AMERICA'S VOICE LIVE, WITH STEVE GRUBER, JANUARY 1ST, 2025

Summary

Podcast Summary: Real America’s Voice Live with Steve Gruber

Episode: America’s Voice Live, January 1, 2026
Host: Steve Gruber
Notable Guests: Kenneth Strange (former FBI Special Agent), Ed Butkowski (Chapwood Investments), Brian Glenn (RAV correspondent), Ben Berkwam (RAV correspondent), Pastor Rob Pacienza (Coral Ridge Ministries)
Main Theme: State of America at the Start of 2026—Crime, Economy, Immigration, Fentanyl Crisis, and a Renewed Focus on Faith

---

Overview

Steve Gruber hosts a comprehensive New Year's Day episode, tackling pressing issues facing American society as 2026 begins under the second Trump administration. Discussions center on rising crime, law enforcement, public safety, economic trends, border security and immigration, the fentanyl epidemic, faith’s resurgence, and community spirit. With multiple guests, the episode delivers a blend of political commentary, news analysis, and cultural insight, all through the lens of America-first values.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. State of Crime and Law Enforcement

Segments: [03:07] – [14:19]
Guests: Kenneth Strange (former FBI Special Agent), Ben Berkwam, Brian Glenn

• Crime in America:

  • Discussed the double-edged sword for Republicans in 2025: successes under Trump’s renewed presidency and high-profile tragedies, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk and multiple mass shootings.
  • The FBI's performance in 2025 is lauded, particularly successes in solving high-profile crimes.

• Law Enforcement Trust and Institutional Change:

  • Praise for new FBI leadership and Dan Bongino’s (soon to be succeeded by Kash Patel) contributions.
  • Decentralizing the FBI by moving agents to field offices seen as a positive reform.

    “I like what I see with the new director… they’re out to prove something and they’re coming home with results.” — Kenneth Strange [05:32]

  • The importance of restoring public trust in premier law enforcement after “crazy things” in recent DOJ years.

• Mass Shootings, Mental Health, and Media’s Role:

  • Concern over the increase in violent crimes, family tragedies, and how social media can dehumanize and disconnect individuals:

    “Have we devalued life so much and made it a TikTok world…?” — Steve Gruber [07:12]

  • Mental health and the desensitizing effects of social and mainstream media cited as factors.

• Critique of Independent Media:

  • Podcasters criticized for speculative, conspiratorial commentary on crime cases.

    “Some of these podcasters…have taken it upon themselves to be the judge, jury, and the executioner.” — Kenneth Strange [09:19]

• Risk Assessment in Public Figures:

  • Charlie Kirk’s assassination highlighted the need for better risk management coordination between event organizers and local law enforcement.

• Financial & Organized Crime:

  • Rise in financial crime, especially in Minneapolis (with complex ties to Somali communities), and the assertion that these groups are “the new mafia.”

    "This is the new mafia, the new crime families." — Kenneth Strange [13:01]

---

2. Economic Review & Outlook for 2026

Segments: [18:39] – [25:32]
Guest: Ed Butkowski (Chapwood Investments)

• Overview of 2025 Economic Performance:

  • Gas prices have dropped below $2.50 nationally; real wages up 3.5%; grocery price inflation limited to 1.2%.
  • Under Trump, the markets favor “stability” versus “dramatic ups and downs under Biden.”

    “We’re at slow and steady, and that’s what people want.” — Ed Butkowski [19:49]

• Inflation Perspective:

  • The focus should not be reversing prices but slowing the rate of increase:

    "Prices rarely come lower… the rate of change is what Trump should be heralding." — Ed Butkowski [19:49]

• Wall Street Records & the Value of Perspective:

  • Dow Jones potentially reaching 50,000 soon, illustrating percentage growth is more meaningful than raw numbers.
  • Prediction of more interest rate cuts, advice to focus investments on senior rate, floating notes, BDCs, utilities, and REITs.

    “All because we go through January 1st does not mean that people need to make changes in their investment portfolio.” — Ed Butkowski [23:37]

• Positive Consumer Data:

  • Record Black Friday and Cyber Monday spending as signs of consumer confidence.

• Closing Note:

  • December’s inflation number at 2.7% seen as a significant achievement and a sign of “Akuna Matata, 2026.” [25:07]

---

3. Fentanyl Crisis and Drug Policy

Segments: [25:34] – [30:16]
Guests: Brian Glenn

• Fentanyl Designation:

  • President Trump names fentanyl a "weapon of mass destruction"; parallels drawn to 9/11 death toll every ten days.
  • China is highlighted as the primary source of precursor chemicals; these are then processed in Mexico and Venezuela.

    "China has conducted an act of war by doing that..." — Steve Gruber [29:10]

• Border and Counter-Narcotics Actions:

  • Trump administration’s designation of narco cartels as "terrorist organizations" praised for enabling military actions.
  • Emphasis on holding not only Venezuela but also Mexico (and to some degree, China) accountable.

• Critique of Democratic Response:

  • Frustration expressed over what is seen as Democrat minimization of the fentanyl epidemic’s seriousness.

    "Does it matter if 10 people die or 10,000 people die? It's human lives..." — Brian Glenn [27:13]

---

4. Border Security & Immigration Reform

Segments: [30:16] – [37:17]
Guest: Ben Berkwam

• Statistical Achievements:

  • Border crossings reportedly down 96–97% in Trump’s first year back in office.

    "You cannot put a big enough circle… around that to give it enough emphasis." — Steve Gruber [31:23]

• Policy Changes:

  • End of "open borders" policies; shut down of CBP1 app, replaced by CBP Home leading to self-deportation.
  • Criticism of Democrat policies characterized as "invasion" and facilitation of illegal immigration.

• Cartel Influence & Corruption:

  • Federal government under Biden accused of “cartel enabling”; direct allegations that cartels have infiltrated parts of government.
  • Contention that U.S. politicians receiving cartel money should be prosecuted.

    "Until we prosecute the enemies within this nation, we are in grave danger as a nation." — Ben Berkwam [36:48]

• Outlook for 2026 Elections:

  • Framing midterms as a battle for the nation’s survival—a civil war metaphor used to underscore urgency.

---

5. Faith and Cultural Revival

Segments: [38:16] – [45:28]
Guest: Pastor Rob Pacienza

• Rising Faith Metrics:

  • Church attendance up 15%; Bible and Christian app sales also up.
  • The death of Charlie Kirk cited as a catalyst for renewed faith and introspection.

• Cultural Malaise and Search for Truth:

  • America is “waking up to the bankruptcy of secularism” and returning to foundational religious values.

    "We realize that our hope in faith and our hope in Jesus Christ is our only hope for America." — Pastor Pacienza [38:41]

• Church, Politics, and Truth:

  • Critiques the display of "pride flags" on churches and “politics from the pulpit” when unmoored from biblical truth.
  • Challenges pastors to preach boldly about politics and cultural issues in line with scripture.

    “It's time to speak up. If we truly want revival…” — Pastor Pacienza [43:02]

• Cautious Optimism on Revival:

  • Recognizes current spiritual momentum but cautions against labeling it as a full-blown “revival” until it leads to lasting reform.

---

6. Community & Listener Engagement

Segments: [45:30] – [49:44]

• Inspirational Story:

  • Ends with a heartwarming segment about a Macon, Georgia woman forming an unexpected friendship by helping a stranger, exemplifying American values and decency.

• Audience Poll:

  • Gruber poses the question: “What would you like to see President Trump accomplish in 2026?”
  • Sample responses include: election integrity, immigration enforcement, Social Security reform, ending foreign aid to Ukraine, and economic goals.

---

Notable Quotes

• “Some of these podcasters…have taken it upon themselves to be the judge, jury and the executioner. So, you know, we have to be very careful with what we watch, what we digest…”
  — Kenneth Strange [09:19]

• “We’re at slow and steady, and that’s what people want. Under Biden, you had just dramatic ups and downs in the economy and that was not good. And the markets want predictability.”
  — Ed Butkowski [19:49]

• “China has conducted an act of war by doing that and continuing to sell those chemicals [to the cartels].”
  — Steve Gruber [29:16]

• “Democrats wanted open borders. They invited the invasion. President Trump…did not want the invasion. And now…we stopped the bleeding…”
  — Ben Berkwam [31:23]

• “We realize that our hope in faith and our hope in Jesus Christ is our only hope for America.”
  — Pastor Rob Pacienza [38:41]

---

Important Timestamps

• Opening discussion and crime recap: [03:07]–[07:56]
• Crime, mental health, and podcaster critique: [07:56]–[10:39]
• Financial and organized crime: [11:34]–[14:09]
• Economic outlook with Ed Butkowski: [18:39]–[25:26]
• Fentanyl and drug policy with Brian Glenn: [25:34]–[30:16]
• Immigration and border enforcement with Ben Berkwam: [30:16]–[37:17]
• Faith and cultural revival with Pastor Pacienza: [38:16]–[45:28]
• Community story and listener feedback: [45:30]–[49:44]

---

Tone and Language

The tone throughout is assertive, direct, and unapologetically aligned with conservative and America-first perspectives, blending urgency with optimism for America's future. Guests and host express frustration with perceived elite, left-wing, and establishment failings while emphasizing faith, patriotism, and grassroots reform.

---

Summary Takeaways

• The Real America’s Voice community sees 2026 as a year of pivotal change in policy, faith, and social cohesion.
• Law enforcement reforms, economic stability, border security, and combatting fentanyl are top priorities.
• Faith and cultural values are woven tightly into the vision for America’s future.
• The upcoming midterms are portrayed as existential for the nation’s political and cultural trajectory.
• Audience participation underscores a strong desire for practical conservative policy wins and restoration of American principles.

---

Transcript

[Podcast Host / Advertiser]

This is an iHeart podcast guaranteed human did you know Microsoft has officially ended Support for Windows 10? Upgrade to Windows 11 with an LG Gram laptop voted PCMag's Reader's Choice Top Laptop Brand for 2025. Thin and ultra lightweight, the LG Gram keeps you productive anywhere, and Windows 11 gives you access to free security updates and ongoing feature upgrades. Visit lgusa.com iheart for great seasonal savings on LG Gram laptops with Windows 11. PCMag reader's choice used with permission. All rights reserved at TJMaxx feel more you than ever without compromise because we never make you choose the quality you want, the styles you crave and the prices you love. It's all at TJ Maxx so you can focus on just being you. With so many finds arriving daily, that means so many ways to show your unique style. Shop in store and [e-mail] and Max what makes you you? Well, the holidays have come and gone once again, but if you've forgotten to get that special someone in your life a gift, well, Mint Mobile is extending their holiday offer of half off unlimited wireless. So here's the idea. You get it now, you call it an early present for next year. What do you have to lose? Give it a [e-mail] switch limited time.

[Advertisement Voice]

50% off regular price for new customers upfront payment required $45 for three months, $90 for six months or 180 do for 12 month plan taxes and fees. Extra speeds may slow after 50 gigabytes per month when network is busy. See terms.

[Podcast Host / Advertiser]

Forget everything you had planned for this weekend because you are sitting on your couch and winning from the comfort of your own home. I'm here with spinquest where you can play hundreds of slot games, all the table games you love and you could even win real cash prizes. New users $30 coin packs are on sale for [e-mail] Spin Quest is a.

[Steve Garadi]

Free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spin quest.com for more details.

[Josh Whalen]

If you're paying more than $1 a month for any ED or hair medication, listen up at Joy and Blokes when you start TRT or in Clomiphene you can add any ED or hair loss prescription for just $1 a month. $1 add ons with your hormone plan and right now all labs are 50% off. I'm Josh Whalen, founder of Joy and Blokes. I built this company because men are tired of paying for fragmented care without results. Every Joy and Blokes lab includes a visit with a licensed clinician who connects your symptoms to your biomarkers. You'll get a real plan that covers hormones, performance and confidence. If you're considering TRT or enclomiphene, this is the most efficient way to do it. Get [e-mail] and use a promo code. Podcast new customers, get 50% off their labs and and for a limited time, you can take advantage of our $1 ed or hair loss add ons when you start TRT or enclomiphene. Not available in all states. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Learn more at joyandblooks.com this is America's Voice Live.

[Steve Garadi]

And welcome to America's Voice Live. I'm Steve Gur. The pulse of the people. We need somebody that's going to hear the people's voice, the truth the mainstream won't touch. This guy is by definition a globalist. And the stories that matter, Rav's own Ben Berkwam.

[Ben Berkwam]

Right up over this hill. The Unlock Cartel.

[Steve Garadi]

I see him.

[Kenneth Strange]

I see him.

[Steve Garadi]

I see him. Live Breaking news right now here on Real America's Voice Filtered.

[Brian Glenn]

These people are domestic terrorists and unapologetic.

[Steve Garadi]

We're here to take a stand for God and country. Let's feel good. America's Voice Live starts now. Welcome to America's Voice Live. I'm Steve Garadi. It's January 1st in the year of our Lord, 2026. Happy New Year to all of you watching at home. We have a great show lined up for you today, so let's dive right in, shall we? As we head into the new year now, many are optimistic about the future, whether it's because of better policies, a more powerful economy, or just happy to have an America first president like Donald Trump back in the Oval Office. One thing I think we need to pay close attention to is the issue of crime in America. 2025 was a double edged sword for Republicans. We saw Donald Trump's first year of his second term where he acted quickly to keep his campaign promises of securing the border, deporting illegal aliens, driving down inflation, and so much more. However, we also saw the assassination of someone who I consider a colleague and a friend, Charlie Kirk, gunned down in front of hundreds of students at Utah Valley University. And for what? For talking and having different opinions and values than those on the left. On top of that, we've seen multiple senseless shootings that have claimed many innocent lies. From the church shooting in Minnesota back in August to the Brown University shooting in in early December. Join me to discuss all of this and how we can move forward in making America Safer in 2026 is former FBI Special Agent Kenneth Strange. Kenneth, thank you for being here, Steve.

[Kenneth Strange]

Thank you for having me on.

[Steve Garadi]

Yeah, we saw some. Some real accomplishments by the FBI here. Locating and securing the pipe bomber, tracking down the men who we believe murdered Charlie Kirk. Of course, they found the. The assailant at Brown University and possibly tied to a killing at MIT as well. Found dead in a storage unit. That took a few days longer than expected. But the FBI really has had a pretty good close to 2025. From where I sit. What are your thoughts.

[Kenneth Strange]

Steve? I absolutely agree with you. I think the FBI has had some remarkable success early on. You know, I like what I see with the new director, and they, you know, they're out to prove something and they're prov. And they're coming home with results.

[Steve Garadi]

Now Dan Bongino is going to step down as the assistant FBI Director, Deputy Assistant, and move back to his programs. But he also has contributed to the success in the first year. Where does the FBI need to go to reestablish itself as the premier law enforcement agency? We saw a lot of crazy things going at the DOJ and so forth in the previous four years. I feel like we're on the right track. But what are some of the things you'd like to see implemented going forward?

[Kenneth Strange]

Look, I think we are on the right track, and I think, you know, that's just a matter of Mr. Bongino feeling more comfortable with his podcast, his successful podcast. But I think Cash Patel will replace Dan with another fine individual, maybe someone that has been with the Bureau in leadership for some time and knows the Bureau inside and out. So I think one of the steps that was very positive was, was moving so many agents out from the Washington field office, the sorry headquarters, out to different field offices in the country had become very top heavy. And I thought that was also a good move. But I think overall, you know, I would give this. I give them an A or an A minus for the first, what, 12 months?

[Steve Garadi]

Yeah. You know, there were some other remarkable crimes. Rob Reiner and his wife murdered by their son in Hollywood. We saw that at the top of the fold. We see a lot of these domestic crimes that turn into a horrible outcome. Where can we go in America, Kenneth, to make people, I don't know, more sane? Is that a crazy thing to ask, that we have people that are just more sane? I mean, these mass shootings are horrendous attacks on people's parents and murdered. Horrendous. What is it with Americans these days? Have we devalued life so much and made it a TikTok world or a video game world where people are just, I don't know, disconnected from the reality of what happens when you pull the trigger or pull the knife?

[Kenneth Strange]

Steve, sadly, I think you're not so far off the mark. I think there's also a mental health component in all of this, and as you said, a lot of it, I think, is by what people are seeing in the social media, they become disconnected from their fellow man. And there's a lot of noise out there. Even during the Brown University fiasco, I noticed that there were a lot of posts coming out and they were accusing different people of being the suspect. So that will confuse people, make people angry, make them crazy. You know, we're living in interesting times.

[Steve Garadi]

Sadly, you know, one of the other big stories, of course, you see a lot of people talking about, obviously, the murder of Charlie, Kurt, and you mentioned podcasters earlier, and I want to go there for a moment, because these podcasters, some of them, I think they're entitled to the entire book of evidence. They're entitled to all the facts and have them in front of them. And if. If not, man, they're going to stomp their feet and pound their fist. Look, the Utah case, a capital case, and in Utah, it's probably true everywhere, but in Utah, you have to go 12 for 12 on the jury to get a death penalty sentence. Right? That's what. So it's not like these podcasters are entitled to the evidence, are they? I mean, I understand people's curiosity. They want to know what are the facts. But some of these folks seem to step out of their lane. Am I wrong?

[Kenneth Strange]

Oh, you're absolutely right. And I'm very disappointed with some of these podcasters who have taken it upon themselves to be the. What is it? The judge, jury and the executioner. So, you know, we have to be very careful with what we watch, what we digest, what we think we understand, because it's not always what it seems to be.

[Steve Garadi]

Yeah, I look at the case there in Utah, and look, Occam's Razor is usually where I go. The simplest answer is often the answer to go to. Now, it might not satisfy your conspiracy theories, it might not satisfy a lot of things, but, yes. Can a 3006 kill a man at that distance and not have an exit wound? Yes, that can happen. And in fact, I believe that is what happened. I look at other high Profile cases. Brian Coburger, the guy now convicted of killing those University of Idaho students. Again, it's great police work. Working close to the vest, using the facts and getting to the bottom of the mystery. That's what matters the most. And so that's why I get so angry with some of these people that are just. I mean, they get lots of money, they get lots of followers and lots of clicks. But I think that the FBI and local law enforcement, state law enforcement, have to all work together on these things to have the outcomes. Like you had in the Coburger case.

[Kenneth Strange]

Yeah, absolutely. It is a total team effort. And, you know, if you think it's anything less than. You're sadly mistaken. You know, in the, in the case of Charlie Kirk, and I would just say this, Steve. The. The only complaint I have, or I think. I think a risk assessment would have been. Would have come in a very. I mean, I think the risk assessment was what was needed for Charlie Kirk. I know that there were problems and he had hired bodyguard yards to protect him and without maybe taking a bigger look. And I think if he had discussed what he was doing, where he was going, what he was about to do with the campus police and local police, they might have been able to help him with a risk assessment. And that would have. Would have. You know, maybe it would have saved his life. They probably would have moved things indoors.

[Steve Garadi]

Yeah. Now, Kenneth, one of the other crimes that don't get as much publicity, but are certainly on the radar of the FBI, financial crime. I mean, corruption like we're seeing flow out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. These are major crimes. We're talking about billions of dollars. You see money laundering operations, you see other things. Now, maybe they're not as sexy. Maybe they don't grab the headlines. Maybe they don't get the clicks like some of the other things. But they're every bit as important to make sure we clean up the fraud and the corruption in some of these places like Minneapolis. You agree?

[Kenneth Strange]

Absolutely. I mean, you had individuals coming from Philadelphia. These are crooks from Philadelphia who I, I believe were just recently indicted. And the word on the street in Philadelphia was, hey, there's some great opportunities to make some money out in Minnesota, wink, wink. So these people took advantage of it. And that's part of the whole thing about fraud and the fraud schemes. You know, you have to have an opportunity. And there's certainly the opportunity is rife in Minnesota. So you can imagine these criminals and many, many more attracted by the opportunity to get rich quick.

[Steve Garadi]

Yeah. And we're Seeing the same thing happening in the state of Maine now. And a lot of these routes, not all of them, but of the 87 people charged so far in Minneapolis, 78 have routes to Somalia. Same thing we're seeing in the state of Maine. This is organized crime by definition, isn't it?

[Kenneth Strange]

Yes, absolutely, Steve. This is the new mafia, the new crime families. And you know, with the. And look, I've been all over the world and I've lived all over the world, so I have nothing against the Somalia or the Somali people. But when you look at the ranking in Transparency International of Somalia, they are 179 out of 180 on the corruption index. So that's kind of a red flag in itself. And people have to pay more attention. Nobody was looking, you're telling me, Kenneth. Distracted.

[Steve Garadi]

Yeah. What you're telling me is it's a cottage industry. That's what they're trained to do. I mean, if that's the way the culture is and that's the way you're raised and you import that culture, well, then that's what you're going to get. That's what you're telling me, right?

[Kenneth Strange]

That's exactly what I'm telling you. And here we are with such a generous nation and we say, you know, come, you know, give us your tired masses. You know, you're poor, you're weary, whatever. And you know, there are people that are going to take advantage and have, as you can see now, have taken advantage of our generosity.

[Steve Garadi]

Kenneth Strange, Good discussion to start the new year. I appreciate you taking the time so much. Happy New Year to you and your family, my friend.

[Kenneth Strange]

You thank you, too, Steve. Thank you very much.

[Steve Garadi]

Thank you very much. Look, 26 is going to have some strange crimes, too. We'll follow them all right here in Real America's Voice. Happy New Year to you. We're off to a good start. I'm going to take a break and we'll be right back. The radical left knows exactly what they're doing. They want to steal the election. We're going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.

[Ed Butkowski]

Events in Washington have taken a violent and tumultuous turn.

[Advertisement Voice]

January 6th wasn't just a moment in history. For thousands of Americans, it was the moment their voices were taken.

[Ben Berkwam]

It's insurrection.

[Advertisement Voice]

They were persecuted, hunted, seditious conspiracy. But behind prison walls, something unexpected happened. They found their voice again, started singing the national anthem.

[Steve Garadi]

We took it up to him in Mar a Lago. He goes, I'll put my voice on it. Our supporters made this go platinum.

[Advertisement Voice]

Real America's voice is telling the real story of January 6th like you've never seen it before.

[Steve Garadi]

Everybody this must be peaceful.

[Advertisement Voice]

This is not the story you were shown.

[Steve Garadi]

I take responsibility.

[Advertisement Voice]

This is the story they lived government.

[Ed Butkowski]

Entrapment scheme that this actually was.

[Advertisement Voice]

The J6 Patriots are no longer staying silent. They are speaking, they are standing and they are telling the truth.

[Steve Garadi]

You can't kill us, you can't beat us.

[Advertisement Voice]

They try to silence them instead they woke up an entire nation. The sleeping Giant Coming soon did you.

[Podcast Host / Advertiser]

Know Microsoft has officially ended Support for Windows 10? Upgrade to Windows 11 with an LG Gram laptop, voted PCMag's Reader's Choice top laptop brand for 2025. Thin and ultra lightweight, the LG Gram keeps you productive anywhere and Windows 11 gives you access to free security updates and ongoing feature upgrades. Visit lgusa.com iheart for great seasonal savings on LG Gram laptops with Windows 11. PCMag reader's choice used with permission. All rights reserved. Spinquest Social Casino the new year may be coming to an end, but the excitement never does on spinquest.com with live blackjack, craps and so many slots and jackpots that don't need a countdown, your New Year's resolution is more fun on spin quest.com New year and new players right now get $30 coin packs for just $10.

[Steve Garadi]

Spin Quest is a free to play social casino. Boy, we're prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[Josh Whalen]

If you're paying more than $1 a month for any ED or hair medication, listen up at Joy and Blokes when you start TRT or Enclomiphene, you can add any ED or hair loss prescription for just $1 a month. $1 add ons with your hormone plan and right now all labs are 50% off. I'm Josh Whalen, founder of Joy and Blokes. I built this company because men are tired of paying for fragmented care without results. Every Joy and Blokes lab includes a visit with a licensed clinician who connects your symptoms to your biomarkers. You'll get a real plan that covers hormones, performance and confidence. If you're considering TRT or Enclomiphene, this is the most efficient way to do it. Get started at joy and blokes.com and use a promo code podcast. New customers get 50% off their labs and for a limited time, you can take advantage of our $1 ed or hair loss add ons. When you start TRT or Enclomophine not available in all states. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Learn more at joy and blokes.com.

[Steve Garadi]

20:25 behind us many Americans now wondering what the year ahead is going to look like for their wallets. For the economy, the topic of affordability has been at the forefront, of course, especially in the LATTER Half of 2025. President Trump was able to cut costs on some essential things, such as gas prices just in time for holiday travel. I mean, gas below 250 a gallon all over this country, now below $2 in a number of places. And at his address, his addresses to the nation December 17, Trump noted that his administration inherited a bad economy under the Biden administration further noted that the best is yet to come, hopefully signaling a stronger emphasis on implementing an actionable plan that can reduce overall costs for everyone. Join me to discuss this managing partner at Chapwood Investments, Ed Butkowski. Ed, nice to see you.

[Ed Butkowski]

Good to see you as well.

[Steve Garadi]

Let's start with this, Ed. Overall, in totality, I will just say this, Ed. I wish I'd taken every nickel I had and bought silver in January of 2025. It would have gone up 150% or something like something crazy. But overall, the markets, the economy, where are we almost a year into Donald Trump's presidency compared to where we've been?

[Ed Butkowski]

Well, we're at slow and steady and that's what people want. Under Biden, you had just dramatic ups and downs in the economy and that was not good. And the markets want predictability. Now we talk about affordability and the idea that Trump is going to be able to bring prices lower, I think is kind of a dream because prices rarely come lower. But the rate of change is what Trump should be heralding, and that is that inflation is much lower than it was. So the rate of increases has decreased quite a bit. And that's what he should be focused on, not that he's going to bring prices down, because as long as consumers are buying things at higher prices, then manufacturers are going to continue to charge exactly that price. So affordability.

[Steve Garadi]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, that's exactly right. Income has gone up, I think, for 2025 overall across board, 3.5% increase in real wages. So that's a plus. Grocery prices from January through December increased, but only 1.2%. You're talking about stabilizing the prices and not necessarily bringing them back the other way because of we had more than 20% cumulative inflation during the Biden years. It's not going to go the other way these companies are making the money they're making, they're going to stay there. It's a stabilization of the economy, isn't it?

[Ed Butkowski]

That's exactly right. People want stability and they want to know what things are going to cost. I mean, if there's something on sale, we're all over it right now. During Christmas time, my wife and I are looking to get things as cheap as we can possibly get them, but they're not coming any lower. But the rate of change has slowed and that's what people continue to forget. And that's what I wish Trump, when he's doing his town halls, would talk about. Because he's not going to be able to bring prices lower, although with eggs and milk and so on, you know, he does have some impact on that, but mostly packaged goods and toys and other things. He's not going to be able to bring those prices lower. Just he's going to be able to bring wages higher, which is going to help close that gap. And that's what we need.

[Steve Garadi]

I don't know how many records we set on Wall street this year, Ed. We set a lot of records. I remember there was a book a number of years ago that was called Dow 36,000 and the guy that wrote the book was Mock. That will never happen. We're sniffing 50,000, Ed. We're sniffing 50,001. I would expect that to happen in 2026 if we stay even roughly on this path. Your thoughts?

[Ed Butkowski]

Well, when I was at Morgan Stanley, we had these little signs that said 10,000 by 2000. Nobody ever thought, excuse me, we would get to 10,000 on the Dow. But at some point we'll be talking about getting to 100,000 because it's just a percentage of growth. You know, it's really not the absolute number that matters. It's the percentage growth that matters. And you know, if we're sniffing around 50,000, a 10% growth will get us to 55,000. And that's really not that dramatic a number. So we all have to get used to the idea that percentages are what matters, not the absolute number.

[Steve Garadi]

So that is really important. And you know, look, I look at the economy this way. We had a record setting Black Friday, record setting Cyber Monday. When we get the numbers in for Christmas, we don't have those yet. A trillion dollars was the prediction. So, Ed, that's the mark of an economy that people have some confidence in. Despite the naysayers out there on social media or in the news markets. The fact of the matter is if you spend a trillion dollars of Christmas on all time records, something's going right, isn't it?

[Ed Butkowski]

Yeah, I mean, there's just more money in the economy. And I sit here and look at new accounts that I get and if I get a $5 million account, five years ago I was a lot of money. Today that's an average account. And just, there's just so much more money out there that we are dealing with that everyone has to kind of reset what the norm is. And something I want to talk about also is that all because we go through January 1st does not mean that people need to make changes in their investment portfolio. Because the economy didn't change. Because we went over January 1, the economy has remained the same. We're probably going to see two or three interest rate cuts in the first half of next year. That's a lot more than what the Fed is predicting. Then you should be looking at senior rate, floating notes, business development companies, utilities and REIT. And these are the four categories that I've been really strong on and 2025, especially utilities. But remember, all because the calendar changes doesn't mean the economy has changed.

[Steve Garadi]

Well, I'm going to give you one last good number. I've only got 20 seconds for you to respond. But the last inflation number released in December for the previous month of November, 2.7%. At 2.7, we're below 3%. It's working. 20 seconds, last word to you.

[Ed Butkowski]

Well, absolutely. I mean, everything Trump is doing is affecting the cost, the price increases and the velocity of those increases. And as long as that continues and as long as wages go up, we're going to have a really, really, you know. Akuna Matata, 2026.

[Steve Garadi]

Excellent. From Chapwood Investments, Ed Batowski. He's bullish on 26. On my. Ed, happy New Year.

[Ed Butkowski]

You too. Thank you.

[Steve Garadi]

All right, we'll take a break and we'll be right back. And welcome back to this New Year's Day edition of America's Voice Live. President Trump recently designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. This poison brought in by narco terrorists claims American lives equal to the deaths of 9, 11 every 10 days. It all starts in China. China is the primary source of the precursor chemicals used to manufacture the illicit fentanyl. Then they sell it to countries like Venezuela and Mexico, then turn the compounds into a dangerous poison that kills people in this country every year. I spoke to Brian Glenn recently on this topic, a man who spends most of his time at the White House. Here's the Conversation. Fentanyl's a big deal. And as you know, in the headlines right now, it's the destruction. I think three more boats got vaporized in the last couple of days. And the Democrats seem to have this idea that the guy driving the drug boat is more important than the funerals. I highlighted at the top of this program of real Americans burying their sons and daughters because fentanyl's been sprinkled into cocaine. Because you've got senators for the Democrats saying, well, it's just cocaine. Yeah, cocaine that gets laced with fentanyl. I have a friend of mine, Brian, who's 19 year old college son died last year because he smoked a joint on the weekend. It was laced with fentanyl. This kid died. I mean, everybody went out and scooted around in college. Most of us did, Right. This kid paid the price of his life. Why do the Democrats not understand the true price that we're paying in American cities large and small?

[Brian Glenn]

Yeah, I don't know, Steve. Just before we were on the show, I was kind of going over the Internet looking at some of the stories about this topic and I even saw a lot of left leaning news outlets even questioning the amount of people that have died of fentanyl overdose and really disputing that. Like, does it matter if 10 people die or 10,000 people die? It's human lives and they want to argue with the President on that fact. The fact of the matter is though fentanyl, the majority of fentanyl that comes into the country comes from Mexico, doesn't necessarily come from Venezuela. Yes, they are a part of it. And drugs do flow. And the boats are on your, your screen right now and all the evidence is there that those are the boats that are traveling towards our country to import drugs. But the fentanyl comes from China. The actual fentanyl comes from China.

[Steve Garadi]

It's assembled in Mexico in pilfer. That's right.

[Brian Glenn]

Yes, they do. That's right. And then they come into our country. So Steve, I ask you this. If we're going to pick on Venezuela right now in terms of fighting the war on drugs, then we need to turn that attention to Mexico as well. Now we've locked down that border, so we know those drugs and China. You're absolutely right. But you know, I do, I do.

[Steve Garadi]

Well, go ahead.

[Brian Glenn]

No, go ahead with Sheinbaum. I'd like to hear about this.

[Steve Garadi]

Well, I was going to say this. The president does eight cartels as terrorist organizations. Two in Venezuela, six in Mexico, and Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico Says we will not allow the Americans to come in here and destroy those cartels. Well, she can say that, but Special Forces, Rangers, seals, whatever specified targets smoke those cartels and their operations. Now, Mexico's tried. They've arrested 37,000 drug criminals in the last few months as a result of Donald Trump's pressure. But he is finally disrupting the money. But you're right about China. Look, those component chemicals come from China. They arrive in Mexico, they're combined into the deadly drug fentanyl and then shipped wherever it goes to get it into this country. From my perspective, China has conducted an act of war by doing that and continuing to sell those chemicals to Mexican drug cartels. I don't think anybody disputes that. What's your thought now?

[Brian Glenn]

I agree with you. Remember the argument was made against Canada of as far as, you know, President Trump was saying, well, Canada, you're, you're allowing fentanyl to pour in. Very little fentanyl was pouring in from Canada. It was all coming from our southern border, which comes from other places like China. I like this war on drugs that he's doing. I like the fact that he designated a weapon of mass destruction. I like the fact that he's designated these drug narco terrorists as foreign terrorist organization. I like that it gives the military the ability to take action on these boats and on these people. But if we're going to apply the same rules to Venezuela, let's take them to our south of the border and do the same thing there. Let's hold these people accountable for killing thousands of Americans.

[Steve Garadi]

There you have it, Brian. Glenn, don't go anywhere. This New Year's edition of America's Voice Live will continue in a moment. Join me now to discuss the success at the border in 2025 and what we can expect to see in 2026. From America Fest is RAP correspondent Ben Berkwam. Ben, good to see you here today. Look, it's been a year of. And if I'm reading this right, and you would know best, Ben, border Crossings are down 96, 97%. I mean, you cannot put a big enough circle in a red marker around that to give it enough emphasis. Down 96, 97%. The Democrats told us, oh, gotta have immigration reform. Oh, you know, Republicans aren't doing anything in Congress. We can't do anything about this. Wrong. You can close the border and make it secure, pretty obviously, can't you?

[Ben Berkwam]

Yeah, it's very, very simple. You don't put out a big welcome sign. Space available and free welfare for everybody. Who comes across to any illegals, you say the doors are closed. So the Democrats for four years under Joe Biden, you know, the string pullers of Joe Biden had the doors wide open. And of course the world came. I mean, when you're, when you start this controlled flow operation that Secretary Marcus did, and you go to every country in Latin America and you say, hey, we're going to come down here and help make it easier for illegals to get through your countries. Well, what do you think is going to happen when they get to our border? They think they're invited and they come across and you got Catholic Charities and Lutheran Social Services and Jewish Family Services all too happy to receive them because then we're paying them to then distribute them into our country. President Trump comes in and says, nope, that's all done. And within days, actually within hours, the CBP1 app was gone. Now it's CVP home. So we're actually having people self deport with the CBP Home app and the borders closed. I mean, it's very simple. Democrats wanted open borders. They invited the invasion. President Trump and his administration did not want the invasion. And now we're, we stopped the bleeding and now we're repelling what they did, the damage that the Democrats caused.

[Steve Garadi]

Yeah, you know, you can, you can remember, Ben, you watched this happen. So did I. It wasn't just that the border was open. We saw things like bulldozers taking out razor wire that had been put on the border by the state of Texas, for example, to stop the invasion. And the federal government came in and plowed it out of the way as the illegals poured in unvetted, unchecked, and then unleashed in this country. Right. Yeah.

[Ben Berkwam]

I was actually in Matamoros, Mexico, across from Brownsville, Texas, and I'm there interviewing these illegals that were in this camp with 2,500 illegals in it, where they just swim across the river and they end up. Texas had put razor wire up. And I look behind me, I'm actually talking, I'm doing my little, you know, my reports, I'm doing. And all of a sudden I hear this, this excavator, the sound of the, the beep, beep backing up excavator. I look over and they're actually lifting the razor wire up to let illegals underneath it and they're clearing a path for the, through the brush to let them in. And then you think, oh, I wonder why they kept coming to the point where even when Texas tried to do things like the Bowie, the Buoy barriers that were very effective, putting them in the middle of the river, making it harder for people to come across. The federal government sued Texas to try to prevent them from securing their own state. I mean, it was ludicrous. What we saw under Joe Biden and the Democrats for those four years is exactly what you would have had done if you were the cartel. It was the perfect operation. If the cartel was running our government, they did exactly what they would have.

[Pastor Rob Pacienza]

Wanted them to do.

[Ben Berkwam]

And sadly, I think it's possible that the cartel was running parts of our government during Joe Biden's last term.

[Steve Garadi]

And now, as I was gonna ask you, Ben, it's pretty clear the cartels run places in Mexico and Venezuela. Claudia Sheinbaum said we're not allowing any American intervention into Mexico. Look, the president designated eight different cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Two in Venezuela, six in Mexico. I can guarantee you in 2026, the relentless pursuit of drug traffickers is not going to slow down, not one bit. It's going to continue. We're going to continue to blow narco boats out of the water. We're going to blockade ships coming in and out of Venezuela with illegal illicit oil, and we're going to. Something's going to happen in Mexico because they are the biggest offender. I don't see how you go anywhere but straight out to the cartels. As Joe Biden said in 1989, hit them where they live. Right? Yeah. Yeah.

[Ben Berkwam]

And now designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, that's just huge. Released more of the options that President Trump has to not just attack these guys, these terrorists, but also prosecute them. And so there is. There's a. You know, everything that President Trump is doing right now is an assault against the enemies of this nation. But think about this. Consider this. And it's the same thing that I was told when I was down in Mexico. I asked, is anything going to change now that we've cut the heads off the snakes of these cartels? And the reporter down there, Aaron Ibarra, told me, not until you start arresting the politicians and you look at America and it's the exact same thing. The same politicians that are aiding and abetting illegals in their own community, whether that's in Minneapolis, Minnesota, or Chicago, Illinois, Illinois, or Portland, Oregon, or Salem, Oregon, or Los Angeles. These politicians that are aiding, abetting the cartels, you can guarantee there's money coming from the cartels, either directly or indirectly to them. Until they are prosecuted. We're going to continue. We're in the midst of a civil war in this nation, depending which will determine the direction that this country goes, either will be a nation of laws, the rule of law will have secure borders, or if the left wins, will be a communist nation where the cartels, the jihadists and the communists run this nation. And that's my fear. That's what we're up against. That's why this year, that's a big fear, is so critical.

[Steve Garadi]

Totally agree with you on that. Look, I used to spend a fair amount of time in Mexico working and filming back before this became such a scourge. It was corrupt then. It is corrupt now. Politicians get papered with money by the cartels because they have a lot of it, thanks in part, in large part to the Biden administration. But we have to continue to keep the pressure on in 2026. Last word to you, Ben.

[Kenneth Strange]

Yeah.

[Ben Berkwam]

The elections, midterm elections of 2026 are the life or death of this nation. We say it all the time. These elections are the most important. Every election from here on out is the most important. Until we actually pass laws, make these executive orders permanent, we are not out of danger. And until we prosecute the enemies within this nation, we are in grave danger as a nation. And that's my prayer for 2026. We expose the left, we unite as the right, and we come together and say we're going to secure this nation. And we start that process.

[Steve Garadi]

Ben Berkwam always on the front lines out there. Ben, thank you so much for being here today. You can always catch Ben on the weekends. Law and Border. Happy New Year to you, my friend. Law and Border with Ben Berkwam right here on Real America's Voice. Don't ever miss an episode. You'll be glad you saw it. All right. We're going to take a break here on the program. Happy New Year to you again. We'll have more after the break. Well, 2025 saw a faith rising in America. Unsurprising more people probably proclaiming their faith, especially in the wake of the death of Charlie Kirk. Whether one turns to faith because of the philosophy found in the scriptures or because they genuinely had a moment with God, faith is on the rise in America. So why is faith making a comeback? And will these instances continue? Join me to discuss this. The CEO and president of Coral Ridge Ministries, Pastor Rob Pacienza. Pastor, thank you for being here today.

[Pastor Rob Pacienza]

Thanks for having me on.

[Steve Garadi]

Clearly, Charlie Kirk's Death Back on September 10th of last year was a seminal moment for a lot of reasons. But We've seen faith on the rise, attendance at church 15% up, the sale of Bibles, up, the sale of apps that have Christianity and so forth up. What's driving this push towards faith and the Word?

[Pastor Rob Pacienza]

I think finally, Americans have been attentive to what's happening not only in media, but what is happening in Washington D.C. i think they're seeing the divisiveness all throughout our nation, and I think they're waking up to the bankruptcy of secularism, the lie that we have been fed for the last 60 years in this nation, that we would be better off without God in the public square, we would be better off without religion, that we're too sophisticated of a society to deal with matters of faith and its influence in public life. And I think we're realizing that's a lie. It is a lie. And we realize that our hope in faith and our hope in Jesus Christ is our only hope for America. We need revival in this nation once again.

[Steve Garadi]

So what you're saying here is after all this blizzard of nonsense we get on social media and other places, whether it's, you know, Netflix or social media, whatever, America's looking for truth. That's what you're telling me, right?

[Pastor Rob Pacienza]

Absolutely. They're looking for absolute truth. They're looking to the truth that our founders looked to 250 years ago, that they're looking to those unalienable rights, that rights come not from the state, they do not come from the government, but they come from Almighty God. That there has to be something beyond this material world. There has to be a true truth. And that's the truth that captured Charlie Kirk's heart. That's the truth that captured so many that went before us, that made this nation great. They understood that the greatness was not in Washington D.C. but it was in the church houses and in the heartland of America, and ultimately found in faith in God. Not a society divorced from God, but a society that understands that we do not flourish apart from the hand of an almighty God.

[Steve Garadi]

Pastor, my understanding when I read the Bible, which I do daily, is that sin is sin. I mean, you can't differentiate sin is sin.

[Pastor Rob Pacienza]

Correct.

[Steve Garadi]

You agree with that?

[Pastor Rob Pacienza]

Absolutely.

[Steve Garadi]

And I asked for this reason in D.C. just a week or two ago when I was there, most recently. Big cathedral there. I don't. Couldn't tell you which one it is. It's got pride flags painted on the steps all the way up to the church. I mean, would you put a drunkard out front or an adulterer or a murderer? I mean, Sin is sin to me.

[Kenneth Strange]

Right.

[Steve Garadi]

I don't differentiate in my understanding of the word. So why would you put pride flags in the front of churches?

[Pastor Rob Pacienza]

Unfortunately, because this is more than a movement. It's become the new religion in America. It's become the new religion throughout the West. The LGBTQ movement, gender radical, gender ideology is way more than just a viewpoint, way more than just a set of beliefs. It truly is a religion that has captured the minds and hearts of so many Americans, and in particular, the next generation. And so when you begin to see it embraced by even the great cathedrals of our nation that were at one point preaching the gospel, now we see them preaching another gospel. We see them preaching another truth. We see the redefinition of sin. I think of that prophecy in Isaiah. Woe to those that call good evil and evil good. We are seeing it all over America today.

[Steve Garadi]

What strike me as heresy. Now, let me take that a step further. If the pastors in those churches, and Lord, we've seen it. Are going to preach politics from the pulpit, isn't it time for pastors that are based in the word, Bible based churches in 2026? Now here we go into midterm elections. They're as critical as anything about the future. Not just about the price of gasoline, but about the culture itself. Isn't it time my church does this? They're not shy. They stand up and say, here's what's right, here's what's wrong, and here's what we're telling you you need to do to save this country. Is it time for people to become more aggressive in the pulpit talking about real truth, biblical truth, and talking about the future of this country? And that when you see heresy or you bring in people to this country that are not compatible even with the Constitution, isn't it time to speak up from the pulpit, sir?

[Pastor Rob Pacienza]

It's time to speak up. If we truly want revival. Any of the great revivals throughout history included two things. The preaching of biblical truth and how it applied to what was happening in the culture, and a calling out of sin, calling a nation or society to repentance. So if we long for revival, if we long for the nation being that city on a hill once again, it will not happen unless we are applying truth from the pulpit and calling out sin and calling our nation to repentance.

[Steve Garadi]

Yeah, there have been a couple of great revivals in America. A couple. I don't know if this is a revival, pastor. I don't know. It's not for me to define. But There certainly is a calling. There certainly is a momentum happening of people returning to church. Like I said, up 15%. The sale of Bibles, the best selling book in the history of the world, Selling hot again. I don't know what to call it, but I call it a good thing. Your thoughts on that?

[Pastor Rob Pacienza]

Yeah, I think you're absolutely right. I think we do have to be cautious to label this current movement, this. This current excitement for the things of God, a revival. A revival is long lasting. A revival eventually leads to reformation. When I think of the reformation in the 16th century and how that turned the world upside down, when I think of the Great awakening in the 1730s and 40s and how that led to a new birth of freedom in this nation, you can clearly call them revivals. I think time will tell if this is a true revival or not. I think the question is, will the church continue to seize the moment, as I said before, preaching biblical truth, preaching the whole counsel of God, and helping their people understand how it applies to every area of life, including politics and government? Will we be in a state of repentance for our past apathy and our past sin as a nation? Time will tell, but those are the true ingredients for revival. But I think it's too early to label this current movement a revival. I sure hope it is, but time will tell.

[Steve Garadi]

I sure hope it is too. But again, I. I agree with exactly what you said. I'm glad you laid it out the way you did. My. My last thing will simply be this. Beware the false prophets. They are truly wolves in sheep's clothing. Sir, thank you for being here today. It's a great way to start the year. I really appreciate it. It's been a great conversation. Thank you.

[Pastor Rob Pacienza]

Thank you.

[Steve Garadi]

You have a Pastor Rob Pacienza. There it is, folks. Is it a revival? I don't know, but it's a good thing. You can call it whatever you want. It's a good thing. Go to church on Sunday. Make a difference in your community. We'll take a break and be right back. Remember, God bless America. All right. What makes America wonderful. We do it every day with the hope of putting a smile on your face. We don't want to change that for 2026. We want to roll right into the new year. Making you smile. Today's story comes to us from Macon, Georgia, where a simple act of kindness turned into an unexpected friendship. Keith Tidwell and Debbie Roden first encountered each other at a Kroger grocery store last January, where Tidwell worked the night shift in the produce section. And for a long time, Tidwell and Rhoden had not spoken a word to each other. That all changed when Debbie Rhoden spotted Keith walking along Gray highway during her commute, a long stretch of asphalt surrounded by wooded areas, making Debbie's offer to give the young man a ride even more impactful. When recounting on what drove the decision to offer Keith a ride, Debbie noted that her late son Carlos would have done the same, and she was just passing on his morals. After that day, the carpool has become a routine, and even though Keith Tidwell is working on getting his driver's license, he plans to keep in touch to prolong this newfound friendship. Taking a chance on somebody can often be a challenge for most people, but today's story showcases finding genuine connection even in the most unlikely circumstances. Which reminds us. Which reminds us what makes America wonderful. All right, here's your question of the day. What would you like to see President Trump accomplish in 2026? Cheryl 341. I want to see in very early 2026 President Trump and Congress pass and sign legislation that protects our elections from both foreign and domestic fraud and interference. What a great post. What a great response. C Boom. His executive order is codified. Musk's Doge findings of corruption, fraud and abuse fixed. Known corrupt politicians and accomplices prosecuted. Activist judges removed and banned from legal profession and prosecuted where appropriate. All pretty decent list. Sal Durr writes 15 million illegals deported. Voter rolls cleaned. Illegals not allowed to vote. Cut off funding for blue states until they obey the law and the Constitution. Deep state criminals brought to trial, pedophiles brought to justice. And as a final note, DEI outlawed. Daniel Emmert has this Stop sending money to Ukraine. Sam Foles III Eliminate taxes on Social Security for seniors. A lot of folks would agree with you on that, Sam. Get rid of property tax too. It'd be a nice step forward for seniors living on a fixed income. Janet Nicholson Remove all illegals and green card holders, visa holders who riot and hate America and those who chant death to America. Yes, those are all very good ideas. Here we are. We've got like the clean whiteboard. It's a blank slate. What do you want for 2026? I want to see America first. I want to see President Trump continue to put America first. I want the war with Russia and Ukraine to come to an end as soon as possible. I want the economy to keep humming along. I want gas to be cheaper than $2 a gallon. I do. I want to see free, fair and honest elections. I do. We've got work to do, my friends. And the midterms. Oh, the midterms. More critical than ever, potentially. You have got to vote. You do not want Donald Trump to be a lame duck, now or ever. Get out and vote. Support America first. That's. That's my wish for 2026. Happy New Year, my friends. And for all of us here at Real America's Voice. We appreciate you starting the brand new year right here. We'll see you soon. This is an iHeart podcast.

[Podcast Host / Advertiser]

Guaranteed Human.