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(REPRISE) Today, my guest is journalist and author Katherine Stewart. I had a compelling conversation with this highly sought-after writer, and we went deep. Known for The Power Worshippers, she’s back with Money, Lies, and God, exposing the dangerous alliance of Christian Nationalism and political power.

We dive into her journey from the Child Evangelism Fellowship to attending rallies and conferences of the religious right. Katherine reveals how dark money, misinformation, and groups like Project 2025, the Federalist Society, and the Claremont Institute are reshaping America.

We discuss Trump’s 2024 win, his first 100 days, and how Christian Nationalism impacts public education, gender issues, race, and democracy itself.

Most importantly, Katherine shares how we can resist and respond.

This is a conversation that matters — for faith, democracy, and our future.

Stewart began her journalism career working for investigative reporter Wayne Barrett at The Village Voice. Since 2011, she has contributed op-eds to The New York Times and written for various publications, including The Guardian, The American Prospect, The Nation, and The Atlantic. Her book was the basis of the documentary film by Rob Reiner, God and Country.

Originally aired May 15, 2025

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Today’s guest is one of those people you can’t help but love the more you get to know her — Lindy Boone-Michaelis.

You might recognize the name. Lindy is the daughter of legendary musician Pat Boone and Shirley Boone, and one of *The Boone Girls* who sang their way into the hearts of millions. But Lindy’s story is uniquely her own. She’s a musician, songwriter, poet, fitness instructor, advocate, and activist — and, I’m pleased to say, a faithful listener to my podcast.

We talk about what it was like growing up *Boone*, about family, faith, and finding her own voice. We get personal - her life as mom to Jessie, Tyler, and Ryan, and how she turned unimaginable tragedy into a mission of hope.

You’ll hear Ryan’s story — his Traumatic Brain Injury, the birth of *Ryan’s Reach*, and the community Lindy and her family have built for others living with (TBI).

And because music is in her DNA, Lindy shares the inspiration behind her latest work — songs like *Wordlayer* and *Not a Wasted Life*. You’ll feel her heart in every note.

Join us — this one’s powerful, heartfelt, and deeply human.

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My guest this week is Inés Velásquez-McBryde—pastor, preacher, reconciler, and *mujerista* theologian. She grew up in Nicaragua, came to the U.S. nearly three decades ago, and brings with her a deep love for story, justice, and community. She is deeply involved in the resistance to the invasion of Los Angeles by ICE agents, determined to deport masses of brown people, no matter their legal status.

Inés and I serve together on the board of the Center for Restorative Justice. I’ve witnessed her passion for lifting women’s voices, planting a multiethnic church, and calling the Church to racial reconciliation and full inclusion. In this episode, she shares her story—from her early dreams of America to her calling in ministry, to her fearless advocacy for immigrants, women, and justice.

We talk about LA and ICE, the 2024 election, and what it means to follow Jesus in a world where power too often silences compassion. Inés is a voice of courage and grace in a time when we need both.

SHOW NOTES - Learn more about Inés Velásquez-McBryde

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My friend and podcast partner, Ken Fong is back from his honeymoon. We’re here for another lively edition of The Two Kens. This week, we’re unpacking the fallout from what some are calling a “Third Great Awakening,” sparked by the recent Charlie Kirk memorial and the movement he inspired.

We’ll dive into the headlines—from The Atlantic and Religion News Service to Mother Jones and Wired—and trace how faith, politics, and power are merging in America’s latest culture war. We’ll explore the New Apostolic Reformation’s push to “Christianize the Seven Mountains,” from Wall Street to Hollywood, and what CBS’s Andrew Ross Sorkin says about eerie echoes of 1929.

Satruday, October 18, I’m off to the NO KINGS protest.

Some say this movement is a revival. Others call it a takeover. We say—it’s time to talk about it. Join us for an honest, wide-ranging conversation that connects the dots between the headlines, history, and what’s happening right now in our churches, schools, and politics.

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I’m joined by my co-host, Betsey Newenhuyse. We take a fresh, thoughtful, and often provocative look at the week’s biggest stories — from politics and power to faith and the future of our democracy.

This week, there’s a storm brewing in Chicago: ICE agents and the National Guard are deployed in full force, and both Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are saying enough is enough. Meanwhile, over 850 generals gathered to hear Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but The Wall Street Journal’s Peggy Noonan had a few sharp words — calling his performance “embarrassing,” and the President’s even worse.

We’ll also unpack Russell Vought’s Project 2025 — the ideological blueprint dismantling the federal government in the name of “biblical Christianity” — and Stephen Miller’s aggressive new immigration push that’s turning cities into deportation zones. Add to that Kamala Harris’s new bestseller, 107 Days, Pope Leo’s surprising critique of U.S. immigration policy, and an update on Pete Buttigieg — and we’ve got plenty to talk about.

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Today I welcome back my guest, Grant Young, for a conversation that couldn’t be more timely—or more urgent. Together, we take a hard look at the impact of Charlie Kirk, both before and after his tragic death on a college campus, an event that has left people across the country divided, grieving, and searching for answers.

Charlie Kirk rose quickly to national prominence as a central figure in America’s culture wars. He brought politics into the sanctuary, blending evangelical worship with MAGA rallies and voter registration drives. His voice was amplified not only in churches and stadiums, but also in classrooms and legislatures, shaping policy and public perception. Statues in his honor now appear, intended to symbolize dialogue and civil discourse. But do they?

We dig into the contradictions: the image of Kirk as a promoter of “unity” versus the inflammatory rhetoric that too often marked his public statements—about race, religion, immigration, and political opponents. Were his words an expression of truth-telling conviction, or a rejection of the very ideals of mutual respect and dialogue?

Grant and I will explore what Kirk’s rise—and his sudden, violent end—means for the future of faith and politics in America, and what lessons higher education, the church, and all of us might learn in this moment.

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Ken welcomes Washington political commentator, speechwriter, and author Peter Wehner. Pete is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum. He is well known for his prolific contribution to the intersection of politics, public policy, and faith. Early on, he identified as a conservative, a Republican, and an Evangelical. From 2011, when Donald Trump campaigned to challenge the legitimacy of the Obama Presidency, suggesting that he was born in Kenya and not the U.S.A., Wehner has called out the danger of a Trump presidency. Pete has been a stalwart in opposing Donald Trump and in the process, he no longer identifies as a Republican or an Evangelical. He remains a traditional conservative. However, he has offered a powerful and sustained critique of evangelical support for Donald Trump and a Republican Party that has become subservient to the newly elected President. Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson played a key role in that transition. Ken and Pete have a lively discussion over his early years as a new Christian, his college career, the influence of his scientist father, his move to Washington, Reagan’s speech after the Challenger disaster, George Bush’s 9/11 speech (Pete was in the White House that fateful day), and finally Donald Trump’s complete take-over of the Republican Party and his return to the White House for a second term. SHOW NOTES

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Today, Betsey and I reconvene after nearly a month.

NOTE: This conversation was recorded before the tragic murder of Charlie Kirk. We talk about the headlines that dominated the news prior to the horrible, very public shooting in Utah - and issues that should not be forgotten.

The President has targeted Chicago, Betsey’s hometown, with the National Guard. He calls it a hoplessly crime-ridden city. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson are pushing back hard, calling it more like shameless political payback than public policy. Protesters pour into the streets. It’s made a difference.

Meanwhile, the President is busy renaming the Department of Defense the Department of War. His birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein has been made public, while the country waits for the Epstein files to be fully released. The victims of Epstein’s crimes are ready to expose names.

We’ll also talk about Robert Kennedy Jr.’s explosive testimony before Congress, the latest drama at the CDC, and the sudden firing of Dr. Susan Monarez.

We also visit the legacy of Dr. James Dobson. Betsey shares her informed memories.

And on a more personal note, Betsey and I dig into The Atlantic’s article, The Marriage Effect, which challenges the idea that family life makes women unhappy—it suggests the opposite.

Join us for a lively conversation.

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