Trump’s Rage Erupts over War Failures as Pope’s Harsh Rebuke Hits Hard

Donald Trump has made furious threats against Iran over the still-closed Strait of Hormuz, promising to potentially bomb power and desalination plants. Indeed, Trump is threatening to commit war crimes because of his own failure to anticipate the closure of the strait. It comes after Pete Hegseth published a widely criticized prayer asking for God’s help in the “crushing” violence against Iran, which Pope Leo has now strongly rebuked. It’s revealing. Because, as religion scholar Sarah Posner explains in today’s episode, the bloodlust driving this war effort is in many ways the product of extreme theology: in particular, Hegseth’s Christian reconstructionism. Installerwho hosts the excellent Reign of Error podcast, takes us through these extreme theological ideas, explains the deeper roots of Hegseth-Trump-MAGA sadism toward perceived “enemies,” and details the hidden reasons why criticism of the Pope really matters.. Listen to this episode here.