The Narrative – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Today, Aaron, Mike, and special guest Maria Baer celebrate a massive Supreme Court victory for the First Amendment and biblical truth. With their 8-1 ruling in favor of therapist Kaley Chiles, the Court struck a blow against the Left’s 15-year crusade to ban so-called "conversion therapy" and muzzle Christian counselors. Listen to this episode of The Narrative to hear how the radical lobby uses state power to embrace evil and alienate children from reality and truth.

After the news, Heritage Foundation Policy Analyst Emma Waters joins the hosts to shatter the modern "girl boss" and "tradwife" delusions with her new book, Lead Like Jael. Emma breaks down how the biblical story of Jael provides a new blueprint for women to cultivate uniquely feminine virtues like shrewdness and discernment in a culture that treats womanhood and motherhood as liabilities. From exposing the "toxic empathy" of the radical Left to calling out the Church’s own failure to articulate the goodness of marriage, Emma shares how a productive, Christ-centered home is the ultimate weapon against an enemy that always attacks the family first.

More about Emma Waters

Emma Waters is a Policy Analyst in the Center for Technology and the Human Person at The Heritage Foundation. Her work focuses on family, biotechnology, and reproductive medicine. She is a co-author of “A Future for the Family: A New Technology Agenda for the Right” statement at First Things. Her first book, Lead Like Jael, was released with Skyhorse Publishing in early 2026. Emma graduated Valedictorian at Lee University with a B.S. in Political Science and a B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at The Catholic University of America. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two daughters.

Want to Go Deeper?

On Saturday, April 11, Center for Christian Virtue will host our 2026 Columbus Celebration Gala.

We're excited to welcome our keynote speaker, Scott Jennings, who is CNN's senior conservative voice and one of the sharpest commentators in the national spotlight. He's known for his clarity, conviction, and humor, and Scott brings decades of experience at the crossroads of politics and media, including serving in the George W. Bush White House and key roles in multiple presidential and Senate campaigns. 

It's going to be an elegant evening where you'll enjoy an incredible dinner followed by visionary keynotes exploring the path forward for the future of Ohio and America. 

Get your tickets or secure your table today at CCV.org/ColumbusGala.

📢 Talk to Us

We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We’ll answer your questions on an “Ask Us Anything” episode later, so send in your questions now.

👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at 614-769-7077.

👉  Email us at thenarrative@ccv.org.

To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit CCV.org.

⭐️ How are we doing?

If you've found any episode of The Narrative insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It helps us to know what you're enjoying and brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you'rehelping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!

🔎 About The Narrative

The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture and political controversies.

Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

Support the show: https://www.ccv.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Narrative, Aaron, David, and Mike expose the radical left’s latest assault on children. David breaks down the chaos in the Ohio House, where activists in full drag regalia—backed by the entire Democrat caucus—demanded the "right" to perform in front of children. The hosts also call out the legacy media for its deceptive "experimental" labeling of life-saving abortion pill reversals and explore a massive legal hammer coming for Big Tech’s "addiction engineering" of our kids.

Then, Senator Bernie Moreno and Attorney General Dave Yost offer profound reflections on the spiritual foundations of Ohio’s heritage. Sen. Moreno reminds us of John Adams' warning that our Constitution is wholly inadequate for anyone but a moral and religious people. Finally, AG Yost delivers a masterclass on Thomas Worthington, the "Father of Ohio," proving that a fearless, Christ-centered loyalty is the only reason for Ohio’s unique impact on the Republic.

Tune in now or queue up your commute podcast!

More about Senator Bernie Moreno

Bernie Moreno was born in Bogota, Colombia. He moved to the United States with his family at age five and became an American citizen at age 18. Bernie purchased his first car dealership in 2005 and grew that one dealership into one of the largest dealership groups in America, eventually employing over 1,000 Ohioans. More recently, in 2016, Bernie recognized the value and transformational potential of blockchain technology, before it received mainstream attention, and moved much of his volunteer time and investment dollars into the space. Bernie believes that Ohioans deserve better than what they've gotten from Washington, and he will fight to better their lives in the United States Senate.

More about Attorney General Dave Yost

Dave Yost was re-elected as Ohio’s 51st attorney general on Nov. 8, 2022, receiving more votes than any other attorney general in the state’s history. During his first term as the state’s chief legal officer, he quickly gained a national reputation as a fearless advocate for the rule of law, or as he puts it, “the same rules for everybody.”   

Yost’s goal is to “do big good” for the people of Ohio by protecting consumers, rooting out corruption, defending the environment, ensuring an open and competitive marketplace, and fulfilling the many other duties of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Yost began his public-service career as Delaware County auditor, later winning election as that county’s prosecutor. From 2011 through 2018, he served as Ohio’s auditor of state and, in January 2019, began his first term as attorney general.   

Yost earned his bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and his law degree from Capital University. He and his wife, Darlene, live in Franklin County; they have three grown children and five grandchildren.

Want to Go Deeper?

On Saturday, April 11, Center for Christian Virtue will host our 2026 Columbus Celebration Gala.

We're excited to welcome our keynote speaker, Scott Jennings, who is CNN's senior conservative voice and one of the sharpest commentators in the national spotlight. He's known for his clarity, conviction, and humor, and Scott brings decades of experience at the crossroads of politics and media, including serving in the George W. Bush White House and key roles in multiple presidential and Senate campaigns. 

It's going to be an elegant evening where you'll enjoy an incredible dinner followed by visionary keynotes exploring the path forward for the future of Ohio and America. 

Get your tickets or secure your table today at CCV.org/ColumbusGala.

📢 Talk to Us

We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We’ll answer your questions on an “Ask Us Anything” episode later, so send in your questions now.

👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at 614-769-7077.

👉  Email us at thenarrative@ccv.org.

To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit CCV.org.

⭐️ How are we doing?

If you've found any episode of The Narrative insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It helps us to know what you're enjoying and brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you'rehelping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!

🔎 About The Narrative

The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture and political controversies.

Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

Support the show: https://www.ccv.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From day one, The Narrative has been about one thing: equipping you to stand firm, rooted in truth. As believers, we cannot surrender ground by operating on the Left’s terms; we must stand on the natural rights given by our Creator.

Aaron, David, and Mike highlight this call to courage as they review a recent protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota. The guys also discuss the importance of the March for Life and remind listeners to reach out to Senators Moreno and Husted to encourage them to defend the Hyde Amendment.

After the news, the hosts sit down with Daniel Harmon, the creative force behind the viral Tuttle Twins cartoon series. Daniel walked away from a high-powered advertising career to build a record-breaking, crowdfunded media empire. Why? Because the modern university system has abandoned sound economics and natural rights. So Daniel decided to teach them to our kids instead.

Through the adventures of the twins and their time-traveling grandmother, Daniel explains how he simplifies complex topics like inflation, entrepreneurship, and individual liberty so even an eight-year-old can master them. Daniel underscores why it matters that parents, not institutions, remain the primary voice shaping the next generation.

More About Daniel Harmon

Daniel Harmon is the creator and showrunner of the Tuttle Twins TV Show, an award-winning cartoon that teaches kids about the principles of freedom and economics.

Tuttle Twins is based on the book series that has sold over 5 million copies. In 2020, Tuttle Twins set a record as the #1 crowdfunded kids' show in the world!

Daniel is a creative entrepreneur and co-founded Harmon Brothers, a renowned video advertising agency that has driven billions of views and over $700 million in sales. Prior to Tuttle Twins, Daniel served as Chief Creative Officer of Harmon Brothers, where he created, directed, and oversaw ad campaigns, including viral hits for Squatty Potty, Purple mattress, Poo-pourri, Chatbooks, Lume, FiberFix, Camp Chef, and more.

Daniel is also a co-founder of VidAngel and Angel Studios.

📢 TALK TO US

We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We’ll answer your questions on an “Ask Us Anything” episode later, so send in your questions now.

👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at 614-769-7077.

👉  Email us at thenarrative@ccv.org.

To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit CCV.org.

⭐️ HOW ARE WE DOING?

If you've found any episode of The Narrative insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It helps us to know what you're enjoying and brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you're helping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!

🔎 ABOUT THE NARRATIVE

The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture and political controversies.

Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

Support the show: https://www.ccv.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They'll know we're Christians because... we don't vandalize buildings?

In this special episode of The Narrative, Aaron Baer, Maria Baer, David Mahan, and Mike Andrews pull back the curtain on Aaron’s recent appearance at the historic City Club of Cleveland and the firestorm that erupted around it.

The team unpacks what it was like to share the Gospel in a room defined by spiritual oppression and LGBTQ activism, while protesters outside resorted to vandalism and intimidation. You’ll hear the behind-the-scenes stories legacy media refused to cover—including the "gotcha" questions that backfired and how accusations of "hate" collided with basic statements of reality like men can’t get pregnant and children deserve protection.

Beyond the headlines, this conversation reveals the deep cultural divide on display and why Christians cannot retreat from the public square, even when the cost is real.

Tune in to hear the story the mainstream headlines refused to tell.

Key Resources

City Club Recording: Watch or listen to the full, unedited event on CCV.org. 

The Hope and a Future Report: Explore the data on Ohio’s #29 ranking in the Family Structure Index and the "Success Sequence" at Hope.CCV.org.

The Minnery Fellowship: Equipping pastors to lead their congregations through cultural challenges with biblical courage. Learn more at MinneryFellowship.org.

Ohio SAFE Act (HB68) Facts: Get the truth about Ohio's law protecting minors from experimental medical procedures at CCV.org.

The Success Sequence: Graduating, working, and marrying (in that order) is the most effective path out of poverty. Learn more about Ohio's SB156.

📢 TALK TO US

We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We’ll answer your questions on an “Ask Us Anything” episode later, so send in your questions now.

👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at 614-769-7077.

👉  Email us at thenarrative@ccv.org.

To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit CCV.org.

⭐️ HOW ARE WE DOING?

If you've found any episode of The Narrative insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It helps us to know what you're enjoying and brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you're helping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!

🔎 ABOUT THE NARRATIVE

The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture and political controversies.

Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

Support the show: https://www.ccv.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two decisions hit Washington this week that could have massive consequences for families nationwide. On the judicial front, the Supreme Court is weighing whether states can protect women’s sports. At the same time, Congress is debating the extension of Obamacare subsidies, this time without Hyde Amendment protections for the unborn. Aaron, David, and Mike explain what’s at stake in these two major ideological battles.

After the news, Dr. David Closson joins the podcast to unpack new survey data from George Barna and the Family Research Council, revealing a troubling gap inside America’s churches.

While many regular churchgoers say they want clear biblical teaching on issues like abortion, sexuality, and religious freedom, foundational Christian beliefs about God, sin, and salvation are rapidly eroding.

When churches go silent, culture fills the gap.

Barna’s research shows that all seven “cornerstones” of a biblical worldview are in decline, even among committed believers. David explains what’s driving this collapse, why it matters for the Church’s witness, and what pastors and Christians must do to reclaim biblical clarity in an increasingly confused culture.

TAKE ACTION

Now is the moment to speak up using CCV.org. Through our Action Center, you can quickly contact Senators Moreno and Husted to encourage them to defend the Hyde Amendment. The process takes less than a minute! 

Call on Ohio's US Senator Moreno and US Senator Husted to oppose taxpayer-funded abortion in any “deal” on Obamacare subsidies.

More About Dr. David Closson

David Closson, Ph.D., serves as the Director of the Center for Biblical Worldview at Family Research Council, where he researches, writes, and speaks about life, human sexuality, religious liberty, and related issues from a biblical worldview. He is the author of FRC's Biblical Worldview Series, which seeks to help Christians and Christian leaders apply the teachings of the Bible to difficult moral questions.

Dr. Closson's work has appeared on Fox News, RealClearPolitics, National Review, The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, Decision Magazine, WORLD Opinions, The Gospel Coalition, Townhall, and The Christian Post. He is the author of Life After Roe: Equipping Christians in the Fight for Life Today (B&H Academic, 2025), co-author of Male and Female He Created Them: A Study on Identity, Sexuality, and Marriage (Christian Focus, 2023), and co-author of the forthcoming book Worldview Basics: A Worldview Curriculum for Students (Fidelis Publishing, 2026).

Dr. Closson is a regular guest on Christian and conservative media outlets, including Washington Watch, FRC's national television and radio program heard on more than 800 stations across 48 states. He also speaks at conferences, seminars, and churches across the United States and abroad, addressing moral and cultural issues from a biblical worldview.

Dr. Closson is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Ph.D.), The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div., Th.M.) and the University of Central Florida (B.A.). He lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife, Abby, and their son, Daniel.

📢 TALK TO US

We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We’ll answer your questions on an “Ask Us Anything” episode later, so send in your questions now.

👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at 614-769-7077.

👉  Email us at thenarrative@ccv.org.

To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit CCV.org.

⭐️ HOW ARE WE DOING?

If you've found any episode of The Narrative insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It helps us to know what you're enjoying and brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you're helping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!

🔎 ABOUT THE NARRATIVE

The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture and political controversies.

Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

Support the show: https://www.ccv.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Aaron and David take listeners behind the headlines to break down the explosive growth of fraud in programs like Minnesota’s Somali-run daycares and Medicaid housing services, and the human cost of underregulated refugee resettlement.

They explore the influence of billionaire-funded gender ideology initiatives, shifts in family courts, and victories in red-state policy reforms. They also touch on the political implications of Ohio’s lieutenant governor candidate picks, the ban on AI in higher education, and US actions against Venezuela’s narco-state regime.

Neuroscientist, educator, and bestselling author Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath joins the podcast to reveal why classroom technology may be undermining your child’s ability to learn. From 1-to-1 laptops to constant smartphone access, he explains the research linking screens to lower cognitive performance, disrupted memory, and weaker problem-solving skills—and why banning phones can boost learning by up to 11 hours per week and slash behavioral problems by 80 percent.

Jared also uncovers the hidden motives behind the tech push in schools, the “mode effect” that makes handwriting far more effective than typing, and why teaching kids how to think beats teaching them how to use tools, even in our high-tech world.

More About Jared Cooney Horvath

Jared Cooney Horvath (PhD, MEd) is a neuroscientist, educator, and best-selling author who specializes in human learning and brain development. He is the creator of The Learning Blueprint, an international award-winning program helping educators and students understand how learning actually works.

Jared has conducted research and taught at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Melbourne, and has worked with more than 1,000 schools around the world. He is the author of six books, has published over fifty research articles, and his work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Economist, Harvard Business Review, and ABC’s Catalyst.

Jared currently serves as Director of LME Global, an organization dedicated to bringing cutting-edge brain and behavioral science to educators, students, and communities. To inquire about working with him, or to learn more about his international award-winning Science of Learning programs (The Learning Blueprint for Teachers & The Learning Blueprint for Students), visit lmeglobal.com.

📢 TALK TO US

We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We’ll answer your questions on an “Ask Us Anything” episode later, so send in your questions now.

👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at 614-769-7077.

👉  Email us at thenarrative@ccv.org.

To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit CCV.org.

⭐️ HOW ARE WE DOING?

If you've found any episode of The Narrative insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It helps us to know what you're enjoying and brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you're helping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!

🔎 ABOUT THE NARRATIVE

The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture and political controversies.

Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

Support the show: https://www.ccv.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who actually deserves credit for founding America? Your eighth-grade history class probably didn't give you the whole story. 

For the first Narrative episode of 2026, Mike and David sit down with author Cynthia Scott to answer this question with insights from her book, Celebrating God, Our Founder, at America’s 250th Birthday.

Together, they explore:

• How early settlers prayed their way to America and governed themselves using biblical principles.
• Why pastors were once the primary thought leaders in American communities.
• How the First Great Awakening unified the colonies and laid the groundwork for independence.
• What national repentance could, and should, look like as we approach America’s semiquincentennial.

Americans are once again talking about repentance, prayer, and God’s role in our history. This renewed conversation suggests that our Divine Founder hasn't given up on our nation yet because, as John Adams wrote, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

More About Cynthia Scott

Cynthia Scott has led prayer initiatives across Pittsburgh and beyond, including citywide gatherings, prayer for national events, and a daily prayer call for the nation. Passionate about honoring God and praying for revival in America, she has written numerous prayer guides. Celebrating God, Our Founder, at America’s 250th Birthday reflects her conviction that God’s providence shaped the United States and calls believers to honor Him as our true Founder and help to shape our future through prayer. Cynthia resides near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

📢 TALK TO US

We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We’ll answer your questions on an “Ask Us Anything” episode later, so send in your questions now.

👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at 614-769-7077.

👉  Email us at thenarrative@ccv.org.

To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit CCV.org.

⭐️ HOW ARE WE DOING?

If you've found any episode of The Narrative insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It helps us to know what you're enjoying and brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you're helping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!

🔎 ABOUT THE NARRATIVE

The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture and political controversies.

Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

Support the show: https://www.ccv.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As 2025 comes to a close, Aaron, David, and Mike look back on a year that set cultural change in motion and reveal where the ground is shifting.

From the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk and the unexpected national hunger for the Gospel that followed, to a major media outlet naming CCV one of Ohio's most influential political forces, this episode explores what these stories really mean.

The guys also unpack the growing backlash to gambling expansion, the integrity crisis in professional sports, historic wins for school choice, and why some cultural losses may be setting the stage for long-term renewal.

It’s part year-in-review, part unfiltered conversation, and part reminder that when faith refuses to stay private, the world takes notice. If you want to understand where the culture is heading in 2026, don't miss this conversation.

Listen to Aaron, David, and Mike on The Narrative.

Want to Go Deeper?

Early-bird ticket sales are available for the 2026 Essential Summit! On Friday, October 23, business owners, ministry leaders, educators, and families will gather to be equipped to have a faithful influence in a rapidly shifting culture. 

Use code FIRSTINLINE at checkout on EssentialSummit.org by December 31 to lock in $50 off—our lowest ticket price of the year.

After December, prices go up and won’t return. Register today and secure your spot for the third annual Essential Summit featuring The Narrative hosts, Dr. Rosaria Butterfield, Frank Turek, and dozens more. We’ll see you on October 23!

📢 Talk to Us

We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We’ll answer your questions on an “Ask Us Anything” episode later, so send in your questions now.

👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at 614-769-7077.

👉  Email us at thenarrative@ccv.org.

To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit CCV.org.

⭐️ How are we doing?

If you've found any episode of The Narrative insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It helps us to know what you're enjoying and brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you're helping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!

🔎 About The Narrative

The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture and political controversies.

Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

Support the show: https://www.ccv.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does "neutral secularism" exist? Why are some beliefs welcomed in the public square, but Christianity is disqualified?

In this final episode of The Narrative before Christmas, Aaron, David, and Mike react to the Cincinnati Enquirer investigative profile that called CCV "relentless" for turning Christian beliefs into public policy. Marketed as an objective report, the article instead exposes a familiar assumption: Christian beliefs are inherently biased and therefore unwelcome in the public square, while non-Christian belief systems are presumed neutral and free to shape law, culture, and power.

After the news, Luke Niforatos of Smart Approaches to Marijuana exposes what’s really happening behind the scenes with legalized marijuana. An early Christmas gift to Big Weed, President Trump's executive order hands the marijuana industry a massive $2 billion tax break, turbocharges advertising to kids, and further normalizes a drug that is more potent, more addictive, and more destructive than most Americans realize.

The conversation is a glaring reminder that policies shape behavior. Christians cannot afford to sit this one out while the profit-driven drug industry destroys America.

More About Luke Niforatos

Luke Niforatos serves as the Executive Vice President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading drug policy experts. Leveraging more than a decade working on drug, addiction and health care issues, Luke drives the strategy behind SAM’s federal, state, and educational initiatives. Luke has testified in state capitols across America.

He is a sought-after guest on major media outlets, including ABC, Fox News, NBC, CNBC, CSPAN, Newsmax, and network affiliates, as well as syndicated and local radio shows in markets coast to coast. Luke has been featured in Time Magazine and as a speaker at drug policy events held by The Economist, the United Nations’ Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and hundreds of town halls.

Prior to joining SAM, he was the co-founder of a successful healthcare company. Luke attended the University of Denver and has a Master of Arts from Johns Hopkins University. He is currently a J.D. Candidate at the University of Denver – Sturm College of Law.

Want to Go Deeper?

Early-bird ticket sales are still available for the 2026 Essential Summit!  Believers, ministry leaders, educators, and families will gather on Friday, October 23, to be equipped for faithful influence in a rapidly shifting culture. 

From now until December 31, you can lock in $50 off by using the code FIRSTINLINE at checkout.

This early-bird rate is the lowest ticket price we will offer. Once December ends, the price increases and will not return. Register today, and we'll see you on October 23 for the third annual Essential Summit!

📢 Talk to Us

We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We’ll answer your questions on an “Ask Us Anything” episode later, so send in your questions now.

👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at 614-769-7077.

👉  Email us at thenarrative@ccv.org.

To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit CCV.org.

⭐️ How are we doing?

If you've found any episode of The Narrative insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It helps us to know what you're enjoying and brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you're helping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!

🔎 About The Narrative

The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture and political controversies.

Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

Support the show: https://www.ccv.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Narrative, Aaron, David, and Mike break down the firestorm that erupted in Cleveland after the City Club’s January 16 event, featuring Aaron, became ground zero in a very public showdown.

LGBTQ activists penned an open letter to pressure the City Club to cancel or modify the event, drawing a response from Attorney General Dave Yost. The Board met on Wednesday, and the  City Club CEO Dan Moulthrop announced on Thursday that the event would proceed as planned.

After the news, stay tuned for the powerhouse keynote from Carl Trueman at the 2025 Essential Summit. Trueman brilliantly uncovers the root of every cultural battle we’re facing by exposing the deeper crisis behind debates on gender, tech, and identity: the fight over what it means to be human.

He shows how modern technology—from smartphones to AI—isn’t just changing how we live, but how we see ourselves. Our society has technology that is actively blurring the very boundaries of human nature. And in that confusion, movements like transgenderism and transhumanism gain ground by treating the human body as nothing more than raw material for reinvention.

Trueman delivers a gripping roadmap for Christians on how to respond with clarity, conviction, and courage in a culture being reshaped by forces most people don't even notice.

More About Carl Trueman

Born and raised in England, Carl R. Trueman is a graduate of the Universities of Cambridge (M.A., Classics) and Aberdeen (Ph.D, Church History), and has taught on the faculties of the Universities of Nottingham and Aberdeen. In 2017-18 he was the William E. Simon Visiting Fellow in Religion and Public Life in the James Madison Program at Princeton University. 

Since 2018, he has served as a professor at Grove City College in the Calderwood School of Arts and Humanities. Originally a specialist in Reformation and Post-Reformation Protestant thought, more recently his work has focused on identity, critical theory, and the impact of the sexual revolution.

He is a Contributing Editor at First Things and a Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington DC. His most recent books are The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Expressive Individualism, Cultural Amnesia, and the Road to Sexual Revolution, (with Bruce Gordon) The Oxford Handbook to Calvin, and To Change All Worlds: Critical Theory from Marx to Marcuse (B and H). His writing has appeared in Deseret Journal, Wall Street Journal, National Review Online, American Mind, Claremont Review of Books, and Public Discourse. He and his wife, Catriona, a proud Gaelic Scot, have two adult sons, a daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter.

Want to Go Deeper?

This week, ticket sales opened for the 2026 Essential Summit!  Each year, the momentum grows as believers, ministry leaders, educators, and families gather to equip themselves for faithful influence in a rapidly shifting culture. 2026 promises to be even better!

From now until December 31, you can lock in $50 off by using the code FIRSTINLINE at checkout.

This early-bird rate is the lowest ticket price we will offer. Once December ends, the price increases and will not return. Register today, and we'll see you on October 23 for the third annual Essential Summit!

📢 Talk to Us

We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We’ll answer your questions on an “Ask Us Anything” episode later, so send in your questions now.

👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at 614-769-7077.

👉  Email us at thenarrative@ccv.org.

To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit CCV.org.

⭐️ How are we doing?

If you've found any episode of The Narrative insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It helps us to know what you're enjoying and brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you're helping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!

🔎 About The Narrative

The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture and political controversies.

Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

Support the show: https://www.ccv.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.