Brian Sussman Show, San Francisco, CA (2025)

10/19/2025

Life hit hard this past week.

A few weeks ago a good friend (Ignatius) told me that upon his death I was to speak at, and emcee, his memorial. “And make sure you tell them about Jesus, Sussman,” he said in no uncertain terms.

Ignatious was a former member of the 82nd airborne. He was a real man with one of the most infectious personalities you could ever meet. He was riddled with cancer. There was no way I could let my brother down.

Thank God, I believe I fulfilled his wishes.

Then, yesterday, I attended the funeral of a dear friend’s beautiful daughter (Hannah) who was only 30.

Again, I thank God, this time because she had a wonderful relationship with her Savior as she endured her slow death from cancer with unbelievable integrity. She even scripted the format for her inspirational funeral.

This evening, as my wife and I watched the sun set in Santa Cruz, we were hit with an overwhelming wave of God‘s grace and mercy.

Life is so wonderful, and yet so fragile, and none of us knows how it will end.

Remember, there is a God in heaven who’s son proclaimed, “I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”

May God richly bless YOU as you draw near to Him.

09/16/2025

Charlie Kirk and the Great Revival

The afternoon following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, by brother in Cleveland called. Brad was greatly shaken by the horrible news of Charlie’s death but shared something that was incredibly encouraging. He had just discovered that his 13-year-old son, Calvin, was an avid follower of Charlie on social media. “All of my friends loved him,” Calvin told his dad. They watched his videos daily. Charlie’s conservative messaging had made a positive impact on young Calvin and his friends.

I wholeheartedly believe there are millions of teenagers that echo Calvin’s sentiments and were greatly influenced—not just politically, but spiritually—by Charlie’s life.

Later that evening, I received a call from my one of my sons, Ben, who lives near Phoenix. He was traumatized—and in tears—because of Charlie’s death. He too, was an avid follower of Kirk. Ben told me he had just returned from Costco and witnessed quite a few younger employees literally in tears as they attempted to do their various duties in the store. “There’s no more time to mess around,” Ben adamantly told me. “I’ve got to get off the fence and get serious about my faith.” He recognized that Charlie’s death was part of a spiritual battle. “Sunday,” he stated, “Chandler, the kids, and I are going to visit a church near our house.” Ben had not been to church in years. He informed me if the church wasn’t preaching a proper Gospel message, “…we’ll find one that is.”

Once again, I believe there are millions of twenty and thirty-somethings saying the same thing, because of Charlie.

Then, a few days later, on Saturday morning, another amazing “Charlie moment” occurred. For many years I have hosted an online Bible study each Saturday. Men from all over the United States, and the world, join together for an hour of fellowship, encouragement, and a brief study of God’s Word. One of our men lives in Nigeria where he oversees a very productive ministry. His country is a hotbed of Islamic extremism and Christian’s are being martyred there on a daily basis. He told us, “I had never heard of Charlie Kirk until after his death. In fact, I did not know anyone who had ever heard of him. But since his martyrdom, everyone is now watching his videos online. He is having an impact on our people!”

I believe Charlie’s death is being used by God to bring forth a revival in America, and, might I add, the planet.

Prior to my retirement from radio in 2020, Charlie was a guest on my San Francisco program several times. He was always full of energy, well-informed, and never pulled a punch. Truly, he was a great brother in Christ, a wonderful husband, a tremendous dad, and a true patriot.

As I close, I am reminded of Psalms 116:15,
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.

Thank you, Lord, for Charlie Kirk.

08/21/2025

Focus on the Family Founder, Dr. James Dobson, dies at 89.

In large measure, Susie and I owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Dobson for the many ways in which he equipped us to not just raise our four children, but to share his teachings and philosophies with hundreds of others.

Back in the day we’d literally rent a projector so we could invite people to our house to watch his parenting films.

I would also add that Focus on the Family played a significant role in us adopting our sons as well.

We were blessed to have the personal opportunity to share these sentiments with Dr Dobson, in his private study in Colorado, some years ago. It was a tremendous honor to spend time with him.

Dobson’s legacy are the countless people and families he touched. Thank God that includes mine.

07/31/2025

Newsom's Bullet Train to Nowhere

The bullet train to nowhere. It’s a legislative pipedream created entirely by leftist democrats, serving us as a shining example of liberal stupidity. For more than a few years, this train scheme provided me with hours of compelling content on my incredibly popular San Francisco morning radio show.

The story begins way back in 1996. Golden State democrats established the California High Speed Rail Authority, declaring that a high-speed rail system would be environmentally, economically, and socially profitable. Their goal was to construct a bullet train, traveling at times close to 200-miles per hour, connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles. Never mind that those cities are already connected by two excellent freeways (I-5 and the 101). No, the democrats insisted we needed nearly four hundred miles of high-speed rail. In 2008, they conducted a study and swore to us they could build it in eight to eleven years, at a cost of $33 billion.

Upon sharing news of their “study” with my radio audience, my sidekick (the beautiful, talented, and hilarious) Katie Green quickly dubbed the plan, “The Bullet Train to nowhere.”

All these years later, the nickname rings truth as the proposed train line ranks up there as possibly the biggest single bureaucratic financial mess in the history of the United States.

I write about this boondoggle extensively in my most recent book, Climate Cult. But allow me to share just a few staggering tidbits of information the democrats don’t want you to know about their choo-choo train.

In 2008, California voters approved a Proposition providing $10 billion to fund a 380-mile high-speed rail line connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles. It was to be completed by 2020 with a total cost estimate of $33 million. Eventually, other connections would be constructed around the state. In 2012, federal taxpayers forked over $3.3 billion in Stimulus funding for the Bullet Train project.

Finally, in 2015, with Jerry Brown as governor, a groundbreaking ceremony was held, not in L.A. or San Francisco—but in Fresno. In case you are unaware, Fresno is over two hundred miles away from the originally proposed north-south rail corridor.

Governor Jerry Brown opened his remarks with a proclamation that was every bit as strange as the starting point location for this massive public works project: “…the high-speed rail links us from the past to the future, from the south to Fresno and north; this is truly a California project bringing us together today.”

By the way, no one in the mainstream media asked why the starting point for this fiasco had been moved to Fresno.

Three years later (2018), state Republican legislators pushed for an audit which concluded that flawed decision-making and poor contract management left the rail system 15 years away from completion, with expected costs expected to be $77 billion.

Then, in 2019, newly elected Governor Gavin Newsom (a vocal proponent of the rail line) revealed that the 171-mile section of track planned for the Fresno corridor was now projected to cost $22.8 billion with a completion date of 2030. Newsom said nothing about the original plan to link San Francisco and L.A.

In February 2023, unintentionally illustrating how this entire train project was fast becoming a communist style public works disaster, with great bravado the California High-Speed Rail Authority claimed to have reached a milestone. Their press release stated,

FRESNO, Calif. – The California High-Speed Rail Authority celebrated a historic milestone today, announcing the creation of more than 10,000 construction jobs since the start of high-speed rail construction. Most of these jobs have gone to Central Valley residents and men and women from disadvantaged communities.
…Today is an opportunity to celebrate jobs and what these jobs are creating. High-speed rail will revolutionize travel in California and contribute to a greener future, resulting in less congestion on our roads and at our airports.”

Keep in mind, at the time of that press release not a single mile of track had been constructed, anywhere. Even more astoundingly, as of this writing, there remains no track laid!

Meantime, two months later an update from the High Speed Rail Authority quietly reported that the cost of the 171-mile segment (serving Fresno, Bakersfield, and Chowchilla) had shot up to $35 billion. That, of course, is even more expensive than the original proposed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco. But even worse, the Authority stated the entire project—including the line from San Francisco to L.A.—was now estimated at $128 billion. As such, a new sucker had to be brought in to fund all these thousands of jobs. Enter Joe Biden, congressional democrats, and the federal taxpayer, who coughed up billions.

Several weeks ago, President Donald Trump stepped in to essentially say, “You’re fired,” as he cut off the federal money pipeline for train to nowhere. Democrats immediately threw a temper tantrum. As if to save face and appear fiscally responsible, Newsome has just signed a bill (AB 377) requiring the state's High-Speed Rail Authority to create a funding plan which will update cost estimates, risk assessments and service initiation options.

Trust me. AB 377 is like putting lipstick on a pig’s snout. And the pig’s snout is California’s bullet train to nowhere.

07/29/2025

Updating the defunding of Planned Parenthood story...

Earlier this week, an Obama-appointed federal judge, Indira Talwani, ordered the Trump administration to continue providing Medicaid funding to all Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide. The only problem is, her ruling demands the administration violate federal law.

Specifically, she demanded the Trump administration “take all steps necessary to ensure that Medicaid funding continues to be disbursed in the customary manner and timeframes to Planned Parenthood...”

This judge needs a refresher course in American civics.

Writing to Abigail Adams in 1804, Thomas Jefferson observed:

“Nothing in the Constitution has given them [the federal judges] a right to decide for the Executive, more than to the Executive to decide for them..."

He went on to declare, "The opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves, in their own sphere of action, but for the Legislature and Executive also in their spheres, would make the Judiciary a despotic branch.”

Full steam ahead! Let's continue to M A G A !!!

07/25/2025

Ultra-liberal California, America’s most populous state, has experienced nothing short of a miracle. This week, Planned Parenthood, the state’s largest abortion provider, lost all its federal funding.

The Monday night ruling, by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, translates to Planned Parenthood of California losing roughly $300 million per year. The loss greatly jeopardizes the organization’s ability to keep its doors open throughout the state. The only Planned Parenthood clinics that may continue to receive federal funds are those that do not provide abortions.

However, it must be noted; this is temporary restraining order put in place while a larger legal dispute plays out.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America sued the Trump Administration on behalf of its members earlier in July over provision in the Congressional Reconciliation Bill that prohibited federal Medicaid reimbursements for large nonprofit health clinics that provide abortions. The lawsuit argues that the law defunds Planned Parenthood’s services in violation of multiple constitutional amendments.

Planned Parenthood operates 114 clinics in California, serving more than one million patients each year.

In their lawsuit, Planned Parenthood argues that the funding ban enacted by Congress violates the organization’s First Amendment rights and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment by allowing smaller, independent abortion providers to continue receiving federal funds.

While Planned Parenthood is the state’s largest abortion provider, they argue that abortions make up a relatively small amount of the services they provide, less than 10 precent annually. The bulk of patient visits are for contraceptive care, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, cancer screenings and other primary care checkups.

However, despite their service figures, I would argue that if Planned Parenthood of California sees more than one million patients annually, that translates to over 100,000 babies murdered in the Golden State each year.

Given that in 2022, two-thirds of California voters approved adding abortion rights to their state constitution, I hope you will join me in praying this temporary ruling becomes permanent law!

And, a friendly word to those Christians who dislike Donald Trump: we are witnessing the most pro-life Presidential administration in American history.

07/04/2025

The following is an excerpt from my book, “Eco-Tyranny: How the Left’s Green Agenda Will Dismantle America” (2012, WND Books). I’ve also shared this story in Episode 40 of my Brian Sussman Show Podcast (July 4, 2019).

Francis Lewis was born in Wales in 1713. He was orphaned at the age of five and raised by relatives. After a college education in London, he became a business apprentice and earnestly saved his money. At the age of 21, he set sail for New York where he established an importing business.

In 1756, during the French and Indian War, Lewis was a special aid to the British forces, supplying them with uniforms and other critical supplies. He was on business at Fort Oswego, when a bloody battle broke out against the French aggressors. Lewis was taken prisoner and sent to France aboard a ship, cruelly housed in a wooden box. Upon his release at the close of the war, Lewis was rewarded for his service to the crown with 5,000 acres of land in New York.

Again, while one might think that such a man would be forever loyal to Great Britain, such was not the case for Lewis. He saw how the edicts from England were strangling freedom in the colonies, and, according to Lossing, Lewis held dearly to “his republican views.”

Lewis’ wife Elizabeth was also a devout patriot and fervently supported her husband when he was elected a delegate to the General Congress in 1775 and signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia the following year. Once the Declaration was signed, the British placed a price upon the head of Francis Lewis. Before he was able to reach his home on Long Island, ground troops and a warship were sent to seize his wife and destroy his property. Elizabeth watched from a balcony as a cannon ball crashed into a wall immediately next to her. Immediately a servant shouted, “Run, Mistress, run!”

Mrs. Lewis calmly replied, “Another shot is not likely to strike the same spot,” and she did not budge.

The soldiers soon entered the home and destroyed all books, papers, and ruthlessly pillaged the entire property. Elizabeth Lewis was taken to New York and thrown into prison. She was not allowed a bed or a change of clothing, and given little to eat. A former family African servant discovered her location and was able to smuggle some small articles of clothing and some food to her. He also reported her whereabouts and condition to Congress. Demands were made for her better treatment, but the British were determined to make an example of Mrs. Lewis’ prominence and wealth.

Finally, General Washington was able to broker a prisoner exchange, and Elizabeth was able to join her husband in Philadelphia. However, it was plain to everyone that because of her mistreatment, she was broken in health and was slowly sinking into the grave. Francis Lewis soon asked for a leave of absence from Congress to devote his whole time to his wife. She died in 1779.

Grief-stricken, Lewis retired from Congress to live with his sons. This great patriot died in 1802 at the age of 89 in New York City. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the yard of Trinity Church.

07/03/2025

Back By Popular Demand: My World Famous Patriot Rib Recipe

I've heard from quite a few of you, requesting I repost my Patriot Rib Recipe for Independence Day. And it truly has become a world renowned culinary delight. Since originally posting this recipe in 2009, I have received delightful feedback from people all over the planet!

By the way, I've updated the recipe a bit over the years with the help of my son who is a professional chef--so this is the latest and greatest version!

Here we go:

We start with Baby Back or St. Louis pork ribs. Remove the ribs from the wrapping. DO NOT rinse the ribs. Place the ribs bone-side down in a ceramic or glass baking pan (or pans)--don't stack the ribs atop one another.

Generously cover both sides of the ribs with the BBQ rib rub of choice (I prefer Kirkland’s Sweet Mesquite BBQ Rub from Costco, but if you have a favorite use it).

Next, give your hands a good wash and then pour a nice dark stout beer (I prefer Guinness Stout)) into the pan, about an inch deep. DO NOT try this with anything other than a dark stout beer or the ribs will not turn out properly.

Cover the top of the pan with aluminum foil and let the ribs sit for an hour on the kitchen counter.

Preheat your oven to 320, then bake the ribs (in the pan, with the beer, covered with foil) for two hours.

Next, turn off the oven. Let the ribs remain in the closed oven for another 45-minutes.

While the ribs are sitting in the oven, fire up your BBQ/grill and get the cooking grate nice and hot.

Now we’re ready for “show time.” Take the ribs out of the oven, and out of the pan, and place them directly onto the grate, meat side down. Slather a nice thin layer of sauce (Sweet Baby Rays is the big winner in my household) onto the bone side. Let them cook on the grill for 5-minutes.

Next, flip the ribs so the bone side is now down (a rib or two may fall away from the meat, indicating the tenderness of your masterpiece!).

Slather that sauce onto the meat side, then let them cook for a good 5-minutes. This will allow the sauce to caramelize.

Finally, get those ribs off the grill and onto a big serving plate!

Once dished out, if your guests desire additional sauce on their ribs make it available—and don’t forget a roll of paper towels in the middle of the table.

Enjoy the ribs!

God bless you, your family, and America!

Brian

07/02/2025

Beware of all the Medicaid misinformation.

If you read the bill you will see that only those who are eligible for Medicaid are to have access to it.

The bill also weeds out budget gimmicks used by many states to shift more costs to federal taxpayers. Additionally, it enacts a work requirement for able-bodied Medicaid enrollees (as is required in other welfare programs.)

Medicaid is an antiquated 60-year-old program that needs a 2025 overhaul to become more efficient and sustainable.

Hope this will help end a few arguments, especially between friends.

06/26/2025

"I Wish I Would Have Spent More Time at the Office" - ???

The title of this article reflects a death bed confession that, I argue, has never been uttered. No matter how wonderful or financially lucrative a position of employment may be, there is not a mother or father in their right mind who has gone to their grave wishing they had spent more time at the office, as opposed to spending more time with their children.

That stated, the editors at the New York Times seem convinced that being a parent—specifically being a mother—is detrimental to one’s career and mental health. In their Wednesday, June 25 edition the NYT published, “Motherhood Should Come With a Warning Label.” It was a dispiriting piece presenting motherhood in a purposefully dismal manner.

Not that I read the New York Times; I was motivated to examine at the article after learning about it via Focus on the Family’s Daily Citizen blog. Upon doing so, I was reminded of a conversation my brother and I had with our dad a couple weeks before he died of cancer. In a very rare moment, he let down his guard of vulnerability and shared straight from his heart. “I was wrong,” he said. “While I was doing deals, and making sales, and putting money in the bank and bread on the table, I never realized the most important thing was right in front of me.”

As he spoke those words, he extended his hands and forearms towards us, looking at me, then my brother, emphasizing that the two of us were the important things he missed. His confession immediately forced me to drop the hatchet for a multitude of (mostly trivial) things I had held against him.

It was a beautiful moment, occurring over thirty years ago, but I recall the scene like it was yesterday because Dad’s admission radically changed the course of my young family, as I will explain.

Getting back to the NYT progressive propaganda piece. In their view, stay-at-home moms experience a “motherhood penalty.” That term refers to the financial hit associated with trading the office for diaper duty and carpool lanes. And, according to the article, the penalty extends farther than just finances. They contend fulltime mothers are disrespected, underappreciated victims who are subsequently subject to mental health maladies.

Let’s be real. There is no doubt all mothers (and, if I may add, all fathers too) have endured moments or even seasons of feeling stressed in a multitude of directions. Children can be difficult, demanding, exhausting and even just plain brats. I remember a time while raising our four kids where I experienced a revelation regarding Romans 3:23 which states, “…all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” My children were living proof that scripture was indeed correct!

But there is another Bible verse that is even more important in this discussion. The only Commandment with a promise declares, “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged on the land which the Lord your God gives you” (Exodus 20:12). The command is clear: honoring our parents results in a special quality of life. And, if I may, that command and promise should motivate we parents to live our lives before our children in a manner that is honorable.

Now about my pride and joy. Upon discovering she was pregnant, my wife made it very clear that despite a masters degree and a great career, she was staying at home with our child, and I would be responsible to bring home the bacon. We didn’t even bother doing the math. Heck, we fell in love at the age of eighteen, married just out of college, and were now thrilled that a child was on the way. Several years later we decided to add to our family via adoption. My wife continued to stay at home as we added two more little mouths to our tribe.

By this time, I was doing a program at the CBS-TV station in San Francisco called, “Brian’s Kids.” It was a weekly feature segment on the news highlighting a foster child who was eligible for adoption. Over the course of ten years, we assisted in the adoption of over 400 children. I came home one day telling my wife about this five-year-old named Josh. “You’ve got to meet this kid! We have to adopt him!” My sentiments were echoed by my oldest son who was with me when we were filming our segment with Josh.

To make a long story short, our family did meet Josh, and everyone loved him. But my wife had some valid concerns. “You leave the house for work sometimes as early as noon,” she said. “And you’re never home before midnight because you’re on the Eleven O’Clock News. I help with homework, fix dinner, and then put these kids to bed. If we’re going to add another child to this family—”

And then she dropped hammer.

“… you need to find a job that is more family friendly.”

Gulp. Mind you, this was back when local TV news paid big bucks.

I was instantly reminded of the conversation with my dad.

We wanted Josh, and Josh wanted us. My decision was probably as easy as the one my wife made when we discovered she was pregnant. I quit my job to assist my wife in being the best mom she could possibly be to our children.

In due time, I received a job offer that was much better for the family schedule, and a heckuva lot of fun too: my own talk radio show on America’s first all-conservative station: KSFO in San Francisco.

All these many years later, my wife and I are blessed with adult children who recollect having wonderful years at home with a mom who was totally available for guidance, wisdom, and encouragement, 24/7; and a dad who was not unconditionally married to his career.

The New York Times and its slogan, “All the news that’s fit for print,” is an out of touch dinosaur pushing ideals that have never stood the test of time.

(This post can also be found at www.BrianSussman.com)

06/01/2025

Geoengineering, weather modification, cloud seeding, and contrails.

While many contend such topics are based on right wing conspiracy theories, there are notable figures on the left who have personally pumped millions of dollars into the research and development of this contentious atmospheric experiment.

In my latest podcast, I share from my book, Climate Cult: Exposing and Defeating Their War on Life, Liberty, and Property (Post Hill Press), reading and commenting from the ninth chapter entitled, Weather Gods.

I trust this episode will serve as a wakeup call to anyone who contends to be on the fence regarding this daunting subject.

You can watch the episode on Rumble

https://rumble.com/v6u64w5-geoengineering-contrails-weather-modification-fact-or-fiction.html

or listen to it on most audio podcast platforms.

05/19/2025

Thirty-one-years-ago today, a baby was born in an ambulance in San Jose, California.

Upon arriving at the hospital, it was quickly noted the premature boy was addicted to co***ne. The infant spent the next many weeks an incubator, unable to receive the love and care that most babies are given.

The little one’s mother was taken into police custody; eventually the child was discharged from the hospital into his grandparents’ care.

However, no one at the hospital realized the grandparents, albeit quite kind, were homeless.

Some months later, the little baby was discovered by police, living with his grandparents in a dilapidated, abandoned house. I’ve read the police report. Fortunately little Joshua was unharmed.

The child was immediately placed into a foster care facility. He was moved around the foster system through his fifth birthday.

Fast forward to early 2000. I was working for the CBS-TV station in San Francisco, and, among other things, hosted a weekly program called, "Brian’s Kids." Each Wednesday, on the Five O’clock News, we would feature a youngster living in foster care who needed a permanent family. Interestingly, over the course of ten-years we witnessed over 400 of our kids getting adopted.

That’s how I met this skinny, little, almost six-year-old, named Joshua. He was featured on our TV program.

That evening, after our afternoon taping session with Josh, I told my wife about this “amazing little guy that I think we should adopt.” My son, Sam (12), was with me for the recording session and totally agreed.

Two of our children came to us through adoption, so my wife and I were familiar with the process and the challenges. Eventually, after a family meeting we decided to have Josh over to the house for a visit with his county social worker.

When he came to our door, his curly hair was combed and slicked down, and he was wearing the best set of slightly oversized hand-me-down clothes his social worker was able to find. Upon inviting him inside our home, my wife and I suddenly and simultaneously left the entryway in different directions overcome with emotion; she to our bedroom and me to a bathroom. We were both a basket of merciful tears.

Joshua officially became a member of our family shortly thereafter. Our daughter—now his sister—prayed with him to receive Jesus as his personal savior a month after Josh turned six. He’s never veered from that conviction.

Josh is happily married to Ladina. They presently live in NYC where Josh is honing his comedy credentials.

Happy birthday, son. You bring much joy (and hilarity) to our lives.

Brian Sussman Show

10/19/2025

09/16/2025

08/21/2025

07/31/2025

07/29/2025

07/25/2025

07/04/2025

07/03/2025

07/02/2025

06/26/2025

06/01/2025

05/19/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category