This week, government officials pushed the boundaries of your First Amendment rights. Pam Bondi said the DOJ would target “hate speech.” The FCC threatened a network over Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue. Then Trump announced he would label Antifa a terrorist group. In this Mike Drop, I explain why this pattern is dangerous, why it matters for…
Attorney General Pam Bondi says the Justice Department will “target” hate speech. But in the U.S., hate speech isn’t a legal category. From Trump’s rhetoric to Charlie Kirk’s provocations, both sides want free speech when it suits them and restrictions when it doesn’t. In this Mike Drop, Mike Smithgall breaks down the law, the hypocrisy,…
Political commentator Charlie Kirk was assassinated this week, sparking intense debate about political violence in America. We discuss Kirk’s influence on Christian nationalism, the immediate aftermath and blame-shifting, and what this means for future political discourse. Our panel examines the performative outrage, the cycle of violence, and why martyrdom plays such a powerful role in…
What happens when religion shows up in your doctor’s office? From waiting room pamphlets to medical professionals offering prayer, our panel digs into the clash between science-based treatment and faith-based influence. Join the conversation as we share stories, debate boundaries, and ask whether religion has any place in modern healthcare. 💬 Viewer Question Have you…
This week on The Unholy Roundtable, Scott, Larry, Rhett and myself tackle the fallout from Charlie Kirk’s murder and explore religion’s tight grip on culture. We’ll talk about how people come to atheism later in life, whether Bible translations really preserve divine truth, why Christians get defensive when questioned, and how gender politics, culture icons,…
Florida just became the first state to eliminate ALL school vaccine mandates, claiming “religious freedom” and “my body, my choice.” But the same state enforces a 6-week abortion ban. Coincidence? In this episode, I break down: • The data showing vaccine exemptions at an all-time high (3.6% nationally, 15% in Idaho) • How Christian nationalism…
Mike discusses Florida’s decision to remove school vaccine mandates, highlighting the intertwining of religion and politics that aggravates vaccine hesitancy. The episode reveals how political identity misrepresents genuine faith, impacting public health and children’s safety. It critiques the hypocrisy of “my body, my choice” rhetoric amid strict abortion regulations.
What do you say to someone who is dying when you don’t believe in heaven or an afterlife? In this clip, we share honest and deeply personal stories about loss, grief, and finding comfort without faith. From listening more and talking less, to valuing memories over promises of eternity, our panel explores what compassion looks…
What does “sin” mean outside religion? In this discussion, atheists explore how morality, ethics, and human well-being replace the concept of sin. From cultural norms to abuse scandals in churches, the panel digs into how the word is used as control, how forgiveness is weaponized, and why secular ethics may offer a clearer path to…
This episode examines prayer from a psychological rather than theological perspective. While prayer doesn’t produce supernatural results, it does provide genuine benefits through mechanisms like structured self-reflection, ritual comfort, and social connection. We explore the placebo effect in religious practice, the neuroscience of repetitive ritual, and why understanding prayer’s natural benefits doesn’t require dismissing its…
