And now, from the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN Audio, the Axe Files, with

your host, David Axelrod.

Russell Moore is a familiar name in theological circles, but in his eight years as the president

of the policy arm of the powerful Southern Baptist Convention, he became more widely known

for his withering criticism of Donald Trump, a position that put him at odds with many

in the conservative evangelical movement that became Trump's strongest base.

Now public theologian at Christianity today, and the Pritzker Fellow at the University

of Chicago Institute of Politics, more sat down with me this week to discuss his journey

and the sometimes uncomfortable intersection between faith and politics.

Here's that conversation.

Russell Moore, so good to be with you, and so good to have you at the Institute of Politics.

You've been an incredible presence around here, and I influenced a lot of young people,

and so happy to have you.

Well thank you.

It's been a joy to be here, and I'm really impressed with the students here at the

Institute of Politics.

I'm eager to talk about them as part of this conversation later on, because I'm eager

to hear what kind of dialogue you've had, clearly you've been challenged by them, and

I'm eager to hear how you deal with that in an era in which tolerance and grace are

not lead qualities in our public discourse so regrettably.

But I want to first explore your own story, which begins primarily in Biloxi.

Yes, I grew up in Biloxi, Mississippi, and all of my family was there.

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