Culture, Faith and Politics with Pat Kahnke

In this episode, I talk about Trump’s racist post, the failed attempt to dismiss the outrage as “fake,” and why the real danger isn’t just the post itself—but the decade-long conditioning that has taught millions of Americans to excuse behavior they would never tolerate from anyone else.

Donald Trump’s National Prayer Breakfast speech wasn’t “just political.” It was spiritual theater—using faith language to legitimize power, mock opponents, demonize immigrants, and platform a hard-right Christian nationalist vibe. In this conversation, Pat Kahnke sits down with international Christian leader Tihomir Kukolja (who attended the National Prayer Breakfast for years) to unpack what changed, what used to be good about the event, and why this moment feels like a breaking point.

Trevis Underdahl (one of Pat's best friends) stopped by the Tuesday night live stream to talk about a song he wrote for Alex Pretti and Renee Good. People say they F'd Around and Found Out. Yes - just like Jesus did - for OTHERS. Trev talks about living among people he loves who support Donald Trump and MAGA. He's not a podcaster type, but he's a gifted musician, so he wrote a song to say the things he wants them to know about Jesus, about sacrificing for others, and about loving the stranger in our midst.

Despite changes in DHS and CBP on the ground in Minnesota, Trump’s administration is still going hard in the Twin Cities. The effects are being felt everywhere. But the spirit of Minnesotans is still strong. Pat goes live with Ken Napzok and special guest, Trev Underdahl, to discuss it all.

In this episode I reflect on Democrat Taylor Rehmet's special election win for the Texas state Senate, and why I'm choosing to feel encouraged while still remaining realistic.

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has just been arrested—not for protesting, but for covering a protest inside Cities Church in St. Paul. I’m a retired pastor who planted a church just down the road, and I’ve got serious concerns. In this episode, I lay out the disturbing connections between ICE enforcement and church leadership, the chilling implications for press freedom, and the biblical challenge facing Cities Church right now.

What if the government lied about a 5-year-old boy just to justify a deportation? In this episode, I break down the disturbing truth behind Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota — a Trump immigration crackdown propped up by misinformation, racial scapegoating, and failed political promises.

The resistance of Minnesotans and the rest of the country has begun to push back the Trump Administration's ICE operations in Minnesota, but the fight is still ongoing. Pat goes live to discuss the situation.

Gregory Bovino, a high-profile DHS official tied to brutal immigration enforcement and the recent killing of Alex Pretti, has just been removed from the Twin Cities by the Trump administration. While he's being replaced by longtime ICE figure Tom Homan, this development shows one important thing: public protest, grassroots organizing, and truth-telling still work.