Air Date: 4–29-2026
Today we explore the extraordinary clash between Pope Leo XIV and the Trump White House — a feud involving military threats, medieval papal history, and an American-born pope who refuses to back down. We'll hear why analysts say MAGA's religiosity is pure aesthetic, and what that hollowness means for the millions of Americans still taking their faith seriously.
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TOP TAKES
KP 4: Why Are US Catholics Like That !? - The Kavernacle - Air Date 4-16-26
KP 5: Pope Bob Vs. Trump World Part 1 - Conspirituality - Air Date 5-22-25
KP 6: Did Trump Officials Threaten the Vatican' The Avignon Papacy Warning Explained - SWAJ with Brad Onishi and Dan Miller - Air Date 4-11-26
KP 7: Republicans .0002 Seconds After the Pope Says Anything - Man Carrying Thing - Air Date 4-18-26
(00:47:36) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
Pope Leo vs. Trump: The Catholic Opening Democrats Are Blowing
DEEPER DIVES
(00:56:09) SECTION A: TRUMP AND COMPANY'S LOVE/HATE PAPAL RELATIONSHIP
A1: Catholicism and the Kennedys Part 1 - United States of Kennedy - Air Date 1-12-26
A2: Trump’s Unholy War Against the Church - Runaway Country with Alex Wagner - Air Date 4-16-26
A4: Why America and the Vatican Have Fallen Out - TLDR News Global - Air Date 4-11-26
A5: Pope Leo Vs AI Slop Jesus Trump - Conspirituality - Air Date 4-18-26
(01:39:29) SECTION B: ANTI CATHOLIC SENTIMENT IN AMERICA
B1: Catholic Convert JD Vance Is Officially Feuding With the Pope - Some More News - Air Date 4-18-26
B2: Catholicism in the American Colonies Part 1 - Unsung History Podcast - Air Date 7-28-25
(02:05:17) SECTION C: THE POPE VS THE TRUMP
C1: Leo Demonstrates the Power of the Pontiff - Professor Tim Wilson - Air Date 4-18-26
C3: Pope Bob Vs. Trump World Part 2 - Conspirituality - Air Date 5-22-25
C4: Americano: Why Has Trump Picked a Fight with the Pope? - Best of the Spectator - Air Date 4-18-26
C5: Pope Leo's "New" Teaching on the Poor - Breaking In The Habit - Air Date 3-6-26
(02:49:26) SECTION D: SOME MISC HISTORICAL CONTEXT
D1: Why Were There Three Popes at the Same Time? - Joëlle Rollo-Koster - TED-Ed - Air Date 5-11-23
D2: Catholicism in the American Colonies Part 2 - Unsung History Podcast - Air Date 7-28-25
D3: Catholicism and the Kennedys Part 2 - United States of Kennedy - Air Date 1-12-26
SHOW IMAGE CREDITS
Description: Composite image of Pope Leo XIV and Trump against the background of Trump’s AI image of himself as Jesus.
Credit: Internal design. Components: 1. “Pope Leo XIV 3 (3x4 crop)” by Edgar Beltran, The Pillar via Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Changes: Transparent background | 2. “Donald Trump” by Gage Skidmore, Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Transparent background | 3. Trump as Jesus, AI image, Truth Social, Public Domain
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
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