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
    Faith Meets Founding History

    A Great Awakening is getting people into theaters and then into conversations they didn’t expect to have: Who was George Whitefield, why did Benjamin Franklin respect him, and how did spiritual ideas shape early American public life? We talk through the wave of listener feedback, including the kind that makes us smile most, when someone realizes they “know a lot about history” because they’ve been quietly learning and sharing it for years. 

    Then we give the honest review many of you asked for. When a film is based on real events, we’re not looking for every line to be a perfect transcript, but we do care about tone and about the big claims that stick in the audience’s mind. We highlight what the movie gets impressively right, including moments drawn from real Constitutional Convention debates and Franklin’s powerful call to prayer. We also slow down on the controversial moment where Franklin is labeled a deist, walking through what the primary source actually says and why that label gets abused in modern takes on the Founding Fathers. 

    Finally, we zoom out to the bigger cultural shift we’re sensing: a growing hunger for better stories, deeper faith, and leaders with principle. That’s why it meant so much to participate in America Reads The Bible in Washington, DC and to see national leaders publicly read Scripture. If you care about Christian history, the Great Awakening, the founding of America, and where the culture is heading next, you’ll find encouragement and practical next steps here. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves history, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

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    23 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Texas Textbooks Determine the Direction of the Nation, Part 2 - with Dr. Julie Pickren

    One vote can decide whether a generation learns a clear, content-rich story of American history or a vague set of standards that can be stretched to fit almost anything. Rick Green sits down with Julie Pickering from the Texas State Board of Education, with David Barton adding long-range context on why Texas standards don’t stay in Texas. When TEKS change in a major state, textbook publishers and other states follow, which is why this June meeting matters nationwide.

    Julie walks us through how social studies standards are built: the approved framework, the work groups, the role of content advisors, and the reality-check of more than 5,000 teacher survey responses saying the current standards are too generalized. We dig into what teachers mean by “mastery,” why specificity protects parents and classrooms, and how broad language can be used to claim controversial materials are fully aligned to state standards.

    We also talk about the deeper purpose of civics and history education: helping students understand the why behind the Declaration of Independence, the role of founding documents, Western civilization, and the Judeo-Christian ideas that shaped American law and public life. Julie explains why the second reading and final adoption in late June could turn into a battle over a full substitute document, and she shares how listeners can pray and how public testimony can influence the outcome.

    If you care about curriculum, textbooks, and what kids are actually learning, listen through to the end, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What do you want students to know about America by the time they graduate?

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    22 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Texas Textbooks Determine the Direction of the Nation, Part 1 - with Dr. Julie Pickren

    A handful of votes in Austin can quietly shape what students read in classrooms across America and most families never hear about it until the books are already printed. We start with a hopeful cultural moment, America Reads the Bible, and talk about why public Scripture literacy still shows up in civic life, from shared language to the way laws and history are taught. We also look ahead to the 250th anniversary and the idea of a national rededication, echoing early American practices of prayer, fasting proclamations, and public thanksgiving.

    Then we zoom in on one of the biggest leverage points in the country: the Texas State Board of Education. Because Texas and California drive textbook publishing, the social studies standards and TEKS decisions made in Texas can ripple nationwide for the next 10 to 15 years. David Barton explains why down ballot SBOE races can touch daily life more than people realize, and why the real divide is often conservative vs progressive rather than simply Republican vs Democrat.

    Finally, we’re joined by Texas SBOE member Julie Pickering for an on-the-ground update from the latest hearings. She describes the public turnout, the media narrative battle, and the pressure campaigns that shape who gets heard in “public testimony.” Julie also walks through how Texas is rebuilding the social studies framework around primary source documents, a patriotic lens required in state law, and the context students need to understand terms that appear in modern law and culture. If you care about accurate history, civic education, and who influences curriculum, this conversation is your roadmap.

    Subscribe, share this with a friend who cares about schools, and leave a review so more people can find it. What do you think should be non-negotiable in a K–12 social studies curriculum?

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    21 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Rebuilding Liberty For America’s 250th

    A lot of people are making plans for America’s 250th anniversary and I’m excited for the celebrations. But I don’t want the 250th to be all fireworks and hot dogs with no understanding of the Declaration of Independence, unalienable rights, or why government exists in the first place. That’s the heart of this WallBuilders message: civic literacy is the missing ingredient, and this next season is a rare chance to rebuild liberty from the ground up in our families, churches, workplaces, and communities.

    We talk through a simple but demanding framework: answer real cultural questions with biblical clarity, then connect those answers to history and the Constitution. The Declaration’s logic matters here, from “truths… self-evident” to rights endowed by a Creator and government’s purpose to secure those rights. We also tackle the line that makes people nervous “it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it” and explain what bold, constitutional course correction can look like without throwing society into chaos.

    We also reflect on the shock and aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, and why attempts to silence truth can end up multiplying it. The stories and quotes we share point to a passing-of-the-mantle moment, with young people stepping forward and saying they won’t stay quiet anymore. To make that momentum practical, we lay out clear next steps: the Rebuilding Liberty course, Biblical Citizenship in Modern America, and simple tools that let you host a class and invite others with minimal friction.

    If you want the 250th to leave a real legacy, listen now, share this with a friend, and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. After you listen, will you tell us one concrete thing you’ll do before July 4th?

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    20 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    What Counts As Good News In Chaotic Times

    A principal runs toward the sound of gunfire, tackles a would-be school shooter, and lives. Astronauts wake up near the moon to a Christian song and speak openly about God, prayer, and creation. Then we hit the whiplash of modern life: official acronyms so long they sound like satire, headlines that strain credibility, and policies that test the limits of constitutional authority. That mix is exactly why we do Good News Friday, because hope has to be anchored in something sturdier than the news cycle.

    We walk through a providential school safety story from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma and talk about what courageous leadership looks like when seconds matter. We also reflect on the Artemis II mission and why public faith from astronauts resonates so deeply, especially in a culture that often treats Christianity and science as enemies. When someone who has seen Earth from afar talks about the Creator, it reframes the conversation for everyone listening.

    From there, we weigh in on culture and credibility: identity politics that turns language into confusion, media narratives about Iran and the Straits of Hormuz that don’t match observable realities, and what it means when people in the “middle” start noticing the disconnect. We also highlight Franklin Graham’s direct letter to President Trump about salvation through Jesus Christ, plus a clear reminder on student loans and the SAVE plan fallout: personal responsibility and lawful policy still matter.

    If you care about faith and culture, biblical worldview thinking, and practical takes on today’s headlines, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find Good News Friday. What story gave you the most hope?

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    17 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Reforming Academia From Within

    A public university professor writes in with a question a lot of people quietly carry: if American academia feels captured by ideology and hostile to biblical Christianity, is it already too far gone or can it be reformed? We start with the history many classrooms skip, that early American colleges were overwhelmingly founded with explicit Christian commitments, then we get brutally practical about what change can look like when you’re the only one in your department who still believes it.

    Our answer isn’t a shortcut. We talk about why real renewal in higher education is usually slow, relational, and generational. Instead of chasing quick debates, we focus on discipleship as a strategy for cultural change: investing in students, mentoring future professors, and thinking in decades, not days. If you’ve ever wondered how one person can matter inside a massive institution, the math of multiplication and the patience of long obedience show a believable path forward.

    Then we pivot to two big history questions with modern relevance: the Nullification Crisis of 1832 and how South Carolina’s standoff with the federal government helped deepen the divide that later erupted in the Civil War, plus what’s true about Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Riot. We close by clearing up the story behind the “Jefferson Bible,” including what Jefferson actually compiled and why the popular version of the story often misses the point. If you value biblical worldview, American history, and constitutional literacy, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

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    16 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Texas Textbooks, National Impact - with Brandon Hall

    Texas doesn’t just teach its own kids, it often sets the direction for what the rest of the country reads. When publishers chase the biggest markets, Texas State Board of Education votes can ripple into national textbooks, classroom materials, and the story students absorb about American history, Western civilization, and civic life.

    We sit down with Brandon Hall, a Texas SBOE member and pastor, right after major initial approvals on two fronts: updated social studies standards and a required literary works list. He explains what actually changed, why the board fought to restore factual history that’s been trimmed by revisionism, and how the standards aim to teach history in a clear chronological arc instead of a fragmented set of themes. We also talk about the reading list and why studying the Bible as literature matters for cultural literacy, worldview debates, and understanding the language of law, freedom, and the American founding.

    You’ll also hear what comes next, why June is a critical final step, and how public testimony and grassroots engagement helped turn a defensive fight into real amendments and real wins. If you care about curriculum, textbook publishing, education policy, or simply want students to know the full story of the nation, this conversation lays out the stakes and the path forward.

    Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of faith and culture, share this with a friend who’s convinced nothing can change, and leave a review with your biggest question about what should be in a core American history education.

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    15 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Undercover Inside A D.C. Islamist Network - with David Gaubatz

    A former federal agent joins us with a claim that still shocks people years later: he assembled a team, trained them to move quietly inside Sharia-driven spaces, and sent them undercover to assess the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). What they say they found, including the recovery of roughly 13,000 internal documents, shapes the entire conversation and raises urgent questions about how influence campaigns work when they don’t look like “terrorism” on the surface.

    We dig into the difference between kinetic violence and what we call cultural jihad: the slow, persuasive strategy aimed at institutions, education, and public opinion. David Gobbitz argues that another 9-11 style attack may be strategically delayed because it would wake the country up, while “lone wolf” activity and ideological pressure can keep fear alive and momentum moving. We connect that argument to Texas, local community debates, and why law enforcement often feels handcuffed when investigations touch mosques, schools, or anything labeled religious.

    The hardest part of the conversation is a disturbing allegation involving a child inside a Sharia class and the long fight to get authorities to act. We also discuss what “freedom of religion” protects under the First Amendment when an Imam describes Islam as a political, economic, and military ideology using religion as a tool. If you care about national security, constitutional boundaries, and protecting kids while keeping a clear head, this is a challenging but important listen.

    Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of faith and culture, share this with a friend who wants sources not slogans, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

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    14 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Read The Bible Together - with Bunni Pounds

    What would it look like for America to hear the Bible out loud again, not as a slogan, but as the actual text from Genesis to Revelation? That question drives our conversation as we get ready for a major national moment in Washington, DC: America Reads the Bible, where nearly 500 leaders will read Scripture publicly and livestream it across the country.

    We talk about why public Bible reading has such a powerful track record, from Moses to King Josiah to Jesus reading Isaiah, and especially Ezra and Nehemiah, where Scripture helps rebuild a broken people with clarity, worship, and renewed commitment. We also dig into the practical reason this matters right now: Bible literacy is collapsing in real time, and that vacuum is being filled with confident “crazy talk” from across the spectrum, including people who should know better. If we want a healthy biblical worldview, we have to get back to the source.

    Then we’re joined by Bunny Pounds from Christians Engaged to lay out the details: the schedule, the livestream, and how churches, families, universities, and small groups can participate. Along the way, we keep it real about the parts of Scripture people tend to avoid, including the genealogies, and why even those passages can be part of God’s bigger story.

    If you care about faith and culture, the Bible’s role in America’s founding, and what renewal could look like in the next 250 years, listen and join us. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation.

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    13 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Europe Reverses Course As America’s Culture Fights Heat Up

    Europe is changing course, Hollywood is unexpectedly saying the quiet part out loud, and a few long-running legal fights just took a dramatic turn. We kick off Good News Friday by looking at the European Parliament’s move toward deportations and detention centers for illegal immigration, a major shift after years of open-border ideology. If you care about immigration policy, national sovereignty, and public safety across Western civilization, this story is hard to ignore.

    Then we jump into culture with American Idol’s Faith Night. We talk through Luke Bryan’s reflections on growing up around a Baptist church, how gospel preaching and youth group shaped him, and why Carrie Underwood’s bold, consistent Christian faith still stands out. We also name the tension you probably felt too: sometimes “faith” means worship, and sometimes it gets reduced to self-confidence. That difference matters, especially when the whole country is listening.

    From there, we get practical and constitutional. A new Department of Defense policy allows commanders to approve service members carrying personal firearms on U.S. military bases, a shift framed around self-defense and lessons from past base shootings. We also cover the dismissal of the last charge against David Daleiden after years of prosecution tied to exposing Planned Parenthood’s alleged fetal tissue sales, plus the first Antifa terrorism convictions in Texas. We close with a hopeful call from South Carolina to rededicate the state to the Lord through prayer, repentance, and moral renewal as the 250th anniversary approaches.

    If you found value here, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find conversations on faith and culture grounded in history and the Constitution.

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    10 April 2026, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 59 seconds
    Christ-Centered College Rallies Are Rewriting The Story Of Gen Z

    Thousands of college students are showing up in arenas to talk about Jesus and it’s not happening at just one school. We dig into the Unite Us movement and the wave of campus revival stories from places like Pittsburgh, Alabama, Purdue, Ohio State, and Texas A&M, plus why the real test comes after the rally. Big moments are powerful, but we talk about the unglamorous next step that makes them stick: local churches stepping in to disciple, mentor, and help students build a lasting faith that shapes everyday life.

    Then we shift gears to a claim designed to spark outrage: the idea that George Washington hated his mother. We walk through why sensational history spreads so easily, especially when a famous name sells the story, and we lay out a simple way to fact-check anyone, no matter how well-known. If the claim is real, there should be a document, a date, and a quotation. If not, the burden of proof stays where it belongs.

    Finally, we answer a parent question we know many families face: how do you respond when your teen doubts the American Revolution and appeals to Christian teaching on obeying government? We unpack taxation without representation, the Declaration of Independence and its list of grievances, and the biblical framework for when resisting tyranny can align with obedience to God. If you care about faith, civic literacy, and raising thoughtful young leaders, hit play, share it with a friend, and leave a review telling us what question you want us to tackle next.

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    9 April 2026, 10:00 am
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