Episodes

  • Loose Reins, Tight Factions: the Southern Baptist Convention

    Loose Reins, Tight Factions: the Southern Baptist Convention
    Feb 17 2025
    One of the most powerful religious institutions in America is also one of the most chaotic. The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), with its billion-dollar budget and massive political influence, operates without centralized authority or even an effective system of accountability. But as the Executive Committee meets in Nashville this week, a long-simmering crisis of governance is coming to a head. In this episode of Complexified, Amanda Henderson speaks with RNS reporter Bob Smietana to break down the scandals, factional divides, and power struggles shaping the SBC today. The conversation delves into: The ongoing sexual abuse crisis and why a long-promised list of abusive pastors remains unfinished. Financial scandals involving millions of dollars in mismanagement at SBC institutions. The rising tension between pro-life advocates and abortion abolitionists pushing for extreme policies. The debate over refugee aid, immigration reform, and the SBC’s relationship with the GOP. Why the SBC’s governance model—built on congregational independence—has made oversight nearly impossible. With fights over money, power, and theology unfolding behind closed doors, the SBC’s current turmoil is more than just denominational drama—it’s a mirror of America’s broader political and cultural battles.
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    32 mins
  • Sledgehammer Reform: USAID on the Chopping Block

    Sledgehammer Reform: USAID on the Chopping Block
    Feb 10 2025
    USAID has been a pillar of American foreign policy and humanitarian relief for over 60 years, but under the Trump administration’s latest push for government downsizing—driven in part by Elon Musk’s influence—the agency is facing deep cuts that could disrupt life-saving aid in over 100 countries. What does this mean for the millions of people who rely on U.S. support for clean water, healthcare, and disaster relief? And how are faith-based organizations, some of the biggest USAID partners, preparing for a future with drastically reduced funding? In this episode of Complexified, Amanda Henderson sits down with former USAID official Adam Nicholas Phillips to explore the history, purpose, and political pressures surrounding USAID, from its Cold War origins to its vital role in today’s humanitarian crises. They discuss how religious groups—trusted in their communities—are often the backbone of aid delivery, why cutting USAID isn’t just about budget efficiency, and whether resistance movements might emerge to counter these drastic changes. With over 50,000 aid workers already furloughed and countless lives hanging in the balance, this episode unpacks the high-stakes battle over foreign aid, faith-based partnerships, and America’s role on the global stage.
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    24 mins
  • Faith, Politics, and Power: J.D. Vance’s Tightrope Act

    Faith, Politics, and Power: J.D. Vance’s Tightrope Act
    Feb 3 2025
    JD Vance took the stage at the March for Life to thunderous applause, positioning himself as a champion of conservative Catholic values. With Republican heavyweights like Ron DeSantis and Mike Johnson in attendance, the rally was a display of political and religious unity—or so it seemed. Just two days later, Vance went on Face the Nation and publicly attacked Catholic bishop, seeming to accuse them of financially benefiting from immigration policies and failing to support law enforcement. In this episode of Complexified, Amanda Henderson and RNS journalist Aleja Hertzler-McCain explore the contradictions in Vance’s political and religious journey—his late-in-life conversion to Catholicism, his embrace of Catholic integralism, and his balancing act between conservative ideology and Trump’s agenda. Why did he shift from echoing traditional Catholic rhetoric at the March for Life to distancing himself from the church’s leaders on immigration? What does this reveal about the evolving priorities of the religious right and the tensions between power and principle?
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    22 mins
  • The Mercy Pulpit & The Sermon Heard Around the World

    The Mercy Pulpit & The Sermon Heard Around the World
    Jan 27 2025
    God and Trump collide in a week of political and religious tension, sparked by a prophetic sermon at the National Cathedral. Host Amanda Henderson and RNS Executive Editor Roxanne Stone delve into how this sermon—calling for mercy and justice—reshaped the national discourse and exposed the fractures between competing Christianities. From Trump’s invocation of divine authority to the shifting influence of evangelical power, they explore how faith and politics are shaping America’s identity and future.
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    26 mins
  • President Trump's Crusader

    President Trump's Crusader
    Jan 17 2025
    "By the grace of God, by Jesus, and Jenny." Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing for Secretary of Defense avoided overt debates on his faith or claims of moral redemption, leaving the politics of his nomination largely unspoken. Amanda Henderson and RNS reporter Jack Jenkins examine how Hegseth’s Christian nationalism, personal controversies, and claims of transformation served as a stormy backdrop to the hearing, raising deeper questions about the unacknowledged intersections of religion, power, and leadership in his path to the Pentagon.
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    28 mins
  • The Bishop's Gambit

    The Bishop's Gambit
    Jan 12 2025
    In a bold response to the incoming U.S. president, Pope Francis appoints Cardinal Robert McElroy as Bishop of Washington, D.C., signaling the Vatican’s commitment to immigration, environmental justice and a moral counter to Trump-era politics. RNS Vatican correspondent Claire Giangravè explores the significance of this appointment and its implications for faith and power in the United States.
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    20 mins
  • Crosses at the Border

    Crosses at the Border
    Dec 20 2024
    The Southern US border is often portrayed as a battleground, but the reality is far more nuanced. RNS reporter, Aleja Hertzler-McCain unpacks the way faith communities in Brownsville, Texas are responding to immigration challenges in diverse ways—offering resources, advocating for systemic change, and, for some, seizing moments of evangelism. Religious leaders grapple with fear, opportunity, and shifting policies while striving to uphold human dignity in a time of uncertainty.
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    21 mins
  • A Keffiyeh Conundrum: the Politics of Baby Jesus

    A Keffiyeh Conundrum: the Politics of Baby Jesus
    Dec 13 2024
    A keffiyeh-wrapped Baby Jesus in nativity scenes, including one recently displayed at the Vatican, has sparked controversy and challenged traditional images of Christ’s birth. This provocative symbol brings attention to the political realities of modern-day Bethlehem and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, prompting deeper questions about the connections between faith, resistance, and justice. RNS Reporter Yonat Shimron joins us to probe the depth of meaning behind the symbols.
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    22 mins