Podcast Summary: Firewall with Lance Wallnau – November 15, 2025

Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Host: Lance Wallnau
Date: November 15, 2025
Featured Guests: Steve Deace, Che Ahn

Episode Overview

This episode of Firewall dives into the crossroads of faith, American politics, generational challenges, and the current fragmentation in the conservative movement. Host Lance Wallnau is joined in the first half by Blaze Media’s Steve Deace, who delivers a sweeping, faith-driven critique of the American right—addressing recent factionalism after Charlie Kirk's assassination and the urgent need for clear, values-driven leadership. The second half features Che Ahn, pastor and gubernatorial candidate in California, describing his legal battle against Governor Newsom’s pandemic policies and outlining his vision for a faith-informed grassroots revival in the state’s politics.

Throughout, the episode addresses the spiritual and cultural crises facing the nation, the generational rift in both secular and faith communities, leadership voids, and the unique challenges in states like California.

Main Themes

• The post-Charlie Kirk era and fragmentation on the American right
• The role of faith, particularly evangelical Christianity, in politics and coalition-building
• The generational struggle for meaning, economic stability, and cultural identity
• The battle over California—its woke policies, faith suppression, crime, and economic management
• Reviving civic engagement and Christian influence in public life

Key Discussions & Insights

1. The State of Conservative Coalitions Post-Charlie Kirk

[03:26–09:22]

• Steve Deace reflects on how Charlie Kirk's assassination exposed internal fractures within conservative circles, noting Kirk’s unique skill as a coalition builder and the observable spiritual void since his absence.
• Deace credits Donald Trump as a “clarifying force” in American life, stating, "I've just never seen one person provoke so many people to tell us who they really are than Donald Trump. I don't see how that's a natural explanation for that. I think that is a supernatural phenomenon." (05:38)
• Discussion on the “circular firing squad” now plaguing right-wing media and activism, with infighting overtaking the external political battle:

  "In the absence of Charlie to control the fire, everybody trained their guns on each other and started a circular firing [squad]." – Lance Wallnau (10:16)

• Deace urges a shift from “endlessly questioning” to seeking actionable answers rooted in faith, referencing Jesus’ declaration before Pilate to "testify to the truth." (07:50)

2. The Importance of Faith-based Leadership & the Kirk Legacy

[09:22–13:32]

• Discussion of Kirk’s coalition-building: balancing various constituencies, assessing their usefulness, and maintaining open lines. Kirk’s absence has led to increased infighting, particularly on issues like evangelical support for Israel.
• Notable reflection on leadership after Kirk:

  "Maybe Trump has to have a private phone call. If we don’t sort this out fast, the movement that was begun with MAGA... will not be together for midterms." – Lance Wallnau (12:50)

3. The Role of J.D. Vance & Generational Grievances

[13:32–15:31]

• Deace identifies J.D. Vance as a possible heir to Kirk’s coalition-building mantle, citing his generational understanding and ability to speak to the frustrations of young men.
• Deace:

  "Our young men, particularly our young white men, frankly, have a lot to be justifiably complaining about, given the mess in their laps... No other generation has faced anything like that since the industrial Revolution." (14:30)

4. Engaging the Next Generation & Economic Realities

[17:47–22:02]

• Wallnau and Deace stress that for conservative policies to attract younger voters, especially under-30s, they must address tangible economic issues—affordable housing, living wages, and hope in the American dream—not just culture wars or border issues.
• Wallnau succinctly frames the challenge:

  "This isn’t about the border now... This is about the ability of young people to have confidence in the American system." (18:10)

5. The Iowa Example: Faith, Politics, and False Narratives

[22:02–23:20]

• Deace discusses Iowa’s political dynamics, emphasizing the need for candidates who can effectively counter progressives’ co-optation of religious language.

  “Rob Sand is going to literally stand up there and say Jesus was a socialist... He is trying to coerce and co-opt our own language and use it against us.” (22:30)

6. Christian Nationalism & Using Faith in the Public Square

[23:20–25:09]

• Responding to critiques that Turning Point USA became “too evangelical,” Wallnau and Deace push for a clear Christian worldview’s public influence, insisting that “Christian nationalism” is a pejorative label misused to marginalize believers’ societal and civic engagement.

  "Christianity is not the endless asking of questions, it's the ceaseless seeking of answers." – Steve Deace (07:09)

7. Spiritual “Cosmic Clarifiers” in Recent History

[26:31–29:03]

• Deace introduces the term "cosmic clarifiers" to describe events like Covid, the George Floyd riots, and Kirk’s assassination as spiritually significant moments exposing true motives and character in both society and the church.
• He explains how God typically works around established but failed religious structures, drawing comparisons to biblical narratives and noting the rise of new parachurch organizations outside traditional institutions.

  "God always goes around the traditional religious structure that failed the previous generation." – Steve Deace (28:00)

8. Che Ahn: From Lawsuits Against Newsom to Running for Governor

[34:40–41:52]

• Che Ahn shares his story of defying California’s church lockdowns, leading a coalition of 145 pastors in a successful Supreme Court case against Governor Newsom for violating First Amendment rights.
• Ahn describes discrimination against churches, saying:

  "Abortion clinics are essential. Marijuana dispensaries are essential. ...But the churches were not." (35:26)

• He outlines the legal threats faced—from jail time to millions in fines—framing them as Marxist tactics to silence faith leaders.

9. California’s Woke Drift: Gerrymandering, Crime, and Homelessness

[41:01–47:19]

• Discussion on California’s "Marxist" legislative maneuvers, particularly gerrymandering to preserve Democrat supermajorities and diminish conservative influence.
• Ahn notes the paradox of rising crime, open drug use, and stores fleeing cities, while state authorities block faith-based solutions.
• He lists his policy priorities: enforcing existing crime laws, giving money to faith-based recovery programs, and restoring affordable energy and housing.

10. The Evangelical Vote: Pathways to Change

[43:03–44:59]

• Ahn believes awakening disengaged evangelicals is key to flipping California, noting that if all 6 million registered evangelicals voted, “we would win every single race.”

  "If the Christians just cared enough to vote...they could have a whole couple of years' worth of rebuke ability on the devil." – Lance Wallnau (44:28)

11. Specific Policy Solutions & the Homeless Crisis

[47:19–51:41]

• Ahn’s plan is to enforce laws for public safety, fund results-driven faith-based nonprofits for homeless recovery, and reverse energy policies that have driven costs up while increasing pollution through imports.

12. Differentiating Himself in the Gubernatorial Race

[55:03–56:33]

• Ahn distinguishes his campaign by signing the Family for Salt and Light statement, emphasizing his immigrant background and outreach to conservative Democrats and ethnic minorities.
• He frames his leadership style as both pastoral and populist.

Notable Quotes

• "Christianity is not the endless asking of questions, it's the ceaseless seeking of answers." — Steve Deace (07:09)
• "All guns should have shifted on the madness on the left...And what happens, like almost in the absence of Charlie to control the fire, everybody trained their guns on each other and started a circular firing [squad]." — Lance Wallnau (10:16)
• "God always goes around the traditional religious structure that failed the previous generation." — Steve Deace (28:00)
• "Abortion clinics are essential...Marijuana dispensaries are essential...But the churches were not." — Che Ahn (35:26)
• "If the Christians just cared enough to vote...they could have a whole couple of years' worth of rebuke ability on the devil." — Lance Wallnau (44:28)
• "It is the economy, stupid. You know, we need to have California affordable again." — Che Ahn (54:47)

Important Timestamps & Segments

• [03:26–09:22] – Deace’s overview of post-Kirk conservative fragmentation and the spiritual consequences
• [13:32–15:31] – Discussion of J.D. Vance as a leader for a new generation
• [17:47–19:31] – The economic issues at the core of the young male vote
• [22:02–23:20] – Faith and politics in Iowa's upcoming elections
• [26:31–29:03] – Deace on “cosmic clarifiers” and God working around failed structures
• [34:40–41:52] – Che Ahn’s recounting of his legal battle and analysis of California politics
• [43:03–44:59] – The impact of inactive evangelical voters in California
• [47:19–51:41] – Ahn’s proposals for crime, homelessness, energy, and faith-based reforms
• [55:03–56:33] – Ahn differentiates himself among governor candidates

Tone and Language

• Candid, faith-centered, and at times confrontational
• Relies on vivid biblical analogies and American political history
• Emphasis on urgent action, spiritual clarity, and building effective coalitions
• Deep concern over cultural drift, political infighting, and generational disillusionment

Conclusion

In this episode, the host and guests paint a picture of an American right in crisis, but with hope for renewal through faith, generational engagement, and courageous, clear-headed leadership. The passing of Charlie Kirk is both a tragedy and a clarion call for conservative coalition-building. Che Ahn exemplifies the kind of leader aiming to translate spiritual awakening into political transformation, especially in hostile territory like California.

Guests’ Socials:

• Steve Deace: @SteveDeaceShow on X
• Che Ahn: che4ca.com; Instagram & Facebook at Che Ahn