Capitol Conversations
125 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 37 ratingsThis ERLC podcast from Washington, DC features Jeff Pickering, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, Travis Wussow, and Steven Harris as they chart a new way for evangelicals to engage in the public square.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Palmer Williams on dignity, disability, and COVID19
June 30, 2020 23:37 - 46.2 MBJeff Pickering and Chelsea Patterson Sobolik welcome attorney and advocate Palmer Williams to the roundtable to talk about how the pandemic uniquely highlights the importance of policies that protect people with disabilities. Palmer also reflects on how her life was changed when President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act. This episode is […]
David Curry on China, Hong Kong, the persecuted church
June 26, 2020 04:00 - 61.7 MBCommunist China’s stand against freedom is becoming increasingly aggressive with both the persecution of their own citizens and the forced changes in Hong Kong. Chelsea Patterson Sobolik and Travis Wussow welcome David Curry of Open Doors USA to the roundtable to discuss these recent developments and how it affects religious freedom in this part of […]
Kellee and Stuart Hall’s battle with COVID-19
June 17, 2020 19:00Stuart Hall and his wife Kellee were, like many of us in early March, wondering what the future held as the coronavirus spread across the globe and our country shutdown. Stuart would soon contract COVID19 and battle the novel disease for weeks in the ICU. The Hall’s story is one of relentless faith and a […]
A conversation on race in this moment of American life
June 11, 2020 15:20Steven Harris, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, Travis Wussow, and Jeff Pickering process the events and protests of recent days following the horrific murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. The team discusses the brutality exposed in these stories and the history of race in America that brought us to this moment and how the […]
Russell Moore on reopening churches, seeking justice when racism is filmed, and grieving 100,000 lives lost to COVID19
May 29, 2020 20:30ERLC President Russell Moore joins the roundtable to catch up with Jeff Pickering, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, and Travis Wussow, on some of the big stories in American life from the past three months. This episode is sponsored by The Good Book Company, publisher of Talking Points: Abortion by Dr Lizzie Ling & Vaughan Roberts Resources […]
Kevin Smith on why Christians should lament the killing of Ahmaud Arbery
May 20, 2020 20:20Jeff Pickering and Travis Wussow welcome Dr. Kevin Smith to the podcast to talk about the killing of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia and why Christians should lament this tragedy and work to seek justice in their communities. This episode is sponsored by The Good Book Company, publisher of Talking Points: Abortion by Dr Lizzie Ling […]
What the Supreme Court arguments from a Catholic school and the Little Sisters of the Poor mean for religious liberty
May 15, 2020 11:00Over the past two weeks, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on two important cases for religious liberty. The court convened via conference call, due to the coronavirus pandemic, and as such, the public could listen live for the first time in history. Josh Wester, from the ERLC’s Nashville office, joins Jeff Pickering, Chelsea Patterson […]
Staff Roundtable with our spring 2020 intern on her semester in D.C. and how the pandemic changed everything
May 06, 2020 20:15As spring fades to summer, ERLC intern Hannah Daniel joins Jeff Pickering, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, and Brooke Kramer to reflect on her experiences. The group discusses favorite projects, memorable meetings on Capitol Hill, and how the coronavirus pandemic changed everything. Our internship program exists to prepare students and young professionals with a gospel-centered, kingdom-focused perspective […]
Olivia Enos on Kim Jong Un’s disappearance
April 28, 2020 20:00Kim Jong Un has not been seen in North Korea for weeks and rumors are churning with reports about his health and possible death. The 36-year-old supreme leader was notably missing during a national ceremony on April 15, the birthdate of his late grandfather and founder of the communist country, Kim Il Sung. Right now, […]
How the collapse of the coal industry and the opioid epidemic prepared a West Virginia church for the coronavirus crisis
April 22, 2020 16:00Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, changing industries and technology led to massive shifts in American life. And now, after stay-at-home orders end, we will likely emerge to a different world than the one we once knew. Jesus commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves and churches can help people fight against despair by meeting […]
Paul Miller on Coronavirus Part 2: Why the Chinese Communist Party bears ultimate blame and where Christians can turn for hope
April 09, 2020 17:00Former CIA analyst and White House National Security Council staffer Paul Miller joins Jeff Pickering and Travis Wussow to discuss how the early warnings of a pandemic like COVID19 were missed and what this global event means for the future of politics and international relations. Miller is now a professor at Georgetown University and a […]
Paul Miller on Coronavirus Part 1: How the Intelligence Community predicted this pandemic and what it means for the future
April 08, 2020 14:00Former CIA analyst and White House National Security Council staffer Paul Miller joins Jeff Pickering and Travis Wussow to discuss how the early warnings of a pandemic like COVID19 were missed and what this global event means for the future of politics and international relations. Miller is now a professor at Georgetown University and a […]
On the front lines of the coronavirus with Samaritan’s Purse
April 02, 2020 10:00As the coronavirus pandemic rages across the world, Christians are on the front lines offering medical care to those in need. Jeff Pickering welcomes Edward Graham of Samaritan's Purse to the show talk about how their worldwide aid organization is mobilizing medical volunteers to join local hospitals and government authorities in Italy and New York […]
On the front lines of the coronavirus with Samaritan's Purse
April 02, 2020 10:00 - 27.6 MBAs the coronavirus pandemic rages across the world, Christians are on the front lines offering medical care to those in need. Jeff Pickering welcomes Edward Graham of Samaritan's Purse to the show talk about how their worldwide aid organization is mobilizing medical volunteers to join local hospitals and government authorities in Italy and New York City to respond to the pandemic. This episode is sponsored by The Good Book Company, publisher of Where is God in a Coronavirus World? by John L...
Why the ERLC is advocating for Congress to propel American generosity during the coronavirus crisis
March 24, 2020 14:45Going into this past weekend with the Senate in session to work on its response to the coronavirus pandemic and economic turmoil, the ERLC called for a two-year, no cap Universal Charitable Deduction (UCD) to encourage charitable giving. Jeff Pickering and Travis Wussow discuss why bold action from Washington is needed to propel American generosity […]
Senator James Lankford on the coronavirus, the government’s response, and how Christians can confront this pandemic
March 17, 2020 18:30The coronavirus has upended our lives and the uncertainty is unsettling. As the country confronts this new reality, Jeff Pickering visited United States Senator James Lankford in his Washington, D.C. office to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s ongoing response to this rapidly developing situation. This episode is sponsored by The Good Book Company, […]
Inside the Supreme Court case on Louisiana’s law to protect women
March 11, 2020 13:00On Wednesday, March 4, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in June Medical Services vs. Russo, a significant case out of Louisiana dealing with medical standards and patient health as the legislature found that abortion clinics in their state neglect both. Jeff Pickering and Chelsea Patterson Sobolik bring highlights from the pre-trial press conference with […]
Jon Ward on the failure of institutions and what it means for you
March 04, 2020 13:30Institutions in American public life are not what they used to be. National organizations like political parties and the news media have changed in dramatic ways in their influence on our lives. Political journalist Jon Ward noticed this change a few years ago and began exploring why it is happening and what people are doing […]
Senate prepares to vote on two pro-life bills
February 25, 2020 17:30On Tuesday, February 25 the U.S. Senate is scheduled to take roll call votes on two significant pro-life bills. The first bill we expect to receive a vote on the floor is th e Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and the second is the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Jeff Pickering and Chelsea Patterson Sobolik […]
What we’re advocating for in 2020
February 18, 2020 16:20The ERLC publishes a legislative agenda at the beginning of each year to outline the issues and policies we will focus on in our work in Washington, D.C., to serve Southern Baptists and advance the common good. Jeff Pickering, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, and Travis Wussow discuss specific examples of issues and policies from their 2020 […]
Brent Leatherwood on the Iowa Caucus mess, what happened and what’s next on the 2020 campaign trail
February 10, 2020 17:40The much anticipated 2020 Iowa Democratic Caucus became an unmitigated electoral mess as the first in the nation contest remained unresolved a day before the New Hampshire primary. Brent Leatherwood joins Jeff Pickering and Steven Harris to talk about what happened, what’s next, and how Christians can be salt and light in a polarized partisan […]
On Human Dignity: Russell Moore on technology, vulnerability, and the future of the pro-life movement
January 29, 2020 18:15We open 2020 with a month-long series On Human Dignity exploring the implications of this theological truth on life, ministry, and the public square. For the final episode of this series, Jeff Pickering sits down with ERLC president Russell Moore for an extended conversation on human dignity. The conversations finds its way from theology […]
On Human Dignity: Jeanne Mancini and the March for Life
January 24, 2020 17:00We open 2020 with a month-long series On Human Dignity exploring the implications of this theological truth on life, ministry, and the public square. This week we bring you a special episode to mark the 2020 March for Life. On this episode, Jeff Pickering interviews Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life, at their […]
On Human Dignity: Briana Stensrud on standing up for the vulnerable
January 22, 2020 10:00We open 2020 with a month-long series On Human Dignity exploring the implications of this theological truth on life, ministry, and the public square. On this week’s episode, we continue the conversation by welcoming a longtime friend of the ERLC, Briana Stensrud to share her stories of standing up for the vulnerable. Her career is […]
On Human Dignity: Janet Durig with stories of transformation from a pregnancy center
January 16, 2020 14:30We open 2020 with a month-long series On Human Dignity exploring the implications of this theological truth on life, ministry, and the public square. On this week’s episode, Chelsea welcomes Janet Durig to the Leland House to share stories of Christ’s transformative power for people in need. Janet is the executive director of the Capitol […]
Applying the human dignity theology to our work in Washington, D.C.
January 10, 2020 14:40We open 2020 with a month-long series of episodes on human dignity leading up to the annual March For Life. The conversations will explore the implications of this theological truth on the public square. On this week’s episode, Jeff, Chelsea, Steven, and Travis talk about how they apply the theology of human dignity to issues […]
Wrapping up 2019: Reflections and recommendations for a new year
December 17, 2019 20:30Jeff Pickering, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, Steven Harris, and Travis Wussow wrap up 2019 with highlights from our advocacy work and end of year recommendations. Capitol Conversations will be off the air for the next two weeks for Christmas and back in January for a month long series on human dignity leading up to the 2020 […]
Kingdom Theology on Capitol Hill with Russell Moore: Part Two
December 10, 2019 15:35For this two part series, we bring you ERLC president Dr. Russell Moore teaching on the Kingdom of God and what this theology means for Christian engagement in the public square. The lectures were recorded live in Washington, D.C., as part of the ERLC Academy on the Hill event series earlier in 2019. In part […]
Kingdom Theology on Capitol Hill with Russell Moore: Part One
December 04, 2019 21:00For this two part series, we bring you ERLC president Dr. Russell Moore teaching on the Kingdom of God and what this theology means for Christian engagement in the public square. The lectures were recorded live in Washington, D.C., as part of the ERLC Academy on the Hill event series earlier in 2019. In part […]
Russell Moore in Iowa on Courage and Civility
November 26, 2019 10:00For Thanksgiving travels, we wanted to bring you a message on the twin values of civility and courage ERLC president Russell Moore recently gave at Veritas Church in Iowa City. This event was part of the ERLC's Faith and Healthy Democracy project that seeks to help Christians better understand our chaotic public square and engage […]
SPECIAL EPISODE: Travis Wussow from Hong Kong
November 21, 2019 20:00Travis Wussow is in Hong Kong this week meeting with local leaders, pastors, and government officials, and filming interviews for a project ERLC is working on. The pro-democracy protests remind the world of the dignity of freedom and the dangers of authoritarianism. For a special, second episode for the week, Travis joined Jeff by phone […]
Herbie Newell on the pro-life ethic
November 19, 2019 15:00Herbie Newell comes back to the Leland House studio to join Jeff and Chelsea to talk about serving children and families in difficult situations. His experience leading Lifeline Children’s Services with fostercare and adoption as well as parental reconcilation allows him to speak powerfully to the pro-life ethic. November is national adoption month, and this […]
A coalition roundtable on repealing the strange new tax on nonprofits
November 12, 2019 11:00Jeff and Chelsea are joined by friends and coalition partners Miriam Harmer and Brian Walsh to discuss our advocacy work for a bipartisan repeal of the new tax on nonprofits and, for the first time in American history, houses of worship. Guest biography Miriam Harmer is Director of Congressional Affairs at the Orthodox Union where […]
Thomas Kidd on the story of Evangelicals in America
November 05, 2019 10:00Historian Thomas S. Kidd stops by the Leland House for a roundtable conversation on evangelicalism and politics with Jeff, Travis, and Chelsea. Dr. Kidd tells the story of evangelicals by providing an in depth look at the beliefs that binds them, the history that formed them, and how politics affects their movement. Most importantly for […]
Mindy Belz on Turkey, ISIS, the Kurds, and Christians in the Middle East
October 30, 2019 19:00Jeff Pickering and Travis Wussow welcome Mindy Belz of World magazine to the podcast to talk about Islamic extremism and the future of ISIS after the killing of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi by US Special Forces. We also cover the rising instability in the Middle East as Turkish aggression threatens the Kurdish and Christian people in […]
Jeff and Matt’s top 10 countdown from 100 episodes of Capitol Conversations
October 23, 2019 08:00This week marks a milestone for the ERLC’s podcast from Washington, DC as we publish the 100th episode of Capitol Conversations. Jeff Pickering welcomes the founder and former host Matt Hawkins back to the studio for a top 10 countdown of our favorite episodes. Guest Biography Matthew Hawkins career spans 18 years at the […]
Faith and healthy democracy: Introduction with Paul Miller and Brent Leatherwood
October 08, 2019 14:40Jeff Pickering welcomes Brent Leatherwood of the ERLC and Paul Miller of Georgetown University to discuss their research project exploring what American adults with evangelical beliefs think about civility and politics. Guest Biography Paul D. Miller is a professor of the practice of international affairs at Georgetown University, a senior fellow with the Atlantic […]
Olivia Enos on the Hong Kong protests and human rights abuses in China
September 25, 2019 09:00Jeff, Chelsea, and Travis welcome back Olivia Enos of The Heritage Foundation to the roundtable to discuss the Hong Kong protests and human rights abuses in China, and how Christians ought to think about these events. Guest Biography Olivia Enos serves as a senior policy analyst in the Asian Studies Center at The Heritage Foundation […]
ERLC Fall Look Ahead and Melissa Ohden on Surviving Abortion
September 10, 2019 13:45Returning from summer travels, Jeff, Steven, Travis, and Chelsea are back together around the table and to discuss the ERLC’s policy priorities for the fall. One item from earlier in the year that has yet to recieve a vote in the House is the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This ought to shock the […]
Summer reflections with the 2019 interns
September 05, 2019 08:00As the summer wrapped up, the ERLC interns in Washington joined Jeff Pickering to reflect on their experiences. The group discusses their favorite projects, memorable meetings on Capitol Hill, and laughable moments at the Leland House. Our internship program exists to prepare students and young professionals with a gospel-centered, kingdom-focused perspective on the issues of […]
Jennifer Marshall Patterson on calling and contentment
August 29, 2019 09:00With Congress in August recess, we take a break from our usual policy focused conversations to bring you interviews with leaders we admire who are shaping the world of Christian political engagement. This week, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik sits down with Jennifer Marshall Patterson of The Heritage Foundation and Reformed Theological Seminary. Guest Biography Jennifer Marshall […]
August Profiles: Justin Giboney on Christian compassion and conviction in politics
August 21, 2019 15:20With Congress in August recess, we take a break from our usual policy focused conversations to bring you interviews with leaders we admire who are shaping the world of Christian political engagement. This week, Steven Harris sits down with Justin Giboney, founder of The AND Campaign. Guest Biography Justin Giboney is an attorney and political […]
August Profiles: Russell Moore on faith, family, and friendships from Mississippi to Washington
August 14, 2019 08:00With Congress in August recess, we take a break from our usual policy focused conversations to bring you interviews with leaders we admire. We hope to bring you interesting profiles of people shaping the world of Christian political engagement. This week, Jeff Pickering sits down with ERLC president Russell Moore to talk about his faith, […]
David French on the rise of alt-right white supremacist terrorism
August 07, 2019 18:55At the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, the messengers passed a resolution on the anti-gospel of alt-right white supremacy. Among decrying racism, the resolution also made clear our belief that the Kingdom of Christ is made up of a “multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language” in worship of our risen […]
Brent Leatherwood on what you should know about the presidential debates
August 03, 2019 18:25The 2020 presidential election kicked off with double header debates this summer for the Democratic Party’s nomination. As Christians, we want to approach these debates and each election thoughtfully to engage as well-informed citizens. Longtime politico, Brent Leatherwood joins Jeff Pickering around the Capitol Conversations table to talk about his recent article about the history […]
The ERLC team on advancing religious freedom with the State Department
July 24, 2019 09:00Last week, the State Department held their second annual Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, which turned out to be the largest human rights gathering in the history of the State Department. Nearly 200 foreign delegations and over a thousand of government representatives, religious leaders, survivors of religious persecution and members of civil society convened to […]
Kenneth Bae, the longest held U.S. prisoner in North Korea, on hope in a hard labor camp
July 17, 2019 20:00North Korea today remains one of the most repressive regimes on earth restricting the freedom of its own people and considering Christianity a threat to the state. Kenneth Bae is a Christian missionary and American citizen who knows all too well about North Korean oppression. Although it is difficult to enter North Korea, Bae hosted […]
2019 SBC resolutions and what they mean for ERLC policy work in Washington, D.C.
July 03, 2019 15:00This year, at the 2019 SBC Annual Meeting, 13 resolutions were passed, eight of which relate to key issues and concerns within the ERLC’s public policy work. On this episode, Jeff, Travis, Steven, and Chelsea discuss the importance of these resolutions and the process behind how they are proposed and adopted. Specifically, the D.C. staff […]
Reflections from the SBC in Birmingham, what happened and why it matters
June 25, 2019 17:45This episode of Capitol Conversations was recorded live in Birmingham, Alabama from the 2019 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. This episode consists of three brief conversations with ERLC staff and local church leaders at the ERLC booth about the value of cooperation as a convention of churches. The episode finishes with highlights from […]
Supreme Court rules 7-2 for the Bladensburg Cross
June 22, 2019 01:00On Thursday, June 20, the Supreme Court decided the fate of the Bladensburg Peace Cross, a memorial to the fallen of World War 1 in Maryland. The memorial stands thanks to a 7-2 decision by the justices yet the opinion of the court was fractured. Jeff, Travis, Steven, and Chelsea circle up on the afternoon […]