Rafah Crossing, Trump’s IRS Lawsuit, Don Lemon’s Arrest, and MAGA Jesus

The Bulletin

Christianity Today

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

4.4 • 586 Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2026

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt opened for the first time in a year, a step that will allow some Palestinians to leave for medical care. Then, President Trump sued the IRS for $10 billion for leaking his tax returns in 2019. Finally, former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested in connection with the protest in Minnesota that interrupted a church service. Mike Cosper and Clarissa Moll discuss these headlines, and Mike sits down with Pete Wehner of The Atlantic to discuss the difference between the MAGA Jesus and the real Jesus. REFERENCED IN THE SHOW: MAGA Jesus is Not the Real Jesus - Pete Wehner, The Atlantic 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: Peter Wehner is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum. He was formerly a speechwriter for George W. Bush and a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Wehner is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, and his work also appears in publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and National Affairs. 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 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	We are called as followers of Jesus to be faithful, not necessarily to be successful.
0:05.0	We'd rather be both. Sometimes you aren't both.
0:08.0	And ultimately the quality of your life as an individual, as a follower of Jesus,
0:13.0	is determined by its integrity, by the honor that you have,
0:17.0	and how well you lived up to what you knew to be true and right.
0:29.1	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, producer and moderator of the Bulletin. Welcome to our Tuesday show where Mike Cosper and I discuss what's catching our eye as the week begins. Pete Wain moderator of the bulletin. Welcome to our Tuesday show where Mike Kaspur and I discuss what's catching our eye as the week
0:40.2	begins. Pete Wainer of the Atlantic joins us today for a chat.
0:50.1	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.
0:59.0	Since 2007, it's provided a comprehensive look at the ever-changing role of faith in America.
1:04.7	With responses from more than 35,000 Americans, the Religious Landscape Study provides authoritative data on religious beliefs, practices, and identities across all 50 states.
1:15.4	To explore how faith shapes your community, visit pewresearch.org slash RLS.
1:24.6	On Sunday, Israel's coordinator of government activities in the Territories Agency, or
1:30.9	Kogat, opened the border between Gaza and Egypt for a test run, its first opening of the
1:36.8	crossing since May 2024. Pedestrian crossings are expected to begin on Monday, and a European
1:43.4	Union mission will be supervising
1:45.4	the entry and exit points. The New York Times reports that, quote, this step throws a lifeline to
1:51.7	Palestinians who want to leave for medical care or return to homes and families after two years
1:56.9	of war. Mike, the October ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas included reopening this
2:03.2	crossing. Why has it taken until now to make that actually happen? Hamas has not followed through on a
2:10.2	number of the things that they promised to do as part of the ceasefire. That's really the core reason
2:15.7	why the ceasefire has not advanced as much as it has.
	...

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