The guest on this week’s Al Franken podcast is comedian, radio host, and NYT bestselling author John Fugelsang.  As the show writes, “Donald Trump and the Republican Party have the backing of Evangelicals and fundamentalist Christians. But if you read the Bible or listen to the teachings of Jesus Christ, it would be clear that their policies are anything but Christ-like. We're joined by John Fugelsang to discuss his new book, Separation of Church and Hate. Fugelsang shares his unique perspective as a Christian who was raised by a former nun and a Franciscan Brother. He shows the disconnect between what far-right Christians claim Jesus taught versus what he actually said in the Bible. Jesus promoted peace, love, compassion, and mercy... None of which are evident in today's Republican Party.
 
“We also break down many social issues that right-wing Christians use their faith to justify. Jesus advocated against the death penalty, provided for the poor, and never once said that homosexuality is a sin. Not to mention abortion, which was weaponized in the 1980s to consolidate power under Ronald Reagan.
 
“We hope this interview can help you engage with right-wing Christians in a civil way by pointing to actual scripture, which might help them see the contradictions and lies that their party embraces.”

SIDE NOTE:  John Fugelsang is a bright, thoughtful, funny guy who is fearless taking on the far right evangelicals.  He takes them on at Twitter, pushing back with literally chapter-and-verse to both defend his arguments and shut down those erroneously contending to insist what the Bible says.

​For a while now, I’ve been writing that for all the problems Trump has been causing for himself and having to deal with, “It’s only going to worse” because he’s surrounded himself with unqualified incompetents, many of whom have caused the problems, and also because he has dementia."  Fitting into that dynamic, a new problem cropped up for Trump yesterday – though not remotely in a way I was expecting…although oddly, it fit precisely into that reality.  It was caused by someone who Trump did indeed surround himself with – but not in his cabinet, and from his first time in office.
 
Yesterday, MAGA megachurch pastor Robert Morris pled guilty to sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s.  The reason this relates to Trump is because Morris was a "faith advisor" for Trump during his first term.
 
While some may be shocked by this turn of events, it seems to me like exactly who Trump would want as a "faith advisor".  After all, faith has never really been a serious concern to Trump, other than as a slogan he can use to hoodwink others, and he’s still yet to name a favorite Bible passage.  And having someone under the auspices of “God” who has such a flexible concept of morals that he will give religious sanction to Trump’s darkest instincts (something akin to the vacuum at the bottom of a Black Hole) and let his actions slide with a knowing wink is just a perfect fit.
 
The question now is if Trump will condemn Morris, since he's pled guilty, or if (like with Ghislaine Maxwell), Trump will wish him well.
 
I hope a reporter asks.
 
Also, since Morris has pleaded guilty, Trump can't claim this is a hoax, like he's ludicrously (and desperately) trying to convince the public about the Epstein files.  Nor can he say his standard “I hardly knew the guy” line.  Being someone’s spiritual advisor is a really tough connection to jam a wedge between and ratchet yourself away from.  Robert Morris wasn’t the assistant who delivered coffee.
 
The charges surrounding Morris didn’t come to national prominence until more recently, but his church was informed about the family’s charge back in 1987.  And there was a range of letters back and forth with lawyers in 2007, before Trump took office.
 
This is just such a pure Trump thing.  Not just that your faith advisor has pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor, when you’re being overwhelmed by questions about your involvement with a pedophile.  But the fact that Morris’s past slipped through the crackerjack Trump due diligence squad (if it even did "slip through") is so unsurprising, given that their standard has always been, “If Trump wants him on board, put him on board.”
 
It's what brought us advisor Corey Lewandowsnki, who was later fired for several charges of sexual abuse – only to bring him back in Trump’s second term.  And brought us Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, accused of rape.  And brought us staff secretary Rob Porter who had to resign after charges by two ex-wives of domestic abuse.  And brought us Attorney General-nominee Matt Gaetz who withdrew over investigations of sexual misconduct with minors.  And brought us Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, accused of rape.
 
But then, what do you expect when the person in charge has been adjudicated for what the judge wrote was the equivalent of rape.
 
Of course, it’s not just sexual abusers who get past due diligence, but whoever Trump wants on any level without qualifications that is a standard of his administration.  It’s what also brought us FBI Director Kash Patel, Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Junior, Border Czar Tom Homan (caught on video accepting a $50,000 bribe), Education Secretary Linda McMahon, 22-year-old college grad Thomas Fugate made a senior head of a DHS counterterrorism task force, parking garage lawyer Alina Habba, insurance claim attorney Lindsey Halligan and so many others.  Including, lest we forget Elon Musk and his merry band of college grad hackers.
 
But for now, this isn’t about all the incompetents, sexual abusers and lack of due diligence that Trump has brought into his administration.
 
It’s just about one thing – that goes directly to the core of who Trump is:  his former “faith advisor” pleading guilty of sexual abuse of a minor.
 
It’s just so Trump.  In the midst of the storm engulfing him over his involvement with a sexual predator.
 
This is not normal.

And it must be added -- imagine if this was President Biden.  (We don't have to imagine if it was President Obama, since he did face a situation -- not remotely the same, but a cousin -- where his current pastor made some harsh comments about the U.S.  That's not even in the same category as pleading guilty to sexual abuse by of minor, committed by your former faith advisor.  And yet Obama was attacked and questioned about it for days, and he condemned the comments and regretfully cut his ties.) Yet this galling story with Trump's former faith advisor didn't make a blip on TV news, and almost none elsewhere.  But imagine if this was President Biden.

We don't have to imagine if this was Trump.  It's almost standard operating procedure.  But it's still not normal.
 
And it will get worse.  Because he has surrounded himself with unqualified incompetents, many of whom have caused the problems.  And has dementia, which is degenerative.

As we finish Yom Kippur, which starts tonight at sundown, I thought I'd get this in under the wire and repost this again tonight.  It's the song "Avinu Malkeinu" which comes at the very end of the service.

This was one of my mother's favorite songs for the High Holidays, and it's sung wonderfully here by 13 cantors from around the world.  I find some of the visual editing a little distracting, but not the singing.

Avinu Malkeinu means "Our Father, Our King," and the prayer itself is basically one of supplication, while also asking God for compassion whether or not it's deserved.  It can be recited throughout the year, though the prayer is an important part of 10 days of the High Holidays starting with Rosh Hashanah and notably sung at the end of the service atoning at the start of the new year. 

Or something like that.  There are many variations, and even verses, whose order I think maybe can even be flexible, and the different denominations handle it their own way.

Two years ago, back on April 11, 2023, I wrote an article here about Charlie Kirk that began --
​

​I repeat the opening, since it’s important to always been reminded who Charlie Kirk is, because as prominent a figure as he in the today’s MAGOP, he still flies under the wire more than most of the better-known names.  And further, he keeps making clear who he is.
 
Like yesterday, on his podcast, after the violent anti-Semitic attack with a homemade flamethrower against eight Jewish Americans in Colorado.  Did Kirk express his outrage at the attack?  Only those who don’t know Charlie Kirk would ask such a ludicrous question.  Of course not, he’s Charlie Kirk.  He doubled down.
 
Being Charlie Kirk, as this article notes, he told Jews that they “should have a firearm on you at all times” and “walk around armed,” in fact Jews “should never leave your house unarmed” unless they have a death wish.”  And he spoke further about how "My tolerance with the American Jews” is now at the level of “nothing,” adding for good measure, in case you missed his impossible-to-miss point, that "my patience has completely run out” with American Jews.  And predicts that because of his words, he will be called an anti-Semite.
 
Charlie Kirk has the tense wrong. He has long been called an anti-Semite.  And it’s not that he’s long been “called” an anti-Semite.  It’s that he’s long been an anti-Semite.
 
But of course, it’s more than anti-Semitic, which is impressive by Charlie Kirk standards.  This was a dog-whistle for violence to his listeners.  No doubt he’ll cowardly insist, oh, no, that wasn’t the case at all, he was just offering friendly protective advice – to people for whom he says he has absolutely no “tolerance”.
 
I dearly hope there is no further violence against Jews, though I know that that hope flies in the face of world history.  But if there is, I further hope that it’s investigated whether the perpetrators listen to Charlie Kirk who inspired them.  Though my additional hope is that any Kirk follower who might thinking about taking violent action as a result of his hate-filled words might stop and completely change course, remembering that Kirk’s words also suggested that all American Jews be armed.  (All American Jews won’t be armed, of course, but anyone empty enough to listen to Charlie Kirk will believe almost anything he says, no matter how insanely stupid, which covers most of what he says.)
 
It's also worth noting that I’m quite certain American Jews don’t spend time concerning themselves who Charlie Kirk “tolerates."  Or “has patience” with.  Not just because he’s a little putz (Charlie can look it up), but because pondering who Charlie Kirk doesn’t tolerate is a monumentally long list and would waste too much time.  The short version is that it’s everyone who disagrees with him, and all minorities, even if they do agree with him.
 
But to be clear, this is not about Charlie Kirk since he has long-been anti-Semitic – and a whiney kid who spreads his ignorant, fascist opinions. This is about the MAGOPs who enable and support Kirk, and who will be silent about this virulently anti-Semitic statement and foghorn of violence.  And most especially Trump and those in his administration who try desperately to claim they’re attacking Harvard to defend against anti-Semitism.
 
Well, if and when they do decide to actually defend against anti-Semitism, then speak up.  And start with Charlie Kirk.

If you didn't see Last Week Tonight with John Oliver last night, his Main Story about about politics and religion, specifically focusing on the group Alliance Defending Freedom which wants to become the equivalent of the ACLU, but for the religious right.  And who have already had significant impact on U.S. laws and culture.

The report is excellent -- detailed, fascinating, infuriating, revealing and often extremely funny in scathing ridicule.  But if you only decide to watch just a few minutes, jump to around the 23-minute mark.  That's where Oliver deals with ADF's involvement with the woman who claimed to be a website designer and refused to accept business for a gay wedding.  The short segment is terrific, builds momentum and has wonderful, laugh-out-loud payoff.

The news must be hell for people in St. Louis.  Since the headlines now read: 

"Cardinals pick Chicagoan to be Pope."  

And --  "Cardinals declare Chicagoan to be closer to God than them."

In other news, a transcript has been released of the campaign statement made in conclave by the cardinal from Chicago, who was later elected Pope.  He said:

"Vote for whoever you want.  Just be sure to vote early and often."

Finally, the official voting results have been announced. Of the 138 votes cast, he received 247.