Polling Data, Modern Vices, and the Drying of the Tigris and the Euphrates

The Bulletin

Christianity Today

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

4.4 • 586 Ratings

🗓️ 15 May 2026

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, Russell Moore, Charlie Sykes, and Clarissa Moll break down new polling about Americans’ responses to changes in the economy, US involvement in foreign affairs, and their opinions on presidential hopefuls for 2028. Then, CT’s Sho Baraka joins to discuss how modern vices of marijuana use, AI porn, gambling look different with an undercurrent of loneliness and isolation. Finally, Sho and Russell discuss NASA’s reports that the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are drying up at an alarming rate, and how people are relating this to a prophecy in Revelation. REFERENCED IN THE EPISODE: AtlasIntel Poll 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: Charles J. Sykes is a political commentator who hosted a conservative talk show in Wisconsin for 23 years. He was the former editor-in-chief of The Bulwark, and is currently an MSNBC contributor. Sykes has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Politico, Salon, and other national publications. He has appeared on the Today Show, ABC, NBC, Fox News, CNN, PBS, and the BBC. Sho Baraka is Christianity Today’s Big Tent editorial director. He is a recording artist, performer, culture curator, activist, and writer. He is a cofounder of Forth District and the And Campaign, and he has served as an adjunct professor at Wake Forest University School of Divinity. He was an original member of influential hip-hop consortium 116 Clique, recording with Reach Records. ABOUT THE BULLETIN: The Bulletin is a twice-weekly news analysis podcast from Christianity Today, with editor-at-large Russell Moore and executive editor of news Clarissa Moll. Each episode offers commentary on current events and headlining news with a roundtable of premier guests, and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world 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 Producer: Erik Petrik Senior Producer: Matt Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Changes in sexual performance are more common than most people realise, and support doesn't need to feel awkward.
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0:09.1	Start by completing a short consultation reviewed by UK registered clinicians.
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0:18.7	You're not alone in this. Visit medexpress.com.
0:21.8	dot UK slash podcast to learn more.
0:29.9	From Christianity today, you're listening to The Bulletin, a podcast about the people,
0:34.6	events, and issues that are shaping our world. I'm Clarissa Mall.
0:38.8	Today, Russell Moore and I join Charlie Sykes and Show Baraka to talk about what the latest
0:43.9	U.S. polling data tells us about presidential hopefuls, why America's got a new name, and
0:50.0	what will happen when the Tigris and Euphrates rivers dry up. Welcome to the show.
0:59.7	Good morning, listeners, and welcome to our Friday roundtable. On Monday, President Trump
1:04.7	conducted a little informal poll at a dinner honoring police officers. Who's it going to be? Is it
1:10.3	going to be JD? Is it going to be? Is it going to be J.D.?
1:11.1	Is it going to be somebody else? I don't know. Does anybody have—okay, let's go. You ready?
1:16.9	Who likes J.D. Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio. All right.
1:32.2	The president's poll isn't the only data being collected on potential candidates.
1:38.5	This week, Atlas Intel released new national poll data, covering a variety of topics from Americans' responses to changes in the economy to their opinions on presidential hopefuls for 2028.
1:45.4	While poll data certainly isn't a guaranteed predictor of future outcomes, it is in some
1:50.7	ways like taking a person's pulse, a helpful reflection of a moment in time that can prompt
1:56.2	deeper reflection and conversation. Joining Russell and me to break down the numbers today is political
2:01.8	commentator Charlie Sykes. Charlie, thanks for being with us today. Good to be here.
	...

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