Curious Reads: The Trump Dump

There's an election coming up. Have you heard? (And God, we need help.)

Hello friend, Liz here.

#1 Today’s top of the fold story is a new column I’m launching called, the Trump Dump¹…

AKA“Groundhog Day,” AKA “There’s Nothing New Under the Sun,” AKA “Are you there, God? It’s me, the United States of America,” AKA “WHY, though?”

This next year is an American presidential election year—had you heard?—and it’s looking like our nation’s top two candidates will be the EXACT SAME ONES as four years ago, in a twist worthy of a Bill Murray movie.

So, for the upcoming year, I’m going to create a space in each “Curious Reads” newsletter to skim the POLITICAL DWAMAS making headlines.

Don’t worry, you can easily scroll past it if election news gives you hives! After this one, the column will drop to the very bottom.

…But for those of us who feel like politics is “crazy go nuts university,” and especially for those of us who have no sane Christian folk with whom to consort about said craziness, I hope this every-other-week round-up becomes a consolation.

I’ll likely be joined by other smart Christian friends with their insights (

Sara Billups

, for example), and if I find the time, I may even record/edit a few of the conversations for your listening pleasure.

So, here’s the first ever…

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The Trump Dump

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Illustration by Marco Ventura for Rolling Stone

Trump & Fam™ testified in a NY courtroom about their fradulent business activity, and it was damning. (Accidentally?) No surprise, Trump and his trial judge have a contentious relationship.

The prosecutors in Trump’s “document leaking” trial may put his Mar-a-lago staff on the stand to testify against their boss. (But PLEASE DON’T, AG, these house cleaners/lawn mowers/woodworkers need to eat!)

Yet, somehow, there are no other viable Republican candidates except for Trump, as proved by the latest GOP debate. (Although, if you’re wondering, Nikki Haley won that one.)

Plus, Trump is beating Biden in the polls—already. And if Trump does happen to get elected for a second term, he’s been clear about his plans to pursue authoritarian aims.

But, Biden’s team wants to remind us, the most recent American election favored Democrats—again. So, calm down, wouldja?

Whatever happens, evangelicals will likely stick with the former Republican president. (But I really need updated polling data on this to give up all hope.)

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Reflections on the latest Trump Dump

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This political news generally bums me out. I’m not crazy about Biden, but I’ll take him any day of the week over former-President Trump.

I also resent being incited to fear already by the media about an election A FULL YEAR AWAY. I disagree strongly with the methods and policies of Republicans, yet like many Christians, I know and love people who vote to the right. The reasons we each vote the way we do is complex; but I admit, I do feel afraid about the effects of another Trump presidency, which was a wild affair the first time. Is a second survivable? (Surely, yes? Is this way overblown?)

More than anything, I fear how American evangelicals will engage this Trump campaign. (Remember when Dr. James Dobson defended Trump by calling him a “baby Christian”?)

Evangelicalism is not famous for its ability to withstand disagreement amongst its members. I’m not sure if our churches (and/or extended family relationships) can stand another Trump presidency. 🥺 How many more of us will be accused of devil-worship and heresy by the year’s end?

Right now, my most urgent political action is prayer. I’m praying:

for discernment to see truly what’s behind the news and the people in the news;

for God to give me patience and empathy with those who stand on the opposite political side as myself;

for the self-control to ignore the news cycle when my nervous system feels elevated;

and for humility.

I’m also praying against a second term of Trump. And I’m asking God to convict those evangelical leaders who seem addicted to power so that they would repent of binding themselves to a man reasonably described as misogynistic, narcissistic, and deceitful. (And racist! I forgot racist!)

Lord, have mercy.

Thanks for reading! Warmly, Liz Charlotte Grant

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YOUR TURN: How are you metabolizing the latest political news? What would a Trump campaign mean for your church, your family relationships, and to you?

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More Curious Reads

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Image by Marvel and Disney, Illustration by the Ringer

#2 Superhero movies are boring.—The New Yorker

“…It’s as if all representations of Biblical characters and stories were controlled by the Vatican.”

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the Empathy List is a one-woman show supported by generous readers like yourself. If you like this edition, subscribe! And if you have the budget to spare, buy me a coffee once a month to say thanks & to gain commenting access. ;-)

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Illustration by Hazel Zavala for Bon Appetit

#3 Why do onions make us cry? —Bon Appetit Magazine

“Onions are mild unless attacked. Most do not even have a strong smell. But bitten or cut, they retaliate.”

Watercolor painting “Saint Teresa of Avila, 1903” by John Singer Sargent

#4 Saint Teresa of Ávila never tried to levitate. It just happened. And the Mother was not happy about it.—Public Domain Review

“Levitation was the last thing Teresa of Avila wanted. It drew the wrong kind of attention and embarrassed her in public. She tried to remain grounded, clinging to furniture when the weightlessness set in, and then suddenly, it stopped for good.”

#5 New GOP House of Representatives speaker, Mike Johnson, and his son are porn accountability partners. (TMI, MIKEY!!)—Slate

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Put a Bird on It

There’s a made-up AI-created bird man showing up on tiktok called… the opium bird? Or erosion bird? Or a brand new species of cryptid in Antarctica? (Read more about it at Hyperallergic.)

@ddrevfxA new species of bird in Antarctica? It looks quite scary, so mysterious #drevfx #secret #xh #xuhuong

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1. Thanks to Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me, NPR’s game show news quiz show, for the title, the Trump Dump. It’s brilliant, and I cannot take credit.