October 14, 2025 • 39 mins
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Downtown Grand Rapids. We're talking about what matters most to
you in West Michigan. Joining the conversation now at six
one six seven seven.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Four twenty four twenty four.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
At six one six seven seven four twenty four twenty four,
It's West Michigan Live with Justin Barklay on Wood Radio Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Oh welcome, man, Holy moly. The weekend of nerves and
headlines it's been. I'm going to get you up to
speed with all of it. Of course, man, never a
dull moment, President Trump halfway across the world, and just
yesterday making this massive peace deals, getting all the eyes dotted,
(00:45):
tease crossed, and then today backcom early this morning to
present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk pstumous.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
News Weather and Traffic, his stories of the day. We
are talking about what matters most in West Michigan and beyond.
This is the Big Three.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
A lot of time to be allowed and hear what
they're doing in Portland.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
I know.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
All the stories at mattermost.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Get to them all this morning, as we do each
and every morning with our Big Three.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Power.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
All right, good friends at Heartland Home Mortgage Day have
got away and the team ready to take care of you.
Buy refi home equity line of credit. No matter what
it is. Dave and the team can help you save
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big banks. Reach out today at HHM lending dot com.
It's thanks for being in the shift number one. It
(01:46):
is a it's a good time to get that done.
So let's start here. Well, they're gonna get paid, according
to the latest there were questions about the Coast Guard
and the folks City USA. I'm sure very concerned, some
people even putting the others you heard on the news
all morning long. An effort to make sure that those
(02:07):
folks taken care of as we do care about the
people that are serving us and continue to do so
bravely each and every day, and even if there's a
threat of them not getting paid. According to the Schumer
shut down, well that's not the case for the Coast Guard.
Secretary of Homeland Security Christy Nome confirming the Coast Guard
(02:28):
service members will receive their pay during the shutdown, news
made behind the scenes, and of course President Trump saying
that folks in the military will get paid as well.
Secretary of War confirming that good details, because those folks.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Do deserve it.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
They are they're doing their best to fight for us
each and every day, and in a day and age
when you never know what is.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
It's around the corner. Parents, listen up.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
The Michigan Board of Education coming for your rights. According
to some, a new proposal would make sex add a
mandatory graduation requirement. In fact, there's hearing on this. I
believe even today. They love to have people there and
now it may be too late to get there in time,
(03:16):
but to know that this is happening and maybe spread
the word folks in that area can get there. What
they want to do is strip away the current out
option parents have. Critics say it's a sneaky move, the
forced radical curriculum under the radar, and once it's end,
there's no getting it out. The board says it's just
updating house standards.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
You'll be the judge.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Couple of conservatives on that board say not on my watch.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
And for it.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
They want to move to have this stuff thrown out,
and in fact, I think they'd like that done today
at the meeting that will happen we'll see if that
does take place or not. More on that coming out,
But first this, as I mentioned, President Trump on a
whirlwind trip, the historic Middle East peace Plan, the deal done, signed, sealed, delivered. Today,
(04:05):
he's turning his attention to honoring a fallen Conservative leader,
member of the faith, Martyred Charlie Kirk, posthumously receiving the
award that Presidential Medal of Freedom today and again this
will happen with his wife there and other members of
Turning Point USA and folks that'll be in attendance, dignitaries, etc.
(04:29):
The White House saying the legacy Charlie Kirk left behind,
inspiring millions of young Americans to stand for faith, freedom
and the Constitution will live on through the highest civilian honor,
and an honor it is, indeed, and one unfortunately having
(04:49):
to be bestowed today in a ceremony. I'm sure that
they're not. They wish they didn't have to do as well.
President Trump talking about it well back when he made
that announcement at the Memorials.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
And a special thank you to Erica, because today America
is a nation in grief, a nation in shock, and
a nation in mourning.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Less than two weeks ago, our.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
Country was robbed of one of the brightest lights of
our times. A giant of his generation and above all,
a devoted husband, father's son, Christian and patriot, Charles James
Kirk was heineously murdered by a radicalized, cold blooded monster
(05:42):
for speaking the truth that was in his heart. He
was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice,
for God and country, for reason and for common sense.
He was assassinated because he lived bravely, He lied boldly,
(06:04):
and he argued brilliantly without apology. He did what was
right for our nation. And so on that terrible day
September tenth, twenty twenty five, our greatest evangelist for American
liberty became immortal.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
He's a martyr now for American freedom.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
I know I speak for everyone here today when I
say that none of us will ever forget Charlie Kirk,
and neither now will history, because while Charlie has been
(06:52):
reunited with his creator in Heaven, his voice on Earth
will echo through the generations, and his name will live
forever in the eternal chronicle of America's greatest patriots.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
He will live forever.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
To Charlie's incredible and beautiful widow, Erica. We know the
weight of this monumental loss is almost unbearable. But even
in the midst of heartache and pain too great to
even fathom, you have somehow found the strength and deep
faith to be a comfort to millions and millions of people.
(07:34):
And thank you very much, Erica, thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Now, the moment since that memorial, the moment since the
horrific assassination, I really been something backfired in a lot
of ways. What evil meant to snuff out, they've only
fanned the flames of freedom. Of course, faith in that
conversations around both that idea that we can just have
(08:00):
conversations with each other. Some people, you know, don't want
that to happen, obviously, but we won't stop. We'll continue
to have conversations. You remember, I just I just made
a post about this that'll come up later today.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
On Facebook.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
It was funny because I thought to myself, you know,
isn't that interesting. I saw a meme that I shared.
It said, just because I disagree with you does not
mean I hate you. We need to relearn that in
our society. By the way, it's not we as a whole.
It is the left. But I said, you know, isn't
that something. Don't you remember a time when we used
(08:39):
to say, yes, we could just agree to disagree, polite conversations.
Don't you remember a time. But in fact, we sort
of you know, got a kick out of it. We said, well,
it's a free country. If you just didn't agree with
what somebody had to say, Well, it's a free country.
(09:02):
We have seen political violence, assassinations from the extreme folks
on the left, and at an alarming rate. In fact,
they're having to talk about this now, and even Fetterman
Senator Ftterman posting about it a week or two back.
It is something that that there is no denying anymore,
(09:24):
and there'll be some people that will try to deny.
A lot of them are living in echo chambers and
they're not hearing these stories. They're not seeing the evidence,
and unfortunately it's just not getting to them. But it'll
be a day, hopefully that we'll move us a little
bit closer towards healing. It'll be a day that hopefully
we can stand with one another and and join arms
(09:51):
around Charlie's widow, Erica, and of course the family and
together honor that legacy, which again, as I mentioned, I
don't think we've even yet begun to see the full
scope of what he's coming God willing. Lots of discussed
(10:19):
tattooesday to day. Boy, We've got some stories you will
not want to miss. It just happened here about four
hundred employees laid off for AI.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Last week.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
We had that story about the insurance giant Akressure in
their move China's hacking America critical infrastructure, a story you
won't want to hear. We won't want to well, you
probably won't want to hear it either. You're gonna need
to hear it. You won'tant to miss it, I'll tell
you that much. It was on sixty minutes this weekend,
and I'm you know, I applaud them for actually covering us.
(10:52):
They've kind of taken ahead in the sand in the
past four years, this sort of a head in the
sand approaching. That's it's just well, that's not a good idea.
But what might be Banning kids under fifteen from social
media will tell you where are they going to do that?
Coming up in our Tech Talk conversation with Trent, can
(11:12):
it be a footableized store? Lake Michigan Drive and stand
bill hang on for that. It's on the way right
here on West Michigan Live. Oh the week in our
good friends at B ninety three Ally Mack and the
crew stopping out at the Good Feet store on twenty
edhtreat And I got a chance to see Tom out there,
(11:33):
one of the folks that listens to the program religiously says,
and he said, you know, riding in and B ninety three,
Al I heard there. I said, I need to go
in and check it out, and Tom did so. He
got to see the difference up close and personal. Like
I tell you, every single day you're on your feet,
you got foot pain, back pain, leg pain. They might
be able to help you. And guess what they'd like
(11:55):
to help some other folks too. During the month of October,
their teammate up to support It's a Breast Thing, the
organization that is helping folks with the local cancer patient's
breast cancer patients here and Grand Rapids. For the month
of October, they're donating a portion of all of their sales,
including one hundred percent of revenue from their pink Os
First Socks, their socks that help you and support your
(12:19):
everyday activities planifesciotis and whatnot, and they are fantastic sucks
and the pink Ones one hundred percent of the proceeds
will go to It's a breast thing, taking that first
step forward towards comfort for yourself and helping some other
folks out at the same time, stepping out for local
breast cancer patients. So don't forget, stop, buy and and
(12:39):
of course go on in person see for yourself the
difference and maybe you can help out too, make a difference,
not just for yourself but for someone else in need.
The sumpt that caused that is definitely near to our hearts.
Give feet to your faith at the Good Feats twenty
(13:00):
eighth Street, right there, right right next to costco in
Grand Rapids and Portage on Westach in front of Cole's
at the Good Feet Store.
Speaker 6 (13:12):
Here are your headlines from the Midwesterner this Tuesday, October fourteenth.
I'm Robin Hoffman. It's a Midwesterner dot news original story.
The Michigan Board of ed mules a plan to remove
parental oversight of sex education. Right now, parents can have
their kids here in Michigan opt out of a sex
said class, but the new curriculum would remove this option
and make sex ed a graduation requirement. Michigan Secretary of
(13:35):
State Democrat Jocelyn Benson promises to do something about the
affordability crisis here in Governor Whitmer's Michigan. Benson goes on
our X page blasting Whitmer's broken system, but doesn't offer
any new solutions.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
A lot of people like the one state solution, some
people like the two state solutions. We'll have to see.
Speaker 6 (13:53):
I haven't commented on the President Trump back here in
the States, fresh from signing his historic Middle East peace plant.
The President will honor the late Charlie Kirk, who was
assassinated with the Medal of Freedom during a White House
ceremony today. For these stories and more, visit the Midwesterner
at the Midwesterner dot news.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Yew Well, folks are asking what can be done about
this Department of Ed situation and what they wanted to
make sex education again radicalized under the guise of the
health education that if you believe the public schools really
want to educate your kids as to health, I got
(14:36):
another thing, maybe a.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Bridge to sell you up in macnall. Here's the deal.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Everything they do they put some sort of fancy and sweet, innocent,
nice sounding twist on it, But that's that's just never
the truth when it comes to anything that is done.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Buss Over Detroit News wrote this.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
I think it's an opinion piece on this, but she
writes bus state pushes radical sex at under guys of
health that proposed changes from former state Superintendent Michael Rice
to the state's health standards framework for public schools push
an identity agenda. It's not just sex ad in the kinky,
weird things that you can imagine are just talking to
(15:24):
them about it all.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
By the way, the only thing these kids.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Need to know, many of them in fifth grade and
even younger, and probably I don't know, this is between
you and your kid as a parent, really decide this.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
I haven't really thought about what the appropriate age is yet.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
I think the appropriate age for my daughter to start
dating is probably thirty either one of them. No, I
just of course I'm joking. But at the same time,
the only thing these kids need to know is that
you know, boys and girls have coody, and that's.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
That's just that. Leave them alone. Leave them alone.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
But now that's not what this is about. There's so
much more to it. It's it's indoctrination, confusion and all
the rest of it. And of course they want to
opt you out beginning at the earliest grade. Bus Rights,
the schools will push identity agendas marked by wholly inappropriate
(16:26):
instruction on gender fluidity, which is a bunch of maloney
in itself, Sex and relationships as a student's age into
middle school worse lacking transparency than new sexually centered guidelines,
fold into regular K through twelve health classes, which are
statutorily different from sex ed under Michigan law. Rice retired
(16:49):
in October. It's not clear whether newly elected superintendent selected
I should say not elected selected, Glenn Malaco, will reverse
course on the department's plan. Where the Department of Education
is planning is a backdoor effort to enact stalled legislation
introduced last year by a then Democratic led House that
(17:12):
it would have rear written sex language and allowed contraception
to be given out at schools. It's unacceptable and some
of the provisions drafted might be illegal.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Bus Rights.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Public schools are required to teach students how to prevent
sexually transmitted diseases and are allowed to talk about sexual
harassment and preventing dating violence, but they are not permitted
to teach about gender identity, same sex attraction, and adolescent
sexual consent.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Instruction.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Guidelines for sexual matters there are clearly defined by Michigan's laws.
For local districts that opt in to teach elective sex
education courses, it requires parental notice and opt out provisions
and putting together a curriculum. Districts must council clergy, community
and parents for input, as well as sex at advisory
(18:05):
board and required to teach abstinence as an effective method
to avoid unintended pregnancy and disease.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Imagine that now what you you think that these folks
really they think that they need to have this, Well,
not quite. We we need it.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
We kind of need to add we we got to
add a little a few things in here. We gotta
it's not quite buttoned up and ready to go just yet.
The education establishment may not like those restrictions, but that's
the law. Separate Provision establishes clear standards for health education,
which is a graduation requirement. Lawmakers are are working on.
(18:48):
By the way, this is this is a there's a
big hearing on this. I think it's today only get
the details when we come back from the break, and
I'll make sure that you know about it so you
can you can be a part of it or make
your voice.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Heard in all of this.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
But again, it's just another and it's outrageous, you know,
and it comes. I'm just to look make this as
common sense as we can. It comes at a time
when the test scores are in the tank reading scores
as well here in this data mission.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
They can't get that.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
Right, but they think they can get this right for
your kids. Give me a break, well, folks, will continue
to cover it for you. The latest of the stories
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(19:45):
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Speaker 2 (20:04):
It's simple.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
Protechgr dot com is the website it called six one
six three zero three seventy four thirty six. Again that's
protech gr dot com and they'll take care of you
like they've taken care of me. Just a fantastic job
all the way through Lisa and the team.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
They always do.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Reach out today protech gr dot com back next, it's
we'll check in on that, but first or tech talk segment.
Our good friend Trink can it be with us this morning?
A couple of big stories and they want to make
sure that we hit.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
And uh, one of the.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Biggest is probably the story about China. China finally caught
and uh, well we've known about this one for a while,
but we got a story on sixty minutes over the
weekend what they've been doing and trying to hack folks
all across the country, utility companies and even in your
(21:09):
on Amy city there. So I'm not that important. Why
would China try to do that? Well, part of it's chaos.
Will dig into that full conversation and the scope of
it to really give you a, you know, a better
picture of why some of this is actually happening behind
the scenes. But speaking of disruption, your job could be
gone in the blink of an eye because of AI
(21:33):
that and more coming.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Up tack into the latest in tech and how it
affects you and your world. This is Tech Talk Tuesday
on Wood Radios, West Michigan Live.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Our good friend Trick Levy is here a fort a
live store like Michigan Drive and Stanielle Grand River Tech
where they need to help you with your individual devices
or your school, your church, your organization, your company, where
they can help you in big ways as well. Something
that you're no stranger to. This China story. I want
to get into that coming up here in just a moment.
(22:04):
But first, if we may, let's start here Trent Ai.
Last week bombshell was dropped here in West Michigan. Four
hundred jobs that the insurance giant Acrossure are going away,
they say in the next year, two hundred of those
right here in West Michigan. And it's wild to watch.
They just built this big building down here downtown. I'm
(22:26):
thinking to myself, what's coming next. By the way, they
may be the first, they won't be the last. Why
is this happening? And what is on the horizons, the
horizon for folks who may be concerned about, you know,
their work. Welcome in.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Good morning, Trent good.
Speaker 7 (22:44):
Morning, Justin.
Speaker 8 (22:45):
Yeah, this is something that is going to be taking
headlines for years to come, Justin, especially when it comes
to these type of jobs. So this is an accounting job,
an accounting role, and there's very diverse accounting task, but
much of accounting is taking transactions, categorizing them, checking them,
double checking them, reconcilling them, recording them, and that specific
(23:09):
type of work AI does a really good job of
and it still needs a little guidance, a little help
from people to make sure it does it correctly.
Speaker 7 (23:17):
But it can get rid of ninety ninety five.
Speaker 8 (23:20):
Percent of the workforce and those very specific types of
jobs of account reconciliation, transaction matching, and some of those
things even like reporting and analysis a little bit more
advanced jobs.
Speaker 7 (23:33):
AI does massive amounts.
Speaker 8 (23:34):
So we're going to see it more and more of
those layoffs and Justin, it is painful. I mean, people
who have made a career of this, people who have
had a good paying job, enjoy their job, do a
good job. They're being cut, they're being axed, and it's
because of AI. And the flip side of this, Justin
is we've been through this a lot of times in
the past when we went from a blacksmiths to C
(23:57):
and C operators. When we went from you know, I
don't know, horse and buggy to cars, I mean the
jobs were it was painful during that time. It was
a transition time. But those people moved up in society,
they moved up to a higher skill job. This is
a little bit new territory because with AI, where is
(24:18):
it moving up? If AI is taking some of those
more upward jobs, what is this going to look like?
Speaker 7 (24:23):
So this is unprecedented.
Speaker 8 (24:24):
This is kind of not the same past technology differences,
and it's going to be tough short term. But people
need to innovate and increase their job, increase their skill,
try to move up the ladder. As opposed to saying, hey,
my job is gone, I'm out of the workforce, I'm done.
Speaker 7 (24:41):
That's a bad response.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
To this is this is something we're not going to
solve today, but it's a story that you need to hear.
We need to talk about a shine light on it
so that you be thinking about it. I don't ever
want people to be running around in fear. That's so
not trying to invoke spirit of fear. But what I
would like for you to do is think about a
consider and pray about it, because I believe that you're
going to get some answers and that AI is is
(25:06):
like any other tool. I think it's going to have
some really great things, but I think there's going to
be some really bad things that are going to come
out of it as well. It's just like any other tool.
It's going to be used in the hands of the
individual that it's that it's in. Well, folks are coming
for you in your own home and maybe even your
water utility system as well. China caught hacking sixty minutes
(25:27):
with a big expose on it. Story that trans no
stranger to.
Speaker 9 (25:32):
Is Lyttleton a major supplier of some kind of the
federal government with a major supplier to a military base.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Nope.
Speaker 9 (25:41):
Nick Lawler is general manager of the Littleton, Massachusetts Electric
and Water Utility. His town has ten thousand residents. Can
you think of any reason that China would target your
little community?
Speaker 5 (25:58):
That's exact question I had for the BI when they
visit me on that first day.
Speaker 7 (26:01):
And I still can't answer that question.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
No, I can't think of one reason.
Speaker 9 (26:06):
The FBI visited in November twenty twenty three to tell
Lawler that China had access to his utilities computer network.
He says the FEDS told him he was one of
two hundred. How much of all of this is controlled
remotely by computer? Olive it In his water treatment plant,
(26:28):
Lawler showed us tanks of dangerous chemicals that are precisely
controlled to deliver clean water. If you had control of
these tanks, you've got control of Lyttleton, Massachusetts. You can
poison the water.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
You can poison the water.
Speaker 9 (26:49):
But China was caught before it had operational control. With
Lawler's permission, the FEDS watched what China was doing, and
what they learned was part of an awakening for American security.
If you are willing to go after a small water
provider in Littleton, Massachusetts, what other target is off the list?
Speaker 3 (27:11):
So from the point, by the way, if you think
about this and Trent I know you have, what they
say that they've been able to do is pretty incredible.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
You could poison that little town. That could do that
cause chaos.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
In fact, you only have to do it a couple
of different places in order to cause a stir, to
make people very very concerned about their water supply and
not trust trusting it.
Speaker 7 (27:37):
Yeah, Justin. This is a very scary story. We've had
cases of this that we've reported. We've discussed this in
the past.
Speaker 8 (27:43):
A couple of years ago actually another small town's water
supply system. This sixty minute story revealed that there was
over two hundred and some similar places that were under
attack or supervision or remote access by China specifically. And
that's known cases. How many others are not known? And
(28:05):
Justin it's uh, yeah, I mean really, it's hard to
not go down a dark track because the point is
this small town.
Speaker 7 (28:13):
It provides water for these people.
Speaker 8 (28:15):
Right, There's no intrinsic, special, top secret technology that China
is trying to siphon off for a new jet fighter
some other thing that we'd say, hey, we don't like this,
but we understand what their goal is. The only conclusion
you can come to is that they're trying to have
immense power remotely to cause mass harm to average people.
(28:38):
And I don't know what other conclusion you come to, Justin,
that's a very scary reality there.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Unfortunately, is is no other conclusion that I can see.
I think that's exactly what the truth is, and it's
a truth that that folks need to understand, China is
not our friend. What they're preparing to do is should
be very concerning to a lot of people. How much
some good news before we close out our tech talk
(29:06):
segment today, because look, I mean some of this stuff,
Look it's it's very concerning, it's troubling, it's serious news,
but it's news that I think you need to know.
I never come at any of this by thinking I
keep my head stick my head in the sand. You know,
that's not how I approach life. We got to make
sure that you are up to speed on what's going on.
This I think is some good news in Denmark, and
(29:28):
maybe the question is how soon could we get it here.
I don't know that laws are the way to go,
but you know, because I really feel like you should
be able to have as much freedom, but you'll be
able to make your own choices. And I think the
ultimate solution is that parents know and then they they
take those actions like we have with our kids. But
Denmark is planning to ban social media for users under fifteen,
(29:55):
and I might even go a little bit further with
that because I think that.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
I really do. I think our brain's still developing.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
You don't have enough life experience to know what point
yet and now with AI and everything else out there, Trent,
it's wild to watch, but it happens. You know, there's
stuff out there that looks very really got caught with
something the other day and it looks so real. We
don't know what's real and what isn't anymore. Plus all
(30:22):
the things that we know, the real truth about what's
been happening with social media for years and the damage
it's doing to kids.
Speaker 8 (30:29):
Justin, this is something again, I'm with you, Justin. I
think parents should be dictating this and not government. Let's
just put it that way. But regardless of that, this
Denmark's going to have a duration of children that are
ten or one hundred times better off statistically, practically speak,
in reality, their IQ, their intelligence, their social ability, I mean,
(30:52):
all of the buff they're going to be leaps and
bounds at Jessin, We're coming to a point where if
you have a family in America that has values, values,
meaning we don't sit for six hours a day on
our phones, whether those kids are adults, values of what
kind of content we spread, boundaries and borders on those things.
In the past, is you had to go to college,
(31:12):
you had a good degree, and then you were educated,
you were smart, you are successful. Literally, if you just
keep your kids off social media and a few little
boundaries like that, it's going to be far more life
affecting than a four year college degree in time, if
that's not already the case, just because of how awful
(31:33):
social media is, hours and hours of consumption, which is
the average kid.
Speaker 7 (31:37):
It just messes u up. It's totally detrimental.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
And speaking of like I said, they're not able to
really make the tails heads, but you know that average
person can, and even somebody like me. I saw this
video over the weekend, Trent and I. It was something
that made me laugh. You wouldn't believe how hard this
made me laugh when I saw this, and then I
realized it took me. It wasn't instantly, but it took
(32:03):
me another day or sort of realize what i'd seen
wasn't real. So you're listening to the radio, you can't
see this behind the scenes. Last year, they can. It's
a bowl of Halloween candy that's put out for trick
or treaters, sitting on a table on some sort of
porch at a house. It seems to be like a
doorbell camera or security camera footage, and a big possum
(32:25):
is sitting on this table about ready to take a
bite out of this candy that's in the bowl. And
right behind it is one of these Halloween decoration witch
looking things that is motion activated or whatnot. And you've
seen those things and they'll make noise and scare you
if you walk up. Well, what happens next is the
thing goes off. The possum jumps about ten feet in
(32:48):
the air and flips out. The candy goes flying. And
I lost it when I saw this too.
Speaker 2 (32:54):
There's the cart. I couldn't believe it.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
When I saw this, Trent, it was like one of
the funniest things I'd seen. Uh, I mean, and I
don't know how long, but then I started seeing others
and that's what tipped me off. Okay, that that wasn't real.
Most people wouldn't know what they were watching this again,
this is the point that we made this the other
day so that people could understand and some of the
(33:28):
other things that we've shared. But if it's something as
small and insignificant as as that, uh, it could be
anything and everything else. I've seen another gosh, I guess
it was a there was one with a bear and
a some some other animal that they had that was
started fighting over it. There's all of this stuff that's
(33:51):
flying around out there and people don't understand yet. That's
that's how that's how far behind we are.
Speaker 8 (33:59):
Yeah, justin, that's a great, great example where just some
innocent video, it's AI generated, it's funny, right, whatever, what
harm can be done?
Speaker 7 (34:08):
What it does is number one, it's a time waster.
Speaker 8 (34:10):
If we're sitting for eight hours a day watching funny,
let's just say, innocent.
Speaker 7 (34:16):
Videos, what does that do to our psyche?
Speaker 8 (34:18):
And then with that AI justin, what's the long term
if we if six hours a day gets boring of
watching funny animal videos, where is AI going to push
us at that point?
Speaker 7 (34:29):
And that's where it's a slippery salt. We're humans.
Speaker 8 (34:31):
We're meant to interact with people, culture, society, work, home, family, children, church,
that's our work life balance, not sitting six hours a
day with AI pushing more and more things on us
to try to keep us at that screen.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
I think at some point people just start unplugging. I
really do.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
I think at some point we just go you know,
I don't want to do this anymore. I don't know
what's real and isn't anymore, and I think I think
at some point you're going to see that kind of
a walk away on social media. Only time will tell.
We'll be here for you through it all, no matter what.
Our good friend Trent, can I be befortableized store Lake Michigan
Drive and stand down of course, Grand River Tech. Whether
(35:12):
you need personal help with personal devices, or you're looking
for help with something big for your organization, your school,
maybe it's your church, reach out to Trent today and
I know we'd be happy to helpffordablelifestore dot com, Grand
Rivertech dot com.
Speaker 2 (35:31):
Thank you, my friend, always a pleasure.
Speaker 7 (35:33):
Thanks Justina Day, Hey.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
You got it you too.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
God bless back with more right after this, try and
squeeze a phone call too, and if we can as well,
Thanks to the good feed store today helping power this
program and me every day keeping me comfortable on my feet.
And they can help you too and breast cancer patients
here right here in Grand Rapids. As a matter of fact,
(35:56):
throughout the month of October proceeds partial process from all
of the things that they sell and all of the
help that they do for people going towards that cause,
and of course an even bigger splashing. You buy one
hundred percent of those pink Os first socks to help
folks with their footpaint, foot paint, back pain, leg pain,
you name it.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
They can help.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
Good Feet Store stop out in twenty eighth Street right
there in front of Costco or in Portage on Westage
in front of Cole's back with you right after this,
don't go anywhere.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
West Michigan Live.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Setting the record straight. It's West Michigan Live with Justin
Barklay on News Radio Wood thirteen hundred and one oh
six nine half as and on demand anytime on the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 6 (36:43):
Here are your headlines from the Midwesterner this Tuesday, October fourteenth.
I'm Robin Poffman. We begin with a Midwesterner Dot News
original story. Parents here in Michigan pushing back on the plan.
The Michigan Board of Ed is busy reviewing a plan
to remove parental oversight of sex education. Currently, parents can
have their children opt out of a sex said class.
(37:03):
The new curriculum would remove this option and make the
course a graduation requirement. And President Trump back from the
Middle East, turning his attention to domestic issues, telling reporters
on air Force One, Illinois Governor Democrat JB. Pritzker should
welcome National Guard troops to Chicago to help tackle the
crime there.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
I think he should.
Speaker 5 (37:22):
Beg for help because he's running a bad operation. I mean,
he's letting people be killed in his city because he doesn't.
Speaker 6 (37:30):
In Chicago today, the President will honor the late Charlie Kirk,
who was assassinated with the Medal of Freedom for these
stories and more. Visit the Midwesterner at the Midwesterner dot.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Newshi those things trying to get back on track as
President Trump's trying to do his best to make that happen.
Through the years, obviously I had that is all part
of the process, and I encourage you if you haven't
done so yourself and you're looking to retire today, tomorrow,
ten twenty years down the road, Mike Lester and the
team at Tallon Wels can help you get their air
(38:00):
and not just survive, but thrive in those years guarding.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Your nest egg dot com. Reach out to them today.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
I call six one six six six one one thousand
at sixty one six six six one one thousand, got
a couple of quick calls quickly, Bill and Wyoming, Good morning,
you're on the air.
Speaker 10 (38:16):
Bill, Yeah, what you played about sixty minutes and they're
hacking while our CIA is doing exactly the same thing.
Can you comment on that?
Speaker 2 (38:27):
Well, I hope they are to China at least I
don't know. They may be doing it too, which.
Speaker 3 (38:34):
I don't really love the idea of that, But I
think you're right. I mean, obviously you have to consider
all of the take all of that in the consideration
when you think about what's going on. But I hope
we are doing it back to other countries in some ways.
Tom and Zealand, you're up next Toime. Good morning, you're
live on the air.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
Hi.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
Yeah, last week you're talking about the situation the rock
for schools and you talking about schoos again today.
Speaker 2 (38:56):
Yes, yeah, And I got.
Speaker 4 (38:57):
This postcard in the mail Zealand Public Schools is a
please vote postcard and big print is there's no increase
in big print. Then underneath it in small print is
from the current military. So it doesn't really talk about
my taxes at all. But what a point I want
to make is the bullet point underneath there. Listen to
this The bond proposal promotes safe spaces, value programs, love traditions,
(39:25):
and meaningful learning.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
Safe spaces what is that?
Speaker 7 (39:30):
What?
Speaker 2 (39:31):
I don't know, Let's get a safe space. We'll figure
it out. Tom. Thank you for the call. Appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
Holy can blow on my mind. That was God in
the in the words of the immortal Rick Beckett. Folks,
we appreciate you being here with us today. Thank you
so much. Going back program is coding this. We've got
an after show lineup. You can listen to that live
or archive justin barklay dot com, the iHeartRadio app, wherever
you download your podcast.
Speaker 2 (39:56):
Make it a right one. God bless
Downtown Grand Rapids. We're talking about what matters most to
you in West Michigan. Joining the conversation now at six
one six seven seven.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Four twenty four twenty four.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
At six one six seven seven four twenty four twenty four,
It's West Michigan Live with Justin Barklay on Wood Radio Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Oh welcome, man, Holy moly. The weekend of nerves and
headlines it's been. I'm going to get you up to
speed with all of it. Of course, man, never a
dull moment, President Trump halfway across the world, and just
yesterday making this massive peace deals, getting all the eyes dotted,
(00:45):
tease crossed, and then today backcom early this morning to
present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk pstumous.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
News Weather and Traffic, his stories of the day. We
are talking about what matters most in West Michigan and beyond.
This is the Big Three.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
A lot of time to be allowed and hear what
they're doing in Portland.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
I know.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
All the stories at mattermost.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Get to them all this morning, as we do each
and every morning with our Big Three.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Power.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
All right, good friends at Heartland Home Mortgage Day have
got away and the team ready to take care of you.
Buy refi home equity line of credit. No matter what
it is. Dave and the team can help you save
thousands like they've done for us and many others who
listen to this program. They're faster, they're better than the
big banks. Reach out today at HHM lending dot com.
It's thanks for being in the shift number one. It
(01:46):
is a it's a good time to get that done.
So let's start here. Well, they're gonna get paid, according
to the latest there were questions about the Coast Guard
and the folks City USA. I'm sure very concerned, some
people even putting the others you heard on the news
all morning long. An effort to make sure that those
(02:07):
folks taken care of as we do care about the
people that are serving us and continue to do so
bravely each and every day, and even if there's a
threat of them not getting paid. According to the Schumer
shut down, well that's not the case for the Coast Guard.
Secretary of Homeland Security Christy Nome confirming the Coast Guard
(02:28):
service members will receive their pay during the shutdown, news
made behind the scenes, and of course President Trump saying
that folks in the military will get paid as well.
Secretary of War confirming that good details, because those folks.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Do deserve it.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
They are they're doing their best to fight for us
each and every day, and in a day and age
when you never know what is.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
It's around the corner. Parents, listen up.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
The Michigan Board of Education coming for your rights. According
to some, a new proposal would make sex add a
mandatory graduation requirement. In fact, there's hearing on this. I
believe even today. They love to have people there and
now it may be too late to get there in time,
(03:16):
but to know that this is happening and maybe spread
the word folks in that area can get there. What
they want to do is strip away the current out
option parents have. Critics say it's a sneaky move, the
forced radical curriculum under the radar, and once it's end,
there's no getting it out. The board says it's just
updating house standards.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
You'll be the judge.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Couple of conservatives on that board say not on my watch.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
And for it.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
They want to move to have this stuff thrown out,
and in fact, I think they'd like that done today
at the meeting that will happen we'll see if that
does take place or not. More on that coming out,
But first this, as I mentioned, President Trump on a
whirlwind trip, the historic Middle East peace Plan, the deal done, signed, sealed, delivered. Today,
(04:05):
he's turning his attention to honoring a fallen Conservative leader,
member of the faith, Martyred Charlie Kirk, posthumously receiving the
award that Presidential Medal of Freedom today and again this
will happen with his wife there and other members of
Turning Point USA and folks that'll be in attendance, dignitaries, etc.
(04:29):
The White House saying the legacy Charlie Kirk left behind,
inspiring millions of young Americans to stand for faith, freedom
and the Constitution will live on through the highest civilian honor,
and an honor it is, indeed, and one unfortunately having
(04:49):
to be bestowed today in a ceremony. I'm sure that
they're not. They wish they didn't have to do as well.
President Trump talking about it well back when he made
that announcement at the Memorials.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
And a special thank you to Erica, because today America
is a nation in grief, a nation in shock, and
a nation in mourning.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Less than two weeks ago, our.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
Country was robbed of one of the brightest lights of
our times. A giant of his generation and above all,
a devoted husband, father's son, Christian and patriot, Charles James
Kirk was heineously murdered by a radicalized, cold blooded monster
(05:42):
for speaking the truth that was in his heart. He
was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice,
for God and country, for reason and for common sense.
He was assassinated because he lived bravely, He lied boldly,
(06:04):
and he argued brilliantly without apology. He did what was
right for our nation. And so on that terrible day
September tenth, twenty twenty five, our greatest evangelist for American
liberty became immortal.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
He's a martyr now for American freedom.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
I know I speak for everyone here today when I
say that none of us will ever forget Charlie Kirk,
and neither now will history, because while Charlie has been
(06:52):
reunited with his creator in Heaven, his voice on Earth
will echo through the generations, and his name will live
forever in the eternal chronicle of America's greatest patriots.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
He will live forever.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
To Charlie's incredible and beautiful widow, Erica. We know the
weight of this monumental loss is almost unbearable. But even
in the midst of heartache and pain too great to
even fathom, you have somehow found the strength and deep
faith to be a comfort to millions and millions of people.
(07:34):
And thank you very much, Erica, thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Now, the moment since that memorial, the moment since the
horrific assassination, I really been something backfired in a lot
of ways. What evil meant to snuff out, they've only
fanned the flames of freedom. Of course, faith in that
conversations around both that idea that we can just have
(08:00):
conversations with each other. Some people, you know, don't want
that to happen, obviously, but we won't stop. We'll continue
to have conversations. You remember, I just I just made
a post about this that'll come up later today.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
On Facebook.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
It was funny because I thought to myself, you know,
isn't that interesting. I saw a meme that I shared.
It said, just because I disagree with you does not
mean I hate you. We need to relearn that in
our society. By the way, it's not we as a whole.
It is the left. But I said, you know, isn't
that something. Don't you remember a time when we used
(08:39):
to say, yes, we could just agree to disagree, polite conversations.
Don't you remember a time. But in fact, we sort
of you know, got a kick out of it. We said, well,
it's a free country. If you just didn't agree with
what somebody had to say, Well, it's a free country.
(09:02):
We have seen political violence, assassinations from the extreme folks
on the left, and at an alarming rate. In fact,
they're having to talk about this now, and even Fetterman
Senator Ftterman posting about it a week or two back.
It is something that that there is no denying anymore,
(09:24):
and there'll be some people that will try to deny.
A lot of them are living in echo chambers and
they're not hearing these stories. They're not seeing the evidence,
and unfortunately it's just not getting to them. But it'll
be a day, hopefully that we'll move us a little
bit closer towards healing. It'll be a day that hopefully
we can stand with one another and and join arms
(09:51):
around Charlie's widow, Erica, and of course the family and
together honor that legacy, which again, as I mentioned, I
don't think we've even yet begun to see the full
scope of what he's coming God willing. Lots of discussed
(10:19):
tattooesday to day. Boy, We've got some stories you will
not want to miss. It just happened here about four
hundred employees laid off for AI.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Last week.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
We had that story about the insurance giant Akressure in
their move China's hacking America critical infrastructure, a story you
won't want to hear. We won't want to well, you
probably won't want to hear it either. You're gonna need
to hear it. You won'tant to miss it, I'll tell
you that much. It was on sixty minutes this weekend,
and I'm you know, I applaud them for actually covering us.
(10:52):
They've kind of taken ahead in the sand in the
past four years, this sort of a head in the
sand approaching. That's it's just well, that's not a good idea.
But what might be Banning kids under fifteen from social
media will tell you where are they going to do that?
Coming up in our Tech Talk conversation with Trent, can
(11:12):
it be a footableized store? Lake Michigan Drive and stand
bill hang on for that. It's on the way right
here on West Michigan Live. Oh the week in our
good friends at B ninety three Ally Mack and the
crew stopping out at the Good Feet store on twenty
edhtreat And I got a chance to see Tom out there,
(11:33):
one of the folks that listens to the program religiously says,
and he said, you know, riding in and B ninety three,
Al I heard there. I said, I need to go
in and check it out, and Tom did so. He
got to see the difference up close and personal. Like
I tell you, every single day you're on your feet,
you got foot pain, back pain, leg pain. They might
be able to help you. And guess what they'd like
(11:55):
to help some other folks too. During the month of October,
their teammate up to support It's a Breast Thing, the
organization that is helping folks with the local cancer patient's
breast cancer patients here and Grand Rapids. For the month
of October, they're donating a portion of all of their sales,
including one hundred percent of revenue from their pink Os
First Socks, their socks that help you and support your
(12:19):
everyday activities planifesciotis and whatnot, and they are fantastic sucks
and the pink Ones one hundred percent of the proceeds
will go to It's a breast thing, taking that first
step forward towards comfort for yourself and helping some other
folks out at the same time, stepping out for local
breast cancer patients. So don't forget, stop, buy and and
(12:39):
of course go on in person see for yourself the
difference and maybe you can help out too, make a difference,
not just for yourself but for someone else in need.
The sumpt that caused that is definitely near to our hearts.
Give feet to your faith at the Good Feats twenty
(13:00):
eighth Street, right there, right right next to costco in
Grand Rapids and Portage on Westach in front of Cole's
at the Good Feet Store.
Speaker 6 (13:12):
Here are your headlines from the Midwesterner this Tuesday, October fourteenth.
I'm Robin Hoffman. It's a Midwesterner dot news original story.
The Michigan Board of ed mules a plan to remove
parental oversight of sex education. Right now, parents can have
their kids here in Michigan opt out of a sex
said class, but the new curriculum would remove this option
and make sex ed a graduation requirement. Michigan Secretary of
(13:35):
State Democrat Jocelyn Benson promises to do something about the
affordability crisis here in Governor Whitmer's Michigan. Benson goes on
our X page blasting Whitmer's broken system, but doesn't offer
any new solutions.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
A lot of people like the one state solution, some
people like the two state solutions. We'll have to see.
Speaker 6 (13:53):
I haven't commented on the President Trump back here in
the States, fresh from signing his historic Middle East peace plant.
The President will honor the late Charlie Kirk, who was
assassinated with the Medal of Freedom during a White House
ceremony today. For these stories and more, visit the Midwesterner
at the Midwesterner dot news.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Yew Well, folks are asking what can be done about
this Department of Ed situation and what they wanted to
make sex education again radicalized under the guise of the
health education that if you believe the public schools really
want to educate your kids as to health, I got
(14:36):
another thing, maybe a.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Bridge to sell you up in macnall. Here's the deal.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Everything they do they put some sort of fancy and sweet, innocent,
nice sounding twist on it, But that's that's just never
the truth when it comes to anything that is done.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Buss Over Detroit News wrote this.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
I think it's an opinion piece on this, but she
writes bus state pushes radical sex at under guys of
health that proposed changes from former state Superintendent Michael Rice
to the state's health standards framework for public schools push
an identity agenda. It's not just sex ad in the kinky,
weird things that you can imagine are just talking to
(15:24):
them about it all.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
By the way, the only thing these kids.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Need to know, many of them in fifth grade and
even younger, and probably I don't know, this is between
you and your kid as a parent, really decide this.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
I haven't really thought about what the appropriate age is yet.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
I think the appropriate age for my daughter to start
dating is probably thirty either one of them. No, I
just of course I'm joking. But at the same time,
the only thing these kids need to know is that
you know, boys and girls have coody, and that's.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
That's just that. Leave them alone. Leave them alone.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
But now that's not what this is about. There's so
much more to it. It's it's indoctrination, confusion and all
the rest of it. And of course they want to
opt you out beginning at the earliest grade. Bus Rights,
the schools will push identity agendas marked by wholly inappropriate
(16:26):
instruction on gender fluidity, which is a bunch of maloney
in itself, Sex and relationships as a student's age into
middle school worse lacking transparency than new sexually centered guidelines,
fold into regular K through twelve health classes, which are
statutorily different from sex ed under Michigan law. Rice retired
(16:49):
in October. It's not clear whether newly elected superintendent selected
I should say not elected selected, Glenn Malaco, will reverse
course on the department's plan. Where the Department of Education
is planning is a backdoor effort to enact stalled legislation
introduced last year by a then Democratic led House that
(17:12):
it would have rear written sex language and allowed contraception
to be given out at schools. It's unacceptable and some
of the provisions drafted might be illegal.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Bus Rights.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Public schools are required to teach students how to prevent
sexually transmitted diseases and are allowed to talk about sexual
harassment and preventing dating violence, but they are not permitted
to teach about gender identity, same sex attraction, and adolescent
sexual consent.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Instruction.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Guidelines for sexual matters there are clearly defined by Michigan's laws.
For local districts that opt in to teach elective sex
education courses, it requires parental notice and opt out provisions
and putting together a curriculum. Districts must council clergy, community
and parents for input, as well as sex at advisory
(18:05):
board and required to teach abstinence as an effective method
to avoid unintended pregnancy and disease.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Imagine that now what you you think that these folks
really they think that they need to have this, Well,
not quite. We we need it.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
We kind of need to add we we got to
add a little a few things in here. We gotta
it's not quite buttoned up and ready to go just yet.
The education establishment may not like those restrictions, but that's
the law. Separate Provision establishes clear standards for health education,
which is a graduation requirement. Lawmakers are are working on.
(18:48):
By the way, this is this is a there's a
big hearing on this. I think it's today only get
the details when we come back from the break, and
I'll make sure that you know about it so you
can you can be a part of it or make
your voice.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Heard in all of this.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
But again, it's just another and it's outrageous, you know,
and it comes. I'm just to look make this as
common sense as we can. It comes at a time
when the test scores are in the tank reading scores
as well here in this data mission.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
They can't get that.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
Right, but they think they can get this right for
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Reach out today protech gr dot com back next, it's
we'll check in on that, but first or tech talk segment.
Our good friend Trink can it be with us this morning?
A couple of big stories and they want to make
sure that we hit.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
And uh, one of the.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Biggest is probably the story about China. China finally caught
and uh, well we've known about this one for a while,
but we got a story on sixty minutes over the
weekend what they've been doing and trying to hack folks
all across the country, utility companies and even in your
(21:09):
on Amy city there. So I'm not that important. Why
would China try to do that? Well, part of it's chaos.
Will dig into that full conversation and the scope of
it to really give you a, you know, a better
picture of why some of this is actually happening behind
the scenes. But speaking of disruption, your job could be
gone in the blink of an eye because of AI
(21:33):
that and more coming.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Up tack into the latest in tech and how it
affects you and your world. This is Tech Talk Tuesday
on Wood Radios, West Michigan Live.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Our good friend Trick Levy is here a fort a
live store like Michigan Drive and Stanielle Grand River Tech
where they need to help you with your individual devices
or your school, your church, your organization, your company, where
they can help you in big ways as well. Something
that you're no stranger to. This China story. I want
to get into that coming up here in just a moment.
(22:04):
But first, if we may, let's start here Trent Ai.
Last week bombshell was dropped here in West Michigan. Four
hundred jobs that the insurance giant Acrossure are going away,
they say in the next year, two hundred of those
right here in West Michigan. And it's wild to watch.
They just built this big building down here downtown. I'm
(22:26):
thinking to myself, what's coming next. By the way, they
may be the first, they won't be the last. Why
is this happening? And what is on the horizons, the
horizon for folks who may be concerned about, you know,
their work. Welcome in.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Good morning, Trent good.
Speaker 7 (22:44):
Morning, Justin.
Speaker 8 (22:45):
Yeah, this is something that is going to be taking
headlines for years to come, Justin, especially when it comes
to these type of jobs. So this is an accounting job,
an accounting role, and there's very diverse accounting task, but
much of accounting is taking transactions, categorizing them, checking them,
double checking them, reconcilling them, recording them, and that specific
(23:09):
type of work AI does a really good job of
and it still needs a little guidance, a little help
from people to make sure it does it correctly.
Speaker 7 (23:17):
But it can get rid of ninety ninety five.
Speaker 8 (23:20):
Percent of the workforce and those very specific types of
jobs of account reconciliation, transaction matching, and some of those
things even like reporting and analysis a little bit more
advanced jobs.
Speaker 7 (23:33):
AI does massive amounts.
Speaker 8 (23:34):
So we're going to see it more and more of
those layoffs and Justin, it is painful. I mean, people
who have made a career of this, people who have
had a good paying job, enjoy their job, do a
good job. They're being cut, they're being axed, and it's
because of AI. And the flip side of this, Justin
is we've been through this a lot of times in
the past when we went from a blacksmiths to C
(23:57):
and C operators. When we went from you know, I
don't know, horse and buggy to cars, I mean the
jobs were it was painful during that time. It was
a transition time. But those people moved up in society,
they moved up to a higher skill job. This is
a little bit new territory because with AI, where is
(24:18):
it moving up? If AI is taking some of those
more upward jobs, what is this going to look like?
Speaker 7 (24:23):
So this is unprecedented.
Speaker 8 (24:24):
This is kind of not the same past technology differences,
and it's going to be tough short term. But people
need to innovate and increase their job, increase their skill,
try to move up the ladder. As opposed to saying, hey,
my job is gone, I'm out of the workforce, I'm done.
Speaker 7 (24:41):
That's a bad response.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
To this is this is something we're not going to
solve today, but it's a story that you need to hear.
We need to talk about a shine light on it
so that you be thinking about it. I don't ever
want people to be running around in fear. That's so
not trying to invoke spirit of fear. But what I
would like for you to do is think about a
consider and pray about it, because I believe that you're
going to get some answers and that AI is is
(25:06):
like any other tool. I think it's going to have
some really great things, but I think there's going to
be some really bad things that are going to come
out of it as well. It's just like any other tool.
It's going to be used in the hands of the
individual that it's that it's in. Well, folks are coming
for you in your own home and maybe even your
water utility system as well. China caught hacking sixty minutes
(25:27):
with a big expose on it. Story that trans no
stranger to.
Speaker 9 (25:32):
Is Lyttleton a major supplier of some kind of the
federal government with a major supplier to a military base.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Nope.
Speaker 9 (25:41):
Nick Lawler is general manager of the Littleton, Massachusetts Electric
and Water Utility. His town has ten thousand residents. Can
you think of any reason that China would target your
little community?
Speaker 5 (25:58):
That's exact question I had for the BI when they
visit me on that first day.
Speaker 7 (26:01):
And I still can't answer that question.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
No, I can't think of one reason.
Speaker 9 (26:06):
The FBI visited in November twenty twenty three to tell
Lawler that China had access to his utilities computer network.
He says the FEDS told him he was one of
two hundred. How much of all of this is controlled
remotely by computer? Olive it In his water treatment plant,
(26:28):
Lawler showed us tanks of dangerous chemicals that are precisely
controlled to deliver clean water. If you had control of
these tanks, you've got control of Lyttleton, Massachusetts. You can
poison the water.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
You can poison the water.
Speaker 9 (26:49):
But China was caught before it had operational control. With
Lawler's permission, the FEDS watched what China was doing, and
what they learned was part of an awakening for American security.
If you are willing to go after a small water
provider in Littleton, Massachusetts, what other target is off the list?
Speaker 3 (27:11):
So from the point, by the way, if you think
about this and Trent I know you have, what they
say that they've been able to do is pretty incredible.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
You could poison that little town. That could do that
cause chaos.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
In fact, you only have to do it a couple
of different places in order to cause a stir, to
make people very very concerned about their water supply and
not trust trusting it.
Speaker 7 (27:37):
Yeah, Justin. This is a very scary story. We've had
cases of this that we've reported. We've discussed this in
the past.
Speaker 8 (27:43):
A couple of years ago actually another small town's water
supply system. This sixty minute story revealed that there was
over two hundred and some similar places that were under
attack or supervision or remote access by China specifically. And
that's known cases. How many others are not known? And
(28:05):
Justin it's uh, yeah, I mean really, it's hard to
not go down a dark track because the point is
this small town.
Speaker 7 (28:13):
It provides water for these people.
Speaker 8 (28:15):
Right, There's no intrinsic, special, top secret technology that China
is trying to siphon off for a new jet fighter
some other thing that we'd say, hey, we don't like this,
but we understand what their goal is. The only conclusion
you can come to is that they're trying to have
immense power remotely to cause mass harm to average people.
(28:38):
And I don't know what other conclusion you come to, Justin,
that's a very scary reality there.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Unfortunately, is is no other conclusion that I can see.
I think that's exactly what the truth is, and it's
a truth that that folks need to understand, China is
not our friend. What they're preparing to do is should
be very concerning to a lot of people. How much
some good news before we close out our tech talk
(29:06):
segment today, because look, I mean some of this stuff,
Look it's it's very concerning, it's troubling, it's serious news,
but it's news that I think you need to know.
I never come at any of this by thinking I
keep my head stick my head in the sand. You know,
that's not how I approach life. We got to make
sure that you are up to speed on what's going on.
This I think is some good news in Denmark, and
(29:28):
maybe the question is how soon could we get it here.
I don't know that laws are the way to go,
but you know, because I really feel like you should
be able to have as much freedom, but you'll be
able to make your own choices. And I think the
ultimate solution is that parents know and then they they
take those actions like we have with our kids. But
Denmark is planning to ban social media for users under fifteen,
(29:55):
and I might even go a little bit further with
that because I think that.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
I really do. I think our brain's still developing.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
You don't have enough life experience to know what point
yet and now with AI and everything else out there, Trent,
it's wild to watch, but it happens. You know, there's
stuff out there that looks very really got caught with
something the other day and it looks so real. We
don't know what's real and what isn't anymore. Plus all
(30:22):
the things that we know, the real truth about what's
been happening with social media for years and the damage
it's doing to kids.
Speaker 8 (30:29):
Justin, this is something again, I'm with you, Justin. I
think parents should be dictating this and not government. Let's
just put it that way. But regardless of that, this
Denmark's going to have a duration of children that are
ten or one hundred times better off statistically, practically speak,
in reality, their IQ, their intelligence, their social ability, I mean,
(30:52):
all of the buff they're going to be leaps and
bounds at Jessin, We're coming to a point where if
you have a family in America that has values, values,
meaning we don't sit for six hours a day on
our phones, whether those kids are adults, values of what
kind of content we spread, boundaries and borders on those things.
In the past, is you had to go to college,
(31:12):
you had a good degree, and then you were educated,
you were smart, you are successful. Literally, if you just
keep your kids off social media and a few little
boundaries like that, it's going to be far more life
affecting than a four year college degree in time, if
that's not already the case, just because of how awful
(31:33):
social media is, hours and hours of consumption, which is
the average kid.
Speaker 7 (31:37):
It just messes u up. It's totally detrimental.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
And speaking of like I said, they're not able to
really make the tails heads, but you know that average
person can, and even somebody like me. I saw this
video over the weekend, Trent and I. It was something
that made me laugh. You wouldn't believe how hard this
made me laugh when I saw this, and then I
realized it took me. It wasn't instantly, but it took
(32:03):
me another day or sort of realize what i'd seen
wasn't real. So you're listening to the radio, you can't
see this behind the scenes. Last year, they can. It's
a bowl of Halloween candy that's put out for trick
or treaters, sitting on a table on some sort of
porch at a house. It seems to be like a
doorbell camera or security camera footage, and a big possum
(32:25):
is sitting on this table about ready to take a
bite out of this candy that's in the bowl. And
right behind it is one of these Halloween decoration witch
looking things that is motion activated or whatnot. And you've
seen those things and they'll make noise and scare you
if you walk up. Well, what happens next is the
thing goes off. The possum jumps about ten feet in
(32:48):
the air and flips out. The candy goes flying. And
I lost it when I saw this too.
Speaker 2 (32:54):
There's the cart. I couldn't believe it.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
When I saw this, Trent, it was like one of
the funniest things I'd seen. Uh, I mean, and I
don't know how long, but then I started seeing others
and that's what tipped me off. Okay, that that wasn't real.
Most people wouldn't know what they were watching this again,
this is the point that we made this the other
day so that people could understand and some of the
(33:28):
other things that we've shared. But if it's something as
small and insignificant as as that, uh, it could be
anything and everything else. I've seen another gosh, I guess
it was a there was one with a bear and
a some some other animal that they had that was
started fighting over it. There's all of this stuff that's
(33:51):
flying around out there and people don't understand yet. That's
that's how that's how far behind we are.
Speaker 8 (33:59):
Yeah, justin, that's a great, great example where just some
innocent video, it's AI generated, it's funny, right, whatever, what
harm can be done?
Speaker 7 (34:08):
What it does is number one, it's a time waster.
Speaker 8 (34:10):
If we're sitting for eight hours a day watching funny,
let's just say, innocent.
Speaker 7 (34:16):
Videos, what does that do to our psyche?
Speaker 8 (34:18):
And then with that AI justin, what's the long term
if we if six hours a day gets boring of
watching funny animal videos, where is AI going to push
us at that point?
Speaker 7 (34:29):
And that's where it's a slippery salt. We're humans.
Speaker 8 (34:31):
We're meant to interact with people, culture, society, work, home, family, children, church,
that's our work life balance, not sitting six hours a
day with AI pushing more and more things on us
to try to keep us at that screen.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
I think at some point people just start unplugging. I
really do.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
I think at some point we just go you know,
I don't want to do this anymore. I don't know
what's real and isn't anymore, and I think I think
at some point you're going to see that kind of
a walk away on social media. Only time will tell.
We'll be here for you through it all, no matter what.
Our good friend Trent, can I be befortableized store Lake Michigan
Drive and stand down of course, Grand River Tech. Whether
(35:12):
you need personal help with personal devices, or you're looking
for help with something big for your organization, your school,
maybe it's your church, reach out to Trent today and
I know we'd be happy to helpffordablelifestore dot com, Grand
Rivertech dot com.
Speaker 2 (35:31):
Thank you, my friend, always a pleasure.
Speaker 7 (35:33):
Thanks Justina Day, Hey.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
You got it you too.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
God bless back with more right after this, try and
squeeze a phone call too, and if we can as well,
Thanks to the good feed store today helping power this
program and me every day keeping me comfortable on my feet.
And they can help you too and breast cancer patients
here right here in Grand Rapids. As a matter of fact,
(35:56):
throughout the month of October proceeds partial process from all
of the things that they sell and all of the
help that they do for people going towards that cause,
and of course an even bigger splashing. You buy one
hundred percent of those pink Os first socks to help
folks with their footpaint, foot paint, back pain, leg pain,
you name it.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
They can help.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
Good Feet Store stop out in twenty eighth Street right
there in front of Costco or in Portage on Westage
in front of Cole's back with you right after this,
don't go anywhere.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
West Michigan Live.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Setting the record straight. It's West Michigan Live with Justin
Barklay on News Radio Wood thirteen hundred and one oh
six nine half as and on demand anytime on the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 6 (36:43):
Here are your headlines from the Midwesterner this Tuesday, October fourteenth.
I'm Robin Poffman. We begin with a Midwesterner Dot News
original story. Parents here in Michigan pushing back on the plan.
The Michigan Board of Ed is busy reviewing a plan
to remove parental oversight of sex education. Currently, parents can
have their children opt out of a sex said class.
(37:03):
The new curriculum would remove this option and make the
course a graduation requirement. And President Trump back from the
Middle East, turning his attention to domestic issues, telling reporters
on air Force One, Illinois Governor Democrat JB. Pritzker should
welcome National Guard troops to Chicago to help tackle the
crime there.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
I think he should.
Speaker 5 (37:22):
Beg for help because he's running a bad operation. I mean,
he's letting people be killed in his city because he doesn't.
Speaker 6 (37:30):
In Chicago today, the President will honor the late Charlie Kirk,
who was assassinated with the Medal of Freedom for these
stories and more. Visit the Midwesterner at the Midwesterner dot.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Newshi those things trying to get back on track as
President Trump's trying to do his best to make that happen.
Through the years, obviously I had that is all part
of the process, and I encourage you if you haven't
done so yourself and you're looking to retire today, tomorrow,
ten twenty years down the road, Mike Lester and the
team at Tallon Wels can help you get their air
(38:00):
and not just survive, but thrive in those years guarding.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Your nest egg dot com. Reach out to them today.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
I call six one six six six one one thousand
at sixty one six six six one one thousand, got
a couple of quick calls quickly, Bill and Wyoming, Good morning,
you're on the air.
Speaker 10 (38:16):
Bill, Yeah, what you played about sixty minutes and they're
hacking while our CIA is doing exactly the same thing.
Can you comment on that?
Speaker 2 (38:27):
Well, I hope they are to China at least I
don't know. They may be doing it too, which.
Speaker 3 (38:34):
I don't really love the idea of that, But I
think you're right. I mean, obviously you have to consider
all of the take all of that in the consideration
when you think about what's going on. But I hope
we are doing it back to other countries in some ways.
Tom and Zealand, you're up next Toime. Good morning, you're
live on the air.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
Hi.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
Yeah, last week you're talking about the situation the rock
for schools and you talking about schoos again today.
Speaker 2 (38:56):
Yes, yeah, And I got.
Speaker 4 (38:57):
This postcard in the mail Zealand Public Schools is a
please vote postcard and big print is there's no increase
in big print. Then underneath it in small print is
from the current military. So it doesn't really talk about
my taxes at all. But what a point I want
to make is the bullet point underneath there. Listen to
this The bond proposal promotes safe spaces, value programs, love traditions,
(39:25):
and meaningful learning.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
Safe spaces what is that?
Speaker 7 (39:30):
What?
Speaker 2 (39:31):
I don't know, Let's get a safe space. We'll figure
it out. Tom. Thank you for the call. Appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
Holy can blow on my mind. That was God in
the in the words of the immortal Rick Beckett. Folks,
we appreciate you being here with us today. Thank you
so much. Going back program is coding this. We've got
an after show lineup. You can listen to that live
or archive justin barklay dot com, the iHeartRadio app, wherever
you download your podcast.
Speaker 2 (39:56):
Make it a right one. God bless
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