The Tim & April Show – Episode 94: This Love Your Neighbor Christian Has MAGA Outraged

Podcast: The New Evangelicals
Hosts: Tim Whitaker & April Ajoy
Date: March 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tim and April dive into the explosive MAGA backlash against James Talarico, a Texas Democrat and seminary-trained Christian who grounds his politics in the teachings of Jesus—love, justice, and care for the marginalized. They analyze right-wing Christian outrage at Talarico’s stances on healthcare, gender affirming care, and immigration, contrasting that vitriol with the right’s astonishing defense of Donald Trump’s well-documented abuses and criminal actions. The episode is a deep exploration of Christian Nationalism’s grip on Evangelical America, hypocrisy in faith and politics, and the path forward for faith-rooted progressives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: MAGA Christians Outraged by James Talarico

• [01:26–05:12]
  April and Tim begin by noting the intense right-wing reaction to James Talarico becoming the Democratic Senate candidate in Texas, particularly because of his advocacy for affordable healthcare and gender-affirming care using Christian reasoning.

  “MAGA Christians are losing their minds because James Talarico is now the Democrat candidate for Senate in Texas...and he uses scripture as kryptonite to the way MAGA uses scripture, which they use as a weapon. James Talarico is using it as a tool of freedom for the oppressed.” (April, 07:03)

2. Analyzing the Right-Wing Attacks on Talarico

a) Josh Howerton’s Attack

• [09:12–23:22]
  Mega-church Pastor Josh Howerton accuses Talarico of “wearing Christianity like a skin suit” and being a “false prophet.” He claims Talarico is “leading people to hell” due to his progressive, queer-affirming stances.

  “Progressivism will hollow out your religion and wear it like a skin suit...This guy is a false prophet and a false teacher.” (Josh Howerton, 09:12)

  • Tim and April dissect Howerton's criticisms:
    • Talarico is highly educated in theology, and his views are well within the Christian tradition.
    • Howerton uses loaded terms like “synagogue of Satan,” which has anti-Semitic implications (Tim, 11:54).
    • The right conflates gender and sex, denying biological reality (like intersex individuals) for ideological purity.

  “There is no one way to be a Christian. The Bible is not clear—many verses can be interpreted in different ways.” (April, 11:19)

  “Christian Nationalism is built on an ethic of power and control and domination over the other. So the idea of a society where other people who are not like these Christian nationalists can flourish...is a major problem for these folks. Especially if you justify it in the name of Christianity.” (Tim, 07:49)

b) Ali Stuckey & the “Toxic Empathy” Argument

• [24:48–27:32]
  Conservative podcaster Ali Stuckey rails against Talarico, claiming he represents a “deadly dose of toxic empathy”—accusing him of weaponizing Christian compassion for progressive causes.

  “This propaganda that makes them think that loving your neighbor means opening the border or affirming someone's so-called gender identity, or that it's loving to women to legalize aborting their children…” (Ali Stuckey, 25:26)

  • April notes the attack campaign's uniformity: “It’s almost like they all received their marching orders and that was this week: Attack James Talarico 100%.” (April, 26:09)
  • Both hosts call this a sign that the right is scared of Talarico's appeal.

c) Other Right-Wing Outrage (Megyn Kelly, Benny Johnson)

• [30:11–36:56]
  Megyn Kelly, Benny Johnson, and other right-wing personalities echo similar attacks—targeting Talarico’s theology (calling God non-binary), his pragmatic immigration proposals, and mischaracterizing his abortion stance.

  “Trump is legitimately the most magnanimous human ever to live...pure Christian virtue.” (Benny Johnson, 64:00)

3. Examining James Talarico’s Actual Stances and Rhetoric

• [39:21–45:52]

  • Tim & April play and discuss a Holy Post podcast clip, where Talarico affirms building a broad political coalition—including people who object to abortion—by focusing on reducing unwanted pregnancies through access to healthcare and contraception.
  • April addresses left-wing criticism of this approach, arguing that translating progressive values in language conservatives understand (without ceding ground) is necessary for winning hearts and minds.

  “I think it’s noble to want to lower abortion rates...abortion is a medical procedure no one really wants to have, kind of like open heart surgery or a root canal...I think you need people like James Talarico who speak the language of conservatives.” (April, 41:39)

4. Exposing Right-Wing Hypocrisy: How MAGA Christians Treat Donald Trump

a) Juxtaposition: Talarico vs. Trump

• [48:53–56:54]

  • Tim and April reset, listing Trump’s record—sexual assault, criminal and civil cases, dehumanizing language, warmongering—before playing right-wing Christian defenses of his “faith.”
  • Mega-church Pastor Josh Howerton voices hope that “Trump might be saved,” citing post-assassination attempt prayer and his blue-collar religious language.
  • The same Christians calling Talarico demonic display abundant “toxic empathy” for Trump, rationalizing his behaviors and even imagining a public South Lawn baptism.

  “The fact that Josh Howerton is leading his audience to think that Trump might have prayed a prayer one time and really might be saved—while James Talarico, who is a public advocate for Christian love and justice, is satanic—is why so many of us deconstruct.” (Tim, 54:36)

b) Ali Stuckey’s Response on Trump’s Faith

• [57:21–63:14]

  • Ali Stuckey celebrates Trump’s election as victory of “righteousness,” and when asked whether Trump is going to heaven, she applies a wide-open interpretation of salvation by faith, regardless of character or actions—except for political opponents.

  “Once you do this, you can know where you’re gonna go when you die—it’s secured forever. Unless you vote for Democratic policies, unless you’re James Talarico.” (Tim, 62:04)

c) Benny Johnson’s Idolization of Trump

• [64:02–65:08]
  Benny Johnson, who earlier called Talarico demonic, calls Trump “the most magnanimous human to ever live” and praises his "pure Christian virtue" for superficial gestures.

  • Tim highlights: “Why do I have to explain to Benny Johnson that Trump was the one targeting Obama, not the other way around?” (Tim, 65:31)

5. Societal & Theological Reflections

• [66:15–77:52]

  • April is hopeful about eventual accountability for MAGA Christian leaders who are twisting the gospel for political expediency.
  • The hosts lament that public Christianity is often shaped by those who care little for marginalized groups and use fear (of hell, the rapture, conspiracy) to justify virulent policy stances.
  • The episode ends with a “weird Christianity” segment featuring a man loudly proselytizing in Target about the coming rapture—underscoring the disconnect between fear-based evangelicalism and real-world neighborly love.

  “If your main goal is to save people’s souls, you’d think you would do things that would actually pull people in and not turn people off. Because he’s actually turning people off.” (April, 74:32)

  “Ultimately, hell is just a weapon to use or an excuse to be a complete jerk to people.” (Tim, 74:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Right’s Hypocrisy:

  “Ali can tell President Trump all he has to do is just believe and ask Christ to forgive him and no change is necessary. But when it comes to her political opponents...They are not true Christians...This, and at any point, this church culture can enforce either one...This is the slight of hand.” (Tim, 62:04)

• On Gender & God:

  “If we’re made in the image of God, and both men and women exist, then by their logic, God should have both masculine and feminine traits. Tell me, where’s God’s penis?” (April, 20:20)

• On Christians weaponizing theology:

  “When you’re a white evangelical in this world, you are taught that your belief system is the only true form of Christianity.” (April, 11:03)

• On Current Evangelicalism:

  “It’s like we’re being gaslit all the time...I wish for like 10 minutes I could put the headphones of their mind on my ears to hear how they really rationalize what is so illogical and indefensible.” (Tim, 58:59)

Important Timestamps

• 00:52 – Show begins; overview of MAGA outrage at Talarico
• 05:12 – Who is James Talarico? His faith & political history
• 09:12 – Josh Howerton’s attack on Talarico
• 13:53 – Intersex realities dispute binary MAGA gender claims
• 21:24 – “Leading people to hell”: What truly makes a heretic?
• 24:48 – Ali Stuckey’s “toxic empathy” critique
• 30:11 – Megyn Kelly’s attack: Talarico’s Christian identity
• 35:02 – Benny Johnson labels Talarico “demonic”
• 39:21–45:52 – Talarico on coalition-building and abortion; April’s insight
• 48:53 – Recitation of Trump’s record (assault, crime, cruelty)
• 51:21–54:00 – Howerton on “Trump might be saved,” theological wishcasting
• 57:21–63:14 – Ali Stuckey on salvation by faith for Trump but not Talarico
• 64:02–65:08 – Benny Johnson’s comical Trump idolization
• 66:15–67:39 – Hope for historical accountability for Christian nationalists
• 70:36–74:32 – “Weird Christianity” segment: Rapture warning at Target

Conclusion

Tim & April offer a lively, relentless, and honest critique of Christian nationalist hypocrisy—especially the double standard applied to progressive Christians versus right-wing political icons. The show is both a therapeutic vent for ex-evangelicals and a clarion call for a Christianity centered in love, justice, and inclusivity rather than power and fear.

Want more? Find resources and join the New Evangelicals’ community for continued conversations dismantling Christian nationalism and reclaiming faith for all.