FYPod – TikTok SAVED and God Is Non-Binary?!
Hosts: Tim Miller & Cameron Caskey
Date: September 16, 2025
Podcast: FYPod by The Bulwark
Overview
In this episode, Tim Miller and Cameron Caskey dive into the week’s breaking news that the U.S.-China TikTok deal is (almost) finalized, explore Gen Z’s shifting attitude toward religion—especially notable trends in young men's increasing religiosity versus young women's disengagement—and reflect on the role of community, technology, and cultural forces in shaping America's youngest voters. Their discussion balances cynicism, humor, and moments of real vulnerability as they unpack what animates and alienates Gen Z.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Breaking News: The TikTok "Not Quite" Deal
- TikTok’s Fate Still in Flux
- Cameron declares the TikTok saga settled, joking, "The United States and the Chinese Communist Party have locked arms in one of the most powerful pro communist moments in global history. My comrades. And TikTok's gonna be okay." (01:35)
- Tim offers a fact-check: the deal is not finalized, citing Treasury Secretary Scott Besant's statement that only a framework is in place pending a Trump-Xi call. "Is that how things work here in this country?... The leader just gets to shine a deal that doesn't feel right." (02:04)
- Political and Procedural Disillusionment
- Both hosts express concern that the process seems largely performative.
- Tim notes the absurdity of executive override over legislative and judicial decisions: "I have an extremely clear view on the fact that if the Congress bans something and the President signs it and The Supreme Court rules 9-0 that it should be banned, that it should actually be banned." (10:45)
2. TikTok: More Than a Dance App
- Livelihoods & Divergent Attitudes
- Cameron is dismissive about TikTok’s role, citing its impact on radicalizing young men but acknowledges friends who stress its importance for small businesses. "Like, this isn’t just people dancing and spreading misinformation and communist propaganda. There’s more to it than that." (07:19)
- Complacency and Political Messaging
- Cameron pokes fun at the performative language of TikTok’s survival: "Once that message went out on TikTok saying, thank you, Emperor Trump. We thank you for your service, saving everybody's lives. The push notification Tik Tok sent out, I think that was kind of the end of it." (09:29)
3. Healthcare, Misinformation, and Gen Z
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Impact of Political Figures on Public Health
- Cameron pivots to healthcare, referencing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and health misinformation: "How are we going to help the many people who will spend generations paying for Robert Failson Kennedy Jr's like, Reign of terror?" (04:23)
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Role of Social Platforms in Spreading Misinformation
- Both highlight the persistence and danger of viral health misinformation, making the point that it complicates any discussion about the healthcare system.
4. Generational Shift: Religion and Community
- Gen Z’s Surprising Gender Divide in Religiosity
- Guest audio outlines Jonathan Haidt’s findings: Gen Z men now attend church more than women, reversing long-held trends. Non-religious teens, especially girls, report higher rates of hopelessness, correlating with family instability and weaker community ties. (14:07 – 15:01)
- Community, Control, and Masculinity
- Tim ponders the value of religious community: "There are folks that benefit from, you know, going and sitting in a pew on Sunday and like believing in something greater than themselves and connecting... trying to model positive behavior... there are folks that benefit from that." (16:39)
- Both hosts joke about God’s pronouns and reflect on viral clips of politicians calling God non-binary. "It’s comical thinking about God as like a non binary barista..." (Tim, 18:43)
- Why Are Gen Z Men Turning to Faith?
- Cameron argues men are seeking purpose and community in faith, while women are finding support in friendship and ambition: "Women are finding in themselves and each other what a lot of young men are looking for in religion." (20:22)
- Religion as an Antidote to Alienation—But Double-Edged
- Both agree organized religion’s community can be as much a solution for alienation as a problem, depending on what it inspires.
- Tim admits, "If we woke up tomorrow and all of these incel young men... instead all started going to prosperity gospel and started cheering... I would think to myself, that seems to be better than where we're at." (24:03)
5. Personal Reflections and "Faith"
- Cameron’s Nonreligious Humanism
- Cameron delivers a closing personal manifesto on finding faith in humanity and self-betterment:
- “My religion and my belief is other human beings. I believe that the most divine and powerful thing in the world is a human being's capacity to allow goodness to prevail over evil within their own spirit. And I think that that's God for me.” (27:00)
- He encourages listeners: “If you’re lost and religion isn’t making any sense to you, start to believe in your own ability to do good and start to believe in your own ability to encourage others to do good.” (28:00)
- Cameron delivers a closing personal manifesto on finding faith in humanity and self-betterment:
- Tim’s Approval
- Tim closes this segment with simple praise: “That was great.” (28:18)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On U.S.-China Negotiations:
- Tim Miller: “Is that how things work here in this country?... The leader just gets to shine a deal that doesn't feel right. I don't think that's how things are supposed to go in a capitalist system.” (02:04)
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On TikTok’s Role in Gen Z Life:
- Cameron Caskey: “I think TikTok fucking sucks. And I think it… can be pretty directly attributed to the radicalization of my generation of young men. But also, I think it would have happened anyway… Gamergate is more easily the thing that we can point to.” (08:48)
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On Religion and Community:
- Tim Miller: “It’s very freeing as a content man to…say I don’t know, I’ve got mixed views on this…There are folks that benefit from, you know, going and sitting in a pew on Sunday and…connecting to other people in their community.” (16:39)
- Cameron Caskey: “Women are finding in themselves and each other what a lot of young men are looking for in religion… women are friends with women right now more than guys are friends with anybody.” (20:22)
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On God’s Gender:
- Tim Miller: “It’s comical thinking about God as like a non binary barista... It's something above and beyond our gender construct. If you were to believe it, I would think.” (18:43)
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Cameron’s Secular Faith:
- “My religion and my belief is other human beings... I believe that the most divine and, and powerful thing in the world is a human being's capacity to allow goodness to prevail over evil within their own spirit." (27:00)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 01:14 — Tim and Cameron introduce their “lighter” episode and exhaustion with current events
- 01:35 — Cameron sarcastically announces TikTok “saved” in U.S.-China deal
- 02:04 — Tim clarifies that only a framework exists; critiques the dealmaking process
- 04:23 — Cameron on RFK Jr., antivaxers, and health misinformation
- 07:19 — How Gen Z friend groups view the TikTok ban
- 08:48 — Cameron’s honest view: TikTok’s role in male radicalization & indifference to the ban
- 09:29 — The “Thank You Emperor Trump” TikTok push notification
- 10:45 — Tim: The importance (and futility) of process in American politics
- 14:07 — Video/guest segment: Gen Z religiosity by gender; Haidt’s findings
- 16:39 — Tim on complexities & ambivalences around religion community
- 18:43 — God’s gender, politics, and Tim/Cameron riff on "non-binary barista"
- 20:22 — Cameron on men’s vs. women’s search for meaning (religion vs. relationships)
- 24:03 — Tim on prosperity gospel as the “lesser evil” for alienated men
- 27:00 — Cameron’s personal philosophy: faith in humanity over religion
- 28:18 — Tim praises Cameron’s statement; episode winds down
Final Thoughts
The hosts balance irreverence and sincerity, discussing Gen Z’s complicated relationship with technology, politics, and spirituality. Both are at once alarmed and amused by the state of society, and the episode stands out for its frank admission of uncertainty, its undercurrent of hope in community-building, and the willingness to question societal scripts—whether about software bans or the gender of God.
For listeners seeking to understand Gen Z’s current psyche as voters, digital citizens, and spiritual searchers, this episode is a sharp and entertaining primer—full of insight, wit, and moments of real vulnerability.