January 16, 2026 - Hour 1

Segment 1: Does Iran prove we should keep God out of Government?The Iranian government is brutally cracking down on protestors, and some critics say this is proof that religion should be kept out of politics. But every political order rests on religion - even when the altar has been replaced with things like screens or personal ideology or power. So the real question concerns not whether religion needs to be part of government, but which religion. Which god shapes the public conscience? Marcus has more.Segment 2: What the “Words of the Year” tell us about our cultureEvery year, the publishers of major dictionaries declare a “word of the year.” The words of the year for 2025 include “rage bait,” “slop” and “6-7” and reflect a lot about our internet-driven society. We talk more about it with Bill Schmitt.Segment 3: C.S. Lewis Goes to MarsCS Lewis is so beloved for his writings on faith and spirituality, as well as the Narnia books, that his adult fiction is sometimes overlooked. In the first book of his Space Trilogy, Out of the Silent Planet, three men go to Mars and their subsequent adventures show Lewis’ viewpoint on the difference between authentic science and the pride of scientism. Joseph Pearce has more. 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