Matt and Sam discuss the passing of Pope Francis and what his papacy meant (to us and to the world), why he scandalized the Catholic right, and why his message feels so necessary and so far away.
Oct 19
Islamophobia in America, Then and Now (w/ Rozina Ali)
In this episode, we're joined by Rozina Ali for a conversation about Seasons of Fury, her new book about the rise, persistence, and changing contours of Islamophobia in the United States, a story she tells through the lives of four very different American families. It's an elegan ... Show More
1h 27m
Oct 5
The Post-MAGA Midterms? (w/ David Weigel)
Dave Weigel is a longtime favorite political reporter of ours—someone we've both read for years, and find unusually unblinkered by partisan loyalties—so we couldn't think of a better guide to the 2026 midterms elections than him. What everyone knows is that, right now, polls show ... Show More
1h 28m
May 2025
WOF 488: The Legacy of Pope Francis
<p>Pope Francis passed away at the age of eighty-eight on Easter Monday. He was the first pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit pope, and the first pope to take the name "Francis," after St. Francis of Assisi. What stood out in his twelve-year pontificate? How does his papacy ... Show More
35m 59s
Apr 2025
Can the Catholic Church Quit the Culture Wars?
<p>On this episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross Douthat is joined by the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and an editor of America Magazine, to reflect on the legacy of Pope Francis and the challenges facing the next papacy.</p><ul><li>02:20 The First Jesuit Pope</li><li>05:23 ... Show More
57m 42s
Apr 2025
How Pope Francis Changed the Catholic Church
<p>Church bells rang out across the world on Monday to mark the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88.</p><p>Jason Horowitz, the Rome bureau chief at The New York Times, discusses the pope’s push to change the church, his bitter clashes with traditionalists, and what his papacy ... Show More
39m 20s