https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1ZBsK0kkR0
Monday, October 27, 2025
Weekly Roundup: “No Kings” vs Christ the King Who Condones Slavery + Trump Destroys the White House (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)
Brad and Dan unpack the symbolism and substance behind the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a privately funded ballroom. They reflect on what presidential construction projects reveal about power, legacy, and the messages leaders send through what they build…and destroy. The conversation broadens into current policies on immigration and detention centers, the expansion of ICE, and the moral failures in training and accountability.
The hosts also examine the “No Kings” protests and the growing Christian nationalist backlash that frames dissent as rebellion against “Jesus as King.” They connect this rhetoric to broader themes of exclusion, such as dismissive comments about non-Christian holidays like Diwali, and to the resurgence of biblical literalism—including a far-right pastor’s defense of slavery. Brad and Dan trace the dangerous evolution from persuasion to colonization within evangelical and nationalist movements, while highlighting protest and public dissent as vital signs of democratic resistance and hope.
Interview:
The hosts also examine the “No Kings” protests and the growing Christian nationalist backlash that frames dissent as rebellion against “Jesus as King.” They connect this rhetoric to broader themes of exclusion, such as dismissive comments about non-Christian holidays like Diwali, and to the resurgence of biblical literalism—including a far-right pastor’s defense of slavery. Brad and Dan trace the dangerous evolution from persuasion to colonization within evangelical and nationalist movements, while highlighting protest and public dissent as vital signs of democratic resistance and hope.
Interview:
Harry Litman on Important Legal Stuff (Al Franken podcast)
Every day brings a new constitutional crisis. Donald Trump isn't just breaking norms... he's weaponizing the entire justice system against anyone who dare cross him. We're joined by former U.S. Attorney Harry Litman to cut through the chaos and explain what the hell is happening.
Trump promised that he would bring "retribution" to his second term - turns he wasn’t lying. So far he’s gone after James Comey, Letitia James, John Bolton. Harry breaks down why these prosecutions represent "rock bottom, ninth circle of hell" for the Justice Department—and why they're likely unconstitutional.
Harry also discusses Trump sending the National Guard into (Democratic-led) cities despite their objections. Is that legal? Some courts say yes, some say no. Now it's at the Supreme Court, which has already enabled Trump's overreach at every turn. Harry tells us why this is the single most dangerous thing happening right now.
We also delve into the complexities of Louisiana v. Callais, the Voting Rights Act case before the Supreme Court which could eliminate Section II and allow for the elimination of majority-minority districts (we’ll explain this!), likely imperiling 15 House seats now held by Democrats.
Plus, it turns out that it's easier than anyone thought to demolish the East Wing of the White House! At least we're getting a new ballroom.... Harry walks us through why this unprecedented destruction is probably illegal, but so outrageous that no legal framework even exists to stop it.
LISTEN to Harry's podcast, Talking Feds: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-feds/id1456045551
READ Harry's Substack: https://harrylitman.substack.com/
Trump promised that he would bring "retribution" to his second term - turns he wasn’t lying. So far he’s gone after James Comey, Letitia James, John Bolton. Harry breaks down why these prosecutions represent "rock bottom, ninth circle of hell" for the Justice Department—and why they're likely unconstitutional.
Harry also discusses Trump sending the National Guard into (Democratic-led) cities despite their objections. Is that legal? Some courts say yes, some say no. Now it's at the Supreme Court, which has already enabled Trump's overreach at every turn. Harry tells us why this is the single most dangerous thing happening right now.
We also delve into the complexities of Louisiana v. Callais, the Voting Rights Act case before the Supreme Court which could eliminate Section II and allow for the elimination of majority-minority districts (we’ll explain this!), likely imperiling 15 House seats now held by Democrats.
Plus, it turns out that it's easier than anyone thought to demolish the East Wing of the White House! At least we're getting a new ballroom.... Harry walks us through why this unprecedented destruction is probably illegal, but so outrageous that no legal framework even exists to stop it.
LISTEN to Harry's podcast, Talking Feds: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-feds/id1456045551
READ Harry's Substack: https://harrylitman.substack.com/
Interview:
The Case Against Halligan (Andrew McCabe and Allison Gill; Unjustified podcast)
Jim Comey and his legal team have filed their motions to dismiss his charges on selective and vindictive prosecution grounds, and Comey and Letitia James have filed motions to disqualify Lindsey Halligan.
Marco Rubio gave El Salvador US government cooperators in exchange for use of their CECOT Prison.
Jack Smith goes to paper in a letter to Chuck Grassley and Jim Jordan about potential Congressional testimony, and the Republican mischaracterization of his work.
Trump is seeking $230M from his allies in the Justice Department as compensation for the criminal cases against him.
Plus listener questions…
Interview:
Marco Rubio gave El Salvador US government cooperators in exchange for use of their CECOT Prison.
Jack Smith goes to paper in a letter to Chuck Grassley and Jim Jordan about potential Congressional testimony, and the Republican mischaracterization of his work.
Trump is seeking $230M from his allies in the Justice Department as compensation for the criminal cases against him.
Plus listener questions…
Interview:
Is Pope Leo Really Dissolving Opus Dei? (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)
This episode delves into the recent controversies surrounding Opus Dei, a secretive and influential organization within the Catholic Church. According to a report from Infovaticana, Opus Dei faces a significant internal rupture that could see it fragmented into three distinct bodies, effectively dissolving its current structure. Annika Brockschmidt guest hosts in conversation with journalist Gareth Gore, author of Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church. Gareth elaborates on the historical context and modern operations of Opus Dei, including its recruitment and coercive practices. He also highlights the organization’s conflicts with the Vatican and ongoing abuse allegations.
Opus by Gareth Gore: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Opus/Gareth-Gore/9781668016152
Interview:
Opus by Gareth Gore: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Opus/Gareth-Gore/9781668016152
Interview:
Peter Thiel’s Gospel Part II: Palantir and the Philosopher-King (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)
Dr. Brad Onishi dives into the ideological roots of one of Peter Thiel’s most significant ventures, Palantir. Drawing from Thiel’s reflections on Leo Strauss’s philosophy and the aftermath of 9/11, Onishi explores how Palantir embodies a tech-driven strategy for national defense. The discussion extends to Thiel’s collaborations with figures like Alex Karp and how their collective efforts align with a vision of Western superiority, national security, and technological dominance. This episode also touches on the broader implications of Palantir’s integration into U.S. government and surveillance, raising crucial questions about civil liberties and geopolitical strategies.
Interview:
“The Virtues of Manhood” (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast) It’s in the Code ep 167
This episode continues the exploration of how masculinity and the category of “man” function within the contemporary right, using Senator Josh Hawley’s book “Manhood” as a guide. Dan reads and reflects on Hawley’s arguments, focusing on the biblical foundations Hawley claims for his views on masculinity.
Interview:
History Minute: Violence in the American Experience: Winning the West (#002)
Quoting:
Cass—pompous, pretentious, honored (Harvard gave him an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1836, at the height of Indian removal)—claimed to be an expert on the Indians. But he demonstrated again and again, in Richard Drinnon's words (Violence in the American Experience: Winning the West), a "quite marvelous ignorance of Indian life." As governor of the Michigan Territory, Cass took millions of acres from the Indians by treaty: "We must frequently promote their interest against their inclination."
His article in the North American Review in 1830 made the case for Indian Removal. We must not regret, he said, "the progress of civilization and improvement, the triumph of industry and art, by which these regions have been reclaimed, and over which freedom, religion, and science are extending their sway." He wished that all this could have been done with "a smaller sacrifice; that the aboriginal population had accommodated themselves to the inevitable change of their condition. . . . But such a wish is vain. A barbarous people, depending for subsistence upon the scanty and precarious supplies furnished by the chase, cannot live in contact with a civilized community."
Drinnon comments on this (writing in 1969): "Here were all the necessary grounds for burning villages and uprooting natives, Cherokee and Seminole, and later Cheyenne, Philippine, and Vietnamese."
Excerpt From
A People's History of the United States
Howard Zinn
Cass—pompous, pretentious, honored (Harvard gave him an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1836, at the height of Indian removal)—claimed to be an expert on the Indians. But he demonstrated again and again, in Richard Drinnon's words (Violence in the American Experience: Winning the West), a "quite marvelous ignorance of Indian life." As governor of the Michigan Territory, Cass took millions of acres from the Indians by treaty: "We must frequently promote their interest against their inclination."
His article in the North American Review in 1830 made the case for Indian Removal. We must not regret, he said, "the progress of civilization and improvement, the triumph of industry and art, by which these regions have been reclaimed, and over which freedom, religion, and science are extending their sway." He wished that all this could have been done with "a smaller sacrifice; that the aboriginal population had accommodated themselves to the inevitable change of their condition. . . . But such a wish is vain. A barbarous people, depending for subsistence upon the scanty and precarious supplies furnished by the chase, cannot live in contact with a civilized community."
Drinnon comments on this (writing in 1969): "Here were all the necessary grounds for burning villages and uprooting natives, Cherokee and Seminole, and later Cheyenne, Philippine, and Vietnamese."
Excerpt From
A People's History of the United States
Howard Zinn
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Newsom Says MAGA Policies Are 'Putting America In Reverse' | HuffPost Latest News
"I mean, they're rewriting history, censoring historical facts," he went on, calling it an "unbelievable" moment. "
All this anti-woke stuff is just anti-Black, period, full stop. All the CRT, ESG, DEI stuff, that's all this is. It's this great purge, and it's happening in real time."..
Why is Trump, the self-proclaimed ‘president of peace’, aiming to topple the Venezuelan regime?
"Trump had, in many conversations, meetings with different people emphasized that he really only cared about [Venezuela's] oil," said a US businessman with longstanding ties to Venezuela and close knowledge of the White House's policy. "But Rubio was able to drum up this 'narco-terrorist' rhetoric and get Trump to pivot completely. The U-turn really reflects Rubio's expanded influence in the administration."…
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/25/trump-venezuela-strikes-regime-change
As Trump cracks down, faith groups step up
"Catholic social teaching is on the side of the immigrant," explained the Rev Raymond Riding, a Catholic missionary in Tucson, Arizona, who has been ministering to relatives of detained immigrants…
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/26/trump-immigration-faith-groups
RFK Jr to urge Americans to eat more saturated fats, alarming health experts
Guidance from health and human services secretary contradicts decades of dietary recommendations…
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/25/rfk-jr-saturated-fats
How to lower your risk of getting cancer young, according to experts - The Washington Post
Not only are more young people being diagnosed with breast and colorectal cancer, but the diseases are leading to more deaths. Here's what you can actually do about it...
This 'Chilling' Right-Wing Movement Is Taking Over Classrooms — And It's Only The Beginning. | HuffPost Life
The religious justification being used in these cases isn't general, it's specific. "The ruling essentially says religion is more important than your identity, and not just any religion, but specific types of religious interpretations," Pieklo explains...
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/schools-religious-freedom-book-bans_l_68fbc537e4b011e80886474c
Trump's Cognitive Collapse is Clear: Psychologist | The Daily Beast Podcast
Dr. John Gartner joins the Beast's Joanna Coles to assess the unraveling of Donald Trump’s mind. The clinical psychologist and former Johns Hopkins professor, who warned early about Trump’s “malignant narcissism,” now says the president shows clear signs of cognitive decline, comparing his confusion and grandiosity to dictators in their final stages. Coles presses Gartner on whether Trump’s dementia makes him more dangerous or simply more delusional, and what that means for the remainder of Trump's second term and beyond. Is America being led by a man losing touch with reality, or is Trump still cunning enough to conceal his growing symptoms?
Interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzz_xOjwsH8
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