The Truth with Lisa Boothe: Decisive Action or Dangerous Gamble? Analyzing President Trump's Strike on Iran with Joey Jones

Summary

Summary of "The Truth with Lisa Booth: Decisive Action or Dangerous Gamble? Analyzing President Trump's Strike on Iran with Joey Jones"

Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Episode Title: The Truth with Lisa Booth: Decisive Action or Dangerous Gamble?
Guest: Joey Jones, Fox News Contributor, Purple Heart Recipient, Marine Corps Veteran, Author of Behind the Badge
Release Date: June 24, 2025

Introduction and Guest Background

In this episode, Lisa Booth welcomes her friend and esteemed colleague, Joey Jones, to discuss President Trump's recent military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. Joey Jones brings a wealth of experience as a Marine Corps veteran, Purple Heart recipient, Fox News contributor, and author of the impactful book Behind the Badge: Answering the Call to Serve on America's Home Front. [02:40]

President Trump's Strike on Iran

Decision and Necessity

Jones delves into the rationale behind President Trump's decision to launch strikes on Iran, emphasizing the need for decisive action to address imminent threats. He states:

"I think he did it because he felt like being decisive and hitting them in a way that they hadn't been hit before... that other presidents had danced around would show Iran and the rest of the world that he's not going to step around this."
[06:06]

Jones argues that Trump's actions were intended to send a clear message not only to Iran but also to other global powers like China and Russia, demonstrating America's unwavering stance against perceived threats.

Strategic Impact

The discussion highlights how Trump's Middle East tour laid the groundwork for such decisive military actions, contrasting his approach with the more cautious strategies of previous administrations. Jones notes:

"I think President Trump has laid groundwork in those places that other presidents haven't."
[06:06]

He believes that Trump's straightforward policy approach, which prioritizes strategic partnerships based on mutual benefit rather than ideological alignment, has redefined U.S. foreign policy in the region.

Comparing Trump to Previous Administrations

Foreign Policy Approach

Jones contrasts Trump's foreign policy with that of former President George W. Bush, particularly in the aftermath of 9/11. He remarks:

"George W. Bush, his entire presidency was derailed as far as his policy agenda by 9/11."
[08:06]

Jones suggests that Trump's willingness to take bold actions without extensive deliberation sets him apart from predecessors who may have been more constrained by diplomatic caution.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Reflecting on historical events, Jones emphasizes Trump's intent to avoid the prolonged conflicts seen in Iraq and Afghanistan by taking immediate and decisive action when threats arise:

"I'm not going to make those mistakes. I'm not going to let you know something that might be a negative, stop me from doing something that can be a positive for our country and for our national security."
[08:06]

Risk of World War III

When addressing concerns about whether these strikes could escalate into a broader conflict, Jones is cautiously optimistic. He states:

"No, anything can lead to World War III. I mean, hell, you know, Franz Ferdinand. That's a part of existing in a world of nations and armies. But I don't see the cards on the table for many places to want to get involved in this."
[22:26]

Jones believes that major world powers like Russia and China have limited incentives to escalate the conflict into a global war, citing economic considerations and strategic calculations.

Constitutional Debate on Executive Action

Presidential Authority

Lisa raises the issue of President Trump conducting military strikes without congressional approval, prompting Jones to defend the action based on constitutional powers. He argues:

"He took immediate military action to end a conflict we would surely be engulfed in. I mean, you can have the constitutional debate from here to Timbuktu."
[23:39]

Jones asserts that the President has inherent powers to act decisively in the face of imminent threats, and challenges critics to address the issue through legislative changes rather than retrospective judgment.

Joey's Book: Behind the Badge

Purpose and Selection of First Responders

Joey introduces his book, Behind the Badge: Answering the Call to Serve on America's Home Front, which profiles nine diverse first responders. He shares:

"It's really quite simple... Every single one of them early on in their career had something happen in front of them on the job that really reset their entire perspective."
[35:17]

These individuals were personally selected by circumstances, each bringing unique experiences from various fields such as firefighting, law enforcement, and emergency medical services.

Common Themes and Sacrifice

A central theme in the book is the profound personal sacrifices made by first responders. Joey emphasizes:

"They decided that sacrificing their own peace so that we could live in peace."
[35:17]

He recounts poignant stories, such as a firefighter's traumatic experience during a house fire, illustrating the emotional and physical toll of their duties.

Impact and Purpose

Joey hopes his book fosters greater understanding and appreciation for first responders, both among the general public and within their own families:

"I hope people read this book and do two things... understand what people go through to keep them safe... and first responder families read it and understand their hero better."
[43:07]

Joey's Motivations and Personal Reflections

Personal Journey into the Marines

Jones shares his personal reasons for joining the Marine Corps, highlighting a sense of duty and the desire to honor his hardworking parents:

"I joined the Marine Corps because... a privilege and you may have what it takes to earn it."
[41:19]

Humility in Service

Reflecting on the culture within first responder professions, Joey discusses the ingrained humility and lack of desire for heroism among these individuals:

"It's a cultural thing... they can't go out looking to be a hero because then they'll make a bad decision."
[40:13]

He underscores that first responders view their roles as essential services rather than opportunities for personal glory.

The Cost of Service

Joey candidly addresses the personal costs of serving, including his own injuries and the emotional burdens carried by first responders:

"I would give my legs to keep this country safe over and over again."
[37:18]

He shares a touching story about a fellow fireman who never wore an award received for heroic actions, illustrating the deep-seated trauma and dedication inherent in these roles.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways

The conversation between Lisa Booth and Joey Jones offers a comprehensive analysis of President Trump's military actions against Iran, juxtaposed with an intimate portrayal of the sacrifices made by first responders. Key takeaways include:

• Decisive Leadership: Jones advocates for strong, consistent leadership in foreign policy to effectively address and deter threats.

• Understanding Sacrifice: Through his book, Jones aims to humanize first responders, fostering empathy and respect for their relentless service.

• Preventing Prolonged Conflicts: Jones believes that decisive actions, like those taken by Trump, can prevent the drawn-out conflicts experienced in past administrations.

Notable Quotes

• Joey Jones [06:06]: "I think he did it because he felt like being decisive... to show Iran and the rest of the world that he's not going to step around this."

• Joey Jones [22:28]: "No, anything can lead to World War III... But I don't see the cards on the table for many places to want to get involved in this."

• Joey Jones [23:39]: "He took immediate military action to end a conflict we would surely be engulfed in."

• Joey Jones [35:17]: "They decided that sacrificing their own peace so that we could live in peace."

• Joey Jones [37:18]: "I would give my legs to keep this country safe over and over again."

Overall, the episode delivers a thought-provoking discussion on the complexities of modern military decisions and the indispensable role of first responders in maintaining national security and community safety.

Transcript

[Lisa Booth]

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[Joey Jones]

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[Lisa Booth]

To the Truth with Lisa Booth, where we cut to the heart of the issues that matter to you. Today we're joined by my friend, a Fox News contributor hero in my book but everyone's book. He's a Purple Heart recipient, Marine Corps veteran and the author of a really powerful and important new book called behind the Badge Answering the call to serve on America's home front. His name is Joey Jones. You know him from fox. You know him from everywhere but He's a great friend of mine with an important message as well. So we're going to get into the historic United States strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities to this fragile ceasefire in the wake of the Iran, Israel conflict or ongoing conflict as well. We'll talk to Joey using his combat experience. And he's also just a history buff. He's a history nerd. He loves history. So we'll dig into the conflict with him. Will this lead to World War 3, as a lot of people are saying, A lot of naysayers were saying, were these strikes necessary? Where is this all heading? And also, why are some people on Capitol Hill so cavalier about sending troops to war or potential boots on the ground? I'm looking at you, Senator Lindsey Graham. But most importantly, we're going to dive into his book exploring the sacrifices of first responders and their service, why they decided to serve. What's the common thread between these nine first responders that he interviewed and the stories that he tells in his book? So get ready for a smart analysis, an insightful conversation and, and also an important conversation about the people who put on a badge or uniform to serve their communities and serve their country, who also risk their lives. Stay tuned for my friend and colleague, Joey Jones. Well, Joey Jones, it's great to have you on the show. I am in an office location in my building because there's fire alarm testing, so the joy is in podcasting. I was actually showering and I heard a man's voice yesterday and it was the alarm system, so scared the crap out of me.

[Unknown]

So that's the whole point.

[Lisa Booth]

Hopefully we're not interrupted, but that is.

[Joey Jones]

Never sounds like something good. If you're showering and hear a man's voice, that sounds like a bad day.

[Lisa Booth]

I, I thought I was going to get murdered, so. But I'm here and thank God for that. Well, it's great to have you on the show.

[Joey Jones]

You're.

[Lisa Booth]

You're a friend, a colleague. Well, I think we're friends. I think you would, I think you.

[Joey Jones]

Would say that, but the amount that you let me pick on you, we better be friends. Otherwise I'm a real a hole.

[Lisa Booth]

It's, it's fun banter is what I like to say. But I'm looking forward to digging in all this, obviously with everything that's happening in the Middle East. But also about your book, I think a lot of people don't know you're kind of a history nerd. Do you think that's a fair assessment to make?

[Joey Jones]

I think so. I Mean, I like to put things in context and it's fun to go down rabbit holes. And also I'm a liberal studies major, so my entire collegiate education, learning about the history of people. So, yeah, I think you're right.

[Lisa Booth]

Wait, I think there's a lot of rabbit holes to go down these days. But, so I wanted to get, obviously, just more broadly looking at President Trump's historic bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities. Did President Trump make the right call? And, and how do you assess the strategic impact of it?

[Joey Jones]

Well, I mean, we're right now on this teetering ceasefire that could turn into peace or it could turn into war again. And so did he make the right call? I hate to be that guy, but like, history will decide, like the next few weeks will decide, the next few years will decide. I don't think you can sit here and say he made the wrong call. I don't see a bunch of net negatives from it. I think he did it because he felt like being decisive and hitting them in a way that they hadn't been hit before, that other presidents had danced around would show Iran and the rest of the world that he's not going to, to step around this. And I think that in his mind, and I think probably in, in actuality, it sent a message to China and Russia and other places. I also think that his tour of the Middle East a few months ago was a, was laying the groundwork for something like this. I think some of the other presidents before him would fear how this would affect the oil markets, how Saudi Arabia would respond, how some of the other Arab countries would respond. And I think President Trump has laid groundwork in those places that other presidents haven't. And not to say that Saudi Arabia is some friend, I mean, you know, or, or most of those countries, but a mutual, working towards a mutual benefit can be all you need. And that's Trump's doctrine. I don't care if you're a bad guy or a dictator. It's not my job to figure out how your people are treated. That's their job. I need to know if you're going to stab us in the back or not. And how can I make sure you don't? That's his policy and he does a pretty good job at it.

[Lisa Booth]

Well, and I think that's what makes President Trump so interesting is, you know, to your point, like a Saudi Arabia friend, like, I don't know, but can we work together?

[Joey Jones]

Right?

[Lisa Booth]

Like, President Trump sees the world very clear eyed. I mean, he's not trying to sort of impose or ideals and other nations. He's not trying to turn the Middle east into a democracy. He even said in a speech to Saudi Arabia, like you guys do you, you know, like, I'm here for business, I'm here for strategic partnerships, kind of. How do you look at that, particularly, you know, compared to someone like, you know, former President George W. Bush?

[Joey Jones]

Well, I, I think George W. Bush, his entire presidency was derailed as far as his policy agenda by 9 11. And we can talk about why that happened. I think that, you know, I really love you bringing up that time, although it's not the question you ask. And let me explain why people are worried that President Trump's actions are going to cause a greater war. I think, you know, at least up until yesterday when this ceasefire was announced. But here's the deal. Had Bill Clinton gone after Osama bin Laden, 911 might not have happened. And so it might be a little bit more complicated than that. But we know for a fact there were opportunities to take Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda out in the 90s during Bill Clinton's tenure that we either missed or there was one famous case where a leak told them we were about to hit him because there were some princes there with him they didn't want to kill. And I think President Trump trying to show the world that's not me. I'm not going to make those mistakes. I'm not going to let you know something that might be a negative, stop me from doing something that can be a positive for our country and for our national security. And I think that other presidents have tried to make everybody happy. And I think you can't make everybody happy. I think you're actually better off if you just piss everybody off. But you're consistent. And I think that's what President Trump is looking for. He's looking to show the world that he is consistent. If this, then that that's his foreign policy. If you do this, we will bring down a hammer. And I think that, you know, Operation Midnight Hammer, he has to, he has no choice but to back that rhetoric up. And that's what he did.

[Lisa Booth]

But is that just leadership?

[Joey Jones]

I would hope so. I've told people for a long time I haven't spent the time I did in the Marine Corps. Your worst leaders are the ones that want to make everybody happy. And because of that, go back on their own policies and, and decisions all the time because they think that it's going to hurt somebody that they didn't mean to hurt or, or or hurt somebody's feelings. And at the end of the day, when you make a policy decision, if you know what you're doing, it's for the betterment of the team. And not everything is for the betterment of the team is for the betterment of every individual. And part of being a team is knowing you have to make sacrifices along the way. So a good leader is one that's consistent, that, you know, when they say, this is what we're going to do, we're going to do it until it either fails or succeeds. And that's President Trump. Yeah.

[Lisa Booth]

And I mean, he told Iran, you have 60 days, you know, they didn't negotiate. And so, boom, you know, there goes the dynamite. Literally, there it goes. Absolutely.

[Joey Jones]

And when I say, that's President Trump, that's President Trump in defense and foreign policy. He handles things like the economy much differently. He handles things like legislation much differently. More of a populist comes out in those cases. And he uses a lot of hyperbole in his rhetoric. We're going to, you know, we're going to pass this big, beautiful bill exactly how it is, and it may get changed, but the point is, don't think we're not passing this bill. And so he has a style of leadership that translates in so many places, but doesn't translate in D.C. because in D.C. they're used to speaking out both sides of their mouth all the time and having a different truth, even behind closed doors. And as we saw this morning, President Trump losing his cool and, you know, dropping an F bomb. He doesn't mask a lot. We know where he is with things pretty much every time a microphone's in front of him. And I think that alone throws people off in D.C. well, I also think.

[Lisa Booth]

It'S good to, you know, obviously, red lines didn't mean much under Obama and under Biden, and obviously they do under Trump. And so I think that's good message for our enemies and our friends. You know, that he means what he says and he says what he means. I'm sorry, I wanted to ask you about the. The ceasefire, because he did lose his cool, and he said that they don't know what the f. They are doing. Talking about Iran and Israel. Do they know what the F they're doing?

[Joey Jones]

I don't know. I. I think that Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu said it best. Really? Right before we dropped the box, he said, Israel is going to do what's best for Israel and President Trump is going to do what's best for the United States. And and in saying that, he's admitting that they may have different goals, they may support one another's goals, but they may have different goals. I have no problem with Israel having the goal of regime change or at least regime crippling. I believe that Israel is well within their right over the last four or five decades to have that goal or to work towards it now that Iran has baited them into war. And I think that's what's happened from October 7th forward. Iran's done plenty enough for Israel to justify a preemptive attack. I don't think that's worth disputing at this point. But President Trump has to have a worldview that encompasses the rest of the Arab nations, Europe, and what he's trying to accomplish for our country. And for President Trump's perspective, although he may be totally for the idea of Iran having different leaders, he may not need that happening right now for him to accomplish the things he's trying to accomplish for our country, I mean, that's perfectly reasonable. And so I don't think that, I don't think that Israel doesn't know what they're doing. I think that they are, they're very smart and they are very tactical and they have their set of goals. What they don't know is how much of that Trump's going to support based on what Trump is also trying to get done. And as Trump talks to these Arab countries in Europe, that may change what he's willing to support and what he isn't. And Israel has to decide if they're willing to follow that or lead in their own direction. I don't think they're going to hurt our partnership. But you know, you're going to have moments like we had today where President Trump just out of frustration, says, what in the hell are you doing? I just brokered a peace deal and it's so fragile. Why would you risk it? And Israel's going to say back, if we don't send a message in these six hours you gave us to send as many bombs as we can, they're going to turn, they're going to think they got one over on us all over again and keep building their bombs. And so I don't think either one of them are wrong. They just are heading in the same direction on two different paths.

[Lisa Booth]

We've got more with Joey. But first, Israel is at war with Iran, a nation that has vowed to wipe Israel and even the United States off the map. In a necessary act of self defense, Israel struck Iranian nuclear facilities, military targets, and Top leadership. Right now, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews is on the ground preparing large scale distributions of life saving food, first aid and emergency kits, especially to Israel's most vulnerable people, the sick, the elderly, children and families in need. The fellowship is also making sure that hospitals, emergency rooms and shelters are fully stocked with critical and life saving medical supplies. But the Fellowship needs your most generous gift today to make this work possible. Now is your time to stand with Israel's most vulnerable. To rush your gift, call 888-488-IFCJ. That's 888488-ISCJ or you can go online at ifcj.org ifcj.org hey guys, it's Lisa Booth. Most people wait until they get sick before they think about medication. But smart families, they're doing the opposite. They're being proactive and stocking up on essential medications from All Family pharmacy. Whether it's ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, antibiotics or just your regular prescriptions, All Family Pharmacy makes it easy to stay stocked and ready, order online, get your doctor's prescription included and receive everything straight to your door. No more scrambling for appointments or finding out that the pharmacy is out of stock. This is the pharmacy for people who want to be ahead of the curve. No insurance, no problem. You choose what you need. Go to allfamilypharmacy.com and use code USA20 to get 20% off your order. Again, that's allfamilypharmacy.com with code USA20 to save 20% today. Stay ahead, stay protected, stay prepared.

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[Joey Jones]

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[Lisa Booth]

You'd mentioned previously that Israel is within its right to strike at Iran after October 7th. And you know, obviously Iran was behind that financially with, via Hamas, a proxy. And, and I've been asking this, like on TV as well, of like, what is the appropriate response to a 911 type terror attack? Right, because Israel obviously has a much smaller population than we have in the United States. So if that sort of attack happened here, we're talking about tens of thousands of people that would have been murdered, comparatively speaking, from a population perspective. And we went to war for like 20 years after 9 11. Not saying that was the right call, you know, but, but I'm saying, like, what is the appropriate response? Like, doesn't Israel have every right to, you know, want to annihilate Iran after a terror attack like that?

[Joey Jones]

Absolutely they do. And anyone that disputes that is biased in a way that I don't understand. Israel believes Iran was behind that. We have circumstantial evidence to prove it. I can tell you when I was in Iraq, I found Iranian made ordinance, or at least we did. I won't say me personally, but we found Iranian made ordinance and I read reports on the money. Iranian made ordinance all the time is just working as security for EOD before I became an EOD technician. And so the fact that Iran has supported the jihad, the global jihad is, is pretty obvious now on the nuclear weapons thing, I think that nuclear weapons is the easiest way to justify large scale action. And I think that in a little bit of a way both the United States and Israel is using that really as, as a cover for all the reasons that Iran needs to be at least weakened. I don't know if Iran was trying to actively build a bomb or if being in the 11th hour of building a bomb might have been more leverage because I mean, once you have the bomb now you're an actual threat. And I don't know that you get the same type of appeasement now. You're, you know, it's kind of like catching a tiger by the tail. You know, once you catch it now you've got a tiger on the other end. And I think, you know, the responsibility of owning nuclear weapons is a big one. And I think that as long as they were capable of and presumably heading towards building a nuclear weapon, there were a lot of things that the international community was willing to do to kind of kowtow to them and ask them not to. And maybe those things kind of go away if they get too far down the road. Maybe they were holding themselves back in that way because it made such a great point of leverage. I'm not sure that's totally theoretical, but so I don't know. There are some intelligence reports that they weren't advancing in building a nuclear weapon. And Israel says they were days away. And you know, it's hard because from my perspective, I heard my, my entire adult life, they were weeks away. And it's like, how can you be weeks away for 20 years? Like, there is some healthy skepticism there that I think is appropriate. But at the end of the day, you take all the nuclear weapons stuff out of it. Iran has done nothing but try to undermine and kill the United States and Israel for at least 30 years. I mean, in 1988, we took out a portion of their navy because they sunk or they tried to sink one of our ships with a mine closing the Strait of Hormuz. So, you know, go all the way back to Iran Contra even, even before that. And then the hostages in 79. So it's this idea that Iran has turned the tide or hasn't been a bad actor or hasn't been actively against us and Israel. That's. That ship has sailed. And so I think Israel's fully justified in their war against Iran with or without a nuclear weapon, because Iran has tried to mobilize guerrilla units, militaries and, and terrorists against Israel actively and in doing so, against us for a really long time.

[Lisa Booth]

Will this lead to World War iii?

[Joey Jones]

No, anything can lead to World War iii. I mean, hell, you know, Franz Ferdinand. I mean, anything can lead to World War iii. That's, that's a part of existing in a world of nations and armies. But I don't see the cards on the table for many places to want to get involved in this. I think that Russia sits it out because President Trump, quite frankly, tells Vladimir Putin, if you arm Iran, I'll make sure the Ukrainian war lasts for the next 20 years. I mean, that's exactly what that phone call looks like. And Vladimir Putin doesn't want that, or at least I wouldn't think he would. For China, it's much more the economic drivers, and I don't think it helps them in any way economically to have a larger scale war. Now, China's status quo is to fight us through proxies. I mean, look at all the Southeast Asian conflicts. But I just don't see that being their goal right now. And the Arab nations have all but said they're sitting it out. So what, what world powers go to war against the Allies in this case? I don't see them there.

[Lisa Booth]

What are your thoughts in the whole debate about President Trump's decision to strike Iran without congressional approval?

[Joey Jones]

He took immediate military action to end a conflict we would surely be engulfed in. I mean, you can have the constitutional debate from from here to Timbuktu. Our Constitution is, is incredibly important. There are powers in the Constitution given to the President for such a case. And if you want to take him to court over it, take him to court over it. The fact is B2 bombers flew bombs dropped and the war is at a ceasefire. So, you know, if you want to pitch a fit about it, pitch a fit about it and pass legislation that changes it.

[Lisa Booth]

So I want to segue to your book behind the Badge, answering the call to serve on America's home front. Because when we talk about even this broader conversation about what's happening in the Middle east and the possibility that a lot of these conflicts could potentially lead to broader wars, could potentially lead to boots on the ground, whether it's in Europe with Russia and Ukraine or with Iran and Israel. How frustrating is it for you, as someone who has served and who has also suffered injury as a result of that surface, to sort of have this, like, cavalier attitude very often on Capitol Hill about, like sending, you know, boots on the ground or let's go to war or, you know.

[Joey Jones]

Yeah. I mean, you're essentially, you're invoking the, the ghost of Lindsay Graham and I get it. Basically. That was kind of cool.

[Lisa Booth]

Step by. You're picking up what I'm putting down.

[Joey Jones]

Yeah. You know, the one thing I will say about Lindsey Graham is God bless him, he's consistent, he doesn't backtrack on it. And that at least means something on Capitol Hill. And I think he believes, he believes the policy he advocates for. I don't think he's cavalier about lives being lost. I think in his heart of hearts, he believes that strong military action is almost always the answer. And sometimes it is the answer. But when you have a 20 year war that consists of really two year wars where we decide if we're going to continue it every midterm and presidential election, that's really devastating to your country's faith in the government and its ability to protect us by going to war when they need to. So it's kind of like the boy that cried wolf. We fought this 20 year war against these ghosts called Al Qaeda and the Taliban in the countries of Iraq and Afghanistan. And now if there is a legitimate Middle Eastern threat, who's going to believe it? Because we experienced that 20 year war. And that's kind of the conundrum that President Trump finds himself in, because there are plenty of people on the right and the left criticizing him for taking action because that's all they, they can see. I think it's much different. Number one, Israel is a completely different factor. I mean, having, you know, we had NATO forces in Afghanistan, but we led the way we had, they attacked us. We were the ones that had the gripe. We, we responded and retaliated and they came in and helped us. Having this. What's going on with Israel and Iran? Us helping Israel or us taking decisive action to ensure it doesn't spread beyond, in my opinion, Iran and Israel. I mean, let's go back to, you know, if Bill Clinton would have taken out Osama bin Laden, there might not have ever been a war in Afghanistan. So sometimes decisive military action is exactly what prevents war. The difference between the 20 year war in Iraq and Afghanistan and what's happening with Iran is one. I don't think the world, especially the Arab world, has the appetite to feed this radical Islamic terror that really spread like wildfire in the 90s and then into the 2000s. I just don't think the world has a tolerance for it that it had 20, 30 years ago, or at least the blind eye to it. I think the Saudis were behind some of it. I don't think they have an appetite for it today. Money talks and bull crap walks, you know. And so I just don't think that that type of enemy is going to, is going to be what we're fighting. And in conventional warfare, we are the superpower in the world when it comes to conventional warfare. So this idea that it would take 20 years doesn't make sense. I mean, Desert Storm, in my opinion, is as much of a, an analogy to where we are today or more so than the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Lisa Booth]

What I love about President Trump, and he did this recently with the joint address to Congress, he's so good at sending a message and telling stories through people and using individuals as an example to tell those stories. And you did that in your book behind the Badge, you tell the stories of nine first responders. Why did you pick these nine people and what stories and what were you hoping to convey with those nine people?

[Joey Jones]

You know, I like to say I didn't pick these nine people. These nine people picked me. And that was almost a Peter Piper pick thing there. But, but yeah, they picked me. I mean, they came into my life. They are in my life. The first two chapters are a guy that I've known since I was 3 years old and my brother in law that I've known for more than 20 years. And these are first responders of all walks of life. Justin Heflin in there is a guy that, that I replaced in Afghanistan. He was in radio Dtec and became an Indiana state trooper. Caitlin Cotfila is in there and she's a police officer down in Tampa. She was assigned to be my security a few years ago at an event. It wasn't really an event. I needed security yet. So she, I invited her to sit down next to me and have dinner with the table and I got to hear her story and it just really, my jaw hit the floor like, like she was just so inspiring. And so when I decided to write this book, she was an easy, an easy fit. Sheriff Mark Lamb is on there. I've interviewed him many times on Fox. He's done a fantastic job showing the country what a Proactive, media friendly sheriff. What, what a big impact someone like that can have. And then when you learn his backstory of how he got there, it's really inspiring. It's very American. Vince Vargas is in there. He's a Border Patrol search and rescue guy. Before that he was an Army Ranger. And before or after both of those things, he was involved with the guys that, that created Black Rifle Coffee company. So he's been a close friend of mine for a long time. And to learn that this Mexican American from LA became a border search and rescue guy and, and solve both sides of that issue and was so patriotic and wanted to defend his country, but also was empathetic towards the people he was interdicting and has so much to say about it that after finding fame and being on the TV show the Mayans, he went back to be a journalist for the Border Patrol to help tell those stories. In a time when people are trying to demonize Border Patrol. I mean, these are amazing stories that really I would love to tell you are so unique that they were the best nine in the world. But the point of the book is that it could be any nine that wear a badge and keep us safe every day. Keith Dempsey and Clay Hedrick, the first two chapters in the book. They're firemen at Dalton Fire Department, Dalton, Georgia, northeast, Northwest Georgia. It's not a super small city, but it's not a city you know of any. It's not a big city. And their stories are remarkable. The tragedy they've experienced, the. The growth that they've had, the triumph they've experienced saving people, saving buildings, helping other people get through their post traumatic stress of being on a job like that. I mean, Clay Hedrick at one time was working, working on a fire truck as a fireman one out of every three days, riding the ambulance as an EMT one out of every three days. And working at the 911 call center, one out of every three days. And to think that there are people out there that are, that are so dedicated to saving lives and keeping us safe that they really, they give up their own peace of mind so we can live in peace.

[Lisa Booth]

We've got more with Joey. If you like the podcast, please share on social media or send to your friends.

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[Lisa Booth]

What is the common thread when interviewing all these people? Obviously, as you just mentioned, people that you know personally as well and you deciding to serve as well. What is the common thread and all these people deciding to, to put on a badge or deciding to put on a uniform and go serve their community or the country.

[Joey Jones]

It's, it's really quite simple and took me a while to figure this out. Every single one of them early on in their career had something happen in front of them on the job that really reset their entire perspective. I mean, you know, you go to police academy or fire academy and it's all about tactics and procedures and what to do and how to do it and how to be successful. It's rarely showing you the face and name of a five year old little girl that dies in a fire or dies in a car wreck that you're going to have to respond to. And every single one of them early on in their career, like for Clay it was just about the very first shift. That's what happens is now you meet the faces and the tragedy of this job and every single one of them experienced that early on and realized and made the decision that as difficult as that was, and I don't believe after writing this book that anybody is quite simply born to do it. I think that they experienced the sadness and the trauma just like any of us would have. But every single one of them decided that it was worth it, that sacrificing their own peace so that we could live in peace. And when I say live in peace, I mean that we believe when we walk out the door that if our house catches on fire, somebody will come put it out. If we get in a car wreck, somebody will respond. If we have a medical emergency, somebody will be there to help us. Like that's the peace that we live in in this country. And, and they decided, each and every one of them early in their career it was worth sacrificing that to keep, keep their communities safe. And now they've done it for 10, 20, 30 years.

[Lisa Booth]

Well, you know, because there is a price, right? I mean you lost your alert, your legs as a Marine, you are purple heart recipient serving as an explosive ordinance disposal technician in Afghanistan. You look at 9 11, we lost hundreds of first responders during 911 who ran towards the buildings, who ran towards the attack to save Americans, to save their, their fellow Americans. I mean, the price. Is the price worth it? Is the price worth the sacrifice involved?

[Joey Jones]

100 it is. I can speak that for myself. Like I would give my legs to keep this country safe over and over again. And like Groundhog's Day. And I, I just, I know I would. After interviewing these nine first responders, knowing the dozens more that are in my life, they, they make that decision every time they go out there. Let me tell you a quick story if I can. So Keith Dempsey, my brother in law, was his first jobs at Marietta, which touches Atlantis. So it has a lot of the same types of calls as a big city. It is part basically of the Atlanta footprint. And for about a month they ran cause every shift that were just insane, you know, giant buildings catching on fire, homes catching on fire, big bad car wrecks, huge medical overdose emergencies, where, you know, they go in and it's a home with domestic violence and all kinds of stuff that they have to clean up to save somebody's life. And it was just one call after another. And on that shift were a lot of young firemen. So at the end of that month, the city saw it fit to give them an award. So they gave them an award for going through and doing all of that in such a short period of time. In the middle of all that, Keith and another young fireman responded to a house fire. There were they, the family somehow got out, but there were two little girls that didn't. And they went in to get them and they went into the bedroom, they searched all over the bedroom. What they found out was there was this, a pile of stuffed animals. And the little girls crawled under those stuffed animals, thinking to keep them safe. And of course it did the opposite and they perished. And so when Keith got that award, it broke his heart. And he's never worn the award. It's one of the most traumatic things that he's ever gone through. And eventually I had to point out to Keith, hey, brother, you need to understand, you didn't get that award because of what happened that night. You got that award because you put your gear on the next day and went back to work after what happened that night, you didn't give up. You didn't quit. You continued to be that guy and you continued to save people. You know, I wish that every first responder could always say they batted a thousand, but that just simply isn't the case. And so that's, that's the type of sacrifice that we see when you can experience something like that and still go put your, your gear on the next day and go into a burning building and have those memories, those, those haunting memories. And today though, you, you save somebody. I mean, that's who we have out there, that's who we live beside, that's who we go to church with, that's who's in the pickup line when we pick our kids up from school or those kind of people. And we're just so lucky in this country to have them.

[Lisa Booth]

You know what's so interesting is, you know, I've interviewed a lot of people for the podcast. Obviously we engage with a lot of people with our jobs at Fox and you look at a lot of professions, there can be a lot of arrogance, particularly looking at Congress and some of these other places. And I would say that like, of all the first responders I've interviewed, particularly or military veterans, there's such a humility that comes with it. And like, really, like if you're like, oh, you're a hero, they're like, no, don't say that. Like, what, what do you think's behind that?

[Joey Jones]

I think it's called, it's cultural. You being an EOD tech, I understand it a little bit because in eod, especially Marine Corps eod, we weed out the guys that are all about themselves because eventually they'll do something dangerous. So other people are impressed. But in doing that dangerous thing, they risk their lives and other people's lives. So you can't have heroes in heroic jobs. You can't have people looking for the pats on the back and the grass and the adulation in jobs that, that are so dangerous and self sacrificing that they may one day raid it. When people say he won the Purple Heart or he won the Medal of Honor, that's this really horrible. You earn those things, but you don't win them. They're not a prize you're out looking for. And so it's the same thing for these individuals. Like they understand that especially police officers, they can't go out looking to be a hero because then they'll make a bad decision. And so it's a cultural thing. It's bred in them from day one in good departments and on good forces, and that's, that's most of them.

[Lisa Booth]

Why did you decide to serve? Why did you decide to become a Marine?

[Joey Jones]

I'm happy to Tell you, and it's not, you know, like, I, it's not the selfless thing that, that I admire in other people. I, I chose to be a Marine because I come from a poor city and at the time, a poor family. And my parents worked really hard to give me opportunities that I kind of squandered by being enamored with, you know, playing football and chasing girls. So when I graduated high school, I didn't have scholarships to college. And to their credit, you know, to be fair, my parents didn't expect college because it was never expected of them. They were a poor class of people, and college wasn't really on the table. So they just wanted me to graduate high school. And so a year after graduating high school, I was. I was 17 when I graduated. So at 18 in my 18th year, I realized that I owed it to my parents to take the, the opportunities that life had given me and they had worked for and go make something of it. College had passed me by. So the next available opportunity was the military. So that was the, that was the, the origin of joining the Marine Corps. I joined the Marine Corps because when I went to the Navy, they told me that I'd have health care for the rest of my life. When I went to the Air Force, they told me they'd teach me a job that I could use when I got out of the Air Force. When I went to the army, they told me that I would have the GI Bill to go to college after the Army. None of them told me how great being in those three services would be like my time actually in them. When I went to the Marine Corps, they said being a Marine is a privilege and you may have what it takes to earn it. And that just. That was it. That's what I was looking for, that type of challenge. I was earning a title and, and it resonated with me. But both of those reasons are kind of selfish. They were about me. It wasn't until I went to boot camp and, and had drill instructors that just come back from Iraq that the selfless and sacrifice part of it really resonated with me.

[Lisa Booth]

And Julie, before we go, what do you hope people take away from this book?

[Joey Jones]

I hope people read this book and do two things. One, understand much better what people go through to keep them safe that way as they, as they interact with them, because nobody's happy when they get pulled over for a speeding ticket. But if you read this book and you can kind of see behind, behind the eyes of that person on the other side of your window when you're getting that speeding ticket, then you just think for a second about all that guy or gal has been through in the last week. And they're not pulling you over because they hate you. They're pulling you over because they had to respond to a car just like yours. It was plastered all over the road last week. You'll have a better understanding of what they go through and maybe try to live more responsibly. And then on the other side of it, what I really hope happens is that first responder families read it and understand their hero better because I don't think most first responders are exceptionally vulnerable with their families and they think they're protecting them, but a lot of times they just leave them in the dark so much that they don't know what's, what's going on behind their eyes. And, and I think it'll do both of those things.

[Lisa Booth]

Joey, can I tell you something? To be honest, when I first met you, I didn't know if I should call you Joey Jones or Johnny Jones.

[Joey Jones]

It's a debate that still resonates every day. But most of my friends and family call me Joey.

[Lisa Booth]

Well, you are my friend, a hero in my eyes. And you're just a really smart guy and I always love being on with you. You always just make really smart, intelligent points. Also filled with a lot of common sense which isn't so common these days.

[Unknown]

So.

[Joey Jones]

Those are, those are gracious words and I appreciate it because certainly you're smart and fun to work with and that's what's great about this business, especially being on the right side of it is that you're around such good people.

[Lisa Booth]

And even though you make fun of me sometimes, we're so friends. Thanks for making the time. I, I know this book's going to be a huge success. I'm so happy for you and I hope that we are filling in together soon.

[Joey Jones]

Yeah, I'm sure I'll see you soon.

[Lisa Booth]

That was my friend and colleague from Fox News, Joey Jones. Appreciate him for making the time to come on the show. Appreciate his service. I mean the guy is a freaking hero. Appreciate you guys at home for listening every Tuesday and Thursday. But you can listen throughout the week. Until next time.

[Unknown]

Hey, it's Karen and Georgia from my favorite Murder.

[Lisa Booth]

Thanks to Hyundai we got to take.

[Unknown]

A post show drive in the Ionic five.

[Lisa Booth]

We had snacks, laughs and we even recorded a special episode featuring some unforgettable car themed stories.

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Take a listen. I'm going to tell you a story today. Karen, it's about a pivotal role that cars played in none other than the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

[Lisa Booth]

Okay, well, yes, it's right there in the title.

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[Joey Jones]

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