The Bible says that the Assyrian king Shalmaneser besieged and destroyed Samaria in the northern kingdom of Israel. This was in the 8th century B.C. This triumph is celebrated in Assyrian records, a series of inscriptions discovered by archaeologists in the Assyrian capital of Khorsabad. Written in the Akkadian cuneiform dialect, the inscriptions are now in the Louvre in Paris. (See image below.) They credit the Assyrian king Sargon II with the conquest of Samaria in the 8th century B.C. So which version is correct, the Assyrian one or the one in the Bible? As it turns out, both. It was indeed Shalmaneser V who besieged and pillaged Samaria. His successor was Sargon II, a usurper who seized the throne. And it was Sargon who continued the military campaign in Samaria and finally conquered the city. Once again, the historicity of Scripture is vindicated by archaeology.

IS THE IRAN WAR THE PROBLEM? The answer lies with four key groups that supported Trump in 2024 but defected this time to the Democrats. Here's a candid assessment of how we did this to ourselves. Also, political scientist Daniel Di Martino joins me to explore the Iran fallout, the impact of tariffs, and whether heavy-handed ICE tactics were part of the problem. (1:34) Trump’s 2024 Coalition (5:14) Iran War Drags On (8:41) Dealing With the Mullahs (11:19) Rubio vs. Lincoln (14:49) The Stupid Party (18:07) Guest Intro: Daniel Di Martino (21:20) Lesser Evil Rejected (23:29) Why Voters Turned (25:49) Iran War Economics (28:24) Tariffs’ Hidden Costs (32:34) Wage vs. Asset Economy (38:14) Immigration Policy Fix (44:35) Can Compromise Work? (47:23) GOP Without Ideas (51:43) Crime in Blue Cities

This magazine about biblical archaeology is free, and unlike most free publications, it’s very well done, beautifully laid out, and contains absorbing reading in every issue. I look forward to each new edition when it arrives.

Trump approaches foreign policy with the belief that everyone in the world wants the same things—prosperity and a better life. But is this true of Communists in Venezuela? Islamic mullahs in Iran? Ideology sometimes overrides self-interest. And that helps to explain why the Iran war is stalled, and hurt Republicans in the midterms.

I couldn’t be more thrilled to see @Jim_Jordan elected House GOP leader. I admire Jim immensely and have been honored to serve under his leadership on the Judiciary Committee. Jim is a fighter and a convicted conservative. He’s the original congressional brawler and is exactly what our Conference needs to lead us back to the majority. I’m proud to have supported him. Congratulations, Leader Jordan.