The Stephen Mansfield Podcast

Though this episode originally aired in July 2018, our age of crass, malicious, and vile politics has only intensified. It’s not one-sided. Both Trump and the left have contributed to this. In this episode, Stephen urges listeners to be on guard. Don’t allow the coarseness in public debate to make you coarse, too. Think rationally. Find common ground. Support good, judicious leaders.

Stephen has recorded this podcast on the eve of the first Presidential debate. We’ve had fresh revelations via the New York Times regarding Donald Trump’s taxes. And soon Judge Amy Coney Barrett will undergo hearings. We stand at an unbelievably dramatic moment in American history. Stephen predicts that the Democrats are likely to use her faith as a weapon against her. For listeners unfamiliar with Judge Barrett’s faith, Stephen explains the Pentecostal/Charismatic tradition from which she comes. While we can hope for a Senate hearing that is high and elevated with conversation focusing on her jurisprudence, legal philosophy, and personal character, watch for the tone of religious bigotry.

The recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has led to a major collision in American politics between Democrats and Republicans. In this episode, Stephen untangles the various precedents involved, going back to the 1992 “Biden Rule.” Tune in to find out what Stephen thinks President Trump should do in the days and weeks ahead.

In a recent episode, Stephen stated that the appointment of Kamala Harris as vice-presidential nominee was a smart move. As usual, the podcast was posted on social media. If you listen regularly, you know that Stephen says he can’t vote for Joe Biden and that he’s deeply opposed to many of Kamala Harris’s policies. Yet many people on social media were quick to make assumptions that by praising the Democratic Party’s political strategy Stephen is also endorsing their policies. Not the case. In this day and age, more than ever, we owe it to ourselves to read beyond the headlines but not be easily deceived by clickbait.

At the end of August, U.S. Marshals in Georgia rescued 39 children held by seven to nine captors for the evil purposes of sex trafficking. The distraction factor in American politics often keeps us from noticing some of these incredibly important issues. In this episode, Stephen addresses the colossal issue of human trafficking, which affects some 48 million people worldwide. To learn more and help, visit www.uncaged.org, an organization Stephen is honored to serve as Chairman of the Board.

Our politics in America have taken on a Messianic nature. We are overheated and passionate. Yet neither Biden nor Trump will bring the dawn of a new era and radically change history forever. The real tragedy and source of damage we face is the great chasm in American society – a chasm that is tied up in cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic factors, among others.

You probably saw or heard the surreptitious recording of Maryanne Trump Barry talking about her brother, President Trump, in the most vile and critical terms. Think what you will about the president, Stephen grieves that politics in this country have gotten down to the family dinner table. Our Founding Fathers didn’t want people preoccupied with government. They believed other things were more important: faith, family, and relationships. As a matter of both policy and heart, Stephen urges us to return to the moderate middle, where most true governing occurs.

The Democrats have finally done something Stephen has been urging the Republican party to do for years. They have selected a woman of color as the vice-presidential nominee. In this episode, Stephen discusses Kamala Harris’s background and her stance on some key political issues, as well as what may be in store for conservative Christians should a Biden/Harris campaign emerge victorious. Image via Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0

Earlier this summer, Stephen predicted that President Trump could very well win the upcoming election. But right now, Trump is setting himself on fire. When John Lewis died, the President said almost nothing. Why? He is beginning to make noise about the legitimacy of the upcoming election. He commuted the sentence of Roger Stone. He has mishandled the coronavirus pandemic. And on and on. At the same time, there’s a singular reason why Trump could still win. Tune in to find out.

Many of the coronavirus-related restrictions throughout the United States have affected churches. Some have closed. Others have refused. And others have remained open while exhibiting excellence in health and safety measures. If there is one good thing to come from this pandemic, it may be that we are seeing, once again, moderation, regional fine-tuning and federalism win the day.

There are three kinds of people always at work in society: rebels, radicals, and reformers. The rebels are unhappy, angry, and will take any opportunity for mischief and mayhem. The radicals are usually more intelligent and better organized. They may have a social vision that calls for the overthrow of the entire system in order to bring about justice in a certain area. Reformers want to bring needed change to a system with a direction consistent to what the system was originally intended to achieve. Recognize the differences.

A recent survey asked men whether they liked strong women. On the whole, men said they admire strong women… from a distance. Guys, it’s important to recognize that we are not in a tug of war with women. We are not fighting over a limited pie. Let’s get two things straight: (1) men are in decline, and (2) women have not taken anything from men. Until a man is secure in who he is, he’s going to be resentful, bitter, and miserable to strong women (and men) alike. Let’s get whole, and let’s welcome strong women into positions of leadership and power. This episode originally aired on the GreatMan Podcast.

Recep Erdoğan, President of Turkey, has cajoled the Supreme Court of Turkey into allowing the Hagia Sophia to be reverted to use as a mosque. Stephen provides a brief history of this incredible sixth century church, and explains why this move may signal the continued persecution of Christians, killing of Kurds, and rise of the Islamic right.

Did you know that there is a woman running for President of the United States in 2020? Meet the Libertarian Party candidate, Jo Jorgensen. Though Stephen does not consider himself a libertarian and has never voted for one of the party’s candidates, he does like many of the party’s ideas. In this episode, you’ll learn more about Jorgensen, libertarian ideology, and the primary issue on which Stephen would like to see this party change its stance. If you’re interested in learning more about libertarianism, check out Reason Magazine and editor Nick Gillespie.

In the last episode of the Stephen Mansfield Podcast, Stephen made a surprising prediction: that President Trump will be reelected. In recent weeks, Donald Trump’s fortunes in this race have been dramatically diminished, especially by a few of the Supreme Court’s recent decisions. When 81% of white evangelicals and half of all Roman Catholics in the U.S. voted for Trump, they largely did so for Supreme Court appointees. With the Supreme Court turning, will some voters question whether they need another four years of President Trump?

Republicans are in rough shape. The recent Tulsa rally did not go well for President Trump. The Supreme Court rulings on DACA and LGBTQ employees are considered a blow to the Trump administration. Polls tell us that the majority of Americans are not happy with the administration’s response to coronavirus, and the Lafayette Square incident is perceived as yet another misstep. By all measures, President Trump is losing this race to Democratic nominee Joe Biden. In light of all this, Stephen makes a surprising prediction about the 2020 Presidential election. Related: About Joe Biden podcast episode.

Defund the police? Stephen discusses this popular catchphrase in light of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878. If you aren’t already doing so, it’s time to start pondering the big questions facing the American people and lawmakers: should the police be armed and permitted to function as a military force at the local level? At the national level, should the President be allowed to use the symbolism or actual force of the military on civilians during times of riot? What is going to be the lean of the American people and lawmakers? A debate is coming.

The economy has taken a direct hit from COVID-19, but Stephen suggests that a comparison of our current times and the Great Depression is far off-base. Tune in, as Stephen describes some of the fundamental flaws in the systems that led up to the 1929 crash and Great Depression. You’ll also learn why today’s economy is on completely different footing. Prepare yourself: good times are returning.

The Stephen Mansfield Podcast has always been about looking the tough stuff in the face and talking about solutions. Today, as our nation and our world confronts tumult, pain, and death, Stephen is most grateful to have you with him. As we all know, a young man named George Floyd was arrested by police and detained with an officer’s knee on his neck for some nine minutes, ultimately resulting in his death. Stephen discusses this tremendous injustice, the good and bad of policing in the U.S., and ends with an urge for all people to stand up against racism wherever it may arise within their reach.

In politics, principles must come before personalities. In no unclear terms, Stephen shares exactly what he thinks about Donald Trump. He encourages voters to separate the personality and character of a leader from the policies and actions the leader supports. U.S. voters must stop thinking in messianic terms. We are electing a leader from the pool who most closely aligns with our values, not the messiah.

“What do you think about Joe Biden?” Stephen’s answer addresses everything from Biden’s voting record, personal character, political style, and more. There’s a lot to like personally about Biden. He’s a man’s man who has suffered greatly. He’s in touch with the average Joe. But as a man of principle, Biden falls short. Find out why Stephen thinks so.

Let’s talk politics. Biden holds a lead over Trump in most of the current polls. But Stephen doesn’t believe Biden will secure the victory. In fact, even many of those who will vote for Biden believe that Trump will win. In this episode, Stephen reveals which metrics he likes to track while evaluating electoral trends.

The coronavirus shutdown is lifting around the world. Before we fully emerge, Stephen encourages you to think about what lessons you may have learned about getting through tough times. In this episode you’ll discover the seven behaviors everyone should establish during the good times so that they can prosper and succeed in the bad times. Practical, actionable, and impactful – don’t miss this episode!

Time has slowed. Most of us are stuck at home and less busy than we are accustomed to being. However, this is just a downbeat before the coming acceleration. From telemedicine to global politics to privacy issues and more, Stephen describes how a number of trends will be accelerated by this global crisis. Keep your eye on these trends so you can be the wise person you need to be in the season that’s coming.

What comes after a season of plague? Renaissance. Join Stephen as he speaks to both of his podcast audiences in a single episode, pondering the thrilling potential of generational upheaval and the flowering of the human spirit. Stephen speaks as a historian of Shakespeare, Chaucer, Martin Luther, and others who produced great works out of times not unlike our own. If you’re interested in a podcast about the rise of noble manhood and the fight against toxic masculinity in our generation, be sure to subscribe to the GreatMan Podcast on your platform of choice here.

As we find ourselves in the throes of the coronavirus season, Stephen pulls back to discuss the coming trends in governance, the healthcare system, religion, and more. Tune in and ponder with him what America’s future may look like on the other side of this virus. And, remember, if we endure hardship as discipline and learn the lessons we need to learn, we can rise to be the people we’re called to be.

As the coronavirus pandemic unfolds, many religious themes are boiling to the surface. In this episode, Stephen is critical of some of his fellow Christians, including Rodney Howard-Browne, who violated Scripture in his refusal to comply with a government request. He also takes NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio to task for his outlandish threat to permanently shutter churches who do not comply with government orders. Whether you’re a Christian or not, don’t miss this episode for a better understanding of how religious culture is being shaped by the coronavirus.

There are five essential lessons we must learn from the coronavirus emergency. In this episode, Stephen tackles the big issues that plague our society, while closely examining how these problems have manifested specifically in the coronavirus pandemic. From disastrous outsourcing decisions to a lack of broad global thinking, the U.S. and many other nations are now suffering. And there are traceable reasons why. Tune in, digest these lessons, and know that we will get through this!

During this coronavirus season, the Christian church is being forced to change. With crowd limits in place, church is going online. Some are thriving. Some are floundering. In this episode, Stephen speaks directly to church leaders. Because some version of this disaster will happen again, churches need to develop a plan for the future. This coronavirus season is an opportunity to realize what we need to be doing differently in our churches. Start planning. If you can maintain the kind of church you desire after 30 days of “going underground,” then you ought to return to your normal Sunday meetings larger, better financed, stronger and more visionary.

We are in the middle of the coronavirus crisis as I record this. It is a difficult season punctuated by deaths and economic hardship. But we will get through this. The question to ask yourself is, “Who am I going to be in the crisis?” Take this time to deepen with God, simplify your life, and determine what kind of person you will be when we emerge together on the other side. Previous generations have lived through far worse. We can and will get through this, too. More to come.

“Is America ready to embrace socialism?” This is one of the questions broadly pondered in recent months. It seems to have been answered with a resounding, “No.” Following the South Carolina and Super Tuesday primaries, we are beginning to see a return to normalcy. The United States is a centrist country. The wingnuts get a lot of attention, but the main debates take place in the center.

Not sure what to think about coronavirus and its potential implications here in the U.S. and throughout the world? Don’t miss this episode! Stephen shares seven points, from the historical and practical to the philosophical. Tough times may be ahead, but we can weather this storm together.

Benjamin Franklin once said that when the people realize they can vote themselves money, that will be the beginning of the end for the republic. As we stand witness today to a rising trend of socialism in the U.S., Stephen asks the “why” and “how” questions that every voter must consider. Stephen also proposes a fair plan that reduces the gap between the haves and the have-nots. As the 2020 election season heats up, you won’t want to miss this episode! Photo credit: Gage Skidmore

You are likely to live longer than you expect. Perhaps you have thought of retirement as something that happens around the age of 60 to 65. In reality, many of us today could easily live well into our 90s. In this episode, Stephen encourages a new way of thinking about retirement and old age, while also cautioning against the rising tide of ageism.

The rate of extreme poverty in the world has been cut in half over the past decade from 15.7% in 2010 to 7.7% today. Extreme poverty has been all but eradicated in China. The world is changing for the better. More than half the world is in the middle class or above. Mortality rates for women and infants have been halved since 1990, and youth literacy is on the rise. Let’s celebrate the good and each do what we can to contribute to wiping out poverty in our generation. (Mentioned in this episode: Convoy of Hope.)

The impeachment process is being shaped by those who speak well. Whether you’re a senator or a junior employee, you need to learn the art of public speaking. In this episode, Stephen comments on the rhetoric on display in the recent impeachment proceedings. Listen, evaluate, and make a plan to improve your own technique. Excellent speaking tactics, as well as knowing your content, will win the future.

Today on the podcast, Stephen tackles the impeachment trial from an angle you have probably not heard in the news. Demographics and political leanings are shifting in the U.S., and the GOP must think generationally in everything they do publicly. Learn why the Senate’s refusal to hear certain witnesses could be a very bad decision with a ripple effect that spreads for years. Now, more than ever, the party needs to be thinking generationally.

This past July, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reported the results of a survey regarding the American people’s trust of government institutions. The most trusted people are scientists (83%), while trust of politicians hovers around 37%. At this point in history, the American people don’t trust government institutions and leaders enough to deal with large crises. The 2020 Presidential election will probably be won within a percentage point or two, and that will raise questions from the public. And who will we turn to then?

With an average age of 24, Iran is a young country. In this episode, Stephen pulls back the curtain and provides some background information about what’s taking place in Iran culturally and spiritually. Beneath the crust of the nation’s older Islamic men there is a young and vibrant group of people. Furthermore, the growth of Christianity is booming. (The Christian population is estimated to be between 500,000 and one million.) Let’s pray for Iran and support this new generation as they battle the hardened crust on top of their nation.

Qasem Soleimani was undoubtedly a terrorist who cost many hundreds of American lives. He was an enemy of the United States and the tip of the spear in the Shiite and Iranian takeover of Iraq. It is good that he has gone. But the Trump administration’s reckless dancing-in-the-endzone approach will bring trouble for years to come. In this episode, Stephen discusses the Soleimani assassination (and what it could mean for global politics) from several perspectives. If you’ve been struggling to understand the events leading up to this event, tune in! Image via Maryam Kamyab, Mohammad Mohsenifar

How did “evangelical,” which has its roots in the Greek word for “good news,” come to have a largely negative association with right-wing politics? In this episode, Stephen briefly traces the history and usage of the word, discussing along the way: the ancient church, John Wesley and the Methodist movement, Billy Graham and Richard Nixon’s friendship, and our own age – an era that saw 81% of white evangelicals vote for Donald Trump. This episode originally aired on January 3, 2018.

Merry Christmas! Reading is on many listeners’ minds this time of the year. In this episode, Stephen shares some of the top reading habits he’s developed over the years. Listen in to discover tactics that will make you a better and more accomplished reader. This episode is a must-listen for veteran readers and would-be readers alike! This episode originally aired on July 4, 2018.

Whether you’re a Christian or not, the Christmas season is an excellent time to allow the humanity, warmth, love, and graciousness of the Christmas season wash over you. In this podcast, Stephen recommends some books and movies through which you might allow yourself to be transformed… Joyeux Noel (watch the trailer) It’s a Wonderful Life (watch the trailer) A Christmas Carol (watch the trailer) The Gospel of Luke (read) The Man Who Invented Christmas (watch the trailer) The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits by Les Standiford In the Dark Streets Shineth: A 1941 Christmas Eve Story by David McCullough This episode originally aired on December 20, 2017.

The political middle has been abandoned. The mainstream may talk about the “middle” as a place for those with weak, undecided opinions, but Stephen sees the “radical middle” as a place for thoughtful voters with convictions and morals. In this episode, Stephen gives some examples of what a right-of-center political viewpoint looks like. This episode originally aired on December 6, 2017.

Politically speaking, Stephen finds himself right of center – what he’s come to call “the radical middle.” While this podcast is not about Stephen’s political beliefs, he believes that his experience and viewpoint may help listeners make sense of our current political climate. This episode originally aired on November 29, 2017.

Happy Thanksgiving! Give thanks, for despite what the negative news cycle may tend to portray, we live in the most remarkable time of human history. No, the world’s not perfect. But in this episode, Stephen celebrates the good with a bounty of uplifting facts. Did you know the global illiteracy rate has dropped form 46% to 18% since 1970? Or that 720 million fewer people lived in extreme poverty in 2010 than in 1981? Tune in to this brief episode, and give thanks!

In what has become a Stephen Mansfield Podcast Thanksgiving tradition, Stephen tells the story of the Pilgrim Thanksgiving, the one that has inspired the American holiday. So gather the family and listen to this brief, exciting account of an episode from our nation’s history and from our heritage of faith. (This episode has appeared previously on the Stephen Mansfield Podcast.)

It’s sad to see Americans become increasingly disconnected from their military. Veteran’s Day may be the least observed federal holiday. In this episode (recorded on Veteran’s Day 2019), Stephen urges for a restoration of honor for those who serve in the U.S. military. Though America has been receding as of late, she is still a large force on the world’s stage. Those who safeguard our nation deserve our honor and respect.

Iraq is being overtaken by Iran. The government in Baghdad is essentially a puppet of the Iranian government. There is a massive restructuring underway in the Middle East. And because the U.S. is retreating from its responsibilities, the Iranians are feeling emboldened. This is what the U.S. abandonment of the Kurds has signaled to the Middle East, and it is one of the most pressing issues of our age. These moving pieces will impact our world for many, many years to come if something doesn’t change soon.

The poet John Donne wrote, “Any man's death diminishes me.” Perhaps not in the case of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Look at what can happen when the U.S. stays in the game, pairing its military might and technology with Kurdish courage and fortitude. In this episode, Stephen reflects on the death of Baghdadi, as well as what it will mean for the Kurds, Turkey, Iraq, and the Middle East as a whole. The U.S. should never have abandoned the Kurds, Erdogan is complicit in supporting ISIS, and Iraq is doubting the United States. War clouds are forming in the Middle East. Don’t miss this episode!