News & Events

Aaron Gulbransen Talks About Local Election Night Results with Aaron Spradlin of Mission America Foundation
Live from Music Row Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – official guest host Aaron Gulbransen welcomed the Co-Founder of Mission America Foundation Aaron Spradlin in studio to review some of last night’s local election results.
Gulbransen: In studio, we have the chair of the Mission America Foundation, Aaron Spradlin. Also, the man, if you want any sort of protection and security services, here you go. How are you doing today? Spradlin: I am well, thank you. Gulbransen: Did you get any sleep last night? Spradlin: It was short. It was very short. I think I left the last election deal right at midnight. And here we are. Gulbransen: And here we are at 6:00 a.m. I know you probably didn’t get up at three as I did, but no, still we’re at 6:00 a.m.. So I have a really burning question to ask you. Spradlin: That was loaded. Gulbransen: Is Twitter real life? Spradlin: No. Gulbransen: And my joke on that, of course, is actually really not a joke. I think Robby Starbuck found that out yesterday. I think Robby Starbuck, if he was being honest with himself, found that out several times during this whole process. And yes, no spoiler alert, everybody. The write-in candidate didn’t win the 5th Congressional District primary. Were there any observations you had about any of the races last night before we get into some other things? Spradlin: The one that was being watched the most for me was Jack and how close that surprisingly was. Gulbransen: About three points, right? Spradlin: Yes. But that was the one I was really focused on. One, that’s my district, and besides the Fifth, that’s all I was really watching. Except for my boy Jake over at 63. Gulbransen: Yes. He beat Jake McCallum, beat Laurie Cardoza-Moore by almost five points, about four and a half points I’m looking at right now, based on the results that I am seeing. I think the deciding factor in this race, I say tongue in cheek, is Jack Johnson never did 20-minute videos on his Instagram wearing eyeliner. Spradlin: Correct. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jack and eyeliner. (Gulbransen laughs) Wow. Gulbransen: It’s 6:09 am here on The Tennessee Star Report. We’re throwing bombs today. It’s the day after Election Day, and we’re just having a good time telling jokes. So there you go. Spradlin: Doesn’t it kind of feel a little bit lighter today? Gulbransen: It really does. Spradlin: I mean, after the nine-person circus and all the battle, it feels really good to take a breath and get ready for the general election. Gulbransen: And this is the nice part of living in a conservative state because the general in most of these races is a foreground conclusion. And regardless of what happens, I don’t have to stress anymore. I don’t have to spend every day going, what am I going to do about this race? I’m going to obviously cover what goes on, but what I anticipate over the next several months is going, what did the Democrats say today that was socialist and leftist and stupid on Twitter or whatever? Spradlin: Right. Gulbransen: And then, of course, I don’t know if you’ve heard this when you were driving in, but in the 52nd state rep district and this guy is going to provide a lot of fodder, Justin Jones, who is a Marxist leftist Black Lives Matter terrorist, he is the Democrat nominee. Spradlin: We’ve had lots of dealings with him in our protection firm. Gulbransen: You all probably were assigned to make sure he didn’t get in the building when he was banned for it I imagine. Spradlin: We had the chance to walk him out when Lindsey Graham and Marsha did their event a couple of years ago and made all of the national news for that one. Gulbransen: One of the many things, and if you’re wondering why I’m so passionate about this, I said to the audience before I lived two blocks away from his Astroturfed sit-in, but also, frankly, cursed my wife out. Spradlin: Absolutely not. Gulbransen: He acts like he’s the social justice warrior, but when the camera is not on, he is demeaning to women. I saw it personally. I have it on video. Don’t curse out my wife. Please don’t. So anyway, there’s Justin Jones, your social justice crazy, leftist Democrat nominee in the 52nd House district. We’re running short of time in this segment. But we’re getting into the Guard issue a little more and what you’re doing to help the National Guardsmen in the next segment. Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510. Listen online at iHeart Radio.
Article originally appeared in The Tennessee Star on August 5, 2022.
Aaron Gulbransen: This is Aaron Gulbransen in for Michael Patrick Leahy who will be back with you on Monday, so you only have to bear with my for a couple more hours. It’s about 6:18 on a lovely Friday. Happy Friday everybody as we’re heading into the weekend. I hope everybody gets to enjoy the Williamson County State Fair that’s coming up. My wife and I are going there, so we’re going to have little bit of fun. Aaron Gulbransen: In the studio we have as I’m joking today its A squared, we have Aaron Spradlin in the studio with us of Mission America Foundation. Aaron does the Lord’s work on human trafficking with the Mission America Foundation, but he is also doing the Lord’s work on helping out Tennessee National Guard Members, who are losing their jobs over the Covid Vaccine Mandate. I want you to talk about that a little bit Aaron. Aaron Spradlin: You said we were going to go to that in this session, and just as I was looking at one of my emails, I was looking at some of the years that some of the people who are being booted have. You have Master Sergeants, you have Chief Warrant Officers, you have Majors. It takes time to get to those ranks. So it means the time those men and women have spent probably at least 2 trips to the desert to fight for their country and now their country is letting them down. So, what we’re doing is work with leadership in the Assembly to possibly figure out a route to pause this. But also to try to supplement some of the lost income that they’ll have to endure, some pensions, these people have dedicated their lives to fighting for their country and they’re being let down. So we’re going to do our best to try to assist them. Aaron Gulbransen: If people want to help out, what’s your website? Aaron Spradlin: www.missionamericafoundation.com and www.missionemericafoundation.org. Aaron Gulbransen: Oh you got both of those there, that’s www.missionamericafoundation.com or www.missionemericafoundation.org. So there you go. If you want to help out Tennessee National Guard members who are losing their jobs, and if that’s not your cause, then you can also certainly support the work that Mission America does to combat human and child trafficking. But that’s www.missionamericafoundation.com. Aaron Gulbransen: So, you have been having a lot of conversations with people on this subject, as am I. I have talked to and the general assembly appears to be be ready to do something. Especially now that we’re through the primary cycle, now it’s time to do the work. Aaron Gulbransen: Did you hear about what I was talking about before, this injured soldier who was on his way out, he was being out processed, and they are still forcing him to do it. It was heartbreaking at the end, the last thing he said to me was—they’re still trying to get him to get the second one after he got vaccine injured—was, “I don’t know what to do. I’ll probably get it. It’ll probably kill me. I don’t know what to do.” Because he doesn’t want to lose his, he’s got 6 kids to feed. This is someone I will introduce to you by the way. This is definitely somebody you need to talk to. What do you think the next steps are on this? Aaron Spradlin: Well, first of all, we need to meet with leadership, and we got to see what the state can do to get in the gap, we got to see if the Attorney General can possibly help us to hopefully get a judge to give us a stay, to get through November. To have the General take back power at least in two different places that we’ve been lost for too long already and put a stop to this. It’s interesting, coming from my background, when you go through basic training you walk through a line of shots, but you know you’re taking them, right? Aaron Gulbransen: Right. Aaron Spradlin: If there’s something that you have to take that is experimental, you have to sign off. Aaron Gulbransen: Right. Aaron Spradlin: Alright so, as we know this is not a vaccine. This is not making you combat effective, like say for instance an Anthrax dose was in the day of that. And I mean that came with its own problems, but it made you combat effective. Aaron Gulbransen: Right. Aaron Spradlin: If you were going into a place where Anthrax was being used, your survivability is a little bit better—I’m sure that down the road that will all come back to be horrible. But, the point being you knew what you were signing up for to make you more combat effective and keep you alive in a battle zone. This is you know, just throw stuff together, put it in a vile and stick it in your arm. It’s not making you combat effective and as you’ve seen with the gentlemen you’re talking about, taking him down the totally opposite road. Aaron Gulbransen: Yeah. Aaron Spradlin: That affect will be with him for life unfortunately, but I think there’s also a way that these soldiers can be represented with the proper legal guidance. In his case, he’s injured, they’re probably going to throw a dishonorable on him because of the fact that he refuses it. And he probably has experience that makes him worthy of an honorable discharge and its a shame, its just all been a great disappointment to leadership, from sec-def down, but that’s expected with this one. Aaron Gulbransen: And I’m still trying to figure this one out, I mean obviously we can get the blanket statement that the government wants to control people and all these pharmaceutical companies are making their money, but it boggles my mind when you have a situation like this, or in general over the mandate, how you’re forcing these people to get it. Why at this point, when even the Democrats and the Leftists would admit that it’s not going to stop you from getting Covid—and its certainly not going to stop you from spreading Covid—I don’t understand why is it still in effect. Aaron Spradlin: Right. I don’t either. I mean we’re looking at right now the current person that lives in the White House, he’s on his rebound, I think he’s had every booster you can have and he’s still in isolation, because he can’t come out into the world even though he’s super-vaxxed. Aaron Gulbransen: Right. I mean he’s also probably in isolation for a while because they don’t want him to talk to the press for a bit. So there is that. Of course, referring to former Vice President Joe Biden. So, I steal that line from Steven Crowder by the way, former Vice President Joe Biden. Steven Crowder also likes to refer to Kamala Harris as the actual president of the United States, which is pretty funny. I think in my opinion, probably Susan Rice is, but again if you want to help out National Guard Members, go to MissionAmericaFoundation.com or missionamericafoundation.org. This is a really important cause, I was trying to not use the term mission, but it’s a really important mission that Aaron Spradlin is on to help the Guardsmen. Aaron Gulbransen: This is a theory here, but to turn this issue to politics for a little bit, I think Kurt Winstead cost himself a lot of votes by not engaging on this issue, and just following Governor Lee’s lead on it. Aaron Spradlin: I agree with that 100 percent. When you are the man, your job is to take care of your people. Whether you’re retired or not. In this particular case, if you’re running for as many months as he was touting being a great leader and what he’s going to do. Well, who are you leading if you’re not leading the people that are the reason that you have the star. I have always been very loud about this. We trained young kids coming out of West Point when I was still in. You are propped up by your soldiers, they’re the ones that make you great. And he knows that, but he played a line that I didn’t ever know anything of this until this. I wouldn’t want to go into battle with him. Aaron Gulbransen: Well I think he is an attorney that’s what I mean when I say this. But I think the next battle he’ll be in is a courtroom representing a client, but it was one of the things where when we were seeking comment on the National Guard firings issue. I actually anticipated that this was something he could seize upon this with his campaign and it shocked the daylights out of me that he didn’t even take a political position that was in his own best interest. Aaron Spradlin: Right. Aaron Gulbransen: He was just very callous about it and ignored it. It was very odd to me. I think he wound up with 22% of the vote is what I’m looking at here. Yeah, that’s right. So he did come in 3rd place. When all is said and done, it looks like he spent 800 grand out of his own pocket, just to come in third. Aaron Spradlin: …to lose. Aaron Gulbransen: This is Aaron Gulbransen and he is Aaron Spradlin. We’re Aaron squared today, its 6:27 in the morning here on Friday on the Tennessee Star Report, we’ll be back after the break.


By: Aaron Gulbransen NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Tennessee National Guard soldiers and several state legislators held a “Guard Freedom” event at Legislative Plaza right in front of the state capitol asking Governor Bill Lee to intervene on behalf of the soldiers who are about to lose their jobs over noncompliance with a COVID-19 mandate. The National Guard soldiers who spoke and attended the event were off duty and spoke as private citizens, not on behalf of any government entity. Their ranks were stated for identification purposes only. Captain Mickey Shelton, who has been unofficially speaking for his fellow soldiers that are soon to be unemployed unless the governor acts, said in part, “I think we’re asking ourselves, what now? Reagan had said that it’s not the federal government that creates states, it is states that created the federal government. Where has our state sovereignty gone? So with that said, we have three requests.” Shelton then listed those requests. “The first request of the governor: publicly condemn the firings of the National Guard members who are scheduled to be terminated due to the refusal of the COVID-19 vaccine and pledge to do everything in your power to help those members,” he said. “Two, immediately order Major General Holmes to halt the discharge of these honorable men and women.” “Three, ask Attorney General Herb Slatery to file suit on behalf of the Tennessee National Guard members and coordinate with other state AGs to file an emergency injunction against the Department of Defense, forcing them to reverse adverse actions against any National Guardsman for refusal to vaccinate,” added the captain. In addition to Shelton, other guardsmen who spoke included Captain Donald Eli and Major Clint Cannon. State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver (R-Lancaster) sang the national anthem and spoke as well, challenging Lee and Slatery to take action to help the soldiers who are about to lose their jobs. “We are here today to ask our governor to draw a line in the sand. We are asking him and the attorney general to be the defense of the people and to stand up for the people who we are here standing with – who would stand with us in civil unrest, in natural disasters – would be there and show up on the job,” Weaver said. “Governor, I ask you to step up to the plate. One has to wonder, what is the gig here?” she added. “Do the right thing, Governor Lee. We’re counting on you,” Weaver said. The other members of the General Assembly who presented speeches of support for the guardsmen included State Representatives John Ragan, Jerry Sexton, Justin Lafferty, David Byrd, and Chris Todd. State Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma) gave a fiery speech. “When a person tries to give mandates to the people, that is called tyranny, not the Republic of the United States of America. The truth will set you free and we need to call it what it is,” she said. “In the Tenth Amendment, we hold all of the things to us that are not expressly given to the federal government. Nobody in America, even the FDA rule and the Nuremburg Code, can force an American citizen to take an experimental shot through coercion. It is basically fundamentally a crime to do that,” Bowling added. State Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) was in attendance to support the guardsmen but humbly didn’t ask to speak. He attended to show the guardsmen his support. Pastor Doug Robertson, the executive minister of Harpeth Christian Church, kicked things off with a prayer. Chad Randall, the president of the Tennessee Republican Assembly, graciously provided audio equipment and a podium. The master of ceremonies for the event was Mission America Foundation Chairman Aaron Spradlin. Spradlin said at the beginning of the event, “We are here to urge Governor Bill Lee to stand in the gap between the overreaching federal government and the loyalty and commitment of our warriors who swore to protect and defend the very Constitution that is being infringed upon – stealing their rights and attempting to end their service to our great nation by stealing their right to choose.” The National Guard members received a letter in May, which said in part, “Unless otherwise fully exempted in accordance with Department of the Army policy, all members of the National Guard must be fully vaccinated by 30 June 2022.”
Mission America Chairman Aaron Spradlin Featured in "The Tennessee Star" Rallying Support for the Rights of Tennessee National Guardsmen
Thank you to The Tennessee Star for featuring Mission America Foundation Founder and CEO, Aaron Spradlin.
As the master of ceremonies at an event rallying support to prevent our Tennessee National Guardsmen from being suspended or fired because of mandated vaccination, Aaron was quoted saying:
“We are here to urge Governor Bill Lee to stand in the gap between the overreaching federal government and the loyalty and commitment of our warriors who swore to protect and defend the very Constitution that is being infringed upon – stealing their rights and attempting to end their service to our great nation by stealing their right to choose.”
Below is the full article that originally appeared in The Tennessee Star on June 30, 2022.
Tennessee National Guard Soldiers and State Legislators Ask Governor Lee to Intervene at Public Event

Keeping the Faith and Fueling the Fight
Even though Mission America Foundation Chairman and CEO, Aaron Spradlin, and his team have gone on countless missions—often to the most dilapidated of areas witnessing the darkest side of mankind—he isn’t disheartened. Instead, it fuels his fight.
Aaron and his teams go where the need is greatest. Whether the mission requires them to rescue victims of a hurricane in Haiti, the war in Ukraine, or floods in Houston and Nashville, moments like the one captured above on a recent trip, are the ones that keep him going.

CEO of Mission America Foundation, Aaron Spradlin, Speaks To Tennessee Candidates and Constituents about Two Vital Causes
Just before the May 3, 2022 primary, our Chairman and CEO, Aaron Spradlin, spoke to the wise women of the Republican Women of Williamson County.
While the annual event and fundraiser, “Just Desserts,” was a chance to get to know the candidates, Aaron ensured that voters were made aware of two vital injustices affecting every town in the nation, not just the towns in Williamson County: ending the heinous acts of human trafficking and the negligence and lack of support for veterans and active military members and their families.
Thank you for allowing Mission America Foundation to share the stage at your event.

PICTURED: Eve Cantrell (center) with members of the RWOWC (Republican Women of Williamson County

Mission America Foundation Recognized by Tennessee State House of Representatives and Senators
We’re proud to announce that our Founder and CEO, Aaron Spradlin, was recently honored at the state capitol.
Upwards of 80 Tennessee State House of Representatives and over 25 Tennessee State Senators voted in favor of Mission America Foundation’s work to provide intelligence to law enforcement agencies across Tennessee that will help aid in prosecuting domestic human traffickers.
Thank you for your support and thank you to Tennessee State Representative Rusty Briggs for sponsoring this Honorary Joint Resolution.


Mission America Foundation at Mix & Mingle Event
Thank you to the Williamson County Republican Party, for your support for Mission America Foundation and inviting us to present at your recent “Mix and Mingle” event.
Every town in Tennessee needs to know how critical the need is to end trafficking and champion causes that assist our nation’s veterans, active duty military, and their families.
Your help and involvement truly helps us spread the word.