Culture Brief - Christian perspectives on the week's biggest news, sports & pop-culture stories

In this week’s Brief: I’m joined by Denison Ministries CEO Josh Miller to unpack the fallout from last week’s midterms. Susie Wiles is out as White House chief of staff, and Stephen Miller, architect of the administration’s hardline immigration policy, is in. We break down what the move signals for the next two years, JD Vance’s post-election distancing, and President Trump’s revealing “60 Minutes” sit-down with Ross Douthat, where he admitted he can’t forgive his enemies. From there, Josh dives into the AI industry’s tumultuous post-Midterm week: a $2.5 trillion stock sell-off over fears of newly elected governors vowing to slow data center construction. Plus, a shocking, real-life spy-thriller saga surrounding Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang that shook the markets and U.S. national security. This conversation really hones in on what Scripture says about confession, forgiveness, and our response when we’re rebuked.And stick around for a big announcement about the future of Denison Forum!Topics(0:00) Introduction(0:50) Midterm fallout overview(1:30) White House shakeup(4:21) Stephen Miller signals(8:55) JD Vance distances(11:08) Trump 60 Minutes interview(22:09) AI stocks market crash(23:42) Data center backlash(28:38) AI backlash fears(29:10) Nvidia spy scandal(34:20) Fallout and security(39:25) Samson and Delilah(41:21) Grace and repentance(46:00) Russell Brand case(47:10) Anchored News rebrand(52:18) Why the Anchored News name(53:42) ConclusionResourcesSend us your thoughts, questions, and topic ideas: [email protected] Brief InstagramWatch on Youtube Sign-up for a Denison Forum newsletter: DenisonForum.org/subscribeArticles on this week’s top headlines:Learn more about Anchored NewsDF - President Trump names Stephen Miller his chief of staffDF - Will the House of Representatives impeach Pete Hegseth?XDonald Trump on 60 Minutes Extended Interview on YouTubeFive Takeaways From Trump’s ‘60 Minutes’ InterviewWall Street Gets $2.5 Trillion AI Reality Check With Historic Rout of Tech Stocks Gina Hinojosa won the governor’s race. What happens to Texas data centers now?Texas governor-elect says state will have laws to shield citizens from data centersCandidates highlight data center plans. Next Ohio governor will select regulators.NYT - Nvidia Chief Seen as Target of Chinese Spy Plot AFP - China denies spying on Nvidia's Jensen Huang Chairmen Mast, Moolenaar, and Crawford Request Jensen Huang Brief Congress on Link to Chinese Intelligence AssetNvidia Memo - A Message to Our CompanyStatement from NVIDIA Board of DirectorsScoop: Commerce's Lutnick was sent warning on Nvidia CEO affair / DF - Russell Brand’s conviction and a Christian responseAbout Conner JonesConner is the Managing Editor of Denison Forum, host of the Culture Brief podcast and author of the In The Know newsletter. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2019 and has spent his career at the intersection of faith, culture, and current events. Outside the office, he can usually be found at the movies, watching sports, or traveling with his wife, Raigan, and their sons, Nolan and Nash.About Josh MillerJosh Miller is the Chief Executive Officer at Denison Ministries. He is also a disciple of Jesus, husband, and father. A Christian leader, author, and songwriter, Josh brings over 20 years of ministry experience, from global worship tours to pastoral leadership. He lives in Plano, Texas with his wife and two sons, fueled by faith, craft coffee, and a love for tacos.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, the Faith & Clarity podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.All episodes are produced by Sound of a Rose. For more information, you can visit soundofarose.com.

In this week’s Brief: the midterms are over — and it was a blue wave. I’m joined by Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Ryan Denison to break down a historic night for Democrats who now have a commanding House majority, a flipped Senate, and even saw Texas go blue. Was it a referendum on President Trump? We talk through the economy, voters tired of being told not to trust their own eyes and why Republican gerrymandering backfired.We then look ahead to a lame-duck president with veto power, a Democratic Party that must choose between governing and retaliation, and a 2028 race that starts basically tomorrow. We also address how Christians can respond to election excitement or disappointment.Plus, the Milwaukee Brewers win their first World Series and we ask for prayer as tensions with Iran build once again.Whoever holds office, no government can thwart God’s will — and his kingdom will keep advancing.Topics(0:00) Introduction(1:25) Midterm night recap (2:30) House and Senate shockers (5:00) Why the blue wave (7:12) Truth and trust gap (13:25) Checks, balances, and Trump (20:33) Democrats' next two years (26:23) Texas turns blue fallout (27:46) Mandate or revenge (31:20) Candidate matters most (33:01) Gerrymandering backfires(36:12) Supreme Court clock (37:08) Disappointed Christian response(41:09) Peace in uncertainty(50:38) ConclusionResourcesSend us your thoughts, questions, and topic ideas: [email protected] Brief InstagramWatch on Youtube Sign-up for a Denison Forum newsletter: DenisonForum.org/subscribeAbout Conner JonesConner is the Managing Editor of Denison Forum, host of the Culture Brief podcast and author of the In The Know newsletter. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2019 and has spent his career at the intersection of faith, culture, and current events. Outside the office, he can usually be found at the movies, watching sports, or traveling with his wife, Raigan, and their sons, Nolan and Nash.About Dr. Ryan DenisonDr. Ryan Denison is the Senior Editor for Theology at Denison Forum and the author of The Focus newsletter, contributing writing and research to many of the ministry’s productions. He holds a PhD in church history from B. H. Carroll Theological Institute and an MDiv from Truett Seminary. Ryan has also taught at B. H. Carroll and Dallas Baptist University.He and his wife, Candice, live in East Texas and have two children.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman serves as the Executive Director of Denison Forum, where he leads with a passion for equipping believers to navigate today’s complex culture with biblical truth. He is best known as the host of the Faith & Clarity podcast and the lead pastor of the Possum Kingdom Lake Chapel, the in-person congregation of Denison Ministries.Dr. Turman is the coauthor of Sacred Sexuality: Reclaiming God’s Design and Who Am I? What the Bible Says About Identity and Why it Matters. He earned his undergraduate degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, and received his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He later completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco.Before joining Denison Forum, Mark served as a pastor for thirty-five years, including twenty-five years as the founding pastor of Crosspoint Church in McKinney, Texas. Mark and his high school sweetheart, Judi, married in 1986. They are proud parents of two adult children and grandparents to three grandchildren.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, the Faith & Clarity podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.All episodes are produced by Sound of a Rose. For more information, you can visit soundofarose.com.

In this week's Brief: it's a different kind of episode! Conner's on paternity leave, welcoming a new baby boy. But before he left, he was joined by Alex Kondratev, Denison Ministries' Chief Content Officer, for a Q&A-style conversation:What small talk topic would you lean into to avoid boring someone?Who are the top 2028 presidential candidates (both parties, plus wildcards)?What's the biggest cultural shift you've seen in 2026?What in today's culture gives us hope?Why is it important to stay "in the know" on culture, even when it feels overwhelming?Plus, Alex flips the script with a lightning round to get to know Conner — his salvation story, what Bible character would he have questions for, one headline he’s clicking no matter what, and more! It's a fun, honest look behind the mic with a reminder that staying informed and staying rooted in Scripture go hand in hand.Topics(0:00) Introduction(3:48) Books, sports, and Marvel tangent(6:45) Top 2028 candidates(10:10) Democrats and wild cards(18:54) Big Tech and AI backlash(26:37) Church and political divide(28:19) Good Samaritan mindset(28:48) Media division vs. community(30:30) Why Christians stay informed(36:46) Practical news boundaries(38:20) Denison Forum resources(40:09) Rapid-fire host questions(43:01) Testimony and trend takes(46:37) Bible curiosities and habits(50:10) ConclusionResourcesSend us your thoughts, questions, and topic ideas: [email protected] Brief InstagramWatch on Youtube Sign-up for a Denison Forum newsletter: DenisonForum.org/subscribeAbout Conner JonesConner is the Managing Editor of Denison Forum, host of the Culture Brief podcast and author of the In The Know newsletter. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2019 and has spent his career at the intersection of faith, culture, and current events. Outside the office, he can usually be found at the movies, watching sports, or traveling with his wife, Raigan, and their sons, Nolan and Nash.About Alex KondratevAlex Kondratev is the Chief Content Officer at Denison Ministries. Alex is passionate about creating content that helps people encounter God in practical, transformative ways. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband and two sons, and finds inspiration in books, the ocean, and the art of good storytelling.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, the Faith & Clarity podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.All episodes are produced by Sound of a Rose. For more information, you can visit soundofarose.com.

In this week's Brief: it's midterm season, the ads are everywhere, and this episode is a little different. Conner is joined by Dr. Mark Turman, host of Denison Forum's "Faith & Clarity" podcast, and Dr. Katie Frugé, director of the Christian Life Commission for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, for a special crossover episode. They start with the cynicism so many feel about politics — why it's often just misplaced hope, and why the government's frustratingly slow pace might actually be a feature, not a bug.From there, they walk through how to research candidates and ballot measures before stepping into the voting booth (yes, Conner found a way to work in a movie analogy) and talk through the tension between a candidate's character and their policies.Plus, they address growing doubts about election integrity, why the sheer scale of our system (and a lesson from Watergate) is actually reason for confidence, and a heated debate over whether stew is acceptable in July.Their encouragement: Christian hope has a better address than any ballot, so vote with discernment, not cynicism.Topics(0:00) Introduction(0:35) Culture Brief and Faith & Clarity crossover episode setup(2:02) Midterms and cynicism(8:37) Why government moves slow(13:46) Fear, anger, and invisible government(18:24) How to be an informed voter(28:20) Research candidates directly(30:56) Truthful witness in voting(34:16) Character versus policy(38:20) Election integrity concerns(46:24) How elections actually work(53:39) Responding to fraud claims(56:20) Get involved as poll monitor(56:51) Since You Asked: fall favorites(59:42) ConclusionResourcesSend us your thoughts, questions, and topic ideas: [email protected] Brief InstagramWatch on Youtube Sign-up for a Denison Forum newsletter: DenisonForum.org/subscribeAbout Conner JonesConner is the Managing Editor of Denison Forum, host of the Culture Brief podcast and author of the In The Know newsletter. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2019 and has spent his career at the intersection of faith, culture, and current events. Outside the office, he can usually be found at the movies, watching sports, or traveling with his wife, Raigan, and their sons, Nolan and Nash.About Dr. Katie FrugéKatie Frugé, M.Div, Ph.D., serves over 5,000 Texas Baptist churches as the Director of the Christian Life Commission for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. In this role, she equips pastors and ministry leaders to navigate complex cultural, moral, and political issues with biblical faithfulness and pastoral wisdom. Specializing in the imago Dei and human dignity, Dr. Frugé's work addresses questions of human flourishing and faithful witness, informed by her personal journey as a stomach cancer survivor and parent to children with special needs. She is married to her college sweetheart; together they are raising three daughters in Fort Worth, Texas.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman serves as the Executive Director of Denison Forum, where he leads with a passion for equipping believers to navigate today’s complex culture with biblical truth. He is best known as the host of the Faith & Clarity podcast and the lead pastor of the Possum Kingdom Lake Chapel, the in-person congregation of Denison Ministries.Dr. Turman is the coauthor of Sacred Sexuality: Reclaiming God’s Design and Who Am I? What the Bible Says About Identity and Why it Matters. He earned his undergraduate degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, and received his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He later completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco.Before joining Denison Forum, Mark served as a pastor for thirty-five years, including twenty-five years as the founding pastor of Crosspoint Church in McKinney, Texas. Mark and his high school sweetheart, Judi, married in 1986. They are proud parents of two adult children and grandparents to three grandchildren.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, the Faith & Clarity podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.All episodes are produced by Sound of a Rose. For more information, you can visit soundofarose.com.

In this week’s Brief: I’m joined by Denison Forum contributing writer Erin Kerry. Erin is a functional medicine health coach, podcaster, and author with a passion for helping others find healing in their mental health and offering solutions for Christians in a culture that thrives on chaos, division, and anxiety. Erin shares her own story of facing multiple diagnoses by age 18 and walks through why anxiety may be less a “thought problem” and more a God-given dashboard alert. From there, we revisit the tragic Lindsay Clancy case and the mental health failures surrounding it and the postpartum hormone piece too often missed. Erin offers practical guidance for anyone struggling and the loved ones walking alongside them.Then we talk through the “outrage culture” and what the selective outrage looks like in our 24/7 news cycle, endless social media feeds, and even in a recent SNL monologue. Plus why Pringles and peppermint bark are so hard to put down, and a quick World Series preview before a possible MLB lockout!Topics(0:00) Introduction(1:02) Meet Erin Kerry(2:32) Anxiety defined(6:34) Body causes anxiety(10:07) Winter blues prep(12:40) Lindsay Clancy case(19:24) Hormones and postpartum(21:34) Building a support team(23:57) Peace of Christ(27:34) Outrage culture and news cycle(29:20) Brain stress response explained(34:16) Dopamine hijacks scrolling, food(36:35) Selective outrage examples(41:28) Outrage as an idol(42:45) Hope: God of order(44:05) Books, podcast, and where to find Erin Kerry(45:40) Host updates and World Series(48:54) ConclusionResourcesSend us your thoughts, questions, and topic ideas: [email protected] Brief InstagramWatch on Youtube Sign-up for a Denison Forum newsletter: DenisonForum.org/subscribeDenison Forum: A Christian response to the Lindsay Clancy caseDenison Forum: The Idolatry of OutrageErin’s Denison Forum articles Learn more about Erin – http://erinbkerry.com/ Erin’s book: “Live Beyond Your Label”Pre-order “Kitchen Therapy”Erin’s podcast: Sparking WholenessErin’s coaching services (In person or virtual)About Conner JonesConner is the Managing Editor of Denison Forum, host of the Culture Brief podcast and author of the In The Know newsletter. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2019 and has spent his career at the intersection of faith, culture, and current events. Outside the office, he can usually be found at the movies, watching sports, or traveling with his wife, Raigan, and their sons, Nolan and Nash.About Erin KerryErin Kerry is an integrative health coach, functional nutritionist, and passionate mental health advocate. As the owner of Sparking Wholeness and host of the Sparking Wholeness podcast, she combines personal experience with professional training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and the School of Applied Functional Medicine. A survivor of PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder, Erin now lives symptom-free and equips others to move beyond labels through holistic care of mind, body, and spirit. She serves as the Integrative Health Coach at Living Well Counseling and Wellness Center in Tyler, Texas, where she works alongside her husband, Richard, a licensed therapist. Erin frequently speaks, writes, and coaches individuals on mental health and wellness, with her first book releasing through Tyndale Refresh in 2025. Outside of her work, she enjoys reading fiction, playing games with her three children, cheering them on in sports and music, cooking and sharing nutrient-dense meals, practicing yoga, and traveling whenever possible.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, the Faith & Clarity podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.All episodes are produced by Sound of a Rose. For more information, you can visit soundofarose.com.