Culture Brief - Christian perspectives on the week's biggest news, sports & pop-culture stories Oval Office showdown, more tariffs, Oscars results & a landscaping hot take | Ep. 9
Join Conner Jones and Micah Tomasella on the latest episode of Culture Brief as they discuss the Oval Office spat between Trump and Zelensky. They also explore the implications of U.S. tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China while considering the economic fallout and political maneuvering. Plus, the guys talk about the details of Gene Hackman’s death and offer a review of the Oscars, including the surprising wins and cultural reflections. Lastly, Micah shares a hot take on mowing your lawn. Tune in for thoughtful insights on navigating all the week’s top headlines through a Christian lens.
Topics
- (00:22): Overview of Today's Topics
- (00:51): Longest Joint Session of Congress
- (02:23): Oval Office Exchange: Trump, Zelensky, and Vance
- (14:52): US Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China
- (23:14): Gene Hackman's Legacy and Mysterious Death
- (24:54): Oscars Recap: Highlights and Surprises
- (27:17): Controversial Wins and Cultural Reflections
- (31:17): Christian Perspectives on Hollywood
- (32:54): Listener Mailbag: Hot Takes and Debates
- (38:12): Upcoming Events and Final Thoughts
Resources
- Mailbag: culturebrief@denisonforum.org
- DenisonForum.org/subscribe
- Culture Brief on Instagram
- President Trump addresses joint session of Congress
- Trump administration pauses all aid to Ukraine
- Trump pauses all US military aid to Ukraine after heated Oval Office meeting with Zelensky
- What US lawmakers are saying about the White House clash between Trump and Zelenskyy
- Biden lost temper with Zelenskyy in June phone call when Ukrainian leader asked for more aid
- Why Russia “invaded” Ukraine: Explaining “Putin’s endgame”
- 2. How partisans view each other | Pew Research Center
- Trump’s stiff new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China take effect
- Trump ‘open to deals with Canada and Mexico’ to avoid trade war
- China and Canada retaliate after Trump trade tariffs come into effect
- Trump’s tariffs will take their toll on fresh fruit and vegetables — that’s bad news for low-income Americans - MarketWatch
- Wall Street falls again as losses wipe out all post-election gains for the S&P 500 | AP News
- Lutnick says Trump tariff with Canada, Mexico likely ends with meeting in the middle, possible deal soon
- “Anora” wins Oscar for Best Picture
- Adrien Brody’s second Oscar puts him in rare company
- Oscars 2025: Morgan Freeman gives heartfelt eulogy for friend Gene Hackman
- Oscars 2025: 'Anora' cleans up, Adrien Brody and Zoe Saldana make history
- Why did 'Emilia Peréz' actually receive 13 Oscar nominations?
About Micah Tomasella
Micah Tomasella is the Advancement Officer 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 Conner Jones
Conner 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 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 Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.