February 25, 2026 - Hour 2

Segment 1: A Good Day for the Ten CommandmentsLate Friday afternoon, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a significant ruling a case concerning the display of the Ten Commandments in schools, vacating an injunction that had blocked their display. The Court’s decision is welcome news for religious expression in public life, and there is reason for genuine optimism about what comes next. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer joins us.Segment 2: The State of our Divided Union The State of the Union was intended to be an opportunity for the president to address Congress and the Nation about the challenges facing the country and the prospects for overcoming them. But over the course of the last 30 years, it has devolved into little more than a partisan campaign rally, fueled by drama and moments staged to go viral. We’re looking at the state of our divided union, but we can find a way back. Marcus has more.Segment 3: How Water and Spirit Give Eternal Life (2 segments)Everyone agrees that baptism is part of Christianity, right? It says so in the Bible. But among different Christian groups, questions and arguments about baptism abound. Who should get baptized? How should it be done? What happens to unbaptized babies when they die, and should people secretly baptize their grandchildren? And on top of all this—why bother with baptism at all? Does it really do anything? We tackle these questions with Karlo Broussard. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com