Oil, Power, and Tyrants: The Real Motive Behind the Venezuela Raid
Release Date: 01/08/2026
Alex Pretti’s Killing and Not Letting Rage Win
The Esau McCaulley Podcast
The killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis has become another moment where violence, misinformation, and political certainty collide. As video evidence contradicts official narratives, Esau, Malcolm Foley, and Mike wrestle with what this death reveals about power, propaganda, and the erosion of public trust. Then the three discuss Esau's recent article for the New York Times to ask a harder question: how do Christians name injustice without being consumed by rage? What does faithful witness look like when anger feels justified but spiritually dangerous? 0:00 - Theme...
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Greenland, Druski, and Why the Church Keeps Getting Roasted
The Esau McCaulley Podcast
Greenland is suddenly back on the menu of American foreign policy, raising real questions about conquest, NATO, and whether Christians can ever justify taking land that isn’t theirs. Then, J. Cole’s fear of “the fall off” becomes a window into ambition, calling, and the strange psychology of decline. And when Druski lampoons megachurch culture, it forces an uncomfortable look at why the church keeps becoming an easy punchline, and how Christians should respond when they are the butt of the joke. Plus, will Instagram be the thing that finally tears apart Esau and Mike? 0:00 -...
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ICE, the Fed, and How Power Bends the Truth
The Esau McCaulley Podcast
New footage and reporting about the Minneapolis ICE shooting of Renée Good have complicated the story. Esau, Mike and Taelor Gray revisit the incident one week later and ask how political power shapes the narratives we’re given, and what it means for Christians to tell the truth when the truth is inconvenient. Then, they turn to the surprising posthumous “ordination” of DMX and consider what it reveals about the nature of pastoral ministry, proximity, and presence in an age obsessed with platforms. 0:00 - Theme Song 2:25 - Wall Street Journal Complains About Sushi for Kids...
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The ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
The Esau McCaulley Podcast
A woman is dead in Minneapolis after an encounter with ICE. Esau McCaulley, Justin Giboney, Malcolm Foley, and producer Mike sort through what we know so far, what the law actually says about deadly force and compliance, and how Christians should think about state power and the value of a human life. The conversation wrestles with fear, responsibility, split second decisions, and the narratives forming around the shooting long before the facts are settled.
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Oil, Power, and Tyrants: The Real Motive Behind the Venezuela Raid
The Esau McCaulley Podcast
The fall of a dictator feels like good news, but what if the motive matters as much as the outcome? Esau, Mike, and Sho Baraka dig into the Venezuela raid through the lens of just war theory, Trump’s own comments, and the broader unseriousness of the administration. Then Sho reflects on his recent writing about AI and efficiency, asking where the line is between using new technology wisely and setting boundaries for the sake of rest, imagination, and what it means to be human. 0:00 - Theme Song 2:35 - Hard Classes That Mattered 8:03 - Venezuela 22:30 - The Donroe...
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The Problems with Medically Assisted Suicide
The Esau McCaulley Podcast
Medically assisted suicide is on the rise in Canada, and it’s no longer limited to those who are terminally ill. Esau, Malcolm, and Mike examine what this shift reveals about modern assumptions around autonomy, dignity, and choice, and how Christian convictions about suffering and care for the vulnerable complicate the logic behind assisted dying policies. Also, after Travis Kelce recently claimed that he and Taylor Swift have never fought, the team asks whether conflict-free marriage is actually a sign of health. They explore why disagreement can be formative rather than destructive, and...
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66 Verses To Explain the Bible: Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua
The Esau McCaulley Podcast
No new episode this week, but here are three more episodes of the HP+ exclusive series, 66 Verse to Explain the Bible. We'll be back next week with Malcolm Foley for a brand new episode. Merry Christmas! 0:00 - Producer Mike's Discount Code Challenge 2:40 - Theme Song 2:45 - Numbers 7:05 - Deuteronomy 14:30 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide! 15:25 - Joshua 22:42 - End Credits
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Trump’s Failure of Empathy & What Knives Out Gets Right About Christianity
The Esau McCaulley Podcast
In the wake of the tragic murder of Rob and Michele Reiner, Trump’s response on Truth Social reveals a striking lack of empathy. Esau, Mike, and Justin Giboney reflect on how his reaction once again exposes a failure of compassion at the highest level of leadership. Then the conversation turns to Wake Up Dead Man, the latest film in the Knives Out franchise, which unexpectedly offers a sharp and thoughtful portrayal of Christianity in America. What does the movie get right about sin, confession, and grace, and could it be one of the most theologically insightful secular...
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Are We in the End Times? Live From Boston!
The Esau McCaulley Podcast
Esau is live in Boston with producer Mike and Dr. Amy Peeler for a conversation on whether today’s chaos means we’re living in the end times. Amy and Esau talk about how Christians should think about apocalyptic anxiety, why every generation believes it’s the generation, and what Scripture actually gives us—hope, perseverance, and a call to faithfulness. Then, Amy and Esau talk about how they manage being a scholar and a pastor, past regrets they have, and Amy's former life as a tv commercial star. Q&A Bonus Segment on Holy Post Plus: 0:00 - Theme Song ...
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Trump Attacks Immigrants (again), Myths About Black Violence, and the Purpose of Marriage
The Esau McCaulley Podcast
Trump’s latest comments on immigration turn a single tragic incident into a sweeping indictment of entire communities. Esau, Malcolm, and Mike examine why some crimes are framed as isolated events while others are weaponized to justify exclusion. They then dig into new research on crime shows that consistently misrepresent Black communities as dangerous, exploring how entertainment shapes public fear and reinforces old myths that refuse to die. Finally, a surprising essay about “good divorces” sparks a deeper conversation about the purpose of marriage, the kind of love Christian marriage...
info_outlineThe fall of a dictator feels like good news, but what if the motive matters as much as the outcome? Esau, Mike, and Sho Baraka dig into the Venezuela raid through the lens of just war theory, Trump’s own comments, and the broader unseriousness of the administration. Then Sho reflects on his recent writing about AI and efficiency, asking where the line is between using new technology wisely and setting boundaries for the sake of rest, imagination, and what it means to be human.
0:00 - Theme Song
2:35 - Hard Classes That Mattered
8:03 - Venezuela
22:30 - The Donroe Doctrine
30:10 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide!
31:08 - AI and Utilitarianism
50:39 - End Credits
Sho Baraka’s Music: https://www.shobaraka.com/