Culture, Faith and Politics with Pat Kahnke

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.

The federal government is lying about what happened when an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis. In this episode, I break down what really happened—using video evidence analyzed by the New York Times. I'll walk you through the key details the government isn't telling you. I'll show how the official narrative falls apart when you actually look at the facts.

NOTE: When I recorded this, I didn't know the identity of the victim. We now know her name is Renee Good. Please join me in praying for her and her loved ones.   A woman was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Video evidence clearly contradicts the official narrative being pushed by Kristi Noem and the Trump administration — and as a Christian and a citizen, I can't stay silent. Join me in telling the truth — and demanding justice.

What do the anniversary of Jan 6th and the Trump administration's actions in Venezuela have in common? Why is it a good thing that Tim Walz will not seek re-election? Pat discusses all that and more on this edition of Culture, Faith, and Politics Live!

What if there's one simple theory that explains every decision Donald Trump makes? In this epsidoe, I break down the pattern I've seen in Trump's behavior for over a decade—one that not only explains his most outrageous and contradictory actions, but actually predicts them. From pardoning convicted drug lords to dismantling global aid programs, and from gutting institutions to throwing parties for billionaires while millions starve—this isn't chaos. It's strategy.

In this second year-end reflection, I get blunt about a lesson that's taken years to fully grasp — but in 2025, it became undeniable: the white evangelical movement in America is utterly depraved. Not just theologically. Morally. Culturally. Publicly. From Donald Trump's ongoing abuses to the disgraceful “revival” at Charlie Kirk's funeral, 2025 made it crystal clear: this movement is no longer about Christ — it's about power, whiteness, and control. And it's dragging the name of Jesus through the mud.

After ten days offline over the holidays, I'm back — and in this first episode of a short, year-end series, I'm getting personal. I didn't plan to disappear. But somewhere between writing another essay on Donald Trump and realizing I didn't want to ruin Christmas thinking about him, I made a decision — to step back and protect my joy. In this reflection, I share why that pause mattered, what it taught me, and how it connects to the long-term work so many of us are doing at the intersection of faith, politics, and democracy.

Six years ago, I made my first YouTube video warning about Donald Trump's dangerous impact—not just on our nation, but on the souls of those who support him. This week's primetime speech confirmed what many of us have long seen: Trump is unraveling, and his movement is more toxic than ever.   In this episode, I break down the central truth his followers still refuse to face—and why truth itself is on the line for Christians in America. I share my pastoral concern, rooted in Scripture, about what happens when the people of God embrace lies in the name of Jesus.

Pat offers a response and some encouragement after a really difficult weekend around the world.

The news was heavy last week with the Brown University shooting, the Bondi Beach terror attack, and the deaths of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. Pat Kahnke and Producer Ken Napzok are here to take a look at the news and remember influential actor, director, and political activist Rob Reiner. From YouTube Live 12/16/2025.

The New York Times just dropped a bombshell story: the Trump family's disturbing relationship with Andrew and Tristan Tate—two of the most proudly abusive, misogynistic figures online. This episode breaks down what the article reveals, why it matters for Christians and conservatives, and why ignoring it only deepens the moral decay in American politics. 

In this honest and theologically grounded conversation, Pat Kahnke and global Christian leader Tihomir Kukolja unpack the biblical warning in Romans 2:24 — “God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” Together, they confront the deep harm being done to the Christian witness by Donald Trump and the current Christian nationalist movement in America.

My recent YouTube video titled A Minnesota Pastor Responds to Trump's Cruelty Toward Somalis was not well-received by a lot of "Christians." Now I'm here to answer them directly on this edition of Culture, Faith, and Politics Live!

Last week, I made a YouTube video defending Somali immigrants in my city — and I didn't expect the flood of hate from people who call themselves Christians. Today, I'm responding to one of the tamer comments I received — not because it was innocent, but because it shows just how deep the rot goes in MAGA Christianity. If you've ever been attacked by so-called believers for standing up for immigrants, refugees, or marginalized people — this is for you.

In this powerful conversation, Tia Levings shares the harrowing true story behind her memoir A Well-Trained Wife—how she was groomed in a fundamentalist evangelical church, survived church-sanctioned domestic abuse, and made a midnight escape from a violent marriage. Joined by Amy Hawk and Pat Kahnke, Tia describes how Bill Gothard's teachings, Doug Wilson's Christian patriarchy movement, and the toxic promises of evangelical purity culture shaped her life. From megachurch culture to cult-like control, she unpacks the spiritual manipulation that left her without a sense of self—and the long journey of reclaiming her voice. If you've experienced religious trauma, domestic violence, or the disillusionment of high-control Christianity, this interview offers both a mirror and a lifeline.

This week, President Trump made some of the most openly abusive, racist, and dehumanizing comments yet — aimed directly at the Somali community in St. Paul and Minneapolis. He's also deploying federal agents to intimidate them. As a pastor who spent 20 years in the Twin Cities — and as a neighbor — I'm speaking up.