SEKULOW

Narrator: On today's show, Marco Rubio's Munich Security Conference speech is praised as eyes begin to turn to 2028. Keeping you informed and engaged now more than ever, this is Sekulow. We want to hear from you. Share and post your comments or call 1-800-684-3110. And now your host, Logan Sekulow.

Logan Sekulow: Welcome to Sekulow. It is Monday. We have a packed show today. A lot of guests will be joining us. I'm alone in the studio right now, but that won't be for too long. Later on in the broadcast, I will be joined by Nathan, one of our ACLJ attorneys. We have an update on a case you're not going to want to miss.

Another one of those "I can't believe it's real and happening in the United States" moments where, of course, someone is being persecuted for their faith in what you could consider to be a minor way. But of course, it's also because we're talking about this being a fifth grader and this is happening in our own country. We're going to discuss that coming up.

Later on, we'll be joined by Steve Wiggins from Groundworks Ministries and so many other projects he's worked on over the years. He has a great ministry now and also leads tours to Israel. He always talks from a great biblical perspective on the support of Israel, what it looks like, and the rising tide of anti-Semitism.

This includes a "gotcha" moment that I think was handled pretty well by LeBron James, who is now under extreme criticism online for very simple comments about Israel—a place he's never been to and seemingly never really thought about visiting. But for not condemning it firsthand, the first thing he says, he is under attack. When you have the first Israeli player to ever be in the NBA and be an All-Star, these questions start to come up.

My brother, Jordan Sekulow, will be joining us later as well in the second half of the show. One of the breaking news items of the day was sort of what they're calling a diplomatic miracle from Marco Rubio, who delivered a speech that has been widely praised at the Munich Security Conference. He talked about the importance of a safe America and a safe Europe and how Europe and America have to always be working together. Of course, that's one of the major reasons we even have something like the European Center for Law and Justice.

I want you to hear from Marco Rubio, then I want to set up a call. Everyone is saying this is not only a great speech, but also that all eyes are starting to turn to 2028 and who will be that Republican frontrunner. We already know Gavin Newsom is probably considered to be the Democratic frontrunner, but the Republicans are a bit up in the air. Let's hear from Marco Rubio.

Marco Rubio: For we in America have no interest in being polite and orderly caretakers of the West's managed decline. We do not seek to separate, but to revitalize an old friendship and renew the greatest civilization in human history. What we want is a reinvigorated alliance that recognizes that what has ailed our societies is not just a set of bad policies, but a malaise of hopelessness and complacency.

Logan Sekulow: That was Marco Rubio. We have a lot more to play from that coming up in the next segments. I want you to be a part of it. What do you think? Is your mind even going to 2028 yet, knowing you only have a few years left of President Trump? What does it look like in 2028, which is only now just a few years away?

We'll start seeing everything heat up in the next ten months or nine months after the midterms. Then all of a sudden everyone starts talking about it. President Trump announced historically early for his return in the last election, so what would it look like this time around? We know it's going to get a bit fragmented.

I want to hear from you at 1-800-684-3110. Again, you're going to hear from a lot of different voices today. ACLJ attorneys are coming up because whether we're talking about the big global stage or a student fifth grader who just needs some legal help and guidance, you're going to know why. Phone lines are open for you. Be right back with more on Sekulow. Stay tuned.

Narrator: The challenges facing Americans are substantial. At a time when our values, our freedoms, and our constitutional rights are under attack, it's more important than ever to stand with the American Center for Law and Justice. For decades now, the ACLJ has been on the front lines, protecting your freedom and defending your rights in court, in Congress, and in the public arena.

We have an exceptional track record of success, but here's the bottom line: we could not do our work without your support. We remain committed to protecting your religious and constitutional freedoms. That remains our top priority, especially now during these challenging times. The American Center for Law and Justice is on your side. If you're already a member, thank you. If you're not, this is the perfect time to stand with us at ACLJ.org. You can learn more about our life-changing work. Become a member today at ACLJ.org.

Welcome to the all-new ACLJ app. Expert analysis and insight Big Tech can't censor. Customize your news and get real-time alerts on the issues you care about. Advocacy is now at your fingertips. Take action, make a difference, and support the causes you care about with just one tap. Be the first to know with breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox. Everything you need, all in one place. Stay informed, stay empowered. Download today.

We are so excited to announce the ACLJ's brand-new app, completely redesigned to provide you with the best tools available to partner with us at the ACLJ. You can watch the daily Sekulow program, sign petitions, customize your ACLJ membership experience, donate with the click of a button, and receive up-to-the-minute critical updates that the mainstream media can't censor. Just scan the QR code on your screen or go to your phone's app store, search ACLJ, and click install. It's that simple.

Logan Sekulow: Welcome back to Sekulow. We are taking your phone calls at 1-800-684-3110. We just opened up the lines. We are talking about quite a few different topics today. One of the ones that was most surprising was Marco Rubio's speech at the Munich Security Conference. It is being really applauded, even from a bipartisan way. People are calling it historic.

They are calling it a diplomatic miracle as he really brought the room together while eyes start to look at whether he is eyeing a presidential run in 2028. Of course, he has run many times before. We do have to be honest and look at the facts that when you start becoming a frontrunner multiple years out, historically, you don't end up being the guy.

A lot of that changed with President Trump. Rubio went out there and made a very diplomatic speech that spoke to the hearts of the Europeans and probably spoke to the hearts of a lot of Americans. It was what you'd see as "presidential" in the traditional sense, maybe taking us back in time quite a bit.

Last night was the NBA All-Star game. You had President Obama on the front row. He's been making some headlines over the weekend as well with some of the podcast interviews he's been doing. He caught a ball that went rogue in the crowd, and it was a good moment. It did kind of harken you back to years of old when maybe that was more of the tone of the President of the United States.

Marco Rubio set a similar tone: a hopeful tone, a tone that looked to a future where we could be a little bit more united around the world. While he definitely represents the Trump administration, it doesn't necessarily reflect the tone of the Trump administration. At the ACLJ for the last 25 years plus now, we have had the ECLJ, the European Center for Law and Justice, because we know that intrinsically we are linked together as Western civilizations.

We have had a lot of the same issues over the decades and decades of religious freedom. We've actually seen more push in the last five years towards this successful mission at the ECLJ. Now, of course, there's always going to be some step-backs, especially in France. You never know where France is going to go. Sometimes they lean very conservative, sometimes they don't. Let's hear from Marco Rubio once again as you start to think about what a 2028 looks like.

Marco Rubio: And so this is why we Americans may sometimes come off as a little direct and urgent in our counsel. This is why President Trump demands seriousness and reciprocity from our friends here in Europe. The reason why, my friends, is because we care deeply. We care deeply about your future and ours. And if at times we disagree, our disagreements come from our profound sense of concern about a Europe with which we are connected, not just economically, not just militarily. We are connected spiritually and we are connected culturally. We want Europe to be strong. We believe that Europe must survive because the two great wars of the last century served for us as history's constant reminder that ultimately our destiny is and will always be intertwined with yours. Because we know...

Logan Sekulow: Getting an applause break in that crowd is not that common at something like the Munich Security Conference. He was speaking about the sort of intrinsic nature of the connection between Europe and how our destiny is ultimately intertwined with theirs. This was an excellent speech for those of us who also strive for a better Europe.

I found it to be very moving and very important, and a bit hopeful for where even the Republican Party can look in just a few years. I think there were times when the Trump administration needed that course correction where things were getting out of hand. But there are also times when you have someone like Marco Rubio, again representing the Trump administration, who can pivot a bit more and bring the world a little bit back together. Let's hear from Michael in Florida, who's calling in. Michael, go ahead.

Michael: Gentlemen, I just couldn't be more proud of Marco and that speech. It was so inviting. It was unity incarnate. Marco is one of many all-stars that we have top to bottom in the Trump administration. I just couldn't be more proud.

Logan Sekulow: Michael, there is a deep bench, maybe as you'd say, but I agree with you. It was a breath of fresh air to hear this kind of speech coming from the United States of America. In a world that sometimes does feel like it's chaotic and everything is so divided, to hear someone like Marco Rubio go and make this speech to Europe and have it be lauded so big from European people and American people, it did give me that glimmer of hope for what a future could look like.

Right now, it is not hard to turn on the news and to feel like things are very chaotic in this world. We try our best to give you that good balance, to tell you what's going on and what it actually means. It's why one of the main reasons we even have the ECLJ. It is nice to know that there are like-minded people all over the planet, not just in the United States of America, speaking all different languages, all with similar points of view.

Now, is a conservative Christian the same in America as it is in France? Maybe not exactly. They may have different beliefs slightly, and politically maybe even different. But that is why we have an office in Europe being run by Europeans, by French people, who are there speaking the language literally and figuratively. It is why the ACLJ has ACLJ Jerusalem. We are there for a reason. We are in Israel for a reason.

Later on in the show, we're going to have on Steve Wiggins from Groundworks Ministries, who leads tours throughout Israel. He is a great resource if you're looking for the biblical version of why we support Israel, but also why politically we should be supportive of the State of Israel. Steve is one of those people that I know you're going to be led properly through the State of Israel, whether that's from a biblical perspective or even from a cultural and political perspective.

We're also going to be joined next segment by one of our ACLJ attorneys, Nathan. The ACLJ is hard at work, and not just hard at work on the global stage. Sometimes we have to take the fight to individual areas, individual states, and individual schools where a fifth grader is in need.

It's one of my favorite things we do here. Not only do we have an office in Europe, not only do we represent former or current presidents or dignitaries and leaders, we also get to support a fifth grader in their local school who just wants to practice their faith but is being told they can't. It has been the nature of the ACLJ since its very beginning.

If you ever need help like this, or you think you may need legal help, remember, none of it is paid for by you as a client of the ACLJ. There are no legal fees in that way. All of it is funded by people who listen and support this show and this organization financially because they want us to be there with the best of the best when you need it also. So I encourage you to go to ACLJ.org/help. You'll get an answer very quick if it's within our scope.

It's a great way to get connected with an ACLJ attorney immediately, not a call center. And they will let you know what the future could look like. And of course we do that at no cost to you because other people, maybe also like you, support the work of the ACLJ either financially, monthly as an ACLJ champion, or as a one-time gift.

Maybe you're just one of those people that goes to ACLJ.org and you sign one of our petitions. We have a petition up on this right now. You can do that today as well. It's a great free way to get involved. You can also join us on our email list and on all social media platforms. We get back, one of our attorneys, Nathan, is going to be joining us. We'll be right back.

Welcome to the all-new ACLJ app. Expert analysis and insight Big Tech can't censor. Customize your news and get real-time alerts on the issues you care about. Advocacy is now at your fingertips. Take action, make a difference, and support the causes you care about with just one tap. Be the first to know with breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox. Everything you need, all in one place. Stay informed, stay empowered. Download today.

We are so excited to announce the ACLJ's brand-new app, completely redesigned to provide you with the best tools available to partner with us at the ACLJ. You can watch the daily Sekulow program, sign the petitions, customize your ACLJ membership experience, donate with the click of a button, and receive up-to-the-minute critical updates that the mainstream media can't censor. Just scan the QR code on your screen or go to your phone's app store, search ACLJ, and click install. It's that simple.

The challenges facing Americans are substantial. At a time when our values, our freedoms, and our constitutional rights are under attack, it's more important than ever to stand with the American Center for Law and Justice. For decades now, the ACLJ has been on the front lines, protecting your freedom and defending your rights in court, in Congress, and in the public arena.

We have an exceptional track record of success, but here's the bottom line: we could not do our work without your support. We remain committed to protecting your religious and constitutional freedoms. That remains our top priority, especially now during these challenging times. The American Center for Law and Justice is on your side. If you're already a member, thank you. If you're not, this is the perfect time to stand with us at ACLJ.org. You can learn more about our life-changing work. Become a member today. ACLJ.org.

Logan Sekulow: Welcome back to Sekulow. I like to always have an ACLJ attorney on when we can, specifically when there are moments like these. You may be watching the show and you see the global scale of the ACLJ and think, "Wow, I have a legal matter that I could use or maybe there's some issues going on in my school for my son or daughter and I don't know what to do."

The ACLJ is not too busy. We have incredible attorneys that are ready to help you out. Nathan's joining us right now, one of our incredible ACLJ attorneys. Nathan, I think it's important to back up because I feel like if you were watching during the break, maybe you saw a clip out of Chicago. It does seem like Illinois seems to always be one of those places that we end up in. Now we are turning to an eleven or twelve-year-old fifth grader who is dealing with a situation at their school. Back it up a little bit and tell me this story.

Nathan: Sure. As you said, Illinois has become a hotbed for a lot of problems lately. In this particular situation, our contact is the parents of a fifth-grade student. She's there in a public elementary school and her teacher has a reading time for the students—a brief period, like 15 to 20 minutes, where students just read books from the library or books they brought from home. Our client wanted to read her Bible. When she got out her Bible to read it while other students were reading whatever book they wanted, her teacher told her no. She said, "You're not allowed to read your Bible. In fact, you can't even bring your Bible to school because technically we can't even talk about the Bible because people might get offended."

Logan Sekulow: This sounds like it's straight out of the early 90s. It feels like you could be replaying one of our shows from 25 years ago. This feels like it should be very settled law. There should not even be a problem with this. Of course, you have your own quiet time—this isn't even a led Bible club. This is just a student bringing their Bible to school.

I feel like I've been talking about this my entire life, and my dad's entire life, and my brother's entire life. This is what the ACLJ does. When you have a student being told that they cannot bring their Bible to school and they cannot read it during quiet time, you may be watching right now and going, "How could this possibly still be the case?" But unfortunately, you often have administrations and faculty members who just simply don't understand the law. The ACLJ can often get this taken care of quickly, but there are times, especially in states like Illinois, where it takes a little bit more than just pressure.

Nathan: Exactly. We're prepared to really dive in here, take action, and really take this school district to court if it in any place or way tries to suggest that this is in any way justified. As you said, the law is well-established. It's a classic ACLJ case for sure. The Trump administration just issued guidance on these kinds of issues, like prayer in schools and Bible reading in schools, just a couple weeks ago. The students have a constitutionally protected right to engage in personal, private religious activity. This is as well-established as it gets. We're prepared to hold this school district accountable if it does not immediately correct what the teacher said.

Logan Sekulow: First step, do we have a demand letter coming?

Nathan: That is indeed the first step. We anticipate sending a demand letter as soon as today if we can and giving the school district approximately a week in order to make sure that this is fixed as soon as possible. We'll be ready to go from there.

Logan Sekulow: Fantastic. And of course, if that doesn't happen, then we go to court. This is what the ACLJ does. There are multiple steps in these journeys. If it can be handled very quickly without a bunch of going to court and legal costs, and if it can be handled with a letter, sometimes it can be.

As Nathan said, a lot of this is settled law. This is law that we have been helping construct but also support for the last 35-plus years that we have had the organization. This is nothing new for the ACLJ. There's a multiple-step process, but as we've learned with students' rights being violated, the ACLJ is there and will take it as far as necessary to see our clients win and make sure that their rights are upheld.

Sometimes that process can take years. So of course, if it can be handled with a letter for the sake of that student and their parents and their families, we want to make sure we do it as quickly and efficiently as possible. We are not trying to stretch this out intentionally. We're not trying to make these cases go two years or three years. There are other organizations that maybe that's what they want to do; they want to talk to you about these things forever. If we don't think we can win, we'll let you know. We think we not only can win, but we will win this one. Nathan, people go to ACLJ.org/help, they fill out that form, they get attached with an attorney like you. This is not that uncommon.

Nathan: Exactly. I think one of the things that happens is so many government officials, especially at these local levels—school boards, library boards, cities—they just don't realize what the First Amendment means. They think that they're obligated to stifle all religion because they're scared about separation of church and state or some other nonsense like that. So that's why the ACLJ steps in. We only got all these details this past Thursday, but as soon as we heard what happened, we immediately jumped on it. Likewise, I encourage people, if we hear about your situation, we may be able to move very, very quickly to try to hold governments accountable. That's what we're here to do: to defend religious freedom.

Logan Sekulow: Fantastic. Nathan, thanks for joining us. Of course, that's at ACLJ.org. It's very easy way to engage with our legal team and keep updated on everything that we're doing. All of it is without a paywall. We are prepared to defend that student as far as it needs to go.

You start with that demand letter and you hope that takes care of it, but sometimes it doesn't, especially in states that are maybe less friendly to people with deeply held religious views. So I encourage you to go to ACLJ.org and support the work in the team. Now, we have a second half-hour of our broadcast coming up. It's available on a lot of different sources.

If you don't get the full hour, we are live every day. You can find that on ACLJ.org, on the Salem News Channel, which is available on Pluto and some of the other free TV options. It's available on YouTube, on Rumble, on X—wherever there's social media, the ACLJ is there. It's also available however you get your podcasts later on.

We are taking your calls at 1-800-684-3110. Diving into the second half of the show, we're going to go back, talk a little bit more about that Marco Rubio speech. We are going to talk about the support of Israel and people like LeBron James, who are essentially being canceled for not really saying much about Israel last night at the All-Star game. We'll be joined by Steve Wiggins from Groundworks Ministries and my brother Jordan will be joining us in the back half hour as well. Give us a call at 1-800-684-3110.

Narrator: For decades now, the ACLJ has been on the front lines, protecting your freedom and defending your rights in court, in Congress, and in the public arena. The American Center for Law and Justice is on your side. If you're already a member, thank you. And if you're not, well this is the perfect time to stand with us at ACLJ.org where you can learn more about our life-changing work. Become a member today. ACLJ.org.