Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other

Can Christians reckon with when the Bible is at odds with their political preferences, passions and prejudices? That just depends on who you ask. So we asked Dr. Tommy Givens, Assoc. Professor of New Testament Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary (and a pastor's kid to boot!), about Scripture, the church in America, and what the results of the election has revealed about it all.

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In this episode, we go deep:

Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com

www.fuller.edu/faculty/g-tommy-givens 

fullerstudio.fuller.edu/from-the-bible-faculty 

In this episode, we take a hard look at what the hell happened in this election. Spoiler alert - What the hell happened, as our host fully admits: "I got it wrong!" So we look at specific ways any number of folks got it wrong. We also reflect on misconceptions about voters' values - what many of us wrongly assumed were shared values and priorities. But we also start to "Meet the Majority." As a majority of voters overlooked the myriad of sins of the once and future President, we take some time to understand who some of these individuals are. As tempting as it might be to hold all those who vote differently in contempt and to view the whole lot with malice, there are 10s of millions of people... actual human beings we can try to understand better if, for no other reason, than it's our own family members, friends we've known our whole lives, neighbors and work colleagues.

Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.

We're also on YouTube! 

https://www.youtube.com/@politicsandreligion

It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:

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We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com

How are you? No, really. How ARE you? Candidly, I’m having a hard time with how things played out on Tuesday. So, we thought it’d be good to re-visit this conversation about mental health from a couple months ago. The tools covered here have certainly helped me over the years. And hopefully you’ll find this helpful as well.

Perhaps this whole election season has been overwhelming. So we figured it's worthwhile to emphasize the importance of stepping back from all the chaos for mental well-being. The tools that are discussed include how meditation has been a transformative practice for many people, alongside other valuable “arrows in our quiver” like writing / prayer, physical exercise, nourishing the mind with great literature (fiction and non-fiction), fostering human connections, getting a healthy amount of rest and establishing helpful boundaries and rules of engagement.

00:36 Personal Journey and Struggles

03:06 Meditation: A Life-Changing Practice

10:56 The Power of Writing and Prayer

15:52 Exercise: Moving for Mental Health

18:16 Feeding Your Mind with Good Literature

21:43 The Importance of Fellowship

25:15 The Necessity of Rest

29:07 Setting Boundaries and Rules of Engagement

34:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.

We're also on YouTube! Subscribe there and engage in the comments section (so that it's not dominated by "screamers" who don't come in good will):

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It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:

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We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com

Has there been anything that’s happened in the campaigns or in the news in recent days that’s fundamentally changed the course of this election? Would you believe that "trash talk" might be the October surprise that swings this race?

What about that poll conducted by J. Ann Selzer's firm for the Des Moines Register showing VP Harris leading Trump in Iowa 47% to 44%? Is that the outlier? Or has Selzer uncovered some fundamental dynamics in this race, much like her firm's polls did in 2016 and 2020, that others haven't picked up on?

Finally, what will be the final results of this election? As we record and share this episode, it's the eve of the eve of Election Day. So how's it gonna go? Listen in and hear Corey's take. (Don't worry. It's gonna be okay.) And...

Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.

We're also on YouTube! Subscribe there and engage in the comments section (so that it's not dominated by "screamers" who don't come in good will or good faith):

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It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:

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We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/iowa-poll/2024/11/02/iowa-poll-kamala-harris-leads-donald-trump-2024-presidential-race/75354033007/

Who is my neighbor? “Our neighbors are not seen as fellow citizens, but as enemies to destroy, and even erase from our culture and politics by banning their books and history. That is the essence of white Christian nationalism.” Jim Wallis reminds us that Jesus shares a very different understanding of who our neighbors are.

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Jim Wallis is Georgetown University’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu Chair in Faith and Justice. He has served on President Obama’s White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, was the founder of Sojourners and is the author of multiple New York Times bestselling books including his latest book, THE FALSE WHITE GOSPEL: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy. But let's not forget, one of Rev. Wallis's favorite roles is that of "Coach Jim," as he was a Little League coach for many years.

00:51 Meet Jim Wallis: Faith and Justice Advocate

01:18 Coaching Little League: Lessons in Faith and Politics

06:48 Traveling Across America: Faith and Democracy

10:30 Poll Chaplains: Ensuring Safe Elections

19:06 Evangelicalism and Political Preferences

22:38 Confronting Bad Theology with True Faith

36:13 The Good Samaritan Parable: Who Is My Neighbor?

41:16 The Politics of Us vs. Them

46:28 Faith, Justice, and Humility

52:35 Hope vs. Optimism: A Deeper Look

57:30 Standing Up for Democracy and Faith

jimwallis.substack.com/

faithandjustice.georgetown.edu/media/the-soul-of-the-nation/ 

False White Gospel book - https://amzn.to/3Abpaah 

We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

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Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com

What if Trump wins? What can we realistically expect to happen? Here are a few outcomes that we can reasonably anticipate.

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In this episode, we delve into the potential consequences of Donald Trump winning another presidential term. We get into the implications for democracy - without hyperbole, only looking at a handful of outcomes we can reasonably expect to happen - including attacks on the press, threats to the freedom of assembly, and the co-opting of religious symbols and language. Much of this is derived from analyses by notable writers and personal insights as a conservative concerned about the future of our Constitutional republic.

00:55 The Trump Question: What If He Wins?

02:29 Trump's Potential Impact on Democracy

06:50 Freedom of the Press Under Threat

09:19 Freedom of Assembly and Speech

12:35 Trump and Religion: A Dangerous Mix

20:18 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

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Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com

Bottom line: Who's gonna win this damn election? A question many are asking. To which, like any good poker player would answer: It depends! Well, at least ya gotta listen to find out.

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It's so cool to be joined again by Carl Allen to delve into the intricacies of election predictions and polling analysis. In this conversation, we cover the inefficiencies in polling methodologies used by entities like Trafalgar and Atlas Intel to the impact of undecided and third-party voters on electoral outcomes. Important states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and North Carolina are analyzed, highlighting early voting trends and their potential implications for candidates like Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The role of prediction markets and Democratic strategies in key Senate races and swing states are also scrutinized, offering insights into the dynamics of voter behavior and the critical factors shaping the 2024 general election. Throughout, the significance of accurate, transparent data in informing the public and predicting election results is emphasized. And of course we had to squeeze in a bit of poker talk!

01:13 Discussing Election Predictions

05:24 Diving into Poll Data

06:25 Pennsylvania Poll Analysis

10:40 Understanding Polling Discrepancies

31:17 Forecasting Pennsylvania's Outcome

38:47 Significance of Third Parties in Elections

40:22 Swing States Analysis: North Carolina

41:38 Registered vs. Likely Voter Polls

45:11 Undecided Voters and Polling Errors

49:31 Late Breakers and Election Predictions

01:03:04 Senate Races and Calculated Risks

substack.com/@realcarlallen

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1032483024 

https://x.com/RealCarlAllen 

We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

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Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com

How similar is opening a movie to getting a candidate elected? How much is opening weekend like Election Day? Christine Birch - who's worked on hundreds of movies, generated billions in box office receipts, and is the first and only W.O.C. to run marketing for 3 movie studios - has some thoughts.

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In this special crossover episode, we’re joined by Christine Birch, a renowned Hollywood marketing executive with a storied career involving icons like Steven Spielberg and Will Smith. We delve into political campaigns, the impact of media misinformation, book bans targeting authors like Toni Morrison, and cultural shifts in storytelling. We get into Birchy's experiences in the film industry, the challenges of adapting black stories, her candid advice for empowering women of color, and the complexities of navigating hard discussions. We also discuss the role of black women in society, the moral dynamics influencing voter behavior in the Trump era, and the need for innovation in both the political and film industries. With personal anecdotes, social critiques, and reflections on American identity, this episode offers a comprehensive exploration of how culture, politics, and Hollywood intersect in shaping societal narratives.

01:12 Introducing Christine Birch: A Hollywood Unicorn

02:02 Meeting a Literary Legend: Toni Morrison

09:49 Banning Books and Personal Responsibility

14:48 The Power of Shared Stories in Culture

17:53 Writing THE HOLLYWOOD UNICORN: A Heart-to-Heart

27:09 The Role of Black Women in Today's Historical Context

36:28 Analyzing Political Campaigns: Lessons from Hollywood

40:44 Marketing Strategies: Putting Lipstick on a Pig

47:02 Comparing Political Polling and Market Research

53:45 The 2024 Election: A Battle for Democracy

57:24 The Immigration Debate and American Identity

59:23 The Impact of Social Media and Disinformation

01:13:42 Hollywood's Role in Shaping American Culture

01:23:43 The Importance of Diversity in the Film Industry

[email protected]

We're on Patreon! Join the community: 

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Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

And if you want to hear more from our friends in Hollywood, check out TRAILER GEEKS & TEASER GODS!

https://apple.co/3QYy80e

Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com

If you’re worried about the state of our politics and what’s wrong with the world today, you know what can give you hope? BASEBALL!

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How depraved has our society become when disinformation is being spread about natural disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the recovery efforts? "What's wrong with the world today?" Is it our leaders? Is it the media? Or is it us?

In this episode, we intertwine the wonderful game of baseball with broader societal themes such as respect, disinformation, and communal responsibility. For those of us lifelong  sports fans (#LGM!!!), many of us can recount emotionally charged experiences with rival team supporters; but we can still value the importance of maintaining civility and respect amidst intense fandom. The episode delves into the harmful effects of disinformation on societal unity, particularly during crises like natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. In looking at specific examples such as misleading narratives around FEMA and the influence of political figures like Donald Trump, it underscores the need for personal discernment and the duty of both media and individuals to combat disinformation. So, as THE TIMES of London asked over 100 years ago, “What’s wrong with the world today?” we can talk about leaders (such as they are) like Donald Trump; or we can blame the media. Or we can ponder G.K. Chesterton’s succinct reply: “Dear Sir, I am. Yours, G.K. Chesterton.”

02:03 Baseball and Personal Reflections

05:40 Tribalism and Respect in Sports

07:58 Hurricanes and Disinformation

11:38 Political Division and Media Influence

14:55 Disinformation and Its Harmful Impact

15:48 Fact-Checking Disinformation

17:05 Consequences of Spreading Lies

19:13 Personal Reflections on Media and Truth

22:31 The Role of Individuals in Combatting Disinformation

25:53 Hope and Conversations for Change

Congressman Chuck Edwards (R, N.C.) debunks Hurricane Helene response myths:

https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/debunking-helene-response-myths 

Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com

What does it mean to be a conservative? (And no, Donald Trump is not a conservative.) Can the Republican Party be redeemed? What implications does any of this have on the 2024 election and beyond?

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In this episode, we’re joined by Mona Charon, Policy Editor at The Bulwark and host of the podcasts Just Between Us and Beg to Differ. We explore the state of democracy, the role of media, and the evolving definitions of conservatism. Mona reflects on her experiences living in Israel, the challenges of peace negotiations, and her perspective on the Biden administration's policies. We discuss the extremism in both U.S. political parties, the impact of Trump's leadership, and the Republican Party's future post-Trump. Mona also details her work at The Bulwark and advocates for media integrity and accountability.

02:17 Reflections on Israel and October 7th

03:52 Hope and Challenges for Israel

07:27 The Complexity of Peace Negotiations

12:04 Biden Administration's Stance on Israel

18:05 Trump's Threat to Jews

25:47 Biden's Presidency: Successes and Failures

30:25 Defining Conservatism Today

35:40 The Media's Role in the Information Age

37:47 The Tactic of Flooding the Zone with Sh!t

40:52 The Future of the Republican Party

42:56 Personal Journey: From Conservative Voice to Trump Critic

46:03 Facing Threats and Harassment

47:26 Understanding the Mindset of Threatening Individuals

49:09 Reclaiming Civility and Decency

52:54 The 2024 Election and Political Landscape

https://www.thebulwark.com/

https://www.thebulwark.com/s/betweenus 

https://www.thebulwark.com/s/begtodiffer

Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com