On Tuesday, Indiana and Ohio held primary elections. Chris Butler joins Russell Moore and Clarissa Moll to discuss how Republican candidates endorsed by the Trump administration fared. President Trump heads to China next week to discuss trade with President Xi Jinping. Mark Tooley from the Institute on Religion and Democracy shares what these conversations mean for Taiwanese independence, and how China and Taiwan are both taking notes from Russia’s war in Ukraine. On Friday, the US Court of Appe...
May 08, 2026•45 min•Ep. 277
The Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana’s congressional map was unconstitutional because it improperly considered race to create a majority-Black district. Congress voted to end the longest Department of Homeland Security shutdown in US history. And President Trump says he is considering a reduction in the number of US troops in Germany. Warren Cole Smith joins Clarissa Moll to discuss these headlines, and then Clarissa speaks with Walter Kim and Bonnie Kristian about the term ‘evangelical,’ and ...
May 05, 2026•39 min•Ep. 274
This week, President Trump rejected Iran’s proposal to end the war, saying he isn’t willing to accept Iran’s terms unless they agree to gut their nuclear capabilities. CT’s Bonnie Kristian joins Russell Moore and Clarissa Moll to discuss the status of the war. Eyes are on English celebrity Russell Brand assessing the authenticity of his conversion to Christianity. Why do Christians care so much when celebrities profess faith, and what is the role of testimony in the church? Bonnie, Russell and C...
May 01, 2026•56 min•Ep. 275
Yale University releases its report on restoring trust in American colleges and universities. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signs an order to lower the official risk level of medical marijuana products. And, descendant of Cuban immigrants Fernando Mendoza is the number one NFL draft pick. CT’s editor in chief Marvin Olasky joins to talk about these headlines, and then Clarissa Moll speaks with Jennifer Murtazashvili about updates on the West Bank and the Israeli settler movement. LEARN MO...
Apr 28, 2026•29 min•Ep. 274
This week, a photo circulated on social media that showed an IDF soldier in southern Lebanon smashing the face of a fallen statue of Jesus. Rabbi Michael Holzman joins Russell Moore and Clarissa Moll to discuss this incident and Americans’ shifting attitudes towards Israel. Then, FBI Director Kash Patel files a defamation lawsuit against reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick and The Atlantic for publishing an article stating that Patel consistently drinks on the job and is a national security vulnerability...
Apr 24, 2026•58 min•Ep. 273
Last Thursday, a 10-day ceasefire began between Israel and Lebanon. Meanwhile, both the House and Senate reject measures to curb the war in Iran. President Trump proposes building a triumphant arch in Washington D.C., and a federal court of appeals greenlights his $400 million White House ballroom project. Warren Cole Smith from Ministry Watch joins Clarissa Moll to discuss these headlines, and Clarissa speaks with CT’s Jill Nelson about Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. TO LEARN MORE: Str...
Apr 21, 2026•31 min
This week, Hungarian politician Peter Magyar gathered a politically diverse coalition to win an election against prime minister Viktor Orban, ending a 16-year autocratic rule. Dalibor Rohac joins Russell Moore and Clarissa Moll to talk about Orban’s connection with President Trump and what this indicates about the global far-right populist movement. On Tuesday, Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales resigned from Congress following allegations of sexual misconduct. Charlie Sykes stops by to discu...
Apr 17, 2026•50 min•Ep. 271
President Trump announced that the US will engage in a blockade of Iranian ports after Vice President JD Vance’s negotiations fell flat and Iran refused to curb its nuclear program. Then, The New York Times reports that the US government will begin automatically registering men ages 18-25 with the Selective Service System. And, Hungary’s far-right prime minister of 16 years, Viktor Orbán, was defeated by center-right candidate Peter Magyar. The Bulwark ’s Mona Charen joins Clarissa Moll to discu...
Apr 14, 2026•37 min•Ep. 270
On Tuesday, President Trump posted inflammatory threats towards Iran on Truth Social. The Atlantic ’s Pete Wehner joins Russell Moore and Clarissa Moll to discuss these words and how the Republican party has abandoned conservatism. Next, as Artemis II splashes down, Jim Bridenstine shares about the founding of the Artemis program during his time as the NASA administrator under the first Trump administration. Then, Anthropic is releasing a new model of AI called Claude Mythos, which will be offer...
Apr 10, 2026•51 min•Ep. 269
Over the weekend, the US military rescues a weapons systems officer who was shot down in enemy territory over Iran. President Trump dismisses US attorney general Pam Bondi. And the Artemis II crew gets closer to the moon than any American astronaut since 1972. Michael Reneau from The Dispatch joins to discuss these headlines with Clarissa Moll. Then, Clarissa speaks with Mark, Rachel, and Sarah Lanier, the attorneys who won the first case that held media companies responsible for creating social...
Apr 07, 2026•40 min•Ep. 268
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected a Colorado law that restricted counselors from assisting clients who wished to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. Luke Goodrich from The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty joins to discuss with Russell Moore and Clarissa Moll why the Supreme Court was nearly unanimous on the decision, and the implications for free speech. Then, CT’s Sho Baraka stops by to discuss the high unemployment and underemployment rate of college graduates, and where ...
Apr 03, 2026•53 min•Ep. 266
A jury rules that Meta and YouTube were responsible for damages to children’s mental health, and attention shifts to states and school districts that have lawsuits against social media companies. Will they be effective in regulating technology use in the classroom? Over the weekend, Millions of Americans attend anti-Trump No Kings Protests. And, the US has 50,000 troops stationed in Iran. Former Congressional Representative Adam Kinzinger and Clarissa Moll discuss these headlines, and then Clari...
Mar 31, 2026•38 min•Ep. 265
This week, President Trump posted on Truth Social that more ICE agents will be present at airports to address the long waits caused by the Department of Homeland Security partial shutdown. Elizabeth Neumann and Harvest Prude join us to discuss this and the ramifications of the shutdown. Then, a Georgia jury convicts a parent whose son murdered multiple people in a school shooting of second degree murder. Shooting survivor Taylor Schumann and breaking news reporter Jack Panyard help us understand...
Mar 27, 2026•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 265
This week, President Trump announced that the end of the Iran war may be in sight, while news outlets report the US is deploying thousands of troops to the Middle East. Then, Democratic governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear hints at a 2028 presidential campaign while making jabs at Vice President JD Vance. And, book publisher Hachette found that a book that they were about to publish was 78% AI-generated. Mike Cosper and Clarissa Moll discuss these headlines, and then Clarissa speaks with Ben Smith ...
Mar 24, 2026•41 min•Ep. 264
This week, top US counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigned, saying he could not support the ongoing war in Iran. Charlie Sykes joins Russell Moore, Mike Cosper, and Clarissa Moll to discuss Kent’s claims that Iran posed no imminent threat to the US. Then, Rebeccah Heinrichs from the Hudson Institute stops by to talk about global players in the war in Iran and what’s going on with US allies. Finally, the Supreme Court recently voted to give California parents the right to be informed if their ...
Mar 20, 2026•52 min•Ep. 263
The Israeli Defense Force pushes Hezbollah further north into Lebanon to protect those living in the north of Israel. Meanwhile, Ukraine worries that American focus has drifted away from their war with Russia. And, how should we feel about AI data centers being built in towns and cities around the US? Mike Cosper and Clarissa Moll discuss these headlines, and then Mike sits down with The Wall Street Journal’s China bureau chief Jonathan Cheng to talk about the Christian evangelical roots of the ...
Mar 17, 2026•38 min•Ep. 262
The first six days of the war with Iran have cost more than $11.3 billion, and 140 US troops have been injured, according to Pentagon officials. Tom Nichols, professor emeritus at the U.S. Naval War College and staff writer at The Atlantic, joins Russell, Mike and Clarissa to discuss military strategy and the costs of war. Since President Trump’s inauguration, border crossings at the US’s southern border have slowed. Bri Stensrud from Women of Welcome joins talk about how women are responding to...
Mar 13, 2026•52 min•Ep. 261
President Trump fires Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and chooses Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to take her place. Then, a parent from Georgia is convicted of second degree murder and involuntary manslaughter after giving his son a gun with which he shot four individuals at his school. And, the son of the assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been chosen as the next supreme leader of Iran. Mike Cosper and Clarissa Moll discuss the headlines, and then Clarissa sits dow...
Mar 10, 2026•40 min•Ep. 258
Next month, the Supreme Court will be reviewing a case on birthright citizenship. Two Catholic organizations submitted an amicus brief explaining why those who are born in the US should be allowed to become citizens both from a constitutional framework and based on Catholic social teaching. Anna Gallagher, executive director for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, joins to discuss the brief. The US-Israeli attack on Iran continued this week with six Americans killed in Kuwait and the Trump a...
Mar 06, 2026•50 min•Ep. 259
On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, killing supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian officials. In the following days, Iran retaliated with attacks against US bases in neighboring countries, and three US planes were shot down in Kuwait. Mike Cosper sits down with journalist Yossi Klein Halevi to understand what this military action means for the quest for peace in the broader Middle East, and Mike and Clarissa discuss the uncertainty and ...
Mar 03, 2026•34 min•Ep. 258
Last Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that the President is not authorized to impose tariffs, affirming that Congress alone has the power to tax. Entrepreneur and pastor Mark Franco joins Russell, Mike, and Clarissa to discuss the future of tariffs. Then, President Trump suggests that he would launch a strike on Iran if they do not back down from their nuclear weapons program. Jonathan Schanzer stops by to share about Iranian protests and possible regime change. Finally, President Trump’s annual ...
Feb 27, 2026•52 min
This weekend, The Bulletin met up with Inkwell’s Young Storytellers Initiative in Nashville for a live recording of the show. Inkwell is a community within Christianity Today that explores the depths of Christian life through artful storytelling and cultural reflection. In this episode, recorded live, Russell Moore, Mike Cosper, and Clarissa Moll sit down with CT’s Sho Baraka to talk about the challenges of pursuing a career in a quickly changing vocational landscape. They discuss the idea of a ...
Feb 24, 2026•40 min•Ep. 256
Antarctica experiences six months of darkness every year, but God is not absent from this desolate place. Brett Baddorf spent nine months as a missionary in the South Pole, and he saw God in the grandeur of the night sky and in taking time to withdraw from normal life. He also found that others on the station were open to spiritual conversations and wrestling with their faith. In this edition of Sunday Afternoon Reads, Brett narrates his 2017 cover story “Lord of the Night.” We hope this journey...
Feb 22, 2026•23 min•Ep. 255
Last week, the CEO of AI company Anthropic spoke with The New York Times’ Ross Douthat about his predictions for the future of artificial intelligence. Notre Dame’s Meghan Sullivan joins us to discuss how we should ethically think about these ideas. Then, President Trump announced the elimination of a scientific ruling that said climate change endangered humans and the environment. Political consultant Mike Murphy stops by to discuss the effects of this huge deregulatory action. And finally, for...
Feb 20, 2026•53 min•Ep. 254
Secretary of State Marco Rubio addresses the Munich Security Conference, calling Europe to a “new Western century.” The New York Times reports 57 cases of measles at a Catholic college in Florida and 50 students quarantined at a SBC-affiliated university in South Carolina due to a separate outbreak. And, NBC host Savannah Guthrie pleads for her mother’s release two weeks after she went missing. Mike Cosper and Clarissa Moll discuss these headlines, and then Mike talks with The Atlantic ’s Thomas...
Feb 17, 2026•43 min•Ep. 253
Last Thursday, the last Cold War-era nuclear treaty between the US and Russia came to an end. Erin Dumbacher from the Council on Foreign Relations joins to help us understand the global nuclear situation. Then, the New York governor signs the Medical Aid in Dying Act into law, legalizing assisted suicide. Russell Moore and Mike Cosper consider the implications. Finally, CT’s Bonnie Kristian stops by to discuss the overemphasis on gender on both sides of the political aisle. REFERENCED IN THE EPI...
Feb 13, 2026•50 min•Ep. 252
On Thursday, President Trump posted a meme to his Truth Social account that depicted former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle as apes. On Friday, JD Vance was booed at the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. And the Department of Justice released millions of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files, leading to revelations about those with connections to Epstein. Mike Cosper and Clarissa Moll discuss these headlines, and then Mike talks with political scientist ...
Feb 10, 2026•44 min•Ep. 249
The practice of surrogacy is loosely regulated in the US, creating scenarios in which individuals can engage in “reproductive tourism.” Charles Hilu of The Dispatch shares his reporting on foreign nationals hiring surrogate mothers in the US. Then, Justin Giboney stops by to discuss US political developments that will influence the midterm elections coming in November. Finally, Seth Mandel of Commentary talks about the changes to rules around prayer on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. REFERENCED I...
Feb 06, 2026•55 min•Ep. 247
The Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt opened for the first time in a year, a step that will allow some Palestinians to leave for medical care. Then, President Trump sued the IRS for $10 billion for leaking his tax returns in 2019. Finally, former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested in connection with the protest in Minnesota that interrupted a church service. Mike Cosper and Clarissa Moll discuss these headlines, and Mike sits down with Pete Wehner of The Atlantic to discuss the difference bet...
Feb 03, 2026•45 min•Ep. 247
Amidst protests and aggressive tactics by federal immigration agents, Christians in Minnesota are caring for their immigrant neighbors. CT’s Emily Belz joins us to talk about her reporting from the Twin Cities, with an eye to how churches are responding to those living in fear and at risk of deportation. Then, Harvest Prude stops by to give us an update on the annual March for Life, the largest gathering of pro-life supporters in the US, and how the pro-life movement is faring under the current ...
Jan 30, 2026•48 min•Ep. 248
