Unpacking Christian Zionism: Kiera Butler on How Theology Shapes Foreign Policy

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] this episode of Faithful Politics, hosts Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram welcome back Kiera Butler, a senior correspondent for Mother Jones, to unpack her recent 5,000-word investigative feature on Christian Zionism—a movement where American evangelical theology intersects with foreign policy and billion-dollar influence in Israel.Butler explains how deeply-funded evangelical groups like the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) and Christians United for Israel (CUFI) funnel hundreds of millions of dollars into Israel, often with motivations tied to end-times theology. The conversation covers the movement’s theological roots in dispensationalism, the controversial Red Heifer Project, and the rising political influence of Christian Zionists under figures such as Mike Huckabee, Pete Hegseth, and Speaker Mike Johnson.The hosts and Butler also discuss the humanitarian and ethical implications of groups like the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the complex partnership between the Israeli government and American evangelicals, and how religious beliefs are increasingly shaping U.S. foreign policy. It’s a rich and candid conversation that reveals how theology, politics, and money converge in ways that most Americans—and even many Christians—rarely see.Guest BioKiera Butler is a Senior Correspondent at Mother Jones, where she reports on religion, culture, and politics. Known for her deeply researched investigative features, her recent work explores how American evangelical movements are shaping international policy—most notably through her long-form piece on Christian Zionism. Butler’s reporting often examines the intersections of faith, identity, and power, from rural prayer rallies to the global implications of theology-driven policy.Read the article: God’s “Blank Check”: Christian Zionists Are Pouring Billions of Dollars Into Israeli Extremism - https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/09/christian-zionism-evangelicals-israel-trump-foreign-policy/ Support Sarah Stankorb’s work and preorder Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889837091Website: https://www.sarahstankorb.com/Support the showKeep the conversation going.Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, suggest a future guest, or connect with us directly?Visit our website:faithfulpoliticspodcast.comBrowse our bookstore, featuring books from many of our guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstoreSupport the show and help us keep these conversations going:patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPoliticsSubscribe for behind-the-scenes content, reflections, and updates:faithfulpolitics.substack.comContact the hosts:Josh Burtram, Faithful Host: [email protected] Wright, Political Host: [email protected] Faithful Politics:Instagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast