The WallBuilders Show

A judge tells Virginia Democrats a referendum is illegal, it goes forward anyway, and then the election gets set aside. That’s where Good News Friday starts: not with hot takes, but with the uncomfortable truth that election integrity depends on boring things like timing rules, publication requirements, and ballot language voters can actually trust. We walk through what the Virginia redistricting fight means, why turnout still matters in off-year elections, and what we’ll be watching as the state Supreme Court weighs in.

Then we shift to a story that hits harder on the personal level: Mark Houck, a Catholic dad and pro-life advocate, targeted under the FACE Act after praying outside a Planned Parenthood clinic. We talk about the escalation from a sidewalk confrontation to an early morning FBI raid, what that kind of enforcement does to religious liberty and free speech, and why a seven-figure settlement matters as restitution and as a deterrent for future abuse.

Finally, we zoom out to culture. Disney quietly moves away from “Hello, Friends” and back to “Ladies And Gentlemen,” and a former employee describes a real internal retreat from DEI dominance. We also share why it’s encouraging to see more pastors engaging public life with courage, clarity, and the full counsel of Scripture. If you care about constitutional rights, pro-life news, Christian leadership, and where the culture may be turning, this one’s for you.

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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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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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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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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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