In moments of national crisis, leadership is revealed—not by strength of ego, but by depth of empathy. In this episode of The Common Good Podcast, Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse discuss Donald Trump’s repeated inability to lead during moments of struggle and tragedy. From public disasters to personal suffering, we examine how a lack of empathy and a pattern of narcissistic behavior undermine the basic responsibilities of moral and civic leadership. We explore what real leadership requires in times of pain: the capacity to listen, to grieve with others, to take responsibility, and to place the common good above personal grievance or self-promotion. When leaders cannot see beyond themselves, tragedy becomes politicized, wounds deepen, and trust erodes. This conversation is not about partisanship—it’s about character, accountability, and the kind of leadership a healthy democracy depends on, especially when people are hurting. Topics include: • Why empathy is not optional in leadership • How narcissism distorts decision-making during crisis • The moral cost of self-centered leadership • What the common good demands in moments of tragedy

In this week’s episode, Doug and Robb dig into one of the most alarming stretches of the Trump presidency so far. From Trump’s dehumanizing attacks on Somali immigrants to a pair of lethal boat strikes in the Caribbean now raising war-crime concerns, the administration is leaning hard on fear and force while dodging accountability. We unpack Trump’s attempt to seize more control over immigration judges, America’s downgrade in global civic-freedom rankings, and a federal judge’s smackdown of Trump’s unlawful freeze on wind-energy permits. It’s a week that reveals a dangerous governing pattern: escalating fear, expanding executive power, shrinking democracy, and policies that undermine both human dignity and the common good. This is the state of America under Trump in December 2025—and why people of conscience need to stay awake, organized, and engaged.

What happens when a presidential administration treats law as optional and accountability as a threat? In this episode, we take a clear-eyed, fact-based look at the cascading legal, moral, and political crises emerging from the Trump Administration in 2025. Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse break down the three arenas where these dangers are most urgent: 🔹 State Crime – The misuse of government power, the erosion of checks and balances, and the normalization of authoritarian behavior. 🔹 Sex Crimes – The ongoing legal cases, civil findings, and the cultural impact of excusing or minimizing sexual misconduct by powerful leaders. 🔹 War Crimes – Reckless foreign policy moves, threats to international norms, and the destabilization that follows when presidential power goes unchecked. We explore how these patterns affect everyday Americans, the rule of law, vulnerable communities, and the future of democracy. And, as always, we talk about what people of conscience can do—how we can respond with courage, clarity, and a commitment to the common good.

In this episode of The Common Good Podcast, we dig into the documented scandals and alleged corruption that defined the Trump administration and why so many Americans see this moment as unprecedented in modern political history. We reflect on what these past years have revealed about our democracy, the stakes of integrity in public office, and why the coming election represents a critical opportunity for renewal, accountability, and hope. Join us for a candid conversation grounded in our shared belief that the common good is neither partisan nor sectarian—it's the foundation of a healthy democracy.

In today’s episode of the Common Good Podcast, Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse dig into the growing rift inside MAGA world — the public break between Marjorie Taylor Greene and Donald Trump.

What does this split really mean? Why is it happening now? And how does it fit into the larger pattern of Republicans, conservatives, and former loyalists quietly (and not-so-quietly) backing away from Trump as his influence weakens?

Doug and Robb unpack the political, cultural, and moral implications of this fracture — and why it signals yet another crack in Trump’s once-unified base.

If you’re tracking the collapse of Trumpism and the rise of a better way forward for the country, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

This is The Common Good Podcast — where faith, politics, and the fight for the soul of our country come together. With Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse talking about the rising resistance to the MAGA movement — a resistance that’s growing stronger in every corner of society. Now that the shutdown is finally over and we’re less than a year from the midterm elections, the opposition to Donald Trump and his enablers isn’t just speaking out — it’s taking action. From churches to city halls, from college campuses to Congress, people of conscience are organizing for the common good. And as the Trump administration sinks even lower — now barring prayer groups from meeting in ICE detention centers — we’re asking: what does moral leadership look like in a time like this? This is where faith meets politics. This is where resistance meets hope. Welcome to The Common Good Podcast.

Voters sent a clear message in yesterday’s elections: Trumpism is losing its grip, and Democrats have the wind at their backs. In this episode of Good Politics, Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse break down the results, the trends, and the growing movement of voters choosing hope, compassion, and democracy over fear, lies, and extremism.

From local races to national momentum, we’re seeing a turning tide — one powered by people of faith and conscience who believe love belongs in politics.

Join us as we unpack what’s next and why the future looks a whole lot brighter for those working for the common good. Join us as we unpack the numbers, expose the nonsense, and highlight the signs of hope for a more just, loving, and democratic America. #VoteCommonGood #Trump #Inflation #Democracy #Faith #Evangelicals #Immigration #CommonGood

Author and scholar Holly Berkley Fletcher joins Doug Pagitt to discuss her new book The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism. Together, they explore how the experiences of missionary kids reveal deeper truths about faith, power, race, and identity within the evangelical movement. A thoughtful conversation about the cost of calling, the myth of multiculturalism, and what honest faith can look like beyond the missionary narrative.