Video - Larry O'Connor

Joel Smallbone, a member of the band For King and Country, discusses his new film, "Drummer Boy," which is now playing in theaters across the country. This faith-based musical drama tells the story of two brothers on opposing sides of the American Revolution, highlighting themes of freedom, forgiveness, and faith. Joel, who also co-directed the film with his brother, shares the journey of bringing this story to life through music and film. To celebrate its release, Angel Studios is offering a special promotion: for selected dates, moviegoers can buy one ticket and get a second one free, aiming to support families during the holiday season. Joel emphasizes the importance of family and faith in the film and how it reflects his own life and love for the United States.

Washington political reporter Charlie Spiering, from the Daily Mail, joins Larry to discuss the latest political developments and key figures in the midterm elections aftermath. Spiering delves into Vice President J.D. Vance's post-election stance, highlighting his surprising criticism of the war in Iran and its impact on the midterms. The conversation also touches on Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's future in the administration amidst calls for impeachment and the rumors surrounding Marco Rubio's potential presidential run in 2028, which were quickly debunked. This insightful discussion offers a deep dive into the political landscape, shedding light on the shifting dynamics within the party and the implications for the future.

This Veterans Day, join Tim Holbert, President of the American Veterans Center, as he discusses the 29th annual Veterans Conference in Washington, DC. This remarkable event brings together nearly 40 living World War II veterans, along with heroes from Korea, Vietnam, and September 11th, to share their invaluable stories with the public. The conference, held at the Omni Shore Hotel, aims to pass on history and inspire the next generation through interactions with students from ROTC programs and service academies. Holbert emphasizes the importance of preserving these stories as the number of surviving World War II veterans dwindles. The American Veterans Center has been recording these stories for decades, creating a digital archive that has garnered billions of views on social media. The center's YouTube channel is a testament to the public's hunger for these inspirational tales. Additionally, the conference features a special television program, "American Valor," which brings together celebrities and veterans for a nationwide salute to military heroes. This event aims to unite people across political and cultural divides, highlighting the shared values that define America. For those interested in participating, registration and more information are available on the American Veterans Center's website, americanveteranscenter.org. The conference runs all day on Friday and Saturday, with sessions starting at 8:30 AM and going until 4:00 PM each day.

In this episode, Larry talks with Dr. Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action for America, about the political landscape post-midterms. They discuss the bright spots in the political situation, including lessons learned from the Iran conflict, the success of the Republican party in Florida and Tennessee, and the election integrity initiatives regarding voter ID. Dr. Roberts emphasizes the importance of focusing on domestic policy and better messaging by the administration to regain public support. The conversation also delves into what Republicans in Congress should focus on now that they are in the minority. Dr. Roberts advises Republicans to use reconciliation to pass good policy, confirm judges and ambassadorships, and invest in the Pentagon. He encourages outgoing members to push for consequential votes during the lame duck session, highlighting the importance of communication and persuasion in leadership. Dr. Roberts also offers advice to incoming Republicans, suggesting they ask potential leaders about their commitment to fighting for the American people and implementing lessons learned. He recommends slowing down the Democratic agenda through legislative processes and committee hearings, and emphasizes the need for effective communication from the new Republican leadership in Congress.

In this discussion, David Bozell, President and CEO of the Media Research Center, reflects on media coverage of the recent election results. Bozell discusses the pervasive influence of biased media narratives and how they impact voter perception, especially among younger audiences who rely on tech giants like Apple News, Google News, and MSN for their information. He highlights the skewed nature of headlines on these platforms, pointing out that they overwhelmingly favor negative coverage of President Trump. Bozell emphasizes the need for conservatives to be vigilant and proactive in countering these narratives, advocating for a shift in strategy to effectively push back against the pervasive negativity. The conversation underscores the importance of media literacy and the role of organizations like the MRC in advocating for fair and balanced reporting.

Erika Donalds, incoming First Lady of Florida and founder of the Education Freedom Foundation, discusses her and her husband Byron Donalds’ upcoming roles and their policy priorities for the state. Erika highlights the importance of education reform, focusing on expanding opportunities after high school through trade schools, certification programs, and state colleges. They emphasize the need to prepare students for available jobs, ensuring that new opportunities benefit Floridians. The conversation also touches on the grassroots campaign strategy that focused on local issues rather than nationalizing state concerns, and the incoming administration's plans to address affordability and property taxes. Erika remains committed to advocating for education reform nationwide, leveraging Florida’s successes to influence other states positively.

Newt Gingrich joins us to discuss the recent midterm elections and their implications for the Republican party. With the election results shaking up previous assumptions, Gingrich offers insights into what went wrong and how the party can regroup and strategize for the future. He emphasizes the importance of aligning with the American people's sentiments and presents a candid analysis of the current political landscape. Gingrich also shares his thoughts on potential Republican nominees for the 2028 presidential election, highlighting the open field and the need for a strong, clear message to win back public trust.

Jason Snead, the executive director of the Honest Elections Project, discusses the contentious Alaska Senate race, where the votes are still not finalized. Sneed explains how a "dirty tricks" campaign involving decoy candidates may have pulled votes away from incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan, potentially affecting the outcome under Alaska's rank choice voting system. The conversation delves into the legal and criminal investigations underway and the importance of safeguarding election integrity through measures like voter ID and non-citizen voting bans, which saw significant support in recent state referendums despite opposition from Democrats.

Sean Spicer, a seasoned Republican strategist, discusses the midterm election results and GOP strategies moving forward. Spicer emphasizes the importance of learning from successes and failures, and highlights the need for the Republican party to address its fundraising challenges, particularly with the potential departure of major donors like Elon Musk and Donald Trump. He critiques the campaign strategies of certain candidates, likening their approach to "political atrophy." Spicer also touches on the disconnect between party messaging and the economic concerns of voters. The conversation further delves into potential shifts in Republican leadership and the agenda for the lame-duck session of Congress. Spicer concludes by stressing the necessity for the party to refocus on issues that directly impact voters' daily lives.

Ken Cuccinelli, former Attorney General of Virginia and chairman of Heritage Action's election transparency initiative, discusses recent election issues and the importance of election integrity. He highlights improvements in addressing election-related litigation since 2020, noting the positive shift towards greater transparency and openness. Cuccinelli also comments on the anomalies in some districts, the challenges of rank-choice voting in Alaska, and the need for reforms to ensure fair and efficient ballot counting. He stresses the importance of protecting the electoral process and maintaining public confidence in election outcomes.