Townhall Review | Conservative Commentary On Today's News

As America’s 250th birthday approaches, it’s worth taking a moment to celebrate the Declaration of Independence. Today, many Americans take for granted the idea that all people are created equal and endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights — natural rights that no government may rightfully take away. It’s easy to forget just how revolutionary those ideas were when the Declaration was written. Grounded in Judeo-Christian principles, the Declaration established the United States not on shared ancestry, geography, or history, but on devotion to a common creed. Although America has not always lived up to its highest ideals, our Declaration gives voice to our finest aspirations. With it, the Founders drafted the promissory note that generations of Americans have drawn on in the ongoing effort to build an ever more perfect union.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler's Atomic Bomb” is a 2016 volume by Neal Bascomb. It tells the harrowing story of Norwegian commandos who attacked the German site at Vemork in World War II. It was the Nazis only plant for mass production of “heavy water,” on which they had placed their primary bet to produce atomic weapons during World War II. I wish it had been converted to the film that it was optioned to be because it would be a short-cut for those who don’t understand why Donald Trump is singularly focused on ensuring the Islamic Republic of Iran cannot make or buy a nuclear weapon. Trump is motivated by a conviction similar to that held by Churchill and FDR and knew Hitler would use any weapon he could obtain, even as Trump and Netanyahu know the fanatics in Iran would use any weapon they could build or buy. Did we achieve enough to end the Iranian regime’s nuclear program? Time will tell. The threat has existed for two decades now. Bravo to Trump for his orders to start destroying it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new poll from NBC reveals another low percentage of Americans who feel proud of their country. One NBC reporter put it that we are seeing “a steady 21st century decline.”  The disappointment in these and similar results is exacerbated by the timing of our birthday as a nation, when national affections should be at their height. If only more Americans would listen to our foreign visitors.  Ever since Marquis de Lafayette, many a foreigner has come here to show and remind us of our greatness.  In fact, it was another Frenchman—Alexis de Tocqueville—whose two-volume book about us in the 19th Century, still taught today, gave us the best explanation of our politics and our culture.  Now, we’re seeing reminders from soccer fans coming here—with social media posts and titles like, “World Cup fans embrace American culture.” They’re reminding us not least of Thomas Paine’s words, “What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.”  Let us hope this sinks in.  Too many here still have a lot to learn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the end of commencement season, it is worth considering what advice a generation of youth more in need of sober and serious advice than at any other time in our history should hear. Professor Jonathan Haidt has pointed out, having given our children smartphones, we are now engaged in the largest uncontrolled experiment humanity has ever performed on its own children.  Major corporations now spend billions of dollars. Their primary mission? Getting as many children as glued to screens for as long as possible.  Humanity is being stolen from our youth. At great costs and great prices. Former Senator and university president Ben Sasse, diagnosed with cancer, expected to die this year, is giving every audience he can his final lessons about life.  It is as beautiful as it is selfless.  Watch his 60 Minutes interview.  Everything we need to know about life, and how to live meaningfully, is there. His main concern? “These super devices in our pockets that have distracted us from some of the most fundamental human activities and aspirations of life.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we watch the president navigate the ongoing interactions with the remaining leadership in Iran, it’s worth reminding ourselves: President Trump has done hundreds of deals. He also walked away from probably three times as many deals. The thousands of commentators with little to zero knowledge of negotiations are just guessing. Here’s what we know: First: President Trump has the crucial experience, and: Second: the D Team in Iran doesn’t. No president in 47 years has dealt Iran blows like this. President Trump isn’t going to trade massive leverage for the approval of states that aren’t our allies. President Trump is very good at the close. He's not going to get taken. He's walked away from a lot of tables. If it's a bad deal or the Iranians do the bait and switch deal, he will walk away again and I hope combat would resume. But right now, we just don't know.   I just don't think the president is going to get fooled.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Memorial Day comes as our nation marks 250 years of freedom—a quarter of a millennia since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. On this Memorial Day, we should pause and recognize that we don’t have one without the other. That is: We only have the freedom that we cherish as a result of those who stood up to fight for it and defend it. And more specifically: Willing to pay the ultimate price. From the Revolutionary War and the nation’s founding to those who have paid the price in recent days and months as President Trump and his administration work to ensure that the mullahs of Iran never have a nuclear weapon: We remain free today because of the men and women who have committed themselves to our nation’s defense. Over 1.3 million have paid the ultimate price. Today: We say “thank you.” It’s also a day for us to dedicate ourselves to what—in 1863—Abraham Lincoln called “the unfinished work” before us. On behalf of Salem Media, Happy Memorial Day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the war with Iran “worth it?” The cost—at this point—is the loss of 13 American soldiers and scores more seriously wounded. If, as widely expected, combat operations resume those human costs will climb. So too will gas prices and the prices of everything that depends upon oil. President Trump knows this, of course, but stated plainly: Operation Epic Fury had to be undertaken. The reason is quite simple. Iran intends to obtain nuclear weapons by any means possible. Their rulers are “crazy.” Does not the rise in gas prices destroy at least the argument that the civilians bear no costs of war at least when it comes to this, the Iran War? You may not like paying the sacrifice. But the cost of war is at least being felt beyond the military. Iran simply cannot have a nuclear weapon. This is an argument the country should and will have. It is one that is long overdue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the US Department of Justice struck a blow against the trans industry in a new settlement: Ten million dollars. And a new, first-in-the-nation clinic to unwind the damage done to children caught up in the pediatric-sex-change industry's machinations. Stripping five of its practitioners of access to more potential victims. Texas Children's Hospital in Houston agreed to end its pediatric sex-change practice, pay $10 million in penalties while opening the nation’s first detransition center to assist victims of this predatory industry. This settlement also vindicates Dr. Ethan Haim, who blew the whistle on the fraud – and got targeted by the Biden-era DOJ and the medical industry for retaliation. Haim faced criminal prosecution under a ginned-up HIPAA complaint that could have put him in prison for ten years. This settlement gives justice to Texas children maimed and sterilized by a despicable medical establishment. Dr. Haim deserves justice too, along with his vindication.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.