Now that Trump has failed at celebrating the country, and weakened us at home and across the globe, we turn our sights to the freedom that can come to our country when in November, we vote MAGA Republicans out of power. Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse talk about it on this week's podcast.

Today on the Common Good Podcast, Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse lament the Freedoms and Hope of America lost under Trump.

Including conversation about the current state of American democracy. Following a turbulent week of actions by Donald Trump and recent pivotal rulings from the Supreme Court, Doug and Robb break down the profound impact these events are having on foundational American liberties.

Together, they discuss why a robust, united pro-democracy movement is no longer just an ideal, but an urgent necessity to restore and protect freedom for all Americans. From shifting legal precedents to political rhetoric that challenges democratic norms, this episode examines how citizens can actively engage to safeguard the future of the nation's common good. Tune in for an insightful analysis of this week's biggest headlines and a roadmap for democratic renewal.

Doug Pagitt talks with Katie Gaddini about her new book, Esther's Army: The Christian Women Who Power The Christian Right.

For decades, political pundits on the Left have dismissed conservative Christian women as politically passive or brainwashed—voters simply following the instructions of the men in their lives.

But that narrative completely misses the reality on the ground. In this episode of The Common Good Podcast, host Doug Pagitt sits down solo with sociologist Dr. Katie Gaddini to discuss her groundbreaking new book, Esther's Army: The Christian Women Who Power the American Right.

Drawing from nearly a decade of immersion, participant observation, and deep ethnographic interviews, Dr. Gaddini unpacks the massive, highly organized, and heavily female pipeline driving modern American conservatism.

From the "Mama Bears" taking over local school boards to high-powered White House legal operatives, Gaddini pulls back the curtain on a movement of women who view themselves not as victims of a patriarchal structure, but as holy warriors appointed "for such a time as this."

Join us for a fascinating, nuanced conversation that moves past political caricatures to explore how these strategic organizers have permanently realigned the landscape of American politics and what we can do in response.

On this episode of The Common Good, hosts Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse dive deep into a news cycle defined by manufactured distractions and hidden influences.

The conversation begins with a sober look at the geopolitical landscape, tracking the continued danger radiating from Iran as regional instability threatens to boil over. Yet, while critical national security concerns demand the country's full attention, Donald Trump remains hyper-focused on an entirely different kind of swamp: the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The hosts unpack the administration's bizarre obsession with the botched "American Flag Blue" renovation—now a peeling, algae-ridden public relations disaster—and the outright lies and wild conspiracy theories being spun to deflect from executive incompetence.

Finally, the discussion turns to the bombshell investigative reports surrounding Tulsi Gabbard following her sudden exit from her senior national security role. Doug and Robb unpack the disturbing evidence detailing her deep, long-standing ties to a secretive religious sect. They examine how the group’s leadership actively worked behind the scenes to dictate her policy positions, raising critical questions about autonomy, judgment, and the quiet forces shaping American political power.

For a deeper look at the breaking investigations into these behind-the-scenes dynamics, you can watch this report on Tulsi Gabbard's ties. This investigative video breaks down the specific internal memos and confidential communications that detail how outside spiritual guidance directly shaped her congressional career and legislative decisions.

Here is part 2 of the training we did for the Michigan Democratic Rural Caucus on Connecting with Faith Voters

Welcome to *The Common Good Podcast*, the show where we actually call a circus a circus.

On today’s special Monday episode, hosts Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse wade through the absolute wreckage of another disastrous week for the Trump administration. First up, they take a look at the utter embarrassment over the weekend, where Trump decided the best use of presidential dignity was playing hype-man at a UFC fight—because nothing says "stable leadership" quite like clinging to cage-fighting crowds for validation.

But the nonsense doesn't stop at the arena. Doug and Robb dive into the mounting disaster in the Middle East, breaking down the administration's latest self-inflicted Iran debacle. And finally, the receipts are in: they’ll analyze the brutal new polling numbers showing the MAGA movement in a total freefall as voters finally get tired of the chaos.

It's a packed show, and the gloves are officially off.

Title: Boos, Ballots, Bailouts, and Buffoonery: The Desperate Gasp of a Crumbling Ego Hosts: Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse Listen Time: 42 minutes of pure, unvarnished reality Summary: The wheels aren't just coming off the MAGA wagon—they've bounced down the highway and caused a ten-car pileup. This week, Doug and Robb take a front-row seat to the latest, loudest public meltdown of Donald Trump, and honestly? It's a trainwreck you can't look away from. First up, the guys dissect the absolute embarrassment of his recent press interview. Watching Trump completely lose his mind under standard, baseline journalistic scrutiny wasn't just bad politics; it was a masterclass in fragile panic. It turns out that when you can't hand-pick the reporters or script the questions, actual accountability is a totally undefeated opponent. Then, we're heading to Madison Square Garden—because nothing says "man of the people" quite like getting thoroughly booed out of a Knicks game. What happens when a man who survives entirely on heavily curated, ego-stroking rallies steps into a real-world sports arena? A thunderous, highly localized reality check. We unpack that beautiful, unfiltered chorus of boos and why everyday Americans are completely done buying the snake oil. Finally, Doug and Robb tackle the exhausting, broken-record delusion of "stolen elections." We contrast his desperate, fictional grievances with the very real, unbelievably wasteful legacy of his time in office. Is the movement facing an irreversible decline, or are we just watching a cornered political grift double down on pure chaos? Join us for a candid, faith-rooted, and delightfully savage conversation about truth, accountability, and actual common sense. What We're Dragging This Week: * The Interview Meltdown: Why a simple Q&A sent the fragile former guy into an absolute tailspin. * The Garden Variety Rejection: Breaking down the Knicks game chorus of boos. Spoiler alert: regular people don't do fake. * The "Stolen" Delusion: Deconstructing the pathetic rerun of false election claims that absolutely everyone outside of his echo chamber is tired of hearing. * The Receipts on Waste: A look at the staggering, self-serving wastefulness of a leader who treated the public trust like a personal piggy bank. Love the show? Don't keep us a secret. Leave us a scathing review on Apple Podcasts, hit subscribe on Spotify, and talk some actual sense into your timeline using the hashtag #ComingGood. Let's clean up the public square together.