A 14-year-old girl in Virginia named Sage told school staff she thought she wanted to live as a boy. Her parents were never informed. 

Instead, the school allowed her to socially transition at school while keeping it hidden from her family. What happened next would take this young girl hundreds of miles from home and into the nightmare of sex trafficking. 

On this week’s episode, Craig DeRoche sits down with Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation of Virginia, to unpack the shocking story of Sage Blair and why it’s become a national wake-up call for parents. 

Victoria shares how Sage’s gender confusion was kept from her parents, how she was lured online and trafficked, and how a legal battle was required to reunite her with her family.  

Today, thanks to the direct help of the Family Foundation of Virginia, Sage is on a path toward healing, and her story is helping drive efforts to ensure schools cannot hide a child’s gender transition from parents. Sage and others like her are why Family Policy Alliance fights for policies that Help Not Harm and Let Parents Parent. 

In this important conversation, Craig and Victoria discuss: 

• The policies that allowed Sage’s situation to happen
  • Why parental rights in education matter more than ever
  • The legal fight to reunite Sage with her family
  • The growing movement to hold schools accountable 
  • Why civic engagement from Christians is critical right now 

Sage’s story is heartbreaking, but it’s also a reminder of why protecting children and empowering parents must remain a priority in our culture and our laws. 

Watch the full conversation to hear how Blair’s story is sparking a national conversation about parental rights and child protection, even reaching national news during President Trump’s State of the Union address last month.  

Plus, tune in to hear Craig’s conversation with detransitioner and bold advocate, Chloe Cole, as we recognized Detransition Awareness Day on March 12th.   

Together,

Craig DeRoche 

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Ninth Circuit’s stay on Mirabelli v. Bonta, effectively blocking a California policy pushed by progressive state leaders that discouraged schools from notifying parents when their children attempted to change their gender identity while at public schools.

The Court’s decision allows a legal challenge from parents to move forward and temporarily stops the policy while the case continues. It is an important step toward restoring parents’ right to know what is happening in their children’s lives and to provide the best care and guidance possible.

For years, activists have pushed policies allowing schools to socially transition a child’s gender identity without a parent’s knowledge or consent. In some cases, school officials were encouraged to keep parents in the dark.

This begs a simple but important question: Whose kids are they?

At Family Policy Alliance, we have been advocating for parental rights for years alongside our nationwide network of Family Policy Councils.

Hear directly from the team at California Family Council (CFC) about this victory in our latest podcast with Jonathan Keller, president and CEO of CFC in our latest SoCon Report podcast:

Parents should never be excluded from major decisions affecting their children’s lives. This week’s decision is an encouraging step forward for families. But the fight is far from over. Similar policies are being pushed in other states.

That is why we remain committed to protecting children and strengthening parental authority.

Through efforts like our Let Parents Parent initiative, we are equipping parents and advancing policies that protect children, including efforts to shield kids from harmful content online.

Parents are a child’s first teachers, protectors, and advocates. Government should never replace them. Together, we will keep standing for families.

With Gratitude,

John Paulton,
Senior Vice President, State Alliances

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In this week’s episode of The SoCon Report, Craig DeRoche sits down with Gideon Israel, founder and president of the ​Jerusalem-Washington Center​, to discuss the history, faith and legislation surrounding a region most Americans know as the “West Bank.”

Gideon explains why many believe the using historically and biblically rooted name “Judea and Samaria” matters — not just for history, but for public policy today.

Watch and hear:

• How a 2024 National Religious Broadcasters resolution sparked federal and state legislation
• Which state has already passed a law recognizing “Judea and Samaria” in official communications
• Where bipartisan momentum is building
• Why language matters in public policy, faith and international relations

But this goes deeper than legislation.

Craig shares what it meant to stand at Joshua’s altar in Samaria — where Israel renewed its covenant before God — and how ​America Reads the Bible​ reflects a renewed commitment to return our nation back to Scripture.

This conversation weaves together Scripture, history and public policy in a way that may surprise you.

If you care about Israel, watch and:

• Pray for Israel, its leaders and military, and for wisdom for American leaders.
• Engage locally by contacting your state legislators and connecting with your ​Family Policy Council​.
• Share this episode with your church, family and community.

Watch the full episode and stand for truth — in prayer and in action.

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• LISTEN to the audio podcast.
• VIEW and SUBSCRIBE to our family of podcasts.

To stay up to date on how you can advance biblical values through civic engagement, follow us on social media!

It’s actually ultimately about God. Let me explain why. 

Scripture tells us in Genesis 1:27 that God created male and female – both in His image. That distinction is not accidental. It reflects God’s wisdom and intentional design. 

Women’s sports are a reflection of that. The way women’s bodies are designed and their ability to compete differs from men and that is something to be protected and celebrated. 

To protect it means championing fairness. 

The fact is that men and women are different — and those differences matter greatly in competition. 

As a former female competitive swimmer and ballet dancer, I cannot imagine the deep sense of injustice felt having to compete against a man who is physically stronger and feeling like all your hard work and dedication went to waste. You are left feeling unappreciated and cheated. 

When we erase the distinctions between men and women, it’s not progress. It’s loss, and worse yet, rebellion against our natural order. 

This is not only about young girls losing podium spots – although that is enough of a loss. But ultimately is comes back to the erasing of women in society. 

Fairness is a form of respect. And when we refuse to defend fairness, we communicate something deeper — that women’s unique design can be overlooked. 

This Is About Reality — and Dignity 

At the heart of this issue is a bigger cultural question: What does it mean to be male or female? 

As aforementioned, both are created in the image of God. Both are necessary and valuable. 

Although men and women are equal in value, we are not interchangeable, however, and that is the whole point. 

Our bodies are not meaningless. They tell a story about who we are and how we were purposed on this earth. 

When we deny biological reality, we don’t elevate humanity — we untether it. And the sad part is that women are often the first to bear the cost. 

Protecting women’s sports is not about exclusion. It is about honoring the created differences that make fairness possible in the first place. 

Compassion and Courage 

This conversation requires both compassion and courage. 

Compassion, because every person bears God’s image and deserves dignity. 

Courage, because truth still matters — even when it’s unpopular. 

We can treat people with kindness while also protecting spaces designed specifically for women. Those two commitments are not in conflict. 

In fact, defending fairness for women is itself an act of love — for daughters, for future athletes, and for a generation that deserves clarity, not confusion. 

The Real Battle 

Women’s sports may be where this battle is visible. 

But the deeper issue is this: 

Will we respect women enough to protect what was created for them? 

And will we trust that God’s design for humanity is good? 

As we seek to Save Girls’ Sports, it is an act of ministry and worship to our Creator. 

It is not political, but spiritual. 

It is about our witness as followers of Christ. 

We are affirming that women — the way God made them — are worth defending. 

Join us today as we work to protect girls’ sports and ultimately, God’s design. 

Written by Grace Youngson

What does it look like when Christians actually show up?

In this week’s episode of The SoCon Report, Craig DeRoche sits down with Bunni Pounds, President and Founder of Christians Engaged, to talk about how Christians Engaged is serving more than one million Christians through its pray, vote, engage voter mobilization system and why those Christians are showing up at the polls in unexpectedly high numbers.

The conversation also looks ahead to America’s 250th birthday and a bold national moment called America Reads the Bible, a seven-day public reading of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation at the Museum of the Bible, streamed live across the country.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How a biblical worldview shapes civic engagement
• Why Christian voter turnout changes when people are equipped and engaged
• Why Scripture, not politics, is at the center of America Reads the Bible

Bunni also shares the heart behind her upcoming book, Stepping Up to Lead: Rebuilding a Nation in the Footsteps of Nehemiah, and why biblical leadership matters right now.

Watch the full conversation to learn how you can take part.

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• LISTEN to the audio podcast.
• VIEW and SUBSCRIBE to our family of podcasts.

To stay up to date on how you can advance biblical values through civic engagement, follow us on social media!

What does it look like when a culture stops taking marriage seriously? 

In this week’s episode of The SoCon Report, Craig DeRoche is joined by Carl Caton, president of the National Marriage Initiative, and Katie MacLeod, family policy director for the Marriage Initiative, during National Marriage Week to talk about why marriage remains one of the strongest predictors of stability for children, families, and communities. 

The conversation explores how decades of policy decisions reshaped marriage in America, why states are beginning to rethink those choices, and what research shows about the role marriage plays in reducing poverty and strengthening families. 

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• Why marriage is being revisited as a serious public policy issue 

• What the “Success Sequence” is and why it matters for young people 

• How National Marriage Week is mobilizing churches and communities 

• Why shared purpose is essential to lasting marriage 

Craig also shares his personal story of addiction, marital struggles and restoration, and why marriage requires humility, commitment, and intentional work. 

Watch the full conversation to learn why marriage still matters for the future of America. 

• WATCH on YouTube, Spotify, iHeart or Apple Podcasts
• LISTEN to the audio podcast.
• VIEW and SUBSCRIBE to our family of podcasts.

To stay up to date on how you can advance biblical values through civic engagement, follow us on social media!

The battle for marriage isn’t over. 

This week, Family Policy Alliance joined dozens of state and national organizations in support of the Greater Than campaign, a unified effort to advance true marriage as God designed it and to put children’s needs ahead of adult desires. 

When Dr. James Dobson founded Family Policy Alliance in 2004, the protection of marriage was front and center. Within weeks of our founding, we were convening state leaders across the country to preserve marriage in their states. Those efforts were overwhelmingly successful, with Marriage Protection Amendments passing in more than 30 states. 

But in 2015, the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision disregarded the will of voters and redefined marriage nationwide. 

In the decade since, the consequences have become clear. When marriage is redefined around adult desires rather than child well-being, children are the ones who suffer. Marriage exists not simply to affirm adult relationships, but to provide children the stable, life-giving union of a mother and a father whenever possible. 

That belief is at the heart of the Greater Than campaign. Led by Them Before Us, the coalition affirms that children’s needs are greater than adult desires and that the law should once again reflect this truth. 

Family Policy Alliance is proud to serve as a national ally in the Greater Than movement, standing alongside partner organizations like Them Before Us, Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, and American Family Association. In addition, many of our state Family Policy Councils are engaged as state allies, advancing this work across the country. 

God’s design for marriage is enduring. And Family Policy Alliance remains as committed to defending it today as we were the day we launched. 

Will you stand with us? 

Learn More About the Greater Than Campaign

For families, 

John Paulton

Senior Vice President, State Alliances
Family Policy Alliance 

Today, on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, we celebrate the strength, discipline, and achievements of female athletes across the country and reflect on a pivotal moment for women’s sports.

Just a few weeks ago, our work with our Family Policy Councils (FPCs) brought us to a pivotal moment, as we stood together at the U.S. Supreme Court while the Justices heard cases that will shape the future of women’s sports nationwide.

One of these FPCs, Texas Values, took time to speak with our Vice President of Government Affairs, Dylan Jeremiah. Watch here:

As early as 2016, long before this issue gained national attention, Family Policy Alliance began raising concerns about fairness in women’s sports. At the time, only a few states were beginning to address the issue, but we knew the stakes for female athletes were too high to ignore.

That early leadership led to historic action. In 2020, Family Policy Alliance helped lead the charge to pass the first Save Women’s Sports law in the nation in Idaho. That victory sparked a nationwide movement.

Through the #SaveGirlsSports campaign and coalition calls with FPC leaders and Statesmen Academy® alumni, we elevated the issue nationwide. FPCs carried the work forward on the ground, with Statesmen Academy alumni frequently leading as bill sponsors.

From early advocacy to landmark legislation—and now the highest court in the land—Family Policy Alliance remains committed to defending fairness, opportunity, and truth for women and girls like Riley Gaines, whom we were able to interview at the Supreme Court:

If you believe women’s sports are worth protecting, we invite you to stand with us. Your support equips state leaders, amplifies courageous voices, and ensures female athletes have a future built on fairness.

Visit our Save Girls’ Sports resource page to learn more, and please consider making a gift to support this vital work.

Thank you for standing with us.

For Women and Girls,

Aubrey Grasz,
Communications Director

Dear Friend,

During National School Choice Week, we were encouraged by how our ongoing work for families is being reflected in national conversations.

This week, our team was honored to join the Administration at a School Choice Week roundtable at the White House alongside Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and other key leaders. The conversation was encouraging and underscored a shared commitment to empowering families through education freedom.

That momentum builds on important progress already underway. Last year, Family Policy Alliance was proud to have played a pivotal role in securing the school choice tax credit in the One Big Beautiful Bill. This important policy victory expanded educational opportunity and put parents back in the driver’s seat when it comes to their children’s education.

We could not have achieved this without the dedication of our 40 Family Policy Councils working across the nation. Their leadership and persistence made this progress possible.

Watch a short recap from our time at the White House, as I share why this moment matters for parents, students, and communities nationwide.

As we reflect on this progress, we invite you to pray with us. Pray for wisdom for our leaders, for families seeking the best education options for their children, and for continued momentum in advancing educational freedom.

Thank you for standing with Family Policy Alliance.

For Families,

Craig DeRoche
President & CEO

Dear Friend,

Last week, Family Policy Alliance was honored to join hundreds of thousands of Americans from across the country in Washington, D.C., for the March for Life —standing together for the truth that every life is precious. Our team marched alongside families, students, and pastors and connected with state Family Policy Council leaders advancing a culture of life in their communities.

We were encouraged by remarks from Vice President J.D. Vance and March for Life President Jennie Bradley Lichter, who called on Americans to remain faithful and courageous in defending life.

We also listened to powerful personal stories like that of Ren, a young woman who attended the March because her mother chose life at just 18 years old. Her story is a beautiful reminder of the lasting impact of choosing life:

These conversations reinforced that real change happens when faith, policy, and conviction come together.

That’s why Family Policy Alliance is working year-round to advance life-affirming policy solutions like the RESTORE Act, drafted by our friends at the Heritage Foundation and endorsed by FPA. The Act expands women’s access to comprehensive, life-affirming care that supports healthy pregnancies.

Arkansas State Representative Alyssa Brown, a graduate of our Statesmen Academy®, courageously ​sponsored the first state version of the Act, enacted in Arkansas in 2025​.

As you reflect on this moment, we invite you to pray with us — and join us. Pray for hearts to be changed on the issue of life and for our nation to embrace a culture that values every person, no matter how small. ​Check out our After Roe resources​ and join us in saving lives.

For Life,

Aubrey Grasz
Communications Director