Podcast appearances and mentions of Elizabeth Bruenig

“It's sort of strange to think about beauty and horrible circumstances together. But I try, probably clumsily at times, to bring beauty to a thing that's really horrible. … But in terms of covering executions, there is just a void there. The main character always dies.” (Elizabeth Bruenig, from the episode) Despite sin, there remains an inherent beauty and goodness throughout creation… including humanity. And even in the most divisive circumstances, when we appeal to the beauty and horror in our shared human condition, we might be able to find common ground for mutual understanding and collaboration. And sometimes, in the best circumstances, we might even find a beautiful and life-giving encounter with the other. In this episode, celebrated journalist and self-described “avid partisan of humankind” Elizabeth Bruenig (Staff Writer for The Atlantic, and formerly The New York Times, Washington Post, and The New Republic) joins Mark Labberton to talk about journalism, her journey toward Catholicism, the complex moral and emotional lives of human beings, capital punishment and violence, and the prospects for introducing beauty into polarized politics and horrifying evil. About Elizabeth Bruenig Elizabeth Bruenig is a staff writer at The Atlantic. She was previously an opinion writer for The New York Times and The Washington Post, where she was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing. She has also been a staff writer at The New Republic and a contributor to the Left, Right & Center radio show. She currently hosts a podcast, The Bruenigs, with her husband, Matt Bruenig. Elizabeth holds a master of philosophy in Christian theology from the University of Cambridge. At The Atlantic, she writes about theology and politics. Show Notes Elizabeth Bruenig shares about her religious and philosophical background Bruenig shares about her journey toward Roman Catholicism The Eucharist and embodied experience of God The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist “I don't need to be studying and getting degrees, I need to just be living my life radically as a Christian.” Journalism, paying attention, and compassionate “I'm very interested in people and people's moral lives. Things like honor and shame, guilt—you know, very complex emotions—interest me a lot, and I think everyone has them all the time. People have these spiritual, ethical, moral struggles going on inside them. And so everybody is a little universe unto themselves.” What it means to be a Staff Writer Journalism with narrative, story, opinions, and arguments “I have found that to be a very successful way of garnering stories. It's just to listen to people.” “The first execution I ever witnessed, I witnessed for the New York Times, it was during Trump's spree of federal executions. I think they executed something like 13 people in six months, really unprecedented. I wanted to report on that.” Media witnesses as The Executions of Alfred Bourgeois, David Neal Cox, James Barber, Kenny Smith, and Alan Miller “I have had the opportunity to speak with men who were about to die.” “The Man I Saw Them Kill” “The idea of execution promises catharsis. The reality of it delivers the opposite, a nauseating sense of shame and regret. Alfred Bourgeois was going to die behind bars one way or another, and the only meaning in hastening it, as far as I could tell, was inflicting the terror and the torment of knowing that the end was coming early. I felt defiled by witnessing that particular bit of pageantry, all of that brutality cloaked in sterile procedure. So much time and effort goes into making executions seem like exercises of justice, not just power. Extreme measures are taken at each juncture to convince the public, and perhaps the executioners themselves, that the process is a fair, dispassionate, rational one. It isn't. There was no sense in it, and I can't make any out of it. Nothing was restored, nothing was gained. There isn't any justice in it, nor satisfaction, nor reason. There was nothing, nothing there.” Faith, the void of execution “I find that reading great essays summons language in me.” On Beauty and Being Just by Elaine Scarry “Beauty inspires reproduction” “It's sort of strange to think about beauty and horrible circumstances together. But I try, probably clumsily at times, to bring beauty to a thing that's really horrible. … But in terms of covering executions, there is just a void there. The main character always dies.” “I had a religious conviction going into the first execution that I was at that executions were wrong and it wasn't really based on anything that I could point to. I just had the, you know, very simple notion that killing people is wrong and that it's wrong in, in all cases, even if the person is a very bad person.” Two executions in the New Testament: the one Jesus halts, and the one that kills Jesus Execution as a subhuman act The logic of criminal justice system and capital punishment The difficulty of introducing beauty into polarized politics “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8) Groaning beauty “All of creation groans under the weight of sin.” “The holiness of creation, the goodness of it, is so strong that it can't be, I don't think, entirely blotted out by sin. I just don't think that humans have the power to rob of beauty that which was made beautiful.” Finding beauty in visual culture, pop culture, museums, essay writing, and art On Beauty, Eula Biss— “… her prose, you know, glitters to me. I think it's fantastic. Not too melodramatic, restrained. And elegant.” Marilynne Robinson, imagination and beauty The political landscape Fears “I think when what's up for debate is like the rule of law, then I'm going to go with the candidate who whatever other faults is actually in favor of the rule of law. I think that's very important.” Assisted Suicide and Physician Assisted Suicide “I don't think I can write without bringing in theology, because it's so much a part of what I consider to be true. And so to give readers an honest view into what I'm thinking I have to provide the theological Issues that I'm thinking through.” Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment Magazine and Fuller Seminary.

What does it mean to be a Christian Social Democrat? Can one be pro-life and align with the political left? How Christian is American Christendom or a Trumpified Evangelicalism? Has contemporary American Christendom shaken your own faith? We asked these questions and discussed a great deal more with the brilliant writer, Elizabeth Bruenig. (Please note, this conversation was recorded prior to when President Biden opted out of the 2024 presidential race.)   We're on Patreon! Join the community:  https://www.patreon.com/politicsandreligion   It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:  https://ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics   Elizabeth Bruenig is a staff writer at The Atlantic. She was previously an opinion writer for The New York Times and The Washington Post, where she was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing. She has also been a staff writer at The New Republic and a contributor to the Left, Right & Center radio show. She currently hosts a podcast, The Bruenigs, with her husband, Matt Bruenig. Elizabeth holds a master of philosophy in Christian theology from the University of Cambridge. At The Atlantic, she writes about theology and politics - right up our alley!   Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.   Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.   Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com   https://www.theatlantic.com/author/elizabeth-bruenig/     https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs    https://www.instagram.com/ebruenig/

What does it mean to be a Christian Social Democrat? Can one be pro-life and align with the political left? How Christian is American Christendom or a Trumpified Evangelicalism? Has contemporary American Christendom shaken your own faith? We asked these questions and discussed a great deal more with the brilliant writer, Elizabeth Bruenig. (Please note, this conversation was recorded prior to when President Biden opted out of the 2024 presidential race.)   We're on Patreon! Join the community:  https://www.patreon.com/politicsandreligion   It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:  https://ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics   Elizabeth Bruenig is a staff writer at The Atlantic. She was previously an opinion writer for The New York Times and The Washington Post, where she was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing. She has also been a staff writer at The New Republic and a contributor to the Left, Right & Center radio show. She currently hosts a podcast, The Bruenigs, with her husband, Matt Bruenig. Elizabeth holds a master of philosophy in Christian theology from the University of Cambridge. At The Atlantic, she writes about theology and politics - right up our alley!   Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.   Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.   Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com   https://www.theatlantic.com/author/elizabeth-bruenig/     https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs    https://www.instagram.com/ebruenig/

On today's episode, we are joined by The Atlantic's Elizabeth Bruenig for an Advent reflection with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, assistant pastor of Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. Rev. Isaac is an evangelical pastor whose life and ministry have been rooted in Bethlehem in the West Bank, where he is a theologian, Bible college dean, a leader of the peacebuilding initiative Christ at the Checkpoint, and part of the ancient but fast-dwindling community of Christians in the Holy Land. This Christmas, as there is war in the Holy Land, this sobering conversation points to the hope of the Incarnation in the midst of suffering—offered from a unique vantage point and moment, in the place of Christ's birth.   Guests: Munther Isaac Elizabeth Bruenig   Additional Resources: The Other Side of the Wall: A Christian Palestinian Narrative of Lament and Hope, by Munther Isaac "Christmas is canceled in the land of Jesus' birth," by Queen Rania Al Abdullah in The Washington Post  "In Bethlehem, the home of Jesus' birth, a season of grieving for Palestinian Christians," by Laura King in The Los Angeles Times

James Barber is scheduled to be executed on Thursday in Alabama, for the murder of Dorothy Epps in 2001. It's the first execution since Governor Kay Ivey paused capital punishment in the state and ordered a "top-to-bottom" review of death penalty protocols after the state failed to execute two inmates last year.Host Scott Detrow speaks with The Atlantic's Elizabeth Bruenig. She reported extensively on Alabama's troubles with lethal injection last year. She says the state's process is very opaque, and almost nothing of the review was made public.Deborah Denno, a death penalty expert at Fordham Law School, says lethal injection problems are an issue all around the country.In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

Host Blaise Brosnan sits down with Elizabeth Bruenig, a staff writer at The Atlantic. They discuss the philosophical underpinnings of the Christian left, the increasing secularization of the modern world, and the normalization of fear and violence in American society.   References "Christianity's Got a Branding Problem" by Jessica Grose, The New York Times "A Country Governed By Fear" by Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic

WVFP's classic episode with celebrity journalist Liz Bruenig now available free and full! Find our other full eps on our Patreon WVFP

With only a few days before midterm elections, a number of key races across the country are heating up, putting the capital's balance of power on the ballot.  A recent NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist national poll shows the country has swung by six points in favor of Republican candidates, who are now more confident they can take control of the House. For Democrats, who are trying to hold onto their slim majority, a loss of control could bring their agenda to a standstill. But would this give President Biden more freedom to negotiate with less pressure to please his party? This week, Biden delivered a speech and said this election is specifically about our democracy, addressing the hundreds of election deniers running for office across the country. But many voters say the price of gas, inflation and the economy are their top issues this cycle.  While it made sense for Biden to speak about preserving democracy, should he have addressed the economy or inflation? Will Democrats suffer at the ballot box for not laying out their vision for the economy? Plus, the issue of crime in Wisconsin has taken center stage in the Senate race between incumbent Republican Ron Johnson and Democrat Mandela Barnes. Did progressive messaging around public safety and crime hurt Democrats? And another significant Senate race in Nevada has Senator Catherine Cortez Mastro fighting to hold onto her seat against Republican Adam Laxalt. Are Democrats wrongfully assuming they've locked down the Latino vote? And will Republicans be able to peel off that voting bloc? Host David Greene discusses with Elizabeth Bruenig, staff writer at The Atlantic, on the left; and Sarah Isgur, staff writer at The Dispatch, on the right.  Also, a man broke into Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's home in San Francisco last week with the intention of kidnapping her and breaking her kneecaps. While the Speaker was in D.C., the man attacked her husband, Paul, with a hammer and fractured his skull. How did Nancy Pelosi become a target for far-right extremists? And how can politicians ensure their words don't lead to violence? Special guest Molly Ball, national political correspondent at Time Magazine, weighs in on the rise of political violence and discusses her bestselling biography about the Speaker called “Pelosi.”

This week, President Biden gave several campaign-style speeches, emphasizing the “soul of the nation.” On Thursday, he argued that “MAGA forces” are putting fair elections, privacy, personal rights and economic security at risk.  Biden is a first-term president with low approval ratings, which historically means Democrats will get throttled during the midterms. What rebuttal might Republicans or former President Trump give? Meanwhile on Tuesday, the world mourned the death of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who was a main player in ending the Cold War. How has American politics changed since December 1991? Host David Greene discusses with Elizabeth Bruenig, staff writer at The Atlantic, on the left; and Tim Carney, columnist at the Washington Examiner, on the right. Plus, special guest Danielle Allen, professor at Harvard University and director of the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics, argues that social media has undermined our constitutional democracy.

This week, Ukraine celebrated its Independence Day, despite trudging through a brutal war with Russia. Though the countries have been fighting for six months, many Ukrainans would say the war started when Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014.  The Biden administration is helping keep Ukraine in the fight by announcing it will send $3 billion more in aid to buy more weapons. But how long can President Biden continue sending aid to Ukraine before the public loses interest? Will this escalate tensions and put the world in danger of nuclear threats? And what does this mean for the existential fight for democracy? It's been two weeks since the FBI removed boxes of classified documents and records from former President Donald Trump's home in Mar-a-Lago. Yet the National Archives released a letter this week about other classified materials recovered from the property this past January.  Should Americans be worried about potential security threats from these documents? And was Trump being careless after moving out of the White House, or were his actions more nefarious? Plus, President Joe Biden announced he is canceling $10,000 in student debt for anyone who earns less than $125,000. For low-income families who received Pell Grants for college, they'll see $20,000 in debt relief. But does Biden have the authority to do this, and will it worsen inflation? Host David Greene discusses with Elizabeth Bruenig, staff writer at The Atlantic, on the left; Tim Carney, columnist at the Washington Examiner, on the right; and special guest Evelyn Farkas, executive director of the McCain Institute and former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russian/Ukraine/Eurasia.

This week, the FBI executed a search warrant at Donald Trump's home in Mar-a-Lago, breaking into his safe, and seizing several boxes of presumed classified documents that he allegedly took from the White House when his presidency ended.  Then, a federal appeals court ruled that the House Ways and Means Committee is allowed to look at Trump's tax returns from 2015 to 2020 — something Democrats tried doing for years.  New York Attorney General Letitia James also deposed Trump under oath — in regards to a civil case about his business dealings. During the hours-long testimony, Trump pleaded the Fifth Amendment, invoking his rights against self incrimination. But in the past, he said, “If you're innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?” Still, Trump's base seems to be more energized than ever, and some are even calling for a civil war. Meanwhile, some Republican campaign staffers are saying this week sealed the deal on Trump's GOP 2024 presidential nomination.  Host David Greene discusses with Elizabeth Bruenig, staff writer at The Atlantic, on the left; Tara Setmayer, senior advisor at the Lincoln Project, on the right; and special guest Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor. Plus, gas and plane tickets are slightly down from the sky-high prices from earlier this summer, but inflation is still affecting many Americans. Democrats are set to pass the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Will that combat inflation? Probably not anytime soon. But the IRA is set to be the most groundbreaking climate change legislation Congress has ever passed. And what was the actual cost to get Senator Joe Manchin to sign onto the IRA? For Manchin's vote, Democrats agreed to support the Mountain Valley Pipeline, which spans more than 300 miles, and will carry natural gas through the Appalachian Mountains, furthering fossil fuel dependency. Special guest Alexa Beyer, environmental and energy reporter at Mountain State Spotlight, weighs in.

What happened during the 187 minutes between the time Trump left the Ellipse, the park near the White House where he urged his supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol — and when he was at the Rose Garden, urging those supporters to go home after the insurrection? This week, the January 6 House Select Committee gave a play-by-play of what Trump was doing at the time.  It turned out that he was watching TV in the White House dining room, according to testimony in the hearing. He never called law enforcement, and didn't listen to pleas from members of Congress, his staff, and his own family to condemn the violence and urge the rioters to leave.  His inaction was a cornerstone of the hearing. Was it enough to prove that Trump did not fulfill his sworn duty as president? The committee wrapped up its hearings now, and promised more in September.  Guest host Gustavo Arellano discusses some of the most damning moments from the hearings with Elizabeth Bruenig, staff writer at The Atlantic, on the left; Sarah Isgur, staff writer at The Dispatch, on the right; and special guest Sarah D. Wire, Justice Department reporter at the LA Times, who was inside the Capitol on January 6, 2021.  Plus, more than two dozen states issued heat wave warnings this past week. Is there hope for climate legislation that would curb emissions? Democrats had been trying to pass President Biden's climate bill. But after 18 months of negotiations, Senator Joe Manchin, who has personal ties with the fossil fuel industry, killed the bill, citing gas prices and inflation as the reasons why. If Americans see some relief from inflation, would Democrats consider resuming talks with Manchin?  And how worried should the Biden administration be about rising COVID and monkeypox cases?

Food, health care, and rent are all going up, but wages are not. There's tiny relief in gas prices finally dipping this month, and job gains are better than expected. However, Americans are still worried about a looming recession.  Guest host Gustavo Arellano discusses President Biden's response to inflation and the threat of a recession with Elizabeth Bruenig, staff writer at The Atlantic, on the left; and Sarah Isgur, staff writer at The Dispatch, on the right. Plus, the January 6 Select Committee held their seventh public hearing this week, which focused on linking former President Trump and far-right extremist groups. As Trump hints at a potential 2024 White House run, how much do Americans care about what's been revealed in the hearings? Have they changed opinions about the 2020 election? And will that impact whether or not Republicans would support Trump's third run for the White House? Panelists discuss with special guest Keli Goff, columnist and producer of “Reversing Roe.”  

Click here (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18%3A21-35&version=NRSVA) to read Matthew 18:21-35 (with modifications) Click here (https://www.vox.com/vox-conversations-podcast/2021/7/12/22379647/vox-conversations-elizabeth-bruenig-forgiveness-social-media) to read more from “Why is it so hard to forgive?,” an interview with Elizabeth Bruenig on Vox. Music via the JAZ archives (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3skSzuqcsETUFMSqpotLO7?si=13cbd361324841d1).

What In God's Name goes into shadowy places, but always holding on to hope. Come with us. We can walk this together. Repair and renewal begin with truth-telling, and allowing the pain of what is true into our hearts, is hard. Hard-- and necessary.

On May 24, an 18-year-old opened fire at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two adults. The nation responded in horror and dismay that a school shooting happened again. There have been 212 mass shooting incidents in 2022, and the U.S. has the world's highest number of mass shootings, according to the World Population Review. Can politicians agree on reforms that could decrease the catastrophic number of such incidents in the U.S.?   Guest host Jessica Yellin of “News Not Noise” discusses with Elizabeth Bruenig, staff writer at The Atlantic, on the left; and Avik Roy, president of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, on the right.   Then, special guest Evelyn Farkas, executive director of the McCain Institute, shares her thoughts on how likely Ukraine is to win the war against Russia, which is now in its fourth month. With rumors that President Putin has cancer and that Russian elites are unsettled by the  economy and global isolation, is there an increasing chance Putin leaves power in the near future?  China has been watching all this with their eyes on Taiwan, where tensions have been ramping up. On his recent trip overseas, President Biden said he would defend Taiwan from Chinese aggression. Should U.S. policy toward Taiwan and China change?

Children are necessarily central to our politics. Their lives are highly regulated by the state, which ensures (among other things) that they are educated rather than employed, that they are supported by their parents or someone else if their parents are unable. The other authority in children's lives is, of course, their parents. A liberal society is based on the idea that we butt out of each other's decisions and let people live according to the beliefs they want, but we must make collective decisions about how the government interfaces with children – and what it will permit and require parents to do with regard to their children. How we make those decisions is at the center of many current political debates. In this episode, Josh Barro talks with The Atlantic's Elizabeth Bruenig, author of the piece “Kids Have No Place in a Liberal Democracy,” and Tim Carney of the Washington Examiner and the American Enterprise Institute. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Formation and Habit with Tish Harrison WarrenIn our first Lenten podcast, we're turning to author and Anglican priest Tish Harrison Warren to help us frame our thinking about how we're formed spiritually and what the goal of formation is. Tish helps make us conscious of the habits, practices, and liturgies that are present and forming us in our everyday lives.Practices are a Response to LoveShe does a beautiful job of recasting spiritual disciplines not as an effort to make ourselves worthy of God's love, but as a response to God's declaration that we are already his beloved. We hope this conversation inspires you to consider anew the formative power of your habits, and to join us weekly in exploring spiritual disciplines, not out of obligation, but out of a deep and growing sense of your own belovedness before God.To listen to this or any of our conversations in full, visit https://ttf.org, and to join the Trinity Forum Society to help make more content like this possible, visit https://ttf.org/join.Learn more about Tish Harrison Warren.Watch the full Online Conversation and read the transcript.Authors and books mentioned in the conversation:Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison WarrenJohn Mark ComerRelated Trinity Forum Readings:Devotions by John Donne and paraphrased by Philip YanceyThe Confessions of St. Augustine by Augustine of Hippo, Introduced by James K.A. SmithPilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie DillardPilgrim's Progress by John BunyanGod's Grandeur: The Poems of Gerard Manley HopkinsA Spiritual Pilgrimage by Malcolm Muggeridge Related Conversations:Liturgy of the Ordinary in Extraordinary Times with Tish Harrison WarrenCaring for Words in a Culture of Lies with Marilyn McEntyreInvitation to Solitude and Silence with Ruth Haley BartonOn the Road with Saint Augustine with James K.A. Smith and Elizabeth Bruenig

Full chat with Richard Wolff is here (https://www.patreon.com/posts/audio-richard-61093872) This episode of the Katie Halper show combines two interviews! One with Richard Wolff and one with Matt Bruenig. Richard Wolff is the host of #EconomicUpdate, Professor of Economics Emeritus at @UMassAmherst, visiting professor at The New School, founder of @democracyatwrk and the author of several books including Democracy at Work, Understanding Marxism, and Capitalism Hits the Fan: The Global Economic Meltdown and What to Do About It. He's been called "America's most prominent Marxist economist" by The New York Times. Matt Bruenig is the founder of the crowdfunded think tank the People's Policy Project, and the co-host of the podcast The Bruenigs with Elizabeth Bruenig

It's a question you hear a lot during COVID: How do you balance the economy with people's well-being? But the economy is part of people's well-being. On this week's show, Josh talks with Elizabeth Bruenig of the Atlantic and Megan McArdle from the Washington Post about what COVID has taught us about what makes a good economy for the people. They discuss where the public and private sectors have stumbled, and how the most acute economic need has shifted from income support to sufficient provision of goods and services. Plus they talk about Customers Behaving Badly, and how the pandemic has impaired individuals' good sense about how to behave economically.For more Very Serious conversation and opinions, join us at joshbarro.com. Send your Very Serious comments to mayo@joshbarro.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Atlantic's Elizabeth Bruenig joins Jon this week on Offline to discuss something the internet was never built for: forgiveness. Exploring faith, political polarization, and cancel culture, Jon and Liz investigate how finding the capacity to forgive the online transgressions of our enemies, strangers, or just our trolls has never been more important. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Atlantic's Elizabeth Bruenig joins Jon this week on Offline to discuss something the internet was never built for: forgiveness. Exploring faith, political polarization, and cancel culture, Jon and Liz investigate how finding the capacity to forgive the online transgressions of our enemies, strangers, or just our trolls has never been more important. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The holidays are coming and so is the omicron wave. Well, that's not great timing. Booster shots will help, and so many people have some immunity already from two doses of vaccine and/or prior infection. But we don't have all the tools we might like to protect ourselves against a great deal of sickness and possible death. Josh Barro, Ross Douthat and Elizabeth Bruenig talk about living with the threat of illness and the different reactions at the extremes from right and left. Then: Democrats' spending plans have stalled and Senate Democrats are now saying they're turning to voting rights, another legislative priority that's also stalled. Are they just done with legislating for the year? Ross Douthat wrote a column this week on the New New Right: what they stand for, and whether voters will be attracted to their positions.

Josh Barro, Elizabeth Bruenig and Ross Douthat talk about the Rittenhouse verdict. Serge Schmemann joins us on the show to discuss the phenomenon of Havana Syndrome and Ross's new book on chronic Lyme disease.

Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted on all counts in a Kenosha courtroom this week, successfully asserting self-defense against two counts of murder. Whether Rittenhouse committed a crime and whether he acted in a morally acceptable manner are two separate questions. Are Americans separating them appropriately? Josh Barro, Elizabeth Bruenig and Ross Douthat discuss the discourse: why have conservatives been rallying around Rittenhouse? Is vigilante justice conservative? Have certain voices on the left come to regret defending rioting and property damage last summer? Then: Serge Schmemann joins the panel to talk about Havana Syndrome, the mysterious illness affecting more than 200 U.S. service personnel, mostly posted abroad. Sufferers say they're experiencing ringing in the ears and a feeling of pressure in the head, among various other symptoms. Could this be the product of some secret Russian microwave gun? Or is it actually just a mass psychogenic illness caused by stress? And is the political infighting around the illness just a distraction from finding a way to help the afflicted? Finally: we take a deep dive into Ross Douthat's new book about his experience with chronic Lyme disease. Why has the disease become so controversial? All that plus why turkeys are bad, why too-long blockbuster movies are even worse, and why it's good Jerome Powell will stay at the Fed.

New infrastructure law just dropped. President Biden got to celebrate one of the biggest infrastructure spending bills of the past decade, while Republicans vented at each other about giving Democrats a (very expensive) win. Political showmanship aside, Biden's poll numbers aren't budging. Josh Barro, Elizabeth Bruenig and Tim Carney discuss the deal, if it will help Democrats, and how much will it help American households and the economy? Next on the show: who should get COVID booster shots? Some states are doing away with eligibility requirements entirely and asking everybody past that six-month mark to get a booster. On the federal level, guidelines remain convoluted – for example, you qualify for one if you were ever a smoker, depressed, or work in education, among other factors. What makes sense for guidance on this and mask mandates, and how does Pfizer's new antiviral pill change the pandemic response? Our special guest this week is Ali Wyne, a senior analyst at Eurasia Group's Global Macro Practice. He's on the show to help us understand the implications of President Biden's summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday (if you can call a Zoom meeting a summit). The meeting comes at a time of high tension between the two countries over human rights, trade and Taiwan – and also as they try to figure out how to work together on climate change. Finally, a very special announcement from Josh.

Inflation is at its highest in nearly three decades and that has big potential costs, but how much is it really under his control? Josh Barro, Elizabeth Bruenig and Ross Douthat kick around some ideas the president could try, whether it's a good idea to try them now, and how to fix the persistent weirdness in the American economy since the pandemic. Next: already it seems Democrats are recalibrating some positions since Glenn Youngkin's win in Virginia. The panel discusses voters' skepticism for politics and politicians when it seems like they're holding the ball on their true policy views, and if Republicans have picked a sustainable position on education. Our special guest this week is Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who has a new book, “Integrity Counts,” about the now-famous phone call he received from President Trump about “finding” votes to put him ahead of Biden in Georgia. He tells the panel why he thinks the system isn't as broken as the right and left claim. Secretary Raffensperger also talks about Georgia's new voting law. Finally: devastating conspiracy theories about an already devastating tragedy in Houston; a rant about reactions to the Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial, and why you should leave your very personal aspects of your life in the private sphere...not in a national publication.

Continuing through the Bruenig Mounk podcast on Wokism as religion, LIberalism and how it works. https://www.yaschamounk.com/  https://pca.st/dgvc17hp  Lara Bazelon https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/opinion/divorce-children.html and https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/29/opinion/sunday/ive-picked-my-job-over-my-kids.html  Tara Isabella Burton Tweet https://twitter.com/NotoriousTIB/status/1443666554009399298  Discord link. Good for just a few days. Check with more recent videos for a fresh link. https://discord.gg/xUrkWH2v Paul Vander Klay clips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/ Estuary Hub Link https://sites.google.com/view/estuaryhubcontent/home  If you want to schedule a one-on-one conversation check here. https://paulvanderklay.me/2019/08/06/converzations-with-pvk/ There is a video version of this podcast on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/paulvanderklay To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333  If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/  All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays me a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. This is is one (free to you) way to support my videos.  https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay To support this channel/podcast with Bitcoin (BTC): 37TSN79RXewX8Js7CDMDRzvgMrFftutbPo  To support this channel/podcast with Bitcoin Cash (BCH) qr3amdmj3n2u83eqefsdft9vatnj9na0dqlzhnx80h  To support this channel/podcast with Ethereum (ETH): 0xd3F649C3403a4789466c246F32430036DADf6c62 Blockchain backup on Lbry https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640

A friend sent me this podcast Elizabeth Bruenig on Religion, Liberalism, and Wokeness from Yascka Mounk's podcast. https://www.yaschamounk.com/ Elizabeth Bruenig is a Catholic Socialist and she has a very interesting conversation with Mounk. In this first video we'll look at her comments on the college boy gap highlighted in the WSJ. https://www.wsj.com/articles/college-university-fall-higher-education-men-women-enrollment-admissions-back-to-school-11630948233 There is a vigorous debate about marrying young vs marrying old. What the new high status mating seems something other. See  @Chris Williamson  's talk about polyamory. https://youtu.be/SRm9gBWXd8o  Discord link. Good for just a few days. Check with more recent videos for a fresh link. https://discord.gg/xUrkWH2v Paul Vander Klay clips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/ Estuary Hub Link https://sites.google.com/view/estuaryhubcontent/home  If you want to schedule a one-on-one conversation check here. https://paulvanderklay.me/2019/08/06/converzations-with-pvk/ There is a video version of this podcast on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/paulvanderklay To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333  If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/  All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays me a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. This is is one (free to you) way to support my videos.  https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay To support this channel/podcast with Bitcoin (BTC): 37TSN79RXewX8Js7CDMDRzvgMrFftutbPo  To support this channel/podcast with Bitcoin Cash (BCH) qr3amdmj3n2u83eqefsdft9vatnj9na0dqlzhnx80h  To support this channel/podcast with Ethereum (ETH): 0xd3F649C3403a4789466c246F32430036DADf6c62 Blockchain backup on Lbry https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640

Elizabeth Bruenig is a staff writer at The Atlantic and a Catholic socialist who writes on topics as varied as capital punishment and mothering two children while in her twenties. Her work is uniquely marked by her ruby-red Texas upbringing, the elite professional world she now inhabits, and her deep sense of morality, which draws from both Christian theology and left-wing politics. In a wide-ranging conversation, Elizabeth Bruenig and Yascha Mounk debate the importance of dialogue across moral perspectives, whether wokeness bears any resemblance to theology, and how religious conviction can give rise to an authentically liberal defense of free speech. This transcript has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity. Please do listen and spread the word about The Good Fight. If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following this link on your phone. Email: podcast@persuasion.community  Website: http://www.persuasion.community Podcast production by John T. Williams, and Brendan Ruberry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Connect with us! Spotify | Apple | Google Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk & @joinpersuasion Youtube: Yascha Mounk LinkedIn: Persuasion Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On December 2, 1988, Gloria Leathers, who was just 29 at the time, was shot and killed by Wanda Jean Allen in front of The Village Police Department in Oklahoma City. Listen to this episode to hear more and learn about the controversy surrounding Wanda's execution. Links:Oklahomacide@gmail.com - Contact us or request a case!http://patreon.com/oklahomacidehttp://buymeacoffee.com/oklahomacidehttps://bit.ly/EtsyOklahomacidehttps://bit.ly/SpotfiyOklahomacidehttps://bit.ly/AppleOklahomacidehttp://twitter.com/oklahomacidepodhttps://twitter.com/deadeyespodhttp://instagram.com/oklahomacidepodhttps://linktr.ee/oklahomacidepodReferencesAllely, C. S., Minnis, H., Thompson, L., Wilson, P., & Gillberg, C. (2014). Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial risk factors in serial killers and mass murderers. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(3), 288–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2014.04.004 Appeals Documents - https://law.justia.com/cases/oklahoma/court-of-appeals-criminal/1994/11496.htmlWanda Jean Allen put to death by USA Today - http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/ndsthu02.htmttps://murderpedia.org/female.A/a/allen-wanda-jean.htmhttps://www.ranker.com/list/last-meals-consumed-by-female-inmates/amber-fuaWanda Jean Allen Becomes First Black Woman Executed in United States Since 1954 By Rochelle Hines - https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20010112&slug=execution12https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/article/the-link-between-serial-killers-and-head-traumahttps://murderpedia.org/female.A/a/allen-wanda-jean.htmhttps://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/opinion/death-penalty-mental-disability.html - When an I.Q. Score Is a Death Sentence by Elizabeth Bruenig https://medium.com/@jennbaxter_69070/the-execution-of-wanda-jean-allen-3fdea471ea61 - The Execution of Wanda Jean Allen by Jenn Baxter

ACT 1 Wow! A real one. Better listen if you want to hear it. Happy to answer questions, just let us know. Spoilers for act 1 right *now*: Project lists, deer, Kuleshov, Nicki Minaj!   ACT 2 Charlie and Joey talk about TWELVE MINUTES, a game that neither of them actually ended up playing. Show Notes Kuleshov Effect One of Elizabeth Bruenig's controversial tweets

The death penalty — and the morality behind it — has long divided America. Joe Biden is the first sitting president in our nation's history to openly oppose capital punishment. By comparison, his predecessor oversaw the executions of 13 people between July 2020 and the end of his tenure.In light of the Department of Justice's recent moratorium on federal executions, Jane and her guests question the morality of capital punishment through a religious lens. Elizabeth Bruenig, a staff writer at The Atlantic, was raised Catholic and stands against it, while David French, the senior editor of The Dispatch, argues that there are situations where it is the only just form of punishment.Mentioned in this episode:“The Man I Saw Them Kill,” by Elizabeth Bruenig for The New York Times Opinion section in December 2020.“Not That Innocent,” by Elizabeth Bruenig for The Atlantic in June 2021.“The Death Penalty Helps Preserve the Dignity of Life,” by David French for National Review, published in August 2018.(A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.)

In a piece for the Atlantic Monthly, Elizabeth Bruenig wrote that educators have a "hugely complex task" when it comes to training young people to be ethical consumers of pornography. Porn literacy educators want digital natives to be able to recognize that much of modern pornography perpetuates and amplifies standards of beauty that are harmful, a lack of protection, exploitation, and sometimes, sexual violence. Our guests this hour discuss porn literacy and how to have conversations with young people about mainstream pornography: Pebble Kranz, M.D. , sexual medicine specialist at the Rochester Center for Sexual Wellness Lauren Berger, training coordinator for RESTORE Sexual Assault Services Shayla Benson, Ph.D., sexologist, and senior manager of outreach and education for Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York *Correction: The Boston Public Health Commission's porn literacy curriculum is called “Start Strong.” Learn more here .

In their first episode after the summer hiatus, Dave, RJ and Sarah talk misbehaving consumers, trapped perfectionists, and controversial forgiveness before taking a detour to a little church in Mississippi. Also, Sarah dons a babooshka while Dave drums up some tips. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/08/pandemic-american-shoppers-nightmare/619650/) to read Amanda Mull's article on how American Shoppers Are a Nightmare Click here (https://www.economist.com/1843/2021/08/10/the-perfectionism-trap) to read Josh Cohen's essay on The Perfectionism Trap Click here (https://thecorners.substack.com/p/if-you-cant-take-in-anymore-theres) to read Nadia Bolz Weber's newsletter on what to do If You Can't Take In Anymore Click here (https://www.vox.com/vox-conversations-podcast/2021/7/12/22379647/vox-conversations-elizabeth-bruenig-forgiveness-social-media) to read the Vox interview with Elizabeth Bruenig about forgiveness Finally, click here (https://mbird.com/grace-in-practice/a-vision-for-the-broken-hearted/) to read Sarah's account of what happened with the stained-glass window

In this episode of Vox Conversations, the Atlantic's Elizabeth Bruenig shares forgiveness strategies built for unforgiving times. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained. Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt is joined by The Atlantic's Elizabeth Bruenig. They discuss J.D. Vance's attacks on the parental status of liberal politicians and dissect what is actually happening with left-wing birth rates. They explore the policy decisions that would actually affect natality and the vibes that right-wing media focus on instead. Listen for true facts about Batman's role as a father, Matt's take on children's TV, and why we should all watch Daniel Tiger.  Resources: "Invasion of the Baby-Haters" by Elizabeth Bruenig (The Atlantic; Aug 11, 2021) "I Became a Mother at 25, and I'm Not Sorry I Didn't Wait" by Elizabeth Bruenig (The New York Times; May 7, 2021) One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger by Matthew Yglesias (Penguin Random House; Sep 15, 2020) Guest: Elizabeth Bruenig (@ebruenig), staff writer, The Atlantic Host: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias), Slowboring.com Credits: Ness Smith-Savedoff, Producer & Engineer Erikk Geannikis, Producer, Talk Podcasts As the Biden administration gears up, we'll help you understand this unprecedented burst of policymaking. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weeds-newsletter. The Weeds is a Vox Media Podcast Network production. Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts About Vox Vox is a news network that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Follow Us: Vox.com Facebook group: The Weeds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cuomo brothers' brouhaha, Tucker Carlson interviews Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán, and NPR greenlights political protests on the part of its reporters so long as they're in favor of "the freedom and dignity of human beings." Times 0:34 - Segment: Front Page 0:47 - Cuomo, Cuomo, Cuomo (Eliana) 5:19 - Best BBQ of Big Sky and Memphis 8:10 - Donald Trump and Ralph Northam 14:00 - Tucker Carlson's defense of Viktor Orbán (Chris) 18:28 - Andrew Napolitano out at Fox over sexual harassment allegations (Chris) 22:14 - New York Times piece: "Three (White Male) Tough Guys Sign Off. Is it a Moment?" (Eliana) 27:15 -The Atlantic piece on Yale Law Professor Amy Chua (Chris) 30:51 - Segment: Obsessions of the Week 31:12 - Race and Vaccinations (Chris) 38:38 - NPR gives reporters the greenlight to protest (Eliana) 42:53 - Politico writers want to unionize (Eliana) 43:48 - Segment: Favorite Item of the Week 44:18 - Gallup Poll on preferred terms for racial groups (Chris) 46:30 - Illegal immigrant beheads American in Minneapolis, as reported by Eliana's dad, Scott Johnson (Eliana) Links "Jewish Girl in the Wild:" Check out videos of Eliana trap shooting in Big Sky, Montana, via Instagram Appendix of report on sexual assault allegations against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, featuring advice from brother and CNN host Chris Cuomo Riverhouse BBQ in Blue Sky and Cozy Corner BBQ in Memphis James Kirchick on Viktor Orbán in the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post Politico article on sexual assault allegations facing Judge Andrew Napolitano New York Times article, "Three (White Male) Tough Guys Sign Off. Is it a Moment?" Elizabeth Bruenig's article in The Atlantic on Yale Professor Amy Chua (shoutout to listener Karen Billups for sending!) Scott Johnson's coverage on an illegal Cuban immigrant, Alexis Saborit, who beheaded an American in Minnesota, from the Power Line Blog

Vox's Sean Illing talks with Elizabeth Bruenig about how hard it is to forgive, how to balance our desire for justice with our humanity, and about how the age-old moral framework of forgiveness has met new challenges in the modern forum of social media. Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), Interviews Writer, Vox Guest: Elizabeth Bruenig (@ebruenig), staff writer, The Atlantic References:  “Not that Innocent” by Elizabeth Bruenig (The Atlantic; June 9) “The Man I Saw Them Kill” by Elizabeth Bruenig (New York Times; Dec. 17, 2020) Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Conversations ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Conversations by subscribing in your favorite podcast app. Support Vox Conversations by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts This episode was made by:  Producer: Erikk Geannikis Editor: Amy Drozdowska Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey VP, Vox Audio: Liz Kelly Nelson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi Mom and Dad Are Fighting listeners. We recently relaunched The Waves, Slate's podcast about feminism and gender, and this week's episode--a conversation with Atlantic writer Elizabeth Bruenig about her decision to have kids when she was young--seemed like something you might enjoy. If you enjoy it, please consider subscribing to The Waves in your favorite podcast app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the free edition of Rich Text, a newsletter by Claire Fallon and Emma Gray. Rich Text is a space for the indulgent and the incisive, for witty and wistful explorations of the cultural, the personal, and the political in both written and audio formats. If you like what you see and hear, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Rich Text is a reader-supported project — no ads or sponsors!Last year, it seemed like everyone was predicting a pandemic baby boom; this year, it turned out to be a baby bust (maybe because, thanks to reliable and accessible birth control, it takes more to get even straight people pregnant than forcing them into lockdown with their partners for months on end). Cue the media freakout. “Experts sound the alarm on declining birth rates among younger generations: ‘It's a crisis',” blared a CBS headline. Time went with “Why the COVID-19 Baby Bust Is Bad for America.” Arguments swirled about the need for stronger benefits to encourage young people to start producing kids in order to replace the population, or, conversely, the oppressive nature of pro-natalist policies. Should everyone be pushed to have lots of kids? Should everyone, rather, be discouraged from it? As a mom and a non-mom belonging to the fail-generation in question — those hapless millennials — we were both vaguely aghast by this discourse, which seemed to betray parents and non-parents alike. In our free time, we talk a lot about motherhood and the ways in which it's both fetishized as a concept by our society (especially for white women) while actual mothers are left without the resources or support they need. We talk about the ways in which a lower birth rate can be reflective of hard-won and valuable new freedoms for women, but also of a failure by our country to provide economic and healthcare benefits that would make having kids feasible for more people. We talk about how non-mothers are made to feel as if they're simply mothers-in-waiting, or as if they've failed to achieve the pinnacle of female value and experience; we also talk about how once women become mothers, their material needs are ignored and their individual identities are viewed as disposable. We also talk about how fraught it can be for women to talk with each other about the big question of motherhood from different experiences. Moms and non-moms are often set in opposition, resentful of the freedoms or plaudits offered to women who made the other choice, rather than being encouraged to connect across different experiences and find shared purpose in improving the lives of women who have kids — and their children — and the lives of women who don't. So we decided to have a talk about it! We unpack some of the discourse around the baby bust news cycle, look back at the Elizabeth Bruenig essay on early motherhood that fueled days of controversy back in May, and try to sort through our feelings about parenting, or not parenting, in a society that is hostile to parents and yet, at the same time, hostile to childfree people. We hope you enjoy! (And let us know if there are other topics like this one that you'd like to see us discuss!) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claireandemma.substack.com/subscribe

On this week's episode of The Waves, a conversation with Atlantic writer, Elizabeth Bruenig.  In the first half of the show, Elizabeth talks about her recent New York Times article, “I Became a Mother at 25, and I'm Not Sorry I Didn't Wait” with Slate's news director Susan Matthews. The two get into why pregnancy is both so personal and yet so public, how society and particularly the job market deals with that, and the randomness of deciding when the right time is. After the break, Susan and Elizabeth delve into the backlash the piece received from the left, and then the backlash that backlash received from the right, and what we can take from that cycle. Elizabeth talks about whether she was trying to be provocative, and only being “happy stupid” on Twitter. In Slate Plus, the women each share a piece of their past that made them feminists. For Susan, it was taking all the classes for a gender studies degree … without getting the degree. And Elizabeth talks about reading Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale in junior high school. Recommendations Susan stans the Tour de France (which she has stanned before in the pages of Slate, but it is once again Tour de France season). If you can't make it to the French countryside anytime soon, watching the cyclists pass by ancient castles may help scratch your travel itch. And for the people who are there, remember to keep your signs out of the way of the cyclists.  Elizabeth missed the TV show House when it first came out, but during the tail end of the pandemic, she's been binge-watching it. She recommends the first few seasons of the medical drama, especially while folding laundry.  Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. And additional production assistance by Rosemary Belson.  Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of The Waves, a conversation with Atlantic writer, Elizabeth Bruenig.  In the first half of the show, Elizabeth talks about her recent New York Times article, “I Became a Mother at 25, and I'm Not Sorry I Didn't Wait” with Slate's news director Susan Matthews. The two get into why pregnancy is both so personal and yet so public, how society and particularly the job market deals with that, and the randomness of deciding when the right time is. After the break, Susan and Elizabeth delve into the backlash the piece received from the left, and then the backlash that backlash received from the right, and what we can take from that cycle. Elizabeth talks about whether she was trying to be provocative, and only being “happy stupid” on Twitter. In Slate Plus, the women each share a piece of their past that made them feminists. For Susan, it was taking all the classes for a gender studies degree … without getting the degree. And Elizabeth talks about reading Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale in junior high school. Recommendations Susan stans the Tour de France (which she has stanned before in the pages of Slate, but it is once again Tour de France season). If you can't make it to the French countryside anytime soon, watching the cyclists pass by ancient castles may help scratch your travel itch. And for the people who are there, remember to keep your signs out of the way of the cyclists.  Elizabeth missed the TV show House when it first came out, but during the tail end of the pandemic, she's been binge-watching it. She recommends the first few seasons of the medical drama, especially while folding laundry.  Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas. And additional production assistance by Rosemary Belson.  Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Faith Angle Podcast, we are joined by John C. Green and Elizabeth Bruenig to discuss John's most recent book Secular Surge: A New Fault Line in American Politics. Guests John C. Green Elizabeth Bruenig Links Secular Surge: A New Fault Line in American Politics Evening Conversation with James K.A. Smith and Elizabeth Bruenig Follow us | faithangle.org

Congress has been unusually productive lately. The sausage making process is actually getting us some sausage — in this case, a bipartisan plan to boost spending on applied science research, framed as a way to compete with China. There is less agreement on the bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6 riot, and as expected, Republicans blocked the plan after we recorded this episode. Josh Barro and panelists Elizabeth Bruenig, Rahcel Bovard and David Frum discuss why and the split on the right about the panel. Plus: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into a law a new avenue to make social media companies be nice to conservatives. Tech companies say it violates the First Amendment, but is the intention even for the law to work? Finally: what’s the right way for the United States to respond to a state-sponsored hijacking of a passenger jet in Europe and other increasingly bold actions from authoritarian states?

An interview with New York Times (and now The Atlantic) journalist Elizabeth Bruenig about criminal justice and capital punishment.  

Inflation is back! It may not be here to stay — there’s a lot of weirdness in the economy right now — but with wages rising quickly despite surprisingly weak job growth in April, some states are moving to cut off unenhanced unemployment benefits in an effort to drive more Americans back into work. Is that a good idea? Will it work? And will it push back on inflation? Josh Barro talks with panelists Tim Carney and Elizabeth Bruenig about that, and the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack that disrupted gasoline delivery in the Eastern U.S. Why do these ransom attacks happen, and how can we protect ourselves against the next one? Finally: the panel discusses an unexpectedly controversial Mother’s Day essay Liz Bruenig wrote about becoming a mother at 25.

Last year, the US birthrate experienced its largest single-year drop in nearly 50 years. For years, America’s 2.1 fertility rate made it an outlier to other developed countries. But for the last decade, the number had begun trending downwards, plummeting to last year’s figure of 1.6 children per woman. These numbers entered the news the same week the New York Times published an essay by columnist Elizabeth Bruenig, “I Became a Mother at 25, and I’m Not Sorry I Didn’t Wait.” Many warmly received and shared the piece, which explores the author’s experience of learning she was pregnant and the many factors that have caused millennial women to delay children including economic concerns, higher education, race, and geography. But for others, it struck a nerve. One NYT commenter wrote, “There are few things more irresponsible than bringing a child into the world in 2021. I know it's difficult to reject the incredible social and cultural pressure that encourages us to reproduce. The easiest thing to do will always be to have children. But a good rule of thumb is that the easiest option-- the one our current paradigm encourages-- generally causes the most damage and suffering.” On Twitter, Jill Filipovic wrote, “I would really love to read more essays and op/eds from women (and men, too) who regret having children as early as they did, regret having as many as they did, or regret having children at all. There's not much about motherhood that remains publicly unexplored, but that does.” Rebecca McLaughlin is the author of Confronting Christianity, named Christianity Today's 2020 Beautiful Orthodoxy Book of the Year, and it's follow-up edition for youth, 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity. Her latest book is The Secular Creed: Engaging Five Contemporary Claims. She joined global media manager Morgan Lee and executive editor Ted Olsen to discuss the challenges of talking about babies and motherhood in 2021 in the culture at large but also inside the church. What is Quick to Listen? Read more Rate Quick to Listen on Apple Podcasts Follow the podcast on Twitter Follow our hosts on Twitter: Morgan Lee and Ted Olsen Follow our guest on Twitter: Rebecca McLaughlin Music by Sweeps Quick to Listen is produced by Morgan Lee and Matt Linder The transcript is edited by Yvonne Su and Bunmi Ishola Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The federal death penalty returned with a vengeance at the end of Donald Trump's term, with 13 of the 17 executions of the last 60 years taking place in 2020. The New York Times opinion writer Liz Bruenig has been reporting and reflecting on this shift in policy. Here she shares her experience of witnessing the execution of Alfred Bourgeois in December 2020. We also talk about the politics and policy of the death penalty, the moral and theological arguments against it (St Augustine and Pope Francis feature here), and what the future holds for the death penalty in the U.S. Liz also describes how a murder of a close family member influenced her work in this area.    Elizabeth Bruenig: Twitter @ebruenig   Elizabeth Bruenig is an opinion writer for the New York Times, with previous positions at the Washington Post and the New Republic. She writes at the intersection of theology, ethics, and politics and in 2019, she was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing for her piece “What Do We Owe Her Now.” Bruenig co-hosts a podcast with her husband, Matt, called The Bruenigs, where they discuss family, politics, and current events.  Check out her opinion columns at the New York Times, including her emotional compelling piece “The Man I Saw Them Kill” discussed in this episode.  Also mentioned: Liz quoted this famous monologue from Hamlet: “What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world. The paragon of animals.” Here's the St. Augustine's Sermon on the Mount (paragraph 64): “But great and holy men… punished some sins with death, both because the living were struck with a salutary fear, and because it was not death itself that would injure those who were being punished with death, but sin, which might be increased if they continued to live.” Pope Francis' statement against LWOP The Reuters piece uncovering the identities of the pharmaceutical companies that produced pentobarbital for the federal government.  We also made references to the Anti-Drug Abuse Act (1986) and the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (1996) The National Registry of Exonerations keeps track of exonerations on the basis of false confessions; showing that 70% of those with a reported mental illness or intellectual disability falsely confessed.  Liz also referred to some prior litigation which focuses on the change in procedure from the use of the three-drug cocktail to the use of a single drug (pentobarbital) in lethal injections. And I mentioned the Ta-Nehisi Coates piece: “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration” The Dialogues Team Creator: Richard Reeves Research: Ashleigh Maciolek Artwork: George Vaughan Thomas Tech Support: Cameron Hauver-Reeves Music: "Remember" by Bencoolen (thanks for the permission, guys!)

"Once a person has done evil, they have destroyed a significant part of themselves. They have made that turn towards non-being, non-existence, chaos, disorder, and loss. And so when you execute a person who has already done that kind of moral damage to themselves, not to mention all the damage they've done to other people, but at that point, the only thing remaining in them is the good, which is that this is a human being, alive and made in the image of the living God. And so at that point, that's all they have. And you're destroying it."Ryan McAnnally-Linz is joined by Elizabeth Bruenig (New York Times) to discuss the theological, moral, and political implications of the death penalty, best summed in her bracing piece released days after the execution of Alfred Bourgeois, which she witnessed in person. Show NotesEvan Rosa, Holy Saturday ReflectionElizabeth Bruenig, "The Man I Saw Them Kill”—Liz Bruenig witnesses the execution of Alfred BourgeoisMark Oppenheimer, "A Death Row Inmate Finds Common Ground With Theologians”—Jurgen Moltmann's relationship with death row inmate Kelly GissendanerElizabeth Bruenig, "The Government Has Not Explained How These 13 People Were Selected to Die”—Liz Bruenig: "The federal death penalty cannot be fixed. It's time to end it."Elizabeth Bruenig, "Witness to an Execution: A Chilling Account”—Readers react to Elizabeth Bruenig's essay about the recent federal execution of Alfred Bourgeois."Execution as theater” What does the death penalty do to us?Hoping for the destruction of another person“I think anytime you're sitting around hoping someone is destroyed, that's a morally compromising position to be in. It's certainly the case that people can commit crimes that make me feel like they should be themselves wiped off the face of the earth and eliminated from the cosmos, but I know that those impulses are not the best in me.”The impulse to destroyRationality, irrationality, and the extremity of the death penaltyMoral loss and moral injuryThe question of accidentally executing innocent people versus the impulse to destroyDeserted islandIntense revulsion at evilThe VVitch (The Witch, 2015)St. Augustine on the death penalty. Hate the sin, love the nature."Nothing was restored, nothing was gained. There isn't any justice in it, nor satisfaction, nor reason: There was nothing, nothing there.” Agnes CallardThe permanence of harm“Harm can't be undone… What can we do about the fact that harm is so permanent. … It may seem symmetrical in a literary sense but it doesn't actually do anything to undo the harm."“What can we preserve? What can we prevent from being destroyed any further?"Wounds of the martyrsMiroslav Volf's view that the sins, harms, and wounds of life will not come to mind in heaven; social reconciliation that goes along with the settling of accounts in judgmentThe Prodigal Son and the moral damage done to oneself“You were always with me. Why are you complaining? Everything I have is yours. Why are you upset about that?"Hen Meme: “Sorry my mom said no”“Hiding in God's wing and feeling like, whatever else anyone does, however angry anyone else makes me, I am here with the Lord. He has me. I'll be okay. I have it in me to forgive because I have everything my Father has, which is everything there is."Public policy and the death penalty abolition movement; states will slowly trail off in the use of the death penaltyFederal death penalty, Trump and Barr's abuse of federal executionsThe role of the SupremeWhat to expect and the range of possibilities for the future of federal capital punishmentJürgen Moltmann and death row inmate Kelly GissendanerThe political calculation of commuting sentences or abolishing the death penalty.“They don't want to spend political capital on criminals, people who've done terrible things."Capital punishment and public policyAbout Elizabeth BruenigElizabeth Bruenig is an American journalist and opinion writer for the New York Times.Production NotesThis podcast featured journalist Elizabeth Bruenig and theologian Ryan McAnnally-LinzEdited and Produced by Evan RosaHosted by Evan RosaProduction Assistance by Martin ChanA Production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School https://faith.yale.edu/aboutSupport For the Life of the World podcast by giving to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/give

Today on the Rick Ungar Show: Rick speaks with Elizabeth Bruenig about Virginia abolishing the death penalty after a resurgence of it's use by the federal government under Trump. Then, members of congress seek to limit the president's war powers.

(00:00-09:09): Brian discussed Denise Chow's NBC News article, “J&J vaccine could be a 'game changer.' Here's why a third option matters.” He also reacted to The Associated Press article, “Six Dr. Seuss books pulled for racist images.” (09:09-26:25): Dr. Chloe Sun, Professor at Logos Evangelical Seminary and Author of Attempt Great Things for God, joined Brian to chat about her new book, Conspicuous in His Absence: Studies in the Song of Songs and Esther. Learn more about Chloe and her books at chloesunphd.com (26:25-35:55): Brian shared his thoughts on Elizabeth Bruenig's tweet about “maintaining friendships with people who've made mistakes.” (35:55-44:52): Brian discussed some of the ChristianHeadlines.com articles about Christian persecution. He also commented on Knox Thames' Christianity Today article, “‘I'm Following the Cross': Why Shahbaz Bhatti Died Defending Asia Bibi.” (44:52-1:02:10): Dr. Jim Denison, Co-founder and Chief Vision Officer of the Denison Forum, joined Brian to chat about celebrity Christian culture and his article, “Who was St. Patrick? What does the Bible say about luck and divine providence?” Learn more about Jim and the Denison Forum at denisonforum.org (1:02:10-1:10:49): Brian shared his thoughts on Clarissa Moll's Gospel Coalition article, “4 Ways to Love Someone Blindsided By Loss.“  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cohosts Will Beaman, Natalie Smith, & Maxximilian Seijo are joined by Ian from Twitter (@tweet_boxian) to visit America’s favorite socialist family, the Bruenigs. They begin with reflections on a New York Times piece by Elizabeth Bruenig on the need to forgive the recently canonized Franciscan friar Junipero Serra, who oversaw the torture, enslavement and murder of indigenous Americans in California during the 18th century. Next, they consider Matt Bruenig’s “Family Fun Pack” policy paper. They critique the paper's exclusionary economic premises and natalist aesthetics, and suggest an alternative political economy based on public creation rather than zero sum redistribution. Link to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MoLsuperstructure Music: “Yum” from “This Would Be Funny If It Were Happening To Anyone But Me” EP by flirting. http://flirtingfullstop.bandcamp.com Twitter: @actualflirting

Cohosts Will Beaman, Natalie Smith, & Maxximilian Seijo are joined by Ian from Twitter (@tweet_boxian) to visit America’s favorite socialist family, the Bruenigs. They begin with reflections on a New York Times piece by Elizabeth Bruenig on the need to forgive the recently canonized Franciscan friar Junipero Serra, who oversaw the torture, enslavement and murder of indigenous Americans in California during the 18th century. Next, they consider Matt Bruenig’s “Family Fun Pack” policy paper. They critique the paper's exclusionary economic premises and natalist aesthetics, and suggest an alternative political economy based on public creation rather than zero sum redistribution.Link to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MoLsuperstructureMusic: “Yum” from “This Would Be Funny If It Were Happening To Anyone But Me” EP by flirting.http://flirtingfullstop.bandcamp.comTwitter: @actualflirting

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 23, 2021 is: habeas corpus • HAY-bee-us-KOR-pus • noun 1 : any of several common-law writs issued to bring a party before a court or judge; especially : a writ for inquiring into the lawfulness of the restraint of a person who is imprisoned or detained in another's custody 2 : the right of a citizen to obtain a writ of habeas corpus as a protection against illegal imprisonment Examples: "Embraced by America's founders, the Great Writ, as [habeas corpus is] colloquially known, is enshrined in the Constitution, statutory law, and case law, where it guarantees certain rights to the detained. Habeas corpus entitles detainees convicted in state courts to appeal to federal courts if they believe their rights were violated at trial or during sentencing." — Elizabeth Bruenig, The New York Times, 18 Jan. 2021 "[Assistant to the Solicitor General Vivek] Suri … underscored the availability of habeas corpus relief under Zadvydas v. Davis, a 2001 decision in which the Supreme Court recognized an opportunity for those detained under Section 1231 to seek judicial review once it appeared that there was no significant likelihood of removal." — Gabriel Chin, SCOTUSblog, 12 Jan. 2021 Did you know? The literal meaning of habeas corpus is "you should have the body"—that is, the judge or court should (and must) have any person who is being detained brought forward so that the legality of that person's detention can be assessed. In United States law, habeas corpus ad subjiciendum (the full name of what habeas corpus typically refers to) is also called "the Great Writ," and it is not about a person's guilt or innocence, but about whether custody of that person is lawful under the U.S. Constitution. Common grounds for relief under habeas corpus—"relief" in this case being a release from custody—include a conviction based on illegally obtained evidence; a denial of effective assistance of counsel; or a conviction by a jury that was improperly selected and impaneled.

Plus... Oliver Darcy says there is no real ‘civil war' in the GOP; Brian Stelter discusses freedom of reach versus freedom of speech; what should the next era of news leadership look like? Nicholas Kristof, Tia Mitchell, Oliver Darcy, Briahna Joy Gray, Dave Weigel, Elizabeth Bruenig, Farai Chideya, and Rick Davis join Brian Stelter. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Finance editor Sparky Abraham is joined by contributing editor Eli Massey, activist and filmmaker Astra Taylor, and journalist Elizabeth Bruenig to discuss the American medical debt crisis—who's behind it, what's being done about it, and potential paths to eradicating it. "Churches Step In Where Politicians Will Not": https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/27/opinion/covid-medical-debt-church-charity.html "A Saint's Sins": https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/16/opinion/junipero-serra-catholic-saint.html https://debtcollective.org/ This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.

How did Christian nationalism show up on the campaign trail and at the ballot box? What is the possibility for religion to be a positive and unifying force for our politically divided country? How did President-elect Joe Biden talk about religion in his acceptance speech? Amanda and Holly look at religion and politics this election season — the good, the bad and the confusing.   Segment one: Christian nationalism in the 2020 election (starting at 00:52) For more on the political ideology of Christian nationalism, visit BJConline.org/ChristianNationalism Read and sign the statement at ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org Amanda mentioned two episodes from season one to take a deeper dive on Christian nationalism:         Episode 11: Christian nationalism during the coronavirus pandemic         Episode 15: Protests, the president, and the photo op with a Bible For more on the speech by Vice President Mike Pence on Old Glory, read this Religion News Service story by Jack Jenkins and Emily Miller: Citing Scripture, Pence switches out Jesus for the American flag in convention speech For more resources from BJC on the Johnson Amendment, visit BJConline.org/JohnsonAmendment Amanda mentioned Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry and their book Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States Read the one-page explainer on Christian nationalism at this link. Samuel Perry tweeted about the importance of noting a voter's proclivity toward Christian nationalism to see who they supported. Read his Tweet here.   Holly mentioned the work of Robert P. Jones at PRRI about how the percentage of the voting populace that identifies as religious is shrinking. You can read their many different research studies on their website. Amanda mentioned this opinion piece by Elizabeth Bruenig in The New York Times: Why Evangelicals Aren't What They Used to Be   Segment two: Takeaways and what's next (17:14) For more on the video put out by Idaho lawmakers that included a handgun on a Bible, read this story by Nicole Blanchard in the Idaho Statesman: Idaho Republicans, including Lt. Gov. McGeachin, decry pandemic measures in new video For an egregious example of Christian nationalism in a pseudo-religious setting, see this article in The Washington Post about Patriot Churches, written by Sarah Pulliam Bailey: Seeking power in Jesus' name: Trump sparks a rise of Patriot Churches Holly and Amanda discussed this article from The Washington Post Magazine by Richard Just: How Religion Can Help Put Our Democracy Back Together   Segment three: President-elect Biden and civil religion (33:50) We played two clips from President-elect Joe Biden's speech on Saturday, November 7, 2020. You can watch a video from CSPAN here.   The BJC Podcast series on the dangers of Christan nationalism ran in 2019, and all 10 episodes are available here. You can access a podcast discussion guide here.

How did Christian nationalism show up on the campaign trail and at the ballot box? What is the possibility for religion to be a positive and unifying force for our politically divided country? How did President-elect Joe Biden talk about religion in his acceptance speech? Amanda and Holly look at religion and politics this election season — the good, the bad and the confusing.   Segment one: Christian nationalism in the 2020 election (starting at 00:52) For more on the political ideology of Christian nationalism, visit BJConline.org/ChristianNationalism Read and sign the statement at ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org Amanda mentioned two episodes from season one to take a deeper dive on Christian nationalism:         Episode 11: Christian nationalism during the coronavirus pandemic         Episode 15: Protests, the president, and the photo op with a Bible For more on the speech by Vice President Mike Pence on Old Glory, read this Religion News Service story by Jack Jenkins and Emily Miller: Citing Scripture, Pence switches out Jesus for the American flag in convention speech For more resources from BJC on the Johnson Amendment, visit BJConline.org/JohnsonAmendment Amanda mentioned Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry and their book Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States Read the one-page explainer on Christian nationalism at this link. Samuel Perry tweeted about the importance of noting a voter’s proclivity toward Christian nationalism to see who they supported. Read his Tweet here.   Holly mentioned the work of Robert P. Jones at PRRI about how the percentage of the voting populace that identifies as religious is shrinking. You can read their many different research studies on their website. Amanda mentioned this opinion piece by Elizabeth Bruenig in The New York Times: Why Evangelicals Aren’t What They Used to Be    Segment two: Takeaways and what’s next (17:14) For more on the video put out by Idaho lawmakers that included a handgun on a Bible, read this story by Nicole Blanchard in the Idaho Statesman: Idaho Republicans, including Lt. Gov. McGeachin, decry pandemic measures in new video For an egregious example of Christian nationalism in a pseudo-religious setting, see this article  in The Washington Post about Patriot Churches, written by Sarah Pulliam Bailey: Seeking power in Jesus’ name: Trump sparks a rise of Patriot Churches Holly and Amanda discussed this article from The Washington Post Magazine by Richard Just: How Religion Can Help Put Our Democracy Back Together   Segment three: President-elect Biden and civil religion (33:50) We played two clips from President-elect Joe Biden’s speech on Saturday, November 7, 2020. You can watch a video from CSPAN here.   The BJC Podcast series on the dangers of Christan nationalism ran in 2019, and all 10 episodes are available here.   

Even with all that has been known about the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandals, revelations about the role of Pope John Paul II in elevating a former archbishop accused of abuse caused shockwaves. A new report from the Vatican found two popes ignored, overlooked for downplayed allegations against Theodore McCarrick. Amna Nawaz talks to The New York Times' Elizabeth Bruenig. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Even with all that has been known about the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandals, revelations about the role of Pope John Paul II in elevating a former archbishop accused of abuse caused shockwaves. A new report from the Vatican found two popes ignored, overlooked for downplayed allegations against Theodore McCarrick. Amna Nawaz talks to The New York Times' Elizabeth Bruenig. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Thomas, Monica, James, and Jacob (from Catholic Social Action) talk about our experience at the March on Washington for Racial Justice and Police Reform. We discuss the complexity of the BLM, the wonderful friends who marched with us, the power of public prayer, the legacy of MLK, and the futility of expecting racial justice from liberals and centrists.Lots of Links:Open Letter to US Bishops on the March for Black Life'Racism Makes a Liar of God' | Gloria Purvis and Elizabeth Bruenig in the NYTThe schedule of CSA on the day of the MarchPhotos from the MarchBrief Coverage of our group on EWTN at 10:08We didn't get a Latin Mass in Washington, but friends in Detroit marked the day by hearing a votive TLM with the intention of ending the sin of racism. A LONG video of the Official Speeches. The pro-family rhetoric we discuss can be found at 2:58:45An article about Archbishop Gregory's initiative against racism which was announced that day. The last picture shows our group receiving his apostolic blessing. "A letter from a TLM Catholic who stands with BLM" | The Dorothy OptionEasy Essays (these were handed out as pamphlets)The Modern Origins of Race TheoryHow the Law Taught Racism in the United StatesRacism is a Tool to Divide the Working-ClassThe Black Napoleon of Integralism (Tom's favorite)The Melting Pot of WhitenessCheck out our Patreon, where you can support us and find extra podcasts and other neat stuff.   

Five months after the editorial board’s science writer Jeneen Interlandi warned the hosts of “The Argument” that they should get comfortable in quarantine, she makes her return to the podcast to talk what comes next. Ross and Frank press Jeneen on herd immunity possibilities, how to fix the testing lags in the U.S., and the question on every parent and teacher’s mind: How can we open schools safely?Then, Opinion writer Elizabeth Bruenig joins Frank and Ross for a debate on the moral obligations of the Roman Catholic Church in 2020. If the Movement for Black Lives is promulgating Catholic beliefs, why won’t the church say Black lives Matter? And how will Joe Biden’s Catholicism play a role in the election? Finally, Elizabeth recommends a break from omniscience.For background reading on this episode, visit nytimes.com/theargument

Elizabeth Bruenig (New York Times) joins the podcast to discuss the ethical and theological commitments that underlie her political and cultural commentary; work, labor, and employment; and how to be opinionated and very online at a time when most Americans are afraid of what other people think of their beliefs.

Religion is difficult for journalists to cover, in part because it lies beyond observation and resists narrative. On this week's Kicker, Elizabeth Bruenig, an opinion writer for the New York Times, speaks with Kyle Pope, editor and publisher of CJR, on how, as we live in a time of enormous loss, we can report on spirituality and death.

Elizabeth Bruenig Right About Joe Rogan—Nominating Biden Would Make Trump Presidency Inevitable Howell Underground on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ALrQNOIs04v_7y6yTAY6g/videos #CancelBiden #JoeRogan #BernieorBust Yes! I Pledge to #BernTheDNC https://www.bernthednc.org NYT Elizabeth Bruenig - Bernie Sanders Was Right https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/opinion/bernie-sanders-campaign.html There Can Be No Viable Progressive Movement Without Labor Strikes . . . https://medium.com/@allenkithowell/there-can-be-no-viable-progressive-movement-without-labor-strikes-fff299c4bee5 Vote for Bernie in the Primaries https://voteforbernie.org/ Howell Underground FaceBook Page https://www.facebook.com/Howell-Underground-103101477733312/ Revolt Against Plutocracy donation to help spread the word. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bernieorbust2020 Buy the Book! http://bernieorbust.info Contact me directly: https://www.facebook.com/allen.kit.howell --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/allen-c-howell/support

At least ten million Americans filed for unemployment in the last two weeks of March, and that’s not the end of it. Has the federal government done enough to support Americans financially through this crisis? Is there a missed opportunity for reform and bigger, longer term ideas in the response? And what will the government have to do more of as this crisis continues? Rich Lowry argues this real crisis puts previous crises in perspective, like impeachment and the Mueller investigation. Elizabeth Bruenig brings up the moral questions that underly a pandemic and our responses to it. Jonathan Karl, chief White House correspondent for ABC News, has a new book called Front Row At The Trump Show. Jon talks about President Trump’s long coronavirus briefings and what it’s like to cover them, the similarities between his reaction to the pandemic and to Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Dorian, how the president actually feels about reporters (and vice versa), and what we can expect to see from him as the pandemic crisis bears down on the general election. Also: the Democratic presidential primary is technically still going on. Is Joe Biden doing the right thing by laying (somewhat) low?

Air Date 3/10/2020 Today we take a look at Democratic Socialism and how to explain it because socialism and the freedoms it provides are a lot more American than we tend to think.  Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) EPISODE SPONSORS: Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Democratic Socialism Explained with Spencer Cox - Washington State Indivisible Podcast - Air Date 5-16-19 Spencer Cox discusses what democratic socialism means in action. Ch. 2: Move Over Socialism Democrats Need to Reclaim the Word "Freedom" - Thom Hartmann - Air Date 3-18-19 Among Democrats, there is a big debate about the word Socialism but should Democrats be talking about the word freedom instead? Ch. 3: Bernie Sanders' Socialism is As American as The Post Office - The Benjamin Dixon Show - Air Date 1-23-20 Ben Dixon breaks down a clip from MSNBC and what they get wrong about democratic socialism. Ch. 4: Jackson Mississippi's Socialist Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba - Backstory - Air Date 4-26-19 A conversation with the mayor of a southern town looking to make it the most radical in the nation Ch. 5: Capitalism vs Socialism - Progressive Faith Sermons - Air Date 9-1-19 "Socialism" has become a political scare word used to frighten voters away from progressive programs intended to expand health care coverage, make higher education available to lower-income families, and to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. Ch. 6: Who’s Really Afraid of Socialism? - Deconstructed - Air Date 2-6-19 To discuss America’s long-held resistance to socialism and its current rise in popularity, Mehdi Hasan is joined by Washington Post columnist Elizabeth Bruenig. Ch. 7: Astra Taylor on Socialism, Democracy and Liberalism - Jacobin Radio The Dig with Daniel Denvir - Air Date 7-5-19 The world is changing and we need to make the world work for more people. If we do nothing the world will end, but we have so much to gain. A promised land is just beyond the horizon. Ch. 8: Talking Democratic Socialism with Bhaskar Sunkara - Hear the Bern - Air Date 6-25-19 Bernie Sanders gives a democratic socialist speech and Bhaskar Sunkara helps break it down. FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 9: Final comments on the lasting effects of propaganda and the coming revolution MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions): Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr  PolyCoat - The Cabinetmaker Blue Jay - Feathers Astrisx - Bodytonic Yarrow and Root - The Bulwark These Times - The Pine Barrens Tripoli - Pecan Grove Contrarian - Sketchbook Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent SHOW IMAGE "Medicare for All Rally," Molly Adams, Flickr | License | Modifications: Cropped & increased contrast   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Listen on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | +more Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Facebook!

Gracy Olmstead is a beautiful writer, her pieces published regularly in the New York Times and many others. As someone who ingests thousands of words per week, I make a point never to miss hers. She's writes about culture, faith, politics, policy, farming, food and more -- and does so with a voice all her own. Her pieces are often focused on compromise, human dignity and life and she has a knack for luring in both sides of an issue and helping them hear one another. So important! Gracy is the mom of two little girls and grew up in rural Idaho. She's now in Virginia, where she gardens, bakes, writes and stays at home with her girls. In today's interview, we talk about the freelance writing lie and her process for coming up with ideas, as well as that tough mom-life balance when you are home with your kids and working. I loved what she had to say about why she loves working with the earth in gardening and how she approaches ideas about writing with such reverence. She wants every piece to be extremely thoughtful and honoring of the topic at hand, which usually means no breathless op/es within 24 hours of breaking news ;) She's got a new book coming out and recently started an amazing monthly newsletter that writers, book and culture lovers will want to subscribe too. Gracy counts writers she's loves to follow: Wendell Berry, Ross Douthat, Michael Brenda Dougherty, Elizabeth Bruenig, Emma Green & others. I second all of those! ----> Wanna get new episodes when they drop? Subscribe to “Worth Your Time” on iTunes. Sign up for my email list HERE for bi-weekly episodes & commentary on faith, culture & politics What We Talked About: Gracy's newsletter, "Granola" Her piece on "Feasting" that I loved! Seeding Control to Big Ag Her latest in the New York Times Furious Hours Dignity by Chris Arnade Strong Towns Podcast At Home with Sally Clarkson Connect with Gracy: Facebook Twitter Instagram Recent Episodes: Manda Carpenter: 28-Year-Old Foster Mom on a Mission Krish O’Mara Vignarajah: President & CEO, Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service Rachel Barkley: Fighting a Spinal Tumor with a Newborn

President Trump has an unlikely following from many Evangelical voters. Washington Post writer, Elizabeth Bruenig, describes why they support President Trump.

CW: Complex discussions of Christianity, Faith, and Catholicism’s scandals. Washington Post writer Elizabeth Bruenig (@ebruenig) joins Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) to explain the seemingly nonsensical evangelical support for Donald Trump. They delve into the suicide-pact between Trump and Jesus Country that seems rooted in apocalyptic nihilism, toxic absolutism, and a devastating cynicism about American politics. With a warmth and sympathy stemming from their own familial connections, Ana and Elizabeth explore this version of Christanity that seems disconnected from their own understanding. Elizabeth and Ana then share the ways they’ve learned to cope in the midst of these turbulent times, and ironically, how their faith helps them face the hopelessness of the headlines. Thanks to our sponsors!  ARC is a new way to achieve professional-level teeth whitening at home for just 30 minutes a day. To help our listeners get a whiter, brighter smile, ARC is offering $15 off your purchase of a Blue Light kit when you visit Arcsmile.com and use promo code FRIENDS at checkout.  Everlane only makes premium essentials, using the finest materials, without traditional markups. Right now, you can check out our personalized collection at Everlane.com/friends and get free shipping on your first order. Rothy’s are the everyday flats for life on the go. They’re stylish and versatile, and they go with everything from yoga pants to dresses and skirts. Rothy’s come in a wide range of colors and patterns, and they’re available in four different silhouettes. Plus, they’re constantly launching new styles, so you’re guaranteed to find a pair—or three—you love. Go to Rothys.com/wflt to get your new favorite flats.

Drew shares the full audio of one of his favorite conversations from Hinge, discussing suffering and doubt with Washington Post columnist Elizabeth Bruenig. Personal. Vulnerable. Insightful.   Got questions/feedback? Message Drew at @wdrewsokol Music: "Your Precious Smile" by Eden Fox

The entire Current Affairs team comes together to brief listeners on as many of the Democratic presidential candidates as they can in two hours (spoiler alert: we only could get through half!) The Panel: Briahna Joy Gray, contributing editor Vanessa A. Bee, social media editor Brianna Rennix, senior editor Sparky Abraham, finance editor Oren Nimni, legal editor Nick Slater, newsletter editor Lyta Gold, amusements eidtor Nathan J. Robinson, editor-in-chief Pete Davis, host Candidates discussed: Joe Biden (read about his feud with Elizabeth Warren over banks here) Marianne Williamson (read about the debate over 2020 and reparations here) Amy Klobuchar (read Elizabeth Bruenig on feminism and her workplace abuse here) Bernie Sanders (listen to his folk album here; watch his Debs documentary here) Julian Castro (read about the HUD Mortgage Sale scandal here) Elizabeth Warren (read about her groundbreaking Two-Income Trap book here) Andrew Yang (read about the "Yang Gang"'s meme problem here) Tulsi Gabbard (read about the mystery of Gabbard's values here) Howard Schultz (read a profile of his feuds with the city of Seattle here) Support Current Affairs — and gain access to the Bird Feed of bonus episodes — by becoming a patron at our Patreon page. Many thanks to Dan Thorn, at Pink Noise Studios, for editing this episode.

    Listen, support, and interact: https://linktr.ee/theentrylevelleft     01:27: Beyond Rawls: An Analysis of the Concept of Political Liberalism by SP Young, ISBN-10: 0761822410   03:00: “Understanding liberals vs the left” by Elizabeth Bruenig: https://goo.gl/ffhCBx   04:23: “The Difference Between Liberalism and Leftism” by Nathan J. Robinson, Editor in Chief of Current Affairs: https://goo.gl/DtckCC   06:00: Classical Liberal roots and how it relates to our modern parties   07:40: Morals vs. Manners and superficial vs. systemic changes   07:50: Liberalism in Theory and Practice by Jacobin Magazine: https://goo.gl/1Mfm99   11:00: What it Means to Be on the Left by Peter Frase, Jacobin Magazine: https://goo.gl/SHKDFR   11:45: Can liberalism realize its own ideals?   21:26: Why is the liberal welfare state not sufficient?   28:10: How would leftists address social issues as compared to liberals?   37:15: Is liberalism equipped to deal with the rise of Trump and the far right?   38:00: “Why People Vote For Those Who Work Against Their Best Interests” Lecture by Mark Blyth: https://goo.gl/Cb6Ni2   42:25: Obama to Trump Swing Voters: https://goo.gl/1bG2mr     Music produced by @southpointe__ on Instagram.

This episode features two guests from opposite sides of the debate over the state of the Democratic Party and the left. First, we have Jonathan Chait, a long time left-of-center writer who argues that the Obama years were a stunning success and form the trajectory the party should pursue in the future. Opposite Chait we have the Washington Post’s Elizabeth Bruenig, who argues that the Obama presidency’s shortcomings are part of why democratic socialism is the path forward. On Twitter and Facebook, these two camps, which overlap with the 2016 Hillary vs. Bernie divide, snipe at each other endlessly, engaged in a forever war for control of social media narratives. In this episode, Bruenig and Chait leave those Twitter tribes behind for a respectful, substantive discussion about Twitter, abortion, Obama, healthcare reform, liberal democracy, and the culture of left-wing campus activism.Co-produced by Leighton Woodhouse and Zaid JilaniModerated by Zaid JilaniMusic by Breakmaster CylinderSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/extremelyoffline)

What separates Obama-era liberalism from Sanders-style democratic socialism? What are the fights splitting and transforming the Democratic Party actually about? This is a conversation I’ve wanted to have for a while, in part because I often find myself simultaneously in these debates and confused by them. Sometimes, arguments that are framed as deep ideological disagreements seem to actually be about differing political judgments about what public and political institutions will permit. But perhaps those political judgments are just ideology posing as pragmatism. It’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole here. Elizabeth Bruenig is an opinion columnist at the Washington Post, co-host of the podcast The Bruenigs, and a thoughtful champion of the democratic socialist worldview. I asked her on the show to help me trace the boundaries of this debate and highlight where the divides really are. This is a conversation about ideology, but it’s also about the limits of persuasion, whether civility is a weapon wielded by the powerful, what Medicare-for-all means, the left’s definition of freedom, the contradictions of being “socially liberal and fiscally responsible,” Howard Schultz, and much more. Book Recommendations: The Confessions of Saint Augustine by Saint Augustine Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky The Malaise of Modernity by Charles Taylor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Tonight,” proclaimed Donald Trump in his State of the Union Address, “we renew our resolve that America will never be a socialist country.” The line received a standing ovation from Republicans and Democrats alike, yet recent polls show that socialism is growing in popularity in the U.S., with a net positive rating among Democrats. To discuss America’s long-held resistance to socialism and its current rise in popularity, Mehdi Hasan is joined by Washington Post columnist Elizabeth Bruenig.

Kansas City based therapist, blogger and podcast host Nathan Staley returns for another conversation. We discuss (and critique) the worldview of Jordan Peterson, the nature of fascism, and the possible psychological effects of the Trump administration erecting the border wall. Show Notes Nathan's work: Off Baseline podcast (http://offbaseline.com/) Loaves and Roses blog (medium.com/loaves-and-roses) References Bari Weiss "Intellectual Dark Web" article (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/opinion/intellectual-dark-web.html) Alexander Offord's critique of Jordan Peterson (https://medium.com/@offordwrites/the-intellectual-fraudulence-of-jordan-peterson-apropos-daniel-karasik-ff3b58c48fc3) The Majority Report with Sam Sedar (https://majorityreportradio.com/) The psychologist Carl Jung (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Jung) Preston Sprinkle (https://www.prestonsprinkle.com/) Theology in the Raw podcast episode (https://www.prestonsprinkle.com/theology-in-the-raw/2019/1/7/718-a-conversation-with-luke-thompson) Fight by Preston Sprinkle (https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Christian-Non-Violence-Preston-Sprinkle/dp/1434704920) Zero Books (http://www.zero-books.net/) Ben Burgis critique of Jordan Peterson's social hierarchy theory (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_sEPK9krzQ) Chris Hedges (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hedges) (https://www.truthdig.com/author/chris_hedges/) Barbara Ehrenreich (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Ehrenreich) Bright-sided by Barbara Ehrenreich (https://www.amazon.com/Bright-sided-Positive-Thinking-Undermining-America/dp/0312658850) The Specters of Marx by Jacques Derrida (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/80473.Specters_of_Marx) Neoliberalism (https://corpwatch.org/article/what-neoliberalism) How Fascism Works by Jason Stanley (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/586030/how-fascism-works-by-jason-stanley/9780525511830/) Jason Stanley Majority Report interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9idaBsysqAs) Hitler's American Model by James Q. Whitman (https://www.amazon.com/Hitlers-American-Model-United-States/dp/0691172420) Steve King's white supremacy comments article (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/steve-king-white-supremacist-offensive_us_5c3752afe4b045f676897d45) Elizabeth Bruenig (https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/elizabeth-bruenig/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.31eb1dfdc61a) (https://medium.com/@ebruenig/reading-list-c0393a56eca2) The End of Work by John Hughes (https://www.amazon.com/End-Work-Theological-Critiques-Capitalism/dp/140515893X/ref=pd_sbs_14_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=140515893X&pd_rd_r=a5ce9f67-fe5f-11e8-bb85-05637d074539&pd_rd_w=X5RUc&pd_rd_wg=A88e3&pf_rd_p=7d5d9c3c-5e01-44ac-97fd-261afd40b865&pf_rd_r=93K6KV71JQ69Y86PCZ69&psc=1&refRID=93K6KV71JQ69Y86PCZ69)

This podcast talks about an amazing piece written by Elizabeth Bruenig for the Washington Post. Amber Wyatt reported her rape in 2006, nobody believed her and she was made to feel like an outcast in her own town.   https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/amber-wyatt-told-her-story-of-rape-this-is-how-the-world-responded/2018/09/21/ff11300a-bdda-11e8-8792-78719177250f_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.91c37d336253

Washington Post columnist Elizabeth Bruenig is our special guest for today’s episode of Pass the Mic! During our insightful conversation, we discussed: Christianity from the perspective of the Left Building a moral economy The history of the Religious Right Racialized language Be sure to give her a follow on Twitter @ebruenig to keep up with her writing. Also, don’t forget to meet us in Dallas for the second stop of the PTM Live Tour on Saturday, April 7th at 3pm. We’ll be recording our 200th episode so you don’t want to miss such a special moment! Get your tickets today at our Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pass-the-mic-live-dallas-episode-200-tickets-44407373650?aff=es2 Episode 198 Support this podcast on patreon at www.patreon.com/PassTheMic Hosts: Jemar Tisby (twitter.com/JemarTisby) Tyler Burns (twitter.com/Burns23) Producer: Beau York (twitter.com/TheRealBeauYork) Podastery Studios (twitter.com/Podastery) Lean More: Pass The Mic - www.PassTheMicPodcast.com (twitter.com/_PassTheMic) The Witness - www.TheWitnessBCC.com (twitter.com/WitnessBCC)

Elizabeth Bruenig, Washington Post columnist, discussed the role of Christianity in U.S. politics with Richard Parker, Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded February 20, 2018, at Harvard Kennedy School. 

The "Church Politics" Podcast is where you can get in depth political analysis from a Christian worldview with two of the brightest minds in the political arena. The Church Politics Podcast is hosted by former Obama White House staffer Michael Wear and AND Campaign co-founder Justin Giboney. These two seasoned politicos will analyze political events and policy based on their Christian values and their experience in the civic arena. The podcast will provide guidance to Christians seeking to transcend partisanship and political ideology and find discipleship in the public square. It will also include interviews with a diverse group of public figures, music and more. On this episode, Michael and Justin discuss the controversies surrounding Trump Chief of Staff General John Kelly. They also delve into how domestic violence is being handled in the White House and Trump's budget deal. Lastly, they discuss Elizabeth Bruenig's take on the Marco Rubio-Ivanka Trump Paid Family Medical Leave plan.

The "Church Politics" Podcast is where you can get in depth political analysis from a Christian worldview with two of the brightest minds in the political arena. The Church Politics Podcast is hosted by former Obama White House staffer Michael Wear and AND Campaign co-founder Justin Giboney. These two seasoned politicos will analyze political events and policy based on their Christian values and their experience in the civic arena. The podcast will provide guidance to Christians seeking to transcend partisanship and political ideology and find discipleship in the public square. It will also include interviews with a diverse group of public figures, music and more. On this episode, Michael and Justin discuss the controversies surrounding Trump Chief of Staff General John Kelly. They also delve into how domestic violence is being handled in the White House and Trump's budget deal. Lastly, they discuss Elizabeth Bruenig's take on the Marco Rubio-Ivanka Trump Paid Family Medical Leave plan.

First, [3:55] we check in with our pal Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) to discuss what the Mueller indictments mean for the future of Trump’s administration, the big question being: how much longer will Congressional Republicans continue to protect this president in the face of mounting evidence? Rick has a somewhat sunnier view than Ana on how things will play out. Then, [38:29] Elizabeth Bruenig (@ebruenig) stops by for a discussion about poverty and morality in relation to the GOP tax plan, which is in essence an attack on the nation’s poorest people. Find the pod on Twitter at @crooked_friends. Have a question? Send an email to withfriendslikepod@gmail.com. Go to crooked.com for more info. And check out our sponsors!  The ACLU’s Let People Vote Campaign: Help defend the right to vote by visiting vote.peoplepower.org. Hello Fresh: Get $30 off your first week by going to HelloFresh.com and using promo code WithFriends30. TrackR: Receive 20% off any order at TheTrackR.com/friends. Stamps.com: Get a four-week trial plus postage by visiting stamps.com with promo code Friends.

God's Purpose In Things: An Interview With Elizabeth Bruenig, Editor at the Washington Post and Contributor to America Magazine. Elizabeth gives us a general outline of the understanding of property from the Patristic Age, through the Medieval Church, and into the Enlightenment Era. We especially look to St. Augustine's account of creation, fall, and redemption in understanding the political order, rule, and property. The difference this makes for contemporary Catholics is elucidated as well.

We chat with Liz Bruenig about the religious left, the "dirtbag" left, St. Augustine, the "nones", the trouble with meritocracy, Gar Alperovitz's Next System, and a great new book called Ours to Hack and to Own.

Saint Augustine is one of the foundational figures of Christianity and one of the most influential thinkers of all time. He was also a complex and fascinating figure in his own right. Elizabeth Bruenig, an editor at the Washington Post and writer on politics and Christianity (@ebruenig on Twitter) joins me to discuss Augustine's life, thought, and greater meaning. Take the survey at Wondery.com/survey.

Baseball crank, Baseball crank, Baseball crank, Baseball crank, Baseball crank, Baseball crank, NYPD Dad, Baseball crank, Baseball crank, Baseball crank. In episode 8, Matt, Will and Felix are joined by Elizabeth Bruenig to talk #NerdProm, The Innovation Party, and what the deal with God is? Then in the Chapo Reading Series we peruse "Strip Club Ennui" (http://thefederalist.com/2014/03/28/strip-club-ennui/) by The Federalist's Daniel Payne. LInks:

Elizabeth Bruenig is the guest. She is a staff writer for The New Republic. Her work focuses on politics and religion.   Really excited to have Elizabeth on the program. I've been a big fan for a while now and feel like she is already, at the ripe old age of 25, an indispensable voice in our political discourse, and on the topic of religion.  She first came to my attention (and you'll hear me mention this in the monologue) when she submitted an essay to The Nervous Breakdown several years ago. She must have been twenty or twenty-one at the time. Something like that. The quality of the writing blew me away. To see her have the success that she's having now is really wonderful, and not at all surprising. In our conversation we discuss her personal history, growing up in Texas, her religious upbringing and her conversion, in college, to Catholicism. We talk about God, Augustine, the nature of belief. And of course we talk about politics. Hillary Clinton vs. Bernie Sanders. Donald Trump and Ted Cruz and the GOP shit-show. All of it.   In the monologue, I talk, as I said, about the history of my Elizabeth Bruenig fandom and then I get into Election 2016 and start rambling and don't stop rambling for roughly fifteen minutes.  You're welcome, America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Unorthodox, a special live taping from the nation's capital featuring Jewish food maven Joan Nathan and New Republic writer Elizabeth Bruenig, and much, much more   This week, Unorthodox heads to our nation's capital for a special live episode at  the Washington DCJCC. Our Jewish guest is food maven and Tablet contributor Joan Nathan, who discusses her Yemenite chicken soup recipe and explains why we're all missing out on Libyan Jewish cuisine. She tells us about her favorite chefs, visits to the White House, and which president she considers the 'most Jewish.'    Our non-Jewish guest is Elizabeth Bruenig, who writes about Christianity, politics, and poverty for the New Republic. She tells us how a Methodist from Texas ended up at Brandeis University—and then converted to Catholicism. Her question for the panel is whether Bernie Sanders' campaign has been exciting for Jews to watch.    For more Joan Nathan, visit http://joannathan.com/, or get her Tablet recipes at http://www.tabletmag.com/author/jnathan. You find Elizabeth Bruenig's articles athttps://newrepublic.com/authors/elizabeth-bruenig. For more of our in-house Jewbadour, Jim Knable, check out jimknable.com.    We love to hear from you! Email us at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com. Sign up for our weekly newsletter at http://bit.ly/UnorthodoxPodcast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TRANSCRIPT Church Militant (a 501(c)4 corporation) is responsible for the content of this commentary. The world of politics is the arena in which the culture and the Church are now colliding head-on in a war for the ages. It's taken a man like Trump to actually set the stage for this epic battle, to set the table for everything to come together. For example, in a stunning admission this past weekend, in light of the announcement of Catholic Amy Coney Barrett by Trump to the Supreme Court, New York Times columnist Elizabeth Bruenig just flat out said, "Judge Barrett's nomination has merely renewed attention to a fundamental conflict, centuries underway, between Catholicism and the American ethos." Well, at least Bruenig has the decency to be upfront about her anti-Catholic bigotry. Most of her Marxist-minded allies do not. But more and more of them are beginning to speak of actual Catholics as some sort of pariahs, speaking of us in terms of the enemies of the State. It's not been that long in this country since Catholics were treated as the enemy. It was really only in the wake of World War II where Catholic servicemen fought alongside millions of their non-Catholic American brothers-in-arms that we caught a break. Ten years later, Abp. Fulton Sheen was dominating the airwaves, speaking of Catholic majesty and truth and virtue. His Life Is Worth Living television show was the number-one-rated show when it aired from 1952 till 1956. He even won the Emmy award for "Most Outstanding Television Personality" in the show's first year. Sheen — American born and Catholic formed — was a strident patriot and a zealous anti-communist. He often railed against the evil of Marxism, even famously saying of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin on the air, "Stalin must one day meet his judgment." The next week, Stalin hit the floor, dead from a stroke. America has Marxist creep. Of course, this was all nearly 70 years ago, and a lot has changed in America since then. America has Marxist creep. It has become this way because the American experiment is based on the foundation of a virtuous people. Once virtue leaves the room, chaos sets in. Sheen never had to talk about widespread ills of our society — fatherless children, shattered families, an acceptance of homosexuality, abortion as the most common surgical procedure performed in the country. It was precisely to prevent evils like this that Sheen preached to begin with. Yet here we are, a nation sunk so low that many are questioning, "Is America on life support; is this its demise?" Despite this past weekend's prayer rally organized by Frankin Graham (with a conspicuous absence of Catholic bishops, incidentally) the large gathering of thousands does not mask that America has traded vice for virtue. Little by little, each election cycle, fewer believers vote, ultimately because there are simply fewer believers to vote. The scales are at the tipping point, and soon, barring some action by Heaven, they will complete their tilt toward godlessness, enshrining immorality into law and eviscerating any opposition to that what Bruening calls "the American ethos." What has happened though is that what she describes as the American ethos is little else than a sophisticated way to speak of Marxism. Her American ethos is as far from the actual American ethos as James Martin's version of Catholicism is from actual Catholicism — which is to say light-years away. Anti-Catholicism will soon become etched into that new ethos if the Marxists win this election. In some ways, in fact, it already has. President Trump had to actually come out this past weekend and address the entire topic of anti-Catholicism. Now the last battle is being waged in the arena of politics. A win here for the Marxists means it's over. Time will be all there is standing between faithful Catholics and those who want to destroy them. Consider, almost a hundred Catholic parishes or shrines around the nation have been vandalized this year. Faithful Catholics have been insulted, spit on at pro-life prayer sessions and vilified in the media for defending Catholic teachings. This will not go away if Biden wins. It will increase — it will, in fact, come to be blessed by the State (for how else should an enemy of the State be treated?). The Church had been neatly prepared to be offered up to the Sexual Revolution of the 1960s. The case could be made — strongly — that 70 years ago, America was on the verge of becoming Catholic. But that was not to happen. Many of the religious orders — even back then — had already been penetrated (as well as Catholic colleges and universities). The seminaries were beginning to stink of subtle heresy. The Church had been neatly prepared to be offered up to the Sexual Revolution of the 1960s. By that time, enough of the hierarchy had become corrupt — doctrinally, liturgically, financially or sexually, or in some cases, all of the above. A giant structure of the Church in America had been constructed in those first hundred or so years, and it would take a number of generations to dismantle it. But over the decades, dismantle it they did — the enemies of Christ inside the Church we're speaking of. Their champion is Joe Biden; he is the very model of everything the current American ethos is about. And he is the very model at the same time of all that fraudulent Catholicism is about. He is the son of the fraudulent Church of Nice, and those in his entourage would turn around and smash the authentic Church to pieces. Understand, Catholics who actually believe, understand everything that is at stake here.