665: Can Democrats Win Back Religious Voters? with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
The Holy Post
It’s Holy Week, and an article in the New York Times argues that Palm Sunday wasn’t a worship procession; it was a protest march. With that theme in mind, Christians held peaceful rallies over the weekend in Philadelphia and San Diego to protest inhumane immigration enforcement policies, including the order allowing government agents into churches during worship gatherings to arrest people. Skye talks to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) about how her faith informs her politics, what lessons the Democrats have learned from their losses in 2024, and why more religious Americans view her...
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664: An Atheist Says America Needs Jesus with Jonathan Rauch
The Holy Post
Donald Trump launched a global trade war because he thinks America’s trade deficit makes us “losers,” but does he even understand what a trade deficit is? Phil introduces a new segment full of statistics that make Kaitlyn and Skye groan. And they discuss David Brooks’ new article in The Atlantic, which compares this moment in U.S. history to the era of Andrew Jackson, and offers hope for what may come after MAGA. Skye interviews Jonathan Rauch about his new book, “Cross Purposes.” Rauch, an atheist, says his antagonism toward Christianity changed when he came to see how vital it is...
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663: Snow White, Scarcity, & Why Immigration is Pro-Life and Bri Stensrud
The Holy Post
Disney’s new live-action remake of Snow White has been a disaster with people on all sides of the political divide and culture wars finding something to hate about the film, but could it also be full of important Christian theology? Phil and Skye are joined by Mike Erre to examine the biblical theme of abundance versus scarcity, how it applies to Christians, and why so many evangelicals have accepted a zero-sum vision that is contrary to the kingdom of God. Kaitlyn Schiess interviews Bri Stensrud, director of Women of Welcome, about her journey from being a pro-life advocate to also being...
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French Friday: Now Only on The SkyePod
The Holy Post
French Friday is now only available on The SkyePod! Follow The SkyePod now on your podcast streaming platform of choice for full episodes of French Friday every month:
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662: Why Nazi Comparisons Don't Help & Hosting Cultural Conversations and Lee C. Camp
The Holy Post
It’s become popular to compare our current political moment with the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany in the 1930s, but what if the better comparison is Germany in the 1920s? A new article by Paul Miller argues that to avoid the rise of authoritarianism, Christian in the United States should do the hard work now of creating an alternative political narrative rather than the easy work of demonizing one side or the other as “Nazis.” Skye talks to Lee Camp, the creator and host of “No Small Endeavor,” about creating spaces for diverse people to have important conversations and why fear...
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661: Non-Cringy Christian Media & the Nicene Creed and Glenn Packiam
The Holy Post
A new slate of Christian movies and television shows is managing to draw both acclaim from critics and the attention of non-believers. Are the days of cringy Christian media finally behind us? Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss the impact of “The Chosen” and the new Amazon series, “House of David.” What do these shows get right that so many past faith-based projects got wrong? The Oscar-winning documentary, “No Other Land,” cannot find a distributor in the U.S. because critics say it’s antisemitic, but Phil managed to watch it anyway. He offers his take on the movie, why it’s...
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660: Following Christ in “Negative World” and Charlie Peacock
The Holy Post
With declining church attendance and shifting values, there’s no denying that our culture’s posture toward Christianity has changed. Some say America is now “post-Christian,” but author Aaron Renn believes it is downright “anti-Christian.” In a recent NY Times profile, Renn explains why he thinks Christianity now occupies a “negative world,” and why the winsome approach of leaders like Tim Keller should be abandoned for more aggressive tactics. Then, Phil talks with legendary musician, songwriter, and producer Charlie Peacock about his new memoir, “Roots in Rhythm: A Life in...
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659: The Root of Racism is Greed Not Hate with Malcolm Foley
The Holy Post
After a made-for-T.V. meltdown in the Oval Office between President Trump and President Zelensky of Ukraine, the administration cut all military aid to Ukraine and sided with Russia instead. Will this cause some evangelicals to rethink their support for Trump, and if so where will they go? Two popular Christian books are saying that empathy is manipulative at best, or downright sinful at worst. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn examine their arguments. Most Christians probably believe that racism is rooted in hate or ignorance, but historian Malcolm Foley says it’s really all about greed. Until...
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French Friday: A Unified Theory of Trump
The Holy Post
In his first month in office, Donald Trump has broken international agreements with allies, ended all foreign aid, voted with America's enemies in the UN, posted a plan to turn Gaza into a Trump casino and resort, purged the Pentagon of military commanders, appointed podcasters and conspiracy theorists to his cabinet, and threatened to invade or annex Canada, Greenland, and Panama. David French and Skye Jethani discuss various theories to explain Trump's approach to governing, and find one model that makes a lot of sense in an article by Jonathan Rouch. Then they contrast it with what...
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658: Justice, Mercy, & Becoming Good News People with Derwin Gray
The Holy Post
Has Wheaton College, the flagship of evangelical higher ed, gone woke? Concerned parents and alumni have published a letter accusing the school of valuing diversity more than discipleship. Others have responded by defending Wheaton against the unfounded claims of the MAGA mob. What does the controversy reveal about the state of evangelicalism in the U.S.? A new piece by friend of the show, Karen Swallow Prior, explores the relationship between justice and mercy. Does emphasizing one value more than the other explain the rift in the American church? Derwin Gray is back to discuss his new book,...
info_outlineIn his first month in office, Donald Trump has broken international agreements with allies, ended all foreign aid, voted with America's enemies in the UN, posted a plan to turn Gaza into a Trump casino and resort, purged the Pentagon of military commanders, appointed podcasters and conspiracy theorists to his cabinet, and threatened to invade or annex Canada, Greenland, and Panama. David French and Skye Jethani discuss various theories to explain Trump's approach to governing, and find one model that makes a lot of sense in an article by Jonathan Rouch. Then they contrast it with what the Founders said was necessary for the republic to survive—virtue. Finally, they discuss how the decline of virtue in American leadership may be the fruit of the church's failure to make disciples.
0:00 - French Friday's Moving to The SkyePod!
1:27 - The Theme Song
2:23 - Ukraine and Trump
8:11 - Trump 1.0 vs Trump 2.0
16:43 - Triumphalism's Shelf Life
25:53 - Bureaucracy vs Mob Boss
32:38 - Megachurches and Patrimonialism
39:38 - American Democracy and Christianity
55:52 - Prophecy's Role in MAGA
1:05:00 - End Credits
One Word Describes Trump (Article by Jonathan Rauch): https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/02/corruption-trump-administration/681794/
Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy by Jonathan Rauch: https://a.co/d/26wdqNC
Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America by Jeffrey Rosen: https://a.co/d/6Crl6Hk