Episode Overview

Episode Title: Moses Mike and JD Vance Humiliated By Christians?
Podcast: IHIP News
Hosts: Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan
Date: February 8, 2026

This episode dives into the ongoing influence of Christian nationalism in American politics, specifically focusing on Speaker of the House "Moses Mike" Johnson’s response to criticism from Pope Leo regarding U.S. immigration policy and the dehumanization of migrants. Jennifer and Angie critically examine the religious rhetoric used by political leaders, discuss the dangerous blending of church and state, and candidly reflect on their own upbringings in deeply religious, conservative Oklahoma. The tone is sharply critical, unfiltered, and laced with humor and personal anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pope Leo's Critique of U.S. Immigration Policy

• [00:04] Angie outlines accusations of human rights violations committed by the Trump administration, especially regarding treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers.
• Pope Leo (noted as the first American Pope) publicly rebukes these policies, drawing on Matthew 25:35 (“I was a stranger and you welcomed me”) to argue for more humane treatment of migrants.
• Angie notes: “I’m not a huge fan of the Pope, but he does lead the Catholic Church. And you have the white nationalist Christians, the evangelicals, none other than Moses Mike Johnson…”
  Memorable Quote [00:24] – Angie:

  "He thinks he was hand-chosen by God... he is the leader of protecting and not holding accountable people that dehumanize, marginalize and murder people and treat them so inhumanely... He rubber-stamps all of that."

2. Moses Mike Johnson’s Theological Defense of “Borders”

• [01:39] When asked about Pope Leo’s critique, “Moses Mike” leans on biblical justifications for borders and national separation—arguing they are “biblical from the Old Testament to the New.”

• [01:51] Angie and Jennifer dismiss this argument as an inappropriate merging of religion and state power, ignoring the U.S. founding principle of church-state separation. Memorable Quote [01:51] – Angie:

  "Isn't that why we had the separation of church and state?... Am I crazy?"

• [02:29] Jennifer expands on the history of Christian nationalist infiltration of the Republican Party, naming the Heritage Foundation and Federalist Society as instigators intent on dismantling church-state separation.

3. Christian Nationalist Political Rhetoric in Oklahoma and Beyond

• Jennifer references Governor Kevin Stitt’s public dedication of Oklahoma “to Jesus Christ,” linking this to policies that harm vulnerable groups and favor wealthy interests.
• The hosts stress that overt religiosity among politicians in Oklahoma isn’t new, but the scale and ambition of the current movement is: Memorable Quote [03:43] – Jennifer:

  “His standing there saying that as the speaker of the House shows you how serious Christian nationalists are. Because it’s not new.”

4. Assimilation, Hypocrisy, and Indoctrination

• [04:43] Moses Mike argues that immigrants must “assimilate” and be “proper,” paralleling biblical figures expected to adopt local cultures.

• Jennifer and Angie critique this expectation as hypocritical, especially given Moses Mike's own outspoken positions on sexuality and morality. Memorable Quote [05:04] – Jennifer:

  “He’s had to assimilate into a heterosexual culture. I mean, this Bible-thumping from the federal government is more than I can take.”

• Jennifer describes the indistinguishability between preacher and politician in the “Bible Belt,” noting the cruelty and ignorance fostered within evangelical spaces.

5. Empathy, Selective Morality, and Self-Righteousness

• [07:01] Angie highlights the “pick and choose” mentality of white evangelical Christians—using faith as both shield and sword to justify exclusion and cruelty while ignoring the empathetic teachings of Jesus. Memorable Quote [07:01] – Angie:

  “But I can justify my actions and I don’t have to behave that way. And then I won’t bore you with the rest of the video, but he does go on and ... basically he says: ‘Yes, we’re supposed to be kind… but our government needs to protect us and keep us in, so we have to keep other people out.’”

• Both hosts reflect on their own past indoctrination, social permission structures that allowed them to withhold empathy, and how these mindsets persist at scale in US politics.

6. Religious Trauma, Purity Culture, and the Roots of Cruelty

• [09:42] Jennifer calls Moses Mike’s religiosity “religious psychosis,” expressing disbelief that such overt theocracy isn’t politically disqualifying in America.
• She contextualizes Christian nationalism as inherently cruel and discusses the psychological effects of religious shame, especially on women through purity culture and abstinence-only teaching.
• The episode ties the entire Christian nationalist project to systemic abuse and a cycle where “hurt people, hurt people,” particularly as it relates to marginalized groups. Memorable Quote [12:48] – Jennifer:

  “The problem with teaching purity culture… for women… you have to teach kids about consent, intimacy, rape, and sexual abuse… In evangelical Christian homes, it’s just ‘You need to be pure for God, you need to be a virgin.’… All this stuff goes under-reported because all these things have been grotesquely lumped together. Abstinence only keeps women less safe…”

7. The Broader Problem: American “Crazy Christian” Exceptionalism

• [15:52] Jennifer points out the uniquely American legacy of religious extremism—“all the crazy Christians are here”—and connects the present movement with a history of racial violence (KKK), white supremacy, and exclusion.

• Angie adds: “This is not happening in a vacuum. This is supported by millions of Americans in middle America… Their culture and their identity becomes being an American, I’m going to wrap myself up in the flag. And then their social life is the church. Both of these things feed tribalism exclusively…”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [00:24] – Angie:

  "He thinks he was hand-chosen by God... he is the leader of protecting and not holding accountable people that dehumanize, marginalize and murder people..."

• [01:51] – Angie:

  "Isn't that why we had the separation of church and state?... Am I crazy?"

• [03:43] – Jennifer:

  “His standing there saying that as the speaker of the House shows you how serious Christian nationalists are. Because it's not new.”

• [05:04] – Jennifer:

  “He’s had to assimilate into a heterosexual culture. I mean, this Bible-thumping from the federal government is more than I can take.”

• [07:01] – Angie:

  “But I can justify my actions and I don’t have to behave that way... basically he says: ‘Yes, we’re supposed to be kind… but our government needs to protect us and keep us in, so we have to keep other people out.’”

• [12:48] – Jennifer:

  “The problem with teaching purity culture… All this stuff goes under-reported because all these things have been grotesquely lumped together. Abstinence only keeps women less safe…”

• [15:52] – Jennifer:

  “All the crazy Christians are here. America has a crazy Christian problem. Without the crazy Christian problem, we don’t have all this fascism period.”

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:04 – 01:39: Trump-era immigration policies, human rights, and Pope Leo’s intervention
• 01:39 – 02:29: Mike Johnson’s biblical defense of borders; hosts discuss church-state separation
• 02:29 – 03:43: Christian nationalism in Oklahoma political landscape
• 04:43 – 05:04: “Assimilation” rhetoric and its hypocrisy
• 07:01 – 09:42: Selective morality, lack of empathy, and indoctrination
• 09:42 – 12:48: Effects of Christian narcissism, purity culture, and religious trauma
• 14:52 – 17:42: American exceptionalism, racial violence history, and the long legacy of Christian nationalism

Tone and Takeaways

IHIP News continues its bold, unvarnished critique of Christian nationalism, unpacking the alarming normalization of theocracy in American governance and exposing the personal, social, and political harms it breeds. The episode uses humor and personal narrative to humanize these complex issues, holding no punches in exposing the dark underbelly of religious justification for political cruelty.

For listeners: This episode is an eye-opener for anyone seeking to understand where American right-wing Christianity and politics intersect, and why this movement’s reach is so culturally and institutionally entrenched. Expect raw honesty, biting wit, and a relentless call for real empathy and separation of church and state.