American Sunrise – October 1, 2025

Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Hosts: Dr. Gina, David Brody, Terrence Bates
Date: October 1, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of American Sunrise on Real America’s Voice dives deep into the government shutdown, the reorientation of military priorities under President Trump, cultural shifts like Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, economic challenges, faith-based activism, and inspirational personal stories. The conversation flows with a vibrant, sometimes humorous, sometimes passionate tone, aiming to deliver both political analysis and human-interest insights through the prism of American values and conservative perspectives.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. Government Shutdown: Blame, Impact, and Outlook

[02:42], [03:31], [13:53], [49:51]

• Shutdown Reality: Government officially shuts down after Congress fails to secure a funding deal. Key federal departments such as the EPA and Education are heavily furloughed (EPA: 89% of workers).
• Blame Game:
  • Democrats (per Terrence Bates quoting Sen. Schumer) blame Republicans for refusing to protect healthcare, especially in the context of immigrants and health benefits.
    • Schumer: "It's midnight. That means the Republican shutdown has just begun because they wouldn't protect Americans health care. We're going to keep fighting for the American people."
  • Republicans pin responsibility on Schumer, calling it the "Schumer shutdown," and criticize Democratic demands for extending healthcare to illegal immigrants.
• Practical Effects:
  • National Archives closed in D.C.; Smithsonian and National Zoo remain open temporarily.
  • Social Security, Medicare, mail, IRS continue operating.
  • Over 500,000 federal employees furloughed; potential layoffs discussed.
• Political Analysis:
  • David Brody: “Grab a seat. It’s going to be a while... They need 60 votes [in the Senate], got 55. Every day, trying to peel off more Democrats.” [03:31]
  • Brian Glenn: “This is going to play a little differently this time because... it's about essentially extending those health care benefits to illegal aliens and migrants, and that’s something I think the base, the American people just quite honestly don’t understand.” [07:35]
  • Matt Schlapp: “I think for the first time in a long time, we can win this budget battle. And I appreciate President Trump and Speaker Johnson and Senator Thune taking the first step in that process.” [58:16]
• Endgame Speculation:
  • Last shutdown lasted 35 days. Optimism this one might resolve sooner, but no clear deadline.
  • Repeated votes planned in the Senate to sway more Democrats.

2. Military Reforms: Fitness, Standards, and the End of "Wokeness"

[09:17], [21:05], [22:13], [23:18], [24:50], [25:04], [59:39]

• Policy Shifts Announced:
  • President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth propose a renewed focus on “fitness, ability, character and strength.”
    • Hegseth: “We’re bringing back a focus on fitness, ability, character and strength.” [09:40]
    • “The purpose of the American military is not to protect anyone’s feelings. It’s to protect our republic.” [09:49]
  • Mandate: Military personnel of all ranks must meet strict height/weight standards, and pass PT tests twice a year.
    • Hegseth: “It's tiring to look out at combat formations, and see fat troops. It's completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals… You need to meet the height and weight standards and pass your PT test.” [23:18]
• Cultural Reset: End to DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) programs and “political correctness.”
  • Dr. Gina: “The people upset about this, David, are the news broadcasters who are white, female, upper class, overprivileged, overeducated. Those are the only people upset about what Pete Hegseth said. Mark my words...” [22:50]
• Support Within Military:
  • Guest Lt. Secretary Steven Rogers (Executive Director, Association of the US Navy): “How about overwhelming support from the United States military from the highest ranks all the way down to those who are on the fields and on the countries that are deployed around the world?” [22:13]
• Notable Moment:
  • Banter over “fat generals” and ROTC PT test memories; parallels to historical military discipline, references to General Patton’s bull terriers [10:55; 24:50].
  • Jokes about rebranding Department of Defense as Department of War to project strength.

3. Culture and Pop: Entertainment and “Wokeness” Clashes

[01:53], [41:33], [41:56]

• Bad Bunny Chosen for 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show:
  • Conservative backlash, described as a sign of the NFL prioritizing “woke politics over American tradition.”
  • Terrence Bates: “I kind of cringe when people call him a rapper. As a rap fan, I don’t consider Bad Bunny a rapper…” [01:53]
  • Adam Weiss (Media Exposed): "If Trump showed up at a football game, 80% of people would cheer you... but the people that run [the NFL], they’re stuck... haven’t got the pulse of America yet." [41:33]
• Washington Post Critique of Kamala Harris:
  • Described as “uninspiring and uncompelling”; push by Democrats to “move on.”
  • Discussion highlights generational and cultural divides, the “woke” label, and legacy media’s role.

4. Faith, Family, and Redemption: Christian Activism and Community

[45:30], [88:01], [91:05]

• Church Security Amid Increasing Attacks:
  • Discussion of church shootings, responses (armed security, trained volunteers), and calls for pastors to be bolder.
  • Pastor Jackson Longmire: “Weak pulpits have created weak Christians, which has led to a weak nation... When you're facing evil, you cannot purr like a little kitten. You gotta roar like a mighty lion.” [47:06]
• Awaken the Dawn Communion America Event:
  • National prayer event scheduled in D.C. October 9-12, 2025.
  • David Bradshaw: “This is for all ages, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, everyone... It's going to be a national communion service... a massive table over a mile long in the center of the National Mall.” [88:48]
  • Inspiration partly attributed to recent tragedies, e.g., assassination of Charlie Kirk [91:22].
• Personal Redemption Stories and Second Chances:
  • Guests Julio Gonzalez and Charles "Duke" Tanner discuss their “core four” principles (faith, family, fitness, and finance) and integrating AI to help ex-prisoners and impoverished communities get job training and grants.
  • Duke Tanner: “With the grace of God, all things are possible... Julio’s like the king of helping build people, and that’s more important than anything in the United States.” [32:04]

5. Economic Policy and Personal Finance

[67:11], [35:45]

• Stock Market/Economic Trends:
  • Gold surges nearing $4,000/oz amid government overspending.
    • Jake Novak: “Gold’s going up because government spending isn’t going down. That’s the biggest reason.” [69:18]
  • Nike profits defy expectations despite China challenges; tactics for extending EV tax credits via strategic inventory buys.
• Tax Tips for Average Americans:
  • Julio Gonzalez discusses his new book, “Why Billionaires Love the Tax Code,” and advocates for grant equality and practical tax-saving strategies for working Americans.
    • “This book has about 200 tips for the hard working American... I just want tax equality in this country and I also want grant equality.” [35:45]
• Home Title Fraud Warning:
  • John Solomon cautions on rising real estate fraud; AI and digital records make crime easier—majority of Americans at risk. [62:25]

6. Health & Wellness

[81:18]

• Obesity, Cancer, and Innovative Treatments:
  • Discussion of new GLP-1 medications and peptide therapies that reduce cancer risk along with promoting weight loss.
  • Dr. Ben Tapper: “When you decrease obesity... you’re going to have healthier outcomes, you’re going to have healthier people. That is not up for debate. That is factual.” [83:40]
  • Debate over “diet and exercise” as solutions, support for peptide drops as a new option.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dr. Gina: “The American dream is still alive.” [01:18]
• Terrence Bates (on government shutdown): “I'm blaming the audio on the government shutdown. Apparently the audio cable is attached to the government.” [11:32]
• Pete Hegseth (clip): “The military’s purpose is not to protect anyone’s feelings. It’s to protect our republic.” [09:49]
• Lt. Sec. Steven Rogers: "We have to be combat ready all times, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So when it comes to the physical standards, when it comes to the training—we all should be up to par with the best and the brightest." [25:25]
• Pastor Longmire: “Weak pulpits have created weak Christians, which has led to a weak nation... When you're facing evil, you cannot purr like a little kitten. You gotta roar like a mighty lion.” [47:06]
• David Bradshaw (Awaken the Dawn): “It’s going to be a national communion service for anyone that loves Jesus, across the whole nation... Nothing like this has ever been done before.” [88:48]
• Julio Gonzalez: “I just want tax equality in this country and I also want grant equality. There’s so many people that are eligible... but we help them go get those grants.” [35:45]

Highlighted Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Highlight | |-----------------|------------------| | 02:42 | Shutdown, CR vote, impacts | | 03:31 | Senate math, attempts to end shutdown | | 07:35 | Brian Glenn on the “healthcare for migrants” dynamic | | 09:17 | Military priorities and Trump's announcement | | 21:05 | Trump and Hegseth: “Defending the homeland...” | | 22:13 | Lt. Sec. Rogers: Military support for reforms | | 23:18 | Hegseth: “Fat generals” and new physical standards | | 32:04 | Duke Tanner on redemption and reentry | | 35:45 | Gonzalez on tax equality for working Americans | | 41:33 | Bad Bunny Super Bowl reaction | | 47:06 | Pastor Longmire: “Roar like a mighty lion” | | 58:16 | Matt Schlapp: GOP should "fight to the death" over budget principles | | 62:25 | John Solomon on home title fraud | | 69:18 | Gold market analysis with Jake Novak | | 81:18 | Dr. Ben Tapper: Obesity, peptides, wellness strategies | | 88:48 | David Bradshaw: Awaken the Dawn preview | | 91:05 | Bradshaw: “National communion” in D.C. | | 95:26 | Heartfelt letters, family legacies |

Final Thoughts

This episode embodies Real America’s Voice’s mission: tackling breaking news with a patriotic, conservative lens; intertwining faith and family values; and encouraging viewers to stay informed, vigilant, and engaged. Listeners are left with both a deeper understanding of current political turmoil and a sense of inspiration through stories of redemption, faith-based action, and community resilience. The panel’s camaraderie, candid banter, and guests’ personal testimonies create a lively and genuinely American conversation from sunrise onward.