The Eric Metaxas Show - Mark Joseph

Episode Date: March 11, 2025

Mario Murillo joins to discuss his movie "I am living proof" Filmmaker Mark Joseph shares his book: Making REAGAN: A Memoir from the Producer of the REAGAN Movie.

Keep up with the Trump administration when you subscribe to the Trump Report. This email brings you daily highlights from the Oval Office right to your inbox five days a week. Subscribe to the Trump Report. Welcome to the Eric Metaxus show. I shouldn't tell you this, but Eric hired someone who sounds just like him to host today's show. But since I'm the announcer, they told me so I'm telling you, don't be fooled. The real Eric's in jail. Folks, welcome back.

I get to talk to my friend, Mario Marillo, and I get to say that Mario Marillo is my friend. I admire him tremendously. I feel honored that I get to call him friend, and it's always fun and encouraging to talk to him. Mario Marillo, welcome back. Thank you, Eric. I'll tell you what, it's going to turn into a mutual admiration society.

I've always been very, very impressed by your writing, skills, and your courage. because you've really stood against the tide, and I'm really honor you for that and respect you for it. Well, if I fooled you, I've really got it made. No, honestly, you're really kind. Listen, some people listening to this program, they don't know you. And you are, I mean, you're an evangelist. You pray for healing.

People get healed. God has given you a tremendous array of gifts, which you've used for his purposes. I want to talk to you about all that stuff, but first I want to talk to you about the film that is in theaters tomorrow night, which is March 12, folks, only tomorrow. That's it.

And it's called I Am Living Proof. Tell us about that. Tell my audience about that. You know, I Am Living Proof dares to tell in an amazing way a story that about three people that were healed. And it leads up to their, from their total despair, or two of them on the brink of suicide.

One actually committed suicide in the sense that he took a ton of pills and they just saved him by a miracle. And their physical conditions were totally hopeless and they were healed by Christ. But the beauty of this is, it's like every woman has ever said to their husband. It wasn't what you said. It was how you said it.

This movie took on a life of its own when a young award-winning film, filmmaker named Shauna Gilbert from Denver, heard about the couple of these healings, drove an hour to Colorado Springs and interviewed them. And then she filmed them. And this preliminary film took on a life of its own where some of the top people in Hollywood were overwhelmed by the stories that these people had to tell. So I'm only in the movie about five minutes. So I can freely brag about it. It's an amazing work of art, Eric. It is. an amazing work of art. Everyone that's been on Fandango to give it a review is giving it five stars. And it's not the cheesy kind of what we associate with some religious film attempts. This one really stands up and it really compels people. And it's called I Am Living Proof. A big, you know, theme of my life is talking about the miraculous. It's one of the reasons I feel honored to know you personally.

because there's so many Christians that they have a very thin kind of almost ethereal faith, that they don't get into the reality of God, the living presence of God, the miraculous. They just, maybe it doesn't appeal to them. But I feel like your average person wants to know, is God real? Or is it some thin idea that doesn't really appeal to me, doesn't speak to me in my life? If you're ill or you're going through some kind of hell, you want to know, is God real? Can he heal me? Can he speak to me?

Can he deliver me from these circumstances? Yes or no? And I think a lot of people think like, I don't know. I don't know. And when you see a film like this, when you hear these stories, you think, wow, I really didn't know that God was that real. So I'm glad the film was made. I'm glad you're talking about it. I'm glad you're in it.

Before we get further into the conversation, people can see it in theaters. March 12th. So we're airing this today. So that's tomorrow night, folks. Right. That's the last night. I am living proof. And what is the, so what is the guts of it? You said it's this, this woman who heard about three miraculous stories and wanted to get the stories on film. Yes. And she was connected. She had won awards for films that she made. And at first, when she saw this, she was in tears and then said, I've got to tell this story. Well, then a producer from Hollywood got involved. He said, look, this is something very special.

And they began to work on it. They took a year to do it. So the sound, the color correction, the editing, everything is absolutely amazing. And I say that again, because I'm not on there. They made this. I didn't make it. I had an extremely little creative image. put on this film. And it is a cinematic piece. It's an art piece that it'll pull you. You be on the

edge of your seat going, I got to find out how this story ends because it follows their life. And it tells the story in a way that you never lose interest. And everyone's first reaction at the end of it, everyone's got to see this. That's what they say. They leave the theater. They go, everyone has got to see this. Especially those of us that believe in him. because we know that there's been a lot of imbalance in extremism, emotionalism. And that's what this doesn't do is compromise on the reality of the healing today. God heals today. There's no doubt about it.

And it shows that. But it also points out that two out of the three, Eric, were not Christians at the moment of their healing. One was an angry atheist who was basically thinking he was walking in. into a concert. And as soon as he saw that it was a Christian event, he turned around to leave. And it was at that moment that I pointed at him and I described his illness. And he stopped. And he felt. And, well, I don't want to spoil the movie, but he describes it. And miraculously, our film crew of our crusade, film crew, happened to catch each one of these people at the moment of their healing on film.

Now, wait a minute. Every time people come on this program, I say, oh, I don't want to give it away. I want people to see the film. The opposite is true. The more you tell, the more people will want to see the film. It's not like, oh, I got the information. I don't need it now. Because obviously, it's a great film.

So you've got to tell this, Mario, because you've just given me a piece of information. Now, you're saying that every one of these was related to a crusade that you did, all three of these? All of these happened within four days of each other in one, crusade in Colorado Springs. It was in 2020. Okay. I want to hear this story because I want my audience for their faith to be built up because I know you don't blow smoke. It's one of the reasons I love you because it's just real.

And so you're telling me you are in doing a crusade in Colorado and you said an atheist kind it gets, like, tricked into coming. He walks into this event, not knowing what it is. And as soon as he realizes, oh, it's some like born again healing service, I'm out. Yeah. Here's, here's, here's, moment. Yeah. He was in his trailer for almost seven years, wouldn't leave because of the excruciating pain in his spine. They'd prescribed 15 separate pain medication and opioids for his spine. and it didn't touch the pain. So one night, he locked his trailer and then proceeded to take as many pills as he could.

And he gulped down enough to kill an elephant, and he just sat in his chair and waited to die. His neighbor was concerned about him, and she hadn't seen him all day, went into the trailer. And in his own words, he said, that door was locked. I locked that door, and she walked.

straight in moments before he would have been dead. And then his friends, out of concern, said, man, you're living in the dark. We've got to get you out. Just come with us. We're going to an event. Really didn't describe it. So out of the pressure that they made, he didn't want to disappoint him. Wait, wait, wait.

You're telling me he had taken these pills and they take him to your event, and he has just taken all of these pills to get himself? what they did, these were not at the same, on the same day, but the neighbor saved him, got him the medical help that he needed, and intervened, kept him awake so that he didn't die. He should have died. I want to, because I want to have clarity on this. So he wants to kill himself.

He takes all these pills. He should be dead. His neighbor walks through a door that he insists is locked and sees there something wrong. And she gets him to a hospital and what do? pump his stomach. I mean, this is like, he should have been dead. Yes, he should have been dead. So he lives, he survives. Okay, we're going to a break. We'll be right back much more with Mario Morillo. The film is I am living proof tomorrow night only. A generation of kids in El Salvador are lost to malnutrition and the only way to a better future is through a school feeding program.

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classroom for a year. Please click the blue banner at metaxis talk.com or call 844-863-4673 with a gift of $100 to feed their future. My Pillow is excited to announce that they're having the first ever mega sale on overstock clearance and brand new products. For example, you can save over 50% on this season's flannel sheets. The queen size is only 59.998 and King is only 69.99. They sell out fast every year, so be sure to order now. You can also save 30% on their brand new My Crosses. They're designed in the likeness of the one Mike has worn every day for over 20 years. They come in men's and women's styles and they're made right here in the USA. Get the 2025 six piece My towel sets for only 2998. The initial quantities are extremely low, so get them now before they go. And I can't forget to mention

the best-selling standard. MyPillow is just 1498 to take advantage of the first ever mega sale. Go to MyPillow.com and use promo code Eric or call 800-978-3057. But wait, remember that $75 free shipping rule? Well, that ship has sailed because right now for a limited time, every order ship's free. Folks, go to MyPillow.com. Use the promo code Eric. Mypillow.com. Promocode Eric. Welcome back, folks. Talking to my friend Mario Marillo. There's a film out tomorrow night only. That's the 12th of March. I am living proof. We're talking about one of the events that is depicted in it. So Mario, you're talking about this man, this atheist suffers horribly pain for seven years. Just unbelievable. When you hear these stories, you want to weep. You want to weep. And so he tries to kill himself. It seems miraculously is delivered from, he doesn't, he doesn't. He can't kill himself. He just described that. So what is the chronology when after this, you know, avoiding of death? I mean, he didn't want to avoid death, but obviously God wanted him not to die because God had a plan. From that point, how long was it before he gets taken to this healing service where you are presiding? See, his friends were reluctant to ever talk to him because he was such an angry man. But after this suicide attempt, they became bold.

His Christian friends, and they said, Steve, you've got to come. Now, one thing that you need to realize, this man was hunched over. He couldn't stand up straight. And nothing that he took would alleviate his pain. I mean, they went to the extreme in trying to treat his pain with surgery and everything else. Nothing did. He had five vertebrae in his spine that had been ruptured by an accident where he fell off of a ladder with a large piece of pain glass that he was holding. And when he fell, it was devastating. He should have been in a wheelchair. The fact that he could walk was amazing. So they finally said, this is enough. We got to do something. And the tent was in town as a matter of days. And they brought him there, and it took him along. time to come from the car into the tent. And we got close enough to realize what it was. He said, I don't want anything to do with this. He actually says it in the film. I thought these people were

weirdos. I didn't want anything to do with God. And he turned around to leave. And that was when, by the power of God, and I give him all the glory. I pointed at the back. You have to realize there were several thousand people in the tent. He's way in the back. And I point at him. And I stop him. And I describe his situation. He turns around. He's standing there, Eric, and he feels like someone punched him in the spine. And he said, once that happened, he immediately straightened up, and all the pain left his body. And he goes back to his doctors. We have medical doctors, medical professionals in the film. In one instance, Mary, we're showing her x-ray before and after her healing. But the most amazing of the three is Bree. Because Bree developed an autoimmune disease

where her body was basically cannibalizing herself. And she was five foot eight, weighed 95 pounds. And by the way, by the time she came to the tent, she looked like a human skeleton. And she came to the front. And she was. walking forward during the time of the altar call to be saved. But that's when she began to scream out to God because she couldn't eat. She couldn't do anything to feed herself. And her life was indescribable pain. All three of these people will tell you about the pain they were in. And all of a sudden, power of God began to move in her body. And I wish I had to have. had the film to show you what she was doing because my,

uh, our social media director, Steve Brown went over with a camera and began to catch the moment that she's being transformed by the power of God. And then she gained, uh, she said, and this how you know is a miracle when a woman says, I gained 50 pounds. Um, that was amazing. And, and she, she is a, a walking miracle. And the way it's done in the film is just phenomenal. They did a phenomenal job. What's the name of the filmmaker, Mario?

Shannon Gilbert, what we call her Shane. Shane Gilbert. And you know what? Yeah. And we entered this film in seven different film festivals, and we won seven different awards in one in each different categories. but they did a phenomenal job and it glorifies Jesus. I'll tell you, this is a film for the skeptic.

This is a film for the Christian who said, I wish I had something that was really intelligent and beautiful and incontrovertible to just show someone because you get in this film, you get in the story. And this is the most I've ever talked about it right here. You set a record with me, Eric. Well, this is, listen, it can be frustrating sometimes because there is such a lack of this kind of thing. And then you get something like this and then you try to get word out, everybody's busy.

Folks, I think you've heard enough, March 12th, that is tomorrow, tomorrow night, it's in theaters one night only. It has been in theaters, but we didn't get to it in time. So tomorrow night's the last chance to see this. when something is made of artistic excellence that deals with this kind of stuff, you need to know about it. You need to take advantage of it. Write it down. I am living proof. This kind of thing, Mario, you know, just thrills me. And it thrills me that you're telling me that I want to talk to you about this maybe another time, but how God has used you over the years. You know, many of us would love to be used by that way, in this way. has given you a particular gift. We don't know why the Lord picks certain people. He gives them

certain gifts. But you have this outrageous gift that the Lord has given you and you give him all the glory. It's not you. It's Jesus. But, you know, when you talk about God speaks to you and you point to this guy, God tells you, boom, this is what's going on. And you point to this guy, the atheist, leaving. And a total miracle happens. Folks, what is this? What do you make of this? I mean, are there people listening to this right now who do not have much faith? What do you make of this, folks? What do you make of this? Don't you think God is speaking to you trying to get your attention, trying to get you

understand? This is real. This is what I have for you. I want you to participate in this stuff. This is real. And why do you bat it away or why do you listen but do nothing about it? You need to take action. Take a step of faith.

You know, you could see this film tomorrow. night, March 12th. I am living proof. You could do that. You could do something. I tell people, people could buy my book miracles. You can get it for like $10. It's insane. Mystore.com use the code Eric. I tell everybody like my books are usually very inexpensive. My miracles book is very inexpensive. Mystore.com use the discount code Eric. Mystore.com. My miracle's book is there. but take a step of faith. Do something about this. I mean, when I hear this, Mario, I'm just, I am astonished.

We live in a world where most people, they pretend as though none of this stuff is real. And the evidence is overwhelming. But if you don't look at it, if you look away, if you avoid it, or when you hear it, you just go, and you just keep going. You don't do anything about it. So I'm glad the film got made. How do people find it if they want to. see this tomorrow night. I am living... Okay, the best way is to go to a website that's, I, I hope it's

easy to remember. I am living proof themovie.com. I am living proof the movie.com. And when you click on the buy tickets, it shows you the theater right near you. It automatically pops up. I am living proof the movie.com. I am living proof the movie.com. I am living proof the movie.com. I am living proof the movie.com. But I just, I say this because I think that there are a lot of people that there's this kind of inertia and they don't, you know, folks, this is why you're on the planet. God wants a relationship with you. He wants to use you. It's, none of this is easy.

But God calls us to do the right thing and he will meet you. And so I just, I say this. I'm glad the film is out in theaters tomorrow. night. So tomorrow night is Wednesday, the 12th of March. You can see it there. I hope it will be available in other ways after that, Mario. Do you know that's possible? Yeah, we're making a tremendous effort now to know exactly what to do. There's a lot of churches want it. And we're trying to keep it in theaters as long as possible because a lot of people from the, that are unchurched, have been coming to see this film.

And, you know, I heard a report last night. At the end of the movie, I asked people to repeat a prayer with me to really surrender to Christ. And there was one theater where the audience, almost the majority of them, were praying along with me and staring at the screen and praying.

Other people have been healed in theaters, which is amazing. but not surprising. It's amazing, but it's not surprising because of the way this thing builds your faith and it makes you realize. We're going to have to leave it there. Folks, we're experiencing revival in America.

Do your part. Drag somebody to see this film tomorrow night, March 12th. I am living proof themovie.com. I am living proof themovie.com. This is an exciting moment. Mario, thank you. Thank you, my friend. Folks, welcome back.

My friend Mark Joseph is the man behind the extraordinary Reagan film, which I have raved about on this program. Very excited to have him. Mark Joseph, welcome back. Thanks, Eric. Thanks for having me. Well, listen, I have raved and raved on this program about the film. It's such a great film. You've been talking about for so many years, and it finally got made, and it's spectacular.

So first of all, congratulations. Just wonderful. Thank you. It only took about a third of my life. Yeah, right. So, well, and so what's going on right now? I mean, it's, you've written a book. Yeah, you know, people would tell me along the way the story of making this film, it may be more interesting than the film itself. And so I thought, oh, okay, I'll just keep notes of things. And so the book is called Making Reagan. And it's the story. behind the scenes of this journey to make this film. And I do not recommend that people shoot a movie during COVID,

for instance, among the many lessons we learned along the way, but we had to do it. I joke with my friends that if you have a young person in your life who wants to get into film, this book will help talk him out of it, him or her out of it. So dentistry is good, a lawyer is good, doctor is good, making movies, this book. It's hard.

I mean, I saw it with the, with the, the Bonhofer film, which took 12 years. It's unbelievable what goes into it. But in the case of both the Bonhofer film and this film, the product, I mean, my goodness, it took all this time. But what a wonderful thing to be able to say, you know what, we got something amazing. I mean, the Reagan film is just, it's just delightful. Anybody who hasn't seen it really should see it.

It's so great. But, I mean, the fact that you wrote a book. about it. I mean, I just think I always want to forget about how difficult things are and just move on. But you wanted to write about it. No, I totally understand what you're saying. You want to put it behind you and move on to the next thing. But it was just part of, you know, part of the journey and lessons learned along the way. And one of the themes that runs through the book as well as Reagan's journey is just the idea of the DP. Reagan called the DP, the divine plan. And he got it from his mother who obviously got it from, you know, the source, but the idea that she always

inculcated in him, and I learned that as well from my mother. It was just that when things happen, good things happen, you just keep an anchor. There's an anchor that there's a divine plan to all this madness, if something crazy is happening. And it just allows you to step back and stay calm and say, there's a purpose for this, even though it seems like there isn't a purpose for it at the moment. And that runs through the book. as well as Reagan and his friend, Judge Clark, had this little language they would do. They would say, hey, it's the DEP. It's the DEP. They'd go back and forth. Judge Clark was, of course, very devoutly Catholic.

And he was one of the 50 or so people that I got to interview to prepare for the movie. You got to interview him. Now, how old is he? He was 82. So I visited him up at his ranch in Central California. And it was very interesting. Ed Meese, of course, you know Ed Meese, but many, many others along the way. got their stories and they would say, hey, I didn't put this in my book, but I'll tell you the story now. And don't put this in the movie, but let me tell you this story now. It was just great to hear all these little tidbits about Reagan. And, you know, one thing, a movie about a perfect person isn't very

interesting. And Reagan is sort of, you know, a lot of biographers, Mr. Perfect, and never does anything wrong. And so I said, come on, guys, you know, give me something real here. I need, if I'm going to make a Superman movie, I have to have Clark Kent stories in here. So what, what is it, you know? And one guy finally said, well, you know, occasionally, he would get frustrated and he have a little flash of temper, but it would pass very quickly. And I said, well, give me an example. He goes, well, when we over-scheduled him, he would, he'd come into a meeting and he would look at the schedule and he would, he threw his glasses down the table and said, guys, I cannot do

all this. It's not possible. So it was good to get the real man because that gives the rest of us hope. You know, it's kind of like Bible stories. Thank God that he put all these foibles of all these biblical heroes in there. Yeah, Moses was a murderer. You know, David was an adulterer and a murderer. Paul, you could argue, was a murderer, had stood by while Stephen was stoned.

And these are the heroes of the Word of God. So, yeah, it's actually, it's kind of interesting. It's comforting, in a sense, because especially with Reagan, because, you know, for the younger generation, they think of him as, you know, he's up on Mount Rushmore. He was a real guy. And you, my friend, had the privilege of meeting him. I did. You know, back in, I think it was 97 or so, I had heard from friends that you could actually get a meeting with President Reagan.

He had Alzheimer's. And so I, you know, put my name in the hat. And I get a call saying, when would you like to come in to meet the president? I was like, well, let me check my schedule and check with my assistant to see if I have time to meet the president. But then she said, you know, we had a cancellation tomorrow. Can you come tomorrow? And so they did a quick secret service background check. What they wanted Eric was because he had Alzheimer's, they didn't want people that he might have known that might trigger him feeling like, gee, who is this person again?

They wanted total strangers and a steady stream of total strangers. So it was like a 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock and 3 o'clock and he had people coming in. I was just one of those total strangers. And so it came in and I could tell right away that he was not, you know, he was not there. But I think it kept him coming to the office every day. Mr. President, you've got a 2 o'clock coming in. Mark Joseph is coming to see you, and they just, they cope with it in that way. I mean, that is so fascinating, Mark.

You told me this, but I don't remember some of the nuance here. The idea that he would get dressed up, going to the office and meet people that he didn't know. Yeah. That's so extraordinary. We'll be right back. The book is Making Reagan, Making Reagan. by my friend Mark Joseph, and if you have not seen the film, folks, you got to see it. Trust me, you got to see it.

It's a great film. We'll be right back. Welcome back talking to my friend, Mark Joseph, who is the man behind this great film. Welcome back talking to my friend, Mark Joseph, who is the man behind this great film. about Reagan that I have seen. And I'm sure there are people listening who have not seen it. And it's like if you're looking for a good film, hey, hey, this is it. I mean, Mark, it was so moving when I saw it.

I think I texted you right after I saw it because I was so moved because I'd known how many years you'd worked on it. And to see the triumph of the film. What a triumph. I mean, the latter part of it, I was just practically crying. It was so moving. what is the scene where he's riding and you're playing the John Denver song? How did that happen? Because it was really, I was not expecting that song.

Like, it's such an American song. It's so beautiful. I don't associate it with the Reagan presidency. I said it with the 70s. He was president in the 80s. But it was so perfect. Yeah, thanks. You know, John Barletta was that Secret Service agent who had that last ride.

And so John, I got to know John before he passed away from cancer. I actually got Dennis a chance to meet John as well. Dennis Quaid, who plays Reagan. Sorry, Dennis Quaid, right. And he told us the story John Barletta did of how it went down. He was his agent for about 20 years until the very end. And he just told us this amazing story of how he came to Reagan and said, you know, he first came to Nancy and said, Mrs. Reagan, he just can't.

He, he, the horse knows when the rider doesn't know what he's doing, that he's not all there, basically because of the Alzheimer's. And the horse will throw. He doesn't like to be ridden by non, you know, riders that are not all there, frankly, just to be very blunt about it. And Mrs. Reagan said, I can't tell him. It's the only thing he loves. And you have to tell him. They go back and forth. And finally, he agree, okay, fine, I'll tell him. And so it's this incredible scene that he goes up there and says to the president. And he told us exactly where it happened in the whole nine yards.

And he didn't want to come out and say, you know, you can't ride because you're losing it. So he just sort of said, you know, we're not having fun out there like we used to, Mr. President. And Reagan, in his partial Alzheimer's state, realized he, he didn't. was really trying to say was, you can't ride anymore because you're not there. And he accepted it. The only embellishment in the film is we have them go on one last ride. But in reality, after he told him, he never wrote again. What an extraordinary thing that you're saying the horse knows. I guess I don't get that because I don't ride horses. I think the horse senses hesitancy. You know, a rider who's not in command. And they just don't, they don't like it. That's what,

that's what I was told anyway. Yeah. Wow. But that's, it's near the end of the film and it's so beautiful. So the book Making Reagan is mainly about the making of the film. So tell us a little bit about that because that's what we're talking about is the book right now, Making Reagan. Well, yeah, I should add the movie is available on Amazon

and iTunes. And, you know, we had a lot of hard things along the way, Eric. I mean, you can't even imagine We were, our bank sent us at debanking notice just after the 2020 presidential election. I get this notice saying, you know, you must move your funds in 24 out, in 24, 30 days, I'm sorry. And I went to my banker and I said, what's going on? She says, I have no idea. This, I've never heard us before in my life. No recourse, no phone number, no email address, just you're out.

We had Facebook. What's the bank? Well, I don't want to say because I went back three months later and got un-de-banked. But it's one of the big ones, and you can guess which one. But Facebook created problems for us. They refused to let us advertise. They actually suspended our accounts for multiple days. And the reasoning...

What do you think of Mark Zuckerberg showing his face at CPAC a few days ago? Well, the old saying faith without works is dead. All I see was the works. That's to me is what I experienced. And I experienced Facebook telling our social media team two things that, A, this is about a political candidate or a political person as if he's running for office. And the second was that this might influence the election. This is a historical biography of a man who was president 40 years ago. Are you people out of your minds?

The good news is news we get a story on it and Facebook confronted Facebook and Facebook admitted that they had made a mistake and they were to stop it. But it kept happening. It didn't stop. So, anyway, all those things were just part of our roadblocks. Of course, you know about the 18% of Rotten Tomatoes, which we have a good laugh about. No, no, tell me that. Tell my audience about that. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, yeah. So we are actually, I have applied to Guinness World Book of Records for the greatest gap in the history of movies between the critics and the people who watch the movie at Rotten Tomatoes.

So Rotten Tomatoes is an aggregator that has all the critics scores, plus what's called the popcorn meter, which is the person who watched the movie goes and rates it. So for the critics were 98% and for the filmgoers, we were, I'm sorry, 98% for film goers, 18% for critics. And that 80 point gap beats the previous record by 15 points, which is Boondock Saints. That is, that is mind-blowing. I mean, again, if you wanted to illustrate with a chart, how far from the mainstream the cultural elites are, ladies and gentlemen, there you have it. anybody who would see the film, you don't have to be a rock-ribbed Reagan conservative to love the film. It's a beautiful film. It's a powerful film. And the fact that 18% of the critics liked it, that's so insane, Mark, I can't believe.

I mean, honestly, I am shocked at that, especially 40 years after the presidency. I mean, this is what's so weird to me. You would think that they would have toned down, but they're that out of touch. Hollywood is just that out of touch. it's mind-blowing. Hollywood and the cultural elites, the people who write about films. I mean, remember the viciousness that came against Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Right. Vicious, vicious, vicious. And then it makes $600 million at the box office.

Well, yeah, the passion was 49% of Rod Tomatoes. I'm always expecting the 49, but 18 was a shocker. I think people, the critics, you know, we treated Reagan like you would treat any other biopic person, you know, whether it's Ray Charles or Bohemian Rhapsody or we just treated him like a human being, not as a politician. I think that was the great sin was we didn't use the opportunity to berate him for this policy or that policy, but we treated him like an American story. As I, you know, I worked on the Ray Charles movie, for instance, and we didn't go about critiquing this or that about it. We told the story. So I feel good about it. You know, the 98% to me is what is what I care about the most, the academy.

and all the other things, you know, that's peripheral to me. We also failed to meet the diversity requirements in order to qualify for an Oscar for Best Picture, along with a number of other movies this year. So it's a strange new world, but we just keep doing what we do. I told you you should have made Nancy Black. You would have had all kinds of awards. The Black Nancy Reagan, I tried to tell you as a friend who refused.

Mark Joseph, congratulations on the film Reagan and on the new book, Making, Reagan. Folks, no kidding. You got to see the film. It's a great film. Reagan and the new book about it, making Reagan by Mark Joseph. Mark, thank you. Thanks, Eric. Folks, a lot of news to share right now. Okay, real quick. Remember, I was telling everybody to boycott Target because of what they did. You know the whole story. I think it's time to reverse engines. Target, you need to reward people when they do the right thing. Target made a huge decision to blow off their whole DEI thing. which is amazing that on a corporate level, a company that's been sort of progressive, would

totally change their tune and say, we are no longer going to play the DEI game. That is big news. They are being boycotted by all kinds of radical Marxists. There's some insane leftist mega church pastor calling for a boycott on target. I am here to say we should reward them. When somebody totally changes their tune, we need to reward them. So I am to do. today going to buy a TV at Target. Not making that up. Got to get a TV for my mom. I'm going to do it at Target today.

We need to reward them. God bless them for changing what they've done. By the way, I wanted to talk more about Donald Trump's ultimatum in Israel. It's just amazing. The evilness of Hamas. I can't talk about it because I get so upset. But I wanted to say that portions of this program are sponsored by the Israeli Ministry of tourism on behalf of the government of Israel. But that's not why I talk about Israel. I just want to

mention that. But I'm asking you specifically to visit goisrael.com for more info on visiting Israel. Obviously now is not the perfect time to go, but to think about it, everyone I talk to who's been to Israel, they all say the same thing. It's like funny. They go, oh, it was life changing. It was life changing. It was life changing because that's where it all went down. That's where it actually happened. And when you see those things. I was just there briefly a number of years ago, I guess was seven years ago. And even though I was there briefly, I was moved to tears by realizing that Jesus walked here. And so it's a life-changing event for everyone I've talked to. So it's important that we stand with Israel and pray that the horror is going over there end soon. So I look forward to

going back there when I can. In the meantime, visit go-Israel.com. for more information. Also wanted to mention that we talk about education a lot on the program and how our nation's public schools have been taken over by lunatic ideologues. You know, just like corporate America. I was saying like Target, well, Target has reversed course. We need to take back our schools as well, which is why I'm exhorting you to visit our friends at the Herzog Foundation,

Herdsug Foundation.com. They are the trusted source on American K-12 private education. They have a remarkable suite of free resources for parents and grandparents. Think about making the switch from public schools to a Christian education or to homeschooling, which is the best of the best. They have an online publication, The Lion, the Lion, sorry, you can go to readd-Lion.com, R-E-A-D-L-I-O-N-com. They have a podcast called Making the Leap.

These guys are heroes, folks. If you've encountered them, you already know they're on the same page as we. And I want to say that it's important that we're aware of them. And again, they're there to help. Herzog Foundation.com. Before we end our one, I want to mention that we've got a lot of Socrates and the stuff, Socrates and the city stuff coming up. I've done a whole bunch of Socrates and City interviews in London.

We're going to be airing those soon. One is with Ian Herssey, Ali, Buckle, your seatbelt, so that's going to be all on. Go to Socrates in the city.com. Sign up for Socrates Plus on our YouTube page. Most of the stuff's available. We're doing an event in Lexington, Kentucky, with Hillsdale President Larry Arne. Very excited about that.

That's April 16th, Palm Beach, March 21st. I'm going to interview Senator Josh Hawley. But there's so much stuff at the Socrates and the city website. And then finally, plug from my store.com. You can get most of my books, and especially the Donald, the Caveman books. at my store.com. Be sure you use the code Eric at my store.com. Donald Drain's the swamp is there waiting for you. Donald Drain's the swamp. Discount code Eric at my store.com. Keep up with the Trump administration when you subscribe to the Trump report. This email brings you daily highlights from

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