Steve Deace Show — "VIBE CHECK: Iran War, Day 17"

Host: Steve Deace (Blaze Podcast Network)
Guest: Billy Hallowell (Christian Broadcasting Network)
Air Date: March 17, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of the Steve Deace Show delivers a whirlwind of snarky, principled commentary on international and domestic events, with a spotlight on the Iran war ("Operation Epic Fury") at Day 17. The first hour is a "vibe check" on the war, shifting from surface-level news coverage to deeper cultural and spiritual discussions, before segueing into a spirited interview with Billy Hallowell on supernatural phenomena, angels, and demons. The second hour features a unique "Fake News or Not" exercise, probing key controversies and schisms currently dividing the American right, especially across "podcaster wars" and the Israel/Iran debate. The conversation is peppered with humor, cultural asides, and a call for men to lead at the local level.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iran War Update & Vibe Check

[04:53–18:19]

• Major Developments:

  • Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strike, killing high-level Iranian officials including Ali Lariani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani.
  • President Trump expresses optimism:

    "Can we wrap this war up this week?"
    "Yeah, sure."
    "Will we?"
    "I don't think so, but it'll be soon." — Trump [05:35]

  • U.S. allies like France are graded favorably by Trump ("On a scale of 0–10, he's been an 8. Not perfect, but it's France…” [05:55])

• Panel Reaction:

  • The team discusses the “vibes” around the war — are we being gaslighted like with "two weeks to flatten the curve"? Or is real progress being made?
  • Todd:

    "There's a new bad guy who is dead every single day. There's verifiable progress." [14:13]

  • Aaron highlights even Al Jazeera is running positive analyses of U.S.-Israeli action [15:09].

• Cautionary Notes:

  • Todd expresses concern about the unknown deployment of U.S. Marines and the need for accountability, emphasizing the need for clear objectives, purposeful leadership, and transparency to the public [16:12–18:19].

2. Political Developments: Domestic & International

[06:08–08:41]

• Cuba: President Diaz Canel seeks U.S. collaboration, facing a historic energy crisis. Marco Rubio comments on Cuba’s influence over Venezuela.

• Capitol Hill:

  • Senator Mike Lee urges passage of the Save America Act, warning against the “zombie filibuster.”

    “If your senator is not willing to alter the filibuster back to an actual filibuster...they are not for the SAVE Act." — Steve Deace [19:24]

• Media & Cultural Satire:

  • A tongue-in-cheek segment on a viral "leprechaun sighting" in Mobile celebrates St. Patrick’s Day, humorously lamenting the “tatters” of American traditions. [08:52–11:00]

3. Local Activism: Bondurant, Iowa Library Book Dispute

[21:54–27:44]

• Steve’s son-in-law and a group of local men successfully challenge a middle school book club promoting "This Book is Gay" at the Bondurant public library, leading to the event’s cancellation.
• Todd recounts the bureaucratic evasions at city meetings and underscores the power of simply showing up:

  “It wasn't even a close victory… it was done in dominating fashion.” — Todd Erzin [24:00]

• Steve’s lesson:

  “The mission makes the plan, the plan doesn't make the mission. And the first step in any plan, men, is to show up.” [24:43]

4. Pop Culture & Supernatural: Billy Hallowell Interview

[32:31–48:03]

• Billy Hallowell discusses his award-winning supernatural documentary series:
  • Previous installment covered miracles; latest focuses on angels and demons.
  • Steve observes the documentary’s appeal:

    “I thought the miracles one was very good. I think this one is absolutely better. …You're scratching me where it itches.” [33:37]

• Spiritual Warfare & Modern Politics:
  • Hallowell unpacks Ephesians 6’s message about spiritual battles, spiritual apathy, and demonic vs. sinful impulses:

    “We are in a battle. We've got to understand that and we've got to navigate it…not seeing a demon under every rock, while also realizing there are a lot of demons roaming and impacting things.” — Hallowell [35:07]

  • Steve distinguishes between sinfulness (“exploiting natural desires beyond what God allows”) and the demonic (“denying created order, nihilism”):

    “The demonic is when we deny those things...we become ingrates. We act against the way we are naturally created.” [36:47]

• Notable Quote:

  “You can't win a battle you don't know you're in.” — Billy Hallowell [39:15]

• Supernatural as Apologetics:
  • The supernatural, Hallowell argues, offers young people a gateway to apologetics and faith, as Gen Z seeks answers in a culture of deception and nihilism [41:01].
  • Hallowell on a wild story:
    Describes Hugh Ross’ account of demonic manifestations among Soviet military personnel during a lecture—neutralized only by prayer [45:30–46:32].
  • The new documentary is available at cbn.com/supernatural [47:35].

5. Fake News or Not: Podcaster Wars, Influence, and Israel

[53:40–95:36]

• Format: Steve flips the "Fake News or Not" format, grilling Todd and Aaron on hot-button claims trending in right-wing online spaces.

Sample Notable Questions & Responses:

• Q: The "podcaster wars" reflect deep division on the right.
  A (Aaron): "Fake news” — Data shows 80% Republican support for the Iran war; the online war is not as representative as it appears [54:13].

• Q: Is Tucker Carlson an anti-Semite?
  A (Aaron & Todd): "Fake news" — Tucker is new and sloppy on these issues, not overtly anti-Semitic; they draw distinction between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism [80:21–82:27].

• Q: Are the podcaster wars driven by engagement/clicks more than principle?
  A: Mixed; some, like Candace Owens, are click-driven, but not all; Tucker is “genuine” (even if wrong-headed), while others may be more mercenary [57:07–59:35].

• Q: Did the CIA review Tucker’s communications?
  A: Skeptical, but not impossible—if true, a severe breach by the CIA; if false, implies Tucker’s unreliable [65:29–67:24].

• Q: Tucker Carlson sincerely believes he can reshape U.S. foreign policy.
  A (Todd): "Not fake news" — “He may end up running for President of the United States...hubris, hell of a drug.” [73:38–74:38]

• Q: Is it possible to be anti-Zionist but not anti-Semitic?
  A (Aaron): Only if you use a “bastardized” definition of Zionism; currently, anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism are conflated [82:37–84:48].

• Q: Trump’s public support of Mark Levin was a rebuke of Tucker and Megyn Kelly.
  A (Both): “Not fake news” — “This is a way of shooting, taking some clear shots across the bow.” [85:38–86:22]

• Q: Will the podcaster wars affect the 2028 GOP nomination?
  A: Aaron says “overstated,” Todd sees potential for chaos if Tucker runs and becomes a "political arsonist" [88:47–90:57].

• Q: Are these online schisms as unpredictable in their outcome as what may happen in Iran?
  A: Both say: “Fake news”—the fate of Iran is less knowable; these podcaster feuds will burn out or self-destruct [93:23–94:19].

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Male Leadership at the Local Level:

  “The mission makes the plan, the plan doesn't make the mission. The first step in any plan, men, is to show up...Just being there is most of headship.” — Steve Deace [24:43]

• Steve’s snark on tradition:

  "Our traditions are in such tatters. We are like five seconds away from everybody thinking like St. Patrick is actually one of those guys." — Todd Erzin [10:51]

• On clickbait conservatism:

  "This is one world where this is idolatry and the cost of idolatry...the ruination they're bringing upon their own idols through their idolatry. I mean, it's Gollum worshipping the ring." — Todd Erzin [94:19]

Selected Timestamps for Important Segments

• Iran War Update & Trump Comments: 04:53–10:38
• Capitol Hill: The Save America Act / Filibuster Explainer: 06:49–21:20
• St. Patrick’s Day Satire ("Leprechaun" segment): 08:52–11:09
• Bondurant, Iowa Local Activism Recap: 21:54–27:44
• Billy Hallowell Interview (Angels, Demons, Apocalypse): 32:31–48:03
  • Miracle v. Demonic, apologetics angle: 35:07–41:54
  • Soviet demonic manifestation story: 45:30–47:17
• Fake News or Not (Podcaster Wars & Influence): 53:40–95:36

Tone and Language

The show mixes snark, humor, and high seriousness, with in-depth scriptural references and unapologetically conservative, Christian worldview. Commentary is direct, at times blunt, and self-aware about the right’s internal dysfunctions. Deace encourages men to act with courage, even in uncertainty, and is not afraid to call out grift or idolatry on his own side.

Summary Takeaway

Steve Deace uses March 17, 2026, to check the "vibe" of ongoing events, challenge his audience on spiritual and cultural apathy, and push for boots-on-the-ground activism. The episode’s interplay between headline events (Iran war, U.S. politics), culture-war skirmishes, supernatural belief, and intra-right infighting provides a snapshot of a modern American conservative movement wrestling with enormous change, internal distrust, competing egos, and spiritual confusion. At its core, the call is for sincerity, discernment, and action rooted in truth—not merely clicks or virtue-signaling.