The Bulletin

Theobros are a new genre of Internet influencer who discuss theology on podcasts. They have been gaining an online following by saying the Bible supports their segregationist and antisemitic views. Bob Smietana from Religion News Service reported on these Theobros, and spoke to The Bulletin about their beliefs. Then, as the mid-term elections approach, we discuss the phenomenon of pastors, seminarians and former clergy running as Democratic candidates. We re-air a conversation with Mockingcast’s David Zahl, diving specifically into the rise of Texas’s Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. Lastly, Charlie Sykes and Russell Moore discuss how to interpret polling data around the 2028 election, if they think JD Vance or Marco Rubio is more likely to become the Republican candidate, and what to value when thinking about who to vote for.

REFERENCED IN THE SHOW:

The rise of the Jim Crow theobros - Bob Smietana

'They're not real pastors': As clergy run as Democrats, Republicans question their faith - Religion News Service

Can Democrats Reclaim the Christian Moral Highground? - Jia Lynn Yang

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ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Bob Smietana is a national reporter for Religion News Service based near Chicago, covering evangelicals, weird religion, and the changing religious landscape.

David Zahl is the founder and director of Mockingbird Ministries, editor-in-chief of the Mockingbird website, and co-host of both The Mockingcast and The Brothers Zahl podcasts. His latest book is, The Big Relief: The Urgency of Grace for a Worn-Out World. His writing has been featured in The Washington Post, Christianity Today, and The Guardian, among others.

Charles J. Sykes is a political commentator who hosted a conservative talk show in Wisconsin for 23 years. He was the former editor-in-chief of The Bulwark, and is currently an MSNBC contributor. Sykes has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Politico, Salon, and other national publications. He has appeared on the Today Show, ABC, NBC, Fox News, CNN, PBS, and the BBC.

ABOUT THE BULLETIN:

The Bulletin is a twice-weekly news analysis podcast from Christianity Today, with editor-at-large Russell Moore. Each episode offers commentary on current events and headlining news with a roundtable of premier guests, and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world

The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more.

“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today

Host: Alexa Copeland

Producer: Nathan Nipper

Associate Producer: Alexa Copeland

Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris

Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs

Music: Dan Phelps

Executive Producer: Erik Petrik

Senior Producer: Matt Stevens

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This week, President Trump welcomed China’s president Xi Jinping to Washington, D.C. for a two-day summit. Knox Thames joins to discuss Chinese religious liberty violations and why the two world leaders will most likely avoid the issue. Then, President Trump signed an agreement with Denmark and Greenland regarding the US’s military presence in Greenland. We re-air a segment in which Noah Rothman, Mike Cosper, Russell Moore, and Clarissa Moll discuss Trump’s comments from January about wanting to claim Greenland, and the harm that those comments may have caused. Finally, amidst the AI alarmism in the media cycle, we re-play a conversation featuring Meghan Sullivan from Notre Dame’s Institute for Ethics and the Common Good. She discusses some ways we can approach the AI issue, and what is in store for our work.

REFERENCED IN THE SHOW:

The Other Victims of China’s Church Crackdown - Vivian Wang

DBU Center for Global Religious Freedom Resources

Jensen Huang Thinks A.I. Alarmism Has Gone Too Far - The Ezra Klein Show

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ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Knox Thames is a diplomat and international human rights lawyer who served for 20 years in the US government across multiple administrations, most recently in the Obama and Trump administrations as a State Department special envoy for religious minorities in the Middle East and South/Central Asia. He is the executive director of the new Center for Global Religious Freedom, an initiative of Dallas Baptist University.

Noah Rothman is a senior writer with National Review and a contributor to MSNBC. He is the author of Unjust: Social Justice and the Unmaking of America and The Rise of the New Puritans: Fighting Back Against Progressives’ War on Fun.

Meghan Sullivan is a professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. She serves as director of the ethics Initiative and is the founding director of Notre Dame’s Institute for Ethics and the Common Good. She is the author of Time Biases, and The Good Life Method based on a popular introductory philosophy course she developed at Notre Dame called “God and the Good Life.”

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In June, the FDA authorized the nicotine pouch brand Zyn to advertise themselves as a lower-risk option than cigarettes. With Zyn has been growing in popularity with younger folks, it threatens to become a gateway into nicotine addiction. Luke Simon joins Russell Moore and Clarissa Moll to discuss whether using Zyn is a sin, and how addiction to nicotine pouches can develop. Then, Phylicia Masonheimer shares about overcoming her addiction to erotic novels, and how “romantasy” books warp our sense of the good and beautiful. Finally, Yale psychiatrist James Kimmell Jr. shares about neuroscience research on revenge, and how it looks very similar to an addiction.

REFERENCED IN THE SHOW:

Have Mercy on Me, a Zynner - Luke Simon

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ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Luke Simon is a content strategist for The Crossing church in Columbia, Missouri, and a M.Div. student at Covenant Theological Seminary. He has written on Gen Z, technology, masculinity, and the church. His writing appears in Christianity Today, Mere Orthodoxy, and The Gospel Coalition.

Phylicia Masonheimer is a bestselling author, Bible teacher, and host of the Verity podcast. She is the founder of Every Woman a Theologian, whose mission is to equip Christian women to know what they believe, why they believe it, and to communicate it graciously to the world. Phylicia ministers in Northern Michigan alongside her husband and team.

James Kimmel Jr. is a violence researcher, psychiatry professor, and author who explores the science of revenge, addiction, forgiveness, and violence. He identified compulsive revenge seeking as an addiction, and founded Revenge Anonymous, a 12-step program for recovering from revenge addiction. He is most recently the author of The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction--and How to Overcome It.

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This week, the Republican party held its first-ever midterm convention, attempting to energize voters ahead of the November midterm elections. While President Trump’s approval ratings have been declining, he maintains influence over the Republican Party and candidates. As voters approach the ballot, potentially deciding between a Republican candidate aligned with Trump or a Democratic candidate, we’re re-airing highlights from our 2024 miniseries, Stop. Look. Listen. In this series, Mike Cosper interviewed three Christians who decided to vote for different presidential candidates. Listen in as David French shares why he voted for Kamala Harris, Eric Teetsel explains why he voted for Donald Trump, and Matthew Martens discusses why he voted for a third party candidate. They share how they approach voting, and how they wrestled with candidates with whom they significantly disagree.

REFERENCED IN THE SHOW:

To Save Conservatism From Itself, I’m Voting for Harris - David French

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ABOUT THE GUESTS:

David French is a columnist for The New York Times. He’s a former senior editor of The Dispatch and author of Divided We Fall: America’s Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation.

Matthew Martens is a trial lawyer, a former federal prosecutor, a seminary graduate, and a legal ethics professor. Matt’s writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and other outlets. He is the author of Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal.

Eric Teetsel is the CEO of the Center for Renewing America. Previously he was the vice president of government relations for The Heritage Foundation, and the Chief of Staff to US Senator Josh Hawley.

ABOUT THE BULLETIN:

The Bulletin is a twice-weekly news analysis podcast from Christianity Today, with editor-at-large Russell Moore. Each episode offers commentary on current events and headlining news with a roundtable of premier guests, and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world

The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more.

“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today

Host: Alexa Copeland

Associate Producer: Alexa Copeland

Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris

Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs

Music: Dan Phelps

Executive Producer: Erik Petrik

Senior Producer: Matt Stevens

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This week, we’re re-airing favorite segments from The Bulletin archive about loneliness. First up, Alan Noble joins Russell and Clarissa to talk about loneliness in the university, and why it often feels shameful to share that you’re lonely. Then, Jon Tyson and Mike Cosper discuss the importance of the call to bless your children and others in your life. Finally, Clarissa, Ashley Hales, Ekemini Uwan, and John Shelton talk about people making the decision to live communally, new monasticism, and how to foster community whatever your living situation is.

REFERENCED IN THE SHOW:

Another Symptom of Growing Isolation - The Atlantic

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ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Alan Noble is an associate professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University and author of numerous books and articles. Alan’s writing appears in Modern Reformation, Christianity Today, Vox, Buzzfeed, and The Atlantic.

Jon Tyson is a New York City-based pastor and author. Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Jon moved to the US over two decades ago to seek and cultivate renewal in the Western church. He is the author of the best-selling books Fighting Shadows, The Intentional Father, and Beautiful Resistance. He graduated from Capital Seminary and serves as the lead pastor of Church of the City New York.

Ekemini Uwan is a public theologian, international human rights activist, and co-author of Truth’s Table: Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation. She co-hosts the award-winning podcast Truth's Table and Get In The Word With Truth’s Table. Uwan was a 2024 fellow at The Aspen Institute where she served as the Special Advisor for The Aspen Institute’s Racial Justice and Religion Collective.

Ashley Hales is the editorial director for print at Christianity Today. She is the co-founder of The Willowbrae Institute, a think tank researching the intersection of Christianity and the common good in America. Ashley hosts the The Cartographers Podcast and is the author of Finding Holy in the Suburbs, A Spacious Life, and A Fruitful Life.

John Shelton is the policy director for Advancing American Freedom. He received degrees from Duke Divinity School and the University of Virginia.

ABOUT THE BULLETIN:

The Bulletin is a twice-weekly news analysis podcast from Christianity Today, with editor-at-large Russell Moore. Each episode offers commentary on current events and headlining news with a roundtable of premier guests, and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world

The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more.

“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today

Host: Alexa Copeland

Associate Producer: Alexa Copeland

Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris

Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs

Music: Dan Phelps

Executive Producer: Erik Petrik

Senior Producer: Matt Stevens

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July marked the highest number of individuals arrested by ICE during President Trump’s second term. A majority of those arrested had no criminal record in the US. As churches figure out how to help congregants and neighbors who may be at risk, we’re sharing Andy Olsen’s reporting on a Honduran couple, Raúl and Lilian, who were flagged by ICE because of an immigration paperwork error. Raúl ended up in an ICE detention facility, but used his time there as an opportunity to minister to others. It’s also a story about the advocacy and love of their church in East Boston, whose members continue to reach out to and care for individuals who have been detained in the same facility.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Andy Olsen is the editorial director of news at Christianity Today. He previously oversaw the print magazine team. His writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune, among other outlets, and has been recognized by the Religion News Association and the Evangelical Press Association.

ABOUT THE BULLETIN: 

The Bulletin is a twice-weekly news analysis podcast from Christianity Today, with editor-at-large Russell Moore. Each episode offers commentary on current events and headlining news with a roundtable of premier guests, and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world

The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more.

“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today

Host: Alexa Copeland

Associate Producer: Alexa Copeland

Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris

Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs

Music: Dan Phelps

Executive Producers: Erik Petrik

Senior Producer: Matt Stevens

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A study published this year found that pro-gun PACs consistently increased campaign donations to politicians in the aftermath of fatal school shootings in their districts. Reporter Jack Panyard and school shooting survivor Taylor Schumann join Russell and Clarissa to discuss the aftermath of school shootings, the complexity of forgiveness, and whether to hold parents accountable for children’s crimes. Then, a former CIA agent who is transgender wrote an Atlantic article about her experience giving Vice President Mike Pence daily intelligence briefings. We re-air a conversation in which Mike Cosper and David French discuss the violent rhetoric directed by the online far right towards transgender people and how Christians should view the free speech of people they disagree with. Finally, a new study found that at least 1 in 4 NFL players likely has the degenerative brain disease CTE, which is caused by repeated hits to the head. We re-air a segment in which former NFL player Derwin Gray discusses how he found Jesus playing football, the violence of the NFL, and how the audience can view the sport and players.

REFERENCED IN THE SHOW:

The Gun Lobby’s Most Cynical Move Yet - The Atlantic

The Wrong Kind of American - The Atlantic

Major Study Finds at Least 1 in 4 NFL Players Gets CTE - The New York TImes

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ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Taylor Schumann is a writer, activist, and survivor of the shooting at New River Community College in Christianburg, Virginia in 2013. She wrote the book When Thoughts and Prayers Aren’t Enough.

Jack Panyard is a news writer for Christianity Today. Previously he was covered breaking news, courts, crime, politics, education, and health for LNP and Lancaster Online. He has reported on Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes in the podcast Broken: Jeffrey Epstein.

David French is a columnist for The New York Times. He’s a former senior editor of The Dispatch and author of Divided We Fall: America’s Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation.

Derwin Gray played professional football in the NFL for five years with the Indianapolis Colts and one year with the Carolina Panthers. He received his M.Div. from Southern Evangelical Seminary and now serves as the Lead Pastor of Transformation Church in South Carolina.

ABOUT THE BULLETIN:

The Bulletin is a twice-weekly news analysis podcast from Christianity Today, with editor-at-large Russell Moore. Each episode offers commentary on current events and headlining news with a roundtable of premier guests, and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world

The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more.

“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today

Host: Alexa Copeland

Associate Producer: Alexa Copeland

Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris

Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs

Music: Dan Phelps

Executive Producer: Erik Petrik

Senior Producer: Matt Stevens

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This week we’re re-airing a conversation between Mike Cosper and Harrison Scott Key about marriage, community, and the gift of laughter in life’s darkest moments. Key’s latest book, How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Every Told, details his wife’s infidelity and the couple’s fight to save their relationship. Mike and Harrison talk about why it’s better to be the comedic hero than the tragic hero, looking to the scriptures for real wisdom, and leaning on the church community in times of tragedy.

REFERENCED IN THE SHOW:

How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Every Told - Harrison Scott Key

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ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Harrison Scott Key is the author of How to Stay Married; Congratulations, Who Are You Again?; and The World's Largest Man. Harrison's humor and nonfiction have appeared in The Best American Travel Writing, Oxford American, Outside, and The New York Times. He is the winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor. 

ABOUT THE BULLETIN: 

The Bulletin is a twice-weekly news analysis podcast from Christianity Today, with editor-at-large Russell Moore. Each episode offers commentary on current events and headlining news with a roundtable of premier guests, and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world

The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more. 

“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today

Host: Alexa Copeland

Associate Producer: Alexa Copeland

Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris

Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs

Music: Dan Phelps 

Executive Producer: Erik Petrik 

Senior Producer: Matt Stevens

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, the Trump administration announced that $2 billion will be given to faith-based organizations providing humanitarian aid, including World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse, and Compassion International. We’re re-airing a segment in which Mindy Belz discusses the shuttering of USAID during the second Trump administration and why the US has historically offered help abroad.

Then, President Trump nominated a new inspector general for the Department of the Interior, who will oversee any review of the recent controversy surrounding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation. Trump nominated Dennis Kirk, an author of The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. We revisit a conversation between Mike Cosper and David Graham, author of The Project, about the policy ideas behind Project 2025 and how the administration has been enacting them.

Finally, tradwives are having a moment, thanks in part to the summer’s popular book Yesteryear. Nicole Martin, Russell Moore, Mike Cosper, and Clarissa Moll discuss the phenomenon of tradwives and theobros, as well as how to discern what is genuine and offer true hospitality.

REFERENCED IN THE SHOW:

After Aid Cuts, US Announces $2 Billion for Christian Groups - CT Emily Belz

The Project: How Project 2025 is Reshaping America - David A. Graham

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ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Mindy Belz is a journalist who has covered wars and victims of conflict in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, and the Balkans. She recounts some of her experiences in a 2016 award-winning book, They Say We Are Infidels. She is the former senior editor at World magazine and has done writing and editing for Christianity Today.

David Graham is a journalist based in Durham, North Carolina. He is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he covers politics, criminal justice, music, and other topics. His coverage of the 2020 presidential election won the 2021 Toner Prize for Excellence in National Political Reporting. He was previously editor of The Atlantic’s politics section, which won a Webby Award.

Nicole Martin serves Christianity Today as President and CEO. She has more than 25 years of nonprofit, academic, ministry leadership, and church engagement experience and has served at CT since 2023 as Chief Impact Officer and most recently Chief Operating Officer.

ABOUT THE BULLETIN:

The Bulletin is a twice-weekly news analysis podcast from Christianity Today, with editor-at-large Russell Moore. Each episode offers commentary on current events and headlining news with a roundtable of premier guests, and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world

The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more.

“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today

Host: Alexa Copeland

Associate Producer: Alexa Copeland

Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris

Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs

Music: Dan Phelps

Executive Producer: Erik Petrik

Senior Producer: Matt Stevens

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we enter the last few weeks of summer and students anticipate going back to school, we’re revisiting some favorite Bulletin segments about screens and technology. First, Krista Boan joins Russell Moore, Mike Cosper, and Clarissa Moll to discuss the rush to get technology into the classroom, and how it’s going as it’s slowly being moved out. Then, we air a special segment from The Russell Moore Show, in which Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, explains how social media changes our attention spans and why we get bored so easily. Last, Mike and Krista Tippett talk about the importance of paying attention to beautiful things, and how to practice muscular hope.

REFERENCED IN THE SHOW:

What Schools Are Forgetting in Their Race to Embrace A.I. - The New York Times

Jonathan Haidt’s Newest Thoughts on Technology, Anxiety, and the War for Our Attention - The Russell Moore Show

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ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Krista Boan is the co-founder of Screen Sanity, an international non-profit that equips families and communities to maximize technology's benefits while minimizing negative side effects. Her book Tidbits of Truth About Social Media and You offers middle school girls a calm, trusted roadmap to understand social media's hidden dangers before they experience them firsthand.

Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He is the author of The Anxious Generation, and co-author of The Amazing Generation, and The Coddling of the American Mind.

Krista Tippett is a Peabody Award–winning broadcaster, a National Humanities Medalist, and a New York Times bestselling author. She is the host of the radio show and podcast On Being. She is the author of the books: Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living, Einstein’s God, and Speaking of Faith.

ABOUT THE BULLETIN:

The Bulletin is a twice-weekly news analysis podcast from Christianity Today, with editor-at-large Russell Moore. Each episode offers commentary on current events and headlining news with a roundtable of premier guests, and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world

The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more.

“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today

Host: Alexa Copeland

Associate Producer: Alexa Copeland

Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris

Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs

Music: Dan Phelps

Executive Producer: Erik Petrik

Senior Producer: Matt Stevens

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices