Epstein, Zyn, and the Legacies of Jimmy Swaggart and John MacArthur

This week David French of The New York Times joins Russell and Clarissa to talk about the Epstein files, why they’re causing such a stir in MAGA and what it could foreshadow about the future of the movement. Then, CT writer Luke Simon joins us to talk about the allure of the popular nicotine product, Zyn, and how our habits shape our hearts. Finally, televangelist Jimmy Swaggart and pastor John MacArthur died this month. CT’s Daniel Silliman stops by to discuss the complexity of their legacies and why so many Christians think “evangelism” is a dirty word. REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE MAGA Is Tearing Itself Apart Over Jeffrey Epstein - by David French Have Mercy on Me, a Zynner - by Luke Simon GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN: Send a question you have for Mike or Russell to podcasts@christianitytoday.com for a chance to win a Bulletin bumper sticker. Join the conversation at our Substack. Find us on YouTube. Rate and review the show in your podcast app of choice. ABOUT THE GUESTS: David French is a columnist for The New York Times. He’s a former senior editor of The Dispatch and author of Divided We Fall: America’s Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation. Luke Simon is a content strategist for The Crossing church in Columbia, Missouri, and a M.Div. student at Covenant Theological Seminary. He has written on Gen Z, technology, masculinity, and the church. His writing appears in Christianity Today, Mere Orthodoxy, and The Gospel Coalition. Daniel Silliman is a journalist and a historian. He is the news editor for Christianity Today, the author of a religious biography of Richard Nixon, and a teacher of humanities at Milligan University. ABOUT THE BULLETIN: The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today’s editor in chief) and Mike Cosper (director, CT Media). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more. The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more. “The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today Producer: Clarissa Moll Associate Producer: Alexa Burke Editing and Mix: TJ Hester Music: Dan Phelps Executive Producers: Erik Petrik and Mike Cosper Senior Producer: Matt Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices