Podcast Summary: Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey – Ep 1161 | 'The Handmaid's Tale' Is Back & Ignores the Actual Forced Birth Industry

Release Date: March 26, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 1161 of Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey, hosted by Allie Beth Stuckey from the Blaze Podcast Network, the discussion navigates the resurgence of the dystopian series The Handmaid’s Tale and its reflection—or lack thereof—of real-world issues surrounding forced birth and the surrogacy industry in the United States. Joined by guest Josh Hammer, the episode delves into the political landscape concerning Planned Parenthood, the pervasive surrogacy practices, and the defense of Israel as a cornerstone of Western civilization from a Christian, conservative perspective.

1. Share the Arrows 2025 Announcement

Before diving into the main topics, Allie Beth announces the upcoming Share the Arrows 2025 event, emphasizing its focus on challenging, gospel-centered theological teachings. Notable speakers include:

• Elisa Childers: Renowned apologist discussing combating the new age and contemporary spiritual movements with biblical courage.
• Francesca Battistelli: Grammy Award-winning artist leading worship, praised for her impactful performances.
• Katie Faust: Advocate for children's rights from a scientific, moral, and biblical standpoint.
• Ginger Duggar Volo: Sharing personal testimonies and faith journeys away from legalism.

Allie underscores the event's aim to equip women with the strength and wisdom derived from God's word, fostering a community resilient against societal and cultural adversities.

2. The Handmaid's Tale: A Contemporary Reflection?

Allie introduces the resurgence of The Handmaid’s Tale with its sixth and final season trailer, drawing parallels between the show's dystopian narrative and current political and cultural climates in America.

Key Points:

• Premise of the Show: The Handmaid’s Tale, based on Margaret Atwood's novel, portrays a society named Gilead where religious extremists enforce strict social hierarchies, leading to the enslavement of women as surrogates due to widespread infertility issues.

• Modern Misinterpretations: Allie challenges the common assertion that the show directly relates to abortion debates, clarifying that in the narrative, the forced birthing is a result of pronatalist policies rather than anti-abortion stances.

Notable Quotes:

• Allie Beth Stuckey [00:01]: "This is about Republican Christians, but there is a real Handmaid's Tale going on in America and around the world that you might not know about."

• Allie Beth Stuckey [11:19]: "The brain, the abortion brain worm is so burrowed into the minds of liberals that they have convinced themselves that the position that I hold, that you hold that it is wrong to kill a baby."

3. The U.S. Surrogacy Industry: A Real-Life Handmaid's Tale

Josh Hammer (referred to as Brianna Heldt in the transcript) presents a critical analysis of the surrogacy industry in the United States, drawing stark comparisons to the fictional world of The Handmaid’s Tale.

Key Points:

• Commercial Surrogacy Practices: The U.S. operates as the "wild west" for reproductive technologies, with practices involving the creation and sale of embryos, often resulting in the commodification of women's bodies and children's lives.

• Ethical Concerns: Surrogacy arrangements frequently involve separating the egg donor from the gestational carrier, disrupting the natural maternal bond and posing significant emotional and physical risks to both surrogate and child.

• Legal and Moral Implications: The lack of regulation leads to scenarios where surrogates can lose custody of their children without support, as illustrated by the tragic story of Brittany, a surrogate whose child died after being taken away due to health complications ([12:04] Allie).

Notable Quotes:

• Josh Hammer [09:21]: "This is prostitution. This is the Handmaid's Tale."

• Allie Beth Stuckey [12:01]: "They are the biological mom. They are being raped."

4. Defunding Planned Parenthood: Progress and Challenges

The conversation shifts to the Trump administration's decision to freeze family planning grants to organizations like Planned Parenthood, marking a significant step in the broader pro-life movement.

Key Points:

• Policy Changes: The administration's move is viewed as a positive start towards completely defunding Planned Parenthood, aiming to eliminate federal taxpayer dollars supporting abortion services.

• Planned Parenthood’s Response: Planned Parenthood counters by claiming that such funding cuts reduce healthcare access for women, citing declines in prenatal care, contraceptive services, and cancer screenings as a result ([36:24] Allie).

• Economic Critique: The profitability of Planned Parenthood is highlighted, with profits increasing by 270% over ten years despite reduced service offerings.

Notable Quotes:

• Brianna Heldt [32:06]: "Planned Parenthood has to be defunded of every single federal penny of taxpayer dollar, period, full stop, end of story."

• Allie Beth Stuckey [36:24]: "We are just paying for the killing of unborn children."

5. Immigration and Visa Revocations for Pro-Hamas Activists

Allie and Josh discuss the controversy surrounding American universities deporting pro-Hamas agitators, examining the balance between First Amendment rights and national security.

Key Points:

• Legal Distinctions: Josh emphasizes the legal differences between citizens and non-citizens, noting that while U.S. citizens enjoy full constitutional protections, non-citizens can be deported without due process.

• Case Analysis: Instances like the conversation between JD Vance and the Secretary of Defense, inadvertently involving journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, highlight potential security lapses and the complexities of handling classified information.

• Moral and Legal Implications: Brianna critiques the left’s stance on free speech, arguing that advocating for individuals supporting terrorist regimes undermines national security and contravenes basic legal principles.

Notable Quotes:

• Brianna Heldt [53:00]: "The nation state happens to be a very good thing."

• Josh Hammer [51:04]: "If the Trump administration really, really, really wanted to make an enemy of Jeffrey Goldberg, you could in theory prosecute him on espionage acts grounds."

6. Defense of Israel and Its Role in Western Civilization

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing Israel's pivotal role in safeguarding Western civilization against threats like Wokeism, Islamism, and global neoliberalism. Josh Hammer, who recently authored Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation, the Destiny of the West, elaborates on this theme.

Key Points:

• Israel as the Frontline: Israel is portrayed as the first line of defense against global threats, conducting operations that indirectly benefit Western nations by targeting high-profile extremist leaders responsible for anti-American activities.

• Historical Context: Hammer connects Israel's actions to historical events, such as the elimination of key Hezbollah leaders responsible for past terrorist attacks, underscoring Israel's strategic importance ([58:28] Allie).

• Biblical Foundations of Western Civilization: Hammer argues that Western civilization is deeply rooted in biblical principles, emphasizing the shared heritage between Jews and Christians as essential to combating contemporary ideological threats.

Notable Quotes:

• Brianna Heldt [64:20]: "Israel and Civilization, the Fate of the Jewish Nation, the Destiny of the West."

• Josh Hammer [62:17]: "Jews and Christians have to stand shoulder to shoulder like never before because we face the exact same threats."

Conclusion

Episode 1161 of Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey offers a comprehensive critique of contemporary societal and political issues through a conservative Christian lens. From dissecting the misconceptions surrounding The Handmaid’s Tale to exposing the ethical dilemmas within the American surrogacy industry and defending Israel's crucial role, the episode provides listeners with a robust analysis of factors shaping current cultural and political dynamics.

Notable Quotes Summary

• Allie Beth Stuckey [00:01]: "This is about Republican Christians, but there is a real Handmaid's Tale going on in America and around the world that you might not know about."

• Josh Hammer [09:21]: "This is prostitution. This is the Handmaid's Tale."

• Brianna Heldt [32:06]: "Planned Parenthood has to be defunded of every single federal penny of taxpayer dollar, period, full stop, end of story."

• Allie Beth Stuckey [36:24]: "We are just paying for the killing of unborn children."

• Brianna Heldt [53:00]: "The nation state happens to be a very good thing."

• Josh Hammer [51:04]: "If the Trump administration really, really, really wanted to make an enemy of Jeffrey Goldberg, you could in theory prosecute him on espionage acts grounds."

• Josh Hammer [62:17]: "Jews and Christians have to stand shoulder to shoulder like never before because we face the exact same threats."

Note: This summary excludes advertisements and non-content segments to focus solely on the episode's substantive discussions.