Opening Arguments Ross Douthat says Trump's Christian Nationalism just needs more Christian in it
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Dec 10, 2025 A Christian influencer argues against empathy in policy, prompting fiery critiques from the hosts. They dive into Josh Hammer's defense of aggressive military action, scrutinizing his legal interpretations. Ross Douthat offers a provocative take on Trump’s Christian nationalism, suggesting it lacks genuine Christian values and humanitarianism. The hosts challenge Douthat's views, emphasizing the risks of idealized religious politics and the rise of hardline influence in modern conservatism. It's a lively conversation that questions the intersection of faith and policy.
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Toxic Empathy Is A Misframed Critique
- Allie Beth Stuckey argues 'toxic empathy' leads to affirming sin and harmful policies.
- Hosts rebut that empathy-guided policy can protect vulnerable people and that the problem is misdirected empathy, not empathy itself.
Stigma Didn’t Protect Children
- Hosts mock Stuckey's claim that past stigmas protected children, noting actual sexual-abuse statistics implicate priests and youth pastors.
- They argue stigma is no safeguard and empathy-targeting misses systemic abusers.
Constitutional Checks On Use Of Force
- Hosts clarify constitutional text: Congress declares war; the president is commander in chief but not omnipotent.
- They reference the War Powers Act as a congressional check on unilateral force.
