Culture, Faith and Politics with Pat Kahnke

Robert Mueller died on March 20, 2026. Donald Trump's response on Truth Social: "Good. I'm glad he's dead." This is my response. Mueller was a Bronze Star recipient, Purple Heart veteran, and the second longest-serving FBI Director in American history — a man who bled for this country in Vietnam and spent sixty years in public service under four presidents of both parties. Trump called him someone who "hurt innocent people." We need to talk about what that reveals. Not just politically — theologically. Because MAGA theology has a specific way of treating men of integrity: it destroys them. And what happened to the FBI after Mueller is the proof.

Was Trump's Iran war just? Pat Kahnke and Adam Swenson apply the five criteria of just war theory to the opening phase of the conflict — and the results are damning. From the bombing of a girls' school on Day One to Trump's personal vendetta against Khamenei, this conversation asks the question MAGA Christians won't: does this war pass any Christian moral standard? If you're a Christian wrestling with MAGA theology, an evangelical asking hard questions about war and conscience, or simply someone who wants moral clarity on the Iran conflict — this conversation is for you.

After 20 years as an evangelical pastor and church planter, I've reached a conclusion I never thought I'd reach: I will never vote Republican again — and as a Christian, I believe I have no other choice. This isn't a political rant. It's a theological reckoning. In this episode, I make the biblical case for why MAGA Christianity is incompatible with the teachings of Jesus. Using Scripture, history, and observable evidence, I walk through why the Republican Party has become a haven for religious grifters — men like Franklin Graham, Robert Jeffress, and Paula White — who have traded the Gospel for political power and access to Donald Trump. I also announce a new weekly series: The Bible vs. MAGA — a systematic, verse-by-verse refutation of Christian nationalism and the theology that props it up.

Senator Markwayne Mullin has built his political brand on toughness, Trump loyalty, and conspicuous Christian faith. But his Senate confirmation hearing revealed something more troubling: a man who glorifies violence and holds a view of justice that is, at best, sub-Christian. In this episode, I examine Mullin's confirmation hearing testimony, his documented history of glorifying physical confrontation, and a comparison to his predecessor Kristi Noem — the same pattern of evangelical branding paired with institutional brutality at ICE and Border Patrol. I also address the ongoing investigation into the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti — two individuals shot and killed by federal agents in Minnesota — and the federal government's deliberate obstruction of Minnesota state officials from participating in that investigation. This is what MAGA theology looks like when it has a badge and a budget. Not just a political position — a theological permission structure for cruelty that dresses itself in the language of faith.

Imagine for a moment that the attack on Iran was necessary. Donald Trump has proven why you don't put an ignorant, impulsive narcissist in charge of the most powerful country in the world. Pat and Ken Napzok discuss three foolish, avoidable mistakes Trump has made that will have lasting consequences on America's safety and prosperity.

There Are No "Good Guys" In This War!   Pete Hegseth says "We know who the good guys are." Most Americans don't agree — and the data proves it. When he made that claim, he was speaking for about a third of the country. This is not a patriotic war. There is almost no "rally around the flag" effect. When a majority of Americans can't identify the good guys in a war their own government started, that's not a media problem. That's a leadership problem.   As a retired evangelical pastor and former lifelong Republican, I'm calling this what it is: the MAGA church did not bring the kingdom of God closer. It handed the keys of power to the most corrupt cast of characters in modern American history. This is a theological reckoning. And it's long overdue.

Pete Hegseth isn't just unqualified — he's a weak man in the most powerful military position in world history, and his theology is the reason why that's so dangerous. In this episode, I break down how Hegseth's Christian nationalist theology — rooted in Doug Wilson's framework of domination, power, and violence — has nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus and everything to do with control. I examine the White House and Pentagon videos promoting the war in Iran as what they actually are: pornography of violence — content engineered to bypass rational thought, trigger a dopamine response, and manufacture consent for war among people who feel powerless.

Sean Feucht's ministry revenue jumped from $243,000 to $5 million in a single year — and whistleblowers say that's only part of the story. Pat Kahnke and Amy Hawk examine the public financial records, the F rating from Ministry Watch, and the allegations of spiritual abuse that MAGA's most prominent worship leader does not want his followers to see.

From tariffs to Iran, Donald Trump is often able to swing the markets with his decisions and his words, but at some point, the entire world will try to make the US less relevant to their lives. What will happen when Trump's luck runs out? Join Pat and Producer Ken as they dive into this question.

When a church that claims to be persecuted gains political power, who does it persecute first? We examine how the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) — the prophetic wing of the Christian nationalist movement — is weaponizing spiritual language to justify real-world political violence: from Paula White summoning angels from Africa to maintain Trump's presidency, to NAR prophets declaring spiritual curses over Trump's opponents in the 2018 midterms — curses whose physical expression arrived on January 6th.

Kristi Noem was fired by Donald Trump — via Truth Social — while she was on stage praising him. Tonight I'm asking the question the Bible actually raises: is it wrong to celebrate when the wicked fall? And more importantly — is this justice, or just the beginning of it?

She grew up singing Christian nationalist anthems on a bus at 17. She watched her own church members storm the Capitol on January 6th. Now, April Ajoy is using comedy and theology to tear the whole thing down — and thousands of people are watching. In this interview, April Ajoy — author of Star Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith — shares her journey from preacher's kid raised in MAGA Christianity to one of the most fearless voices exposing Christian nationalism on social media. We dig into toxic empathy, the dog whistles your pastor might be using, and why humor might be the most powerful weapon against the MAGA church.

The President of the United States has led the country into a war with Iran. There are many questions to ask, but will the answers ever be made clear? Pat and Ken Napzok talk about that and more on an all-new episode of Culture, Faith, and Politics live!

Six Americans are dead. Congress wasn't consulted. NATO says they're not coming. And the nuclear program Trump said he "obliterated" in June is the reason we're at war in March. There's a button on the Resolute Desk — when Trump pushes it, someone brings him a Diet Coke. That's real. And I think that button explains his entire approach to governing: Iran, Venezuela, tariffs, TikTok. Complex problems. Push-button solutions. None of them solved. In this episode, I trace the pattern — from the first Iran strikes that didn't work, to the Maduro extraction that changed nothing, to the tariffs that made the trade deficit worse — and explain why applying that same instinct to a war with Iran, without Congress, without allies, is the most dangerous thing an American president has done in a generation.

In this conversation with Tihomir Kukolja — a pastor who grew up under actual communist persecution in the former Yugoslavia — we expose the dangerous gap between real persecution and the loss of cultural privilege that MAGA Christianity has rebranded as suffering. From Constantine to the Reformation to the American founding, history tells us exactly what happens when the church seizes political power: the persecuted become the persecutors. Every. Single. Time. We trace the theological roots of Christian nationalism's persecution complex, examine how "loss of privilege" gets weaponized as martyrdom, and ask the question no one in the MAGA church wants to answer: if your faith requires state power to survive, is it really faith at all?

In his State of the Union address, Donald Trump declared that America is experiencing a “tremendous renewal in religion, faith, Christianity, and belief in God” — especially among young people. He even suggested that when God wants to perform miracles, He chooses a nation like ours. But is there any evidence of a religious revival? Or is this just another example of political manipulation wrapped in Christian language?

In this episode, Tim Whitaker (The New Evangelicals) joins me to expose the direct theological line connecting Moscow, Idaho pastor Doug Wilson to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. We are witnessing the mainstreaming of a specific brand of Christian Nationalism—one that isn't just about "God and Country," but about implementing a strategy to capture American institutions. We break down the specific theology of the MOscow, Idaho movement, the influence of Stephen Wolfe's The Case for Christian Nationalism, and why Pete Hegseth's admiration for these ideas poses a unique threat to the U.S. military. This isn't just a political disagreement; it is a theological takeover of the most powerful military in the world.

In this episode, former Bethel insider Amy Hawk joins me to expose how the "prophetic" machine around Sean Bolz allegedly used social media data mining, emotional manipulation, and a culture of silence to manufacture miracles and protect the brand. We walk through how Bethel leaders were warned, why they platformed a false prophet anyway, how "touch not God's anointed" theology suppresses discernment, and why this same authoritarian mindset shows up in Christian support for Donald Trump and the MAGA movement. If you've ever wondered how good people get swept into abusive ministries, or why so many churches rally to defend "anointed" leaders instead of vulnerable people, this conversation is for you.

The State of the Union is here, but what is the actual state of this union? Pat tells his tale of meeting the fine folks at the Bulwark, and he and Ken Napzok talk about Alysa Liu at the Olympics, U2's song about Renee Good, and more on an all-new episode of Culture, Faith, and Politics live!

For years, we were told that white evangelicals and conservative Christians were "holding their nose" to vote for Donald Trump. We were told they wanted the judges, but hated the rhetoric. We were told they were good people trapped in a bad binary choice. The new 2026 PRRI survey on christian nationalism just destroyed that myth. In this episode, we look at the shocking data that shows a majority of Christian Nationalists now support deporting families to foreign prisons without due process—a policy so cruel it violates both the US Constitution and the Gospel of Jesus. We discuss why this isn't just "politics" anymore; it's a rival religion where strength has replaced love, and cruelty is the highest virtue.

In a ruling that strikes down Trump's use of emergency powers to impose tariffs, the Court made something clear: the President is not a king. Under the Constitution, Congress — not the White House — has the authority to levy tariffs. And in this case, the justices drew a line. Yes, the tariffs themselves were economically harmful. Yes, they functioned as a regressive tax hitting working families hardest. But the bigger issue is this: This ruling is a direct rebuke of executive overreach and authoritarian abuse of emergency powers.

ICE's “Operation Metro Surge” is (hopefully) ending in the Twin Cities — but the damage remains. In January alone, Minneapolis officials estimate the operation cost the city $203 million. Business losses reached $15–$20 million per week. Immigrant-owned businesses saw revenue drop by as much as 80%. Rent assistance requests surged 2,100%. But the economic losses are only part of the story.

In this episode of Culture, Faith, and Politics LIVE, we celebrate reaching a YouTube channel milestone, and an old friend joins the conversation to congratulate Pat and reminisce. Also in this episode, we discuss why CBS tried to block Stephen Colbert from interviewing James Talarico, as well as Rev. Jesse Jackson's passing.

For years, many white American Christians have claimed that Christianity is under attack. Politicians echo it. Media personalities repeat it. Entire campaigns are built on it. But what if the greatest test facing the Church in America isn't surviving persecution — but resisting the temptation to wield power against the vulnerable?

The Wall Street Journal just published a major exposé detailing chaos, self-promotion, and serious ethical concerns inside the Department of Homeland Security under Kristi Noem. From the $70 million government jet… to the $200 million ad campaign… to ICE raids staged for cameras… this report raises hard questions about leadership, corruption, and accountability. For years, I've warned that Kristi Noem's immigration strategy wasn't just aggressive — it was performative. Built on demonization. Fueled by publicity. Designed for presidential ambition. Now even conservative insiders appear to be pushing back.

Tom Homan announced that Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities is ending. After weeks of federal escalation, ICE and Border Patrol agents are pulling out of Minnesota. But let's be clear: this isn't the end.   In this episode, I break down why Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda was always politically and logistically doomed — and why sustained, forceful, peaceful resistance worked in Minnesota. When Americans saw what “mass deportation” actually looks like on the ground — masked agents, economic disruption, terrified families, and the killing of two citizens — support collapsed. Trump retreated. Now the real fight begins: accountability.

In this episode, I sit down with writer Mark Ramm of Transparency Cascade Press to trace the historic roots of Pete Hegseth's theology of violence — and how it connects to Christian nationalism, hardline masculinity, and a centuries-old debate inside American Christianity. We follow the thread from Doug Wilson and the “Sin of Empathy” teaching… back through R.J. Rushdoony… and even further to Confederate theologian Robert Lewis Dabney. Is there a direct line from antebellum pro-slavery theology to modern Christian nationalist ideology? And how did those ideas make their way into today's conversations about ICE, masculinity, authority, and the U.S. military? This is not a partisan conversation. It's a theological one.

Today, we break down the explosive Pam Bondi hearing surrounding the Epstein files, the DOJ's handling of survivor information, and the growing questions about accountability. Why did Pam Bondi refuse to apologize to Epstein survivors after their private information was released? Why does the Department of Justice keep deflecting to Merrick Garland and past administrations? And what does the Bible say about covering for the powerful while the vulnerable suffer?

It was a tale of two SUPER BOWL halftime shows. Did America survive Bad Bunny? Or did his message of love and togetherness hit harder than the hypocrisy on display at the Turning Point USA halftime show or Trump's words at this week's National Prayer breakfast? Pat goes live with Ken Napzok to discuss it all.

Peter Wehner's new Atlantic article hits hard—and his appearance on Morning Joe might shock you. Why? Because a group of secular news hosts just articulated the Gospel more clearly than many white evangelical pastors. In this episode, I share key clips from that conversation, unpack what it means for the future of American Christianity, and explain why I'm encouraged, not discouraged, by this cultural shift.

In this episode, I talk about Trump's racist post, the failed attempt to dismiss the outrage as “fake,” and why the real danger isn't just the post itself—but the decade-long conditioning that has taught millions of Americans to excuse behavior they would never tolerate from anyone else.

Donald Trump's National Prayer Breakfast speech wasn't “just political.” It was spiritual theater—using faith language to legitimize power, mock opponents, demonize immigrants, and platform a hard-right Christian nationalist vibe. In this conversation, Pat Kahnke sits down with international Christian leader Tihomir Kukolja (who attended the National Prayer Breakfast for years) to unpack what changed, what used to be good about the event, and why this moment feels like a breaking point.

At the National Prayer Breakfast, Donald Trump welcomed Nayib Bukele, a self-described dictator accused by human rights groups of mass imprisonment, torture, and repression. Trump didn't distance himself from Bukele's brutality—he praised it.   This episode breaks down why that moment matters, why it should alarm people of faith, and how the National Prayer Breakfast has become a staging ground for Christian nationalism, authoritarian power, and spiritual abuse.

Trevis Underdahl (one of Pat's best friends) stopped by the Tuesday night live stream to talk about a song he wrote for Alex Pretti and Renee Good. People say they F'd Around and Found Out. Yes - just like Jesus did - for OTHERS. Trev talks about living among people he loves who support Donald Trump and MAGA. He's not a podcaster type, but he's a gifted musician, so he wrote a song to say the things he wants them to know about Jesus, about sacrificing for others, and about loving the stranger in our midst.

Despite changes in DHS and CBP on the ground in Minnesota, Trump's administration is still going hard in the Twin Cities. The effects are being felt everywhere. But the spirit of Minnesotans is still strong. Pat goes live with Ken Napzok and special guest, Trev Underdahl, to discuss it all.

In this episode I reflect on Democrat Taylor Rehmet's special election win for the Texas state Senate, and why I'm choosing to feel encouraged while still remaining realistic.

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has just been arrested—not for protesting, but for covering a protest inside Cities Church in St. Paul. I'm a retired pastor who planted a church just down the road, and I've got serious concerns. In this episode, I lay out the disturbing connections between ICE enforcement and church leadership, the chilling implications for press freedom, and the biblical challenge facing Cities Church right now.

What if the government lied about a 5-year-old boy just to justify a deportation? In this episode, I break down the disturbing truth behind Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota — a Trump immigration crackdown propped up by misinformation, racial scapegoating, and failed political promises.

The resistance of Minnesotans and the rest of the country has begun to push back the Trump Administration's ICE operations in Minnesota, but the fight is still ongoing. Pat goes live to discuss the situation.

Gregory Bovino, a high-profile DHS official tied to brutal immigration enforcement and the recent killing of Alex Pretti, has just been removed from the Twin Cities by the Trump administration. While he's being replaced by longtime ICE figure Tom Homan, this development shows one important thing: public protest, grassroots organizing, and truth-telling still work.

Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in broad daylight in Minneapolis. Bystanders captured it all on video. And yet, in the face of clear, public evidence, the U.S. government immediately began lying — again.   This episode is not a full breakdown of the lies. That proof is everywhere already. This is a moral reckoning. Because this is happening in my city — to people I love — and it's part of a much darker pattern. A year of state violence. A year of slander. A year of lies.   What happens when a government kills its own citizens… and then lies to cover it up? What happens when truth no longer matters — only power? This is the moment we've been warning about. And we have to decide who we are.

In this urgent conversation, Pat Kahnke and international Christian leader Tihomir Kukolja confront the dangerous rise of court prophets—religious leaders who align themselves with political power rather than the truth of the gospel. Franklin Graham is the focus of this episode, not as an isolated figure, but as a powerful example of how faith can be co-opted to serve authoritarian politics.

Minnesota is still under siege from federal agents, but two separate protest incidents this weekend have Pat's attention. On this live episode, we'll be discussing the incident inside the Cities Church in St. Paul and the truth behind conservative influencer Jake Lang's protest.

In this episode, I respond to the recent protest inside Cities Church, just blocks from my home. With decades of experience in the evangelical world and years spent speaking out against Christian nationalism and injustice, I offer a raw, pastoral perspective on the tension between righteous anger and sacred space.

Pat Kahnke and Adam Swenson expose the sick propaganda campaign fueling ICE's growing presence in Minneapolis and St. Paul. From armored vehicles on local streets to disturbing federal tweets about “peace after 100 million deportations,” we unpack how messaging is being weaponized to justify fear, division, and unchecked power.

Why do so many white evangelicals still support Donald Trump—even after all the lies, cruelty, and corruption? It's not because they've been fooled. It's because they've chosen the lie. In this episode, we hear from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor and theologian who resisted Hitler and wrote powerfully about the moral danger of what he called folly—a willful, self-protecting ignorance that chooses comfort over truth, and power over integrity. Other call it his Theory of Stupidity.

In this urgent conversation, Pat Kahnke and Adam Swenson break down the alarming ICE surge in Minneapolis and St. Paul — including firsthand accounts of aggression, propaganda, and the recent ICE shooting of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen. With Gregory Bovino leading a camera crew through our neighborhoods, the message is clear: if we don't film them, they'll control the story.

The Department of Homeland Security continues to send its ICE agents into the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul following the murder of Renee Good. Pat and Producer Ken Napzok discusses what the impact has been on the community and how the resistance is going.

What does the Bible really say about protest, injustice, and state violence? In this raw, prophetic conversation, Pat Kahnke (St. Paul) and Amy Hawk (Portland) respond to the ICE shooting of Renee Good through the lens of Habakkuk, Amos, and the whole biblical witness. Why are so many Christians silent? What do the prophets say about corrupt governments and false worship? And how do followers of Jesus cry out — not just in prayer, but in public?

Renee Good was killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Days later, white evangelical churches in the Twin Cities sang louder—but said nothing. As a former evangelical pastor, I can't stay silent. This video confronts the deadly silence of the American church, the idolatry of the MAGA movement, and the moral collapse of Christians defending Donald Trump at any cost. If you're wondering where Jesus is in all this—so am I.

Today I'm responding to the newly leaked video showing the moment ICE agents confronted and fatally shot Renee Good in South Minneapolis. You've probably seen the video — and if you haven't, you've heard about it. But I want to talk about what really matters: What we hear in the footage, what we see that contradicts the official narrative, and what your reaction says about where we are as a country — morally, spiritually, and humanly.