The Common Good Podcast

We talk about the most disturbing and the most hopeful aspects of our life in America today.  From Good Bunny, Bad President, Immoral ICE and the Common Good Call 

Doug Pagitt's sermon from February 8, 2026 at Grace-Trinity Church in Minneapolis. 

Live from Minneapolis, the Common Good Podcast digs into a fast-moving political moment. We break down the surprise Democratic wins in Texas and what they signal about shifting voter energy heading into 2026. Then we turn to urgent updates on ICE activity in Minneapolis and beyond—what’s happening on the ground, what’s changing, and why it matters for communities, faith leaders, and democracy itse...

Jessie Schroeder-Craddock recorded the video of Alex Pretti just moments before he was killed by ICE/Border Patrol officers in Minneapolis . He is our guest on the Common Good Podcast. This harrowing moment that has sparked nationwide outrage and critical questions about federal immigration enforcement and civil liberties.  We’ll hear directly from Jessie about what he witnessed, the moments leadi...

This week on the Common Good Podcast, Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse break down what can only be described as dangerously inept leadership — and why it’s no longer just embarrassing, but genuinely dangerous. From Trump once again floating the idea of taking Greenland, to escalating chaos around Venezuela, to an aggressive expansion of ICE enforcement that’s already triggering lawsuits and fear in loc...

What role should faith play in a pluralistic democracy?  Vote Common Good is hosting an online conversation for faith leaders to reflect deeply on the relationship between faith, political power, and democratic responsibility. As religious nationalism and Christian nationalism continue to shape public life, this gathering creates space for thoughtful, non-partisan engagement rather than sound bite...

The Common Good Podcast — Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse sit down for a sobering, urgent conversation about power, fear, and what it means to protect democracy in dangerous times. They discuss the Trump administration’s decision to send masked federal agents into American cities like Minneapolis—actions that blur the line between law enforcement and intimidation, and that have already resulted in the...

Doug and Robb make their 2026 political predictions.  Including a bonus about Trump and Venezuela. 

2025 A Nightmare Year in Review & The Brave Responses On this episode of The Common Good Podcast, Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse reflect on what this year reveals, what it has cost the country, and why people committed to democracy, faith, and the common good cannot look away. This year unfolded as a steady reminder of how damaging the Trump administration has been to democracy, human dignity, an...

In this episode, with Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse , we dive into the shocking and disturbing details surrounding the latest Epstein file release.   Newly surfaced documents include a deeply troubling letter from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar , raising urgent questions about power, protection, and the systems that allowed abuse to persist for so long. Doug and Robb unpack what’s actually known, w...

In this video, Doug Pagitt of Vote Common Good is joined by Rev. Lori Walke for a conversation about the context, urgency, and lived experiences behind their recent Guardian op-ed, “We’re pastors. The fight against MAGA Christianity starts locally.”   🗣️ What They Discuss Doug Pagitt and Rev. Lori Walke reflect on: •Why they felt compelled, as pastors, to write this op-ed together •How MAGA Christ...

In moments of national crisis, leadership is revealed—not by strength of ego, but by depth of empathy. In this episode of The Common Good Podcast, Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse discuss Donald Trump’s repeated inability to lead during moments of struggle and tragedy. From public disasters to personal suffering, we examine how a lack of empathy and a pattern of narcissistic behavior undermine the basi...

In this week’s episode, Doug and Robb dig into one of the most alarming stretches of the Trump presidency so far. From Trump’s dehumanizing attacks on Somali immigrants to a pair of lethal boat strikes in the Caribbean now raising war-crime concerns, the administration is leaning hard on fear and force while dodging accountability. We unpack Trump’s attempt to seize more control over immigration j...

What happens when a presidential administration treats law as optional and accountability as a threat? In this episode, we take a clear-eyed, fact-based look at the cascading legal, moral, and political crises emerging from the Trump Administration in 2025. Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse break down the three arenas where these dangers are most urgent: 🔹 State Crime – The misuse of government power,...

In this episode of The Common Good Podcast, we dig into the documented scandals and alleged corruption that defined the Trump administration and why so many Americans see this moment as unprecedented in modern political history. We reflect on what these past years have revealed about our democracy, the stakes of integrity in public office, and why the coming election represents a critical opportun...

In today’s episode of the Common Good Podcast, Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse dig into the growing rift inside MAGA world — the public break between Marjorie Taylor Greene and Donald Trump. What does this split really mean? Why is it happening now? And how does it fit into the larger pattern of Republicans, conservatives, and former loyalists quietly (and not-so-quietly) backing away from Trump as hi...

This is The Common Good Podcast — where faith, politics, and the fight for the soul of our country come together. With Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse talking about the rising resistance to the MAGA movement — a resistance that’s growing stronger in every corner of society. Now that the shutdown is finally over and we’re less than a year from the midterm elections, the opposition to Donald Trump and h...

Voters sent a clear message in yesterday’s elections: Trumpism is losing its grip, and Democrats have the wind at their backs. In this episode of Good Politics, Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse break down the results, the trends, and the growing movement of voters choosing hope, compassion, and democracy over fear, lies, and extremism. From local races to national momentum, we’re seeing a turning tide...

Author and scholar Holly Berkley Fletcher joins Doug Pagitt to discuss her new book The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism. Together, they explore how the experiences of missionary kids reveal deeper truths about faith, power, race, and identity within the evangelical movement. A thoughtful conversation about the cost of calling, the myth of multiculturalism, and what hon...

In this episode, we talk about what’s happening right now in America — prices for everyday essentials like gas, groceries, and housing have gone up since last year, and Donald Trump is doing nothing to help everyday Americans. Instead, he’s busy tearing down not only the East Wing of the White House in his bizarre plans, but also the foundations of democracy itself. But there’s hope. A growing num...

Donald Trump isn’t just the president — he’s trolling the American people. In this episode, the Common Good Podcast team unpacks how Trump uses mockery, memes, and AI-generated videos to dehumanize and divide. From calling fellow citizens “enemies” to posting disturbing digital fantasies of violence, Trump turns cruelty into spectacle — and spectacle into power. We explore what this means for our...

What does it mean to live in Donald Trump’s delusions about what America is and should be—especially as people of faith? He calls our cities “hellholes,” treats political opponents as enemies, and talks about Gaza with no regard for human life. These aren’t just political statements—they reveal a worldview of fear, resentment, and revenge. Join Vote Common Good's Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse for a...

Donald Trump recently said people should “prove to God you are good enough to go to that next step.” His childish and immature understanding of goodness and morality shows that being 79 years old doesn’t necessarily mean having the maturity of an adult — sometimes it’s closer to that of a 7-year-old boy. This kind of moral immaturity puts our nation at risk in profound ways. In this episode of the...

On this episode of The Common Good Podcast, Doug Pagitt talks with Brian Recker, author of the new book Hellbent: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love. Brian, a former evangelical pastor, takes us inside his journey of questioning one of Christianity’s most entrenched doctrines — the idea of eternal damnation. He argues that the fear of hell has distorted Christia...

Welcome to the Common Good Podcast. In this episode, Doug Pagitt sits down with Father Pete Nunnally, an Episcopal priest, writer, and visionary leader behind the new Water and Wilderness Church. Together they dive into Pete’s forthcoming book, Catching Hope, which offers a fresh vision of faith rooted in renewal, resilience, and community. Their conversation explores not only Pete’s personal jour...