Is This the DUMBEST Thing in 2026?! | 3/31/26
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In this high-energy episode of the Steve Deace Show, host Steve Dace and co-hosts Todd Erzend and Aaron McIntyre deliver a blistering critique of contemporary cultural, political, and military trends. The show opens with a sponsor segment for Kexi cookies, followed by a rapid-fire rundown of global developments: Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning NATO allies about basing rights, the FBI confirming Hezbollah's involvement in a Michigan synagogue attack, and the controversial removal of a mural honoring slain activist Irina Zarutska in Providence. The hosts dissect the NBA's decision to release Jaden Ivey for criticizing Pride Month, juxtaposing it with the Supreme Court's 8-1 ruling that Colorado's ban on conversion therapy violates the First Amendment. A deep dive into the psychological and spiritual state of the nation follows, with Dace expressing despair over America's self-inflicted decline, citing the normalization of absurdity—from Lindsey Graham at Disney to Drag Queen Storytime in Pella, Iowa—while contrasting it with Israel’s unified resolve amid ongoing war. Matthew Faraci provides a grounded perspective from Israel, describing daily life under missile attacks and the strategic ambiguity of U.S.-Israeli operations. The episode culminates in a 'vibe check' segment, where the hosts debate 10 provocative predictions about the future, ranging from U.S. troop presence in Iran to the fate of the Republican Party’s ideological factions. Throughout, the tone is urgent, satirical, and deeply concerned about the erosion of truth, courage, and cultural coherence.
The U.S. is facing a crisis of moral and strategic clarity, with institutions and leaders failing to take principled stands on key issues.
Israel’s unity and resolve in the face of existential threat stand in stark contrast to America’s internal fragmentation and self-censorship.
Faith-based media is experiencing a renaissance, proving that audiences crave authentic, substantive content that engages with darkness without glorifying it.
The NBA’s reaction to Jaden Ivey’s criticism reveals a league more concerned with image than integrity, reflecting broader cultural surrender to performative identity politics.
America’s soft underbelly is not just military—it’s spiritual, intellectual, and moral, and this vulnerability is being exploited by enemies both foreign and domestic.
Opening Fire: Kexi Cookies and Global Firestorms
The episode kicks off with a sponsor plug for Kexi cookies, followed by a rapid-fire rundown of global developments including Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s warning to NATO, the FBI’s confirmation of Hezbollah’s involvement in a Michigan synagogue attack, and the controversial removal of a mural honoring Irina Zarutska in Providence.
The NBA, Pride, and the Supreme Court: A Contradiction in Terms
“The NBA decides, you know, our ratings suck, people aren't watching, and basically our viewership is the comments section or essentially MSNBC Twitter. So we've got an idea, all right? Let's get rid of a guy for criticizing Pride Month and make that pretty well known that it at least played some major role in why we did this.”
America’s Self-Inflicted Decline: From Pella to the Pentagon
“This is what I'm saying. It's all self-inflicted. And that's what... Listen, I've read a history book. I'm a Christian. I know there's only one eternal kingdom. And it's his, not this country or any other. We are all as human beings going to assume room temperature. We are all as civilizations going to assume room temperature one day and take our place in the burial plot of the ash heap of history.”
On the Ground in Israel: Life Amid Missile Fire
“You go to the grocery store. you expect you're going to have to stop on the way. You expect you're going to have to go into the bomb shelter at the grocery store. You may end up inadvertently pulling into a friend's house, right? You know, you tell your kids, you can go to your friend's house, but if you hear the alarm, you got to go to the bomb shelter on the way to your friend's house.”
The Strategic Ambiguity of U.S.-Iran Relations
The hosts analyze the strategic ambiguity surrounding U.S. and Israeli operations in Iran, questioning whether a ground presence is necessary to topple the regime and debating the implications of the U.S. Secretary of State speaking on Al Jazeera.
“This is what I'm saying. It's all self-inflicted. And that's what... Listen, I've read a history book. I'm a Christian. I know there's only one eternal kingdom. And it's his, not this country or any other. We are all as human beings going to assume room temperature. We are all as civilizations going to assume room temperature one day and take our place in the burial plot of the ash heap of history.”
“We'd rather send our students to hell than to Hollywood.”
“The only thing you have in common with him is the Jew stuff. That's the only thing you have in common with him.”
Host
Guests
Steve Dace
person
Aaron McIntyre
person
Israel
place
Todd Erzend
person
Matthew Faraci
person
Iran
place
David Cunningham
person
NBA
organization
Hezbollah
organization
Fox Nation
media
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