The Jim Wallis Podcast

In the most recent Jim Wallis newsletter, God's Politics, Annie Selak, visiting scholar at the Center on Faith and Justice and author of   The Wounded Church: Tending to the Harm within the Church, examines The Ethical Authority of the Church by casting sexism, racism, and clericalism as self-inflicted wounds of the church.In tandem with the special edition of God's Politics, we are re-releasing a sermon Rev. Wallis preached in at the Chautauqua Institution. This episode, recorded during his week as Chaplain and Preacher at the historic Chautauqua Institution, explores how the teachings of Jesus offer a moral compass in times of national crisis. Drawing on powerful stories from the Senate steps and personal moments with his family, Jim unpacks foundational biblical texts—like Matthew 25 and the Good Samaritan—to challenge us to love our neighbors, defend the vulnerable, and reclaim justice as central to faith.Don’t miss the full experience! Watch Jim’s Sunday Sermon and all his weekday sermons (Monday through Friday) on the Chautauqua Institution’s YouTube channel. Discover more about Chautauqua’s interfaith community and its commitment to dialogue, faith, and justice at chq.org.Chautauqua Institution’s YouTube channel has a wealth of resources for lifelong learning, faith and community. Available at www.youtube.com/chautauquainstitution/join (to join the monthly membership to watch programs for as little as $2.99/month) or watch their complimentary programs by browsing their channel at www.youtube.com/chautauquainstitution See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim Simpson, writing in the Jim Wallis newsletter God's Politics, draws clear parallels from the genesis of Jim’s activism chronicled in the 1971 essay Post-American Christianity to the threat we face today under the Trump regime:Jim names some of the major challenges facing the contemporary society moment: racism, materialism and consumerism, economic inequality, mistrust in corrupt institutions and systems, unjust and destructive war, a culture devoid of connection and focused on hollow success, and an anemic, captured Christianity.It reads eerily similar to what we are still experiencing now our current moment. Though I would contend that the version of these threats we face today are, in many ways, even greater than those in the early 1970s.In this timely replay recorded immediately after the re-election of Donald Trump in November of 2024, Jim calls for hope, which he considers a choice that we have the power and authority to make. Wallis counsels that it is appropriate and healing to feel grief and to lament where we find ourselves as a nation. But he warns against falling into despair.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While Rev. Jim Wallis is on sabbatical, his colleague Dr. Kathleen Bonnette has authored a Substack column in his stead entitled, Beyond Patriarchy as part of the Post-Christianity America series.  <LINK> To complement that essay, we are offering a replay of the podcast interview Jim conducted with Jennifer Walker Thomas, the co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, a faith-based community of women committed to peaceful civic engagement and the pursuit of just ethical leadership.Jennifer Walker Thomas, who is also the co-host of the Proclaim Peace podcast, explores how faith communities can actively resist political violence and promote ethical leadership amid division. Following a tragic mass shooting at a Michigan Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jennifer shares powerful stories of empathy, outreach, and nonpartisan moral advocacy among Mormon women and discusses the urgent need for faith-driven action that transcends party lines. Join Jim and Jennifer for an honest, hopeful conversation on peacemaking, spiritual resilience, and the essential role of faith in advancing justice and healing in today’s polarized America.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reverend John Edgerton of Old South Church in Boston explains the campaign to divest from Citizens Bank and resist the presence of ICE in local communities. Edgerton shares how the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization used pledged deposits, disciplined strategy, and public actions to challenge Citizens Bank’s financing of CoreCivic and GEO Group, two private prison companies that operate immigration detention centers.The conversation explores how congregations, municipalities, and coalitions can cut a problem down to size, organize people and money, and act in line with biblical teachings about caring for the vulnerable. Edgerton draws on Numbers 27 and the daughters of Zelophehad, street protests, and labor organizing to show how faith communities can structure public life to protect immigrant neighbors rather than profit from their detention. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Senator Tim Kaine discusses what it means to be a faith-forward Democrat in a political moment when more Democrats are openly reclaiming religion as part of their public witness. Kaine reflects on Jesuit formation, Catholic faith, and his Honduras experience that shaped his vocation. He explains how those commitments influence his work on immigration, civil rights, war powers, tariffs, and the defense of democracy.The conversation also explores why public faith matters now, how Democrats can speak about motivation without imposing belief, and why standing up to authoritarianism requires courage, character, and active citizenship. Jim and Kaine discuss specific examples of faith in action, including Kaine’s Senate speech in Spanish on immigration reform, his War Powers Resolution on Iran, and his argument that defending democracy takes more than just voting.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pastor Mike McBride discusses the meaning and mission of the Freedom Summer Revivals: a movement designed to awaken faith, strengthen Black churches, and organize moral courage for the struggle for voting rights, justice, and liberation. The conversation centers on why these revivals are needed now, how they connect to the history of the Black freedom struggle, and what they hope to accomplish in this season of crisis.Pastor Mike explains that the revivals are meant to revive the prophetic fire of the Black church, deepen multiracial solidarity, and turn spiritual renewal into public witness and action. Jim and Pastor Mike also discuss the “packed and cracked” assault on Black political representation, the dangers of Christian nationalism, and how showing up, standing up, and fighting behind enemy lines can help build a freer future.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From the producers of The Jim Wallis Podcast, here is Patriarchs — a six-part audio drama about the most consequential friendship in American history, the one between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. As we emerge from the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Patriarchs invites listeners into the founding era with dramatic force, historical depth, and moral honesty, asking not only how America began, but who paid the price and what kind of republic it became.Written by award-winning playwright Jim McGrath and featuring Stacy Keach as Thomas Jefferson and Edward Gero as John Adams, the series opens in Philadelphia in 1776 and concludes on Independence Day in 1826. Every scene is drawn from real letters, speeches, and memoirs, bringing to life the friendship, rivalry, animosity, and reconciliation that shaped the early United States.Along the way, Patriarchs also gives voice to Abigail Adams, whose letters cut through ego and ideology, and centers Sally Hemings not as rumor but as a speaking, thinking presence whose life illuminates the brutal realities of slavery and sexual exploitation in the founding generation. This is history as drama, but it is also history as reckoning.Listen and subscribe to Patriarchs on your favorite podcast apps: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/patriarchs/id1896832143https://open.spotify.com/show/033o4ZbOWxJjM3yHZ8cuBVhttps://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1e3165a6-b42f-471a-b5c6-ede68b01dcbf/patriarchsPlease subscribe, rate, and review Patriarchs on your favorite podcast app so more listeners can discover the series and join the conversation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim Wallis speaks with Princeton professor Eddie S. Glaude Jr., author America, America: A New History of the New World, about the 250th anniversary of the United States and the nation’s ongoing struggle with race, democracy, memory, and truth.Glaude argues that America has a “divided soul,” torn between its ideals and the reality of white supremacy, and that July 4th can only become meaningful if the country tells the truth about slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, immigration, and the long backlash against multiracial democracy. The conversation also asks what faith, prophetic imagination, and “blues-soaked hope” require now, especially in a time of authoritarian politics, white Christian nationalism, and attacks on voting rights, immigrants, and the truth itself.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Jim Wallis Podcast, Jim Wallis speaks with Melissa Rogers, former executive director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships under President Obama, about the opening of the Obama Presidential Center and what it means for moral values, leadership, hope, democracy, and faith in public life.Rogers describes the Center as a living work, not simply a museum, one that highlights dignity, empathy, bridge-building, religious freedom, and the importance of bringing people together across differences. The conversation also connects Obama’s legacy to current challenges, asking how courage, love, conscience, and the refusal to weaponize religion can guide the country forward.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim Wallis talks with Ron Adams, longtime NBA coach for the Golden State Warriors, about how sports can unite or divide us in a polarized culture. Their conversation begins with the emotional power of the Knicks’ championship run and then moves into deeper biblical and ethical questions about community, identity, humility, sacrifice, and hope.Ron Adams reflects on what makes teams truly connected, why great players still need one another, how sports teach acceptance of the neighbor, and why character matters as much as talent. The episode also explores the role of athletes in public life, the moral responsibility of fans and leaders, and how sports can either become a spectacle of aggression or a witness to the common good.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Jim Wallis Podcast, Jim Wallis talks with David Beckmann, longtime anti-poverty leader, former president of Bread for the World, and author of Poverty Abolitionists, about why poverty is solvable, how faith communities can help end it, and why the Trump administration has created a major setback for low-income people in the U.S. and around the world.Beckmann argues that progress against poverty is possible through political action, legislative advocacy, charitable work, cross-partisan cooperation, and a deeper theology of a forgiving God. He also explains how cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, foreign aid, and USAID are already hurting children, families, and vulnerable communities, and why Christians should treat poverty as a moral and political emergency.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special re-release from Soul of a Nation, Jim Wallis shares a powerful address delivered at Villanova University on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, reflecting on King’s vision of the Beloved Community and the urgent work of crossing the lines that divide us. With stories from his own upbringing in Detroit and a call to confront racism as both a personal and structural reality, Wallis argues that faith must move beyond private belief into public witness.Released in the season of Pentecost, this message takes on renewed meaning. Pentecost is the story of a Spirit that breaks through fear, language, and division, calling people into a wider community shaped by courage, truth, and justice; Wallis’s speech echoes that same call to build relationships across barriers and to imagine a multiracial democracy rooted in love.As Wallis reminds us, the work is difficult, but not impossible. In a time of polarization and rising extremism, this episode invites listeners to consider what it means to be Spirit-led now—and how faith communities can help lead the way toward repair, redemption, and the common good.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Jim Wallis Podcast, Jim Wallis speaks with Mark Labberton, pastor, theologian, and author of The Dangerous Act of Loving Your Neighbor, about what it means for Christians to say Christ Alone in a time of political pressure, Christian nationalism, and public religion.Recorded on the eve of Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving, the conversation asks whether public rededication language reflects the teachings of Jesus or drifts into civil religion, false loyalty, and the temptation to bless the nation without naming its failures.Jim and Mark also discuss: Why loving your neighbor is costly, Why evangelical Christians should resist tribalism and worship of nation or party, and Why the church must become a “communion of unlike people” if it is to remain faithful to the gospel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Jim Wallis Podcast, Jim Wallis talks with Aaron Graham, pastor of The District Church and author of Unshakable Faith, on Ascension Day about what Jesus’ ascension means, why the Great Commission is not just about conversion but discipleship, and how Christians can live with courage, humility, and public faithfulness.Jim and Aaron also discuss how the church can become a “school of formation,” why faith is personal but never private, and how believers can resist cultural drift, selective scripture, and the temptation to make Christianity comfortable rather than costly. The conversation closes with a prayer for listeners to find strength, hope, and the boldness to act in this moment.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Jim Wallis Podcast, Jim Wallis speaks with Maria J. Stephan of the Horizons Project about the effectiveness of nonviolence in confronting political violence, repression, and authoritarianism. Horizons Project and partners have developed an entire training curriculum focused on political violence and how to make political violence and repression backfire. You can go to the Harnessing Our Power to Make Political Violence and Repression Backfire (HOPE) website  to learn more and to request trainings.Jim and Maria discuss the recent White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, America’s long history of assassinations and assassination attempts, and why political violence has no place in a healthy democracy.Stephan makes a sustained case that nonviolence is not only more ethical and religiously grounded, but also more effective than violence in building durable change, shifting power, and making repression backfire.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Jim Wallis Podcast, Jim Wallis talks with Maya Wiley, President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, about the Supreme Court decision that weakens the Voting Rights Act and threatens multiracial democracy. Wiley explains how the ruling ignores both the law and Congress’s intent, why it opens the door to voter suppression and racial dilution, and what faith leaders and ordinary people can do to fight back.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Jim Wallis Podcast, Jim Wallis speaks with David Cortright, Visiting Scholar at Cornell’s Reppy Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, about the current crisis with Iran, the fallout from Trump’s decision to torpedo the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and why war is not the answer. They discuss how the 2015 agreement under the Obama Administration worked, why withdrawal accelerated danger, and why the rhetoric of “just war” collapses when politics, escalation, and civilian suffering take over. Cortright also argues that in the nuclear age, diplomacy is not weakness but the strongest and most moral path forward.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Jim Wallis Podcast, Jim Wallis talks with Kim Daniels and Christopher White of Georgetown about Pope Leo’s forceful response to Donald Trump, Trump’s own social media image that portrayed him in Christ-like terms, and what Catholics are making of this moment. They discuss why the Pope’s “I have no fear of the Trump administration” remarks matter, why Christians are calling the image blasphemous, and how the Vatican is trying to keep the focus on peace, war, and the suffering of real people. They also reflect on the upsurge in Catholic converts, especially among younger people, and what that suggests about the hunger for truth, beauty, mystery, and a more serious faith.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Jim Wallis Podcast, Cathleen Kaveny joins Jim Wallis to explore how Catholic Social Teaching speaks to democracy under pressure. They discuss the Trump administration’s treatment of immigrants; the rule of law, voting rights, institutional trust; and why the Church must resist cruelty, manipulation, and political tribalism. Kaveny argues that democracy depends on treating people as “co-rulers and co-subjects,” and that Catholics must hold together human dignity, solidarity, subsidiarity, and the common good in both public policy and church witness.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Jim Wallis Podcast, Jim Wallis talks with Diana Butler Bass about what she calls “quiet Christianity” waking up in response to authoritarianism, Christian nationalism, and the Trump administration’s policies. They explore how mainline Protestant churches, especially in places like Minnesota, are moving from inward debate to public courage through accompaniment, immigration advocacy, and solidarity with vulnerable neighbors. Bass argues that democracy is sustained not only by elections and institutions but by local acts of love, truth-telling, and moral witness rooted in the Gospel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Veteran journalist and former public television host Ray Suarez joins Jim Wallis to unpack how decades of deregulation and consolidation brought us to a media landscape dominated by a handful of billionaires and hedge funds. Suarez traces the shift from the days when “most adults in America saw at least part of a network newscast every day” and “we knew the same things” to a fractured ecosystem where the Ellison family, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and other moguls increasingly shape what the public knows. He warns that public broadcasting is being “weaponized” through zeroed‑out funding and that “the truth isn’t free… reporters need to be paid,” urging more activist media consumers and new subscription‑style models to sustain independent journalism. Wallis connects this to a shared vocation of truth‑telling in journalism and the church, insisting that for people of faith, defending a free and independent press is a core democracy and discipleship issue.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Haitian Bridge Alliance co‑founder Guerline Jozef joins Jim Wallis to explain why Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti is literally a matter of life and death for hundreds of thousands of families. Speaking after their protest at the Supreme Court, she warns, “Haiti cannot receive half a million people… Haiti cannot receive two people. Haiti cannot receive anyone right now because the conditions on the ground make it impossible.” Rooted in her calling as a Haitian American Christian, Jozef insists, “We reject the idea that our communities must constantly justify their right to live, to work, to be safe,” and calls U.S. churches to be “the light and the salt right now” by standing with Haitian TPS holders in prayer, policy, and concrete support.​See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Scholar Matthew D. Taylor joins Jim Wallis to unpack the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)—self‑styled apostles/prophets whose “spiritual warfare” and Seven Mountains dominionism sacralize Trump and fuel war enthusiasm.Taylor reveals how NAR sees Iran as ruled by demonic "territorial spirits" like the biblical "Prince of Persia." NAR also teaches that Christians must seize control of society's seven key areas:1) Education,2) Religion,3) Family,4) Business,5) Government/Military,6) Arts/Entertainment, and7) Media.In response, Taylor urges Jesus‑shaped resistance: "The Gospel of Jesus Christ… is not a gospel of empire."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Palestinian Christian lawyer and Friends of Sabeel North America director Jonathan Kuttab joins Jim Wallis to unpack more than two years of "devastating war in Gaza," the new Iran conflict, and U.S. policy tangled with Kushner–Witkoff–Trump business interests. Kuttab warns Israel's actions in Gaza shattered 70 years of international law: "Gaza broke all these rules," opening doors to global impunity. Amid empire's open embrace of power over humanity, he urges churches to reject violence and choose costly nonviolence: "Nonviolence requires resources, discipline, training, organization, and sacrifices."​See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Leadership expert and former Medtronic CEO Bill George joins Jim Wallis to talk about what he calls “the most difficult time to be a leader” in his lifetime, as Minneapolis faces an “invasion… of 3,000 ICE agents.” He describes children being taken off the streets, small businesses forced to close, and thousands of neighbors peacefully stepping up to protect one another. Although the Trump administration now touts a ‘smaller, more focused’ presence in Minnesota, federal judges have documented hundreds of violations of court‑ordered releases, migrants in active legal proceedings are still being detained and stripped of their documents, and DHS’s quiet tactical tweaks have done little to change a system that remains lawless, unaccountable, and brutal in practice.Jim and Bill explore what “true north” leadership looks like in this crisis, why “the test of any leader is what you do in a crisis,” and how ordinary people are being called to lead with “purpose, values, and courage” in the face of fear and intimidation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we pause the usual programming to ask a deeper question: what does it really mean for believers to answer God’s call in this cultural moment? We’ll introduce The Call for Christians, share why it matters, and invite you to consider how your faith can shape your public life in tangible, hopeful ways.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

John Carr joins Jim Wallis to look back on five decades at the intersection of faith, politics, Catholic social teaching, and public life. From working with bishops, presidents, and popes to launching Georgetown’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, John has spent 50 years helping people connect what they say they believe with what they do in the world.​He tells stories of pressing President Obama with Matthew 25 to protect “the least of these,” explains why human dignity, solidarity, and the common good offer an alternative to our “deeply broken, almost meltdown” politics, and proposes replacing a “sanity caucus” with a dignity caucus that puts the image of God at the center of public life. John also speaks candidly about surviving clergy sexual abuse, living 20 years in recovery from alcoholism, and what the serenity prayer, community, and Catholic social teaching have taught him about vocation, conversion, and courage in this moment.​See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim Wallis focuses on Springfield, Ohio, where Haitian families who fled insecurity and disaster now face bomb threats, school evacuations, neo‑Nazi demonstrations, and dehumanizing lies from national leaders. He speaks with Pastor Carl Ruby of Central Christian Church and Viles Dorenville of the Haitian Community Help and Support Center about how Haitian neighbors have revived a shrinking city, transformed worship, and organized to defend Temporary Protected Status and community safety. Together they explore faith‑rooted resistance, neighbor love in practice, and how Springfield’s story can guide churches and communities across the country to stand with immigrants.​If you would like to support the Haitian Support Center, please go to https://haitiansupportcenter.org/ and click on donate.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim Wallis talks with Minnesotan civic leader and Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative CEO Chris LaTondresse about how neighbors are stepping up amid ICE crackdowns, killings, and the climate of fear in Minnesota. From overnight vigils and mutual aid to churches inside security perimeters, they explore what it means to “bear witness,” follow a higher law of loving our neighbors, and resist the normalization of cruelty and lies. Chris reflects on raising his sons just blocks from active enforcement, his formation as a missionary kid in post-Soviet Russia, and why Minnesota has become “the beating heart of the nation” in the struggle for truth, decency, and democracy. Together, they invite people of faith and conscience everywhere to reclaim civic trust, rebuild community, and remember that “we the people” — not any political party or charismatic leader — will save America by showing up for one another.​See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome back to the Jim Wallis Podcast. Today we're focusing on Maine, where the threat of ICE operations is growing under the second Trump administration. The same federal enforcement that has disrupted communities and resulted in unlawful detentions and even death of civilians and legal residents now looms over a state known for tight-knit towns and neighbors who look out for each other.​Jim talks with Billy Shore, founder of Share Our Strength, the No Kid Hungry campaign, and the host of the Add Passion and Stir podcast, who lives in Maine and serves as a volunteer firefighter. Billy describes the “tremendous amount of trepidation” across Maine, the state’s long history of immigrant welcome, and how ICE raids would be “a completely unnecessary, self-inflicted injury.” They discuss how federal tactics undermine school meals and summer grocery benefits, erode trust in first responders, and make “life harder for just about everybody in these communities”—and why now is the time to be “civil but not silent.”​See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Minnesota is mourning. These days, Minnesota has become ground zero in a national immigration battle, with ICE deployments escalating under the second Trump administration. Just days ago, a community volunteer observer, Renee Nicole Goode, was shot and killed by an ICE agent while aiding immigrants, unleashing both heartbreak and “absolute terror and chaos” in immigrant communities.​Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, running for the U.S. Senate, joins Jim Wallis to explain what is happening on the ground, how Minnesotans and multi-faith leaders are responding, and why she calls this a Matthew 25 moment. She contrasts that faith-rooted resistance with the politics of mass deportations, including her critique of Rep. Angie Craig’s vote for the Laken Riley Act and Democrats who “praise ICE” while immigrants are being kidnapped from school graduations.​See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of The Jim Wallis Podcast, Jim speaks with theologian and extremism expert Matthew D. Taylor about why Epiphany is a season of revelation that exposes both divine light and political lies. Together, they connect the Magi story, Herod’s tyranny, and the “slaughter of the innocents” to January 6, the second Trump administration, ICE violence, and the rise of White Christian Nationalism. They explore why Jesus’ incarnation is God “living under tyranny with us,” how the kingdom of God directly subverts empires, and why theology must be part of resisting authoritarianism in the United States and around the world.​See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christian ethicist David Gushee joins Jim Wallis for a sobering Advent conversation on moral empathy in an age of school shootings, antisemitic violence, and Trump’s callous public rhetoric. They discuss the Hanukkah massacre in Australia, the Brown University shooting, Trump’s vile response to the murder of Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer, the rise of authoritarian reactionary Christianity, and how to resist moral numbness while practicing “healthy politics” and Kingdom-of-God ethics in a deeply polarized nation.​See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the Jim Wallis Podcast, Jim is joined by Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, to talk about the Advent Welcome: Immigration Solidarity Initiative. They discuss how Latino and immigrant churches are facing indiscriminate immigration enforcement, why attendance in some congregations has dropped by up to 40 percent, and how pastors are responding with prayer, accompaniment, advocacy, and a renewed theology of hospitality rooted in the Christmas story. Rev. Salguero shares powerful stories from congregations across the country, explains why “hospitality is not optional for Christians,” and invites churches to practice “room at the inn” to welcome this Advent through concrete actions for immigrant families.​See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry joins Jim Wallis for a powerful Advent conversation on “patient impatience” — acting boldly for justice without believing we are in charge of history. They explore how Advent fuels long‑distance courage in the Trump era–from the parable of the persistent widow and slave‑preacher wisdom–to today’s struggles for democracy, racial justice, and a deeper revolutionary spirituality rooted in love.​See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this compelling Jim Wallis Podcast episode, Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami brings clarity, compassion, and challenge to the national conversation on immigration. Drawing from decades of pastoral experience among immigrant communities, Wenski discusses the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ urgent new message, underscores the core gospel call to defend the vulnerable, and urges action for justice and dignity. Listeners will hear firsthand stories, real policy solutions, and a passionate call for faith-led advocacy to change the narrative — and the future — for migrants and refugees in America.​See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Faith leaders Jim Wallis and Justin Giboney take on America’s toxic polarization—exploring compassion, conviction, and moral imagination in public life. Giboney, attorney, minister, and co-founder of the AND Campaign, shares insights from his new book, “Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around,” drawing wisdom from the Black church tradition and challenging listeners to rethink political binaries, face hard truths, and ground activism in faith-driven integrity. Discover practical disciplines, honest self-examination, and a call for courageous witness in turbulent times.​See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Host Jim Wallis sits down with Claire Borzner, Director of Federal Government Relations for Share Our Strength, to discuss the latest developments on the (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Borzner reveals how benefit cuts and funding delays threaten 42 million Americans with crippling hunger—especially children, seniors, and working families. Hear first-hand stories of hardship and resilience, learn why SNAP must be fully restored now, and find out how you can make a difference.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim Wallis talks with Amelia Kegan, Associate General Secretary for Policy and Advocacy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation, about the looming SNAP cuts during the government shutdown. They discuss the real-life impact on millions of families, the faith community’s powerful advocacy, and how “faith cover” can help Congress do the right thing. From personal stories to policy insights, this episode challenges listeners to take action and gives hope for a more just path forward—because feeding the hungry is a moral imperative, not a political option.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this compelling conversation, Jim Wallis speaks with Brian Kaylor, president and editor-in-chief of Word & Way and host of Dangerous Dogma, about his new book The Bible According to Christian Nationalists. Kaylor exposes how Scripture is being distorted to serve political ends—and calls the Church to reclaim biblical truth and moral courage in an age of rising authoritarianism. Together, they explore how to resist “worship-washing,” rebuild faith literacy, and keep Jesus—not partisanship—at the center of public life.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this deeply moving episode of The Jim Wallis Podcast, Jim speaks with Palestinian theologian Samuel Munayer, co-editor of The Cross and the Olive Tree. Munayer offers a rare and urgent conversation about faith, justice, and reconciliation amid genocide and occupation. Drawing on the living imagery of the olive tree—its rootedness, fruit, and resilience—Munayer explores how Palestinian Christians are reimagining theology as a force for healing, not just advocacy. From the silence of Holy Saturday to a “faith Nakba,” he and Wallis grapple with questions of lament, witnessing, and genuine hope when peace feels impossible. This is theology grown from suffering soil, yet bearing the fruit of steadfast love and liberation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim Wallis welcomes Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr.—author, moral thinker, and Princeton professor—for a timely, unfiltered conversation on the centrality of race in America’s current political and spiritual crisis. They dig beneath the headlines, exploring the “lie at the heart of America’s self-understanding,” the urgent need for multiracial democracy, and what spiritual renewal demands of us all. Eddie Glaude calls for truth-telling, moral courage, and a shared commitment to justice as the nation confronts crossroads that will define its future. Listen for honest answers, powerful challenges, and hope drawn from America’s deepest moral traditions.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Jim Wallis Podcast, Jim Wallis sits down with Jennifer Walker Thomas, co-Executive Director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) and co-host of the Proclaim Peace podcast, to explore how faith communities can actively resist political violence and promote ethical leadership amid division. Following a tragic mass shooting at a Michigan Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jennifer shares powerful stories of empathy, outreach, and nonpartisan moral advocacy among Mormon women and discusses the urgent need for faith-driven action that transcends party lines. Join Jim and Jennifer for an honest, hopeful conversation on peacemaking, spiritual resilience, and the essential role of faith in advancing justice and healing in today’s polarized America.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join Jim Wallis for an inspiring conversation with renowned contemplative activist Wes Granberg-Michaelson, author of The Soul Work of Justice. Discover how inner spiritual practices fuel lasting commitment to justice—even amid political turmoil. Wes shares stories from his fifty years of journaling, spiritual discipline, and advocacy, offering wisdom for anyone wrestling with despair, burnout, or the urgent questions facing faith-based movements in today’s America. Tune in for practical guidance to root your activism in hope, resilience, and the soul’s deep work for justice.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special rebroadcast, Jim Wallis sits down with Rev. Rob Schenck, longtime evangelical leader and president of the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute, to examine the complex relationship between white evangelicals, the Trump administration, and the rise of Christian nationalism. Schenck reflects on his personal journey, the moral crossroads facing the evangelical community, and how faith is being weaponized in politics today. With contemporary policies—from threats to democracy and voting rights to the erosion of church-state separation—echoing the ethical concerns raised in this 2020 interview, Schenck’s warnings about Christian nationalism and the Faustian bargain for power are more urgent than ever. Listen as they explore a way forward rooted in repentance, true discipleship, and love for the “least of these.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the Jim Wallis Podcast, Jim Wallis sits down with Dr. Reggie Williams, Bonhoeffer scholar and Associate Professor of Theology at St. Louis University, for a fearless exploration of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s radical life during the rise of Nazism in Germany. Williams draws a bold, unflinching line from Bonhoeffer’s resistance against Hitler-era fascism to the present-day surge of Trumpism, MAGA extremism, and White Christian Nationalism plaguing American democracy. Together, they illuminate how Bonhoeffer’s immersion in the Black Social Gospel at Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church transformed his vision of faith and justice—offering urgent lessons for those who refuse to cower before today’s resurgent tides of Christianized authoritarianism.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join Jim Wallis in a powerful conversation with Bishop Daniel Gutierrez of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. Drawing from his journey from hardship to spiritual leadership, Gutierrez shares poignant insights on immigration, inclusion, and the transformative call of the Gospel to welcome the stranger. Explore how faith shapes our response to today’s political and social challenges—and how churches can embody radical compassion in this critical election year.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this powerful episode, Jim Wallis sits down with national veterans’ leader Paul Rieckhoff. Together, they dive into the intersection of faith, military service, and the urgent need for moral leadership in American democracy. From combat zones to Capitol Hill, Rieckhoff shares candid stories about what fuels real service, the dangers of political division, and how faith can inspire change. This conversation challenges listeners—regardless of background—to find hope, stand up for justice, and rediscover values that unite.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special reprise of the Jim Wallis Podcast, we revisit a vital conversation with Heather McGhee, author of The Sum of Us. As we navigate the turbulence of the second Trump administration—marked by escalating racial divisions, attacks on truth, and deepening inequality—Heather’s insights are more urgent than ever.This episode cuts to the heart of systemic racism’s cost—not just to people of color, but to all of us. Heather reveals how racial animus drains our collective resources and weakens our democracy, using powerful examples like the draining of public pools after desegregation—a metaphor for how fear and division erode the public good.With the nation facing unprecedented challenges to justice, truth, and faith, Heather’s call for healing, narrative change, and courageous policy action reminds us that our shared future depends on confronting these root issues—especially now.Replaying this conversation during a time of intense social and political upheaval is essential. It challenges us to move beyond zero-sum thinking toward a vision of America where we are truly better together.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join Jim Wallis in this compelling episode as he sits down with Reverend Carlos Malave, President of the Latino Christian National Network, to discuss the escalating impact of immigration enforcement, ICE militarization, and the courageous resistance rising from Latino communities and faith leaders. Drawing from powerful personal stories and urgent national developments, Rev. Malave exposes the deep fear gripping immigrant neighborhoods, the tangible effects on church life, and how Christians are responding with bold acts of compassion and nonviolent resistance. Discover how policy, faith, and human dignity intersect in today’s America and why unity, courage, and hope are more crucial than ever for a just future. Don’t miss this eye-opening conversation that challenges, inspires, and calls listeners to action.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.