January 8, 2026 - Hour 1

Segment 1: The Covenant Oath of OfficeWhy do our politicians usually swear in on the Bible? And how do so many of them miss the point? The answer lies in the meaning of covenant. Marcus has more.Segment 2: How a Trip to Poland Convinced Me That Socialism WorksThe victory of socialist candidates in recent elections has highlighted the renewed appeal of the Marxist system. Some now see socialism as the wave of the future. Conservatives reply by saying that this system must be rejected because “socialism does not work.” John Horvat shares what a trip to Poland taught him about socialism.Segment 3: Vatican Commission Rejects Female Diaconate (2 segments)In 2020, Pope Francis commissioned a group of scholars to study the question of the female diaconate. The commission finished its report late last year, and submitted a letter to Pope Leo stating that there was no support for ordaining women as deacons. We talk more about the issue with Monica Miller. 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