Real America’s Voice – The Road Forward

Date: February 1, 2026
Host: Ryan Helenbein (filling in for Dr. Tim Clinton)
Featured Guests: Matt Staver, Dave Brat, Shane Winnings

Episode Overview

This episode of “The Road Forward” navigates the intersection of politics, faith, and American culture during a crucial year ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Key topics include the ongoing fight for life, current legal and cultural battles over religious liberty, the reemergence of morality in law, the consequences of current economic policies, the challenge of immigration enforcement, and the need for renewed masculine leadership within the church and American society. Engaging conversations with leaders like Matt Staver of Liberty Counsel, former Congressman Dave Brat, and Promise Keepers’ CEO Shane Winnings highlight the urgency of faith, perseverance, and proactive engagement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Reflections & Scripture (01:02–03:37)

• March for Life Recap:
  • The 53rd annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. continues to draw tens of thousands, even after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision shifted the abortion battle to state courts.
  • “Abortion is not ended in this country. And that perseverance matters now more than ever because...we're facing a pivotal moment in America.” (Ryan Helenbein, 01:41)
• 2026 Midterm Stakes:
  • Issues on the ballot: immigration, economic security, national security.
  • The Supreme Court is set to rule on key cases about religious freedom and free speech.
• Scriptural Encouragement:
  • Galatians 6:9: “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.”
  • The call for Christians to embrace Eugene Peterson’s idea of “long obedience in the same direction.”

2. Matt Staver: Life after Dobbs & Religious Liberty Battles (03:52–18:28)

The State of the Pro-Life Movement Post-Dobbs (04:20–07:18)

• Younger Generation’s Leadership:
  • Liberty University sends 1,000 students to the march.
  • “The majority of the people that are there are in their 20 somethings…exciting, that's pro life and they're carrying the torch.” (Matt Staver, 04:59)
• Shifting Battlefields:
  • Fight on abortion moves from federal to state level post-Dobbs.
  • “The battle has intensified, hasn't gotten less since Dobbs...fighting it at 50 different state levels.” (Matt Staver, 06:00)
• Incrementalism vs. Abolition:
  • “Do you build the wall...one brick at a time, or do you just put the building up all at once?...I think you have to go one brick at a time.” (Matt Staver, 06:31)
  • Notable metaphor: “If you try to eat the elephant in one bite, you're going to choke on it.” (Matt Staver, 07:02)

Religious Liberty and the LGBTQ “Zero Sum Game” (07:35–11:34)

• Liberty University Case:
  • Staver argues a high-profile religious liberty case involving gender identity, with national implications.
  • 19 states/D.C. file briefs to oppose Liberty’s stance: “[Opponents] fear that if our religious freedom argument wins, they're not going to be able to control Christian religious organizations anymore with their LGBTQ agenda...” (Matt Staver, 08:38)
• On Coexistence and the SOGI Agenda:
  • “It is a zero sum game...the people...pushing the LGBTQ agenda cannot coexist because they will not tolerate anyone who disagrees.” (Matt Staver, 10:18)
  • This is framed as a fundamental doctrinal issue: “When you...say, we can create ourselves into our own image...that is a direct rebellion against God.” (Matt Staver, 11:09)

The Return of the Ten Commandments & Legal Morality (11:34–18:28)

• Reemergence of the Ten Commandments in Law:
  • Texas and Louisiana push for in-school Ten Commandments displays.
  • Crucial legal shift: The Supreme Court overturns the decades-old Lemon test (2022), enabling more latitude for public religious expression.
• Legal and Historic Context:
  • The Ten Commandments’ influence “predated the First Amendment...How would the First Amendment ever consider overruling the Ten Commandments?” (Matt Staver, 15:21)
  • Removal of the Ten Commandments from schools (1980) seen as marking moral decline.
• Legal Precedent and American Identity:
  • “Why does [the Supreme Court] have 50 or so displays inside and outside...the most prominent display is the Ten Commandments.” (Matt Staver, 16:07)
• Host Reflection:
  • “I couldn't agree with you more...there is no greater influence on our Federalist writings...than the Old Testament, in particular the book of Deuteronomy.” (Ryan Helenbein, 17:40)

3. Dave Brat: Economic Realities, Tariffs, and Immigration (21:11–35:41)

On Globalism, Tariffs, and the Economy (21:40–26:44)

• Critique of Global Elites:
  • Dave Brat references Klaus Schwab (WEF): “You will have nothing and you will be happy. That's a quote from Schwab.” (Dave Brat, 22:22)
  • Criticizes centralized control and lack of transparency among global leaders and corporations.
• Tariffs and Free Trade:
  • On Trump’s tariffs: “There's no evidence in any economic journals...that tariffs triggered inflation.” (Dave Brat, 23:55)
  • “We have monopolies and oligopolies and oligarchs running this country...the Magnificent Seven [tech giants] make up 40% of the S&P507 firms.” (Dave Brat, 24:34)
  • Positive spin: Tariffs as negotiation leverage leading to more real free trade, not less.

International Relations & the Greenland Situation (26:15–29:15)

• Greenland as a Strategic Engagement:
  • Trump’s approach reframed as pursuit of better deals, not territorial acquisition.
  • “He talks more about peace than anyone...and you can see all these forces, right? The corruption in Minnesota and...we still can't get an audit on the Ukraine war. That's over $300 billion. That went somewhere.” (Dave Brat, 26:44)
• America’s Unique Legacy:
  • Brat laments the move to push out Judeo-Christian values: “We gave rights to all minority groups in this country, protected in the Constitution...And so now some of that’s being threatened.” (Dave Brat, 28:16)

Immigration and the Rule of Law (29:20–35:41)

• ICE Enforcement Disparities:
  • Focus on differences between states; some areas cooperate with ICE, others resist.
• Federal vs. Local Authority:
  • “When the localities say we're not going to follow federal law...that's illegal.” (Dave Brat, 31:19)
• The Insurrection Act Question:
  • Debate about invoking federal authority to address coordinated subversion of law enforcement.
  • “If the state local have lost control, if they're insubordinate to the law, both of those are happening, then you can invoke the Insurrection Act.” (Dave Brat, 34:02)
• Root of the Crisis:
  • “Where did this start? It started...when Biden let 10 million folks in illegally on purpose.” (Dave Brat, 34:53)
  • Warns Republicans must “message on it” and stay focused on protecting the rule of law ahead of midterms.

4. Shane Winnings: Restoring Male Leadership and Identity (37:24–52:35)

Promise Keepers: Mission and Legacy (37:36–39:34)

• History and Vision:
  • Founded in 1990 to address a “ministry for men” gap.
  • Highlights massive men’s conferences, including the 1997 D.C. gathering of 1.4 million men.
  • Announced: 30th anniversary gathering planned for Oct 2, 2027.

Addressing the “War on Men” and Masculine Identity Crisis (39:34–44:23)

• Generational Perspective:
  • “The Gen Alpha generation...are the most unchurched, most atheistic generation by far. And many of them are fatherless. They have no men in the home.” (Ryan Helenbein, 40:29)
• Root Causes:
  • “Feminism on the rise...is ultimately toxic. Masculinity, or the feminization of men and feminism...they’re both demonic, they’re both wrong.” (Shane Winnings, 41:05)
  • God-given roles are equal but different; confusion over these roles breeds identity crisis.

Overcomers Ministry/Spiritual Warfare Mindset (44:23–48:38)

• Biographical Sketch:
  • Winnings shares his journey from Afghanistan vet to police officer to preacher.
  • Launches Overcomers ministry focusing on victorious Christian living.
  • “We are not defeated. You know, if you're a Christian, we have the victory in Christ Jesus, and so let's start acting like it.” (Shane Winnings, 43:16)

Christian Identity, Mission, and Leadership Roles (48:38–52:35)

• Scriptural Encouragement:
  • John 16:33: “In this world, you will have trouble...” - Jesus’ promise of victory.
  • Romans 8 & Hebrews 12 cited: identity as conquerors, endurance through joy.
• Identity Crisis among Men:
  • “There are a lot of Christians today, Christian men who have an identity crisis...They’ve forgotten who they are in Christ first, and then they forgot who they are as men.” (Ryan Helenbein, 45:18)
  • Winnings on meekness: “Meekness is what we're called to, not weakness.”
  • “If we truly knew who God was and we knew who he called us to be, then we would stand for what he stands for, regardless of names we get called or any kind of pushback.” (Shane Winnings, 47:00)
• Key Advice to Men:
  • Three roles: “Priest, Provider, Protector.” (Shane Winnings, 51:03)
  • “Be someone who is pursuing Jesus...providing stability...protect from bad ideology that comes in.”
  • “Even if you’re in a waiting season or a testing season, it’s not for nothing. ... Make sure you’re in the fight and not at home reclining.” (Shane Winnings, 52:23)

5. Closing Encouragement: Perseverance (53:09–53:58)

• Closing Quote:
  • Charles Spurgeon: “By perseverance, even the snail reached the ark.” (Ryan Helenbein, 53:09)
• Call to Action:
  • “You don't always get there because you're the fastest or the strongest...You get there because you don't quit and you keep going. So don't quit. Don't grow weary of doing good. Keep standing, keep praying, keep seeking the Lord. Do not quit.” (Ryan Helenbein, 53:30)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Abortion is not ended in this country. And that perseverance matters now more than ever because...we're facing a pivotal moment in America.”
  —Ryan Helenbein (01:41)

• “The battle has intensified, hasn't gotten less since Dobbs...fighting it at 50 different state levels.”
  —Matt Staver (06:00)

• “If you try to eat the elephant in one bite, you're going to choke on it.”
  —Matt Staver (07:02)

• “It is a zero sum game...the people...pushing the LGBTQ agenda cannot coexist because they will not tolerate anyone who disagrees.”
  —Matt Staver (10:18)

• “...it stands for the rule of law. And isn’t that a good thing?”
  —Matt Staver (17:21)

• “You will have nothing and you will be happy. That’s a quote from Schwab.”
  —Dave Brat (22:22)

• “We have monopolies and oligopolies and oligarchs running this country...the Magnificent Seven [tech giants] make up 40% of the S&P507 firms.”
  —Dave Brat (24:34)

• “Where did this start? It started...when Biden let 10 million folks in illegally on purpose.”
  —Dave Brat (34:53)

• “In the 80s and early 90s, there were not a lot of ministries for men. And he saw a need there and so he started Promise Keepers.”
  —Shane Winnings (38:13)

• “Feminism on the rise...is ultimately toxic. Masculinity, or the feminization of men and feminism...they’re both demonic, they’re both wrong.”
  —Shane Winnings (41:05)

• “Priest, Provider, Protector.”
  —Shane Winnings (51:03)

• “By perseverance, even the snail reached the ark.”
  —Charles Spurgeon, quoted by Ryan Helenbein (53:09)

Important Timestamps by Topic

• March for Life & Dobbs aftermath: 01:02–07:18
• Religious liberty and LGBTQ legal battles: 07:35–11:34
• Ten Commandments, morality & law: 11:34–18:28
• Globalism, tariffs, economy with Dave Brat: 21:11–29:15
• Immigration, enforcement, Insurrection Act: 29:20–35:41
• Promise Keepers history & mission: 37:24–39:34
• Masculine identity, Overcomers ministry: 39:34–48:38
• Advice for men: Priest, Provider, Protector: 48:38–52:35
• Closing encouragement: 53:09–53:58

Summary

This episode ties together the themes of perseverance, cultural and legal battles for faith and freedom, the enduring relevance of biblical tradition in American public life, and urgent calls for men to reclaim their God-given identities in a time of societal upheaval. With the 2026 midterms approaching, speakers urge listeners to remain vigilant, engaged, and focused on purposeful leadership, unity, and spiritual grounding.