The Eric Metaxas Show - Bob Muzikowski (continued)

Episode Date: May 13, 2021

Bob Muzikowski continues providing insight into the making of the film, "Hardball," and the real-life transformation he helped initiate in an inner-city community in Chicago.

This show with your host, Eric Mettaxas. Hey, hey, hey. All right, you ready? Yeah. We're going to have, we've been talking to our friend Bob Musakowski. People call him Musakowski, because who can pronounce or spell Musakowski? Even Bob can't. Do you know that?

No, he can't. Yeah. And he has trouble with Bob because he's an athlete, okay? They're not strong in spelling. I'm just saying, I know Bob. And the issue is this. His story is a true story. if you want to see it on video because we're back in the TBN studios, which is so beautiful.

Oh, we love it. I'm so grateful that we get to do this. But I want to say that Bob Monsacassi's story of starting an overtly Christian high school in the inner city of Chicago. Yep. It's very heavily minority. They're doing, you talk about doing God's work. And I hope there are some people, I can say this when Bob is not in the room. I hope there are some people that want to give to what Bob is doing because this is scalable.

This should be happening around the country. The success, it's just, you know, I mean, this is when you wish you had more of a program and you could do this more often because it is so astonishing what he has done. I know, because I've known Bob for 20 plus years. And I just want to say to people, go to Christian. to Hope Academy, Hope Christian Academy. And this is one of these things. You should support it. If you care what's happening in the inner cities in America and you want to solve it the right way, not the wrong way, because it can't be solved the wrong way.

Chicago Hope Academy. Chicago Hope Academy. That's it. Seriously, folks, they're probably millionaires listening to this program. They're probably billionaires listening to this program. And God's going to judge us for what we did while we're here. tell you, when you find something that is really excellent, think seriously about whether I want to give to this, not just Christian Hope Academy, but there are things out there that you know this is a good

bet, right? This is something that I really see that this is, I'm not taking it lightly how I use God's money. And I say that to everybody, because this is to be a part of that is, and look, Bob didn't, Bob's not here. He didn't tell me to say this. And I don't, I don't want to embarrass him, but I just want to say to people, I have seen what they do. And you can't make it up. They're people like Bob and his family. You could never find them. They're just amazing at what they do. It's true. Yeah. And I mean, the recent violence in Chicago and across the country, you need, we need to support places like Chicago Hope Academy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They're not a sponsor on the show or anything. I just say this because I've known Bob and I've seen it. Yeah. By the way, we're going to be

talking to Deimos Saliberios. That's right. He has also been heavily involved in dealing with the violence. He's a profound man of Christian faith. Yeah, he's got a film he's going to talk about about the whole thing. So we have him coming up. I should also announce that we have coming up on this program, we haven't aired the Johnny Rousseau thing yet.

No, I think we're going to do that Friday. It's a great weekend show. Folks, Johnny Rousseau, you cannot make him up. It's like it's a story that unless you look into it, you would believe there's no way this is true. Yeah. But it is true. His, he, the least exciting thing is that he plays Carlo Talia Shire's husband, whom James Kahn beats half to death in the Godfather. Right.

That's like how most people know him. But the rest of the story is more interesting. We could almost air him on Miracle Monday because he said if it wasn't for him, the Godfather would never have been made. It was a miracle. It was not a miracle. Okay. But just to be clear. A coincidence?

Yeah, I don't know. But I just want to say, so we've got Carlo Rizzi. I mean, he plays Carla Rissi. Johnny Rousseau. We're also going to have Bill O'Reilly on the show. Yes. Hopefully tomorrow. Yep.

We got a lot of exciting guests. Oh, we do. I don't know if I'm up to it. I don't think I'm up to it. People tune in to see you, but then they get a bonus, a guest. Yeah, they get a guest. Okay. And a sidekick named Albin.

Ooh, that would be me. All right. Albin, Yes, sir. I want to, when we, after Bob Mosakowski, we're going to have a segment because we're going to do two long segments with Bob, but after that I want to talk. People write into us, and there's sometimes we do an Ask Mataxis segment. Other times people just write to blow off steam in my direction.

Yeah. And I thought sometimes we need to do some segments that are a viewer rights, okay, or a listener writes and we're going to do one about Trump and Adolf Hitler. Yeah, we get a few of those. And I want to, because we need to talk about this. Yeah. It's time. It is. It's time. So we're going to talk about that. That'll be fun. But I don't want to forget that I spent a lot of time with our friend Mike Lindell recently. I've never spent this much time with him. And I just want to tell you, he's a bad guy. Actually, no, that's not true. He's a good guy. He's such a good guy that you kind of, I don't know how to put this.

He's one of these people that when you spend time with him, you realize he's guileless. He's also incredibly brilliant. He doesn't come across that way because he seems like a regular guy. He's brilliant. His mind is going a thousand miles an hour, and that's why he's built up a company with 2,500 employees. You don't make many, many, many millions of dollars and have 2,500 people. on your payroll if you're not a good business man he's got that endearing michel bachman accent too that's

right that's right i was listen i said to my wife hey listen he sounds like michel well obviously they're both from minnesota and they talk like that but so i spent a lot of time with him and it was mainly i went to the corn palace in south dakota to launch frank speech it was a special event with joe piscopo oh my god he is so talented he is he's a believously talented he's not ashamed to lift up the name of Jesus. Albin and I are ashamed. We're very shy about our faith. Quiet.

And we don't want to get arrested. Please don't hurt us. But the fact is that it was an amazing event, but when you hear, I guess I want to say this, I want people to go to frankspeech.com. We're going to put a lot of our programs on frankspeech.com. And I think we're going to do some live segments on Frankspeech.com. I'll tell you, I haven't even told Albin about it.

No, I'm afraid. Yes, yes. But you're wearing a tutu. It's crazy. Oh, boy. But frankspeech.com, if you go there and watch the event that I did with Mike the other night and Joe Piscopo, was Joe Piscopoe. And then me.

Oh, yeah, Ben Carson. And I made fun of poor Ben Carson. You did. Because he, look, this is the problem. I always have to explain. When I love somebody as much as I love Ben Carson, it doesn't even cross my mind that people don't know how much I love Ben Carson. So I was making fun of him. And then people like, Eric, are.

Are you, should you say that, whatever? And probably I shouldn't because half the people listening have no idea that I know Ben Carson. I love him. But I was making fun because he's so calm. And my wife always says, why aren't you calm like Ben Carson? And he's a brain surgeon. And Mike Lindell says that's my best friend, Ben Carson. They're the exact opposite in personality.

One's calm. One's frantic and manic. Interesting. Ben Carson is one of these people that the reason he was one of the top brain surgeons on planet Earth. Maybe the top brain surgeon. No joke, right? is because he just has a brain that is so, it's so different from the rest of us.

I mean, he's brilliant and methodical. And he could operate for 20 hours straight. And, you know, Mike Lindell would operate for about 40 seconds straight and then run out and do some texts and stuff. But his story, his personal story, Ben Carson's personal story about his mother who couldn't read and has that and would correct his book reports. It brings a tear to your eye. It's so sweet. Well, that's what I'm saying is like, think of the people. that are on the right side of history.

Ben Carson, who comes from the poorest of the poor and becomes one of the greatest brain surgeons on the planet in the cabinet of the President of the United States. That's America. Then you have a crack addict who should have died 50 times. If you've read his book, I just started reading his book on the plane yesterday because I never had the time. The first chapter is like you'll never stop reading

if you read the first chapter. It's just lunacy. But these are the people I have the privilege of spending time with. And I just want to say, Ben Carson, Mike Lindell, these are warriors for truth. And they love this country. And so just the fact that Ben Carson,

with his busy schedule, was willing to come on. But if you get a chance, folks, go to frankspeech.com and watch the evening the other day. I don't know where it's posted yet. All of our programs will eventually be on Frank's speech since YouTube has, you know, they've decided they don't really believe in American values and freedom and stuff. And hey, who are we to judge?

Who are we? You know, if you're a communist, God bless you. Yeah, God bless you. That's it, right? Well, I guess the other thing is, if you want to get my books, go to my store.com, and you can put the code Eric. And then, of course, don't forget new tramedics, everything there, use the code. Eric, when we come back, the great Bob Mozakowski, we'll be back. When running a business, HR issues can kill you. Wrongful termination suits minimum wage requirements, labor regulations, and HR manager

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selling their data and not being able to keep their platforms safe and secure. Luckily, I've found SquadPod, a private platform that helps businesses, organizations, churches, and nonprofits take back control of their communication. SquadPod has three things going for it that other companies do not. First, Squad Pod puts you in control of who is a part of your team, what they see, and how they interact with the group. Second, squad pot is 100% owned and operated in the United States. Third, squad pod is simple to use. Just create an account, invite your team, and start communicating

via their secure video and messaging features. Learn more at squadpod.com slash Eric. That's squadpod.com slash Eric. Let me say it again. Squadpod.com slash Eric. Check it out. I'm talking to Bob Muzzikowski. Bob, there's never enough time. I want to get into Black Lives Matter. You are living your life and your whole family, seven kids, lived your life in the inner city. You have spent your life working shoulder to shoulder

with people in totally different circumstances so you can speak with authority about what is happening in the inner city of Chicago. Yeah, so we've had a lot of young, grow boys to men live with us too, right? who had bad situations at home. Tyrone and I talk to every day. I got like 47 calls on Father's Day, right? So, and I only have seven biological kids.

So we're in the Black community, and we get people talk a lot of smack, and they have their views on it, but we're in every day. And Black Lives Matter support it. Originally, I'm like, Black Lives Matter, like, welcome to my world. When did everybody discover this? Hey. So, but to be fair, my opinion, not everybody has this opinion, I'm watching us gun each other down in the street.

Actually, since George Floyd, which is tragic, think right decision, cop goes a prison for that. He was on the guy's neck, right? That's my opinion for way too long, right? Yeah. But since then, 800 African American people have shot each other dead in Chicago, and three quarters, no one arrested. People don't realize that.

They got away with murder. Most of the shooting. Literally. I think it's about three quarters. No one even got caught, right? last about three weeks ago at a McDonald's takeout about 25 blocks from my house on Roosevelt Road guys jump out of a car and shoot 40 shots at a man with a seven-year-old daughter wound the man and kill a seven-year-old daughter at the takeout line of

McDonald's when I told you I mean this was all over the news but you got the backstory the back story is the driver whose daughter was killed weeks earlier had killed one of their gang members and then later did a video of himself urinating on the dead guy's grave. This is now rated R, right? So now this is, so for payback these guys... They don't give a rip that a

seven-year-olds in the car. Don't care that the seven-year-old's in the car and they unload 42 bullets. And only hit six shots. From this like close. And this is... I thought it was four shots, but... I don't know. They missed one. But the point is they got him

one shot. And they didn't kill him. And he lived. and his daughter got three shots and died. Murdered, yeah. And we've had one-year-olds, three-year-olds, five-year-olds. So, again, this is controversial. Black lives matter no matter what to me. Come and talk to me about it. Come and live here and walk in my shoes.

And I have a lot of black friends who feel exactly the same way as me. They matter and matter who's killing them. It doesn't matter if it's just the police or there's some bad police. But I got to tell you, the cops have saved our ass a lot of times. Most of them, great men and women. They've been handcuffed by the mayor. And the media saying, look, you're here, the cops are not the problem. And so handcuffing the police and let people break windows and steal all the American girl dolls on Michigan Avenue

and storm stuff in our neighborhood. You know, you've got people marching down and God, I think their intentions are good when the white people come. There's nothing more pathetic than white people trying to act hip and come down once. And they don't really know any low-income African-American people. They're marching. Their intentions might be good, but you're really not helping here. You're creating a lot of racial tension. And so bad cops should go to jail. There are some. I don't understand why if somebody has a knife or something, you've got eight cops, just go knock them down. Why would you just shoot your gun? Just kick his ass, right? So I don't, and some people need a, as my neighbor would say, a good ass weapon, right? They don't need to be shot, but if someone's got a knife and it's a time, knock them down. So, anyway, It's easy for me to talk, but the police are up against it now. Murders are up insanely up in every city in America because the gangs know the cops ain't coming. They're not going to chase us.

See, this is so amazing. They're not going to chase us. The Navy SEALs, the badass cops of the Chicago Police Department are the undercover guys. And they eat in the local pizzerias and we have a bunch and they're always around us at tables. There was a shooting at a barbecue and over here in this conversation. They love hope. They know what we're trying to do, helping kids. And so there's a shooting at a barbecue.

They love Hope Academy. They love Hope Christian Academy. And the Little League and everything. They know what you guys are doing, so they know you guys are good guys. Yeah, real. And so there's a shooting at a barbecue, and a kid was shot and killed. They weren't shooting at the kid, of course, and the guys are rang, and they get a 911, they're chasing down. And when a mother's screaming, when her child is shot, a black mom, she's not calling for counselors.

She's calling for the cops to catch the shooter, right? And so there's sighting of the guy in an alley two blocks away running, two guys. The cops, one are coming this way, and these are the police relating the store to me. Another cop shoots down with his car that way to try to corner them in, and they get a call a stand down. So they get a call from somebody above them. From somebody above them, do not pursue the murderer. They'll get them later. We'll get them later.

Yeah. So that's a pretty tough situation to be in, because the cop is saying if I catch this guy and slay, and slam him down on the curb face down, and now I'm mad. There's a dead kid. He's a human being, the police offer. He's mad, and he's a badass, right? If he slams this guy's face down on the ground who just killed a kid, they're going to take pictures of him beating up the guy, right,

and say he's a racist and blah, blah, blah, blah. And I'm not denying that there is racism. But like the senator from South Carolina, Tim Scott said, we're not, things are not bad for you now. Things are bad for your great-grandparents, But right now, everybody's got heat, running water, electricity, and a ton of opportunity, right? And we can't, what happened to George Floyd and some of the shootings by police is horrible. But we really, really?

We can't blame that. There's like 800 shot dead since that. Like, what does that? 800 shot dead. In inner city, Chicago. It's more than that now. Although, some of it downtown, right? So now it's because the police have been just not.

They've been told not to do their job. So now it's coming back a little bit of them. Now, what is this story of the Chicago mayor? Massive black metal class of great people, conservative people. They're cops, firemen, bus drivers, car drivers, workers, massive homeowner people, great people. And most of them feel my way, but everyone's afraid to say it, right? So, yeah, so the mayor's... So black people are afraid to say some of what you're saying.

Some are. Some are, but I get invited... Because they don't want to get attacked. I'm at a lot of quote-unquote black stuff, right? And so, because of where we live and what we do. meetings, churches, and all line. People were just sick of it, especially the over 60s craft. There's this embarrassed and disgraceful at the shooting and at all the shooting going on, the cowardice of it. What could be more cowardly than driving by and shooting at someone? Get out of the car and punch me in the face.

It's just so. And so the guns are in there, but the guns are everywhere. And I asked the police once, I said a couple of cops, I said, have you ever seen someone murdered with a licensed handgun? They didn't flinch. They said never, never, never saw anyone murdered with a license and gun. So, of course, people are selling guns and making money off it, right? So they're not, obviously not deep thinkers, right? I have African-American friends, very successful business friends. They got 27 guns, right? And so, because they're more likely to be in that situation.

They're more likely to get hassle by cops, but not anymore, right? I know that I can't only empathize. I'm not black. I can empathize, but I can't feel. I can't walk in your skin, and I get that. But it's much more frightening what's going on at night than the cops. I think right now, especially now, because they're on notice that the cops are the least of our problems. We're killing each other in massive numbers.

But I mean, the mayor of Chicago. I preach funerals. I buried boys in their uniforms that I'm super close to. In their baseball uniforms. And their Romel Robinson, who ran wild against St. Inaceous, was stabbed to death. after he had left Hope. I begged him to stay. He came out of jail.

He's tough kid. It's really tough kid now. He's 21. And I hired him. I'm helping him get his GED. I feel guilt. We were supposed to lift weights, and we didn't. It was a Friday afternoon.

I was busy, and he went and got stabbed to death about five blocks from Hope. And everything at his funeral was pictures of him in the Little League. I knew him since he was eight. And my sons played on the team with him. And he was a tough guy. Somebody stabbed him in the back because Romel was no punk. Now why was he killed? He might have mouthed off to somebody.

All the revenge. If you made every drug legal, it wouldn't stop one shooting. Everything is revenge now. Revenge. It's not drugs. It's not drugs. So, anyway, you're on my territory. You're riding around.

People look at it when I'm riding around, people look at you. And often I'll see it's me. And I go, hey, Coach Bob, and they're selling drugs on the corner. They feel bad about it. They might have been, I've known them from years ago. So it doesn't always work great, right? There's many, many kids. Of course.

Yeah. So, but we got a ton of miracles going, and that's the miracle of Chicago Hope Academy. And right now, I, last night, you and I were with our buddy, B.J. Weber. He's on the board of Chicago Hope. And you made a big decision after a lot of years. I mean, honestly, people can never dream. I've seen you in action. I am in awe of, you just, you know everybody.

You're doing a thousand things. It's just unbelievable. but finally you now your son Bo Ike oh Ike yeah sorry Ike is 28 yeah Isaiah Ike he as of literally yesterday officially now is the new president of Chicago Hope Academy right yeah and you're going to step back yeah and what try to get the billionaires to give some money I'll always raise money for hope and so and that's kind of the deal right that great philosopher What's his name? Chris Rock, the great philosopher, said this. If Johnny can't read, that's Mommy's fault. If Johnny can't read because the lights are out because the electric bill

hasn't been paid, that's daddy's fault. I'm Daddy. We are going to be right back with Bob Mazzikowski. The book is safe at home. Prescription dispensing Labs is a national licensed pharmacy specializing in personalized prescription and natural medicine. The pharmacists at PD Labs are credited with formulating unique nasal sprays for the dreaded brain fog and a leader in uncovering new compounds to improve your health. PD Labs is one of the first pharmacies to now offer a telemedicine group trained in prevention medicine and how to restore your health. They have developed signature professional supplements that really work rather than just promotional advertising. PD Labs pharmacy prides itself on innovation and amazing customer service that show dedication to your health. Today, everyone needs a choice in their health care and they bring many refreshing options on how to maximize your body's amazing capabilities to bounce back.

back. PD Labs has an extensive network of practitioners nationwide dedicated to true health care, not sick care. Visit their website, pd Labs, rx.com for free health tips, podcasts, and their popular online store. Call 888-909-110101-10. Ask for Ray and tell them Eric sent you. That's 888-909-0-1-1-0. Hey there, folks. How many years have I been telling you about relief factor? What, like, four? The truth is, I know there are millions of people, in fact, some say over 100 million people struggling with some kind of pain, maybe from exercise, just getting older. That could do it, getting older, which is why I am so impressed with Pete and Seth Talbot. They are on a mission. You rarely see this kind of focus and commitment. Seriously, they recently shared with me that they are doubling down and want to

literally double their total number of happy customers in the next year, and I believe they'll do it. So here's the deal. If you're struggling with back, neck, shoulder, hip, or knee pain, even general muscle, aches and pains, then I'm suggesting you order their three-week quick start, still discounted to only 1995, about a dollar a day to see if we can get you out of pain too. And then after that, less than the cost of a cup of coffee, a day to stay at a pain. Go to relieffactor.com, relief factor.com or call 800, 500, 8384. Relieffactor.com, 800, 500, 8384. I use it. It works. Check it out. Hello. Talking to Bob Mizzikowski. Bob, there's never enough time. So next time you come to New York, I just want you to come back and we'll continue the conversation.

please we got to do it we've got you know six minutes here what else should we talk about i mean maybe chicago hope academy i want people to know about this how do they find it online chicagohopacademy dot org yeah chicago it's a bob it's a big deal i mean you guys you're building a new building okay but you haven't raised all the money yet because it's expensive we pushed it out a year it's kind of unholy how many students do you have there now 287 okay this is this is listen It's going to be 600. It's like I blink five years pass, and you've got a ton of kids. Lives being changed in the inner city, overtly Christian.

Yeah. Yeah. So all the teachers are born again serious about their faith. You could open up, which kicks you out of the federal money, although there is a state income tax credit right now, which is great for us. You could send your state income tax in Illinois to Chicago Hope now. For now, this is year four of a four-year program, and hopefully, again. gets renewed. We have a Democrat-laden Congress. Now, I would think that Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey should give a ton of money to Chicago Hope. Like, I can't get over. This is inner city Chicago,

helping black youth. A lot of, we were on Oprah's Big Give, maybe 12, 13 years ago. It was a show about giving. And then, so it was about giving, and each week someone got eliminated like Trump fire. And then, and he had Steve Polito was on, and he won at Chicago Hope. They had, They'd come to Chicago, their assignment was come to Chicago, you got 48 hours to raise money for charity. And Steve came to Chicago home. He's a Connecticut guy, and he won. But we never, then we met with her people after. And they have so, she has so many layers, someone like Oprah.

And God bless her. I haven't met her, I don't know. But they have so many layers of people before you get, we never got a nickel from them, which is. And so, and I'm not saying that she's bad or bad person. And Obama's, they're doing their library and all that kind of stuff in Chicago. And so we, there's a lot of successful business people who, You don't know, like the millionaires next to her, or in one case for us, the billionaire next to that give money like that. But we live off people giving $500,000, $5,000.

We have a couple big seven-figure guys that help hope, which we're fortunate, and blast beyond means for it. But in general, we live off Christian people or non-Christian people, frankly. So my old rugby buddies are not believers, but they love we're helping kids. So that's, you know, independent, as I ask you, since we all agree that independent Christian schools shouldn't be only for rich kids or racially segregated. than people should give the Chicago Hope Academy. You know, again, as I said, you could either give to ministries, do the ministries, or you're disobedient, right? And so, loading up on your $10 million house in Naples, Florida,

I mean, I'm not judging your soul, right? And I am a sinner to the max. I can say nothing to anybody right now. But really, you shouldn't be, I don't think we should be loading up or working on our handicap in our 50s and 60s of how good we are at golf, right? When I became a man, I put away childish things. anyway, we always need financial. We're in a better position now than we've ever been.

And I remember in the early years, barring all my cash value for my life insurance to make payroll. So I know how tough that is. But, you know, you've got a year or two in the bank. But we need, you know, this thing should go on until Jesus comes back 100 years. And so that's the big vision to make it good right here. Kids have been told forever the inner son. If you make it, you can get out of the ghetto. Well, the good guys did like LeBron James.

right and how's that working so our message is stay here let's make it good right here i told you early we built our track the big east college track championship was supposed to be our track is the nicest track in the midwest uh we acquired a gym from michael jordan's trainer thanks some big donors brian and mark and joe in particular um so uh we have tremendous facilities our track Eric, you and I at our age would be fast on our track. People chase, Paul Walt, so our mantra is, let's make it good right here in the inner city. It's not gentrification because of our lot of, we have a little housing program where we rehab and flip houses and our people get to move in. So gentry actually means the working people.

So it isn't a bad thing. What do you want your neighbor to stay where people are getting shot all over the place? But we think we have a way of keeping it mixed, which we love. If you own a home, you could still get a house over by our thing for $150,000. You know, I'm telling about a three-bedroom, one and a half bath with a backyard and a garage. Now, you need a flack jacket, but you could get a house. You need a flack jacket. That was a joke.

That's going to change. That's changing. Like the neighbor's getting better. And you have like a coffee house? What is that? The Hope Cafe, yeah, it's a rehabbed old 110-year-old German Turner's hole that we rehab. Listen, I visited it. And I watched a rugby game there.

You've got a whole world, Bob. Yeah, we have a movement. Hope is a movement, not just a school. So it's really to help the whole community, not just our kids. So little Ike, who grew up to be Ike now, is the new president, took over from you. And isn't your daughter also working there? Yeah, Scout. That's a real name, her baptized name from Tickilla Mockingbird.

And she's very much like that character. Graduated from Notre Dame. She was women's MVP and captain of Notre Dame University's rugby team. She's a tough cookie. And Scout left real estate to be the admissions director. So she's 24, Ike's 28. So I got two full-time people there. But all your kids went to Hope Academy.

me. Yeah, and I had trepidation about that historically, and this is a really good message for all dads and moms out there. Look, we stayed there, and I know people were saying, oh, you sacrificed your children on the altar of your vision. There was a little squawk about us doing what we do, out of the box, raising your kids on the west side, instead of moving to Hinsdale or Wilmatter, Winnett, right? So, and I was worried about that. God blessed us and protected everybody, and it wasn't perfect, by all means. So Wayne Gordon of Lawndale Community Church, who was in a Bible study, and one of my heroes, said this, your children need to know they're the most important kid in your life, but not the only important kid. And they need to know they're part of something bigger than themselves. So the fact that I came back to be the principal after Chicago Hope, Columbia University,

and Scout came back was really good for me. They're way more competent and better human beings and better follows of Christ than I am, and that their back doing that was reassuring to me. This is, listen, this is so amazing. We're at a time. The website is Chicago hope academy.org. Chicago Hopeacademy.org. God bless you, most friend.

Albin. What? It's just you and me. Bob Leavreckoski left. Oh, Bob. Bob. Mazakowski left. Get back here.

We're going to have to fill the time. They tell you stretch. Stretch. We've got, no, actually, we've got a lot of stuff to share. This is, we're going to do a viewer rights segment where somebody writes and Now, folks, I want to say this again, anyone who writes to us at erikmetaxis.com, now you should go there to sign up for the newsletter. If you don't, you're dead to me.

Ericmataxis.com, go there, sign up for the newsletter. But anybody who writes to us at ericmetaxis.com, I'm still able to read all of them, and I do. Yeah. I would like to think that eventually there'll be so many that I can't, but I'm still trying, excuse me to stay ahead of it and I'm reading these so I want to talk about this. A viewer writes I don't know where this viewer is from but

he's comparing Trump to Hitler very savvy. No one's ever said that before so we're going to get back to this but before I do a viewer rights Albin. Yeah yeah I came down from Terrytown through Grand Central today we're in New York City you come from Westchester

down here you take the train you get out at Grand Central Terminal that terminal right there the big one, the beautiful one. There's a big long line. And I saw a big sign up in several places that said, get the vaccine and get two round trip tickets anywhere on the Metro North. Okay?

And then I saw another sign that said, sell your soul for a round trip to Ossining. I said, okay, I'm getting in line here. Be a guinea pig. Yeah, exactly. Somebody I know very, very closely, and I'm not going to mention who it is. Seriously.

Before you say this, I just want to say, our policy on this program is if you want to get the vaccine that's right get it yeah right if you want to drive 150 miles an hour and risk your life feel free right as long as you don't hurt anybody else but yeah when somebody tells you you have to do the dangerous thing I would say don't do it right so I'm telling everyone I know unless you are in a bad place where you feel I've got to do this I would say do not do it because there's all kinds of questions and you're hearing and anecdotal information about people dying and stuff.

So for crying out loud, folks, don't let people tell you like, hey, you know, just go, go, just go and take it, take it. I would say no, do not. Right. And before I heard your advice, I got it 42 times I got shot and now I'm going around healing people. That's amazing, Albin. It's wonderful.

But anyway, a guy I know very closely. Not a joke. This is true. This is not a joke. My wife told me about this, actually. We both know this guy. He got the Johnson and Johnson one. And like the next day, he could not.

here he was totally deaf like in one of his ears and of course he goes to the ENT get it checked out and he said if you had not come within like the last 48 hours or something like that you would have been permanently deaf and it was from apparently the J and J vaccine so yes there's some guinea pig trials going on here right now so you got to be careful that's all we're saying so that's not a joke and right and he's a younger guy he's like 35 years old he's not he's not 60 in his right ear. Totally deaf. Now, people are saying that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, some people, your saliva tastes like floor wax. Very nice. But you can polish your shoes and it's great.

Side effect. No, that's, that was a dumb joke. But what you're saying is not a joke. No, it's not. Okay, my father and mother took the vaccine. My father and mother both were sick for weeks. My father was very sick for weeks. And there's no other explanation. And in fact, I talked to some doctors, Oh, yeah, this is the vaccine's affecting. But, you know, there's nothing permanent that we know of. But I just want to say, ladies and gentlemen, don't get into this politicization. This is just used common sense. Okay, there's enough information out there that says, do not go with the flow.

When everybody says, you got to do something, make a note, do not do it. Because I would say that, you know, again, if people want to get it, good for you. It's a free country. But don't put pressure on people. Look, I walk around in New York City. People are wearing masks outdoors. I know. Lunacy.

It's like I can't even believe that people are so sucked into this that they're wearing masks outdoors. And here's what it is. It's kind of like saying like, hey, I'm a good guy. Don't bother me. Don't look at me funny. I'm going to go with the crowd. You're breathing your own carbon dioxide. It is totally unhealthy.

All doctors say fresh air. Fresh air. Breathe. So this is insanity. Anyway, all right, we got a view. A viewer rights. Yes, viewer rights. Okay, here's this, this is somebody named, I'll make up a name.

And we get quite a few of these letters, by the way. And this is a, I'll make up a name, Patrick McHenry. Okay. All right, here we go. Does that a good make-up, made-up name, isn't it? It's like, I just like, it's Irish. Patrick McHenry. All right, sure, sure, sure, sure.

All right, here we go. He writes, she writes, please go to the web and read the definition of a cult leader. Trump is not a Christian in the way Bonhofer was. holy cow if you're not a Christian the way Bonhoffer was you're probably the Antichrist you might be Adolf Hitler 2.0 let me just ask a question Trump is not a Christian in the way Bonhoffer was

probably though Biden is right Biden is a Bonhoffer type Christian so far we'll see how it goes yeah okay so this person writes please go to the web read the definition of a cult leader Trump is not a Christian in the way Bonhoffer was he sensed where his support would be

if he adopted some of our principles like the sacredness of life. I think the word sanctity, but we're going to go with it. He was for abortion before he was against it. I am a lifelong Republican. I did not vote for Hillary or Joe either. We really did not have a choice, which is sad in a country of 330 million. Trump is as evil in some ways as Hitler was. Exclamation point, exclamation point, exclamation point. Open your eyes. Exclamation point. Now, it's interesting because you can't tell from the text whether this man was foaming at the mouth. But get the impression he might have been.

Here's the issue, folks, okay? Let's just point out the logical absurdities in this note written to me, okay? He says he was for abortion before he was against it. So was Eric Metaxus. Uh-oh. So you're saying I'm a phony? I write in my book, fish out of water. Okay.

That when I was a young man that I was involved in aborting a child. Yeah, I know. And that is called a sin. It is horrible. But people do those things before they realize that it's wrong. And so you repent and you ask God for forgiveness. But you never say, oh, it didn't matter. It mattered.

Okay. So Trump obviously was not the man he is today. No. But something happened and he changed. So the idea that this person is sort of saying, well, you can't change. Listen, you know who says that you can't change? The devil, okay? Whatever you did, I'm going to haunt you with it.

I'm going to haunt you with it. I'm going to beat you over the head with your past sins. My sins are nailed to the cross, folks. And so to say that, you know what, we're going to continue. We're going to do another segment. I'm going to continue my rant. Oh, boy. When we come back, it's the Eric Mataxis show.

Don't forget to go to Ericmataxis.com. Sign up for the newsletter, folks. Please do that and sign up all your friends. You're doing them a favor. Eric Mataxis.com, don't forget. Folks, welcome back. Final segment. Okay, Albin, I'm reading a viewer rights, okay?

And what did I say, Patrick McKenry? Let's just change it to Alice McGillacutty, just so you know that it's neither of them. It's somebody who's Irish. Let's just put it that way. It's some Irish, some angry Irish person, really blotchy with rage. Yeah, well.

And here's the person writes, I can't believe an educated person as you claim to be can be taken in by Donald Trump. I did not vote for his. or Joe either. We really did not have a choice, which is sad in a country. Trump is as evil in some ways as Hitler was. Only in some ways. Yeah, only in some ways. Not in all ways, right? Like you didn't murder millions and millions of people. Yeah. But in other ways, just as evil. Mark it down. Okay. So anyway, Alice McGillacuddy, I got to tell you, you're not being logically, you're not thinking logically.

When somebody says Trump is as evil as Hitler was in some ways, that's a non-statement. I don't even know what that is. Every one of us knows that apart from the grace of God were evil. So it's kind of a meaningless statement. But when some people say that Trump is a cult leader, he has fascist tendencies. Can I tell you something? I have fascist tendencies. The question is not whether you have fascist tendencies. The question is whether you are a fascist or behave as a fascist. And by God's grace, I do not. So when somebody says Trump has fascist tendencies, you realize they're thinking so sloppily. The question is, folks, can you point to things that he does? Can you speak like the language of men in English and explain to me what in the world you're saying? I would say for sure

this person cannot because it's an emotional statement. Whenever people say things like that, it's just preposterous. I mean, think how preposterous it is to say that Trump is not a Christian in the way Bonhofer was. Right. Well, is he a Christian in the way that Albany is or that I am? or that. Look, what does this even mean? I'm not a Christian the way that Bonhofer was. Bonhofer was the gold standard. Yeah. Okay. And we all strive for that. But it's preposterous to say, you've got a choice.

Either a holy man of God like Bonhoffer or everybody else is of the devil and I'm not voting for anybody. If you don't vote for people because you're looking for perfection, you're part of the problem. You allowed Joe Biden to get into office if you didn't vote. When you don't vote, whoever wins, you're on the whole, you're on. Yeah, the hook for that person.

You know, I wasn't crazy about Trump when he was first running, and people would say like, well, he had these affairs and whatever, but I let that pass because I said, I don't know Trump and I don't know his sins, but I'll tell you something, I'm a bigger sinner than Trump. Okay, so that's, that issue's a non-issue. That's a non-starter for me. You're the real fascist. I am.

You are Hitler 2.0. I'm taking away your microphone right now, sir. I know. It's incredible. Okay. But I just say, because I get all these letters that say the Trump is, this are, And what fascinates me and actually saddens me is how illogically people think. If you don't like somebody, explain to me what you mean.

But when you say, think that he has authoritarian fascist tendencies or he's a cult leader, it's so preposterous. It's so silly that you can't really dignify with much of response except some kind of mockery. And Jesus said, by the fruit, you will know them, by their fruit. He has produced such great fruit in his justice for years. We see what he has done for the country, for the economy, for the world in general, how we stop wars. He did some wonderful things, folks. You got to admit.

Now, how is Joe Biden in his position as the unelected bureaucrat? How is he doing right now? What are his fruit? Well, it's hard not, I mean, you could talk for an hour about this, but I want to say to people, you've got to think logically, folks. And the letter that I just wrote you is the classic example, many people I know, some of them brilliant people. They don't think logically. They let their emotions cloud things. And they say things like this.

And it's simply preposterous. If somebody is pro-life in terms of their actions, I don't really care about their past or what they're really thinking. The reason somebody is called president, he presides. He's over the executive branch. He does stuff. The stuff he does, that goes into the history books. So, you know, the idea that somebody is not perfect. He's not a Christian as Bonhoeffer was.

It becomes meaningless. And I just want to say, I'm not in favor of that. Okay, Albin, we got to tell people, don't forget, use the code Eric, wherever you go. At the A&P, just use the code Eric. And don't forget, sign up for the newsletter, folks. Please, thank you.