UN Reform, Local Elections, and Defending American Beauty

On November 3, 2025, guest host Brad Beck fills in for Kim Monson to explore pressing issues of international accountability, local governance, and the preservation of American cultural heritage with Centennial City Council candidate Patty McKernan, writer and commentator Dr. Brian Joondeph, and David Horowitz Freedom Center president Michael Finch. Local Government and the Proper Role of Citizens Start listening at 17:56 – Hour 1 Patty McKernan, candidate for Centennial City Council District 3, warns about third-party interests attempting to interfere with citizen choice through single-hauler trash contracts and other regulatory schemes. McKernan describes her 15-mile-wide district stretching from Colorado Boulevard to Smoky Hill and Liverpool, explaining how Centennial residents want to maintain their city’s character without excessive government intervention. McKernan addresses constituent concerns about affordability, traffic safety, and the proper allocation of city resources. She raises questions about developers seeking municipal bond allotments from neighboring cities and the push to convert mid-century commercial buildings into 15-minute city developments. Her campaign focuses on critical thinking about proposals and preserving the distinctive neighborhoods, trails, and parks that define Centennial. “I realized that we have some third-party, I’ll just call them grifters, and they’re going in town to town trying to interfere with our choice and control as citizens and start regulating the trash services. And that’s not the proper role of government.” Patty McKernan, Centennial City Council Candidate United Nations Accountability and American Priorities Start listening at 30:41 – Hour 1 Dr. Brian Joondeph, writer for Rasmussen Reports and American Thinker, argues that the United Nations has strayed far from its founding mission of creating peace and helping nations prosper. Instead of addressing genocides in Rwanda, Darfur, Congo, and the ongoing slaughter of Christians in Nigeria, the UN focuses disproportionate attention on condemning Israel while operating as a corrupt bureaucracy funded largely by American taxpayers. Joondeph points out that the United States contributes 22 percent of the UN’s regular budget and more than 26 percent of peacekeeping costs, yet receives little accountability for these expenditures. He suggests that financial leverage represents the most effective reform tool, comparing the situation to NATO where Trump’s pressure forced member nations to increase their contributions. The discussion extends to President Trump’s willingness to raise these issues publicly and apply economic pressure to address Christian persecution abroad. “Instead, they’re fomenting conflict, and they’ve become very political.” Dr. Brian Joondeph, Writer Situational Outrage and Political Violence Start listening at 47:02 – Hour 1 Joondeph also addresses the double standards surrounding political violence, noting the stark contrast between bipartisan condemnation of violence against certain legislators and the refusal of many Democrats to condemn violence against conservatives. He describes how some members of Congress and teachers have celebrated or mocked the death of Charlie Kirk, calling such behavior abhorrent regardless of political disagreements. The conversation touches on echo chambers and the unwillingness of many on the left to engage with opposing viewpoints, contrasting this with conserva...