The Apostle Assassin (Conspirituality podcast episode #263)

“Dad went to war last night” read Vance Boelter's text to his family in the early hours of June 14. This was sent after his shooting rampage aimed at Democratic lawmakers, which left two dead and two critically wounded.

Turns out Boelter is an ordained pastor in a church associated with the New Apostolic Reformation, which sees the world as a spiritual battlefield and whose leaders have preached that political enemies are possessed by demons.

This is not some small fringe movement. Key figures in the Trump administration are adherents. We revisit this apocalyptic evangelical Christian cult and consider its political violence and religious extremism.
Interview: 

https://www.conspirituality.net/episodes/263-the-apostle-assassin

The Deadly Cost of Religious Extremism (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #589)

— Vance Boelter and the deadly cost of religious extremism. (0:40)

— Christian music icon Michael Tait’s fall from grace. (17:50)

— Sean Duffy turns military graduation into blatant ad for Christian Nationalism. (34:20)

— Appeals Court blocks Louisiana law forcing Ten Commandments displays in classrooms. (53:05)

— Trump has earned $1.3 million (so far) from his MAGA Bible grift. (1:07:44)

— Christian parents let their baby die because of their faith. Now they’re going to prison. (1:15:22)

— Colorado Springs City Council members target Pride Parade after “Hail Satan” shout-out. (1:25:37)
Interview: 

https://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/2025/06/26/the-deadly-cost-of-religious-extremism/

Vance Boelter and the deadly cost of religious extremism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj0F79ZxV0Q

Opinion | The Problem of the Christian Assassin - The New York Times

"...In other words, Boelter wasn't just a political assassin; he was a Christian assassin — and a person deeply connected to one of America's most radical religious movements. 

Christ for the Nations isn't a staid, traditional seminary. It opened its doors in 1970. One of its founders was an extremist Pentecostal pastor named James Gordon Lindsay, who was part of a spiritual movement called the New Order of the Latter Rain. (Christ for the Nations has put out a strong statement condemning the attack.)…"

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/19/opinion/minnesota-killings-boelter.html

 

How the right spread ‘brutal and cruel’ misinformation after Minnesota lawmaker killings | Minnesota | The Guardian

Rightwing social media personality Mike Cernovich, with 1.5 million followers, escalated the lie by suggesting Walz ordered the assassination. He hasn't taken the post down and has continued to advance the claims, posting on Monday that "Democrats know they are now seen as the party of political violence so their propaganda agents are trying to shift the blame. It won't work." 

 Laura Loomer, the far-right conspiracy theorist and Trump whisperer, posted that "Walz's goons are now assassinating lawmakers who support legislation Walz opposes" and called the Democratic party "a terrorist organization". Loomer and others on the right also tried to tie Boelter to the "No Kings" protests against the Trump administration. Officials found rudimentary signs in the suspect's vehicle that said "No Kings", an indication he knew of the event, not that he would attend it as a protester...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/17/minnesota-lawmaker-killings-misinformation-rightwing