Conversion Therapy, TikTok’s Algorithm, and Child Abuse Convictions

The Bulletin

Christianity Today

News, News Commentary, Society & Culture, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.4 • 586 Ratings

🗓️ 10 October 2025

⏱️ 69 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that argued a Christian therapist in Colorado was restricted from counseling clients with unwanted sexual attractions. Adèle Keim from Becket joins Russell and Clarissa to discuss whether this is conversion therapy or a free speech issue. Then, Michael Sobolik from the Hudson Institute stops by to talk about the new TikTok deal between the U.S. and China, and what that means for the security of Taiwan and Americans. Finally, CT’s Nicole Martin and Kate Shelnutt join us to discuss the Texas megachurch pastor Robert Morris convicted of sexually abusing children, and Donald Trump’s consideration of pardoning Jeffrey Epstein’s sidekick Ghislaine Maxwell. GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN: -Join the conversation at our Substack. -Find us on YouTube. -Rate and review the show in your podcast app of choice. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Adèle Keim is a senior legal counsel for Becket, a non-profit, public-interest legal and educational institute with a mission to protect the free expression of all faiths. Prior to working with Becket, Adèle was an associate in the appellate practice at Winston & Strawn in Washington, D.C, and she clerked for Hon. Edith Brown Clement on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans. Adèle has been featured on CNN, Fox News, Al Jazeera, EWTN, TheBlaze, and MSNBC. Michael Sobolik is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. He specializes in United States–China relations and great power competition with a focus on geopolitics, net assessments, and competitive strategies. He is the author of Countering China’s Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance. His commentary has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, Reuters, Foreign Policy, Wired, and The Free Press, among others. He has also appeared on Fox News, ABC, BBC, and other outlets. Nicole Martin is Christianity Today’s chief operating officer. She is the author of several books including Nailing It: Why Successful Leadership Demands Suffering and Surrender and Made to Lead: Empowering Women for Ministry. Kate Shellnutt is editorial director of news for Christianity Today, where she leads the magazine’s news team and reports and edits for online. ABOUT THE BULLETIN: The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today’s editor in chief) and Mike Cosper (director, CT Media). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more. The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more. “The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today Producer: Clarissa Moll Associate Producer: Alexa Burke Editing and Mix: TJ Hester Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs Music: Dan Phelps Executive Producers: Erik Petrik and Mike Cosper Senior Producer: Matt Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I want to break up with my boyfriend.
0:04.3	Now I want to follow Jesus.
0:05.4	Can you help me walk a Jesus path?
0:08.1	You just, you can't help someone walk a Jesus path and comply with these laws.
0:17.0	From Christianity today, you're listening to The Bulletin, a podcast about the people, events,
0:21.9	and issues that are shaping our world. I'm Clarissa Mall, producer and moderator of the
0:26.8	bulletin. This week, the Supreme Court hears a case on gender conversion therapy. China expands
0:33.1	global threats, and former Dallas Pastor Robert Morris is convicted of child sex abuse.
0:39.1	Michael Sobolik, Adele Kime, Kate Shalnut, and Nicole Martin join Russell and me for the conversation.
0:45.6	Welcome to the show. This paid message is from Pew Research Center. The U.S. Census doesn't track religion, but Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Study does.
1:12.7	Since 2007, it's provided a comprehensive look at the ever-changing role of faith in America.
1:18.5	With responses from more than 35,000 Americans, the Religious Landscape Study provides authoritative
1:24.0	data on religious beliefs, practices, and identities across all 50 states.
1:29.1	To explore how faith shapes your community, visit pewresearch.org slash RLS.
1:37.1	Hello, listeners. Welcome to our Friday Roundtable. Joining me today, our editor at large and columnist
1:42.6	Russell Moore. Hi, Russell. Hello.
1:44.7	And joining us to understand a new Supreme Court case and its implications for Christians is
1:49.2	Adele Kheim, legal counsel at the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty. Adel, thanks for joining us
1:54.9	today on the show. Hi. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court entertained oral arguments in a new case that
2:00.7	argues a Christian therapist in Colorado was restricted in her ability to counsel clients with unwanted sexual attractions.
2:08.6	Ms. Childs helps clients when their goals are to resolve gender dysphoria by getting comfortable with their body and realigning their identity
2:18.0	with their sex. She also helps them if they're experiencing unwanted same-sex attraction,
	...

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