Pete Hegseth Addresses Military, Nigerian Christians, Government Shutdown

The Bulletin

Christianity Today

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

4.4 • 586 Ratings

🗓️ 3 October 2025

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump addressed the top military brass and indicated that U.S. cities should be used as a training ground for the military to fight the “enemy within.” Russell Moore, Mike Cosper, and Clarissa Moll discuss the implications. Then, Liam Karr from the American Enterprise Institute joins us to give context to Bill Maher’s claims that Americans are ignoring Christian genocide in Nigeria. Finally, Michael Wear stops by to talk about the federal government shutdown and who it will hurt the most. 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: Liam Karr is the Africa team lead for the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute. He covers sub-Saharan Africa and specializes in the Sahel and Somalia. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in Political Science, History, and Arabic and an International Security Studies Certificate. Michael Wear is the founder, president, and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life. Wear is the author of The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life. He writes for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Catapult magazine, Christianity Today, and other publications on faith, politics, and culture. 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	We're not here to run these sorts of trial games with our power to see who comes on top politically.
0:12.7	We're here to enact legislation that benefits the American people and government shutdowns don't benefit the American people.
0:24.9	From Christianity today, you're listening to The Bulletin, a podcast about the people, events,
0:29.7	and issues that are shaping our world. I'm Clarissa Mall, producer and moderator of the Bulletin.
0:35.4	This week, Pete Hegeseth addresses top Rass in D.C. political commentator
0:40.1	Bill Maher highlights violence against Nigerian Christians, and the government grinds to a halt.
0:45.9	Liam Carr and Michael Ware join Russell, Mike, and me for the conversation. Welcome to the show.
1:06.5	Thank you. Welcome to the show. This paid message is from Pew Research Center.
1:09.9	The U.S. Census doesn't track religion, but Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Study does.
1:15.1	Since 2007, it's provided a comprehensive look at the ever-changing role of faith in America.
1:21.2	With responses from more than 35,000 Americans, the Religious Landscape Study provides authoritative data on religious beliefs, practices,
1:29.3	and identities across all 50 states. To explore how faith shapes your community, visit
1:34.4	pewresearch.org slash RLS.
1:39.3	Hello, listeners. Welcome to our Friday Roundtable. Joining me today, our editor at large and columnist
1:44.7	Russell Moore. Hey, Russell. Hello. And senior contributor, Mike Cosper. Hi, Mike. Hey, good to be here.
1:50.2	On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Higseth and President Trump met with top generals in the military
1:55.9	to outline adjustments in keeping with the Trump administration's desire to shift the department
2:00.8	from what has been called the Department of's desire to shift the department from what
2:01.3	has been called the Department of Woke to a Department of War.
2:04.6	An entire generation of generals and admirals were told that they must parrot the insane fallacy
2:11.2	that, quote, our diversity is our strength. Of course, we know our unity is our strength. Mr. Hegeseth introduced 10 points that
2:19.7	would go into effect immediately that included a host of changes, including revised fitness standards,
	...

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