Culture Brief - Christian perspectives on the week's biggest news, sports & pop-culture stories Venezuela, 2026 culture predictions, Tim Walz & football playoffs | Ep. 51
In this week’s brief: We’re breaking down the headlines shaping the year’s explosive start, beginning with Operation Absolute Resolve and the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. What does the move signal militarily? How does it reshape the global chessboard? Was it legal? Does this operation support Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda? And was it worth the risk? We discuss the questions much of America is asking.
From there, we talk about Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s mess, the latest in U.S. and global politics, and check in on the CFP and NFL playoff picture. Plus: listener mailbag questions, bold 2026 predictions across entertainment and influence, and a few wild cards no one saw coming. As always, we do it all from a Christian worldview!
Topics
- (00:00): Introduction
- (01:46): Operation absolute resolve: execution and impact
- (02:27): Us military excellence and global perception
- (06:35): Legal and political implications
- (21:16): Pros and cons of the Venezuela operation
- (29:36): Spiritual application and historical context
- (30:45): Power vs. trust: a biblical perspective
- (33:23): Global events and the spread of the gospel
- (34:31): Mailbag: listener feedback and discussions
- (38:16): 2026 predictions: movies, music, and influential people
- (44:52): Current events: Nigeria, Minnesota, and more
- (51:04): NFL playoffs and faith in sports
Resources
- Send us your thoughts, questions, and topic ideas: culturebrief@denisonforum.org
- Culture Brief Instagram
- Watch on Youtube
- Sign-up for a Denison Forum newsletter: DenisonForum.org/subscribe
Articles on this week’s top headlines:
- Pentagon Pizza Report X Post
- U.S. had 150 aircraft in the sky during Maduro raid
- Five questions about the US strike on Venezuela
- Woman burned by pro-Maduro forces begs judge to lock up dictator
About Conner Jones
Conner Jones is the Director of Performance Marketing at Denison Ministries and Co-Hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2019 with a degree in Business Management. Conner passionately follows politics, sports, pop-culture, entertainment, and current events. He enjoys fishing, movie-going, and traveling the world with his wife and son.
About Micah Tomasella
Micah Tomasella is the Director of Advancement at Denison Ministries and co-hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. A graduate of Dallas Baptist University, Micah is married to Emily, and together they are the proud parents of two daughters. With an extensive background in nonprofit work, finance, and real estate, Micah also brings experience from his years in pastoral church ministry.
About Denison Forum
Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, the Faith & Clarity podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.