Conversations That Matter

If you are a young American man, this message is for you.
You are not going to inherit the same world your father inherited. The economic conditions are different, cultural institutions are increasingly hostile to men, and many young men feel discouraged, overlooked, and uncertain about their futures.
But God has not made a mistake in creating you. He has given men responsibilities, equipped you with particular strengths, and called you to exercise dominion, build families, cultivate communities, and pursue lives of virtue.
In this message, I discuss what Scripture teaches about masculinity, the responsibilities God has given men, and why young men should resist the temptation to become bitter, cynical, or discouraged.
Drawing from Genesis, 1 Timothy 4, Proverbs, and Deuteronomy 20, I offer an encouragement to young men: build your character, pursue purity, develop courage, trust God's providence, and become the kind of men your children and grandchildren will be proud to remember.
You may not be able to control the circumstances you inherit, but you can control what you do with them.
Chapters:
00:00 A Message to Young American Men
00:34 Young Men Who Changed History
01:01 God Has Equipped You
01:41 Why Modern Institutions Blame Men
02:27 God's Design and Responsibility for Men
03:29 The Economic Challenges Facing Young Men
05:33 Think Long Term: What Will You Leave Behind?
06:14 Timothy and the Responsibility of Young Men
07:16 Character, Conduct, Love, Faith, and Purity
09:11 How to Earn Respect and Set an Example
09:55 The Next Generation of Christian Leaders
10:54 Courage and Deuteronomy 20
12:17 The Problem with Cynicism and Political Destruction
13:04 Channeling Masculinity Toward Good Ends
14:02 Build Rather Than Give Up
14:50 Overcoming Discouragement and Bitterness
16:31 Surround Yourself with Constructive People
17:23 Life Is Worth Living, Even in Difficult Times
19:10 Your Generation's Challenges Can Be Overcome
19:48 Choose to Build
20:31 Final Encouragement
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Jon Harris
Conversations That Matter

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We’re back live for more post-midterm analysis on Conversations That Matter. Jon Harris pushes back on the popular theory that Republicans would have won if they had catered to young white men and the podcast class. He walks through the exit poll and demographic data, examines why Brandon Gill won in the same Texas county where James Talarico won, and argues that the real issue is a lost moral high ground and the decline of Christianity behind it.

He also reads 1 Kings 22 (Ahab, Jehoshaphat, 400 yes-man prophets and the lone truth-teller Micaiah) to ask whose voice Christians should listen to when everyone on the bandwagon says the same thing.

In this episode:

Why Brandon Gill and Ron DeSantis may point to a way forward
What the NBC exit poll and CIRCLE data say about young people, men and white voters
Whether pro-Trump voters really just stayed home
How Democrats used Christian language to win in red states
What Christians can learn from other groups’ political organizing
Why we’re closer to an “early church” phase than a “Constantine” phase
Practical steps for pastors and everyday believers

Chapters
00:00 Live intro: more post-midterm talk
00:55 Brandon Gill’s win in Denton County
01:22 Scripture: personal sin and national consequences
03:01 1 Kings 22: Ahab, Jehoshaphat and 400 prophets
06:38 Micaiah, the prophet who tells the truth
10:03 Why truth beats conventional political wisdom
12:15 Facts on the ground vs. Christian principles
14:01 Substack: “Is the Right Misleading Young White Men?”
17:45 NBC exit poll numbers
22:37 Did pro-Trump voters just stay home?
24:33 Young white men, CIRCLE data and the Bo French test case
27:41 Denton County: Gill and Talarico both win
30:34 Trump as “king” and the outsider problem
32:00 DeSantis, Gill and distance from the administration
35:51 Three takeaways for the Christian right
38:04 How Republicans lost the moral high ground
40:00 Tariffs, Epstein and the trust gap
42:00 How Democrats used Christian language to win
44:19 The White House X account and messaging missteps
45:35 Muslim voters, CAIR and a “seat at the table”
48:26 Rebuilding Christian communities
49:56 Early church vs. Constantine phase
52:08 Practical steps for church leaders and everyday Christians
56:39 Live chat Q&A: the ballroom, Vance and 2028
59:17 Speaking event: Men’s Steakout, Nov 7–8, Watseka, IL

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Substack referenced: https://jonharris.substack.com/publish/post/223348405

The 2026 midterm elections have delivered a major warning to Republicans and conservatives. What happened, why did it happen, and what does it mean for the future of American politics?

In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris examines the Democratic victories, the changing political coalition on the left, the rise of explicitly religious Democratic politics, and the growing disconnect between Republican leadership and ordinary voters.

We also discuss immigration, socialism, the economy, foreign policy, Trump's political strategy, and the influence of prominent conservative commentators. What should Christians make of these developments? And how should conservatives respond?

The answer is not simply to become angrier or find another political personality to follow. Christians need to recover their principles, strengthen their local communities, understand their intellectual and religious heritage, and prepare the next generation for public life.

Topics covered:
- What the 2026 midterms reveal about American politics
- The emergence of the Christian Left
- Why Republicans are losing ground with key voting groups
- Immigration, socialism, and the changing Democratic coalition
- Trump's political strategy and approval ratings
- The future of Christian involvement in public life
- Why conservatives need stronger local communities and deeper roots

Jon discusses the Midterms

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To Support the Podcast:
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00:00 Introduction: The Morning After the Midterms
05:00 The Rise of the Christian Left
14:00 Trump's Political Messaging and Conservative Credibility
20:00 Foreign Policy, Iran, and Israel
30:00 The Republican Coalition and the American Working Class
40:00 Trump's Approval Ratings and Conservative Media
50:00 Immigration, Socialism, and Voter Sentiment
01:05:00 The Economy and Trump's Political Strategy
01:15:00 Why Democrats Are Building a Stronger Coalition
01:25:00 Christians, Public Life, and Political Engagement
01:40:00 What Conservatives Should Do After the Midterms
01:45:00 Trump's Record: Achievements and Failures
01:50:00 Conservatism, Christian Heritage, and the Way Forward

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The American cowboy was once the quintessential American hero. Courageous, independent, honorable, and willing to confront evil, he embodied virtues that generations of Americans admired. But somewhere along the way, the cowboy changed.

Listen to "Old Cowboys Never Die"

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4qmHx7wuTGYbaXaDGCFNqR?si=4846e8b1e88e459a

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/song/old-cowboys-never-die/6786188528

CD: jonharristunes.com

In this documentary, Jon Harris traces the history of the Western, America's most distinctive film genre, from the earliest silent films to the golden age of John Wayne and John Ford, the rise of Clint Eastwood's antihero, and the Western's enduring influence on American culture.

Why did the cowboy become such an important symbol of American identity? What happened to the traditional Western hero? And what does the evolution of the genre reveal about the changing moral character of America?

Along the way, we examine the closing of the American frontier, Frederick Jackson Turner's frontier thesis, Hollywood's changing portrayal of masculinity, and the relationship between Western films and the values that shaped American civilization.

Featuring discussions of *Stagecoach*, *The Searchers*, *High Noon*, *Shane*, *The Good, the Bad and the Ugly*, *Lonesome Dove*, and many other Western classics.

The Western is more than entertainment. It is a window into the American character, our understanding of heroism, and the virtues we once celebrated.

**Whatever Happened to the American Cowboy? | The History of the Western**

Subscribe to Conversations That Matter for more discussions of Christianity, American history, culture, and politics.

#WesternMovies #AmericanHistory #JohnWayne #ClintEastwood #AmericanCulture

0:00 Introduction: Whatever Happened to the American Cowboy?
1:40 The Birth of the Western
4:30 The Closing of the American Frontier
7:30 The Cowboy as the American Ideal
11:00 John Wayne and the Golden Age of Westerns
15:30 Clint Eastwood and the Rise of the Antihero
20:00 The Decline of the Traditional Western
24:00 The Western's Enduring Influence
27:30 Why the American Cowboy Still Matters

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What happens when we put adult desires ahead of children's rights?
In this episode of Conversations That Matter, I speak with Katie Faust, founder of Them Before Us and author of several books on children, family, and pro-child politics. We discuss why children have a fundamental interest in being raised by their mother and father, how the debate over same-sex marriage affects children, and why Christians need to put the interests of children at the center of their cultural and political arguments.
We also discuss surrogacy, the consequences of separating children from their biological parents, the legal and political strategy behind the movement to restore the natural family, and the opportunities Christians have to change the culture.
How can Christians make a more persuasive case for traditional marriage and family? Katie argues that we must identify the true victims of cultural changes, tell the stories of affected children, and explain why children's interests should come before adult preferences.
Learn more and get involved:
https://thembeforeus.com/
Subscribe to Conversations That Matter for more conversations about Christianity, culture, politics, and the future of the family.
00:00 Introduction: Katie Faust and the Rights of Children
03:00 Why Child Protection Is Changing the Culture
06:00 Raising Conservative Children in a Progressive Culture
10:00 Why Children Need Their Biological Parents
15:00 Identifying the Victims in the Culture War
18:00 The Case for Overturning Obergefell
23:00 Surrogacy, Adult Desires, and the Cost to Children
27:00 The Legal Strategy for Restoring the Natural Family
32:00 Building a Pro-Child Political Movement
38:00 The Church's Role in Defending Children
Jon's Music: jonharristunes.com
To Support the Podcast:
https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/
Become a Patron
https://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcast
Substack: https://substack.com/@jonharris
Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989
Follow Jon on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Mars Men and use my code Mengotomars.com for a great deal: https://mengotomars.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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