A political fight over food assistance has sparked new debate about who deserves help in America. Esau, Justin Giboney, and Mike take a look at the SNAP situation and why Scripture consistently places God on the side of the poor and challenges us to do the same. Plus, Trump is posting about defending persecuted Christians in Nigeria, but is there more he should be doing to help? Then, Tucker Carlson's recent interview with Nick Fuentes has sparked a debate on the right about what counts as fringe beliefs these days. Also, why Justin is confused about bobbing for apples and Jennifer Lawrence. 0:00 - Theme Song 5:38 - Snap Program 17:15 - Christians in Nigeria and Nicki Minaj. 21:22 - Sponsor - Hello! My Name is Emmanuel - A Heartwarming children's book about a Haitian child learning to trust God by Emmanuel Jean Russell https://a.co/d/8fPoRCL 30:15 - Mike's Corner: Nick Fuentes on Tucker Carlson 39:40 - Who's Jennifer Lawrence? 43:00 - End Credits Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around: How the Black Church's Public Witness Leads Us Out of the Culture War by Justin Giboney: https://a.co/d/6dUSGTz
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43:24
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43:24
Anglican Abuse Allegations, NBA Gambling Scandal, & the Admiral Who Resigned over Trump's Military Strikes
Esau, Skye, and Mike explore what happens when vows stop meaning anything. They discuss the Anglican Church's latest abuse allegations, the NBA's betting scandal, and the U.S. admiral who resigned rather than follow Trump's unlawful orders. What does integrity look like in an age when everyone's breaking their promises? When should one try to reform from within, and when is it time to leave? Also, Esau reveals his recurring nightmare as a kid and it involves...a pickup basketball game with the Hulk? 0:00 - Theme Song 1:30 - Skye's Scary Movies 7:05 - Anglican Church Sexual Abuse Scandal 21:08 - Sponsor - Hello! My Name is Emmanuel - A Heartwarming children's book about a Haitian child learning to trust God by Emmanuel Jean Russell https://a.co/d/8fPoRCL 22:15 - US Attacks Boats in Caribbean Sea 34:52 - Sports Betting Scandal 50:12 - End Credits
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49:52
Young Republicans' Racist Chat, No Kings, & How AI Deforms Us
Last week, OpenAI announced it will remove moral limits from ChatGPT and "let adults be adults," opening the door for adult content on the platform. Esau and Mike are joined by Malcolm Foley to talk about how AI is reshaping our view of relationships and making it easier to chase selfish desires resulting in destructive consequences. Then, they turn to the leaked racist group chat among young Republicans. Does it reveal anything new, or just prove that racism never disappeared—it just went underground? Finally, the "No Kings" protests drew millions last weekend, but what did they actually accomplish? Malcolm walks through Martin Luther King Jr.'s four-step process for nonviolent action and whether the No Kings protest measured up.
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52:26
Is the Black Church the Problem?
Critics have recently accused the Black Church of promoting "ethnic idolatry," but is that fair, or even historically accurate? Esau McCaulley is joined by Kaitlyn Schiess and producer Mike to unpack where the Black Church came from, why it exists, and what these critiques reveal about American Christianity. Then, is it ok to have joy in the midst of so much suffering and why did we talk about the Taylor Swift album when it is full of explicit material? Also, we break down the latest culture-war controversy over the Super Bowl halftime show. 0:00 - Theme Song 3:45 - Contract Demands for Holy Post 6:54 - Why is there a Black Church? 11:43 - Virality vs Conversation 16:25 - Kaitlyn Left Out of the Taylor Swift Episode? 20:30 - Is it Wrong to Be Happy? 28:16 - Talking About Secular Art 35:00 - Bad Bunny's American Half-Time 44:25 - End Credits
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44:26
ICE in Chicago: Tear Gas, Helicopters, and the Cost of Dehumanization
Federal immigration raids have swept through Chicago under "Operation Midway Blitz," leaving neighborhoods filled with fear, tear gas, and helicopters overhead. Esau McCaulley, producer Mike, and pastor Pricelis Perreaux-Domínguez ask how Christians should respond when law enforcement tactics strip away human dignity, what it means to defend the image of God in our neighbors, and how the cruelty of the Trump administration cannot be ignored. Then, what does the NFL's choice of Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl Halftime Performer say about belonging, hospitality, and who America welcomes to the stage? Also, social media usage is down everywhere but one country. Can you guess which one? And is The Princess Bride a perfect movie? 0:00 - Theme Song 0:15 - Producer Mike's Car Wreck 3:55 - What Movies Shouldn't Be Remade? 8:25 - Chicago's ICE Raids 16:37 - Apartment Raids 24:10 - Bad Bunny SuperBowl Controversy 36:13 - Social Media Use is Going Down? Being a Sanctuary: The Radical Way for the Body of Christ to Be Sacred, Soft, and Safe by Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez: https://a.co/d/gLSFArw
The Esau McCaulley Podcast looks to find God in the midst of culture. Each week, Esau will bring together friends, scholars, artists, and writers to unpack the cultural stories that shape our lives and discuss how these stories point us back to God's presence in the world. Whether it's literature, sports, movies, music, or politics, Esau and his guests will explore how culture reflects both human creativity and our deepest longings. They'll also challenge the notion that spirituality and culture are at odds by showing how faith can inform our engagement with the world around us. The Esau McCaulley Podcast wants to help the church move beyond the walls of the sanctuary to meet real people where they are, in this beautiful, complex world God has made, and find the space where truth and goodness meet.
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