The WallBuilders Show

Tim Barton, David Barton & Rick Green

<p>The WallBuilders Show is a daily journey to examine today's issues from a Biblical, Historical and Constitutional perspective. Featured guests include elected officials, experts, activists, authors, and commentators.</p>

  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Primary Power For Independent Voters

    You can care about principles and still care about strategy, because the rules of the system decide whether your voice gets heard. We start with a listener stuck in a closed-primary state as an independent and walk through the hard tradeoff: stay unaffiliated and lose primary access, or register with a party so you get two meaningful chances to influence the outcome. Along the way, we explain open primaries vs closed primaries, why crossover voting happens, and how to think about party registration without turning your conscience over to a party label. 

    From there, we zoom out to a values-first approach to voting, including Benjamin Rush’s blunt line that he’s neither an aristocrat nor a democrat but a “Christocrat.” That idea frames the whole conversation: judge candidates by the values they defend and the policies they will implement, not by team identity. If you’ve felt politically homeless, this gives you a clear way to stay grounded while still being effective. 

    We also tackle two rapid-fire but important civics issues. First, the constitutional question about whether President Trump could ever serve as vice president, using the 12th Amendment and the 22nd Amendment to show why eligibility rules matter. Second, we respond to concerns about DEI in schools by correcting common “Founders” misinformation, including what really happened on July 4 versus August 2 with the Declaration of Independence, then lay out practical steps to challenge questionable curriculum and classroom materials at the local level. 

    Wrap it up with a thoughtful look at gerrymandering reform and why simple fixes like “rectangular districts” run into geography, population, and politics. If you want more constitutional literacy, better history, and actionable ways to engage, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review.

    Support the show

    12 March 2026, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Tennessee’s Push To Reclaim Marriage Law - With Gino Bulso

    Power doesn’t just shape policy; it decides who gets to decide. We sit down with Tennessee State Representative Gino Bulso to unpack a bold two-bill strategy aimed at narrowing federal court rulings on marriage and civil rights while reclaiming state authority and protecting private conscience. If you’ve wondered how a state can push back without breaking the rules, this is a masterclass in targeted, constitutional maneuvering.

    We start by grounding the conversation in first principles—why the Declaration’s moral claims and the Constitution’s structure are not value neutral, and how drifting from a fixed moral baseline has confused public standards. From there, Rep. Bulso breaks down HB 1473, which clarifies that Obergefell binds public actors but not private citizens or businesses, and HB 1472, which directs Tennessee not to adopt the Supreme Court’s Bostock reading of “sex” into state anti-discrimination law. Together, the bills seek to secure space for conscience, particularly for private businesses not covered by federal Title VII, without inviting direct conflict with federal supremacy.

    Along the way, we tackle the question at the heart of civic life: who decides? Courts, Congress, or communities. We explore the separation of powers, the original meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment, and the role of state constitutions defining marriage. Rep. Bulso explains why changing national policy should go through elected lawmakers or amendment—not judicial legislation—and how Tennessee’s approach respects process while reshaping outcomes. The stakes are high: family, faith, and the social order all hinge on whether law stays tethered to coherent standards.

    If you care about federalism, religious liberty, and the future of marriage policy, this conversation offers a rare blend of constitutional depth and practical tactics. Listen, share with a friend who follows the courts, and then tell us what you think: who should draw the lines—judges, legislators, or the people in their states? Subscribe, leave a review, and join the debate.

    Support the show

    11 March 2026, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Kids First: Rethinking Marriage Policy - with Katy Faust

    What if the way we define marriage is quietly reshaping childhood—for worse? We open the conversation with a child-first lens and ask the question most debates avoid: does public policy exist to validate adult desires, or to protect a child’s right to both mother and father? Katie Faust, founder of Them Before Us, joins us to explain how the 2015 redefinition of marriage flattened biological reality and turned parenthood into a credential adults acquire, often without the adoption safeguards designed to protect kids. From IVF mandates to loosened parentage rules, she traces how systems now subsidize motherless or fatherless homes by design, measuring success by adult fulfillment rather than child well-being.

    We dig into the data and the vibe shift. Approval among conservatives has dropped as people connect the dots: if sex differences matter on the field and in the clinic, they matter even more at home. Pastors are finding their voice, too—teaching clearly that marriage is a child-serving institution rooted in the complementary gifts of men and women. Katie charts a three-part plan: reframe the public conversation around children’s rights, mobilize the church into a child-centered force, and pursue a legal strategy that changes the court’s question from “Do adults have dignity?”—yes—to “Do children need their own mother and father?” That pivot anchors policy in biology, safeguards adoption as child protection, and resists pathways that bypass rigorous screening.

    Together we spotlight a growing coalition of scholars, faith leaders, and policy groups aligned on one message: don’t touch the kids. We share practical ways to get involved, equip your church, and speak with clarity at home, online, and in your community. If you’re ready to move beyond slogans and defend the smallest stakeholders with facts, conviction, and compassion, this is your roadmap. Subscribe, share with a friend who cares about family and child safety, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.

    Support the show

    10 March 2026, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    How A Revival Sparked A Revolution - With Joshua Enck

    Liberty didn’t start with a vote. It started with a voice. We sit down with Josh Enck of Sight & Sound to explore A Great Awakening, a feature film that puts George Whitfield back in the pulpit and Benjamin Franklin at his press to show how revival prepared the ground for revolution. Rather than retell battlefield moments, we follow an unlikely friendship that helped shape the American mind—pairing Whitfield’s electrifying sermons with Franklin’s genius for print and persuasion—to reveal why cultural change must precede political change.

    Josh shares how a ministry known for epic, immersive stage productions stepped into cinema without losing its soul. The COVID shutdown became a catalyst: a filmed stage show reached more people in a long weekend than two years of sold-out theaters, pushing the team to bring stories to audiences wherever they are. That shift comes with a promise—no shortcuts, no sentimentality—just careful acting, tight scripting, and historically grounded scenes that honor the intelligence of the audience. The result is a throwback to classic, story-first filmmaking that still feels urgent and new.

    We also dig into the film’s core idea of liberty. Not a slogan, not a partisan badge, but a conviction with biblical roots and civic consequences. By tracing Whitfield’s influence across the colonies and Franklin’s role in amplifying it, we connect the Great Awakening to the habits of self-government that made the American experiment possible. Along the way, we talk about reviving the voices of past pastors, the power of print, and why opening-week support matters if we want more films that meet faith and history with excellence.

    Grab tickets at agreatawakening.com and share the trailer with someone who loves bold, character-driven stories about America’s origins. If this conversation moves you, subscribe, leave a review, and tell a friend—let’s put these voices back in the public square.

    Support the show

    9 March 2026, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Revival Or Awakening

    A surge of spiritual interest is sweeping the country, but will it last long enough to change anything? We dig into the hard truth: revivals inspire; awakenings transform. That transformation only happens when people are discipled to live out Jesus’ full teaching, the kind that speaks plainly about marriage, gender, and the purpose of covenant—without losing sight of grace, redemption, and the path back.

    We share encouraging shifts from the pulpit as national voices tackle no-fault divorce and explain why God’s commands are for our flourishing. Then we zoom out to culture and policy. Scouting America announces a slate of reforms—dropping DEI mandates, restoring membership by biological sex, and honoring military families—after high-level pressure to reclaim clarity and standards. Across the Atlantic, Marco Rubio earns applause in Europe by calling leaders back to the shared roots of Western civilization, Christian identity, and actionable security. At home, a key court win in Vermont protects foster families’ religious freedom and common-sense boundaries in a system that desperately needs willing parents.

    Finally, we confront the education paradox: nearly a million more students have left public schools for private, Christian, and homeschool options, even as districts add staff and pass higher costs to taxpayers. We break down what this means for families, classrooms, and local budgets—and how citizens can act. If you’ve been asking how faith can move from Sunday morning to everyday life, this conversation offers a roadmap: discipleship that forms character, engagement that shapes policy, and courage that tells the truth in love.

    If this resonated, share the show with a friend, subscribe for more Good News Fridays, and leave a review to help others find the conversation.

    Support the show

    6 March 2026, 11:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Why State Of The Union “Responses” Feel Scripted And What History Says About It

    A courtroom drama played out in a committee room, and we got a front‑row seat. We break down why Tennessee’s push to post the Ten Commandments in public schools is framed as restoration, not invention, and how a single Supreme Court ruling—Coach Kennedy—quietly dismantled the decades‑old Lemon test that kept faith at arm’s length in public institutions. From Moses carved into the Supreme Court frieze to McGuffey’s Readers in the classroom, we connect the historical dots most civics courses skip.

    Then we pivot to the modern spectacle of the State of the Union and ask a simple question: if the rebuttals are live, why do they feel prerecorded? The answer runs through shrinking sound bites, risk‑averse scripting, and a media environment that punishes context. We dig into the surprisingly short history of formal SOTU responses, the experiments that worked (including conversational formats), and what it would take to make these moments useful again.

    Finally, we explore why members of Congress split by party inside the chamber without any rule requiring it. Human nature, scarce face time, and caucus culture drive the seating map more than procedure does. Drawing on statehouse experience, we look at how mixed seating, mentorship, and daily contact can lower the temperature and raise the quality of debate.

    If you care about constitutional history, religious liberty, legislative culture, and how media incentives shape public life, this is your guide to the moving pieces. Listen, share with a friend who loves policy as much as history, and leave a review so we can keep building smarter conversations together.

    Support the show

    5 March 2026, 11:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Iran’s Theocracy And The Ballot Box

    Headlines about Iran can feel like a blur of missiles, ministers, and moving targets—until you connect the dots between what leaders believe and what nations do. We dive into how Shiite end-times theology influences Iran’s pursuit of power, why “the great Satan” rhetoric matters for strategy, and how surgical strikes against military and clerical leadership could open a narrow window for change. When ideology prizes escalation, containment looks different—and so do the choices free nations face.

    Back home, we unpack a Texas primary night that says a lot about where voters want guardrails. Prop 10’s blowout against Sharia law becomes a pivot point to discuss the deeper role of worldview in public life. We then break down key races across Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas, contrasting a steady voting record with a lack of fight, and a fighter’s zeal with heavy baggage. Add a polished progressive pastor with strong media chops, and you get a masterclass in electability: narrative, competence, and character colliding in real time.

    The throughline is power you can use today. Primaries are where leverage lives, with lower turnout and higher impact per vote. We share practical ways to research candidates, compare records, and build simple voter guides for your church and neighborhood. If you want better choices in November, start months earlier—clarify your values, study the field, and bring two friends with you to the polls. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs a nudge to vote in the primary, and leave a review telling us which race you’ll track most closely this year.

    Support the show

    4 March 2026, 11:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    School Prayer Returns To The Spotlight - with Kelly Shackelford

    What changes when a single Supreme Court case rewrites the playbook on faith in public life? We dig into the ripple effects of Coach Joe Kennedy’s victory, which not only vindicated a high school coach’s right to pray but also swept aside the Lemon test that fed government hostility to religion for decades. With that barrier gone, schools and communities now have clearer ground to protect student religious expression, respect teachers’ personal faith, and honor America’s history and traditions without fear or confusion.

    We talk with Kelly Shackelford of First Liberty Institute about the legal momentum reshaping the landscape: Ten Commandments displays returning to public spaces, appellate courts signaling a new era for religious liberty, and updated Department of Education guidance that finally reflects the modern case law. Kelly explains how these changes empower local leaders to act confidently, why historical practice matters in constitutional analysis, and how misinformation about “separation of church and state” still clouds basic rights in classrooms and boardrooms.

    Beyond the courtroom, we spotlight a national call to prayer—an hour a week with ten friends—to re-center hearts and communities. Then we turn to the nuts and bolts of civic influence: strategic voting in low‑turnout primaries, where choosing a viable values-aligned candidate can block bad outcomes and advance lasting change. If you want practical steps, we point you to resources like FirstLiberty.org and RFIA.org, where citizens can find model language, legal backing, and real-world projects to restore faith in their hometowns.

    If this conversation helps clarify your rights or sparks an idea for your school or city, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Your voice—and your vote—can move the needle.

    Support the show

    3 March 2026, 11:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    How A Preemptive Strike Aims To End A Forever War

    Headlines popped, timelines blew up, and a joint operation against Iran became the weekend’s defining story. We dive straight into what actually happened and why it matters: the legal thresholds that govern rapid action, the Gang of Eight briefings, and the intelligence that pushed leaders toward a preemptive strike. Our goal is simple—cut through noise, track the facts, and ask the hard questions about deterrence, proportionality, and whether swift force can prevent a longer war.

    We unpack why some Iranians cheered while Western commentators split, and how selective outrage online can warp public judgment. From reported hits on hundreds of targets to the immediate regional reactions, we connect the operational dots to the broader strategy: neutralize launch sites, degrade terror financing, and avoid the trap of open-ended ground wars. We also revisit a consistent pattern—targeted actions that dismantle hubs of harm, whether tied to state terror or fentanyl pipelines that kill Americans—while keeping the U.S. footprint lean and time-bound.

    But tactics live under bigger ideas. We grapple with the tension between removing leaders and confronting ideologies that recruit replacements. Drawing a line from the Barbary pirates to modern jihadist networks, we explore why force can reset the board yet cannot rewrite the beliefs that motivate violence. That’s where diplomacy, financial pressure, and information efforts must carry weight, turning deterrence into durable stability. If you care about constitutional process, national security, and the difference between decisive action and reckless escalation, this conversation lays out the moving pieces without the spin.

    If this helped you see the story more clearly, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so others can find it too. Your feedback shapes future episodes—what question should we tackle next?

    Support the show

    2 March 2026, 11:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    How Common Sense Is Making A Comeback Across Courts, Sports, And Politics

    What if the headlines you’ve been waiting for finally started to land—quietly, firmly, and with a dose of common sense? We walk through a week where the executive branch said “stay in your lane” to the judiciary, a hockey team skated to gold while pointing to faith, and a British voice laid out a plain-spoken roadmap to national renewal. Different stories, same current: courage with boundaries.

    We start with a constitutional gut check. Two federal prosecutors were appointed by judges and immediately let go by the executive—an overdue reminder that prosecutors are executive officers, not judicial staff. That sparks a deeper dive into how Marbury v. Madison is taught versus how Jefferson and Madison actually handled judicial overreach. Instead of treating courts as super-legislatures, we argue for a return to the founders’ design: branches that respect each other’s roles and push back when lines blur. It’s not theory; it’s how a republic stays honest.

    Then the ice heats up. The USA men’s hockey team clinches gold and several players, led by veteran Jacob Slavin, point openly to their Christian faith. Their message is simple and rare: excellence is stewardship, not self-worship. Purpose anchors performance. For parents, coaches, and young athletes, it’s a case study in what happens when conviction meets discipline.

    We wrap with two jolts of practical clarity. Across the pond, a new “Restore Britain” platform calls for enforceable borders, cultural confidence, and a return to Christian heritage—proof that millions crave policies that match reality. And at home, English-only testing for commercial driver’s licenses puts safety over politics; if you’re driving 40 tons on American roads, you should read the signs. If you’ve been looking for signals that institutions can still work, that faith still inspires, and that straight talk still resonates, this one’s for you.

    If this conversation sparked new questions—or a little hope—tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your feedback helps more listeners find the show and keeps these good stories rising.

    Links to Good News Articles:

    https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/doj-fires-interim-us-attorney-hours-after-virginia-court-selects-him-5988902

    https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/michael-foust/american-jaccob-slavin-fueled-by-faith-helps-lead-usa-to-historic-olympic-gold.html?

    https://notthebee.com/article/a-new-political-party-just-launched-to-save-britain

    https://thedailybs.com/2026/02/23/cdl-tests-will-become-english-only/

    Support the show

    27 February 2026, 11:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    What Do Courage, Polling, And Delegated Powers Tell Us About America Now

    What happens when a speech turns the room into a live referendum on first principles? We break down a State of the Union that fused patriotic theater with hard policy bets—calling for voter ID through the SAVE Act, pressing tariffs despite a legal speed bump, and elevating faith and service as shared civic anchors. The showmanship was unmistakable: Team USA hockey winding through the press as chants rose, pointed “stand up” moments that drew sharp lines, and tributes to veterans and everyday heroes that felt refreshingly unifying.

    We walk through why the SAVE Act became the centerpiece and how that choice sets the terrain for the midterms. Simple framing plus visible floor reactions create clips that travel, and those clips influence polling that, in turn, disciplines party messaging. On tariffs, we dive into the constitutional mechanics—how delegated powers work, what Federalist No. 12 actually emphasizes, and why the Court’s ruling narrowed a lane without closing the highway. If you care about what lasts beyond one administration, you’ll appreciate the reminder that real durability comes from statute, not just executive muscle.

    There’s also a media and AI reality check. Pre-scripted rebuttals released before the speech, viral but fabricated quotes, and AI tools that mirror user bias all feed confusion. We share practical ways to verify claims, ask better questions, and keep civic engagement grounded in primary sources. Whether you applauded the tone or winced at the jabs, the night revealed which messages move people and where the country’s cultural seams are most visible. Listen for clear takeaways, a frank look at strategy versus spectacle, and a nudge to engage with discernment.

    If this helped you think more clearly about policy, culture, and the road to the midterms, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review—your feedback sharpens the conversation.

    Support the show

    26 February 2026, 11:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App