Guests - Gary Benoit, Mark Lewis
Birthright Citizenship and Constitutional Original Intent
Kathleen Winn opens the show stressing that while the border has been secured, millions of people entered the country unaccounted for during the previous administration. She notes reports of non-citizens obtaining driver’s licenses and simultaneously registering to vote in Pima County, questioning whether such individuals should enjoy the privileges of citizenship. The discussion turns to birthright citizenship and whether mere location of birth automatically confers allegiance and full citizenship under the Constitution.
Gary Benoit on the 14th Amendment, Jurisdiction, and the Founders’ Intent
Gary Benoit, editor-in-chief of The New American and longtime John Birch Society member, asserts that the Constitution does not grant automatic birthright citizenship. He directs attention to the precise language of the 14th Amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States.” Benoit emphasizes that the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” is deliberately ignored by those who misinterpret the clause. “There’s more to it than just geography,” he states. Citizenship is inherited from one’s parents, not dictated solely by place of birth.
He cites U.S. Senator Jacob Howard, who introduced the citizenship clause in 1866, for clarity: “This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, or those who belong to families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the government of the United States.” Benoit argues that modern claims of universal birthright citizenship turn the amendment and the founders’ intent on their head. He stresses that the Constitution remains the highest law of the land and should serve as the unchanging litmus test for every policy decision, rather than a “living, breathing document” altered by activist judges.
The John Birch Society: Educating Americans to Preserve and Restore Freedom
Benoit explains that the John Birch Society was founded in December 1958 by Robert Welch precisely because freedoms were already eroding through deliberate design. The organization’s mission remains “wake the town, tell the people and get them involved.” He warns that uninformed citizens can vote themselves into slavery, as the German people did when they supported the National Socialists. “Freedom versus slavery” is the core political divide. Benoit criticizes government schools as tools of indoctrination rather than education, noting they have advanced this agenda from the beginning. The solution, he argues, is to remove children from the system through private schooling or homeschooling. “As long as the government provides the money, the government is going to call the tune.”
He highlights the broader conspiracy for global control, describing efforts to replace the constitutional republic with a despotic new world order. The United Nations was viewed by Welch in 1958 as part of this “world government trap,” a position many dismissed at the time but fewer laugh at today. Millions of Americans have been “red-pilled” and now recognize the fix is in at the top. Benoit urges grassroots action in local communities rather than reliance on any single politician. “We’ve got to do it ourselves… When the people are informed, that will be the solution.”
Mark Lewis on the SRP Election Results and Shifting Power Dynamics
Mark Lewis reports on the Salt River Project (SRP) board election held the previous day, describing a mixed outcome for Republican conservatives. Chris Dobson was elected president and Barry Paisley vice president, both in strong two-to-one victories, giving Republicans control of the top leadership positions that set the agenda and can break ties. However, the broader board shifted, moving from a Republican majority to an eight-to-six Democratic/progressive majority. Lewis notes heavy turnout driven by out-of-state solar interests, including funding and door-knocking efforts linked to Jane Fonda and aligned groups. “They really turned out the solar… thinking that they were going to get massive solar subsidies.”
He warns that the new board makeup will likely push solar-heavy policies, potentially at the expense of reliable baseload power. Lewis stresses that data centers and chip manufacturing are critical infrastructure for Arizona’s future as a technology leader. “Data centers hold data for future intelligence use,” he explains, comparing them to dams that store water for peak demand. Blocking them under the guise of environmental concerns ignores the need for 24/7 power and the reality that solar cannot supply nighttime demand even with batteries. He notes TEP’s service agreement for a data center in Marana is now facing a lawsuit from Arizona Attorney General Chris Mays, calling it an inappropriate intervention.
Power Grid Vulnerabilities, Foreign Threats, and Essential Local Services
Lewis raises urgent national security concerns after the FBI and Department of Energy warned of Iranian hackers targeting U.S. power grids. He asks SRP, TEP, and APS directly about firewall protections, programmable logic controllers, and any Chinese-manufactured chips in critical systems. “We really need to be asking… where are you on your project logic controllers and are they available to the internet?” Arizona’s reliance on natural gas, coal, and stable infrastructure makes it a prime target, especially amid Middle East tensions. Lewis emphasizes that data centers can bring their own water and power, making growth sustainable rather than a drain on public resources.
Locally in Pima County, Lewis highlights the absurdity of proposals to close fire stations due to budget constraints while maintaining free bus service. He ties this to broader failures in prioritizing citizens over non-citizens, noting ongoing immigration enforcement issues and the Sheriff Nanos recall effort. “We have to put the people of Pima County first,” he states. Lewis urges voters to engage now, with Republican yard signs permitted in 31 days, and to demand accountability from elected officials on water, power, and public safety. He reminds listeners that precinct committeemen and grassroots pressure remain the most effective tools for restoring constitutional governance.