Culture, Faith and Politics with Pat Kahnke
Pat Kahnke
Pat Kahnke has written two books, from a pastoral perspective, to reject Donald Trump and his MAGA movement:
A Christian Case Against Donald Trump (2024)
MAGA Seduction: Resisting the Debasement of the Christian Conscience (2020)
He was an evangelical church planter and pastor for twenty years before retiring from church ministry in 2016. Planted a church in the inner city of St. Paul, MN - part of the Baptist General Conference (Converge) and Alliance for Renewal Churches. A lifelong conservative Republican until the party left him in 2016. Now a political independent, he has written off the Republican party until it completes 40 years in the wilderness for its capitulation to the MAGA movement.This podcast contains political and social commentary related to issues at the intersection of culture, faith, and politics.
A Christian Case Against Donald Trump (2024)
MAGA Seduction: Resisting the Debasement of the Christian Conscience (2020)
He was an evangelical church planter and pastor for twenty years before retiring from church ministry in 2016. Planted a church in the inner city of St. Paul, MN - part of the Baptist General Conference (Converge) and Alliance for Renewal Churches. A lifelong conservative Republican until the party left him in 2016. Now a political independent, he has written off the Republican party until it completes 40 years in the wilderness for its capitulation to the MAGA movement.This podcast contains political and social commentary related to issues at the intersection of culture, faith, and politics.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 20, 2025 • 11min
ESSAY: Trump is Normalizing Brutality and Christians Are Silent
Donald Trump just gave Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a pass on the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi — again. In this episode, we break down Trump’s shocking comments, his financial ties to Saudi Arabia, and what this means for America’s moral compass. Is the U.S. becoming more like the authoritarian regimes we used to challenge? And why are so many Christians still defending this?
Nov 19, 2025 • 1h 17min
New Live Stream Ep 1: Is MAGA Unraveling?
The FIRST of our regular Tuesday night LIVE STREAMS! Consider this a practice session!
We'll meet our producer Ken Napzok and discuss the direction for this new live program.
We'll discuss several stories related to signs of disruption in the MAGA Universe.
- The Epstein Vote in Congress today
- What's going on with Marjorie Taylor Greene?
- Trump's treatment of Thomas Massie
And finally we'll have a general talk about CULTURE - the silent member of the Culture, Faith, and Politics triumvirate.
Nov 18, 2025 • 12min
ESSAY: The Report Trump Christians Don't Want to Face: Human Rights Watch
What really happened to migrants held at CECOT prison in El Salvador? This epsiode dives deep into a devastating new Human Rights Watch report exposing the brutal treatment of detainees—many of whom were never convicted of a crime. Even more disturbing: these abuses were made possible by policies supported by U.S. Christians who backed Donald Trump.
Nov 17, 2025 • 49min
When German Christians Worshipped Hitler: A Warning for American Evangelicals, with Tihomir Kukolja
What made millions of German Christians pledge loyalty to Hitler? And are American Christians walking the same path with Trump today?
In this powerful conversation, Pat Kahnke and Christian leader Tihomir Kukolja explore the chilling parallels between Nazi-era Germany and today’s Christian nationalism in the U.S. Drawing from historical research, theology, and lived experience.
Nov 16, 2025 • 18min
ESSAY: Pope Leo Calls Out MAGA Christians - You Can't be Pro-life and Ignore Migrant Suffering
Pope Leo XIV recently made headlines for challenging the moral inconsistency of Christians who claim to be pro-life while supporting the cruel treatment of migrants. As a former Catholic and longtime evangelical pastor, I found his words striking — and convicting.
I unpack what Leo said, especially about the Trump administration’s treatment of migrants in Chicago detention centers, and I reflect on the consistent ethic of human life I learned in Catholic school — an ethic that still shapes my worldview today.
We’ll also look at how Gaudium et Spes (Vatican II) calls out not just abortion, but every form of dehumanization — from torture and deportation to poverty and racism.
Nov 16, 2025 • 12min
ESSAY: What can we do? David French has the Best Answer I've Heard.
In this episode I wrestle with one of the most common questions I hear: “What should we do now?”
We reflect on: David French’s practical, wise answer to that question (via Russell Moore’s podcast), my own struggle with giving application instead of just description, the reality that justice work is long-term, slow, and deeply human, why grace, humor, and conviction still matter in dark times, and how each of us can choose to live out our deepest values, even when “winning” feels out of reach.
Nov 15, 2025 • 20min
ESSAY: This Bible Passage COMPELS Me to KEEP SPEAKING Against Trump and MAGA
I reflect on one of the most foundational scriptures shaping my call to speak out — as a Christian and former pastor — against Donald Trump and the MAGA movement.
Nov 15, 2025 • 19min
ESSAY: Trump's Point of No Return? (October 25, 2025)
After a week away, I return to reflect on what may be remembered as the most revealing week of Donald Trump’s second term — a week where he pardoned allies, mocked peaceful protesters with AI war porn, escalated military violence without congressional approval, and demolished the East Wing of the White House to build a gilded ballroom.
In this episode, I argue that Trump has fully embraced his most dangerous instincts — no longer pretending to serve the nation, but ruling with the boldness of a king gone mad. From authoritarian theater to reality distortion, we’re witnessing the unraveling in real time.
This is the week Trump chose his legacy. And the rest of us must now choose ours. (October 25, 2025)
Nov 14, 2025 • 22min
ESSAY: Stephen Miller's BOMBASTIC Speech was Ungodly and Un-American (October 14, 2025)
In this urgent breakdown, I play key excerpts from Stephen Miller’s speech at the Charlie Kirk memorial and explain why it may be the most dangerous political speech since the 2024 election. (October 14, 2025)
Nov 14, 2025 • 17min
ESSAY: "If not Trump, who SHOULD Christians have voted for in 2024?"
Every time I speak out about Donald Trump, someone asks: “Well, who SHOULD Christians have voted for?” This is my comprehensive answer. As a former Republican and evangelical pastor, I’ve been raising the alarm for years about the spiritual cost of aligning the church with Trump’s MAGA movement. Today, I walk through five possible voting choices Christians had in 2024 — and why Never Trump isn’t just a slogan, it’s a moral imperative.
