The Stephen Mansfield Podcast

There is a popular view that America has a covenant with God that is defined by the Constitution of the United States. Furthermore, proponents of this argument often believe that when elected officials violate the Constitution, they are violating that covenant and bringing our nation under God’s judgement. Stephen has been asked by several listeners to share his thoughts on this belief. Tune in for a trip through history that covers the founding of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution, as we seek to engage with these questions of covenants and governments.

On her 21st birthday, Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) spoke words to the Commonwealth that have echoed in Stephen’s mind and heart for years: “If we all go forward together with an unwavering faith, a high courage, and a quiet heart, we shall be able to make of this ancient commonwealth, which we all love so dearly, an even grander thing - more free, more prosperous, more happy and a more powerful influence for good in the world - than it has been in the greatest days of our forefathers.” May we also have a great courage in facing the challenges of our own age. May we too have a quiet heart before God: a heart that is at peace and gives us strength. May this memory of Queen Elizabeth II be a blessing upon us. Image via Ministry of Information (source).

President Biden is a consummate politician, and his recent student loan debt forgiveness announcement is a prime example. While Stephen is fully in favor of freeing students and their parents from these mafia-like loans, the current forgiveness “plan,” if it can be considered as much, is an administrative failure. Some 35 million individuals will have to attest that they make less than $125,000 in order to even apply. The Department of Education has not released any information about how the process will work or what debtors can do to take action. At the same time, there is a student loan moratorium that will be suspended in January. The clock is ticking and millions are eager to take action, yet there is no clear path forward. Mr. Biden has failed in his attempt to address a serious problem, but not in a serious way. Mentioned in this podcast: “Borrowed Future: How Student Loans are Killing the American Dream”

This week on the podcast, Stephen weighs in on his top seven topics, a broad mix of subjects spanning from the Russia/Ukraine war and the state of our economy to Notre Dame football. Tune in for a special announcement at the beginning of this episode, and be sure to stick around to the end as Stephen asks a question that he would like for you to ponder with him in the days and weeks ahead.

Stephen wants you to fall in love with Winston Churchill… however it happens! In this episode, Stephen shares his top book and film recommendations, as well as why Churchill is rewarding at every level.Books:Stephen’s book: The Character and Greatness of Winston Churchill: Hero in a Time of Crisis by Stephen MansfieldStephen’s favorite: My Early Life: 1874-1904 by Winston ChurchillHighly recommended: Forty Ways to Look at Winston Churchill: A Brief Account of a Long Life by Gretchen RubinNewer Churchill book: Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill by Candice MillardOlder Churchill book: Winston Churchill: An Informal Study of Greatness by Robert Lewis TaylorSubstantial one-volume tome: In Search of Churchill by Martin GilbertFilms:Young Winston (1972)Churchill: The Wilderness Years (1981)The Gathering Storm (2002)Into the Storm (2009)Dunkirk (2017)Darkest Hour (2017)

Those of us in the West spend little time and money on food. Only one in 50 people work in food production, and less than 10% of personal income is spent on food. For comparison, 82% of Ethiopia’s population works in food production… and 60% of a person’s income in the Philippines is spent on food. The good news is, from 1990 to 2015, one billion people were lifted out of extreme poverty. In the last 36 months of that period (2012-2015), 200 million people were lifted out of extreme poverty. The pace is quickening. The catalyst? Food. In this episode, Stephen discusses how access to food can revolutionize an entire nation. Want to be a part of the change? Check out Convoy of Hope (https://www.convoyofhope.org/) and donate food, water, and relief supplies to refugees affected by the war in Ukraine. This episode originally aired on March 6, 2019.

How did “evangelical,” which has its roots in the Greek word for “good news,” come to have a largely negative association with right-wing politics? In this episode, Stephen briefly traces the history and usage of the word, discussing along the way: the ancient church, John Wesley and the Methodist movement, Billy Graham and Richard Nixon’s friendship, and our own age – an era that saw 81% of white evangelicals vote for Donald Trump. This episode originally aired on January 3, 2018.

The political middle has been abandoned. The mainstream may talk about the “middle” as a place for those with weak, undecided opinions, but Stephen sees the “radical middle” as a place for thoughtful voters with convictions and morals. In this episode, Stephen gives some examples of what a right-of-center political viewpoint looks like. This episode originally aired on December 6, 2017.

Politically speaking, Stephen finds himself right of center – what he’s come to call “the radical middle.” While this podcast is not about Stephen’s political beliefs, he believes that his experience and viewpoint may help listeners make sense of our current political climate. This episode originally aired on November 29, 2017.

We are constantly being bombarded with negative news. It’s easy to become disillusioned, our beliefs about ourselves, our people, and our country suffering along the way. In this podcast, Stephen offers a solution through recommending a few books and videos. May these restore your peace, hone your vision, and ennoble your soul. Patriotic Grace: What It Is and Why We Need It Now by Peggy Noonan What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism by Dan Rather and Elliot Kirschner Listen to David McCullough on YouTube (you pick the video!) This episode originally aired on December 13, 2017.