The Bulletin Venezuelan Boat Attack, Payday Loans, and USAID Fire Sale
14 snips
Sep 5, 2025 Emily Belz, a staff writer with Christianity Today and former senior reporter, dives into the troubling world of payday loans, discussing how these predatory lending practices ensnare vulnerable individuals and calling for a stronger Christian response. The conversation also touches on the Trump administration's military strike on a Venezuelan boat, raising ethical concerns about U.S. foreign policy. Additionally, Hana Kiros highlights the chaotic aftermath of USAID project cancellations and the implications for global health and humanitarian aid.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Presidential Strikes Risk Dangerous Precedent
- President-authorized lethal strikes on drug traffickers set a dangerous precedent for unchecked executive power.
- Mike Cosper warns this bypasses Congress and normal legal process, raising constitutional and moral concerns.
Celebratory Footage Lacked Transparency
- The footage celebrating the strike lacked transparency about who was aboard and why lethal force was necessary.
- Russell Moore and Mike emphasize the absence of clear intelligence, legal authorization, and public accountability.
Right Authority Matters In Just War Thinking
- Christian just war tradition requires rightful authority, not just right intention, for use of force.
- Russell Moore says in the U.S. system that authority properly resides with Congress, making unilateral strikes theologically problematic.