Rise of antisemitism, America's AI backlash & the heart problem underneath it all | Ep. 70

In this week’s Brief: Micah Tomasella and Dr. Ryan Denison tackle two pressing cultural conversations — and find a deeper spiritual thread connecting them both.First, they dig into a troubling trend: antisemitism is no longer lurking in the shadows. Drawing from pieces in The Free Press and Axios, they examine how weakly sourced accusations against Israel are quietly reviving ancient hatred in modern form, and how open threats against Jewish lawmakers are becoming disturbingly casual. They explore the historical and scriptural dimensions of why this hatred tends to rise in times of cultural pain — and why Christians should be paying close attention.Then Ryan unpacks a Wall Street Journal report showing that Americans' negative feelings about AI may be growing even faster than the technology itself. From graduation speeches getting booed to massive data centers reshaping rural America, they talk honestly about the anxiety AI is stirring — and what our reaction to it reveals about our hearts.The through-line? Whether it's antisemitism, AI, or any headline grabbing our attention, the deeper issue is the same: a culture losing its grip on truth, dignity, and trust in God. The invitation is to stop reacting and start surrendering.Topics(0:00) Introduction(0:47) Connor on vacation(2:07) Anti-semitism rising(14:55) Americans turning on AI(17:20) AI in daily life(21:53) Data centers and division(26:12) AI and surrender to God(28:33) Faith over control(31:48) ConclusionResourcesSend us your thoughts, questions, and topic ideas: [email protected] Brief InstagramWatch on Youtube Sign-up for a Denison Forum newsletter: DenisonForum.org/subscribeArticles on this week’s top headlines:Jewish lawmakers face an explosion of antisemitismA Miscarriage of Journalism at “The New York Times”The American Rebellion Against AI Is Gaining SteamLet’s debate: Data centersFP Data CentersWhat Happens When a Data Center Comes to TownAbout Dr. Ryan DenisonDr. Ryan Denison is the Senior Editor for Theology at Denison Forum and the author of The Focus newsletter, contributing writing and research to many of the ministry’s productions. He holds a PhD in church history from B. H. Carroll Theological Institute and an MDiv from Truett Seminary. Ryan has also taught at B. H. Carroll and Dallas Baptist University. He and his wife, Candice, live in East Texas and have two children.About Conner JonesConner Jones is the Director of Performance Marketing at Denison Ministries and Co-Hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2019 with a degree in Business Management. Conner passionately follows politics, sports, pop-culture, entertainment, and current events. He enjoys fishing, movie-going, and traveling the world with his wife and son.About Micah TomasellaMicah Tomasella is the Director of Advancement at Denison Ministries and co-hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. A graduate of Dallas Baptist University, Micah is married to Emily, and together they are the proud parents of two daughters. With an extensive background in nonprofit work, finance, and real estate, Micah also brings experience from his years in pastoral church ministry.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, the Faith & Clarity podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.