From wars and rumors of war abroad, to the rise of anti-Christian, "woke" ideology here at home, it’s clear that Americans are living in perilous and unprecedented times. Some would even say that we’re witnessing biblical prophecy unfold in real time. Stakelbeck Tonight will make sense of these stunning developments through a bold and biblical lens.
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Stakelbeck Tonight | Erick Stakelbeck: February 14, 2025 | Stakelbeck Tonight | February 14, 2025
- Welcome to stakelbeck tonight.
- 00:00:17.173 --> 00:00:18.675
- I'm erick stakelbeck and i believe that our god
- 00:00:18.675 --> 00:00:21.978
- Is a god of clarity, meaning
- 00:00:21.978 --> 00:00:25.181
- He gives us absolute biblical moral truths.
- 00:00:25.181 --> 00:00:29.419
- With god, there are no gray areas.
- 00:00:29.419 --> 00:00:32.055
- And yet today, all too often we're told to speak
- 00:00:32.055 --> 00:00:35.525
- Not the truth, but our truth, whatever that means.
- 00:00:35.525 --> 00:00:39.629
- And only if our truth does not offend, as long as it falls
- 00:00:39.629 --> 00:00:43.933
- Right in line with the mainstream
- 00:00:43.933 --> 00:00:46.402
- Politically correct narrative.
- 00:00:46.402 --> 00:00:48.571
- Thankfully,
- 00:00:48.571 --> 00:00:49.572
- There are major signs that may be changing,
- 00:00:49.572 --> 00:00:51.908
- That people are fed up with the nonsense.
- 00:00:51.908 --> 00:00:54.811
- Look no further than president trump's landslide victory
- 00:00:54.811 --> 00:00:57.881
- In november and look no further than sage steele,
- 00:00:57.881 --> 00:01:01.985
- When this long time espn anchor dared to speak her mind,
- 00:01:01.985 --> 00:01:05.855
- She quickly found herself in the crosshairs
- 00:01:05.855 --> 00:01:08.658
- Of her employer, the so-called worldwide leader in sports,
- 00:01:08.658 --> 00:01:12.829
- Which also happens to be owned by disney,
- 00:01:12.829 --> 00:01:16.332
- Two massive, powerful corporations that picked
- 00:01:16.332 --> 00:01:19.569
- The wrong person to try to cancel.
- 00:01:19.569 --> 00:01:22.572
- Sage fought back with fearlessness and faith.
- 00:01:22.572 --> 00:01:25.642
- And against all odds, she prevailed.
- 00:01:25.642 --> 00:01:28.678
- Today, she's host of the sage steel show podcast.
- 00:01:28.678 --> 00:01:31.581
- And you may have caught her on the campaign trail, hosting
- 00:01:31.581 --> 00:01:34.284
- Events with president trump and vice president vance.
- 00:01:34.284 --> 00:01:38.087
- I sat down with her a short while ago
- 00:01:38.087 --> 00:01:40.223
- To hear her incredible story.
- 00:01:40.223 --> 00:01:42.659
- Take a look.
- 00:01:42.659 --> 00:01:44.861
- I mean, we were.
- 00:01:44.861 --> 00:01:45.695
- Talking before we came on camera saying
- 00:01:45.695 --> 00:01:46.963
- This is a new season in your life
- 00:01:46.963 --> 00:01:48.665
- And god has great things.
- 00:01:48.665 --> 00:01:50.767
- You're just getting started.
- 00:01:50.767 --> 00:01:52.235
- As crazy as that sounds, after six years
- 00:01:52.235 --> 00:01:54.404
- Via spin and you're just getting started.
- 00:01:54.404 --> 00:01:56.005
- Okay.
- 00:01:56.005 --> 00:01:56.739
- We've got a lot to unpack
- 00:01:56.739 --> 00:01:58.441
- And we want to unpack the espn situation.
- 00:01:58.441 --> 00:02:00.910
- Cancel culture, your experience with that.
- 00:02:00.910 --> 00:02:04.514
- But let's start with sage, the woman.
- 00:02:04.514 --> 00:02:07.517
- Tell us a little bit about your background.
- 00:02:07.517 --> 00:02:09.152
- Yes. proud army brat.
- 00:02:09.152 --> 00:02:11.955
- By the time i was 11, i lived in four different countries.
- 00:02:11.955 --> 00:02:15.425
- So all i knew was change and moving and adjustments
- 00:02:15.425 --> 00:02:20.964
- And meeting new people and like true diversity.
- 00:02:20.964 --> 00:02:24.300
- So panama was born
- 00:02:24.300 --> 00:02:27.270
- And my dad went to west point, went back later to coach at west
- 00:02:27.270 --> 00:02:30.506
- Point ourselves, was a football coach.
- 00:02:30.506 --> 00:02:32.642
- One of my dad's coaches like there's
- 00:02:32.642 --> 00:02:34.110
- A lot of cool ties from west.
- 00:02:34.110 --> 00:02:35.612
- Your dad's kind of a west point legend
- 00:02:35.612 --> 00:02:37.647
- And a barrier breaker at west point.
- 00:02:37.647 --> 00:02:39.215
- Tell us about that.
- 00:02:39.215 --> 00:02:40.650
- The first black man to play varsity football ever at army
- 00:02:40.650 --> 00:02:43.886
- West point.
- 00:02:43.886 --> 00:02:44.754
- And he was all-american.
- 00:02:44.754 --> 00:02:45.855
- He was he was actually drafted by the detroit lions.
- 00:02:45.855 --> 00:02:48.925
- It was like, wow, that would be cool and onward.
- 00:02:48.925 --> 00:02:51.628
- I have an obligation to my country.
- 00:02:51.628 --> 00:02:52.996
- And i ended up serving 23 years, retired as an army colonel,
- 00:02:52.996 --> 00:02:56.399
- But during that time. so it was panama.
- 00:02:56.399 --> 00:02:58.635
- West point.
- 00:02:58.635 --> 00:02:59.569
- Indianapolis.
- 00:02:59.569 --> 00:03:00.703
- Back the old fort benjamin harrison no longer exists.
- 00:03:00.703 --> 00:03:03.439
- Monterey, california.
- 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:04.307
- Fort ord, greece for two a years.
- 00:03:04.307 --> 00:03:06.209
- Belgium for three years. colorado springs for five years.
- 00:03:06.209 --> 00:03:08.311
- Indiana went to high school and then college.
- 00:03:08.311 --> 00:03:11.080
- And then 20 more movies with tv.
- 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:12.949
- What about journalism?
- 00:03:12.949 --> 00:03:14.250
- Why sports broadcasting now?
- 00:03:14.250 --> 00:03:16.386
- I was i was a huge sports fan.
- 00:03:16.386 --> 00:03:18.154
- Okay. and you know, living in europe,
- 00:03:18.154 --> 00:03:22.025
- We didn't get it was hard.
- 00:03:22.025 --> 00:03:23.393
- You only had one english speaking tv station
- 00:03:23.393 --> 00:03:26.996
- In the eighties.
- 00:03:26.996 --> 00:03:27.964
- Cowboys redskins at the time was just
- 00:03:27.964 --> 00:03:29.766
- The biggest rivalry, right? that was we always saw that.
- 00:03:29.766 --> 00:03:32.201
- Yeah. in the nba, you know, lakers, celtics.
- 00:03:32.201 --> 00:03:35.071
- So on weekends what was great for me was those games.
- 00:03:35.071 --> 00:03:39.242
- And so i grew up around that.
- 00:03:39.242 --> 00:03:40.777
- And then i was 11
- 00:03:40.777 --> 00:03:43.279
- When i told my parents i wanted to be a sportscaster.
- 00:03:43.279 --> 00:03:46.582
- But i will say that i got the call from espn in 2004.
- 00:03:46.582 --> 00:03:50.553
- I didn't go until 2007. wow.
- 00:03:50.553 --> 00:03:54.023
- I actually turned down the first offer after that.
- 00:03:54.023 --> 00:03:57.593
- Been my dream my whole life. yeah.
- 00:03:57.593 --> 00:03:59.595
- What was the reason? can you share that? i was. yeah.
- 00:03:59.595 --> 00:04:02.031
- I was pregnant with my second child.
- 00:04:02.031 --> 00:04:04.067
- Like, very pregnant.
- 00:04:04.067 --> 00:04:06.102
- Yeah.
- 00:04:06.102 --> 00:04:06.803
- I had a 21 month old at home.
- 00:04:06.803 --> 00:04:09.339
- I knew i wanted more.
- 00:04:09.339 --> 00:04:10.340
- And, you know, stuart scott was great.
- 00:04:10.340 --> 00:04:14.410
- The legendary sportscaster died of cancer nine years ago.
- 00:04:14.410 --> 00:04:17.146
- I can't believe it. it was a dear friend of mine.
- 00:04:17.146 --> 00:04:18.748
- And so i prayed about it.
- 00:04:18.748 --> 00:04:19.982
- And i didn't tell anybody until i told them.
- 00:04:19.982 --> 00:04:23.553
- My husband at the time,
- 00:04:23.553 --> 00:04:26.255
- My parents, my agent, and i said, i'm not going to take it.
- 00:04:26.255 --> 00:04:30.226
- And they looked at me like, you're crazy.
- 00:04:30.226 --> 00:04:33.863
- My agent. i'm sure your agent in particular?
- 00:04:33.863 --> 00:04:36.032
- Oh. she was like, you're being stupid.
- 00:04:36.032 --> 00:04:39.135
- I love you,
- 00:04:39.135 --> 00:04:40.236
- But you're being stupid because espn doesn't need you.
- 00:04:40.236 --> 00:04:44.040
- You need rcn and you won't get blackballed
- 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:46.776
- And they're never going to call you back.
- 00:04:46.776 --> 00:04:48.010
- Are you prepared to take that chance?
- 00:04:48.010 --> 00:04:50.513
- And i just have been raised in such a strong family
- 00:04:50.513 --> 00:04:54.684
- Knowing that that's what comes first. yeah.
- 00:04:54.684 --> 00:04:56.719
- And if you sell out for that, i just knew that i was regret it
- 00:04:56.719 --> 00:05:01.891
- Because i knew i wouldn't want to get to espn
- 00:05:01.891 --> 00:05:03.493
- And still have kids based on the environment
- 00:05:03.493 --> 00:05:05.528
- And our culture at that time.
- 00:05:05.528 --> 00:05:08.264
- They might say the right things, but behind closed doors,
- 00:05:08.264 --> 00:05:10.566
- What decisions are they making if you're the pregnant
- 00:05:10.566 --> 00:05:12.602
- Girl on national tv?
- 00:05:12.602 --> 00:05:14.670
- So started out, took a chance on another contract
- 00:05:14.670 --> 00:05:17.874
- At comcast sportsnet, mid-atlantic and dc baltimore
- 00:05:17.874 --> 00:05:21.711
- And signed for three more years, had a third kid
- 00:05:21.711 --> 00:05:25.882
- And they called back in 2007.
- 00:05:25.882 --> 00:05:29.252
- And you had to take that leap of faith again at espn
- 00:05:29.252 --> 00:05:32.822
- 15, 16 years later, you go to the worldwide leader
- 00:05:32.822 --> 00:05:36.993
- Anchoring major events for 16 years.
- 00:05:36.993 --> 00:05:39.595
- One of the main faces on espn.
- 00:05:39.595 --> 00:05:41.931
- When do things start to unravel for you?
- 00:05:41.931 --> 00:05:45.635
- After a highly successful career?
- 00:05:45.635 --> 00:05:47.437
- Espn when did things start to take kind of a sour turn?
- 00:05:47.437 --> 00:05:52.241
- In hindsight, i can look back to
- 00:05:52.241 --> 00:05:55.411
- The network changing, like in 2016 after trump won,
- 00:05:55.411 --> 00:05:59.749
- Because that's when people started to get really vocal.
- 00:05:59.749 --> 00:06:02.051
- And i was confused because that wasn't allowed.
- 00:06:02.051 --> 00:06:06.088
- We weren't supposed to
- 00:06:06.088 --> 00:06:07.323
- Talk about politics or give our opinion.
- 00:06:07.323 --> 00:06:09.192
- So why all of a sudden are, you know, on air
- 00:06:09.192 --> 00:06:13.796
- Coworkers of mine
- 00:06:13.796 --> 00:06:15.765
- Speaking so publicly and so negatively as.
- 00:06:15.765 --> 00:06:18.401
- A viewer and a sports fan?
- 00:06:18.401 --> 00:06:19.769
- It was a noticeable shift, really.
- 00:06:19.769 --> 00:06:21.571
- I'm saying, you know what?
- 00:06:21.571 --> 00:06:22.371
- Sometimes you just want to escape.
- 00:06:22.371 --> 00:06:23.806
- Sports is a great escape for many americans.
- 00:06:23.806 --> 00:06:26.642
- We can tune out.
- 00:06:26.642 --> 00:06:27.710
- I covered politics, world affairs all the time.
- 00:06:27.710 --> 00:06:30.213
- I want to just watch the game yet i'm getting
- 00:06:30.213 --> 00:06:32.715
- Left wing political diatribes on espn.
- 00:06:32.715 --> 00:06:36.252
- So you working there?
- 00:06:36.252 --> 00:06:37.320
- Obviously saw of it.
- 00:06:37.320 --> 00:06:38.421
- Was hard and i
- 00:06:38.421 --> 00:06:39.722
- But then there were
- 00:06:39.722 --> 00:06:40.690
- There were no repercussions on those people.
- 00:06:40.690 --> 00:06:43.159
- So i, i remember sending one tweet in particular.
- 00:06:43.159 --> 00:06:47.330
- I retweeted something that he has been retweeted
- 00:06:47.330 --> 00:06:49.966
- And it was bucs receiver mike evans,
- 00:06:49.966 --> 00:06:52.134
- Who was the sunday after the election.
- 00:06:52.134 --> 00:06:54.570
- And he took a knee and, you know, it was a big deal.
- 00:06:54.570 --> 00:06:58.207
- Everybody's oh, my gosh, checking knees.
- 00:06:58.207 --> 00:06:59.442
- All of a sudden, they
- 00:06:59.442 --> 00:07:00.676
- They interviewed him afterwards and, you know, they weren't
- 00:07:00.676 --> 00:07:03.946
- Tweeting is fans twitter. they weren't
- 00:07:03.946 --> 00:07:07.149
- Posting about his
- 00:07:07.149 --> 00:07:08.251
- Stats that night or the result of the game.
- 00:07:08.251 --> 00:07:11.487
- It was him talking about why he was kneeling,
- 00:07:11.487 --> 00:07:14.190
- Which is nothing to do with the game.
- 00:07:14.190 --> 00:07:15.825
- So when they tweeted it out, i thought, wait.
- 00:07:15.825 --> 00:07:17.727
- And then his answer was
- 00:07:17.727 --> 00:07:19.328
- He just thought it was so wrong that donald trump had
- 00:07:19.328 --> 00:07:22.098
- Won the election and ends up he didn't even vote.
- 00:07:22.098 --> 00:07:27.603
- So that was a lot of athletes were like that,
- 00:07:27.603 --> 00:07:30.606
- Where they would say things, but you didn't actually,
- 00:07:30.606 --> 00:07:33.042
- If you were so passionate and didn't want him to win
- 00:07:33.042 --> 00:07:35.811
- And so go do something about it, but just do nothing.
- 00:07:35.811 --> 00:07:38.814
- Sit on your hands, not vote, and then complain
- 00:07:38.814 --> 00:07:41.117
- And then public as a public figure.
- 00:07:41.117 --> 00:07:42.919
- Take a knee, make a statement. i had a problem with that.
- 00:07:42.919 --> 00:07:45.254
- So i retweeted it and well,
- 00:07:45.254 --> 00:07:48.658
- But every tweet something
- 00:07:48.658 --> 00:07:49.559
- My network tweeted, it wasn't like i'm
- 00:07:49.559 --> 00:07:50.793
- Trying to stir the pot, but i that was the beginning for me.
- 00:07:50.793 --> 00:07:53.162
- My first time really upsetting people with my opinions.
- 00:07:53.162 --> 00:07:56.866
- And i was like.
- 00:07:56.866 --> 00:07:58.000
- They know you were conservative at the time.
- 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:00.937
- Your word.
- 00:08:00.937 --> 00:08:02.104
- Colleagues word. had got.
- 00:08:02.104 --> 00:08:03.472
- Now, i've never i will say this.
- 00:08:03.472 --> 00:08:05.174
- I never, ever once bring my time.
- 00:08:05.174 --> 00:08:07.577
- It is not once in almost 17 years
- 00:08:07.577 --> 00:08:10.079
- Talks about my pop politics publicly.
- 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:12.315
- I never said who i voted for
- 00:08:12.315 --> 00:08:14.817
- Because it wasn't anyone's business.
- 00:08:14.817 --> 00:08:16.419
- Right.
- 00:08:16.419 --> 00:08:17.620
- And by the way, it has nothing to do with how i do my job.
- 00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:21.390
- It doesn't.
- 00:08:21.390 --> 00:08:22.592
- So i never, ever discussed it
- 00:08:22.592 --> 00:08:26.562
- On any social media platform on our airwaves, for sure.
- 00:08:26.562 --> 00:08:30.333
- I'm a journalist.
- 00:08:30.333 --> 00:08:33.369
- Up next, sage deal gets real about the moment
- 00:08:33.369 --> 00:08:36.606
- She was forced to take the covid vaccine or else.
- 00:08:36.606 --> 00:08:40.676
- Plus, her eye opening experience with the ladies from the view
- 00:08:40.676 --> 00:08:45.114
- And how she took on disney and won.
- 00:08:45.114 --> 00:08:47.783
- You won't want to miss this.
- 00:08:47.783 --> 00:08:49.018
- Stick around.
- 00:08:49.018 --> 00:08:52.001
- Stick around.
- 00:08:52.001 --> 00:08:54.855
- Why do things.
- 00:08:55.189 --> 00:08:56.256
- Start to unravel for you after a highly successful
- 00:08:56.256 --> 00:09:00.227
- Career has been.
- 00:09:00.227 --> 00:09:01.428
- I mean, it came to a head in september, october 2021,
- 00:09:01.428 --> 00:09:05.633
- When i went on the jay cutler podcast.
- 00:09:05.633 --> 00:09:07.568
- I was actually just retelling a story
- 00:09:07.568 --> 00:09:11.872
- From what happened when i was co-hosting the view in 2014.
- 00:09:11.872 --> 00:09:16.076
- And you survived about that?
- 00:09:16.076 --> 00:09:18.112
- Four times i did it.
- 00:09:18.112 --> 00:09:20.247
- I know what i go back now.
- 00:09:20.247 --> 00:09:22.383
- Absolutely not.
- 00:09:22.383 --> 00:09:23.283
- And barbara walters brought up obama.
- 00:09:23.283 --> 00:09:26.754
- I never brought up obama.
- 00:09:26.754 --> 00:09:28.489
- So they were like, why are you so passionate
- 00:09:28.489 --> 00:09:30.257
- About being saying that you're biracial as well?
- 00:09:30.257 --> 00:09:33.093
- That's what i am.
- 00:09:33.093 --> 00:09:34.361
- So when she asked me that question, barbara
- 00:09:34.361 --> 00:09:35.896
- Walters on abc on live
- 00:09:35.896 --> 00:09:37.531
- Tv and said, well, what about the president?
- 00:09:37.531 --> 00:09:39.433
- And i said, well, what about him?
- 00:09:39.433 --> 00:09:41.301
- She goes, well, he he was raised by a white mom.
- 00:09:41.301 --> 00:09:43.671
- And he says, he's black.
- 00:09:43.671 --> 00:09:44.838
- And i and i said,
- 00:09:44.838 --> 00:09:45.939
- I think it's interesting that he has a white mother
- 00:09:45.939 --> 00:09:47.741
- And a white grandmother
- 00:09:47.741 --> 00:09:48.876
- Who raised him as black father was nowhere to be found.
- 00:09:48.876 --> 00:09:51.712
- You wrote a book about this.
- 00:09:51.712 --> 00:09:52.646
- This is not breaking news.
- 00:09:52.646 --> 00:09:53.914
- He's talked about that loss.
- 00:09:53.914 --> 00:09:56.383
- I said i think it's fascinating to completely
- 00:09:56.383 --> 00:09:58.819
- Not identify with the white side
- 00:09:58.819 --> 00:10:00.554
- When there was a lot of love there.
- 00:10:00.554 --> 00:10:01.922
- And just to focus on
- 00:10:01.922 --> 00:10:03.023
- Just to say you're just black, however you do you.
- 00:10:03.023 --> 00:10:07.127
- Why would i not celebrate my entire family? yes.
- 00:10:07.127 --> 00:10:11.298
- Because i said what i the way i guess my words about obama,
- 00:10:11.298 --> 00:10:14.368
- Even though is repeating barbara walters
- 00:10:14.368 --> 00:10:17.071
- In 2021, it hit different and i was crushed.
- 00:10:17.071 --> 00:10:20.841
- And then the headlines were sage
- 00:10:20.841 --> 00:10:22.042
- Steele says barack obama shouldn't identify as black.
- 00:10:22.042 --> 00:10:25.045
- And she hates she hates her black
- 00:10:25.045 --> 00:10:26.513
- Father and blah, blah, blah, like the mainstream media.
- 00:10:26.513 --> 00:10:29.149
- There's a reason why it's not trusted
- 00:10:29.149 --> 00:10:30.784
- And that's why it's despised.
- 00:10:30.784 --> 00:10:32.453
- So devastated me that i was
- 00:10:32.453 --> 00:10:36.090
- Viewed as
- 00:10:36.090 --> 00:10:37.324
- Not being proud of my black side or my father, or being hateful
- 00:10:37.324 --> 00:10:40.494
- Towards blacks, which is what i knew.
- 00:10:40.494 --> 00:10:41.929
- Your dad was.
- 00:10:41.929 --> 00:10:42.329
- Black. twitter.
- 00:10:42.329 --> 00:10:43.397
- Our ties are very tight. yes.
- 00:10:43.397 --> 00:10:45.699
- So that was that.
- 00:10:45.699 --> 00:10:47.167
- The other part certainly was the vaccine thing
- 00:10:47.167 --> 00:10:49.036
- Is, in order to keep my job, i had to get it.
- 00:10:49.036 --> 00:10:51.605
- And yeah, i waited till the very last second.
- 00:10:51.605 --> 00:10:55.776
- The last day in order to be fully vaccinated.
- 00:10:55.776 --> 00:10:59.780
- By the time the september 30th, 2021 deadline hit.
- 00:10:59.780 --> 00:11:02.750
- I've been praying about it and i was ready to walk.
- 00:11:02.750 --> 00:11:06.019
- I literally was like this this might be it for me
- 00:11:06.019 --> 00:11:10.424
- Because i don't trust what's in it.
- 00:11:10.424 --> 00:11:12.426
- It's just at that time it was happening too fast for me.
- 00:11:12.426 --> 00:11:16.163
- I think i did my homework.
- 00:11:16.163 --> 00:11:17.431
- Like, i knew that the fda takes an average of 6 to 9 years
- 00:11:17.431 --> 00:11:21.835
- To approve a vaccine.
- 00:11:21.835 --> 00:11:24.138
- How fast was this subseries?
- 00:11:24.138 --> 00:11:25.639
- 6 to 9 months different.
- 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:27.241
- And it became political
- 00:11:27.241 --> 00:11:28.709
- And didn't matter if it was trump or biden.
- 00:11:28.709 --> 00:11:30.677
- It was all being forced on us.
- 00:11:30.677 --> 00:11:32.446
- And then we
- 00:11:32.446 --> 00:11:33.947
- These pharmaceutical companies aren't being held accountable.
- 00:11:33.947 --> 00:11:37.451
- Like you can't come back at them
- 00:11:37.451 --> 00:11:39.219
- For any reason if there is a vaccine injury.
- 00:11:39.219 --> 00:11:41.722
- It just made me scared as a mother as well.
- 00:11:41.722 --> 00:11:45.425
- But i had to take it in order to keep my job.
- 00:11:45.425 --> 00:11:47.761
- And i on the podcast i just said,
- 00:11:47.761 --> 00:11:51.999
- I mean, eric, i had the band-aid on
- 00:11:51.999 --> 00:11:53.300
- My shoulder still when i said it,
- 00:11:53.300 --> 00:11:55.335
- Because i had literally come
- 00:11:55.335 --> 00:11:56.503
- Right from there and i'd been crying
- 00:11:56.503 --> 00:11:58.138
- Cause i didn't want to do it and came on the podcast.
- 00:11:58.138 --> 00:12:00.374
- I should have taken off. i didn't even think i'd even care.
- 00:12:00.374 --> 00:12:02.776
- So when he brought it up, i said, i think it's sick
- 00:12:02.776 --> 00:12:06.380
- And scary for anyone, any company,
- 00:12:06.380 --> 00:12:10.150
- To tell you what to do with your body.
- 00:12:10.150 --> 00:12:11.585
- But i work for a global company,
- 00:12:11.585 --> 00:12:13.654
- Disney, and i and i'm not surprised.
- 00:12:13.654 --> 00:12:15.589
- I just don't think it's right.
- 00:12:15.589 --> 00:12:17.090
- And i just was honest while complying
- 00:12:17.090 --> 00:12:20.861
- So i can have an opinion if i'm complying.
- 00:12:20.861 --> 00:12:23.230
- With everyone else.
- 00:12:23.230 --> 00:12:23.964
- Espn does
- 00:12:23.964 --> 00:12:24.965
- About various political topics, but from a left
- 00:12:24.965 --> 00:12:27.100
- Wing bent, you came at it from the other side and you called.
- 00:12:27.100 --> 00:12:31.305
- And then at the phone calls began
- 00:12:31.305 --> 00:12:32.539
- And my agent said, they're livid.
- 00:12:32.539 --> 00:12:34.408
- And if you don't apologize, then you'll be fired.
- 00:12:34.408 --> 00:12:37.277
- And the bosses called me and said, one
- 00:12:37.277 --> 00:12:39.947
- Boss in particular and said, how you can't what?
- 00:12:39.947 --> 00:12:43.016
- He said, you can't whack the company, you whack the company.
- 00:12:43.016 --> 00:12:45.219
- I said, what do you mean? i, i, i can have an opinion.
- 00:12:45.219 --> 00:12:48.055
- They're forcing me to do something on my body.
- 00:12:48.055 --> 00:12:49.857
- But i took it, leave me alone.
- 00:12:49.857 --> 00:12:52.559
- And they said no.
- 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:54.328
- And if you don't apologize, and then we're gonna suspend you,
- 00:12:54.328 --> 00:12:57.598
- And then we're going to.
- 00:12:57.598 --> 00:12:59.299
- Then they followed up my forced apology with while we just.
- 00:12:59.299 --> 00:13:02.669
- While we respect diverse opinions and thoughts.
- 00:13:02.669 --> 00:13:07.274
- But then you're going to silence me.
- 00:13:07.274 --> 00:13:08.475
- So it was my dark, the darkest time in my life,
- 00:13:08.475 --> 00:13:11.478
- The double standard was shocking.
- 00:13:11.478 --> 00:13:15.115
- Shocking. it's unbelievable.
- 00:13:15.115 --> 00:13:17.117
- But you know what it did?
- 00:13:17.117 --> 00:13:18.685
- It helped prove my point.
- 00:13:18.685 --> 00:13:20.120
- It helped.
- 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:20.988
- Yeah, that's that's why i.
- 00:13:20.988 --> 00:13:23.190
- I got a settlement.
- 00:13:23.190 --> 00:13:24.324
- Yeah, i'm sure your attorney was like, keep it. coming.
- 00:13:24.324 --> 00:13:26.960
- They kept they. it's like, on a platter.
- 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:29.096
- A host of other comments during the george floyd floyd riots.
- 00:13:29.096 --> 00:13:31.732
- We can go on and on and on.
- 00:13:31.732 --> 00:13:33.300
- No one reprimanded. none.
- 00:13:33.300 --> 00:13:35.068
- And that was the thing.
- 00:13:35.068 --> 00:13:35.969
- I was the only one ever disciplined. why?
- 00:13:35.969 --> 00:13:38.839
- Because they knew where my politics leaned.
- 00:13:38.839 --> 00:13:43.777
- Yeah, even though i never said it.
- 00:13:43.777 --> 00:13:45.846
- And this coming from the big bosses of espn,
- 00:13:45.846 --> 00:13:49.449
- Left left leaning.
- 00:13:49.449 --> 00:13:50.884
- And that's probably an understatement. all of them.
- 00:13:50.884 --> 00:13:53.420
- You can't pick and choose either it is allowed or not.
- 00:13:53.420 --> 00:13:56.957
- And i push hard.
- 00:13:56.957 --> 00:13:58.158
- And this is what i the why behind standing up for myself
- 00:13:58.158 --> 00:14:01.461
- And the lawsuit is truly because of diversity of thought. yes.
- 00:14:01.461 --> 00:14:05.432
- That's i have led with that.
- 00:14:05.432 --> 00:14:06.800
- Is your first amendment rights. it's freedom of speech.
- 00:14:06.800 --> 00:14:09.336
- It is this is cancel culture, correct.
- 00:14:09.336 --> 00:14:11.872
- In real time before our very eyes. correct.
- 00:14:11.872 --> 00:14:14.308
- And you stood against it.
- 00:14:14.308 --> 00:14:16.176
- This is for people i don't know.
- 00:14:16.176 --> 00:14:18.712
- This is for so many millions of people who feel silenced
- 00:14:18.712 --> 00:14:22.716
- And who are told it's okay, be you identify how you want
- 00:14:22.716 --> 00:14:26.253
- Your truth.
- 00:14:26.253 --> 00:14:27.287
- Your truth unless what?
- 00:14:27.287 --> 00:14:29.856
- Unless you're a little more conservative.
- 00:14:29.856 --> 00:14:34.828
- Coming
- 00:14:34.828 --> 00:14:35.362
- Up after the break,
- 00:14:35.362 --> 00:14:36.430
- How her faith, her family and her love of freedom
- 00:14:36.430 --> 00:14:39.900
- Helped sage steel beat overwhelming odds.
- 00:14:39.900 --> 00:14:43.136
- That's next.
- 00:14:43.136 --> 00:14:49.004
- That's next.
- 00:14:49.004 --> 00:14:51.618
- Welcome back to stakelbeck tonight.
- 00:14:52.353 --> 00:14:54.054
- When you've got faith
- 00:14:54.054 --> 00:14:55.322
- And your family, you can overcome any obstacle,
- 00:14:55.322 --> 00:14:58.859
- Even when you're taking on some of
- 00:14:58.859 --> 00:15:00.227
- The most powerful corporations in the world.
- 00:15:00.227 --> 00:15:03.097
- Here's more from my interview with sage steel.
- 00:15:03.097 --> 00:15:07.001
- You know, when i was deciding when i was the night
- 00:15:07.001 --> 00:15:09.236
- Before the lawsuit dropped april 28th,
- 00:15:09.236 --> 00:15:12.673
- 2022, i spoke to each of my children.
- 00:15:12.673 --> 00:15:16.210
- One was at college,
- 00:15:16.210 --> 00:15:17.511
- One was a senior in high school, one was a sophomore.
- 00:15:17.511 --> 00:15:19.480
- And i spoke to each one separately.
- 00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:21.281
- I wanted them to be prepared for what was to come
- 00:15:21.281 --> 00:15:23.384
- Because in the past they've been attacked on social media.
- 00:15:23.384 --> 00:15:25.452
- Do they go find your kids is what they do.
- 00:15:25.452 --> 00:15:28.288
- And so i said, i just want you to know
- 00:15:28.288 --> 00:15:30.591
- That you don't have to defend me.
- 00:15:30.591 --> 00:15:33.727
- Don't ever feel the need to defend me.
- 00:15:33.727 --> 00:15:36.030
- No obligation.
- 00:15:36.030 --> 00:15:37.231
- I would ask that all you say if someone said something,
- 00:15:37.231 --> 00:15:39.933
- Teachers would say things to my kids like
- 00:15:39.933 --> 00:15:43.470
- Coaches, just stop.
- 00:15:43.470 --> 00:15:45.773
- And so i said, just say, you know what?
- 00:15:45.773 --> 00:15:47.541
- We all the right to an opinion and my mom has hers.
- 00:15:47.541 --> 00:15:50.644
- Don't say anything else that you don't want to say.
- 00:15:50.644 --> 00:15:52.646
- I don't need you to do that. i got it.
- 00:15:52.646 --> 00:15:54.782
- And so each kid had a kind of different reaction.
- 00:15:54.782 --> 00:15:57.751
- Pretty supportive.
- 00:15:57.751 --> 00:15:58.819
- My youngest daughter was the youngest and scared
- 00:15:58.819 --> 00:16:00.421
- And just wanted to just just decide to go to high school
- 00:16:00.421 --> 00:16:02.890
- And have a normal mom would just be left alone.
- 00:16:02.890 --> 00:16:04.825
- Yeah.
- 00:16:04.825 --> 00:16:06.293
- My son was in the middle of the two crazy girls
- 00:16:06.293 --> 00:16:09.263
- And is a little more like he observes.
- 00:16:09.263 --> 00:16:11.331
- He stays a little quieter.
- 00:16:11.331 --> 00:16:12.900
- I said, but this is happening tomorrow,
- 00:16:12.900 --> 00:16:14.668
- And i just want to apologize if something comes at you.
- 00:16:14.668 --> 00:16:16.804
- But i have to do this.
- 00:16:16.804 --> 00:16:18.172
- I just feel i was crying.
- 00:16:18.172 --> 00:16:20.774
- He put down what he was doing.
- 00:16:20.774 --> 00:16:21.809
- He looked at me and my son said, mom,
- 00:16:21.809 --> 00:16:24.845
- It's about time you stood up for yourself. wow.
- 00:16:24.845 --> 00:16:28.749
- I thought this whole time i was protecting them
- 00:16:28.749 --> 00:16:30.851
- By staying quiet. yeah.
- 00:16:30.851 --> 00:16:32.853
- I thought i was doing the right thing.
- 00:16:32.853 --> 00:16:34.955
- And in the meantime, he'd been watching me
- 00:16:34.955 --> 00:16:37.524
- Get quiet and make myself smaller.
- 00:16:37.524 --> 00:16:40.928
- And i just.
- 00:16:40.928 --> 00:16:42.329
- I was in awe of him for saying that.
- 00:16:42.329 --> 00:16:45.165
- So i knew at that moment that no matter if i lost the lawsuit,
- 00:16:45.165 --> 00:16:48.902
- Either way, i'm going to lose my job.
- 00:16:48.902 --> 00:16:51.872
- At least i stood up.
- 00:16:51.872 --> 00:16:53.574
- At least my kids, my son.
- 00:16:53.574 --> 00:16:55.442
- And that moment saw that his mom wasn't going to
- 00:16:55.442 --> 00:16:59.480
- Be silent for something that was wrong.
- 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:01.315
- And for my son, my 17 year old son
- 00:17:01.315 --> 00:17:03.617
- At that point to say it's about time
- 00:17:03.617 --> 00:17:06.286
- I knew i'd be okay.
- 00:17:06.286 --> 00:17:08.889
- My faith is what got me through it.
- 00:17:08.889 --> 00:17:10.824
- Amen.
- 00:17:10.824 --> 00:17:12.559
- Tell us more.
- 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.327
- Where i know i can't cry now.
- 00:17:13.327 --> 00:17:15.429
- You know it's all good.
- 00:17:15.429 --> 00:17:16.964
- I cried yesterday, so i guess it's overdue.
- 00:17:16.964 --> 00:17:19.900
- I you know, when i got suspended and pulled off the air
- 00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:24.037
- Two weeks later, i got covered pretty bad.
- 00:17:24.037 --> 00:17:25.739
- So that was the irony of the whole thing.
- 00:17:25.739 --> 00:17:27.174
- I got your shot, and now i'm bedridden, and here i am.
- 00:17:27.174 --> 00:17:30.277
- It was just crazy that it was happening
- 00:17:30.277 --> 00:17:31.778
- At the same time
- 00:17:31.778 --> 00:17:32.846
- As i was being lied about and crushed publicly.
- 00:17:32.846 --> 00:17:36.583
- Yeah.
- 00:17:36.583 --> 00:17:38.018
- And then when it was time for me to go back to work,
- 00:17:38.018 --> 00:17:40.621
- My parents said, forget it, we're coming.
- 00:17:40.621 --> 00:17:43.290
- They came for their little girl.
- 00:17:43.290 --> 00:17:46.593
- Doesn't matter how old we are, right?
- 00:17:46.593 --> 00:17:47.761
- We're still their little girl or boy.
- 00:17:47.761 --> 00:17:49.663
- And a couple other things that come out.
- 00:17:49.663 --> 00:17:51.899
- And some lies and some articles that broke me.
- 00:17:51.899 --> 00:17:54.701
- And they literally lifted me off the ground
- 00:17:54.701 --> 00:17:57.471
- And then stayed with me in the day.
- 00:17:57.471 --> 00:17:58.739
- I went back to work
- 00:17:58.739 --> 00:18:00.474
- As my mom and dad and my best friend tiffany,
- 00:18:00.474 --> 00:18:02.643
- Who is also my makeup artist who makes me look presentable.
- 00:18:02.643 --> 00:18:06.847
- And my dad went back to his football days.
- 00:18:06.847 --> 00:18:09.183
- It's like, huddle up.
- 00:18:09.183 --> 00:18:10.751
- The four of us got in a huddle and i was shaking to walk back
- 00:18:10.751 --> 00:18:13.820
- In that building after the suspension
- 00:18:13.820 --> 00:18:15.055
- Because i knew even more people hated me than for my opinions.
- 00:18:15.055 --> 00:18:18.559
- You went into the lion's den.
- 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:20.494
- But the only reason i was able to is because of the prayer
- 00:18:20.494 --> 00:18:24.231
- That my dad made us recite at that moment
- 00:18:24.231 --> 00:18:26.934
- For any catholic watching or non catholic.
- 00:18:26.934 --> 00:18:29.203
- But it's saint michael, the archangel,
- 00:18:29.203 --> 00:18:31.471
- And that's to protect us from the wickedness
- 00:18:31.471 --> 00:18:35.142
- Ensnares of the devil.
- 00:18:35.142 --> 00:18:37.344
- And he made us recite it and our football huddle.
- 00:18:37.344 --> 00:18:42.082
- And i got in the car and i drove to bristol
- 00:18:42.082 --> 00:18:44.751
- And i walked in there and i did the first show.
- 00:18:44.751 --> 00:18:48.222
- And every single day from that moment on,
- 00:18:48.222 --> 00:18:51.258
- When i walked into the when i drove into the parking lot
- 00:18:51.258 --> 00:18:55.028
- And i call my mom and dad and we recite that prayer
- 00:18:55.028 --> 00:18:58.298
- Every single day until the day my lawsuit was settled.
- 00:18:58.298 --> 00:19:01.501
- And i never walked back in there again.
- 00:19:01.501 --> 00:19:03.570
- So i did feel protected
- 00:19:03.570 --> 00:19:07.608
- Every day when i was in.
- 00:19:07.608 --> 00:19:08.842
- Awe of god.
- 00:19:08.842 --> 00:19:09.543
- I literally full. armor of god.
- 00:19:09.543 --> 00:19:11.645
- You were surrounded. literally in. the lion's den.
- 00:19:11.645 --> 00:19:13.947
- It sounds to me that this was it was larger
- 00:19:13.947 --> 00:19:16.783
- Than just a battle in the in the natural and the physical.
- 00:19:16.783 --> 00:19:19.853
- The bible talks about the apostle paul
- 00:19:19.853 --> 00:19:21.855
- Says, hey, we're battling spirits and principalities.
- 00:19:21.855 --> 00:19:25.025
- Sound like an all out spiritual attack, not only
- 00:19:25.025 --> 00:19:28.395
- In your professional life, but a very bad case of covid.
- 00:19:28.395 --> 00:19:32.499
- You're isolated, you're alone trying to deal with this.
- 00:19:32.499 --> 00:19:35.235
- And like you say, you're in the pit
- 00:19:35.235 --> 00:19:37.204
- And god reaches out and takes it, surround
- 00:19:37.204 --> 00:19:39.840
- You with your family,
- 00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:41.174
- Takes you out of the pit, says, i'm not done with you yet.
- 00:19:41.174 --> 00:19:43.877
- Along with this being a very spiritual battle
- 00:19:43.877 --> 00:19:46.780
- With a lot of evil out there that we've got to combat.
- 00:19:46.780 --> 00:19:50.017
- And if it means
- 00:19:50.017 --> 00:19:51.218
- Just little old me at espn standing up for that hypocrisy,
- 00:19:51.218 --> 00:19:54.588
- There's some evil in that.
- 00:19:54.588 --> 00:19:57.591
- I have to do this.
- 00:19:57.591 --> 00:19:59.493
- Like, i know now that if i if i don't,
- 00:19:59.493 --> 00:20:02.496
- I won't be able to look in the mirror.
- 00:20:02.496 --> 00:20:04.231
- Shame on me because i was given this platform.
- 00:20:04.231 --> 00:20:07.067
- I don't i'm still in awe of it.
- 00:20:07.067 --> 00:20:10.270
- And it still is humbling and scary at times
- 00:20:10.270 --> 00:20:13.173
- Because i was just this kid
- 00:20:13.173 --> 00:20:14.241
- Who wanted to talk about football and basketball,
- 00:20:14.241 --> 00:20:17.277
- But god has me here and if i go quiet,
- 00:20:17.277 --> 00:20:20.981
- What am i teach my own kids or anyone else that's watching?
- 00:20:20.981 --> 00:20:24.251
- So, okay, so just because i did well
- 00:20:24.251 --> 00:20:26.186
- And was successful and made some money.
- 00:20:26.186 --> 00:20:28.221
- Yeah. then.
- 00:20:28.221 --> 00:20:29.823
- Then i'm a sellout.
- 00:20:29.823 --> 00:20:31.224
- Yes. then i'm.
- 00:20:31.224 --> 00:20:34.828
- Then i've lost perspective.
- 00:20:34.828 --> 00:20:35.996
- You gain the whole world, yet you lose your soul.
- 00:20:35.996 --> 00:20:39.166
- Yeah.
- 00:20:39.166 --> 00:20:39.800
- And i've seen so many good
- 00:20:39.800 --> 00:20:40.934
- People lose their souls because of the almighty dollar.
- 00:20:40.934 --> 00:20:44.705
- Because of fear.
- 00:20:44.705 --> 00:20:46.440
- And i will empathize with the fear.
- 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:48.008
- I see why people are afraid to speak out.
- 00:20:48.008 --> 00:20:50.043
- I do. i get it.
- 00:20:50.043 --> 00:20:52.245
- And sometimes they probably shouldn't.
- 00:20:52.245 --> 00:20:54.114
- You need to make sure you're prepared for what's to come.
- 00:20:54.114 --> 00:20:56.983
- Even though i can probably tell you you're not prepared,
- 00:20:56.983 --> 00:20:59.353
- No matter how prepared you are.
- 00:20:59.353 --> 00:21:00.454
- Not always seems to throw curveballs along the path.
- 00:21:00.454 --> 00:21:03.724
- Rarely do my plans align
- 00:21:03.724 --> 00:21:05.492
- With god's plan, but his plan is always good, always better.
- 00:21:05.492 --> 00:21:08.395
- No doubt when you're in it though, the question. it.
- 00:21:08.395 --> 00:21:11.331
- Yes, you do.
- 00:21:11.331 --> 00:21:12.599
- God, where is this going then?
- 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:14.201
- In hindsight you say that that's why
- 00:21:14.201 --> 00:21:17.304
- I didn't take the espn job then.
- 00:21:17.304 --> 00:21:19.373
- That's why i need to wait three years.
- 00:21:19.373 --> 00:21:21.174
- Thank god i waited those three years
- 00:21:21.174 --> 00:21:22.943
- Because then i was truly ready.
- 00:21:22.943 --> 00:21:24.644
- Had another child.
- 00:21:24.644 --> 00:21:26.113
- It makes sense in hindsight all the time.
- 00:21:26.113 --> 00:21:27.647
- You say, okay, god, i'll do it.
- 00:21:27.647 --> 00:21:29.015
- I'll continue to do it your way. your way works.
- 00:21:29.015 --> 00:21:32.919
- What a great
- 00:21:32.919 --> 00:21:34.154
- Conversation folk sage deal took on cancel culture and one.
- 00:21:34.154 --> 00:21:37.724
- Now she's using her voice to help turn this country around.
- 00:21:37.724 --> 00:21:41.928
- Be sure to follow her
- 00:21:41.928 --> 00:21:42.896
- On instagram and across social media
- 00:21:42.896 --> 00:21:45.432
- And catch her on the sage steele show.
- 00:21:45.432 --> 00:21:47.968
- When we come back, my final thoughts on
- 00:21:47.968 --> 00:21:49.836
- How the culture shifts when christians stand
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- Boldly and refuse to be silenced.
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- Don't move.
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- Don't move.
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- Welcome back to stakelbeck tonight.
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- As we wrap up, folks, i have to say, the battle lines
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- In our culture have never been more clear.
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- But as followers of jesus, we're called not to shrink back
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- From the fight.
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- We're called to stand to be as bold as lions.
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- Second, timothy, chapter one, verse seven, says,
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- God has not given us
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- A spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
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- That means we don't bow to the pressures of the world.
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- We speak truth boldly in love, and we trust god almighty
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- With all the results.
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- Just like sage still refuse to be silenced.
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- We need to do the same, whether it's in our workplace,
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- In our schools, or in our communities.
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- Now is the time to stand up for faith, for truth,
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- And for the future of this nation.
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- If we stay silent, the darkness wins.
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- But as sage deal showed, when we do stand, when we shine
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- The light of christ, everything changes.
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- Speaking of standing strong, don't miss monday's show.
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- Renowned actor nathan basil of the vampire diaries
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- Joins us to share his journey to christ
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- And how he went from hollywood
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- Star to one of the world's leading pro israel advocates.
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- You won't want to miss that until then.
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- Have a great weekend.
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- God bless you and we'll see you soon.
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