Summary of "The Tim & April Show" Episode 5: Fact Checking Trump's Speech

Podcast Information

• Title: The Tim & April Show
• Host/Author: The New Evangelicals
• Description: Where we unravel faith, politics, and culture.
• Episode: 5. Fact Checking Trump's Speech
• Release Date: March 7, 2025

Introduction In Episode 5 of The Tim & April Show, hosts Tim and April delve deep into recent political happenings, focusing primarily on former President Donald Trump's speech to Congress. The episode intertwines personal anecdotes, fact-checking, and critical analysis of the intersection between faith, politics, and culture.

Recap of Tuesday Night's Live Stream and Trump's Speech The episode opens with Tim and April recounting their live-streamed session from Tuesday night, where they reacted in real-time to Trump's unconventional speech—a blend of campaign rally rhetoric and chaotic delivery.

• Taco Bell Incident: Tim humorously shares his decision to order Taco Bell live on air, despite April's skepticism. This moment highlights the duo's attempt to connect with their audience through relatable, albeit humorous, experiences.

  Tim [05:12]: "I have a clip of this we actually pulled. ... but I'll not regret it this time."

• Personal Anecdotes: April shares a heartwarming story about receiving a custom "Guess Who" board from her spouse, showcasing the hosts' ability to balance serious discussions with personal touches.

Trump's Speech Fact-Checking A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to dissecting and debunking false claims made by Trump during his speech. Using CNN's Fact Checker as a reference, Tim and April systematically address misinformation.

1. Social Security Claims:

   • Trump's Assertion: Millions of deceased individuals are still receiving Social Security benefits, inflating the system's costs.

     Trump's Claim [28:42]: "Millions of people listed as alive in a Social Security database, even though they're obviously dead."

   • Fact-Check Analysis:

     • CNN's Clarification: While there are discrepancies in Social Security records, only a fraction of these erroneous listings result in payments. An Inspector General's report highlighted 19 million unidentified deceased individuals, but only 44,000 incorrect payments were made, far below Trump's exaggerated figures.

       Tim [35:01]: "These numbers are not the numbers of dead people who are actually getting paid Social Security checks."

2. Ukraine Aid Funding:

   • Trump's Assertion: The U.S. has spent approximately $350 billion on Ukraine, overshadowing Europe's contributions of $100 billion.

     April [38:25]: "Trump keeps telling the story about how the US has sent Ukraine way more than Europe has collectively."

   • Fact-Check Analysis:

     • Reality: Research from a German think tank indicates the U.S. has allocated around $121 billion, while Europe has committed approximately $263 billion to Ukraine, contradicting Trump's narrative.

       Tim [38:43]: "Europe has committed and provided more aid to Ukraine during this war than the US has."

3. Transgender Mice Funding:

   • Trump's Assertion: The administration allocated $8 million for "making mice transgender."

     Tim [46:44]: "$8 million for making mice transgender. This is real."

   • Fact-Check Analysis:

     • Clarification: The funding was for transgenic mice, which are genetically modified for scientific research, not for altering their gender identity. These studies aim to understand disease interactions with hormone treatments.

       April [47:01]: "There are no such thing as transgender mice. There are no science labs that are transitioning mice at all."

4. Trans Women in Sports:

   • Trump's Assertion: A transgender woman won a cycling race by five hours, demonstrating an unfair advantage.

     April [53:07]: "She shaved nearly five and a half hours off of his time."

   • Fact-Check Analysis:

     • Contextual Correction: The actual achievement involved a transgender woman breaking a record in an 800-mile race, not unfairly defeating female participants by hours.

       Tim [53:54]: "The previous overall course record... she shaved nearly five and a half hours off of his time."

Supreme Court Ruling and Amy Coney Barrett Tim and April discuss a pivotal Supreme Court decision where the Court ruled against Trump's attempt to freeze $2 billion in foreign aid reserved for completed work.

• Supreme Court Dynamics: The ruling saw conservative justices like Amy Coney Barrett and John Roberts side with Democrat-appointed justices, infuriating Christian nationalists and MAGA supporters.

  April [66:20]: "It was 5-4. So both Amy Coney Barrett and John Roberts voted with the Democrat appointed justices."

• Backlash Against Barrett: Christian nationalists accuse Barrett of being a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) hire, ignoring her legitimate judicial actions.

  Lance Wall Now [69:26]: "She's not one of us. ... she must be a DEI hire now."

• Misogyny and Christian Nationalism: The hosts highlight the misogynistic undertones in the backlash against Barrett, emphasizing the broader issue of Christian nationalism that mandates male leadership and discourages dissent.

  Tim [81:58]: "It is a weird misogynistic dynamic where certain women who align with Trump are celebrated, and others are condemned for stepping out of line."

Fact-Checking Dave Ramsey In a segment addressing financial advice, Tim and April critique Dave Ramsey's stance on real estate investments.

• Ramsey's Position: Ramsey defends owning multiple rental properties as ethical and not contributing to housing shortages.

  April [86:11]: "Hedge funds are buying up houses... but there are no transgender mice."

• Hosts' Counterarguments: They argue that such investments exacerbate housing shortages and question Ramsey's claim that owning multiple properties isn't greedy.

  Tim [90:18]: "Dave's like, 'I'm managing money for God,' but having $200 million in assets is beyond just ethical management."

Conclusion and Closing Thoughts The episode wraps up with Tim and April reflecting on the biblical teachings related to wealth and greed, contrasting them with the actions of political and religious figures they critique.

• Biblical Reference:

  Tim [100:25]: "Mark 10:17-27... 'If you want to be a Communist, classic. Just be a Communist.'"

• Final Remarks: The hosts call for listeners to critically assess the narratives presented by political figures and to remain steadfast in their faith and moral values.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Tim [05:12]: "I have a clip of this we actually pulled. ... but I'll not regret it this time."
• April [38:25]: "Trump keeps telling the story about how the US has sent Ukraine way more than Europe has collectively."
• Tim [33:53]: "Yep."
• April [47:01]: "There are no such thing as transgender mice. There are no science labs that are transitioning mice at all."
• Tim [81:58]: "It is a weird misogynistic dynamic where certain women who align with Trump are celebrated, and others are condemned for stepping out of line."
• Tim [100:25]: "Mark 10:17-27... 'If you want to be a Communist, classic. Just be a Communist.'"

Key Takeaways

• Misinformation Analysis: The episode emphasizes the importance of fact-checking and provides detailed refutations of false claims made by Trump.
• Intersection of Faith and Politics: Tim and April explore how Christian nationalism fuels certain political agendas and the detrimental effects on marginalized groups.
• Personal Integrity: Through personal stories and critiques of public figures like Dave Ramsey, the hosts advocate for ethical behavior aligned with their faith values.

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the critical discussions, insights, and conclusions from Episode 5, offering listeners a thorough understanding without needing to tune into the full episode.