Minneapolis, ICE Violence, and Living in the Meantime

In the wake of shocking violence in Minneapolis and a flood of disorienting media, Stephen Bauman and producer Brandon Batson slow the conversation down to ask a deeper question: how do we live well in the meantime when our shared life feels fractured, fearful, and unmoored from truth?This wide-ranging conversation explores conscience, civic responsibility, and the erosion of trust in institutions—government, church, media, and even our own eyes. Stephen reflects on earlier moments of national upheaval—from Vietnam to Watergate—while Brandon brings a generational lens shaped by algorithms, AI, and relentless distraction.Together, they wrestle with fear, anger, apathy, and disengagement, ultimately returning to a countercultural claim: meaningful change does not begin with outrage or spectacle, but with small, intentional acts rooted in love, truth, and presence. From rebuilding trust to creating spaces for real conversation, this episode is an invitation to reclaim agency, resist cynicism, and practice a bottom-up faithfulness to the common good.Living in the meantime isn’t passive waiting—it’s choosing how we show up, every day.00:00:00 – Shocking images, public conscience, and the power of seeing00:03:10 – Why this moment feels different—and why it matters00:06:05 – Algorithms, outrage, and the collapse of shared reality00:09:40 – Filters, bias, and learning to truly listen00:12:35 – Vietnam, Watergate, and earlier eras of national distrust00:16:20 – Institutions: why we can’t live without them—and must rebuild them00:19:50 – Apathy, disengagement, and the cost of checking out00:23:40 – Tribalism, social media, and losing real conversation00:27:55 – Love as the antidote to fear and anger00:32:45 – Small acts, shared spaces, and living our values out loud Get full access to Living in the Meantime at livinginthemeantime.substack.com/subscribe