This is what the American people want to hear in tonight's debate

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Editor's Note: This article was originally published on TheBlaze.com.

Here's what the American people want to hear from their leaders during the presidential debate on Thursday night.

Let me start with what they don't want to hear. They don't want to hear about "Russia-gate." They don't want to hear about stolen elections, January 6, or frankly abortion in either direction. They don't need to go over the corrupt court cases of Donald Trump or the corruption of the Justice Department regarding Hunter Biden. They don't want to hear about “drag queen story hour” or about equity. They don't want to hear about global warming — that in particular is at the bottom of the list of Americans' concerns.

People want answers. They want an actual plan that they can participate in, that they can understand. They want a leader.

They don't want to hear about COVID-19, especially if it’s used as an excuse to explain away inflation and lack of jobs burdening the American people. Anyone who tries to argue that the border is secure or that our country is in good shape, that jobs are plentiful, the economy is growing like crazy, that fuel is cheap, and food is affordable will lose! Maybe not tonight, but in the fall. That message will lose.

People no longer believe in the system. They don't believe anymore that it’s geared for them. They don't believe in the politicians on either side of the aisle. And they certainly don't believe CNN’s Jake Tapper or the press generally. Full faith and trust in the American government is a thing of the distant past.

People also don't believe in the fake fearmongering anymore. Why? Because there's enough stuff out there to actually be afraid of. And Americans are afraid.

A fair deal

Here’s what Americans want to know: Who is going to keep my job secure? Who is going to make sure this insane inflation doesn't continue and actually goes down? They don't care about the Federal Reserve or what Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen thinks. They care about having to choose between food and fuel!

Americans don’t want to choose between making rent or having a car. They can't afford a new home. They can't afford a loan or the 30% interest rate on their credit cards, which are already maxed out. They care about the elites who are getting rich and the banks that are always bailed out without consequence. People want answers. They want an actual plan that they can participate in, that they can understand. They want a leader.

It seems like the average American can’t get a fair deal. Average Americans are the people who create 70% of all jobs in recessions and tough times. They're the small business owners who have always been the backbone of job creation. Yet they see their leaders bail out big corporations while hanging them out to dry. Home Depot made money and was allowed to stay open during the pandemic, but the local hardware store was considered a danger to everyone's health.

What's the game we're playing? Because the American people feel like we're on the losing end.

The American people have seen what reimagining the police looks like. What they want to know in Thursday’s debate is who will restore safety to our streets. Crime is unlike anything I have seen in my lifetime. People want safe and clean streets. Is that too much to ask of our leaders?

For the first time in my lifetime, Americans are deeply concerned about their immediate future.

The American people have seen what the reimagining of our schools has done to our children. They want schools that will help them, as parents, teach their children reading, math, science, writing, usable skills — not "March and Protest 101."

Our children need a quality education, not an indoctrination camp that labels them as gay, not gay, nonbinary, or any of the numerous other gender identities. American parents primarily worry about their children's futures. If we continue down this path, I fear for my children's prospects. This situation is dire, and people know it. They are asking, "Who will stop the insanity?"

For the love of country

Remember that Biden won the 2020 election because he said, "Isn't this crazy?” People voted for him because he campaigned as an "old, safe guy." What was he going to do?

Well, we've seen what he's done. Are our kids going to be able to afford an education? Is it worth even having an education? Will my children be able to own a house? Will my children be able to inherit my house? Will they be able to have food or even grow food?

People worry that this is the end of a country that almost all of us love and want to save. We may disagree on the problems or the solutions. But I believe most of us love America!

Americans want a solution on the border. They worry about war. Is my kid going to be sent off to fight some politician or global elite's war for something that I don't even believe in? The federal government is already spending all our children's money and can't seem to track any of it. Are we seriously talking tough when nuclear war is an option on the table for not just one country but several?

When it comes to elections, Americans have historically cared about the distant future, their children and grandchildren's futures. For the first time in my lifetime, Americans are deeply concerned about their immediate future. Are my kids going to survive school? Is my wife going to make it after going to the gas station? Am I going to have any money left? Will I be able to keep my house or my apartment?

No slogan is going to work this time to fix the ills that the American people are facing. Only leadership will do that.

For the first time in my life, we are beginning to look at our Bill of Rights differently. Take the the right to keep and bear arms. That's always been a theoretical debate in many ways. But it's not theoretical anymore. Here's how: We see on TV all the time people trapped in their cars surrounded by Antifa or Hamas lovers, and if you call 911, there's no help coming. But God forbid you should defend yourself.

Our wives, our daughters, and our sons need to get gas at night occasionally. When did it become normal to check over your shoulder to make sure you're not being cased?

The bad guys have guns, and the way they get them is not through any legitimate gun store that the government is trying to suffocate. The police are now no longer allowed to police anymore, and if they do, the DA lets the criminals go!

Have we already lost?

If our government won't stop gangs and terrorists from different countries that are known to be coming over our southern border, if the government doesn't stop dismissing rioters, firebombings, and calling a "bigot" the hardworking taxpaying American who is struggling to buy a loaf of bread, then maybe we've already lost our country.

People want to know why our veterans are on the streets and illegal aliens are in hotels. People want to know why our law enforcement officials and district attorneys won’t arrest and prosecute criminals or go after gangs and illegal guns. People want to know why they can't afford food, gas, rent, insurance, electricity, health care. No slogan is going to work this time to fix the ills that the American people are facing. Only leadership will do that.

People need to see a leader on the dais Thursday who actually sees them.

Americans don't care about their president’s personal life. They don't care about his past. They need a leader who sees what their lives are like for them. They don't need anyone to tell them how bad it is. They want to hear, "I get it. I see you. I know the problem, and I will fix it.”

Whoever steps up to the plate and becomes a leader — a true leader — of the American people will win the debate Thursday night.

In the quiet aftermath of a profound loss, the Christian community mourns the unexpected passing of Dr. Voddie Baucham, a towering figure in evangelical circles. Known for his defense of biblical truth, Baucham, a pastor, author, and theologian, left a legacy on family, faith, and opposing "woke" ideologies in the church. His book Fault Lines challenged believers to prioritize Scripture over cultural trends. Glenn had Voddie on the show several times, where they discussed progressive influences in Christianity, debunked myths of “Christian nationalism,” and urged hope amid hostility.

The shock of Baucham's death has deeply affected his family. Grieving, they remain hopeful in Christ, with his wife, Bridget, now facing the task of resettling in the US without him. Their planned move from Lusaka, Zambia, was disrupted when their home sale fell through last December, resulting in temporary Airbnb accommodations, but they have since secured a new home in Cape Coral that requires renovations. To ensure Voddie's family is taken care of, a fundraiser is being held to raise $2 million, which will be invested for ongoing support, allowing Bridget to focus on her family.

We invite readers to contribute prayerfully. If you feel called to support the Bauchams in this time of need, you can click here to donate.

We grieve and pray with hope for the Bauchams.

May Voddie's example inspire us.

Loneliness isn’t just being alone — it’s feeling unseen, unheard, and unimportant, even amid crowds and constant digital chatter.

Loneliness has become an epidemic in America. Millions of people, even when surrounded by others, feel invisible. In tragic irony, we live in an age of unparalleled connectivity, yet too many sit in silence, unseen and unheard.

I’ve been experiencing this firsthand. My children have grown up and moved out. The house that once overflowed with life now echoes with quiet. Moments that once held laughter now hold silence. And in that silence, the mind can play cruel games. It whispers, “You’re forgotten. Your story doesn’t matter.”

We are unique in our gifts, but not in our humanity. Recognizing this shared struggle is how we overcome loneliness.

It’s a lie.

I’ve seen it in others. I remember sitting at Rockefeller Center one winter, watching a woman lace up her ice skates. Her clothing was worn, her bag battered. Yet on the ice, she transformed — elegant, alive, radiant.

Minutes later, she returned to her shoes, merged into the crowd, unnoticed. I’ve thought of her often. She was not alone in her experience. Millions of Americans live unseen, performing acts of quiet heroism every day.

Shared pain makes us human

Loneliness convinces us to retreat, to stay silent, to stop reaching out to others. But connection is essential. Even small gestures — a word of encouragement, a listening ear, a shared meal — are radical acts against isolation.

I’ve learned this personally. Years ago, a caller called me “Mr. Perfect.” I could have deflected, but I chose honesty. I spoke of my alcoholism, my failed marriage, my brokenness. I expected judgment. Instead, I found resonance. People whispered back, “I’m going through the same thing. Thank you for saying it.”

Our pain is universal. Everyone struggles with self-doubt and fear. Everyone feels, at times, like a fraud. We are unique in our gifts, but not in our humanity. Recognizing this shared struggle is how we overcome loneliness.

We were made for connection. We were built for community — for conversation, for touch, for shared purpose. Every time we reach out, every act of courage and compassion punches a hole in the wall of isolation.

You’re not alone

If you’re feeling alone, know this: You are not invisible. You are seen. You matter. And if you’re not struggling, someone you know is. It’s your responsibility to reach out.

Loneliness is not proof of brokenness. It is proof of humanity. It is a call to engage, to bear witness, to connect. The world is different because of the people who choose to act. It is brighter when we refuse to be isolated.

We cannot let silence win. We cannot allow loneliness to dictate our lives. Speak. Reach out. Connect. Share your gifts. By doing so, we remind one another: We are all alike, and yet each of us matters profoundly.

In this moment, in this country, in this world, what we do matters. Loneliness is real, but so is hope. And hope begins with connection.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.


Russell Vought’s secret plan to finally shrink Washington

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Trump’s OMB chief built the plan for this moment: Starve pet programs, force reauthorization, and actually shrink Washington.

The government is shut down again, and the usual panic is back. I even had someone call my house this week to ask if it was safe to fly today. The person was half-joking, half-serious, wondering if planes would “fall out of the sky.”

For the record, the sky isn’t falling — at least not literally. But the chaos in Washington does feel like it. Once again, we’re watching the same old script: a shutdown engineered not by fiscal restraint but by political brinkmanship. And this time, the Democrats are driving the bus.

This shutdown may be inconvenient. But it’s also an opportunity — to stop funding our own destruction, to reset the table, and to remind Congress who actually pays the bills.

Democrats, among other things, are demanding that health care be extended to illegal immigrants. Democratic leadership caved to its radical base, which would rather shut down the government for such left-wing campaign points than compromise. Republicans — shockingly — said no. They refused to rubber-stamp more spending for illegal immigration. For once, they stood their ground.

But if you’ve watched Washington long enough, you know how this story usually ends: a shutdown followed by a deal that spends even more money than before — a continuing resolution kicking the can down the road. Everyone pretends to “win,” but taxpayers always lose.

The Vought effect

This time might be different. Republicans actually hold some cards. The public may blame Democrats — not the media, but the people who feel this in their wallets. Americans don’t like shutdowns, but they like runaway spending and chaos even less.

That’s why you’re hearing so much about Russell Vought, the director of the United States Office of Management and Budget and Donald Trump’s quiet architect of a strategy to use moments like this to shrink the federal bureaucracy. Vought spent four years building a plan for exactly this scenario: firing nonessential workers and forcing reauthorization of pet programs. Trump talks about draining the swamp. Vought draws up the blueprints.

The Democrats and media are threatened by Vought because he is patient, calculated, and understands how to leverage the moment to reverse decades of government bloat. If programs aren’t mandated, cut them. Make Congress fight to bring them back. That’s how you actually drain the swamp.

Predictable meltdowns

Predictably, Democrats are melting down. They’ve shifted their arguments so many times it’s dizzying. Last time, they claimed a shutdown would lead to mass firings. Now, they insist Republicans are firing everyone anyway. It’s the same playbook: Move the goalposts, reframe the narrative, accuse your opponents of cruelty.

We’ve seen this before. Remember the infamous "You lie!” moment in 2009? President Barack Obama promised during his State of the Union that Obamacare wouldn’t cover illegal immigrants. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouted, “You lie!” and was condemned for breaching decorum.

Several years later, Hillary Clinton’s campaign platform openly promised health care for illegal immigrants. What was once called a “lie” became official policy. And today, Democrats are shutting down the government because they can’t get even more of it.

This is progressivism in action: Deny it, inch toward it, then demand it as a moral imperative. Anyone who resists becomes the villain.

SAUL LOEB / Contributor | Getty Images

Stand firm

This shutdown isn’t just about spending. It’s about whether we’ll keep letting progressives rewrite the rules one crisis at a time. Trump’s plan — to cut what isn’t mandated, force programs into reauthorization, and fight the battle in the courts — is the first real counterpunch to decades of this manipulation.

It’s time to stop pretending. This isn’t about compassion. It’s about control. Progressives know once they normalize government benefits for illegal immigrants, they never roll back. They know Americans forget how it started.

This shutdown may be inconvenient. But it’s also an opportunity — to stop funding our own destruction, to reset the table, and to remind Congress who actually pays the bills. If we don’t take it, we’ll be right back here again, only deeper in debt, with fewer freedoms left to defend.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

U.K. forces digital IDs on workers—Is the U.S. next in line?

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From banking to health care, digital IDs touch every aspect of citizens’ lives, giving the government unprecedented control over everyday actions.

On Friday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stood at the podium at the Global Progressive Action Conference in London and made an announcement that should send a chill down the spine of anyone who loves liberty. By the end of this Parliament, he promised, every worker in the U.K. will be required to hold a “free-of-charge” digital ID. Without it, Britons will not be able to work.

No digital ID, no job.

The government is introducing a system that punishes law-abiding citizens by tying their right to work to a government-issued pass.

Starmer framed this as a commonsense response to poverty, climate change, and illegal immigration. He claimed Britain cannot solve these problems without “looking upstream” and tackling root causes. But behind the rhetoric lies a policy that shifts power away from individuals and places it squarely in the hands of government.

Solving the problem they created

This is progressivism in action. Leaders open their borders, invite in mass illegal immigration, and refuse to enforce their own laws. Then, when public frustration boils over, they unveil a prepackaged “solution” — in this case, digital identity — that entrenches government control.

Britain isn’t the first to embrace this system. Switzerland recently approved a digital ID system. Australia already has one. The World Economic Forum has openly pitched digital IDs as the key to accessing everything from health care to bank accounts to travel. And once the infrastructure is in place, digital currency will follow soon after, giving governments the power to track every purchase, approve or block transactions, and dictate where and how you spend your money.

All of your data — your medical history, insurance, banking, food purchases, travel, social media engagement, tax information — would be funneled into a centralized database under government oversight.

The fiction of enforcement

Starmer says this is about cracking down on illegal work. The BBC even pressed him on the point, asking why a mandatory digital ID would stop human traffickers and rogue employers who already ignore national insurance cards. He had no answer.

Bad actors will still break the law. Bosses who pay sweatshop wages under the table will not suddenly check digital IDs. Criminals will not line up to comply. This isn’t about stopping illegal immigration. If it were, the U.K. would simply enforce existing laws, close the loopholes, and deport those working illegally.

Instead, the government is introducing a system that punishes law-abiding citizens by tying their right to work to a government-issued pass.

Control masked as compassion

This is part of an old playbook. Politicians claim their hands are tied and promise that only sweeping new powers will solve the crisis. They selectively enforce laws to maintain the problem, then use the problem to justify expanding control.

If Britain truly wanted to curb illegal immigration, it could. It is an island. The Channel Tunnel has clear entry points. Enforcement is not impossible. But a digital ID allows for something far more valuable to bureaucrats than border security: total oversight of their own citizens.

The American warning

Think digital ID can’t happen here? Think again. The same arguments are already echoing in Washington, D.C. Illegal immigration is out of control. Progressives know voters are angry. When the digital ID pitch arrives, it will be wrapped in patriotic language about fairness, security, and compassion.

But the goal isn’t compassion. It’s control of your movement, your money, your speech, your future.

We don’t need digital IDs to enforce immigration law. We need leaders with the courage to enforce existing law. Until then, digital ID schemes will keep spreading, sold as a cure for the very problems they helped create.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.