Rick Green [00:00:07] Welcome to the Intersection of Faith and Culture. Thanks for joining us today on the WallBuilders show, our website wallbuilders.show. That's wallbuilder.show if you want to catch up on some of the radio programs where we take on the hot topics of the day from a biblical, historical, and constitutional perspective. And then over at wallbuilds.com, that's where you can get a lot of great resources and you can help create more great resources. What a great investment in freedom. Go make your donation right now today at wallbuilders.com. You're looking at all these good things happening all over the country. A lot of seed was sown years ago through wallbuilders, watered through wallbuilders for years and years and years with legislators and pastors and young people and teachers and all of these things. And now we're getting to see some of that fruit. Well, if you want to see it, some more fruit, we would sure appreciate you coming alongside us, or even just sharing some of the things that we're doing. If you can't make a financial contribution, just take a few minutes to share some of programs or maybe even the radio program or get on X or Facebook and follow some of the things coming out from wallbuilders and share those. There's lots of ways you can be a force multiplier. Well, I'm Ray Green here with David and Tim Barton and one of those seeds that was planted was in legislators for a couple of decades now, helping legislators to share good ideas. Later in the program, we've got one of those champion legislators from the state of Idaho that will be with us. Barbara Ehardt. She's already had some great victories this session as well as in past sessions, and so looking forward to having Barbara on to talk about what's been happening up in Idaho. 

Tim Barton [00:01:25] Yeah. And, and guys, I know that there's a lot to get into with that. Uh, yesterday when we were, I think, dealing with, tariffs, Bob McEwin is just so good at that. I also got a text from our friend, Bill Federer, and he was sharing some history of some tariffs. And I said, okay, Bill, we got to get you on to talk about this. Probably next week we'll have them on. But in the midst of that, um, one of the things that we did not highlight, and before we get too far into some of the conversation with Barbara Ehardt and what she's doing and the incredible leader she's been in so many ways. President Trump put out on his social media and Easter message on Sunday. This being Holy week leading up to Friday, the crucifixion of Jesus. And then come up with the resurrection and just so many important things. You know, guys, I'm reminded last year, when we had a different president, there was a very different message that came out around Easter, right with trans visibility day, not like celebrating Jesus, his death, burial, resurrection. So many important things and probably later this week, guys, too. It's worth us getting into some of the quotes from the Founding Fathers where they talked about Jesus's death, burial and resurrection. Some really great stuff historically, but President Trump on his social media. This is what he said. This Holy Week, Christians around the world remember the crucifixion of God's only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And on Easter Sunday, we celebrate his glorious resurrection and proclaim as Christians have done for nearly 2000 years. He is risen. Through the pain and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we saw God's boundless love and devotion to all humanity. And in that moment of His resurrection, history was forever changed with the promise of everlasting life. As we approach this joyous Easter Sunday, I want to wish Christians everywhere a happy and very blessed holiday. America is a nation of believers. We need God. We want God, and with His help, we will make our nation stronger, safer, greater, and more prosperous, and more united than ever before. Thank you and happy Easter." That's from President Trump. And guys, as we still hear at times critics from the Christian community against President Trump, never in my lifetime have we had a president who was this outspoken about the Christian faith, who was this much an advocate of even Easter with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. I mean literally We will go to proclamations, prayer proclimations for founding fathers, and like John Hancock or some of my favorite to point out, where he talks about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, literally, this isn't Trump's post on social media that he's talking about our lord and savior, Jesus Christ, this is incredible. And this is not something we've seen from a white house. I mean, genuinely not in my lifetime, not this bold, not this clear, guys, this was so incredible. 

David Barton [00:04:11] Well, you know, this is so fun, too, because it breaks all the molds. How does the left call Trump a Christian nationalist? I mean, he can't fit that. You know, we get called that all the time, and I'm sure you're going to call him that, but it won't work with him. But what you have from President Trump, that is a more clear Easter message, more clear presentation of the gospel, a less ashamed presentation of Jesus Christ than what we often get with a lot of evangelical ministers. I mean, frankly. A lot of evangelical ministers, if they had to issue a national prayer proclamation, are not going to use the same words that he used. They would talk about religious liberty and we all join together to celebrate faith. That is such a strong message he put out. 

Tim Barton [00:04:52] And it might make a difference if they're from the United Methodist, right? Or the whatever, the United Presbyterian. I mean, there's a few of those really woke denominations that certainly are not going to be strong and clear in the message. But I'm thinking, you know, of some of our friends who are ministers and pastors, and they would love to be able to write this. Although, you know, with that being said, I'm not sure that one of them didn't write this for Trump, you know, one of our friends from the faith office probably helping lay this out. But again, this is just so encouraging and to add to your point, this is bolder than what we've seen. Some of these pastors, although some of these pastures have been drinking this woke Kool-Aid and not standing strong on the gospel, on the word of God, again, just super encouraging. And I don't want to distract necessarily from today. We want to get to Barbara Ehardt and have a conversation with her, getting some details with her. But I didn't want. To, to go further without at least acknowledging this incredible post from president Trump. 

David Barton [00:05:43] And you know, we've had some great stuff from Barbara. I mean, we talked to her over the last two or three years. I think 27 states now have adopted this Title IX protection that you're not gonna have biological men and women's sports, which is a great thing. But she had to stop there. She's gone much, much past that. And it's strange that we've even needed to, you know. You would have thought that would have sent a message you guys back off, but it hasn't worked. And so Trump has really laid it out strong. And Barbara is doing at the state level what President Trump is really trying to do national or not trying. He is doing it nationally. And so it should be fun to catch up with her and hear all the new endeavors she's gotten. By the way, when you hear this, go to your legislator and say, hey, have we done this in our state? Cause this is the kind of stuff that needs to get all over the nation, just like those 27 states that now protect women and women's sports from men getting into those sports. This, this is going to be a lot of fun on things that you can do in your state when you here what Barbara has to say. 

Rick Green [00:06:38] Yeah. And I think last time we had her on some time last year, she was actually embarking on a tour with Riley Gaines and a bunch of these other female athletes that had lost their titles or whatever it was to some guy that acted like a girl and got in the competition. And so she's out there trying to get it done around the country as well. But then comes right back home to Idaho and gets more victories there. So super exciting. We'll see what she has to say. Stay with us folks. Barbara Ehardt, state representative from Idaho, our special guest when we return on the wallbuilder show. 

Rick Green [00:08:09] Welcome back to The WallBuilders Show. Thanks for staying with us. Great to have Representative Barbara Ehardt back with us from Idaho. Hey, great to have you back on. We did a show, I don't know, a year or so ago when you were working on getting those guys out of girl sports, but you had a lot of victories this session. So, appreciate you coming on and giving us an update. 

Barbara Ehardt [00:08:24] Rick, you know, it's so good to be here. I'm such a fan of wall builders and you guys, so I'm happy to be here. It's been a good year. 

Rick Green [00:08:32] Well, we're a fan of yours, so you're doing great work. I've just, you know, it's, uh, it such a great time to be alive right now and just see this rebirth of, of respect for the principles of Liberty and just getting back to some basic ideas. I mean, so many of the things that you're working on, who would have thought 10 years ago or 20 years ago that you would have to spend time in the legislature getting these things done but wow, common sense without the window. And so you did, you had to stand up and, and of course, you know, the fight against, you guys taking over girl sports is has been a big part of your time, but there's some other victories we want to talk about as well. But let's start with that one. Apparently there's been some court victories upholding your legislation. So just kind of catch us up on what's happened since we had you on last time. 

Barbara Ehardt [00:09:14] Man, you know, when we spoke last, I think that we didn't have that many states that had passed it. As of right now, we have 27 states that have passed the fairness women's sports. Obviously we know that we have the battle kind of raging at the federal level. Even you know the funny thing is Democrats, this is supported by over 80%. They say 79, our numbers have long been higher than that. And that means Democrats support it. But you know as soon as this gets politicized and you look at those who support Democrats politically. You can't have it because you're talking to ACLU, Human Rights Commission, all sorts of facets of the LGBT groups. And so they won't let the Democrats support this kind of legislation, which hopefully will get them unelected soon. But aside from that, we definitely have had some victories for us, actually, right now. My legislation had been held up-. 

Rick Green [00:10:04] Wait, wait, Barbara, before- I just want to drill down on that real quick on what you just said. Cause I think people have missed this. The Democrats digging in on this just continues to hurt them. And it's like, you would think they would see that they used to be so smart politically, you know, the James Carvilles of the world that masterminded all these campaigns and, and they kind of could feed that they could read what the people wanted, you on the upside for them, they were, you know, basically just cared about power. So they were willing to be whatever they had to be. It wasn't about principles. It was about what was popular. But, now I mean, they're losing this battle over and over and over again, and most Americans are against them and yet they still dig in. It just shocks me. 

Barbara Ehardt [00:10:44] Right. And again, I really think it's because of the people that with whom they're aligned. So this year, let me just give a case in point this year at the beginning of the session, I don't know who knows, but I was the one behind the Boise state. They were, they weren't the first, but they were the one we knew about Boise state women's volleyball, pulling out of the match volleyball match against San Jose state and they, now Southern Utah had done it in a tournament earlier in the year. Nobody really understood why, but with Boise State, it was because they'd be playing against a man. And in the, in the conversations with that, then that led, you know, you know, we were able to get Utah state to pull out and university of Wyoming to pull out, and then icons had also been working with Nevada because the gal said, Hey, we're not going to do it. Even though administration said, yeah, we are going to. So at the beginning of the year, I ran a resolution to state was a, you know, first,  first main piece of legislation honoring our women's volleyball team at Boise state, right? They're right next door to the Capitol. And as we were doing that, I had. Many, now we only have nine Democrats on the House side, they came quietly into my office to say, hey, you know, we wanna support this. But they didn't speak up during, when it was being presented there, you know my colleague Heather Scott was also presenting something, basically going against Obergerfeld with marriage and you know bringing that back to the States, but they didn t speak up and because of that, the Democrats got blasted. And who did they get blasted by? I mean, just blasted, by the LGBT groups. They didn't really say anything against it, but they, they, some, they came into my office saying they wanted to support it and they couldn't that's a true statement. So this is indicative of the groups that have such power and influence over the Democrats and they're all aligned with the LGBT and the silly LGBT agenda. You know, those who are LGBT in, in my life, they don't buy into this stuff. They just want to live their life. This isn't, this isn't some political statement they want to make. And that's what's so frustrating. 

Rick Green [00:12:44] Oh yeah. They've had, you know, it's, it has been really interesting to see and of course we all kind of thought about that. The LGBTQ thing and just, you know, lesbian, gay, but man, the transgender thing. Wow. Even you have so many lesbian and gay groups that are against this whole transgender thing because they see just how insane insane it is. So it's been really, really interesting. Say, okay, I'm so sorry. You were about to talk about some of the new legislation this session. And I derailed us. So let's go back to some of these other victories. You've been working on free speech. You've been working on the campus free speech. You've opted out of sex ed. You've had a lot of big pieces of legislation in this session that you've been workin' on for years. And it takes time on a lot of these big issues to get it done. It takes several sessions to win over enough colleagues. And so you've had some great victories this session. Go for it. 

Barbara Ehardt [00:13:29] Well, well, let me just say also this session, Idaho, we, we probably had the most conservative session that we've ever had, not probably, and got, you know, got some good people elected and, and, that definitely helped. But yeah, from my, my first day at the Capitol, I started working on sexuality opt in because we haven't opt out, right. Which, which basically purports to say that you're in, unless you decide to be out. And the only way you find that out is if you find out what's being taught, but you don't know what's been taught because you're not being told what's being taught. So you're basically in and the kids, even in Idaho are being exposed to things, I mean, that the parents don't want. And this is what the fight is nationally, right? Whenever you listen to the school board meetings, it's always about this kind of stuff. And so I presented a definition of human sexuality that, could not be taught, that was pretty all inclusive of, you know, basically all the things that we wouldn't want taught. And the irony of that is I got that definition from the Human Health Organization, you know, as they talked about what sexuality was. I'm like, that's exactly what I'm talking about. So we got that passed. And I'll tell you, they're honestly, the Lord's hand was in that. As a matter of fact, the Lord hand was a few of these things. We were able, I'd also been working on campus free speech for five years. And you know that, and Idaho, believe it or not, we just had a case closed and it was from the University of Idaho just over a year ago where they had shut down, and it's always the conservatives, right? They had literally shut down three Christian conservatives, voices, gave them a gag order, and then included a professor with that, and, you know, right on campus, because campuses universities like to think that they control political speech, political, code speech zones, speech zones and codes, and they don't, you don't lose your first amendment when you walk on, you know, that campus. So that was another victory. And then the other one that a lot of people are becoming more and more aware about, you know, I had more, but the ones that you guys are probably interested in would would have been the safety and privacy for women, meaning men can't go in our women's prisons, men can go in our woman's domestic violence shelters in our juvenile centers and the big part, this is where the battle was. I included the universities, meaning, men's men can be in our, women only dorms, so they, you don't send your daughter and lo and behold, she finds out for the rest of the year, she's going to have a roommate that identifies as a woman, but is really a man who has access to the showers. And so, but the battle there is once we included the university, that meant we had to include the bathrooms on the university including at games. And that doesn't, anyway, there's a whole nuance to that, but in my favor, and again, one of the miracles that happened with this held up in the ninth circuit for the last years was SB 1100 from bit from our, from, our stuff two years ago, which basically said that K through 12, the boys can't go in the girls restroom. We have boys going in all our girls restrooms. It's terrible K through 12. And we have, we have football stadiums on our, on our high school campuses. We have basketball. So the ninth circuit unanimously upheld that for us. It was amazing. And it happened just as my legislation is being debated trying to, you know, with the Democrats saying, oh, this won't work and what happens about. the football games, and then lo and behold, it's like the same thing. What happens in the high school? You have to have a policy, you know, and, and and then you have to, you know, work to catch that person. But anyway, it all got upheld. It all got past. It's been absolutely amazing. Some of the things we've been able, we've been able to do. And, you, know, that's just some of the things that I was able to get done this year was incredibly productive. 

Rick Green [00:17:10] Ah, such good news. And that last one that you were talking about, I think it just kind of shocked the world, certainly here in the United States. And of course, you've gotten to know Riley Gaines and when she started telling the story of just the changing in the showers and the locker rooms, I mean, people were like, wait, this is really happening? It's like when you deal with it every day. So you just talked about it, you just said, I mean this is K through 12 even, not even just college athletics, but K through twelve. that anyone would think that that's okay to have a guy, whether he thinks he's a girl, whatever reason, but to have guy with guy parts changing clothes in the girl's locker room with the girls or using the same bathroom. I mean, even just a few years ago, we would have said, that's crazy. We will not allow for that. And there are people literally advocating for that, such to the point that you had to pass legislation to prevent it from happening. It's just like a reality check in many ways. 

Barbara Ehardt [00:18:08] You know, it, not only is it a reality check, but those who oppose me and, and don't like that, which I do, one of their, one their, you know, constant mantras is, you Ehardt  just does cultural wars, you know, we need to do the real stuff. And then they, then they say the real stuffs like, you know, the infrastructure and the water and the safe, you know, no, that's what they always say. And it's like, that the given, we all know that that's the that's what you say when you're not willing to put yourself out there to tell people where you really stand, whether it's on the left or the right. So you say the safe stuff, not me, the reason we're doing the culture wars is because the left already did them and they're forcing it upon us and either we fight back or we succumb and, and this is, this is what we face. And that's why parents all over standing up. And so, yes, these things are incredibly important to me. And we, we got, we, got a lot of, we've got a lot of things like this done. We had some legislators bringing some fantastic stuff last minute. Like in three days, we were able to get the ivermectin, over the counter through. 

Rick Green [00:19:12] I forgot about that one. 

Barbara Ehardt [00:19:13] We got medical freedom finally at from 2021 every year we brought, you know, like no masks, you, you no, uh no vaccines against your will and what we were not able to it and you know that was finally, that was finally passed it's been amazing. Really it's, it's amazing. So people in Idaho, we're, we're we're working for them. and I think we're getting some fantastic stuff done. 

Rick Green [00:19:37] Well, I got to tell you, Barbara, you talk about the real stuff. And I'm going to get this quote totally wrong. But I loved the movie Dead Poets Society. And I remember Robin Williams saying to those kids, being a doctor, doing those kind of things, those are all noble professions and necessary to sustain life. I remember that line. And that's what I would say about all the things that these people are saying is the real. But then he said, it was so powerful when he said but, but poetry, love, family. These are the reasons we sustain life. This is what we live for. You are doing the real stuff. The things I cannot think of a parent. If you were to ask a parent, is it more important to you that a new road gets put in over here or that your daughter is not assaulted in the bathroom? There is not a parent on earth earth would say the road is more important than making sure that your daughter is, not assaulted the bathroom. So I just thank God for you, Barbara. You've been phenomenal, a phenomenal champ and for all those naysayers. Yes, we want the roads done. Yes, all those things are important, but what you're doing is the real stuff that people care most about right now. And so I'm thankful for you standing up against all those naysayers. 

Barbara Ehardt [00:20:44] Oh, Captain, my captain, Rick, I'm with you. I love that. Yes. 

Rick Green [00:20:50] We could do Dead Poets Society quotes together all day, you know, and this is the moment to Carpe Diem, this is the moment, to seize the day. I mean, you're winning all these victories right now. It's for such a time as this. God's had you there for these last, whatever it is, six, eight years to get you ready to be able to seize the day in this moment right now, it's just huge. And I feel the same way nationally. I mean all over the country. What a wonderful, wonderful time to be alive and to be on the front lines and in the fight. 

Barbara Ehardt [00:21:19] I agree, Rick. I feel so blessed. And I know that, you know, we invoked Heavenly Father's Spirit. As a matter of fact, we even opened on the House side and on the Senate side, we did the same resolution that David Barton helped us with on prayer. I also want to start reestablishing that prayer was such a part of this nation's founding of our presidents of, you now, not just days of prayer, but prayer and fasting. So we're trying to do it right, Rick, we're trying to it right. And we have seen his hand. in that which we've been doing on the campus. I mean, not the capital. So thank you. 

Rick Green [00:21:56] Well, God bless you and, and thank you for all that you're doing. I know your session just ended. Hope you get some good rest and get back in the fight and, let's connect offline because I'd love to, I sure love to have you come speak at Patriot Academy when we're at the Capitol. I hate for you to have to go back to Boise in the summer, but if for the schedules work out, I know the students would love to hear from you. We just appreciate you so much. Just know we're praying for you and we're thankful that you are such a warrior. 

Barbara Ehardt [00:22:19] Thank you so much and I'd love to do that. 

Rick Green [00:22:22] You bet! Stay with us folks, we'll be right back with David and Tim Barton

Rick Green [00:23:32] Welcome back to the  WallBuilders show. Thanks for staying with us. That was representative Barbara Ehardt from Idaho with us back with David and Tim now. Guys, good victories. And of course, a lot of that, you know, synergy and energy coming from the pro-family legislators conference. And she, she's also got other folks from the legislators conference now doing this in other states as well. 

David Barton [00:23:49] Well, you know, it's fun to, and she reviewed part of what was happening in the sports finals is this academic year, but what happened in Boise state and what happened with Utah state and university of Wyoming, university of Nevada saying, Hey, we're not playing at San Jose state it's volleyball. We'll forfeit the match, whatever. And now the whole mountain west league has come out and said, we're, we'll not going to do this. We're staying with title nine, the way it's supposed to be. So she's had an effect in so many areas. And it's interesting that she was pointing out that 79 to 80 percent of Americans now support this issue. And I was hearing just even the last couple of days, Bill Maher, who certainly is no conservative, talking about how the Democrats have got to separate themselves from progressives or they're going to be like the Whig party. They're going be like a free solar party or some other party that doesn't even exist anymore because they've been hijacked by people who don't even represent what thinking people do. And Barbara is as she pointed out it's crazy that she's having to try to protect things shouldn't need to be protected. I mean, it's just common sense, but we've gotten so far from common sense. So there's just a lot of good news and then, and I know she said that Idaho had his best legislative session ever. I don't know guys, are we going to have to say Texas has had his worst legislative session? 

Rick Green [00:25:03] Oh, you had to rub it in. Didn't you David? 

Tim Barton [00:25:07] Well, I would say, dad, right, if we go back to the 1980s, early 1990s, Texas used to be a Democrat state and you know, we can go back, there used to be a lot of racism, Texas used to a slavery state, so I don't think we could say this is the worst, but is it one of the worst under Republican control? That could be a different conversation. 

David Barton [00:25:29] Well, you know, the voters last election threw out 12 incumbent Republicans because they wanted to change and they got a change. But it went worse than what they thought. This is actually worse than last session. And it's not because those guys didn't try. It's because what we've had in Texas the last 20 years, you have 12 or 13 Republicans get with all the Democrats and they choose their speaker. And they got one this year that's not getting anything done on the conservative side, even though we're very Republican state. We just can't get past those 12 or thirteen squishes. They come out of a lot of blue cities and they're just not good for us. But nonetheless, I'm glad Barbara's had a good year. I hope we can our next time because it's not been good this time. 

Rick Green [00:26:08] Well, and just ending back on the good news of the Easter message from the president, I was thinking as you guys were talking about that earlier in the program for those naysayers out there that might say, oh, you know, somebody wrote the message or he's just doing this because it's popular. That's great. All right. That's fine. If he's doing it because it popular, what does that mean? That means we're winning the day. That means finally people want this and they've spoken up enough. So it's just a great cultural indicator to see the president giving this kind of message. So great news today, guys, stay with us folks for tomorrow. We've got one more interview this week, and then we'll have foundations of freedom Thursday. on Thursday and of course Good News Friday and a very special Good Friday this week. Thanks for listening to the WallBuilders show.