The Tim & April Show – Episode 72

Podcast: The Tim & April Show
Network: The New Evangelicals
Released: December 19, 2025
Episode Title: Vanity Fair’s Christmas Gift to Us All
Hosts: Tim Whitaker and April Ajoy

Episode Overview

Episode 72 of the Tim & April Show delivers a timely breakdown of faith, politics, and culture in the tumultuous lead-up to Christmas 2025. Tim and April grapple with the weight of recent tragic world events, discuss political rhetoric in America, and deep-dive into the explosive two-part Vanity Fair exposé on the inner workings of Trump’s administration. They analyze reactions to Trump’s recent speech, respond to rising right-wing Islamophobia, expose the hypocrisy embodied by some Christian nationalists, and end with both exasperation and humor at the state of American “Weird Christian” culture with a Trump-narrated nativity book.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Navigating Tragedy & Exhaustion in 2025

Recent Tragedies: The hosts reflect on a series of horrifying recent events, including a mass shooting at Brown University, the Bondi Beach shooting in Australia targeting the Jewish community, and the murder of activist Rob Reiner and his wife by their son. (04:26–05:10)
Emotional Toll: April and Tim express a shared feeling of tiredness and overwhelm that is common among public-facing faith leaders and influencers. (06:42)
Quote – April: “Sometimes I don’t even know what to say because the bad news is just constant.” (04:26)

Islamophobia & Right-Wing Rhetoric

Weaponizing Violence: MAGA-aligned voices respond to the Bondi Beach shooting by fueling Islamophobia, ignoring the heroism of a Muslim man who stopped the gunman.
Exposing Hypocrisy: Tim and April draw direct parallels to the history of violence in Christianity, calling out the ignorance and agenda of figures like Allie Stuckey and megachurch pastor Josh Howerton.
Quote – Tim (on Allie Stuckey): “She has so much egg on her own face here that she really thinks that every global terrorist regime is Islamic, when in reality it depends on where you are and who’s attacking you.” (09:50)
On Christian Violence: April quickly counters one-sided narratives: “Looking at the history of Christianity, you could also come away with saying that Christianity is inherently violent and bent on conquest… it’s just everything is much more nuanced...” (10:35)
On Manipulating Empathy: Tim unpacks the “toxic empathy” talking point used to call for anti-migrant positions, highlighting its anti-intellectual and propagandistic nature. (11:11)

Vanity Fair’s Bombshell Trump Administration Exposé

The Photos – “Humanizing the Myth”

Visual strategy: Extreme close-up portraits make infamous Trump figures appear small and ordinary, stripping away the aura of mythic power (25:23).
Quote – Tim: “These are people doing bad things to other people. They’re not gods… They are approachable, they’re touchable.” (25:25)

Susie Wiles: The Real Power Behind Trump

Key Figure: Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff, is depicted as the “enforcer” and “Trump whisperer”—the real engine behind Trump getting what he wants.
Disturbing Insights: Wiles reportedly labels Trump as having an “alcoholic personality,” calls VP Vance a “conspiracy theorist,” and describes key players as zealots (27:40).
Administration Shift: The new approach is not to “control or influence” Trump but to make “the president’s goals come true”—a dramatic change from his first regime (29:29).
No Checks and Balances: Wiles openly supports anti-scientific policies and describes herself as part of the Deep State conspiracy narrative (31:13).
Policy Consequences: The closure of USAID, orchestrated by Elon Musk with Wiles’s acquiescence, led to the shuttering of life-saving programs, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths globally (33:30).
- Quote from Bill Gates in report: “The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one.” (35:55)
ICE Deportations: The podcast highlights a chilling incident: ICE deported two mothers and their children (U.S. citizens), one receiving treatments for stage 4 cancer, to Honduras. Wiles could not explain it (37:27).
Hosts’ Judgment: Both Tim and April hit a moral inflection point, naming this behavior “evil” and labeling the Trump administration “anti-Christ” and “empire” (38:24).

Trump Camp’s Response to Vanity Fair

Defensiveness Without Specifics: Wiles and Caroline Levitt (Trump’s press secretary) claim the article is a “hit piece”—though, as April notes, they fail to specify what facts were taken out of context (40:57).
Quote – Tim: “When 95% of what you do is built on lies, you just keep twisting yourself into more and more lies and contradictions.” (48:56)

Hypocrisy on Gender Norms & Image Making

Vanity vs. Virtue: The segment surfaces the hypocrisy of MAGA women getting cosmetic procedures while railing against “gender-affirming care” for trans people (43:27).
- April: “The hypocrisy of how much people like her rail against gender affirming care… while she’s getting gender affirming care. Like, you could see it on her lips.”
Photographer’s Stance: Vanity Fair’s photographer says he refuses to Photoshop, revealing the participants’ true humanity.

“Live Laugh Lie” and the God-Talk Paradox

Vanity Fair’s description of Caroline Levitt’s office: “Live Laugh Lie hominess” – a stinging, viral descriptor for the aesthetic and duplicity of MAGA’s women leaders (51:07).

Trump’s Bizarre Christmas Address

Unhinged Claims: Trump’s 18-minute speech was a mix of lies, hyperbole, xenophobia, and economic nonsense.
Math-Defying Boasts: Trump claims to have lowered drug prices “400, 500, even 600%” (16:57–20:19).
- CNN Fact Check: “These figures are mathematically impossible… the President magically [cutting] the prices… to zero would be a 100% cut.”
Racist Dog Whistles: Baseless claims that “Somalians have taken over the economics of the state…” in Minnesota (16:57).
“Even Matt Walsh Agrees”: Conservative pundit Matt Walsh called the speech “perhaps the most pointless primetime presidential address ever delivered…” (20:47)
April’s Satirical Comparison: “He sounds like that one kid in elementary school… who just told very elaborate stories.” (21:59)

Addressing Right-Wing Death Culture & Legislative Priorities

Critical Legislation: While denying aid that would stabilize health care premiums, the House GOP passes laws attacking gender-affirming care for minors—affecting 0.1% of the U.S. population and ignoring medical evidence. (54:11–55:47)
- Tim: “They manufacture these culture war issues that distract us from getting real shit done in this country.”
Gun Violence Hypocrisy: The hosts contrast America’s lack of legislative action after mass shootings with Australia’s rapid, effective response (56:31).

Political Violence: The Rob Reiner Tragedy & Trump’s Response

Violent Incident: Rob Reiner and his wife are killed by their son in a tragedy unrelated to politics.
Trump’s Shameful Statement: Trump posts a blame-shifting, self-centered response suggesting “Trump Derangement Syndrome” led to Reiner’s murder.
- Tim: “You have to wonder if Trump is possessed by some kind of demonic spirit… to say such vicious and cruel things.” (72:06)
- April: “He is a vile, evil man… nothing… feels any hesitancy in saying that Donald Trump is a vile and evil man…” (72:28)
A Few Republicans Respond: Notably, Jenna Ellis and Rep. Thomas Massie condemned Trump’s remarks.

Accountability, Dehumanization, and the Christian Nationalist Divide

Erika Kirk Dodges Accountability: At a CBS town hall, Erika Kirk (widow of Charlie Kirk) is directly asked by a thoughtful audience member to condemn Trump’s calls for executing Democratic lawmakers. She sidesteps, blaming parents and irrelevant societal factors. (60:58–64:20)
- Tim: “What she said here is absolute hogwash… that guy’s question… you could tell he put so much freaking thought into it.” (65:52)
MAGAworld Logic: Tim lays out how Christian nationalists systematically reject “both sides” arguments, believing Democrats are demonic invaders.

“Weird Christian” of the Week: Trump Narrates the Nativity

Product Watch: A children’s Christmas book, “The Birth of Jesus as Narrated By Your Favorite President,” features an AI-generated Donald Trump retelling the nativity. The hosts find it both hilarious and profoundly offensive.
- Tim (rant): “Donald Trump… is literally embodying every Antichrist position you can imagine… it’s incredibly offensive that these Christian sycophants have the nerve to declare you and I as heretics… but this is somehow a good, funny, cute thing?” (86:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

April (04:26): “Sometimes I don’t even know what to say because the bad news is just constant.”
Tim (09:50): On Allie Stuckey blaming Islam: “She has so much egg on her own face…”
April (10:35): “Looking at the history of Christianity, you could also come away with saying that Christianity is inherently violent and bent on conquest…”
Tim (16:57): “If you do want to know what America Fest is like, friends, from an insider perspective, you can go to the New Evangelicals YouTube channel…”
Trump (montage) (16:57): “We had men playing in women’s sports. Transgender for everybody… I negotiated directly with the drug companies and foreign nations to slash prices on drugs and pharmaceuticals by as much as 400, 500 and even 600%.”
Tim (mocking Trump’s math) (20:19): “Literally, CNN having to teach people basic arithmetic… April, that would mean you’re paying people to take the drugs.”
Tim (on Vanity Fair pics) (25:25): “They’re not gods. Turns out these are people doing bad things to other people. They’re not mythical creatures.”
Tim (on USAID shutdown) (36:05): “The world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children… Musk [was] not an elected official. No one democratically elected him… he went around [and] took away funds… and… people have died.”
Tim & April (on hypocrisy of criticism) (40:57): “I have yet to see them say what was taken out of context. I mean, they are quoting you.” – April
Vanity Fair on Caroline Levitt’s office (51:07): “The decor… invoked a certain Live Laugh Lie hominess.”
Tim (on Trump-camp contradictions) (48:56): “When 95% of what you do is built on lies, you just keep twisting yourself into more and more lies and contradictions. Right?”
Tim & April (on Trump response to Rob Reiner death) (72:06–72:28): “You have to wonder if Trump is possessed by some kind of demonic spirit… what’s animating a man’s mind to say such vicious things… He is a vile, evil man.”
Tim (on Trump-narrated nativity) (86:44): “To put Donald Trump’s ridiculous voice… into the birth of Christ is literally blasphemy… incredibly offensive… The heartbeat of the Christmas story is God siding with the marginalized—this bastardizes everything.”
April’s Satire (88:14): “I’m surprised [AI Trump] didn’t try to blame King Herod’s wanting to kill baby Jesus on Joe Biden.”

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

04:26–06:42: Processing tragedy, influencer exhaustion, and coping with ongoing bad news
07:16–14:43: MAGA Islamophobia after Bondi Beach; right-wing response; scriptural hypocrisy
16:39–23:00: Trump’s “Christmas” speech highlights, fact-checks, MAGA reactions
24:15–41:10: Vanity Fair article dissection—the photos, Susie Wiles, deep state beliefs, consequences of unchecked power
54:11–55:47: GOP legislative hypocrisy—healthcare subsidies vs. attacks on trans youth
60:58–67:36: Erika Kirk dodges condemnation of Trump’s violent rhetoric at CBS town hall
69:07–80:00: Rob Reiner tragedy, Trump’s callous response, GOP reactions, double standards
81:39–88:14: Weird Christian of the Week: AI-Trump nativity book, Tim’s impassioned monologue

Conclusion

Episode 72 is a fiery, wide-ranging marathon blending grief, moral confrontation, and incisive cultural critique. Tim and April deftly dissect an unsettling week in American politics and faith, using humor, candor, and righteous anger to call out hypocrisy, authoritarian drift, and the commercialization of Christianity. Regular features like “Weird Christian of the Week” balance outrage with levity, making for a consistent and engaging listen for anyone seeking to make sense of how faith intersects with U.S. power and propaganda in 2025.

For further links, resources, and to join the conversation, visit thenewevangelicals.com.

The Tim & April Show – Episode 72

Podcast: The Tim & April Show
Network: The New Evangelicals
Released: December 19, 2025
Episode Title: Vanity Fair’s Christmas Gift to Us All
Hosts: Tim Whitaker and April Ajoy

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Navigating Tragedy & Exhaustion in 2025

Recent Tragedies: The hosts reflect on a series of horrifying recent events, including a mass shooting at Brown University, the Bondi Beach shooting in Australia targeting the Jewish community, and the murder of activist Rob Reiner and his wife by their son. (04:26–05:10)
Emotional Toll: April and Tim express a shared feeling of tiredness and overwhelm that is common among public-facing faith leaders and influencers. (06:42)
Quote – April: “Sometimes I don’t even know what to say because the bad news is just constant.” (04:26)

Islamophobia & Right-Wing Rhetoric

Weaponizing Violence: MAGA-aligned voices respond to the Bondi Beach shooting by fueling Islamophobia, ignoring the heroism of a Muslim man who stopped the gunman.
Exposing Hypocrisy: Tim and April draw direct parallels to the history of violence in Christianity, calling out the ignorance and agenda of figures like Allie Stuckey and megachurch pastor Josh Howerton.
Quote – Tim (on Allie Stuckey): “She has so much egg on her own face here that she really thinks that every global terrorist regime is Islamic, when in reality it depends on where you are and who’s attacking you.” (09:50)
On Christian Violence: April quickly counters one-sided narratives: “Looking at the history of Christianity, you could also come away with saying that Christianity is inherently violent and bent on conquest… it’s just everything is much more nuanced...” (10:35)
On Manipulating Empathy: Tim unpacks the “toxic empathy” talking point used to call for anti-migrant positions, highlighting its anti-intellectual and propagandistic nature. (11:11)

Vanity Fair’s Bombshell Trump Administration Exposé

The Photos – “Humanizing the Myth”

Visual strategy: Extreme close-up portraits make infamous Trump figures appear small and ordinary, stripping away the aura of mythic power (25:23).
Quote – Tim: “These are people doing bad things to other people. They’re not gods… They are approachable, they’re touchable.” (25:25)

Susie Wiles: The Real Power Behind Trump

Key Figure: Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff, is depicted as the “enforcer” and “Trump whisperer”—the real engine behind Trump getting what he wants.
Disturbing Insights: Wiles reportedly labels Trump as having an “alcoholic personality,” calls VP Vance a “conspiracy theorist,” and describes key players as zealots (27:40).
Administration Shift: The new approach is not to “control or influence” Trump but to make “the president’s goals come true”—a dramatic change from his first regime (29:29).
No Checks and Balances: Wiles openly supports anti-scientific policies and describes herself as part of the Deep State conspiracy narrative (31:13).
Policy Consequences: The closure of USAID, orchestrated by Elon Musk with Wiles’s acquiescence, led to the shuttering of life-saving programs, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths globally (33:30).
- Quote from Bill Gates in report: “The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one.” (35:55)
ICE Deportations: The podcast highlights a chilling incident: ICE deported two mothers and their children (U.S. citizens), one receiving treatments for stage 4 cancer, to Honduras. Wiles could not explain it (37:27).
Hosts’ Judgment: Both Tim and April hit a moral inflection point, naming this behavior “evil” and labeling the Trump administration “anti-Christ” and “empire” (38:24).

Trump Camp’s Response to Vanity Fair

Defensiveness Without Specifics: Wiles and Caroline Levitt (Trump’s press secretary) claim the article is a “hit piece”—though, as April notes, they fail to specify what facts were taken out of context (40:57).
Quote – Tim: “When 95% of what you do is built on lies, you just keep twisting yourself into more and more lies and contradictions.” (48:56)

Hypocrisy on Gender Norms & Image Making

Vanity vs. Virtue: The segment surfaces the hypocrisy of MAGA women getting cosmetic procedures while railing against “gender-affirming care” for trans people (43:27).
- April: “The hypocrisy of how much people like her rail against gender affirming care… while she’s getting gender affirming care. Like, you could see it on her lips.”
Photographer’s Stance: Vanity Fair’s photographer says he refuses to Photoshop, revealing the participants’ true humanity.

“Live Laugh Lie” and the God-Talk Paradox

Vanity Fair’s description of Caroline Levitt’s office: “Live Laugh Lie hominess” – a stinging, viral descriptor for the aesthetic and duplicity of MAGA’s women leaders (51:07).

Trump’s Bizarre Christmas Address

Unhinged Claims: Trump’s 18-minute speech was a mix of lies, hyperbole, xenophobia, and economic nonsense.
Math-Defying Boasts: Trump claims to have lowered drug prices “400, 500, even 600%” (16:57–20:19).
- CNN Fact Check: “These figures are mathematically impossible… the President magically [cutting] the prices… to zero would be a 100% cut.”
Racist Dog Whistles: Baseless claims that “Somalians have taken over the economics of the state…” in Minnesota (16:57).
“Even Matt Walsh Agrees”: Conservative pundit Matt Walsh called the speech “perhaps the most pointless primetime presidential address ever delivered…” (20:47)
April’s Satirical Comparison: “He sounds like that one kid in elementary school… who just told very elaborate stories.” (21:59)

Addressing Right-Wing Death Culture & Legislative Priorities

Critical Legislation: While denying aid that would stabilize health care premiums, the House GOP passes laws attacking gender-affirming care for minors—affecting 0.1% of the U.S. population and ignoring medical evidence. (54:11–55:47)
- Tim: “They manufacture these culture war issues that distract us from getting real shit done in this country.”
Gun Violence Hypocrisy: The hosts contrast America’s lack of legislative action after mass shootings with Australia’s rapid, effective response (56:31).

Political Violence: The Rob Reiner Tragedy & Trump’s Response

Violent Incident: Rob Reiner and his wife are killed by their son in a tragedy unrelated to politics.
Trump’s Shameful Statement: Trump posts a blame-shifting, self-centered response suggesting “Trump Derangement Syndrome” led to Reiner’s murder.
- Tim: “You have to wonder if Trump is possessed by some kind of demonic spirit… to say such vicious and cruel things.” (72:06)
- April: “He is a vile, evil man… nothing… feels any hesitancy in saying that Donald Trump is a vile and evil man…” (72:28)
A Few Republicans Respond: Notably, Jenna Ellis and Rep. Thomas Massie condemned Trump’s remarks.

Accountability, Dehumanization, and the Christian Nationalist Divide

Erika Kirk Dodges Accountability: At a CBS town hall, Erika Kirk (widow of Charlie Kirk) is directly asked by a thoughtful audience member to condemn Trump’s calls for executing Democratic lawmakers. She sidesteps, blaming parents and irrelevant societal factors. (60:58–64:20)
- Tim: “What she said here is absolute hogwash… that guy’s question… you could tell he put so much freaking thought into it.” (65:52)
MAGAworld Logic: Tim lays out how Christian nationalists systematically reject “both sides” arguments, believing Democrats are demonic invaders.

“Weird Christian” of the Week: Trump Narrates the Nativity

Product Watch: A children’s Christmas book, “The Birth of Jesus as Narrated By Your Favorite President,” features an AI-generated Donald Trump retelling the nativity. The hosts find it both hilarious and profoundly offensive.
- Tim (rant): “Donald Trump… is literally embodying every Antichrist position you can imagine… it’s incredibly offensive that these Christian sycophants have the nerve to declare you and I as heretics… but this is somehow a good, funny, cute thing?” (86:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

April (04:26): “Sometimes I don’t even know what to say because the bad news is just constant.”
Tim (09:50): On Allie Stuckey blaming Islam: “She has so much egg on her own face…”
April (10:35): “Looking at the history of Christianity, you could also come away with saying that Christianity is inherently violent and bent on conquest…”
Tim (16:57): “If you do want to know what America Fest is like, friends, from an insider perspective, you can go to the New Evangelicals YouTube channel…”
Trump (montage) (16:57): “We had men playing in women’s sports. Transgender for everybody… I negotiated directly with the drug companies and foreign nations to slash prices on drugs and pharmaceuticals by as much as 400, 500 and even 600%.”
Tim (mocking Trump’s math) (20:19): “Literally, CNN having to teach people basic arithmetic… April, that would mean you’re paying people to take the drugs.”
Tim (on Vanity Fair pics) (25:25): “They’re not gods. Turns out these are people doing bad things to other people. They’re not mythical creatures.”
Tim (on USAID shutdown) (36:05): “The world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children… Musk [was] not an elected official. No one democratically elected him… he went around [and] took away funds… and… people have died.”
Tim & April (on hypocrisy of criticism) (40:57): “I have yet to see them say what was taken out of context. I mean, they are quoting you.” – April
Vanity Fair on Caroline Levitt’s office (51:07): “The decor… invoked a certain Live Laugh Lie hominess.”
Tim (on Trump-camp contradictions) (48:56): “When 95% of what you do is built on lies, you just keep twisting yourself into more and more lies and contradictions. Right?”
Tim & April (on Trump response to Rob Reiner death) (72:06–72:28): “You have to wonder if Trump is possessed by some kind of demonic spirit… what’s animating a man’s mind to say such vicious things… He is a vile, evil man.”
Tim (on Trump-narrated nativity) (86:44): “To put Donald Trump’s ridiculous voice… into the birth of Christ is literally blasphemy… incredibly offensive… The heartbeat of the Christmas story is God siding with the marginalized—this bastardizes everything.”
April’s Satire (88:14): “I’m surprised [AI Trump] didn’t try to blame King Herod’s wanting to kill baby Jesus on Joe Biden.”

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

04:26–06:42: Processing tragedy, influencer exhaustion, and coping with ongoing bad news
07:16–14:43: MAGA Islamophobia after Bondi Beach; right-wing response; scriptural hypocrisy
16:39–23:00: Trump’s “Christmas” speech highlights, fact-checks, MAGA reactions
24:15–41:10: Vanity Fair article dissection—the photos, Susie Wiles, deep state beliefs, consequences of unchecked power
54:11–55:47: GOP legislative hypocrisy—healthcare subsidies vs. attacks on trans youth
60:58–67:36: Erika Kirk dodges condemnation of Trump’s violent rhetoric at CBS town hall
69:07–80:00: Rob Reiner tragedy, Trump’s callous response, GOP reactions, double standards
81:39–88:14: Weird Christian of the Week: AI-Trump nativity book, Tim’s impassioned monologue

Conclusion

For further links, resources, and to join the conversation, visit thenewevangelicals.com.

72. Vanity Fair’s Christmas Gift to Us All

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Summary

The Tim & April Show – Episode 72

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Navigating Tragedy & Exhaustion in 2025

Islamophobia & Right-Wing Rhetoric

Vanity Fair’s Bombshell Trump Administration Exposé

The Photos – “Humanizing the Myth”

Susie Wiles: The Real Power Behind Trump

Trump Camp’s Response to Vanity Fair

Hypocrisy on Gender Norms & Image Making

“Live Laugh Lie” and the God-Talk Paradox

Trump’s Bizarre Christmas Address

Addressing Right-Wing Death Culture & Legislative Priorities

Political Violence: The Rob Reiner Tragedy & Trump’s Response

Accountability, Dehumanization, and the Christian Nationalist Divide

“Weird Christian” of the Week: Trump Narrates the Nativity

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

Conclusion

Summary

The Tim & April Show – Episode 72

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Navigating Tragedy & Exhaustion in 2025

Islamophobia & Right-Wing Rhetoric

Vanity Fair’s Bombshell Trump Administration Exposé

The Photos – “Humanizing the Myth”

Susie Wiles: The Real Power Behind Trump

Trump Camp’s Response to Vanity Fair

Hypocrisy on Gender Norms & Image Making

“Live Laugh Lie” and the God-Talk Paradox

Trump’s Bizarre Christmas Address

Addressing Right-Wing Death Culture & Legislative Priorities

Political Violence: The Rob Reiner Tragedy & Trump’s Response

Accountability, Dehumanization, and the Christian Nationalist Divide

“Weird Christian” of the Week: Trump Narrates the Nativity

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

Conclusion