tone and the tenor of my words. And you know, it's all coming from a good spot. I don't really begrudge anybody, I don't hate anybody.

I just. I want the Republicans to do good. Because it's just too dangerous. The unthinkable is just unthinkable. Which is why it's unthinkable.

I th think about it, that makes sense. This is what I wrote. Senate Republicans never had any intention of passing the Save America Act. It's kabuki theater, by the way. That's what's going on.

It's kabuki theater. Pardon me, let me continue. And there will likely not be any other votes of consequence between now and the midterms. It's it. That's it.

What we have done is done. Make no mistake, Jon Thune and his leadership team have betrayed the American people and their president. And they don't care. They don't care, not one bit. They sabotaged the President's agenda from day one.

Their behavior may likely cost Republicans the House and the Senate. and they deserve to lose.

However, You knew there was a however coming.

However. President Trump does not deserve to be impeached. And that's exactly what would happen if the Democrats regained control.

So we can't let that happen. For Donald Trump's sake. Let's spare President Trump and the First Lady the agony of endless investigations and trumped-up charges. I say this. Reelect the Gutless Gutter Snipes We can deal with the jackassery of Jon Thune and his cowardly band of traitors in 2028.

Our president deserved better. And so did America first voters. But we got screwed by the Republicans. And that has generated thousands. Tens of thousands.

Of comments and reactions. On social media. Did I get it right, ladies and gentlemen? 901-260-5926. Is our telephone number that's 901-2011?

260-5926. That was one of the conversations I had with Pete Sessions, great congressman out of Texas, and he's frustrated. I think a lot of people in the House and by the way, the House has been doing their job. It's the Senate that's holding all of this up. I want you to take a listen to Congressman Sessions.

All right, joining me now, Congressman Pete Sessions from Texas. All right, you heard the president there, Congressman. He previously said, by the way, there would be no deal on Homeland Security unless the Save America Act was passed. What do you make of all of this?

Well, it's a problem. The problems that happen when you look at the long lines that are at Airports across the country at a very difficult time. It's called spring break. When the commerce of this country is already reeling with a little bit of indecision around world affairs.

So, I think that what our Senate colleagues are attempting to do. It is to fund DHS minus ICE, as I understand it. Does that make sense?

Well, I think funding the airport operations, funding, the things that need to take place. You know there was a huge storm in Hawaii over the weekend. And while I Mm. still held at least as of this morning the belief That I would hold the position I was in, but know that two senators from uh from uh Hawaii would be in trouble. Uh I'm willing to listen.

Congressman, I just don't get this. We've been down this path so many times where Senate Republicans hold the majority and they always give it up. There really is no compromise here. It's really capitulating to what the Democrats want. Christine Ohm's already out.

Democrats were pretty adamant about that. Seems to me that's the compromise.

So let's get this thing done and let's go ahead and fund everybody. But if the Republicans capitulate on this, Congressman, I don't see that this is going to be a win for our side of the aisle.

Well, you know, I want to completely agree with you. As I told you, I have not gone that direction yet. For me to say that I do not want to listen to what the idea might be would be foolish. The bottom line is, is that I feel like that the Two senators from Hawaii, after the 18-inch rain and the billion-dollar damage, they need FEMA. They need FEMA operating.

And it just I don't know where the trigger point would be where we would ever gain the upper hand. And the ICE operations are vitally important to this nation. They're vitally important to rule of law. They're vitally important to the things that we as Republicans agreed that we would do. To back away from that, once again, is not something that I'm for.

uh you asked me about this and I think I would It would not be a Pete Sessions-like thing to say, I'm not willing to at least listen. What some of my colleagues from the Senate believe. No, no, no. Look, I don't have to agree with them. Yeah, and that's fair enough.

No, no, no, I get that. And look, I can respect that position. And there's nothing wrong with listening. House Freedom Caucus, they're responding to all of this, the new plan to pass the Save America Act. Guys, if we can get that up on the screen, please.

Here's what they had to say. It may not even be possible under the Senate's arcane rules and would allow Democrats to offer unlimited amendments on the bill. This is gaslighting. The American people are not stupid and will not accept more failure theater from Republicans. And I have to imagine the House Freedom Caucus referring to whatever's happening with the Save America Act, which I've already prepared my radio audience for.

I don't think that's going to get out of the Senate.

Well, you know what? It may or may not get out of the Senate, but we are for the bill and should take it as far as we can and highlight those that are not. And I think finding A side door, a back door, or a trap door out of this issue is not. It's not something that I would be for. But I'm willing to listen, and I think that we will hear volumes about it.

All right, welcome back. Let's go right to the phone lines. Gainesville, Georgia, WDUN. Alan is with us. Hi, Alan.

What's on your mind? Hi, Todd, and thanks for letting us have a voice with you. Yes, sir. Yeah, I wanted to ask you if you would talk a little bit about The hierarchy as The Senate and the Congress use to select their leaders. I've looked at things.

For the last several years, I watched Jim Jordan, you know, be passed over and somebody, you know, from California gets in and does nothing. Ted Cruz in the Senate, who's been a leader for years and years in the Republican Conservative caucus. He gets passed over and somebody like Boone gets put in, he sits on his hands. How does that work that these people have the power to get in there when we know they're not the real outstanding conservative.

Well, I'm going to do my best to answer that question for you, Alan. And it's a great question. First and foremost, John Boone is all about the money, and this guy has been able to raise a lot of money for a lot of these Republican senators. And ultimately, that trumps any loyalty that the senators might have for their home states.

So they are no longer beholden at that point to the voters and say Georgia, for example, or wherever else.

Well, you guys have two Democrats, but let's say, we'll say North Carolina. They're not beholden to you good people of North Carolina. No, no, no, no. They're actually beholden to John Thune.

So you have to go back, and a lot of this is done in secret, Alan.

So it was a secret vote. Mitch McConnell stepping down. John Thune was the longtime whip, and there was a secret ballot. Thune, John Cornyn, and Rick Scott. Of course, many conservatives wanted to go with Rick Scott.

And it turned out that John Thune actually won that secret ballot.

So, really, it's a continuation of the policies of Mitch McConnell, is what we're looking at here. Hmm. That's just terrible. You know, we should move with what's happening with the presidency. I mean, that ought to be a focus when we go out and have a national election and we want a change in this country.

We should change Leadership. To that direction of where we're headed, especially people in the Republican Conservative side. The Democrats all seem to agree on everything. We have differences. And we have people in the Presidency who can't get support by our own senators and congressmen.

And that's where we need our leadership to be following who we elect to lead this nation. Isn't that amazing, Alan, that right now the biggest opposition to Donald Trump is coming from members of his own political party?

Okay. Yes. Yeah, that's it's it's disgusting, and it is something that we are going to have to address with our elected senators. I mean, that's going to be the big challenge here. Alan, appreciate the call.

Thank you for that.

Well, time now for the mailbag. We actually have some nice mail. You know, normally it's not all that nice. Gonna tell you.

Sometimes people can be unkind. Dela Knight, I know that seems to be a shock to you. It is uh surprising that people could be mean to us.

Well, here's one from Memphis, Tennessee. Yeah. Dear Todd. You're a whitey jackass. That's not nice.

Here's another from Chris. Why you Why you be blanking lying? with multiple emojis after. That's not very kind. Oh, here's the nice one.

I was scrolling down. I was trying to find it. That's our scroll. A long time. We're getting a lot of hate mail these days.

A lot of hate mail. This is from North Carolina. Hello, Todd. I've been thinking a long time about the Save America Act. I called my Senator Ted Budd and told him they need to pass the Save Act.

But all you hear is we don't have the votes to pass it. Look at Tom Tillis. We had Tom or a Democrat, they know you won't vote Democrat.

So he voted against the people of North Carolina and did not care. Thank God he will be gone not soon enough. I think one way to wake up all these Republican lawmakers, if all the registered Republicans change their voter registration to unaffiliated, Demarats will think the MAGA movement's over. Republicans will have to work to ensure we will vote for them. Todd, your show has millions and millions of people listening.

Just think if one million people change their status, the ring, the rhinos. would have to pay attention. Thank you. Love your show. You replaced the empty space in my heart after Rush left this earth.

Oh, that'd make a nice bumper sticker. It's a long numbers.

Something Sorry. Put him on an SUV. That was very nice. It's terrible. Come on, Dylan.

Signed Gunny Sergeant. Michael, U.S. Marine Corps retired.

Now I feel bad. Yeah, you better feel bad. Good lord, man. What's wrong with you? You know what?

I'm going to get more hate mail now. Thanks a lot, Dylan. My bad. Thanks a lot.

Well, Gunny Sergeant, God bless you, sir. Thank you so much for those kind words. I greatly, greatly appreciate it. All right.

By the way, Ed Henry's calling me from Newsmax. I don't know what that's all about, but I'll call him in the break. Ed, hang tight. I'll get back to you momentarily. Our telephone number, 901-260-5926.

That's 901-260-5926.

All right, coming up, our guys from Strategic Financial Partners. They're going to help you out. They're going to take your calls today, right?

So there's no agenda. We're going to have a little bit of fun. And many of you may have a financial question. You know, you got the IRS, you got to fill out your tax returns, all this kind of stuff you got to do. And some of you may have some just honest to goodness questions.

And they're going to answer those. All you have to do is pick up the phone and give us a call. And by the way, if you don't want to go on air, we'll just take your number and the guys will call you back off air because they're just super nice like that. 901-260-5926 is our telephone number. Again, that number, 901-260-5926.

Adam Martin and Chris Loftus from Strategic Financial Partners, their website, strategicfinancialpartners.com. And we want you to call in now because that segment's going to go by pretty quickly.

So, if you have a question. For the guys, give us a call now, 901-260-5926. We're going to start with a kindergarten teacher in Texas. It turns out that she's making $7,500 a month. And she cannot pay her bills.

And so we're going to try to maybe just maybe the guys will be able to help out this kindergarten teacher. And she explains what she's spending all of her money on. Again, our number 901-260-5926. This is the Todd Stern Show. All right, welcome back, everybody.

This is the Todd Starns Radio Show. Great to have you with us. Again, our telephone number: 901-260-5926. That's 901-260-5926 every Wednesday. Always a pleasure.

Always an honor to have our friends from Strategic Financial Partners on with us: Adam Martin, a financial advisor, and Chris Loftus, a financial services rep. By the way, the website, strategicfinancialpartners.com. Guys, good to see you today. Good seeing you. How's it going?

I'm pretty good. You a Trump? In town, I was about to say that. I actually saw the president, not directly, but my plane was flying into Memphis International on Monday, and I saw him just taking off as we were pulling in. That's something you don't see every day.

Not every day. Not at all. Did you see the picture of the beast in front of Graceland? That looked pretty sweet. It was pretty cool.

You know, I've lived here my whole life, never stepped foot in Graceland. Is that right? That's right. What is wrong with you? Why is it?

It's kind of like people in New York City. They never go to the Statue of Liberty. You know, it's just one of those things that just kind of out of sight, out of mind. My wife and I obviously had a different walk of life with a one-year-old, so we're going to places like the zoo and the children's museum. We're not going to Graceland.

I love that. I love the part where Trump walked in the door and they said, Welcome, Mr. President, to the second most visited house in the country. Believe it or not, your house is number one. It's true.

You have the White House number one, and number two is Graceland. It's just fitting, you know, just to have that in Memphis. It really is. It was a fun. You know, I hate that he didn't get down to Beale Street, you know, but that was.

Would have been getting under rum boogie or something like that. You'd probably need more Secret Service help going down to Bill Street. Just a smidge. Hey, Silkie's with the president. That would be fun.

Silkies. Is that the one with the goats? Oh, it is. That is it. Yeah, that's right.

The diving goats. Yep. Yep. Diving goats. That and the, what is it, the Blarney Stone?

The Blarney Stone. They have a stone from a castle in Ireland or Scotland or something like that. Wow. And you kiss it for good luck.

So I say that as somebody who's heard about that. I've not done it myself personally. We are going to be taking questions from callers today. If any of you guys have a financial question, they're going to be able to call in, and you guys are going to, you know, give them some good guidance. We'll do our best.

I love that. Well, you know, you have a lot of people out there in a lot of seasons of life, Todd, that are, you know, they probably have some specific things that they're thinking about or worrying about that they'd like to get answered. And whether Adam and I come on here or not with a specific topic, we want to make sure those are addressed and we're taking care of people's needs.

Well, I think it's a great service that you guys provide. And I want to give. Number out 901-260-5926. That's 901-260-5926.

I want to start with some audio. This is a kindergarten teacher in Texas, and she's having A very difficult time. She has generated widespread. Discussion on social media when she revealed that she's bringing home $7,500 a month as a kindergarten teacher. And it's just not, it's not covering all of her bills.

Well, I would like to know what part of the country a kindergarten teacher gets $7,500 a month. Yeah, that's what, $90,000 a year. Yeah, that's pretty good money.

So let's take a listen. How much is my paycheck as a Texas teacher of kindergarten and what I do with it?

So, my direct deposit hit today, it was $7,500. dollars and eighty one cents I did pay the rent at our condo because I am responsible for that. That was $3,581.

Some chain just gonna round everything up here And my utilities for the month at the condo were $1,200. My gym membership. It's $251 a month. I had groceries delivered this month twice for a total of $548. I did not have enough money this month to move anything to savings.

The payment on my G-Wagon is $1,548. I didn't do anything for my kids this month because it was a tight month. As you know, teachers do not make a lot. And then, um I did get my hair done twice and my nails, totalling $500. I didn't get gas this month.

That was my husband's bill. After I add everything up, it was a grand total of negative $124, and that I'll borrow from a friend. I love being a teacher. Oh, Joe, she's not a math teacher.

So, some thoughts.

Well, this is as simple as it gets. We always talk about priorities. What do you prioritize? And what I gathered in that is that family and children and getting ahead in life is not as much of a priority as it is to a status of $3,000 plus in rent, not even owning your home. Um and a G wagon, is that necessary for your lifestyle?

You know? Yeah, that's an interesting bit there. Because you see, the temptation is, Ton. to get the ch the shiny thing, right? It's it's to get the toys.

Uh well, that's all well and good, but guess what? Guess what toys don't do? Toys do not appreciate. In fact, they very much depreciate, very quickly, in fact.

So that's that's very interesting. And I understand, yeah, we we are very sympathetic to teachers. Thank you for your service out there if you're a teacher, because that is a very difficult job. And you're right on the money there. Teachers do not get paid enough, but with $7,500 a month.

There's definitely some expenses there that are, again, less of needs and more of status, more of wants, and more of just trying to fulfill that status.

So that's disappointing to hear that that was the case because how many people across the country are in that situation? You know, it's a great point. And especially, and I don't want to, you know, target generations here, but Gen Z and millennials, especially, they are living well beyond their means. And, you know, they're spending their money on a lot of things that I would say other generations would consider frivolous. I mean, for example, going to Starbucks every day, dropping $5, $6, you know, on coffee that you could, you know, make much cheaper at home.

And then this whole thing called avocado toast. I never have understood that. You know, I think we live in a world of social status. Maybe social media is to blame for that. But, you know, what I would tell a lot of people is separate your own situation from somebody else's and think about, okay, what's causing a pain point in my life?

Obviously, this was a big stressor for her. She wanted to. Put it out there that, hey, I make $7,500, but I don't have nothing to show for it. And what we would say in that meeting is just: okay, can we reprioritize what you're wanting to use your money to do for you? And put less emphasis on keeping up with the Joneses and more emphasis on how do I get ahead.

And we would be in a better position. You know, we tell people a lot to they really need to suspend their own disbelief. And what does that mean? That means: hey, look. Take a good look in the mirror and say, okay, is this really necessary for me to have right now versus, like in terms of the tangible items in life, versus taking care of my kids?

And putting things away for retirement and putting things in savings for a rainy day when the storm comes. And guess what? The storm will come at some point where you will need that. You know, another question that we probably ask is: guess what? Where is the husband in all this?

Right? Dual-income household, being able to partner that and figure out a game plan, those go hand in hand with each other. You know, I was wondering about that. She did mention she's got the husband there. And so, okay, do they have a joint account or do they have their own separate accounts?

And, you know, they, you know, have you, hey, guys, ever experienced that where, you know, married couples come in and say, okay, how do we do this? We do it. I deal with that a lot, actually. You know, where. I want the husband and wife to be on the same team because it it creates less friction and it's an easier path.

Going forward, if everybody's on the same page, but yeah, we deal with it a lot where it's like, hey, this is my money, it's our agreement in our marriage that what I bring to the table, that's what I get to use to spend, and how they want to allocate it towards retirement or investments or whatever. That's their decision to make. We don't do these things jointly.

So it's very common. And obviously, in that little radio clip, she said that the gas was her husband's bill.

So I'd imagine that they do their finances that way. You know, we encounter quite a few couples actually where I'm thinking of two specifically. They came in on day one. They looked at us and said, you know, we give each other an allowance, which I thought was hysterical because you're like, well, it's y'all's money.

So who makes that decision? It's like, well, it's a way for each other to hold ourselves accountable because how often are we tempted? We go down the road and we see the In-N-Out burger sign light up or the Waterburger sign light up or the Starbucks and we go, oh, that's something I need.

Well, not necessarily if you are operating off of an allowance and a budget strictly. And that way it's keeping it separate. Separate from the household expenses and everything like that, you're able to prioritize what actually matters right now versus the wants. And that's the thing: understanding what, you know, again, when you, I don't know, I grew up in the 70s and 80s, and we lived in a relatively small home. I mean, it would be teeny tiny compared to today's statuses.

So you wonder, even today, are people living well beyond their means? And how do we get back to going back to those days of being frugal?

Well, I think it's really when they have that aha moment. I mean, we always say like we can lead a horse to water, but we can't make it drink. And part of what we do as financial advisors is. We have to be those life coaches. We have to be the ones that present the difficult conversations to them and force them to talk about it.

Because I'd imagine this, you know, today her lifestyle is keeping up with the Joneses and having a status that she wants to project out to everybody. But maybe when she's older and all those things don't matter anymore, she may have an epiphany and say, what was I thinking? I always think about Warren Buffett, who still lives in the same house that he lived in before he became a bazillionaire, still goes through the drive-thru at McDonald's to get his breakfast. Same thing every time. Yeah.

But I think there's a lot for us to learn there.

Well, consistency for one, right? You know, less trying to just one-up the next person on social media or a neighbor with the nice car or the nice food or the $8 coffee that doesn't even taste good at the end of the day. But being able to look down and say, okay, hey, I can do this. This is manageable. And it gives me room to grow, not to where I'm having to feel like I'm having to catch up.

It's a great point.

All right, we've got Adam Martin and Chris Loftus with us from Strategic Financial Partners. Strategic FinancialPartners.com is the website. And if you have a question, give us a call, 901-260-5926. Or if you have a suggestion for this kindergarten teacher, 901-260-5926. I remember when I was growing up and going through school, you know, we had to take a home finance course, right?

So it was part of, you know, getting ready to graduate, learning how to, you know, balance a checkbook and do all those things. And you wonder, are they teaching kids those skills in modern-day schools?

Well, I'll tell you, I think they could definitely do a better job at that. And one of the things that our firm actually does is we partner with the Junior Achievement of Memphis. And we do go to classrooms and then we give them a little. educational seminar about How to balance a checkbook or how to take control of your finances when you start making money. And I firmly believe that if we wanna see a shift.

In our generations ahead, we've got to do a better job at educating them. You know, to add something to that, something I've noticed is that I'll use a story for this. One of my earliest memories when it comes to finance is my dad. Take me to when it was Sun Trust Bank and opening up a bank account, and I got my very first checkbook. And he sat down with me that night and taught me, line by line, how to craft a monthly budget with all my expenses accounted for.

We can talk about a generational failure all that we want, but I bet you there's probably a lot of parents out there that are not sitting down with their kids and walking them through how to do that on an individual basis. We talk about business expenses a lot, we talk about household expenses a lot, but when it comes to personal expenses, that starts early, especially when it comes down to putting the pedal to the metal and saying, Okay, hey, we are only going to spend this amount. This is within our means. We're not going to go above this.

So it's very easy to fall into that trap. You know, for me, it was really, my dad was the same way. And it's like, you know, you turn a certain age, you get your first job. You know, you get a little part-time job, you start earning money. When it was time to buy a car, I ended up buying my grandpa's old, oh gosh, what was that?

Oh, geez, a low. It was a little pickup truck. What was the low? I love that. Was it Chevy, Ford?

It was a double. It was a Ford. No. That's awesome. What was the name of it?

It was a low slung. Truck. It was really cool with sparkly baby blue paint.

So I was, it was the pride of Whitehaven. I was about to say everybody knew who was driving down the road when they passed the car. Oh, yeah, heck yeah. But you know what? I had to make sure that I had enough money coming in to pay for gas and pay for insurance.

And that those are the big things. And nowadays, you watch these kids and they're driving like brand new cars off the you know off the dealership. And you're like, holy cow, you know, what kind of lessons are you teaching those kids? And by the way, they're going to be wrecking that vehicle. No doubt.

No doubt. I mean, and an El Camino. There you go. Sorry. I knew it was going to come to me.

There you go. An El Camino. You know, opportunity often disguises itself as work. To be disciplined, you have to work at that. And when we think about how do I get ahead, it's being disciplined, sticking to a plan.

That's what we're here to do: get in front of you and identify it.

So if I was speaking to that teacher, I'd say, Here's what I see are the issues, and how do you want to address this? Are you willing to give up paying as much as you do every month for a car that's not necessary? You know, we could get from A to B with a cheaper car. That's going to free up cash flow for you. Do we have to spend as much on our manicures, pedicures, and our hair?

Gym membership. Gym memberships. Go outside, lift something heavy for free. But I'm not saying we have to go to the extremes. We want you to continue to live the life you want, but we're going to help you figure out how to free up those dollars so that we can address the things that are inevitable.

I mean, you're going to quit work at some point in your life. How do you pay your bills if we don't have anything stored away for retirement? That's a great point. I mean, Social Security is going through its turmoils now. I hope that it's there, but what if that's not there?

How do we live in retirement? You know, you look at other cultures as well, guys. I was, uh, you know, I'm trying to figure out: do I really want to buy a house or am I happy being at a condo where everything is taken care of? And then it's like I got the call, oh, well, maybe you need to go ahead and start making plans for the forever home. But you know, in a lot of societies, that never happens.

It's like mom and dad and grandma and grandpa, everybody, at least back in this country, it used to be that way. But now, you know, the families seem to be disjointed. And I think there was a movement. At some point in the country, for people to kick the kids out of the house when they're 18 years old. But now it looks like people are going back to that, let's keep all the family under one roof.

Yeah, and I did see a statistic the other day where the average age of home buyers is getting lower and lower. I think there was like a 30% increase for first-time homebuyers of age 36. And so I'm glad to see that trend coming back. One of the things that she mentioned was that she pays rent. You're getting no equity and you're paying over $3,000 a month for something that you rent.

The home for a lot of young people is the first place where they really start to see substantial net worth because the equity in their home increases. That's amazing. Guys, where can people go if they want to get more information? And you guys are just doing an incredible job. And I know a lot of folks wandering around, driving around, going to Lunch Hall on the West Coast.

But you guys, where can they go if they want to get more intel? They can call us directly. My phone number is 901-260-2438. And my email is AdamMartin at strategicfinancialpartners.com. And my number is 901-657-3324.

And my email is C Loftus, L-O-F-T-I-S at strategicfinancialpartners.com. And Todd, they're going to find not just our names and numbers on there, they're going to find basically the core of what we do and why we do it and how we do it on that website. We make it very streamlined, very easy to reach us, and we work with a lot of different people in a lot of different seasons of life. And we're able to make some significant impact when it comes to people and their long-term planning. I love that.

Guys, always good seeing you. And again, Strategic Financial Partners, the website addressed strategicfinancialpartners.com. Go and check them out. These are the good guys, and they're going to take very good care of you. Great to see you, fellas.

You too. We'll be right back. All right, welcome back. And we sure do appreciate those guys coming by, strategic financial partners. You know, we talk about ways to fix what's broken in America.

One of them is teaching kids about what it means to balance your checkbook, what it means to have a budget for your household. And those are things that really moms and dads ought to be teaching their kids, but we also need to be affirming that and basically bolstering that in the schools. And so we certainly appreciate Adam and Chris coming by every Wednesday to offer their guidance and their thoughts. 901-260-5926 is our telephone number. We're going to be back at it tomorrow.

Again, a lot happening around the country, a lot of conservatives gathering in CPAC. President Trump will not be there, by the way, but there is. There's a big conference of conservatives there in Dallas. All right, ToddSterns.com, folks. Don't forget, download the podcast.

Be sure to get our newsletter, all sorts of great content for you. Get out there and have a good one, everybody. La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la