The Bulletin

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 EPISODE:


We Are Obsessed with Gender - Bonnie Kristian

ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Erin Dumbacher is an international security and technology policy researcher and advisor. She is the Stanton nuclear security senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Previously, she served in the U.S. Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy and worked as a director at In-Q-Tel and senior program officer at the Nuclear Threat Initiative.

Bonnie Kristian is the deputy editor at Christianity Today. She is the author of Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community and A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What It Means to Follow Jesus Today. Her writing has been published at outlets including The New York Times, The Week, USA Today, CNN, Politico, and others.

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ABOUT THE BULLETIN:

The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today’s editor-at-large and columnist) and Mike Cosper (senior contributor). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more.



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



“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today

Producer: Clarissa Moll

Associate Producer: Alexa Burke

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

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 and statistician Ryan Burge about what the data say about revival in the US, the shifts in young men’s participation at church, and how political polarization has changed the makeup of churches.

REFERENCED IN THE SHOW:


The Vanishing Church: How the Hollowing Out of Moderate Congregations Is Hurting Democracy, Faith, and Us - Ryan Burge


Graphs about Religion - Ryan Burge’s Substack

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ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Ryan Burge is professor of practice at the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis. He has written for the New York Times, POLITICO, and The Wall Street Journal. He has authored over thirty peer-reviewed articles and book chapters alongside six books about religion and politics in the United States. His most recent book is The Vanishing Church.

ABOUT THE BULLETIN:

The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today’s editor-at-large and columnist) and Mike Cosper (senior contributor). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more.



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



“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today

Producer: Clarissa Moll

Associate Producer: Alexa Burke

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

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 IN THE EPISODE:


Can Congress Stop Chinese Billionaires From Fathering 100 Kids? - Charles Hilu

CT Pro-Life reporting

ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Charles Hilu is a reporter for The Dispatch. Previously he was the Collegiate Network Fellow at the Washington Free Beacon and interned at both National Review and the Washington Examiner.

Justin Giboney is an attorney, political strategist, and ordained minister in Atlanta. He is also the cofounder and president of the And Campaign, a coalition of urban Christians who address the sociopolitical arena with the compassion and conviction of the gospel. Giboney is the coauthor of Compassion (&) Conviction: The AND Campaign’s Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement.

Seth Mandel is the senior editor for Commentary magazine. He previously worked as executive editor of the Washington Examiner print edition and as the op-ed editor of the New York Post.

GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN:

Join the conversation at our Substack.

Find us on YouTube.

Rate and review the show in your podcast app of choice.

ABOUT THE BULLETIN:

The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today’s editor-at-large and columnist) and Mike Cosper (senior contributor). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more.



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



“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today

Producer: Clarissa Moll

Associate Producer: Alexa Burke

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

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 between the MAGA Jesus and the real Jesus.

REFERENCED IN THE SHOW:

MAGA Jesus is Not the Real Jesus - Pete Wehner, The Atlantic

GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN:

Join the conversation at our Substack.

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ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Peter Wehner is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum. He was formerly a speechwriter for George W. Bush and a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Wehner is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, and his work also appears in publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and National Affairs.

ABOUT THE BULLETIN:

The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today’s editor-at-large and columnist) and Mike Cosper (senior contributor). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more.



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



“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today

Producer: Clarissa Moll

Associate Producer: Alexa Burke

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

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 administration. Finally, is Trump leaving behind pro-democracy Syrians? Hadeel Oueis joins Russell Moore, Mike Cosper, and Clarissa Moll to discuss the dynamics in the post-Asaad regime.

REFERENCED IN THE EPISODE:

In a Tense Minnesota, Christians Help Immigrant Neighbors - Emily Belz

First Year of Trump 2.0 Leaves Pro-lifers with Misgivings - Harvest Prude

ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Emily Belz is a staff writer with Christianity Today. She is a former senior reporter for World magazine. She is a World Journalism Institute graduate and also previously reported for the New York Daily News, The Indianapolis Star, and Philanthropy magazine.

Harvest Prude is Christianity Today’s national political correspondent and a congressional reporter based in Washington, DC. She is a former reporter for The Dispatch and World, having served there as political reporter for their Washington bureau.

Hadeel Oueis is a political writer with a focus on US foreign policy in the Middle East. She is a news analyst for BBC, France 24, DW Arabic, and other international news channels. In 2011, at the age of 18, she was arrested by the Assad regime for playing a key role in the early days of Syrian protests. In 2012, the US delegation in Geneva helped her relocate to the United States.

GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN:

Join the conversation at our Substack.

Find us on YouTube.

Rate and review the show in your podcast app of choice.

ABOUT THE BULLETIN:

The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today’s editor-at-large and columnist) and Mike Cosper (senior contributor). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more.



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



“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today

Producer: Clarissa Moll

Associate Producer: Alexa Burke

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