In this week's Weekly Roundup, Brad Onishi and Dan Miller unpack the fallout from the Trump administration's Iran deal, the growing fractures within the MAGA coalition, and why Vice President JD Vance appears to be carrying the political burden for a foreign policy debacle.
They examine the deal's similarities to the Obama-era agreement Republicans once condemned, the tensions between America First isolationists and pro-Israel conservatives, and what Vance's comments reveal about the future of the Republican Party. Along the way, they explore how ideas about masculinity, leadership, power, and political performance shape Trump's approach to governing—and why those approaches are increasingly running into reality.
Brad and Dan also discuss the symbolism of Trump's algae-filled Reflecting Pool, the contrast between spectacle and civic leadership, the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, and Zohran Mamdani's appearance at the Knicks championship celebration. What do these competing public rituals tell us about the kind of country Americans want to build?
Plus: updates on the launch of Axis Mundi's new daily analysis platform, the Axis Daily Brief, and how you can support independent journalism and public scholarship at the intersection of religion and politics.
Interview:
Sunday, June 21, 2026
The American Way is Separation of Religion and State with Freedom of Religious Expression (Warren Throckmorton; The Christian Past That Wasn’t: Formerly Telling Jefferson Lies podcast)
Throckmorton says: 
Randall Balmer joins me for remarks about why he believes America is not a Christian nation and why separation of church and state is the American way.
This is the topic of chapter 6 in my new book The Christian Past That Wasn't. In the book, I cover the topics in this segment as well as the Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists, The Church of the Holy Trinity v. the United States, and the views of James Madison.
Christian nationalists have significantly distorted the history in this area to reframe and redefine separation of church and state. I go to the primary sources to show readers what the framers said about this important principle.
Interview:
Warren Throckmorton, The Christian Past That Wasn't (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #640)
Warren Throckmorton is an author and speaker specializing in psychology and history.
Now retired, he worked as a psychology professor at a Christian college and produced, wrote, and hosted the critically acclaimed podcast series Telling Jefferson Lies.
Throckmorton is the coauthor with Michael Coulter of Getting Jefferson Right: Fact-Checking Claims About Thomas Jefferson. His latest book is called The Christian Past That Wasn't: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History. In it, he investigates a series of Christian Nationalist myths and why they're wrong.
Hemant spoke with Throckmorton about his new book ad Christian Nationalism in general.
Interview:
Brain Surgery (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)
Neurosurgeon Dr. Vivekanand Palavali joins us to examine how science unravels near-death and out-of-body experiences. Then, we hear from members of the Congressional Freethought Caucus who are pushing back against Christian nationalism and the false claim that America was founded as a Christian nation.
Interview:
It’s a scam’: Americans express unease over SpaceX’s influence on retirement savings
“I think that the amount is absolutely ridiculous and untethered to the company’s actual value,” he said. “I think it’s abhorrent that my savings and retirement funds are tied so intricately to these tech companies, especially when they cannot be held accountable by investors.”…
“As someone looking to retire in the next five to 10 years, I’m alarmed at big tech’s market consolidation and its impact on my savings and investments. As a human being, I’m distraught that these companies all seem to be run by people with little accountability or moral compass,” he said. “How and why do my finances have to be bound to a racist, narcissistic, baby man who does not seem to care about other human beings? Everything about this is wrong.”
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jun/19/spacex-retirement-savings-elon-musk
She Needed Emergency Care for an Ectopic Pregnancy. The Religious Hospital said “No.”
When Harmonie Perrone arrived at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Illinois with symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, she knew exactly what treatment she needed. She had been through this before. But because the hospital is religious, it restricted abortion-related care, and Perrone says doctors refused to provide the medication that could have ended the dangerous pregnancy before it became a medical crisis.
Instead, Perrone was repeatedly denied treatment by OB/GYN Dr. Dympna Coll, sent to a Catholic facility that also refused to help her, and forced to seek care elsewhere while the clock was ticking.
By the time she finally received treatment at Northwestern Medicine, the delay had dramatically increased the risks. Ultimately, surgeons had to remove her remaining fallopian tube, leaving her unable to become pregnant without IVF.
Now Perrone is suing Advocate Good Shepherd and Dr. Coll for medical negligence and violations of Illinois law.
But that's not the only lawsuit involved. After Perrone shared her experience on TikTok, Coll sued her for defamation and demanded she take down her videos.
I’m a critical care doctor. I’ve never seen the US harm its children this deliberately
At every stage of childhood, the Trump administration is withdrawing a protection. It is also dismantling the tools that would measure the harm…
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/19/trump-administration-healthcare-for-kids
The Resurrection of JP Sears (Conspirituality podcast, episode #313)
A decade ago, JP Sears built a large following poking fun at yogis and wellness types with his “ultra spiritual life” videos. Then Covid came and Sears took a hard right turn. In fact, he credits the pandemic with “opening his eyes” to many of the world’s problems—in his eyes, that means Anthony Fauci, vaccines, and transgender “ideology.”
Sears is one of the very first people we covered on this podcast six years ago, and was one of the influencers we featured in our 2023 book about the wellness-to-right-wing radicalization pipeline. Turns out he’s turned again, this time into a flavor of Christian nationalism with an antisemitic bend.
Lately, Sears has been pumping out tons of Israel commentary, even turning against his former favorite president, Donald Trump. In fact, a number of right-wing influencers have soured on Israel. Is Sears sniffing out opportunities again? How is he balancing legitimate critiques of the genocide with blatant antisemitic rhetoric? And how does he fit into the growing diagonalism occurring in the right-wing attention economy?
Interview:
Sears is one of the very first people we covered on this podcast six years ago, and was one of the influencers we featured in our 2023 book about the wellness-to-right-wing radicalization pipeline. Turns out he’s turned again, this time into a flavor of Christian nationalism with an antisemitic bend.
Lately, Sears has been pumping out tons of Israel commentary, even turning against his former favorite president, Donald Trump. In fact, a number of right-wing influencers have soured on Israel. Is Sears sniffing out opportunities again? How is he balancing legitimate critiques of the genocide with blatant antisemitic rhetoric? And how does he fit into the growing diagonalism occurring in the right-wing attention economy?
Interview:
The Other Jesus Who Wrote Scripture (Dan McClellan and Dan Beecher; Data Over Dogma podcast on YouTube)
His name was Jesus, and he wrote a book of the Bible. No, not THAT Jesus.
This episode: is it canon? This week's contender has more names than a witness protection program: Sirach, Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus. It came closer than almost any book to making the Jewish canon, written in Hebrew around 180 BCE and translated into Greek by the author's own grandson. So why'd it get left out? The author made one fatal mistake: he was honest about who he was and when he wrote it. The guys who lied about being ancient prophets? They made the cut.
This episode: is it canon? This week's contender has more names than a witness protection program: Sirach, Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus. It came closer than almost any book to making the Jewish canon, written in Hebrew around 180 BCE and translated into Greek by the author's own grandson. So why'd it get left out? The author made one fatal mistake: he was honest about who he was and when he wrote it. The guys who lied about being ancient prophets? They made the cut.
Chapters:
0:00 Welcome + this week's mystery book1:10 Meet Sirach: a book by many names
1:50 The grandson's Greek translation
2:18 Dating it: a king, a high priest, a 21-year window
4:46 The surviving Hebrew manuscripts
6:00 Was it ever scripture? Why it got left out
8:03 Wisdom literature — and Wisdom as Torah
10:10 An honest (and doomed) gambit
11:44 Reading the prologue
15:58 The versification problem (Hebrew vs. English)
19:02 Dreams, ancestors, and a "wear sunscreen" vibe
24:27 So... is it canon?
Interview:
Voices of the Jim Crow South (1965) | Restored and Colorized
In 1965, filmmakers traveled through Lafayette County, Mississippi, recording interviews with local residents, educators, law enforcement officials, historians, and community leaders during one of the most turbulent periods in American history.
These interviews capture firsthand perspectives on segregation, race relations, education, local politics, and daily life in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement.
Are Generational Curses Actually Biblical? (Dan McClellan and Dan Beecher; Data Over Dogma podcast on YouTube)
It's Bible versus Bible, baby!
This episode we dig into one of scripture's most uncomfortable ideas: the sins of the father. Does God punish children for the wrongdoing of their parents? In Exodus 20, the Ten Commandments themselves say yes — right down to the third and fourth generation. And it's no one-off. Deuteronomy 5, Exodus 34, and Numbers 14 all double down on the generational curse. But then along comes Ezekiel 18, saying the exact opposite: the person who sins is the one who dies, and a child shall NOT suffer for a parent's iniquity. So which is it?
We trace how the Deuteronomistic authors seem to inherit the curse and then quietly try to massage it away (sometimes just a couple chapters later, in the very same book!), and we run through the body count: Korah's whole family swallowed alive, Achan's kids, the firstborn of Egypt, and a couple of newborns who never stood a chance.
Then things get serious. Because "generational curse" isn't just an ancient head-scratcher — it became the rationalization for slavery, the curse of Ham, the curse of Cain, and yes, the "skin of blackness" in the Book of Mormon. Some ideas don't stay on the page. So get out there and break your generational curses if you've got 'em!
This episode we dig into one of scripture's most uncomfortable ideas: the sins of the father. Does God punish children for the wrongdoing of their parents? In Exodus 20, the Ten Commandments themselves say yes — right down to the third and fourth generation. And it's no one-off. Deuteronomy 5, Exodus 34, and Numbers 14 all double down on the generational curse. But then along comes Ezekiel 18, saying the exact opposite: the person who sins is the one who dies, and a child shall NOT suffer for a parent's iniquity. So which is it?
We trace how the Deuteronomistic authors seem to inherit the curse and then quietly try to massage it away (sometimes just a couple chapters later, in the very same book!), and we run through the body count: Korah's whole family swallowed alive, Achan's kids, the firstborn of Egypt, and a couple of newborns who never stood a chance.
Then things get serious. Because "generational curse" isn't just an ancient head-scratcher — it became the rationalization for slavery, the curse of Ham, the curse of Cain, and yes, the "skin of blackness" in the Book of Mormon. Some ideas don't stay on the page. So get out there and break your generational curses if you've got 'em!
Chapters:
0:00 Intro: Bible vs. Bible
2:01 The Case: God Punishes Children to the 4th Generation (Exodus 20)
3:34 The Same Curse in Three More Texts (Deut. 5, Exodus 34, Numbers 14)
6:06 The Apologetic Dodge: "Only If They Keep Rejecting God"
6:34 Generational Curses in the Stories (Ham, Noah, Egypt)
7:46 The Other Bible: Ezekiel 18 Says the Opposite
10:00 Dating the Texts & the Deuteronomistic Pivot
11:00 Deuteronomy Contradicts Itself (Deut. 5 vs. Deut. 7)
14:38 Ahab, Naboth's Vineyard & a "Transferable" Prophecy
21:28 The Body Count: Korah, Achan & the Firstborn
25:11 God and the Newborns: David & Jeroboam
27:52 How This Became a Justification for Slavery
30:56 Book Recommendations (David Goldenberg)
31:47 Outro
Interview:
‘It’s a big mistake’: Israelis feel betrayed and angry after Iran peace deal
In ‘middle Israel’ there are fears Iran could rebuild stronger – and there is particular ire for Donald Trump…
New research links prenatal exposure to Pfas to later development of PMOS
“This is another piece that fits in that larger body of evidence of these specific harms, like hormonal disruption,” said Tasha Stoiber, a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group non-profit who reviewed the study, but was not an author...
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/19/prenatal-exposure-pfas-pmos-development-study
Trump's Deeply Unhinged G7 Speech As Read By A British Lady
What happens when Donald Trump's very own words are spoken by a woman with a strong British accent? In this video, you'll hear the famous, or rather, infamous, speech by the president about his unique view of the world, all delivered in the style of a middle-aged British lady.
Get ready for unexpected pauses, hilarious emphases, and the complete absurdity about everthing – now with extra pomp and circumstance. It's proof that the message gets even stranger when the messenger changes.
Ebola is back in the headlines: How worried should we be? (Dr. Zachary Rubin; From Bench to Bedside podcast and YouTube, episode #14)
In this episode of From Bench to Bedside, Dr. Zachary Rubin and Dr. Melanie Matheu break down the latest Ebola outbreak, what makes this outbreak different, and why public health experts are paying close attention.
We discuss:
Our goal is to provide evidence-based information and context, not fear.
Subscribe for future episodes where science meets real-world medicine.
#Ebola #PublicHealth #InfectiousDisease #Medicine #GlobalHealth #Healthcare #Podcast #FromBenchToBedside
00:00 USA World Cup & Opening Conversation
02:15 Ebola Outbreak Explained
03:05 How Big Is the Current Ebola Outbreak?
05:30 Where Ebola Comes From
We discuss:
✅ What Ebola is and how it spreads
✅ Why this outbreak may be the largest on record
✅ Why Ebola is NOT airborne
✅ Symptoms and progression of Ebola virus disease
✅ Why delayed detection is such a major concern
✅ The role of vaccines, public health infrastructure, and global health funding
✅ U.S. involvement and international response efforts
✅ Common myths and misinformation about Ebola
✅ What individuals can do to support outbreak response
Our goal is to provide evidence-based information and context, not fear.
Subscribe for future episodes where science meets real-world medicine.
#Ebola #PublicHealth #InfectiousDisease #Medicine #GlobalHealth #Healthcare #Podcast #FromBenchToBedside
00:00 USA World Cup & Opening Conversation
02:15 Ebola Outbreak Explained
03:05 How Big Is the Current Ebola Outbreak?
05:30 Where Ebola Comes From
08:20 Is Ebola Airborne?
10:45 Ebola Symptoms You Should Know
13:00 Why Experts Are Concerned
15:10 The Testing Problem
17:15 Has the U.S. Response Changed?
20:10 The Kenya Treatment Center Debate
22:15 Vaccines vs Early Detection
23:50 Why TB Kills More People Than Ebola
25:10 How You Can Help
26:15 Closing Thoughts
Interview:
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