The Vince Coakley Radio Program | US Economy | The Threat of Socialism | Faith Focus Friday

What is Toyota affordability? It all starts with buying smart, and your Toyota dealer has great deals available to qualified customers on reliable cars and SUVs, including the redesigned RAV-4, spacious Grand Highlander, sporty Camrys, and Corolla's. It means driving for less, with efficient hybrid and plug-in hybrid options available throughout the lineup, extending your overall driving range and delivering great MPGs, saving you money at the pump. And it means trading for more. Toyota is known for building long-lasting vehicles. And as the best resale value brand, according to Kelly Blue Book, your Toyota can be worth thousands more than average when it's time to trade in. That's Toyota affordability. Buy smart, drive for less, and trade for more. Shop Toyota.com or your local dealer for deals and details. Vehicles projected resale value is specific to the 2026 model year. For more information, visit Kelly Blue Books KB.com. Toyota brand average resale value is 53% versus the average vehicle at 45%. Toyota, let's go places. Good morning and happy Friday. Welcome to the Vince Coakley Radio program. I've got to be honest with you. I am tired. I don't know about you. Do you find yourself at the end of the week? You're just drained. And, you know, I... It was kind of funny because I... had everything together this morning and you know i'm gonna put my head down just a little bit and and i kept looking at the clock and looking at the clock and you know what i better better stop this or i'm gonna end up oversleeping So this will, if nothing else, will be a good weekend to rest and recover, which I hope you will be able to do as well. A lot to talk about over the next couple of hours. We're going to talk about what's going on with retail sales. Are you spending money? If so, how much are your spending habits changing at all? We'll have a conversation about this. On this overall subject of the economy, the messaging out of the White House, is it working? We've got a story on that and how that is playing out with people as we approach the midterms. And interestingly enough, came across really good post, believe it or not, an opinion piece in the Charlotte Observer. And it is right on point. One thing you're going to find about me. think those of you who are regular listeners know this. I'm a person who is consistent. I do not play favorites. And by that, I mean, a person either is promoting the right standards and values and they're living up to those or they aren't. And I don't care what letter is behind the name, as in Republican and Democrat.

I will tell you this, if you claim to be a Republican, and you're going out and promoting ideas that are contrary to the constitutional values that I hold to, well, you're not going to find a friendly voice here. We're going to talk about this, and this really good opinion piece, believe it or not, in the Charlotte Observer that is coming up. Didn't get to this yesterday. You know, it's amazing to me how uncreative. The left, the Hollywood left is. And the other people, I at least am able to respect their skills as actors, comedians, whatever they are. When they do that well, what's really awful is when some of these people that I kind of had some respect for as actors. You know, really make total idiots out of themselves. I'm going to give you an example of that coming up, something we did not get to. We've got a look back in history at a message from a Democrat that would not go over well today. And we thought this guy was radical back then. Prediction markets. have a new choice for president for 2028 on the democrat side it's going to be very interesting and we'll also share funny Babylon B post associated with this person let's begin right here at home and something very interesting that will bring the spotlight onto Charlotte again it's pretty awesome The Observer reports how UNC Charlotte could get millions of dollars to help host the 2027 Military World Games. It's a major international sporting event. The state budget adjustment bill signed to law by Governor Josh Stein includes $25 million to help put on the 27 CISM Military World Summer Games in Charlotte. One of the largest multi-sport events in the world, expected to bring about 10,000 military athletes from over 100 countries to the city. That's kind of cool, isn't it? New legislation calls for $7.5 million of state funding to go to UNC Charlotte to reserve facilities for the games. As for more details on how the school will use the money, university spokeswoman Christy Jackson, saying UNC Charlotte is working with the local organizing committee for the games on next steps and we'll share more details in the near future. Just saying in a statement, we look forward to serving one of the venues as one of the venues for competitors from around the globe. Most of the $25 million in state funding contingent on organizers securing the participation of at least 50 countries with a maximum of 7,500 total participants. Actually, it's a minimum of 7,500. Game organizers also asked the City of Charlotte for $23 million in cash and in-kind contributions, though that request revised down in early August. The games...

Just under a year from now, June 25th through July 4th, 2027, events including archery, boxing, and diving, plus military competitions such as aeronautical pentathlon and naval pentathlon. So this ought to be pretty interesting, another opportunity to showcase the wonderful city that we live in for the 2027 military world games. Kind of cool, isn't it? What is Toyota affordability? It all starts with buying smart. and your Toyota dealer has great deals available to qualified customers on reliable cars and SUVs, including the redesigned RAV-4, spacious Grand Highlander, sporty Camrys, and Corolla's. It means driving for less, with efficient hybrid and plug-in hybrid options available throughout the lineup, extending your overall driving range and delivering great MPGs, saving you money at the pump. And it means trading for more. Toyota is known for building long-lasting vehicles. And as the best resale value brand, according to Kelly Blue Book, your Toyota can be worth thousands more than average when it's time to trade in. That's Toyota affordability. Buy smart, drive for less, and trade for more. Shop Toyota.com or your local dealer for deals and details. Vehicles projected resale value is specific to the 2026 model year. For more information, visit Kelly BlueBookskb.com. Toyota brand average resale value is 53% versus the average vehicle at 45%. Toyota, let's go places. Many people believe buying a home requires a large down payment and years of saving, but that's not always the case. Across the country, there are programs designed to help first-time home buyers take the next step toward home ownership. Some of these programs offer down payment assistance or grant funding that may help cover part of the upfront cost of purchasing a home. Grants are especially helpful because they generally do not have to be repaid. There are also organizations that provide homebuyer education, financial counseling, and guidance to help individuals understand the home buying process before they begin. The goal is simple to help more families become informed and prepared for home ownership. If owning a home is something you've been thinking about, start by visiting tools for home ownership.com. This message is brought to you by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling's Paving the Way Forward Initiative.

Do I have to interrupt this? I'm just kidding. Just having a little fun here on a Friday morning. Love to get your thoughts on things we discussed during the course of the broadcast day of the Vince Coakley radio program. Lots of interesting things on our plate today, including this. We've gotten a little more detail about what is envisioned for A people mover to connect the terminal at Charlotte Douglas Airport to the planned Silver Line rail station on Wilkinson Boulevard. Just to put some perspective on this, and for those of you who travel a lot and have experienced some healthy connections and ways to get around when you go to other cities. The memory that still stands out to me several years ago when I spontaneously, I think the day before it decided to go to Seattle for New Year's Eve. And I joke about this all the time because I've called this my least expensive trip. I think I spent about $7. I think it was for an orange juice and for food from a street vendor. That was it. I flew up there, I think it was, well, New Year's Eve in the evening, got up there and hopped on the light rail. It was free. Took the train to downtown Seattle to the Space Needle, watched the fireworks, went back to the airport, and, you know, just slept for a couple of hours before getting on the plane to come back. I mean, it was fun. And the other fun thing, and one of the reasons I'm telling you this story, it was so cool to not have to worry about Uber or Lyft or renting a car. It just get on that train that took me directly to downtown Seattle. And like I said, I spent all, what, $7 on that trip? It would be cool to be able to do the same thing here. And a lot of times it's not so much about us. It's about the people we desire to attract. Now, we can also have a conversation about what needs to be done in the city to make the downtown area more attractive in terms of things to do. That's another conversation for another day. But the observer has a story about this. The Silver Line connecting to the airport. One of the things I remember, there was some disappointment about this. They were like, okay, we can get the silver line out to the airport, but the problem would be getting it from the front of the airport to the terminal. And this is where this whole people mover thing comes into play. So, by the way, the terminal has... additional expansion plans which figure into this. So the silver line light rail would run from Bojangles Coliseum to the east and down West Charlotte's Wilkinson Boulevard to the airport. Also part of a larger transit plan. So this is something to be rather interesting. You've already got the north-south route.

that goes from University City down to Pineville. This goes from east to west, or west to east, whichever direction you would like to go. So the idea is to connect this light rail with people mover to the terminal. The idea here is for passengers to be able to take a seven-minute ride on the proposed people mover to get from the Silver Line station to the terminal, operating at about 20 miles per hour. The people mover would have five stops at several different parking lots before ending at the hourly parking deck. Airport officials not yet decided if the proposal will involve an automated train on elevated tracks or autonomous buses. Please do not do buses. Make it a train. Jack Christine, who is the chief infrastructure officer for the airport, said construction costs took placing the people mover. underground off the table. That's rather unfortunate. That would have been kind of fun to go underground. It's just very expensive and also described as a lot more obtrusive. Elevating the people mover over the top of the parking lot does not have a significant negative impact on the revenue potential as it goes through those lots, the people mover. The people mover currently proposed to be completed by 2032. The idea received a warm reception. And they're saying that this is probably the most sensible idea to make this thing happen. Ridership for similar transit systems at airports across the country almost evenly split between passengers and employees. So it plays into what the station location looks like. to support the passengers and the employees. So, as I said, I think this is a brilliant idea. And I hope they're able to get all of this together and just make this whole connection a whole lot easier. And again, not just for visitors, but for the people here to be able to, and I know for me. to avoid having to drive if there were a way to just get on rail and take it out to the airport oh that would be awesome not have to worry about looking for parking and it's uh it would be absolutely cool what are your thoughts about this particular proposal and is this something you would envision using

7045-70107-9 is the number if you like to weigh in on this we've had a number of conversations lately about what's going on with the economy and I'm especially intrigued by what's happening with your economy what are you doing at home how are things different Between now and maybe a year ago, two years ago, five years ago, because it's quite apparent. Some costs are way up. And as a result, we're seeing all kinds of stories about how people are making adjustments to be able to keep things together. Reuters putting out a story about retail sales. Unexpectedly falling in July after recent strong gains that were fueled by large tax refunds, but consumer spending likely remained supported by rising wealth from the stock market, even as households are increasingly sensitive to higher prices. Retail sales dropping 0.6% last month after an unrevised 0.2% gain in June. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales, which are mostly goods, and are not adjusted for inflation, edged up 0.1%. Generous tax refunds helped soften the blow from higher gasoline prices, stemming from the Middle East conflict, resulting in robust consumer spending in the second quarter, those refunds have been exhausted, though. So it would be interesting to see what happens in the coming months. You spent that money. Shame on you. I'm just kidding. Last month, the client in retail sales also payback after Amazon pulled forward its prime day event to June from July. Other retailers offering competing promotions, gasoline prices also fell last month, weighing on receipts at service stations, auto manufacturers reported a decline in unit sales. But here's the other side. The stock market rally has been boosting household wealth. Economists believe the weakness in retail sales would be temporary. The S&P 500 index has risen 14% this year. The investor class is certainly doing very well. No question about it. Economists saying they see increasing evidence of upper income and older households cashing in on wealth gains to support spending. Hmm. So tapping into some of the benefits of the markets to be able to take care of whatever. I'd love to hear your story about how things are going in your home. Are you making any financial changes based on what is happening with the economy for better or for worse?

704-5-70-1079. It's the numbers. We continue the broadcast coming up. We will talk about the economy and how people in the country are perceiving this with the midterm elections just around the corner. A very good piece on socialism and opinion piece in the Charlotte Observer really surprised me. We will talk about this. All right. Over on that WBT text line, driven by Kefer Christless price slurge. George Jeep Ram, the family store. Pete writing in. Somebody help me. Pete writing in about the transit system. Since they just retired the people mover at Dulles Airport. There's a reason for that. It arrived at Dulles in the year of my birth, 1962. Old Technology. Charlotte should have built the light rail up to the airport doors during the last dozen years of construction. Huge opportunity lost, but that is the Charlotte Way. Oh, boy. On the subject of the economy and taking care of ourselves in terms of supplying the food, gas, that we all need. Philip says, I tighten my belt, pun intended. Literally tighten my belt and lost weight because I was averaging fast food three times a day, 30 days a month. You do the math, 10 plus tax each time. Yeah, that does add up pretty quickly, doesn't it? Kevin writing in. Something others may find boring, I find interesting. The top 100 banks have really low credit card defaults of around 2.8%, but smaller banks have defaults of around 7%. This is because larger banks bundle up the bad debt, selling on secondary markets to make their numbers look good and raise their stock price. This should be illegal, but it's not. Well, you have to give them credit for being clever, don't you? Stanley writing in, look up costs for any category, including mile, passenger, or trip. Public transportation is always at least two times higher than all other modes of transportation or more, making the most inefficient method of moving people imaginable. Why not find a plan that you can get enough private investors to put up all the money to construct, operate it, share, proportionality in all the profits? Please no public-private partnership. That creates exorbitant profits for donor class individuals and taxpayers pay for it all. And it's even more inefficient. Boy, do I know exactly what you're talking about. We've had several examples of that right here in the Queen City. So we will see what they come up with. So in terms of the economy. We were promised the golden age with the Trump economy. Bloomberg has a story about how messaging is apparently fizzling with midterm voters. He's been arguing the golden age he promised for America's economy is already here. Now with midterm elections less than three months away, campaigning poised to get underway in earnest, the gap has become impossible to ignore.

There are signs. It's weighing on Trump's Republican Party as it fights to retain control of Congress. The president's rosy view is running into anxiety about the cost of living and fallout from the war in Iran. Inside the White House, broad confidence. The administration has a record to run on. One of the president will likely hammer from here to November. But other Republicans, including some people close to the president, concern that won't be enough. especially for candidates running in competitive races. They run to offer fresh economic plans, such as further tax cuts expanding on last year's major law that's central to the GOP economic pitch. Now, whether he changed his course or not, the current environment represents a reckoning for Trump who relied on the economy as key political strength during the first term. Now it's a liability. There's a mixed picture with the economic data. Unemployment's low. Good thing. American consumers are buying plenty of stuff. There are signs of a manufacturing revival, but inflation has been back above 3%. That's the level when Trump took office. Since the president went to war with Iran alongside Israel in late February, voters laser focused on the cost of living.

Cost of living. Thinking back to the times when things skyrocketed and under former President Joe Biden, this helped Trump to win back the White House. And now they seem to have concluded his second term policies have not helped. Just 39% approve of Trump's job performance. Even fewer approve of his handling of inflation. 30%. A 31% plurality of Americans in a new economist UGov poll listed inflation and prices as their most important issued, 17 percentage points more than the second most important topic, jobs and the economy. And that's where Republicans are as we come into the important election season. Things really get... um a laser focus after labor day that's when people really start paying attention to these contests so what is going on with the administration well there's a really good opinion piece as we rightfully are taking aim at socialism that is in the spotlight this summer With a number of people who are not at all shy about telling you who they are. But can all of us with integrity really speak out against socialism? What is Toyota affordability? It's buying smart. Right now, your local Toyota dealer has great deals available on some of the most reliable trucks on the market, like the off-road ready to coma, rugged full-sized tundra, and legendary forerunner, each with the space, tech, and features to handle it all, from the work site to the trails. It means driving for less, with efficient hybrid options available. extending your overall driving range and delivering great MPGs, meaning bigger savings at the pump without sacrificing power. And it means trading for more. The Tacoma and Tundra are ranked number one and number two in resale value over all vehicles, according to Kelly Boo Book, which can mean thousands more than average right back in your pocket when it's time to trade in. That's Toyota affordability. Buy smart, drive for less, and trade for more. Shop Toyota.com or your local dealer for deals and details. Vehicles projected resale value is specific to the 2026 model year. For more information, visit Kelly Blue Books KB.com. Toyota brand average resale value is 53% versus the average vehicle at 45%. Toyota, let's go places. Have you ever thought about the difference between paying rent and owning a home? When you rent, your monthly payment helps cover the cost of living there. But it usually doesn't build anything for your future. Home ownership is different. Each payment you make on a home may help build equity, which is the value you own in the property over time. As that equity grows, it can become a financial asset that may support your long-term goals. Owning a home can also provide stability. You have a place that's yours where you can build memories, establish routes,

and truly make the space your own. And the good news is that many people are surprised to learn there are programs designed to help first-time home buyers get started, including grants and assistance programs that may help with down payments or closing costs. Learning about your options is the first step toward making an informed decision about your future. Visit Tools for Homeownership.com. It is Friday, which means we have faith-focused Friday. And there's a series my good friend Steve Crosby did, which is just absolutely positively excellent. And it deals with a subject that's really near and dear to my heart on healthy community. And he deals with the subject that as, man, it really played such a significant role in... what I experience in the church system really for decades. We're going to talk about it, and I'll just tell you, it's something that doesn't belong. Hmm. We'll tell you what that is as we continue the broadcast. Like I told you, I'm a person who very much strives to be consistent. on a set of values, and when people cross those, I don't care if it's somebody I like, don't like, whatever, when people cross those values and ideas, they're not going to get sympathy for me or support. Case and point. Ryan J. Rusak has a great opinion piece in the Charlotte Observer, and he's right on point. And the sad thing is, so many people I know who are alleged supporters of conservative ideas and defending the Constitution against socialism, all I hear are crickets on this subject. Here's the headline for his opinion piece. Republicans who want to stop socialism should start with Trump. Yeah. Republicans increasingly alarmed by the prospect of big losses in congressional other races this fall. They want you to know that no matter how much you might be unhappy with President Donald Trump and two years of GOP governance, the other guys are crazy. Socialism, they screamed. They're right. Democrats are embracing far-left ideas, and the energy in their party is driven by self-described socialist. who want to remake American society and government from the ground up. The problem, right now the biggest toehold for actual socialism, even communism, that is, state ownership or dominance of the means of production, comes from the Republican administration. And the Republicans squawking about the danger of Democrat socialist candidates are sure quiet about the president's version. The Cato Institute, a libertarian Washington think tank, has identified 30 cases in which the government under Trump has taken ownership stakes in companies receiving federal grants. The tool is often the Chips and Science Act, a signature legislative achievement of the predecessor Trump likes to bash and blame. Joe Biden. Here's the stunner.

Trump's government has executed a more socialist version of the law than Biden ever did, according to Cato. The Democratic administration did not insist government receive equity, stakes, and companies. The current White House occupant can't get enough of it. Trump, who has no real ideological mooring. has complained about oil companies making too much profit, essentially blaming one of America's most vital industries for the spiking gas prices he causes with his historic bumbling of the war in Iran. That kind of slop populism from a Democrat would have a line of Republicans outside Fox News studios waiting to take their shots. Trump gets a pass. This is a great example of why executive dominance of the federal government and partisan fealty as the ultimate political priority are failing us. The very elected officials who should be demanding answers, examining the legality of these moves and drafting legislation to prevent executive branch overreach are silent. Senator Ted Cruz, an unfortunate example. On his podcast and in other media appearances, Cruz, a Republican, Whales against the march of socialism on the left. He understands communism's mortal threat. He articulates it well with tales of his family's suffering after Fidel Castro took over Cuba. There are a few policy or cultural issues that Cruz takes a pass on. You can readily find his opinion on Iran, Venezuela, college sports, movies, Senator Rose's debate champion, and brilliant courtroom lawyer. He can make a spellbinding case off the cuff on just about anything. Surely. This creeping communism in our own government has earned his own episode, a verdict with Ted Cruz, perhaps even an emergency pod. Recent episodes have covered the deranged plans of the Marxists taking over the Dems. The Communists take over the Democrat Party, understanding the Marxists, taking over the Dem Party. The WNBA, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chinese government, a flood of migration in Spain, all got segments on verdict. There weren't any titled Understanding the Marxist taking ownership of American corporations from the Commerce Department. Cruz has real power over that agency. He chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, which has broad purview over issues in American business, technology, aviation, and more. He could haul. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and other officials in demand an explanation for the embrace of an ideology cruise clearly and properly loathes. This year, Cruz has instead convened hearings on issues as far ranging as college sports.

The fishing industry and maritime economies, concert ticket fees and sports betting. Sometimes the hearings even have catchy names. My favorites? Return to your corners. Have federal boxing laws gone the distance doors, slipped the jab. Hit the road, Mac, the future of self-driving cars. I've missed the one called What the Howard Lutnick. Asking the Commerce Secretary about socialism. This is not to pick on Cruz. He's got a multitude of colleagues who will say nothing about government intrusion in the economy because Trump might hit them with a nasty social media post. It's an important message. The scale of which a Democrat majority would subsume entire sectors of the economy is chilling, particularly if that majority is beholden to the campaign energy and fundraising prowess of the party's most progressive elements. Private health care gone. The oil industry crippled. Never mind the radical alterations they would make the government if they could, including abolishing the Senate, neutralizing the Supreme Court. It would be nice if these Republicans would spend just a little energy fighting the very socialism from their side of the aisle that's right under their noses. They should remember far-left ideologies and ideologues are nothing if not patient. The long march through the institutions begins with a few steps, and the Trump administration has inexplicably laced up its shoes on behalf of one of the greatest evils the world has ever known. They have. What do you have to say about this? You can call and talk about it in the next hour. Faith Focus Fridays next.

annoying, obnoxious, Hollywood is. It's just terrible. You'll hear an example of that coming up. A little flashback. You're going to hear some radical right-wing guy from 1995. Crazy thing, he was a Democrat. You will hear what he has to say. An interesting message. We'll also talk about the prediction markets who has jumped to the front of the line for 2028 and the Democrat side. It's kind of interesting and a fun little treatment by Babylon B in response to something happening with that person recently. Before we get there, why don't we... Go to Faith Focus Friday. My good friend Steve Crosby's done a series of items on healthy community. And if you are a person who names the name of Christ, I'm appealing to you now to listen with an open mind and open heart. Because he addresses something I think is right on point. His question is, why is healthy community so hard to find, develop it, and maintain? Part four. Fear. Oh, boy. Fear is a primal human response, flight, fight, or freeze. In relation terms, these are physical separation, anger, and argument escalating to physicality, emotional withdrawal. bodily present, but emotionally and psychologically not present. The fear, anxiety, stress syndrome, FAS, well-known source of emotional disorders and literal physical illnesses, unrecognized, denied, unaddressed, unresolved, unhealed fears, of which we all have in one form or another, a major contributor to inauthent communities. Entry into community does not require we be fear free, but exposure to authentic community is the cure for fear. Mature and maturing love casts out fear. Just absorb that for a moment. Fear. Fear. It manifests as a dread of losing control and relationship. Fear compels. Fear cannot stand risk. Messiness, disorder, dissent, innovation, challenge or change. Fear curtails empowerment. Fear creates imprisonment for everyone. Static certitude in circumstances is a pretty good indicator. Nothing transformative is happening. Let me repeat that line again. Static certitude in circumstances is a pretty good indicator. Nothing transformative is happening. Unsettling disorder is often the fertilizer necessary for transformative creativity. Boy, can I relate to that.

The root of much obsessive, compulsive behavior resulting in literal physical sicknesses is the energy needed to assure an environment is unchangeably predictable and manageable. Real life just isn't that way. A chicken emerging from an egg is a tenuous, sticky mess. You best leave alone if you want a chicken. The struggle and the mess, necessary conditions from which new life can emerge. So it is in our individual lives and in our relationships in the ecclesia. A culture of non-accusatory safety is a prerequisite for people to feel safe, safe enough to expose their fears for healing. This is so important. Non-accusatory safety. Do you have this environment in your church atmosphere? This is why judgmentalism and legalism are so harmful. No one's going to open their heart to relational reality in an unsafe culture, where if they do so, they're going to be gutted by, quote, truth. So-called truth, like a tuna headed for a sushi bar. Or every Sunday, they will attend, sit, listen, sing, agree to doctrine, give their money. There will be no entry to the heart. None. A safe church culture just not include trying to fix everybody. Acting like God's little doctrinal purity police or behavioral enforcers in a congregation is not having a passion for the word, being a truth speaker, exercising discernment, or being prophetic. Professional enforcer is not an Ephesians 4 gift. It's projecting one's own fears and insecurities on others in totalitarian oppression. Yeah, this is where we're getting to the crux of it, isn't it? The idea is to create an atmosphere of love. What does the scripture say? Perfect love casts out fear. Yet how much does this strand of fear run through much of what calls itself evangelical Christianity? I'm going to repeat that line again. Projecting one's own fears and insecurities on others in totalitarian oppression, it's also being a relationally obtuse, judgmental jerk. We do not work for Vito Corleone. We serve Abba. One is Godfather. The other is God. I'm convinced many Christians don't know the difference. Preaching hard on sin does not bring healing or transformation. The strength of sin. in the exhortation to moral rectitude. In my personal experience, I found without exception, those who want to preach hard on sin are revealing their own iniquities. They're protecting their own darkness onto others. They're projecting that onto others so they can continue to hide in their darkness, but to appear to the undiscerning as being virtuous. Dark side projection can be a psychological manifest station.

of the scapegoating process, which has pathological impact in any community. Boy, have I seen this in an entire culture in a church. Here's the crux of it. If you're desirous of authentic community, you best be prepared to be in the middle of a gooey mess free from perfectionism and idealism. You know, and as I was reflecting on this again this morning, what struck me is I found myself in this week. If there's a word that I keep coming back to, it's surrender. And it may sound kind of crazy to say that. Well, that's kind of basic. Could have crushed you at it, yeah? And we lose it. Because we can be, frankly, some manipulative little bastards. We can. In efforts to coerce, scare, frighten people into behavior. And I've found as I look at the growth I've experienced, especially after some traumas these last few years, the people have made the real difference in my life for those people I'm able to sit down with and be completely real with, with everything. And that's... made a tremendous impact in riding the ship. If I were in back in these old religious settings where I was before, I would have shipwrecked years ago. I can guarantee you that. Did I need people to be honest with me? Absolutely. But they got to be there first. You got to start by caring first. And there has to be this atmosphere of safety. Not fear, but safety. What is Toyota affordability? It's buying smart. Your local Toyota dealer has great deals available today on RAV-4, Grand Highlander, Camry, and Corolla, with the features and style you deserve. It means driving for less, with hybrid and plug-in hybrid options across the lineup, delivering great MPGs. And it means trading for more. Toyota is known for building long-lasting vehicles, meaning your car will hold its value for years to come. Shop Toyota.com to find out more. Toyota, let's go places. For many people, renting is a convenient option. It offers flexibility and may require less responsibility for maintenance. But owning a home can offer a different set of long-term benefits. Instead of paying rent to a landlord each month, homeowners are investing in a property that can potentially increase in value over time. That means your home may become an asset as you continue to live in it. Home ownership can also provide more control over your living space, from decorating to renovations that really fit your lifestyle.

something that many people don't realize. There are education programs and financial assistance options available for first-time home buyers. Some of these programs even offer grant funding that may help cover part of the upfront cost, and grants typically don't have to be repaid. That's why learning about home ownership options can be an important step toward making the best decision for you and your family. To learn more, visit Tools for Homeownership.com. Love to get your thoughts as we continue the broadcast, the Vince Coakley radio program. Back on the broadcast, 21 minutes after 11 o'clock, what are your thoughts about what I had to share about community, importance of really cultivating a community without fear? One of the big aspects of this. What are your perspectives on this? So before we go into talking about the election, I thought it would be interesting to play a clip from, I think this was a couple of nights ago. I noticed that Jimmy Kimmel has been off. I don't watch any of these late night shows. I was out. in public and this the jimmy kimmel show was on and i you see had a number of guests hosts on i think ike barrenholz was filling in one time i remember ike from mad tv enjoyed him on that show um the other night i saw anthony anderson which you know i enjoy him in some roles but my respect for him kind of you know went down the drain whatever respect there was left when i was watching this particular segment here he is the other night he was talking about the story of heat and how we are experiencing a very hot summer and it's really playing out all around the world And he uses this to transition into, you know, pretty cheesy and cheap shot at President Donald Trump. Here is Anthony Anderson. According to climate experts, July was the hottest month in America in more than 130 years. But don't take their word for it. Just ask this sweaty pumpkin. America is the hottest country anywhere in the world, and it is in... If you think about it seven or eight months ago, we were cold as ice. A country is hot and hot as it can be. Our country is the hottest country in the world. We right now have the hottest nation anywhere in the world. I think we're the hottest country of the world right now. We are the hottest country anywhere in the world. The hottest country anywhere in the world. The hottest country in the world. The hottest. The hottest. And that sun is hot. I'll tell you.

Well, all I have to say is wait till he gets to hell. Ha ha ha ha. Really? You know, I'm just asking, where do you think you're going, Anthony Anderson? This is all just, it's hilarious to me. And a lot of times it's these people who are very, very eager to tell you how religious they aren't. And yet all of a sudden, they're ready to send everybody to hell. And this is human nature. We love to find people we think are worse than us. Not much in the way of self-awareness. But there's a lot of awareness about... how bad somebody else is. It's really an easy, cheap target. Anyway, I just thought you would be entertained by listening to that foolishness, especially in the atmosphere that we have now of people who are promoting the socialist message, people who don't want law enforcement, people who don't want borders. It's really crazy. What does happen to the Democrat Party? It's absolutely insane. Talking about getting rid of the Supreme Court, getting with the presidency, getting rid of the Senate. I mean, it's, these people are just pure loons. Especially as it relates to the border, these are folks who do not want to see any enforcement at the border. They want to see open borders. Let's show compassion and let everybody in. This has not always been the case. I want to take you back to 1995. This is just a clip from the State of the Union speech from none other than Bill Clinton. Americans. Not only in the states most heavily affected, but in every place in this country are rightly disturbed by the large numbers of illegal aliens entering our country. The jobs they hold might otherwise be held by citizens or legal immigrants. The public service they use impose burdens on our taxpayers. That's why our administration has moved aggressively to secure our borders more, by hiring a record number of new border guards, by deporting twice as many criminal aliens as ever before, by cracking down on illegal hiring, by barring welfare benefits to illegal aliens. In the budget I will present to you, we will try to do more to speed the deportation of illegal aliens who are arrested for crimes, to better identify illegal aliens in the work face. as recommended by the commission headed by former congresswoman Barbara Jim Jordan. We are a nation of immigrants, but we are also a nation of laws. That was Bill Clinton, ladies and gentlemen. 1995 talking about enforcing the border. So where were these crazy lunatics going around talking about the inhumanity of deporting people?

Were they around back then? Kind of intriguing, isn't it? Now we have a totally different picture in the party. Completely different picture. Thought you would find that intriguing. Still to come, we're going to talk about the person who has leapfrog to the front of the pack for 28 and the Democrat side and have a little fun. with something this person said just recently. Before we get there, one of the things we talked about recently is what's happening with education. I was quite intrigued to get a really cool email from Kathy. We were discussing, among other things, the technology that has taken over our school system. Some of it probably not too healthy. Kathy writes in, absolutely love listening to your show. My two grandchildren, seven and eight years old, go to a private school in Stanley. One requirement, no homework. They come home and are relaxed. I don't know how long the no homework will be through school because I would think you need that training for college. How to study? No homework. Have you ever heard that before? It's kind of intriguing. Love to get your thoughts as we continue the broadcast of Vince Coakley Radio program. Let's take a look at the WBT text line driven by Kefer Chrysler Dodge Ram, the family store. Response to something we shared earlier, Johnny says, Vince the Cater report is moronic. We took an interest in these companies where investments made. No controlling interest. Imagine if we'd done this with the bank bailouts. We're saving GM from union sabotage. We would have made hundreds of billions. Still, it sidesteps the question, Johnny, of whether government should be. involved in any business, investing in businesses. Is that the role of the federal government? That is the central question we cannot ignore. Also on the text line, Jamie writing in. While I find Anthony Anderson's comments crass and ultimately said merely for shock value, I'm reminded of numerous times I've heard conservative Christians tell people to their faces they're going to hell. Jamie making that point. I'm going to avoid that one all together, Lays and John. I'll just point you back to what I shared earlier about fear. I think you can fill in the blanks there. Kevin, right again, Vince, what we have now is capitalism combined with a strong welfare state, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, police and fire departments. I wouldn't put the police and fire departments in the category with all of those. We're really a social, democratic, capitalist country. And the American people love it.

I don't mind telling you this. Women like this just grate me to the core. It just, it's amazing. I've said this before, and I will say this again without hesitation. And I say this to challenge other men, and I mean real men, not just males. You should have a very, very suspicious view of any woman who's willing to kill your baby. There's nothing feminine or flattering or sexy about that at all. I just find that gross. I look at people like this, aside from the fact she's a populist politician. There are some who think she's attractive. I don't. Never have found her to be attractive. The woman's an air-headed nitwit. And a selfish woman, profoundly selfish woman. But this is really the heart of what's been communicated with the feminist message, isn't it? I'm going to do whatever I want, when I want. It's my buddy. On the Vince Coakley Radio program, our phone number 704-5701 of 79. What do you think about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the top? Do you think she's going to run? And if so, do you think she'll really get traction? among Democrat voters. What is Toyota affordability? It's buying smart. Your local Toyota dealer has great deals available today on RAV4, Grand Highlander, Camry, and Corolla with the features and style you deserve. It means driving for less with hybrid and plug-in hybrid options across the lineup, delivering great MPGs. And it means trading for more. Toyota is known for building long-lasting vehicles, meaning your car will hold its value for years to come. Shop toyota.com to find out more. Toyota, let's go places. Many people believe buying a home requires a large down payment and years of saving, but that's not always the case. Across the country, there are programs designed to help first-time home buyers take the next step toward home ownership. Some of these programs offer down payment assistance or grant funding that may help cover part of the upfront cost of purchasing a home. Grants are especially helpful because they generally do not have to be repaid. There are also organizations that provide homebuyer education, financial counseling, and guidance to help individuals understand the home buying process before they begin. The goal is simple to help more families become informed and prepared for home ownership. If owning a home is something you've been thinking about, start by visiting tools for home ownership.com. This message is brought to you by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling's Paving the Way Forward Initiative.

Final stretch of the Vince Coakley radio program on this Friday. Hope you have a great weekend planned. Just a couple of quotes here I want to throw out to you before we go to the text line. Thomas Soul, it's hard to imagine a more stupid and more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong. Ooh. We also have this. I think most fair-minded Americans think today's Democratic Party looks like the game room in a mental hospital. Isn't that a great line? That is from none other than John Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of Louisiana. That guy is absolutely hilarious. John Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. What a character. Quite entertaining. Final look at that, well, not necessarily final. If there's something really good, we may get to it. WBT text line driven by Kefer, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep Ram, the family store. This text are writing in, government should never invest in companies. Then where was the supposed Social Security lockbox going to be? Under the mattress in the Lincoln bedroom? Yeah. Where is that? Why is all of that Social Security money, by the way? That we were promised there was going to be a minimal amount taken out years ago and it was going to be yours. That worked out really well, didn't it? Jamie writing in. As a former Democrat, current independent, I'm not happy with any of these choices. I'm being given in the 2020 election. Like Bill Maher said, my vote is in play. I wonder how many people are in that same place. FYI government intervention led to our independence. The T-Tax was levied to help the British East India Company as it was failing big time. Many of the investors were also members of Parliament.

Lloyd, writing in, most of us feel the same about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. I'm sure you do. Cindy, I am laughing out loud by myself in my car when I heard you make that last statement before your break. I'm so glad I was able to entertain. I mean, seriously. I... I better get off this before I get myself in trouble. Yankee Steve, Vince Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the gift that keeps on giving. She's fighting a battle of wits with no ammo. I don't care how many followers she has on social media. The good Jeff says girls like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez do not need to procreate. So as far as I'm concerned, she could freeze her eggs until Jesus comes back. My goodness, Jeff, you are absolutely cruel. Oh, boy. Tim, writing in, Vince, if Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez freezes or eggs, we can only hope they are never thawed. And Alan, writing in, John Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 2028. You know, wouldn't that be an interesting presidential campaign? That would be so fun to watch that. A whole lot of fun. By the way, we have breaking news that is just in moments ago. This is pretty much what was expected. Luigi Mangione has entered his guilty plea. in manhattan now this case is i understand it involves federal stalking charges he revealed through um Let's see. He posed as a potential investor to confirm the location of the investor's conference so he could track Thompson's location. He also told the judge he was motivated to kill Thompson because of his experience with the health care system as a patient with the back injury. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He'll be sentenced at a separate hearing on December 18th. Again, a guilty plea entered to federal charges. in Manhattan. This happened just minutes ago, so it is now official. All right, I told you we had another funny story about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in light of what she said about freezing eggs. Here's what Babylon B has to say about that. After rumors circulated, she had split with her boyfriend. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted a video. explaining how she actually froze in him just in case she might still want him in the future. I'm doing this to keep my options open, happily surveying the block of ice containing ex-boyfriend Riley John Roberts. As a working woman and someone who's given her life to serving the public, I have very little time right now for personal life stuff. In a few years, when things calmed down, I might want to get back together with him. Who knows? This will keep him safe in the meantime.

John Roberts reportedly be held in a freezer for at least the next decade, pending any further decision from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on his relational viability. The news met with applause from the Congresswoman's fan base who praised her for refusing to choose between work and relationships. You go, girl, we can have it all. Freeze the patriarchy, wrote one on Instagram. Medical professionals say the process for freezing a boyfriend. Pretty straightforward. Doesn't guarantee success later on. A boyfriend's looks may be affected by the long freeze, with some emerging from the ice, bearing a strong resemblance to a disheveled homeless ferret. However, doctor stated, in the case of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's boyfriend, that would be a pre-existing condition. Goodness. That's all the time we have folks. Thanks a lot for joining us. Have a great weekend. God bless you.

What is Toyota affordability? It's buying smart. Your local Toyota dealer has great deals available today on RAV-4, Grand Highlander, Camry, and Corolla, with the features and style you deserve. It means driving for less, with hybrid and plug-in hybrid options across the lineup, delivering great MPGs. And it means trading for more. Toyota is known for building long-lasting vehicles, meaning your car will hold its value for years to come. Shop toyota.com to find out more. Toyota, let's go places.