NYC Mayoral Race, Trump Softens to Ukraine, and Can Horror Films Edify?

The Bulletin

Christianity Today

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

4.4 • 586 Ratings

🗓️ 28 October 2025

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

As New York City heads into a mayoral election next week, progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani leads the polls over the former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Will his emphasis on the rising cost of living win him the race? Putin’s tactics in Ukraine show his desire for the war to continue, while President Trump softens towards Ukraine. And, Hurricane Melissa poses a threat to Jamaica. Mike Cosper and Clarissa Moll discuss these headlines, and Clarissa sits down with Kutter Callaway, host of the CT’s podcast Be Afraid, to talk about how violence in horror films compares to violence in the news, and why Christian filmmakers are producing horror films. 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: Kutter Callaway is the William K. Brehm Chair of Worship, Theology, and the Arts, associate dean of the Center for Advanced Theological Studies, and associate professor of theology and culture at Fuller Seminary. He is author and contributor to several books, and his most recent book is Theology for Psychology and Counseling: An Invitation to Holistic Christian Practice. 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-at-large and columnist) and Mike Cosper (senior contributor). 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: Kevin Morris 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	In the age of AI nowadays, this is a real issue.
0:03.8	Video-generated AI is so compelling that some of the images we see that are often real-life violence,
0:10.5	our initial instinct is that's not real.
0:16.1	From Christianity today, you're listening to The Bulletin, a podcast about the people, events,
0:21.0	and issues that are shaping our world. I'm Clarissa Mall, producer and moderator of the bulletin.
0:27.3	This week, the New York City mayoral race reveals Democrat strategy in the Big Apple and beyond.
0:33.6	President Trump cools his relationship with Vladimir Putin and Hurricane Melissa is headed straight for Jamaica.
0:40.4	What does this mean for your mission trip?
0:42.8	Mike and I discuss these topics, and I sit down with Cutter Callaway of CT's Be Afraid podcast to talk about Halloween, horror films, and how to face the real-life horror in the media every day. Welcome to the show.
1:01.6	This paid message is from Pew Research Center. The U.S. Census doesn't track religion,
1:07.1	but Pew Research Center's religious landscape study does. Since 2007, it's provided a
1:12.5	comprehensive look at the ever-changing role of faith in America. With responses from more than 35,000
1:18.5	Americans, the Religious Landscape Study provides authoritative data on religious beliefs, practices,
1:24.5	and identities across all 50 states. To explore how faith shapes your community, visit pewresearch.org slash RLS.
1:38.4	Hello, listeners. Welcome to our Tuesday show where we let you know what's catching our eye as the week begins.
1:43.9	Joining me is senior contributor Mike Cosper.
1:46.6	Hi, Mike.
1:47.3	Hey, good morning.
1:48.4	Early voting has started in New York City for a mayoral race that's been full of all the slings and arrows of a Shakespearean play.
1:56.0	I've heard the both of them again fighting like kids in the schoolyard.
1:59.8	Zoron, your resume could fit on a cocktail napkin.
2:04.9	And Andrew, your failures could fill a public school library in New York City.
	...

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