Evangelical roundup for April 21, 2026 What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics?: On Tuesday, as part of a Bible-reading marathon taking place in Washington D.C. this week, Donald Trump will read from from 2 Chronicles 7:11–22, a passage that includes the verse: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” More here. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will read from the Sermon on the Mount:

Evangelical roundup for April 21, 2026

What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics?: On Tuesday, as part of a Bible-reading marathon taking place in Washington D.C. this week, Donald Trump will read from from 2 Chronicles 7:11–22, a passage that includes the verse:…

George Washington preserved America from lifetime presidents Here is historian H.W. Brands at The New York Times: George Washington’s presidency is known best for being the first, and then for establishing the tradition that presidents limit themselves to two terms. This standard held informally until Franklin Roosevelt was elected a third time in 1940, and a fourth in 1944, after which it was written into the Constitution as the 22nd Amendment. In the 250th year of American independence, Washington is still applauded for preserving America from lifetime presidents. That wasn’t his intention. The preservation Washington was most interested in was of his equanimity and reputation.

George Washington preserved America from lifetime presidents

Here is historian H.W. Brands at The New York Times: George Washington’s presidency is known best for being the first, and then for establishing the tradition that presidents limit themselves to two terms. This standard held informally…

Sunday night odds and ends A few things online that caught my attention this week: Donald Trump is trying to dismantle higher education and destroy free speech. And one scholar was offended when another scholar used the phra…

In case you missed them last night. Click. Read. Learn. thewayofimprovement.blog/2026/04/19/s...

Evangelical roundup for April 20, 2026 What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics?: Jake Meador, the editor of the evangelical website Mere Orthodoxy, calls for a new "Evangelicals and Catholics Together" movement. Meador wants something similar to this. But maybe what we actually need is a revival of the conversation between Evangelicals and Catholics in the 2010s, as represented by this volume. *** A taste of Sunday's David French column at The New York Times: But there’s another vitally important question that hovers in the air. How much is Christian zeal for Trump damaging America, and the world?

Evangelical roundup for April 20, 2026

What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics?: Jake Meador, the editor of the evangelical website Mere Orthodoxy, calls for a new "Evangelicals and Catholics Together" movement. Meador wants something similar to this. But maybe…

Sunday night odds and ends A few things online that caught my attention this week: Donald Trump is trying to dismantle higher education and destroy free speech. And one scholar was offended when another scholar used the phrase "circling the wagons." Book news isn't all bad. A history of the soapbox Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn reviews Wendell Berry, Marce Catlett: The Force of a Story How the Declaration of Independence helped the patriots find allies. The College of St. Joseph the Worker brings together trade education and the liberal arts. Michael Sandel on the "vulnerability of the liberal neutral state."

Sunday night odds and ends

A few things online that caught my attention this week: Donald Trump is trying to dismantle higher education and destroy free speech. And one scholar was offended when another scholar used the phrase "circling the wagons." Book news isn't all bad. A history of the…

Evangelical roundup for April 18, 2026 What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicals and politics? Reverend Dr. Gabriel Salguero, president and founder of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and pastor of the Gathering Place in Orlando, Florida, talks to NPR about Trump's influence on American evangelicalism. *** The Church in Wales just voted to make same-sex blessings permanent. Evangelicals respond. *** Paul Coulter, an Irish evangelical, on Trump's "messiah complex." *** Adam Kinzinger on Franklin Graham's defense of Donald Trump. Also Shane: *** Janet Epp Buckingham, Director of the World Evangelical Alliance Office to the UN in Geneva, …

Evangelical roundup for April 18, 2026

What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicals and politics? Reverend Dr. Gabriel Salguero, president and founder of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and pastor of the Gathering Place in Orlando, Florida, talks to NPR about Trump's…

Evangelical roundup for April 1, 2026 What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics? We posted this in yesterday’s roundup, but this story is getting widely reported today. Here is Franklin Graham on …

In today's roundup (April 17), we have: Tony Perkins of Family Research Council defending the separation of church & state; evangelicals responding to Franklin Graham's take on Trump's Jesus post; Josh Hawley @SBTS; and much more: thewayofimprovement.blog/2026/04/17/e...

Trump cancels an $11 million federal grant to Catholic Charities. What explanation is there for this, other than spite? Here is CBS News: The Trump administration has canceled an $11 million federal contract that helps shelter and care for migrant children who enter the United States without a parent or legal guardian — putting a decades-long program in South Florida at risk of shutting down within months. The decision affects Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, which has provided services to unaccompanied minors for more than 60 years. Church officials say the sudden loss of funding could force the organization to end its operations tied to migrant children within three months.

Trump cancels an $11 million federal grant to Catholic Charities.

What explanation is there for this, other than spite? Here is CBS News: The Trump administration has canceled an $11 million federal contract that helps shelter and care for migrant children who enter the United States without a…

Most popular posts of the last week Here are the most popular posts of the last week at The Way of Improvement Leads Home: Bonus roundup: Trump thinks he is Jesus Christ; evangelicals respond Evangelical roundup for April 14, 2026 Evangelical roundup for April 9, 2026 Evangelical roundup for April 15, 2026 Sunday night odds and ends Evangelical roundup for April 16, 2026 Evangelical roundup for April 11, 2026 Evangelical roundup for April 13, 2026 Another reason why many of the new “civics centers” on campuses are not as bipartisan as advertised Help us with the evangelical roundup!

Most popular posts of the last week

Here are the most popular posts of the last week at The Way of Improvement Leads Home: Bonus roundup: Trump thinks he is Jesus Christ; evangelicals respond Evangelical roundup for April 14, 2026 Evangelical roundup for April 9, 2026 Evangelical roundup for April…

Are evangelicals abandoning Trump? The news media is making a huge deal about how conservative evangelicals are responding to Donald Trump's recent Truth Social post in which he compared himself to Jesus. If you read this blog, you know the story. We've been covering it at the Evangelical Roundup for the last several days. Is this going to be the last straw for evangelicals? Is blasphemy where they draw the line? I've seen four evangelical approaches to Trump's post: The defenders. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and evangelist Franklin Graham fall into this category.

Are evangelicals abandoning Trump?

The news media is making a huge deal about how conservative evangelicals are responding to Donald Trump's recent Truth Social post in which he compared himself to Jesus. If you read this blog, you know the story. We've been covering it at the Evangelical Roundup…

Evangelical roundup for April 1, 2026 What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics? We posted this in yesterday's roundup, but this story is getting widely reported today. Here is Franklin Graham on Donald Trump's Jesus-doctor-healer Truth Social post: I had received some questions about President@realDonaldTrump's recent posts, and here are my thoughts: I do not believe President Trump would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ—that would certainly be inappropriate. I’m thankful the President has made it very clear that this was not at all what he thought the AI-generated image was representing—he thought it was a doctor helping someone, and when he learned of the concerns, he immediately removed the post.

Evangelical roundup for April 1, 2026

What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics? We posted this in yesterday's roundup, but this story is getting widely reported today. Here is Franklin Graham on Donald Trump's Jesus-doctor-healer Truth Social post: I had received…

Those 1950s “commies”

I couldn't tell if this video was about the American fears of communism in the 1950s or MAGA rhetoric about the Democratic Party. Whatever the case, it's hilarious Watch:

Was Viktor Orbán’s Hungarian government funding CPAC? Apparently so. Here is Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling at The New Republic: Turns out the Hungarian government has been bankrolling the Conservative Political Action Conference for years. Péter Magyar, who unseated Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán Sunday in a landslide, told reporters Monday that the outbound leader had diverted Hungarian taxpayer funds toward financing the American Republican conference. Magyar noted that his government will be investigating Orbán’s expenditures, and will no longer finance CPAC or other right-wing institutions abroad. “I believe the state should never have financed them in the first place, it was a crime,” Magyar…

Was Viktor Orbán’s Hungarian government funding CPAC?

Apparently so. Here is Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling at The New Republic: Turns out the Hungarian government has been bankrolling the Conservative Political Action Conference for years. Péter Magyar, who unseated Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor…

“If you use [A.I.] for your art, you’re a freakin’ hack.” Novelist Colson Whitehead has won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Today, the novelist weighs in on artificial intelligence. Here is a taste of his piece at The New York Times: “Everyone Is Using A.I. for Everything” nowadays, a.k.a. vibe-living, and if you don’t, you’re a misfit outsider who should be stoned to death in the town square to prevent contagion, and then A.I. should resurrect you virtually from your data so you can be stoned to death in the virtual town square, for infinity.

“If you use [A.I.] for your art, you’re a freakin’ hack.”

Novelist Colson Whitehead has won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Today, the novelist weighs in on artificial intelligence. Here is a taste of his piece at The New York Times: “Everyone Is Using A.I. for Everything”…

Evangelical roundup for April 15, 2026 What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics: This weekend, Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church-Dallas, one of the early Trump court evangelicals and one of the most politically active evangelical MAGA clergyman in the country, told his congregation that it was “tragic” that U.S. Christians today are more comfortable talking politics than sharing Jesus.  I think this qualifies for the "you can't make this up" category. More here. *** Hungarian evangelicals are responding to Péter Magyar's victory over Viktor Orbán’s in the country's election for Prime Minister.

Evangelical roundup for April 15, 2026

What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics: This weekend, Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church-Dallas, one of the early Trump court evangelicals and one of the most politically active evangelical MAGA clergyman in the…

Evangelical roundup for April 14, 2026 What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics?: Yesterday, we covered President Donald Trump's blasphemous post comparing himself to Jesus Christ. The post has been removed from Truth Social, and now Trump is claiming it depicted him as a doctor. Really? A doctor dressed like Jesus with divine healing rays of glory emanating upon his patient? And a healer? This man has fomented more division and political strife than any president in American history. Here are more evangelical responses to this story. (Again, we posted several dozen yesterday):

Evangelical roundup for April 14, 2026

What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics?: Yesterday, we covered President Donald Trump's blasphemous post comparing himself to Jesus Christ. The post has been removed from Truth Social, and now Trump is claiming it depicted…

The Author’s Corner with Cotten Seiler Cotten Seiler is Professor of American Studies at Dickinson College. This interview is based on his new book, White Care: The Impact of Race on American Infrastructure (University of Chicago Press,…

Author’s Corner with Cotten Sailer, *White Care: The Impact of Race on American Infrastructure* thewayofimprovement.blog/2026/04/13/t... @DickinsonCol @UChicagoPress

Bonus roundup: Trump thinks he is Jesus Christ; evangelicals respond During Holy Week, Paula White-Cain, Donald Trump's "spiritual advisor," compared the president to Jesus Christ. We covered that in our April 2 and April 3 roundups. Trump seems to believe White. Today, he posted the above AI-generated image on Truth Social. It is blasphemous on two levels. The image not only portrays Trump as Jesus Christ, but also merges Jesus's message of healing with nationalism and war. It also suggests that Trump has a messiah complex. The photo appears to be AI-generated. The context for this post is his dustup over the weekend with Pope Leo:

Bonus roundup: Trump thinks he is Jesus Christ; evangelicals respond

During Holy Week, Paula White-Cain, Donald Trump's "spiritual advisor," compared the president to Jesus Christ. We covered that in our April 2 and April 3 roundups. Trump seems to believe White. Today, he posted the above…

More Easter music from U2

More Easter music from U2

The Author’s Corner with Cotten Seiler Cotten Seiler is Professor of American Studies at Dickinson College. This interview is based on his new book, White Care: The Impact of Race on American Infrastructure (University of Chicago Press, 2026). JF: What led you to write White Care? CS: I’ve always been interested in our built environment and how it reflects our national values and priorities. My first book, Republic of Drivers: A Cultural History of Automobility in America, examined why we’ve tethered ourselves to driving cars as a way of life. White Care similarly looks to the built environment to tell a story of why we built certain things to improve people’s lives and why, over the past half-century, we’ve let those things decay.

The Author’s Corner with Cotten Seiler

Cotten Seiler is Professor of American Studies at Dickinson College. This interview is based on his new book, White Care: The Impact of Race on American Infrastructure (University of Chicago Press, 2026). JF: What led you to write White Care? CS: I’ve always…

Evangelical roundup for April 13, 2026 What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics?: Cortes Vasquez, the pastor of The Gathering Place Church in Elizabeth, New Jersey, was released by ICE after three weeks in custody. The National Latino Evangelical Coalition had been fighting for his release. *** A Baylor University sociologist argues that identity politics is a problem for Christians, and Christians represent our best chance to find a way out of identity politics. He also has something to say about Christian influencers: *** Alabama state legislator Mark Gidley wants the 10 Commandments displayed in public schools to reflect the "Judeo-Christian principles" that are foundational to America.

Evangelical roundup for April 13, 2026

What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics?: Cortes Vasquez, the pastor of The Gathering Place Church in Elizabeth, New Jersey, was released by ICE after three weeks in custody. The National Latino Evangelical Coalition had…

Sunday night odds and ends A few things online that caught my attention this week: The re-enchantment of American religious history Do AI and D.E.I have anything in common? Why are so many people converting to Catholicism? Mary Todd Lincoln has "existed in the historical record as largely a one-dimensional character created by men..." Invasion of the body snatchers--early 19th-century edition. Reading Gone with the Wind on a road trip through the South Pope Leo and the war in Iran Free speech and college disinvitation controversies Kate Masur reviews Melvin Patrick Ely's A Terrible Intimacy: Interracial Life in the Slaveholding South…

Sunday night odds and ends

A few things online that caught my attention this week: The re-enchantment of American religious history Do AI and D.E.I have anything in common? Why are so many people converting to Catholicism? Mary Todd Lincoln has "existed in the historical record as largely a…

New Easter music from U2

Happy Easter Saturday!

Evangelical roundup for April 11, 2026 What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics? The Spanish Evangelical Alliance is trying to prevent a government proposal to make abortion a constitutional right. More here. *** In other pro-life news, a Mississippi farmer, who is an evangelical Christian, has helped more than 150 Ukrainian refugee families resettle in the state. More here. *** There are evangelicals in Iran. And they are living out the Gospel. More here. *** More on Doug Wilson and his church. In their ideal Christian America, there would be no rights for LGBTQ+ people, no divorce, and no voting rights for married women.

Evangelical roundup for April 11, 2026

What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics? The Spanish Evangelical Alliance is trying to prevent a government proposal to make abortion a constitutional right. More here. *** In other pro-life news, a Mississippi farmer, who…

Help us with the evangelical roundup! As regular readers know, we spent a lot of energy here at The Way of Improvement Leads Home observing the connections between Evangelicalism and politics. We do our best to offer a variety of evangelical responses to political developments, although we must admit that the most vocal, and, frankly, the easiest to find, are the musings of those on the MAGA right. Whether it's progressive Madison, Wisconsin (where I live), conservative south-central Pennsylvania (where I lived for almost 25 years), or the parts of the country where I travel to speak, I encounter all kinds of evangelical political engagement.

Help us with the evangelical roundup!

As regular readers know, we spent a lot of energy here at The Way of Improvement Leads Home observing the connections between Evangelicalism and politics. We do our best to offer a variety of evangelical responses to political developments, although we must…

Evangelical roundup for April 9, 2026 What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics?: Former Nebraska U.S. Senator Ben Sasse talks with Ross Douthat on how to live when you are dying. A taste: Douthat: Let’s talk about your loves, your little platoons. I’ve never had a cancer diagnosis. I was very ill 5, 7, 10 years ago. Early on in that, I had a bunch of phantom heart attacks where I went to the emergency room and I would think briefly that I was going to die. And what was striking in those moments was actually how little I was personally afraid of my own mortality, and how much fear I had about my family and my kids.

Evangelical roundup for April 9, 2026

What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics?: Former Nebraska U.S. Senator Ben Sasse talks with Ross Douthat on how to live when you are dying. A taste: Douthat: Let’s talk about your loves, your little platoons. I’ve never had a…

Another reason why many of the new “civics centers” on campuses are not as bipartisan as advertised Here is how the "Center for Intellectual Freedom," one of the many so-called "civics" centers cropping up on college and university campuses, describes itself: The Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa opens a bold new chapter in our community as a dedicated hub for exploring the foundational ideas, texts, and traditions that have shaped the American constitutional order and free societies. Established through state legislation in 2025, the center promises more than just traditional academic coursework. We offer a unique environment where diverse viewpoints are encouraged to come together to engage in civil debate and thoughtful conversation.

Another reason why many of the new “civics centers” on campuses are not as bipartisan as advertised

Here is how the "Center for Intellectual Freedom," one of the many so-called "civics" centers cropping up on college and university campuses, describes itself: The Center for Intellectual Freedom at…

Most popular posts of the last week Here are the most popular posts of the last week at The Way of Improvement Leads Home: What a historian saw at a “No Kings” rally Evangelical roundup for April 6, 2026 This is the same Catholic bishop who stood by as Paula White compared Trump to Jesus Sunday night odds and ends Evangelical roundup for April 4, 2026 Evangelical roundup for April 8, 2026 Why the humanities can only survive outside the university Evangelical roundup for April 9, 2026 Why college students don’t do the reading Evangelical roundup for April 3, 2026

Most popular posts of the last week

Here are the most popular posts of the last week at The Way of Improvement Leads Home: What a historian saw at a “No Kings” rally Evangelical roundup for April 6, 2026 This is the same Catholic bishop who stood by as Paula White compared Trump to Jesus Sunday…

Evangelical roundup for April 9, 2026 What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics? Christianity Today's Russell Moore on why the Bible does not justify war crimes. Here is a taste: ...some of those justifying or looking away from the possibility of war crimes use the Bible to make their claim. One person, in telling me he supported the carpet-bombing of entire civilian populations, told me we would be no less justified in doing so than Joshua was in taking out the Canaanites in the Land of Promise. We can expect to hear that language more in the days to come, whether in the Middle East or elsewhere, whenever someone wants to advocate in a social media attention economy for what any previous American generation would have seen as war crimes.

Evangelical roundup for April 9, 2026

What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics? Christianity Today's Russell Moore on why the Bible does not justify war crimes. Here is a taste: ...some of those justifying or looking away from the possibility of war crimes use the…

Why college students don’t do the reading In the last decade of my teaching career, my experience with student reading assignments matched that of Hannah Pittard, a University of Kentucky English professor. Fewer and fewer students came to class prepared, having done the assigned readings for the day. In a recent piece at Inside Higher Ed, Pittard explains why this might be the case. Here is a taste: Students today aren’t spending four buffered years discovering themselves; they’re calculating risk with very little margin for error. When a student doesn’t finish a novel, the explanation is rarely incapacity or indifference.

Why college students don’t do the reading

In the last decade of my teaching career, my experience with student reading assignments matched that of Hannah Pittard, a University of Kentucky English professor. Fewer and fewer students came to class prepared, having done the assigned readings for the…