Steve Deace Show | "Is it FINALLY Time to Leave NATO?"
Host: Steve Deace | Blaze Podcast Network
Guest: Jordan Schachtel
Date: April 3, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the current controversies and shifting alliances in American conservatism, focusing on the status of NATO, the future of U.S. foreign policy, and the internal struggles facing the Republican Party. Featuring guest Jordan Schachtel, a seasoned national security commentator, the conversation also explores domestic political dynamics, particularly the effectiveness of Republican leadership and the influence of populist voices. The program maintains its signature principled conservatism with sharp, witty banter.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Trump Administration Shakeup: Attorney General Firing
- [00:00–06:04]
- Steve, Todd, and Aaron address Pam Bondi's removal as Attorney General, arguing the role is now "the most important job in the executive branch other than president."
- Steve insists the new AG must be a "Pete Hegseth-level stone cold killer" (metaphorically), someone both adult and sane—not a grandstander, but a real power wielder.
- Quote: "This is not hyperbole to say that this could be an appointment that determines the direction of the rest of the Trump era and presidency." — Steve [03:40]
- Panel skepticism prevails about the odds of getting a truly transformative AG.
2. Day's Group: The State of Progressive & Leftist Messaging
- [06:04–17:18]
- A rapid-fire satirical collage ("bleep lord nefarious") of recent progressive rhetoric, with Steve and panel responding.
- Jordan Schachtel finds Don Lemon’s political ambitions both "vile and insightful," critiquing media egos.
- Quote: "This is an epidemic in the media... Everyone thinks that they can be president, governor, but very few leave the studio to attempt any of these ambitions." — Jordan [11:13]
- Panel discusses the erasure of inconvenient immigrant narratives and the politicization of immigrant tragedies.
- Irony pointed out: Progressive leaders seem disconnected, blaming policies on constraints only Trump allegedly imposes.
- The comedic segment "Gays of Hormuz" is highlighted as the year’s most absurd, yet revealing, political moment.
3. The NATO Dilemma
- [17:19–29:54]
- Trump and Rubio’s recent critiques of NATO’s value and one-way street of obligations frame the discussion.
- Jordan Schachtel:
- Agrees NATO’s Cold War-era purpose is obsolete but says arms sales remain a benefit for the U.S.
- Argues European members’ coziness with China undermines alliance.
- Quote: "Strategic purpose of NATO is long past due to be reexamined... there's some benefits... but ideologically it’s fast going extinct." — Jordan [18:42]
- Steve suggests transactional, not traditional, calculus: if mutual values are gone, NATO should be dollar-for-dollar.
- Aaron posits leaving NATO could force Europe to "grow up" or reveal their dependency and drift to China.
- Quote: "It’s a loving thing to do to give Europe the chance to actually fend for itself." — Aaron [27:40]
- Consensus: No immediate U.S. exit from NATO expected—status quo inertia will persist.
4. GOP's Midterm Prospects & Legislative Stagnation
- [32:12–41:46]
- Recent polling shows GOP struggling with Independents. Special elections and operational failures (e.g., border/budget deals) discussed.
- Panel debates achievable wins: Passing the SAVE Act (border/immigration), symbolic votes condemning political violence, and fixing communications strategy.
- Quote: "It's not one specific bill, but there needs to be a lot better of unified message... It’s just all doom, gloom, Epstein conspiracies." — Jordan [36:58]
- Steve pushes: Even if the administration pulled out of Iran, what domestic reforms are possible?
- Exit question: Will they fix anything? All but Jordan say "no."
5. GOP Power Struggle: Trump vs. Senate Leadership
- [41:46–44:39]
- Who really controls the Republican Party?
- Todd: John Thune wields more domestic control than Trump, despite rhetoric.
- Quote: "Thune just keeps going back, doing it over and over and over to us because it's value added. He's going to do whatever the hell he wants to. He's invincible." — Todd [41:55]
- Jordan: Sees an ongoing power struggle, but not a failed system; activism can still drive real change.
6. Feedback Friday: Deep Dives into Listener Questions
- [51:25–77:59]
- Bundling Theology Thursday content — feasible, may be tackled soon.
- Memorializing a local radio host and a discussion of family legacies.
- Defining "anti-Zionism" vs. "Marcionism" (theological heresy of Old/New Testament separation) in response to listener inquiry about Tucker Carlson:
- Quote: "You can be an anti-Zionist and not a Marcionite... but in practice, it’s pretty impossible." — Aaron [63:12]
- Extended segment: The cultural and spiritual confusion among young men online; calls for older men to lead by example.
7. Key Quotes & Memorable Exchanges
-
On Don Lemon’s Ego:
- Jordan: "I see this happening all the time in the media where personalities start reading their own news and it's very unfortunate that this is. This is an epidemic in the media."
- [11:13]
- Jordan: "I see this happening all the time in the media where personalities start reading their own news and it's very unfortunate that this is. This is an epidemic in the media."
-
On NATO:
- Steve: "There has to be some leverage in here... we're happy to keep NATO together... every dollar we spend, you match it dollar for dollar. At the very least."
- [21:49]
- Steve: "There has to be some leverage in here... we're happy to keep NATO together... every dollar we spend, you match it dollar for dollar. At the very least."
-
On the GOP's Future:
- Aaron: "All we can do is so low that I don't actually expect them to do anything. I don't. So I'm trying to look for the most effective symbolic victories."
- [36:45]
- Aaron: "All we can do is so low that I don't actually expect them to do anything. I don't. So I'm trying to look for the most effective symbolic victories."
-
On Masculine Leadership:
- Steve: "We skipped pretty much a generation of this... A man is somebody who does what he knows is right, even when he doesn't want to do it because he loves the people he's doing it for more than he loves himself."
- [92:04]
- Steve: "We skipped pretty much a generation of this... A man is somebody who does what he knows is right, even when he doesn't want to do it because he loves the people he's doing it for more than he loves himself."
Notable Timestamps
- [00:00] – Pam Bondi fired as Attorney General, setting table for broader discussion.
- [06:04] – Day's Group: Progressive soundbite montage and reaction.
- [17:19] – Is it finally time to leave NATO?
- [32:12] – What Republicans could fix to improve midterm chances.
- [41:46] – Who runs the GOP: Trump or Senate leadership?
- [51:25] – Feedback Friday: Theology, anti-Zionism, masculine leadership.
Tone & Final Thoughts
True to Steve Deace’s style, the episode is a cocktail of snark, deep institutional critique, and urgent calls for principled leadership—laced with both hope and cynicism. Jordan Schachtel’s expertise enriches the debates, especially on NATO and U.S. foreign policy. The conversations are dense with current references and sharp humor, appealing to both seasoned conservative listeners and those seeking a counter-establishment perspective.
The episode is a must-listen for anyone tracking the right’s evolving foreign policy, the fate of perennial institutions like NATO, and the ideological leadership struggles within the GOP. Listeners are left both challenged and motivated to consider—not just what conservatism rejects, but what it should build and defend.
For more: Check out Feedback Friday, where Steve and the team respond to challenging theological and cultural listener questions, unfiltered. [51:25–end]