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The Convocation Unscripted

The Convocation Unscripted

By: Diana Butler Bass Kristin Du Mez Robert P. Jones and Jemar Tisby
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Welcome to "The Convocation Unscripted," a free-wheeling conversation between Diana Butler Bass, Kristin Du Mez, Robert P. Jones, and Jemar Tisby. We are each scholars (three historians and one sociologist) who write about religion and its intersection with culture, history, and politics in America. We also each take our own Christian faith seriously and are deeply concerned about the future of both democracy and Christianity in the U.S. Most importantly, over the years, we’ve found ourselves to be not just fellow travelers but friends. This is the video/podcast component of our unique Substack magazine "The Convocation," which you can subscribe to here: https://convocation.substack.com/

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Christianity Political Science Politics & Government Spirituality
Episodes
  • Trump Reads the Bible, Doug Wilson Falls Flat, and Churches Step Up
    Apr 24 2026

    In this week's episode of TCU, we talk about Trump's participation in a public reading of the Bible, sponsored by a white evangelical group, where he read II Chronicles 7:14, a favorite of Christian nationalists. We also talk about the continued platforming of self-described Christian nationalist, "paleo-Confederate" pastor Doug Wilson not only by the likes of Pete Hegseth but by more mainstream outlets in the evangelical world. But we also review his recent dressing down by Wajahat Ali on the Piers Morgan show. Finally, we talk about the ways local churches are banding together to advocate for and serve immigrants who have been wrongfully detained by ICE.


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    Follow on Substack:

    The Convocation- convocation.substack.com

    Robert P. Jones- www.whitetoolong.net

    Diana Butler Bass- dianabutlerbass.substack.com

    Kristin Du Mez- kristindumez.substack.com

    Jemar Tisby- JemarTisby.Substack.com

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    53 mins
  • Trump's Attacks on Pope Leo XIV, Posing as Jesus
    Apr 17 2026

    On parallel channels over the last two weeks, we’ve witnessed Hegseth’s dangerous holy war rants, Vance’s arrogant lecturing Pope Leo XIV on Catholic theology, and Trump’s direct attacks on the pope, followed by an unhinged promotion of an AI image of himself as Jesus. Just typical post-Easter weeks in the MAGA era. In this week's Convocation Unscripted, we were joined LIVE by nearly 300 in TCU community. Tune in to hear a rich conversation based on your questions.


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    Follow on Substack:

    The Convocation- convocation.substack.com

    Robert P. Jones- www.whitetoolong.net

    Diana Butler Bass- dianabutlerbass.substack.com

    Kristin Du Mez- kristindumez.substack.com

    Jemar Tisby- JemarTisby.Substack.com

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Humanity vs. Brutality Amid Trump's Immigration Crackdown
    Mar 27 2026

    On this episode, the Convocation team talks about the large new survey by that demonstrates that most Americans want a more humane approach to immigration policy and do not support indiscriminate mass deportation, the construction of concentration camps on U.S. soil, and the increasingly aggressive and violent tactics of ICE. Jemar gives a preview of his new short documentary, “Jesus Was a Migrant.” For the film, he traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border to examine the theological crisis at the heart of American Christianity — and what it means when a nation built on faith turns its back on the most vulnerable. We wrap with theological reflections about the abandonment of any pretense of trying to make government humane by this administration in both domestic and foreign policy.


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    https://bsky.app/profile/kkdumez.bsky...

    https://bsky.app/profile/dianabutlerb...

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    Follow on Substack:

    The Convocation- convocation.substack.com

    Robert P. Jones- www.whitetoolong.net

    Diana Butler Bass- dianabutlerbass.substack.com

    Kristin Du Mez- kristindumez.substack.com

    Jemar Tisby- JemarTisby.Substack.com

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    57 mins
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