The Tucker Carlson Show
Guest: John Rich
Episode: John Rich on Diddy, Demons, the Antichrist, How to Hear God, and His War on Child Predators
Date: December 1, 2025

Episode Overview

In this powerful and emotionally charged episode, Tucker Carlson sits down with country music artist John Rich for an in-depth discussion on the transformation of his life’s purpose, the difference between success and significance, American Christianity, evil in modern society, child exploitation, spiritual warfare, and the motivations behind his provocative new song, “The Righteous Hunter.” The conversation weaves together personal testimony, biblical discussion, cultural criticism, and activism, with Rich sharing how his mission has evolved from chasing chart success to fighting evil and defending children through both words and music.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Success vs. Significance (00:00–10:35)

• John Rich reflects on his evolution:
  After achieving career milestones—songwriter of the year, millions of records sold, and launching other artists—Rich began to reevaluate.

  “I started to contemplate the difference between success and significance. [...] What did it do other than make me feel great and accomplish things on my personal list? Nothing.” (John Rich, 04:09)

• Admits former achievements now feel shallow:

  “Or I'll see pictures of me back in the day winning an award or whatever and I'll remember how I felt back then. It seems so insignificant to me now.” (John Rich, 09:27)

• Music’s unique power:
  Rich describes music as “the ultimate X factor”—capable of bypassing all emotional defenses to move people deeply.

  “Music seeps in between the cracks and crevices of a person’s body, mind, and soul. [...] Music goes right through it.” (John Rich, 05:46) “You’ll forget a speech. You’ll forget this podcast down the road. You’ll forget about it.” (John Rich, 07:06)

2. The Call to Use Influence for Good (10:35–13:49)

• Industry outsider:
  Rich detaches himself from the mainstream industry, regularly criticizing it and focusing on contributions of deeper value.
• Impact of ‘Revelation’:
  His recent song “Revelation” was not a commercial hit but inspired renewed Bible study among fans and even college students.

  “That song was significant. [...] It wasn’t about success.” (John Rich, 10:31)

3. Faith, Prayer, and Spiritual Discipline (13:49–20:37)

• Metaphor of prayer as an open CB radio:
  Staying attuned to receive God’s communication at any moment.

  “Your mind is like a CB radio that you just turn it all the way on and just leave it there. [...] If he wants to tell you something, the channel is open and the volume’s all the way up and you can’t miss it.” (John Rich, 14:28)

• True Christianity as relentless surrender:
  Critiques cultural Christianity and stresses the need to “belong to him for real.”
• Active, offensive faith:
  Christians are called not to be passive or only defensive; Christ himself took action, even calling out and casting out corruption.

  “There are situations that arise where Christians have got to put their dukes up. [...] That’s what’s missing in America.” (John Rich, 20:37)

4. Weakness of American Christianity (22:38–26:01)

• Contrast with persecuted believers:
  Argues American Christians’ comfort and ‘baby food’ preaching (naming Joel Osteen) have bred weakness and lack of backbone.

  “They have no muscle. They have no backbone. [...] They want the easy message because it allows them a way to not have to engage the devil and his people and his armies.” (John Rich, 23:22)

• Evil’s dedication:
  Suggests those on the side of evil are more devoted than the average believer.

  “They dedicate their lives to him and they do what he says.” (John Rich, 24:50)

5. Evil’s Targeting of Innocence (26:01–33:01)

• Predators and children:
  Rich ties the targeting of children to deliberate spiritual warfare:

  “Probably the most hardcore thing Jesus ever said was, you’d be better off to have a millstone tied around your neck and cast into the sea than to ever cause one of these little ones to stumble.” (John Rich, 26:28)

• Demons, possession, and ritual:
  Child abuse and trafficking are framed as demonic, ritualistic attacks intended to hurt God by hurting the innocent.

  “They’re possessed by spirits that want that or have waged war against God since day one.” (John Rich, 31:01)

• Dividing lines:
  Rich asserts that real truth is a “sword” that forces a choice—there is no comfortable middle.

  “When the truth really drops, there is no middle anymore. It’s a clean cut.” (John Rich, 32:44)

6. Biblical Truth and Accountability (33:44–39:20)

• Read Scripture first-hand:
  Repeatedly urges listeners to read the Bible directly, not relying on preachers or groups.

  “Pick up the Bible and read exactly what it says without your preacher, without your Bible group, without anybody, and just read what it says.” (John Rich, 33:44)

7. Building a Culture of Humility (46:14–51:27)

• Pain as a teacher:
  Rich likens God’s discipline to parental discipline—pain (humility) is necessary for protection and learning.

  “If God really loves you, he’ll only slap your teeth out instead of your brains if he really cares about you.” (John Rich, 49:34)

8. The War on Child Predators & Digital Risks (39:30–45:34, 51:27–75:31)

• John Rich’s activism:
  After learning firsthand about online predation, Rich connected DHS agents’ expertise to millions via social media streams, yielding significant changes in parental attitudes and kids’ phone use.

  “Parents hitting me up going, we changed everything on our kids’ phones after we saw that.” (John Rich, 43:18)

• Scale of the issue:
  36 million reports of kids targeted online in one year; less than 1% of trafficked kids are recovered.
• Solution proposed:
  Asserts that funding a Child Rescue Corps with a fraction of the federal budget could decimate trafficking.

  “If you had $2 billion? [...] They would be hiding under the rocks and in the caves.” (John Rich, 74:19)

9. The Song: “The Righteous Hunter” and Parental Power (58:17–80:09)

• Origins of “The Righteous Hunter”:
  Inspired by Sean “Diddy” Combs’ assertion on stage that he “owns your kids,” Rich wrote a song warning predators of the primal, protective nature of parents.
• Performance and lyrics:
  Sings the song live, with the haunting refrain:

  “You better give your soul to Jesus while I get my gun.” (John Rich, 66:49–69:31)

• Purpose:
  The song (and accompanying video depicting real rescuers and survivors) is intended as a call to action, awakening parental vigilance and righteous anger.

  “It’s to grab parents by the shoulders and shake them hard enough.” (John Rich, 77:15)

10. Facing the Unthinkable (70:06–72:48)

• Why the issue is ignored:
  Even strong, good people struggle to look at child exploitation because it is too evil to contemplate, causing emotional avoidance.

11. American Guilt & Divine Judgment (75:31–79:58)

• Abortion:
  In linking abortion to national judgment, Rich and Carlson discuss its spiritual ramifications.

  “If you have 63 million dismemberments of children in your country, it changes the nature of the country.” (Tucker Carlson, 76:42)

• America’s fate:
  Rich is blunt: God will not “let us get away with that.”
• Hope for repentance:
  Calls for radical action and repentance to possibly stave off judgment.

12. Controversy Over End-Times Theology (80:09–89:52)

• Dispensationalism & Rapture:
  Rich denounces popular “pre-tribulation rapture” theology as biblically unsound and dangerous, arguing Christians should prepare to endure tribulation.

  “The twelve disciples all wound up either being hung, beheaded, imprisoned for the rest of their lives, whatever. [...] Do American Christians outrank Jesus Christ? What an arrogant attitude that is.” (John Rich, 85:18–85:43)

• Critic response:
  Many preachers condemned his stance as heretical, which Rich counters by urging independent Bible reading.
• Deception:
  Warns that false eschatology is part of the “great deception,” and that only careful, personal reading of scripture can prepare believers.

13. Human Agency vs. Divine Plan (90:05–91:44)

• Opposition to forcing prophecy:
  Criticizes attempts by Christians to “trigger” biblical end-times events, such as building a third temple in Jerusalem.

  “You don’t force Jesus Christ to do anything.” (John Rich, 91:37)

14. John’s Future Mission (92:01–94:59)

• Using his platform:
  Rich plans to push forward with uncompromising truth—through music and public dialogue—empowering the righteous and terrifying evildoers.

  “I want them to be able to not sleep at night. I want them to run and cower in fear because they know who they’re up against.” (John Rich, 94:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I started to contemplate the difference between success and significance. And they are different.” (John Rich, 00:23)
• “Music is… it’s like magic. I mean, Psalms, the entire book… David was a musician and a songwriter.” (John Rich, 06:23)
• “If God really loves you, he’ll only slap your teeth out instead of your brains.” (John Rich, 49:34)
• “You better give your soul to Jesus while I get my gun.” (John Rich, 66:49–69:31)
• “The only way [evil succeeds] is that those people won’t engage. It’s a one-way fight and I’m just not going to be a part of that.” (John Rich, 34:54)
• “Pain is the greatest teacher... He gives you free will. You’re not a robot. [...] You will wind up in eternity with whoever it is you followed.” (John Rich, 49:13; 37:17)

Select Timestamps for Key Segments

• John Rich on success vs significance: 00:23–10:35
• Discussion of “Revelation” and song’s social impact: 06:22–10:31
• How to pray and hear God: 14:00–16:02
• Christian passivity and American churches: 20:37–26:01
• Evil’s purpose: hurting children & spiritual consequences: 26:28–32:44
• Call to action against child predators: 39:30–45:34, 73:44–77:44
• Performing “The Righteous Hunter”: 66:49–69:45
• On the American culture of abortion and national judgment: 75:35–77:16
• Denouncing the rapture doctrine, calling for preparedness: 80:09–89:52
• Denouncing attempts to force end-times events: 90:05–91:44
• John Rich’s future mission, using music for righteous war: 92:01–94:59

Tone & Style

• Candid and passionate: Both Tucker and John Rich are unapologetically direct, expressing outrage at evil, sorrow at complacency, and determination to inspire action.
• Biblically explicit: Rich grounds his arguments in scripture, often quoting or referencing specific passages.
• Urgency and gravity: The episode steadily builds a sense of imminent crisis—spiritually and culturally—but is also infused with hope for change through significance, truth, and personal courage.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode delivers far more than a celebrity interview. It’s a unique blend of spiritual admonition, cultural critique, and activism. John Rich bares his soul about his shift from self-focused stardom to using his music and voice as weapons against evil—especially the scourge of child predators. The conversation pulls no punches about the darkness present in America, the failures of the church, or the necessity of Christian courage and engagement. If you’re looking for a call to arms grounded in deep faith, vivid storytelling, and raw musical expression, this is an episode not to miss.