Conversations That Matter

Jon Harris

Christian, Traditional, Masculine

  1. 1 day ago

    Why Christians Should Vote Republican in the Midterms

    The 2026 midterms are approaching, and there is growing pressure on conservatives to sit out elections, reject Republican candidates, or pursue some kind of political accelerationism because Republicans have not accomplished everything conservatives hoped they would. In this episode of Conversations That Matter, I make the case for why Christian conservatives should generally vote Republican in the midterms, while also explaining why voting is not a substitute for the much more important work of Christian discipleship and social renewal. The key distinction is between practical politics and pragmatism. Pragmatism means changing your moral standards to achieve a desired political outcome. Practical judgment means recognizing the political circumstances you actually inhabit and using the tools available to you without changing your moral convictions. As I argue in the episode, morality does not change, but political circumstances and available options do. I also discuss the temptation to abandon the Republican Party because it is imperfect, the dangers of accelerationism, what the experience of Europe can teach us, my own decision not to vote for Donald Trump in 2016, and why that calculation would be different in a competitive state. Finally, I look at what the Trump administration and the MAGA movement have actually accomplished on issues including immigration, DEI, abortion, and foreign policy, and argue that conservatives should consider whether to build on those gains rather than simply destroy the political apparatus because it has not delivered everything they wanted. The question is not whether Republicans are perfect. The question is what political options actually exist, what can be accomplished through them, and how Christians should exercise stewardship in the circumstances God has given us. 00:00 The Midterm Question 01:05 Voting Is Not Social Renewal 03:00 What Political Options Do We Actually Have? 05:45 Practical Politics vs. Pragmatism 09:00 The Problem With Accelerationism 10:25 Why Build on MAGA? 16:00 Stewardship and Imperfect Political Options 25:45 What Has MAGA Actually Accomplished? Jon's Music: jonharristunes.com To Support the Podcast:  https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/ Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@jonharris  Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989 Follow Jon on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  2. 3 days ago

    Did Covenant College Put Woke Away?

    In this episode of Conversations That Matter, I examine the Presbyterian Church in America, Covenant College, and the broader question of whether Christian institutions are actually moving away from the ideas associated with the social justice movement or simply giving them new names. I begin with several pieces of evangelical news, including the latest Southern Baptist compensation data for pastors and staff, the PCA's decision concerning Burke Parsons, and a complaint involving the Missouri Presbytery and the ordination of a same-sex-attracted man. The main discussion concerns Covenant College's revised curriculum. Covenant has defended its approach as Christian, while critics such as Joe Rigney have questioned whether courses emphasizing diversity, cultural perspectives, identity, and critical theory represent genuine reform or continued ideological drift. I look at the curriculum, faculty, and the ideas being presented to students, while also acknowledging that Covenant has good professors and that not every course or professor should be painted with the same brush. The central question is more basic: What direction is the institution going? I also explain why Christians should be able to learn from other cultures without adopting the assumption that Western civilization requires a special set of alternative perspectives in order to recognize its own moral deficiencies. The Christian has Scripture, the church, and a long Christian intellectual tradition through which to evaluate his own civilization. 00:00 Why Christian Institutions Matter 04:08 The SBC’s Changing Pastor Compensation 10:16 Burke Parsons and the PCA Judicial Process 12:49 Same-Sex Attraction and Missouri Presbytery 14:15 Are Christian Universities Reversing Mission Drift? 17:49 Covenant College Changes Its Core Curriculum 20:16 Did Covenant College Put Woke Away? 24:30 Why Direction Matters More Than Individual Professors 29:44 The Evidence of Social Justice Thinking 42:15 Personnel Is Policy 50:12 How Social Justice Can Threaten the Gospel 54:58 Western Civilization, Diversity, and Critical Theory Jon's Music: jonharristunes.com To Support the Podcast:  https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/ Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@jonharris  Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989 Follow Jon on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  3. 5 days ago

    News Roundup: The Politics of Race, Immigration, and Civilizational Identity

    In this news roundup, I look at the controversy surrounding H-1B visas, the viral University of Texas football footage, and the argument over immigration, assimilation, race, culture, and the future of American identity. I also revisit the Lindsay Clancy jury and what the case reveals about the way people increasingly interpret moral questions through racial categories. Then we get to Tucker Carlson and Abdul El-Sayed. What does it mean when prominent figures on the Right begin backing or defending political positions that would seem completely at odds with the Republican coalition? Is the Right actually beginning to converge with the Left on some of the most important questions facing the country? I also discuss Christian persecution in China, the question of Islam and Western civilization, surrogacy and the changing meaning of family, and some genuinely encouraging stories about American courage and education. The goal is not simply to react to the news. It is to step back, understand what is happening, and ask what these stories mean for Christians, conservatives, and the future of America. 00:00 Intro: The Hammer of Reality 03:41 The H-1B Debate Explodes 21:03 The Lindsay Clancy Jury 27:22 Race, Morality, and Civilizational Identity 48:13 Tucker Carlson and Abdul El-Sayed 58:33 El-Sayed, 9/11, and the Michigan Senate Race 1:02:33 A Test for Right-Wing Media 1:06:11 Christian Persecution in China 1:08:04 Islam and the West 1:11:05 Surrogacy, Family, and the Future 1:14:10 American Courage and the Good News Jon's Music: jonharristunes.com To Support the Podcast:  https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/ Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@jonharris  Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989 Follow Jon on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  4. 11 Sept

    25 Years After 9/11: What Happened to America?

    Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, what has happened to the country that came together in the aftermath of the attacks? In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris reflects on his memories of 9/11 as a twelve-year-old living north of New York City, the fear and patriotism that followed, and the way the attacks transformed American politics and culture. He discusses the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the growth of the surveillance state, declining trust in government and other institutions, immigration and changing demographics, the rise of political cynicism, and the way Americans came to view their own history and institutions differently. But the episode is ultimately about more than 9/11. Harris argues that recovering a healthy American identity requires more than nostalgia. It requires personal responsibility, strong families, local and national identity, functioning institutions, and a genuine Christian faith. The country came together after 9/11, but cultural unity based only on emotion could not last. The deeper question is whether Americans can recover the convictions and institutions necessary to hold a nation together. Chapters: 0:00 Remembering 9/11 1:03 The morning America was attacked 3:47 Realizing we were under attack 5:27 The patriotism after 9/11 8:52 The post-9/11 political narrative 10:56 Iraq, Afghanistan, and the loss of trust 12:51 The surveillance state and changing America 18:42 The rise of political cynicism 23:25 How do we get out of this? 27:09 Christianity, identity, and America 28:48 Remembering the unity after 9/11 29:57 What we should teach our children Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  5. 9 Sept

    Is the West Dying Out? The Demographic Crisis Explained

    Are white people really dying out? Is the West facing demographic collapse? And why are birth rates falling throughout the developed world? In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris is joined by statistician William M. Briggs to examine the numbers behind population decline, fertility rates, demographic change, and the future of Western civilization. William Briggs discusses his experience in academia, supporting Donald Trump in 2016, and eventually being canceled by Cornell. The conversation then turns to one of the most important questions facing the modern world: Why are people having fewer children? The discussion covers feminism and equality, housing and economic pressures, immigration, aging populations, technology, religion, pornography, online life, Israel's comparatively high fertility rate, Christianity, and the ways bad science can distort public understanding of environmental and medical threats. Are falling birth rates primarily the result of environmental factors, or are people simply making different decisions about marriage and children? And will humanity eventually return to higher fertility rates? Join the conversation. Follow William M. Briggs and read his work at WMBriggs.com. Support Conversations That Matter and stay connected with Jon Harris at JonHarrisMedia.com. 00:00 Introduction and Meet William M. Briggs 01:10 Supporting Trump and Being Canceled by Cornell 05:30 Can Conservatives Still Survive Academia? 09:00 Are White People and Europeans Dying Out? 11:30 Why Are Birth Rates Falling? 14:00 The ICU Theory: Population, Housing, and Economics 17:30 Understanding Fertility Rates and Demographic Data 24:30 Feminism, Sexual Behavior, and Population Decline 29:00 Will Fertility Rates Eventually Recover? 33:00 Technology, Online Life, and the Future of Human Relationships 36:00 Israel, Religion, and Higher Birth Rates 41:00 Environmental Causes and Bad Science 49:00 Christianity, Reality, and the Future of Civilization 52:00 Government Policy, Safety Culture, and Having Children 55:00 Final Thoughts Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  6. 8 Sept

    News Roundup: Christian Persecution, Online Right Liabilities, & Vance a Socialist?

    In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris tackles a wide-ranging news roundup touching on Christian persecution, the future of the American right, immigration, Islam, JD Vance, and the growing tensions within conservative politics. Jon begins with the 2026 Open Doors World Watch List and the persecution of Christians around the world, with particular attention to Nigeria and the question of how Christians in America should think about helping persecuted believers while also maintaining responsible immigration and government policy. He then turns to the American right and the growing divide between competing factions, including the tensions surrounding JD Vance, Tucker Carlson, Israel, nationalism, and the future direction of the Republican Party. Jon also examines criticism of JD Vance's proposal to expand federal childcare assistance to married families with a stay-at-home parent. Is the proposal socialism? Jon argues that the more fundamental question is what conservatives should do when government programs already exist. The episode also explores the online right, evangelical institutions, woke ideology, social justice, American identity, and the importance of recovering a more grounded understanding of virtue, family, and national responsibility. Topics include: • Christian persecution and the 2026 World Watch List • Nigeria and persecuted Christians • Immigration and refugee policy • Islam and Western civilization • JD Vance and the future of the Republican Party • Tucker Carlson and the online right • Israel, nationalism, and competing factions on the right • JD Vance's stay-at-home parent childcare proposal • Socialism and the role of government • Woke ideology and evangelical institutions • American identity and recovering virtue virtueconference.com Jon's Music: jonharristunes.com To Support the Podcast:  https://www.jonharrismedia.com/support/ Become a Patron https://www.patreon.com/jonharrispodcast Substack: https://substack.com/@jonharris  Follow Jon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonharris1989 Follow Jon on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jonharris1989/ 00:00 — News Roundup: What We Are Talking About Today 02:46 — Restoring Virtue: Why Some Conferences Should Stay Offline 06:22 — Christian Persecution Around the World 09:18 — Nigeria and the Reality of Christian Persecution 12:02 — Should America Help Persecuted Christians? 16:01 — ETP Coffee and Supporting Persecuted Christians 17:10 — Islam, Immigration, and Western Civilization 23:46 — 25 Years After 9/11: How America Thinks About Islam 24:00 — Woke Virginia and the Fight Over American Monuments 28:40 — The Online Right and the Loss of American Identity 01:16:32 — Is JD Vance a Socialist? 01:17:05 — Stay-at-Home Moms and the $12 Billion Childcare Fund 01:21:49 — The Political Future of the Right Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  7. 3 Sept

    The Lindsay Clancy Case and the Crisis of Empathy

    What is happening to American women? In this episode of Conversations That Matter, Jon Harris sits down with Bethany Miller to discuss the Lindsay Clancy case, toxic empathy, social media, the radicalization of Gen Z, and the growing divide between young men and women. The conversation begins with the surprising public response to the Lindsay Clancy trial and asks a larger question: Why are so many people responding to serious moral questions through identification, victimhood, and emotional narratives rather than evidence and accountability? Bethany explains how TikTok, Instagram, entertainment, and online communities can reinforce these narratives by rewarding emotional identification and simplifying complicated questions. The discussion then broadens to the way our culture has learned to humanize villains, tear down heroes, and increasingly interpret reality through ideological and online communities. But the conversation does not stop with women. Jon and Bethany also discuss the radicalization of some young men, the manosphere, political resentment, dating expectations, and the difficulty Gen Z faces in forming healthy relationships. Both sides of the political spectrum can fall into the same trap: taking legitimate frustrations and allowing them to become an excuse for bitterness, isolation, or extremism. The episode ultimately turns toward a more constructive question: How can young men and women actually build healthy marriages and families? That means having difficult conversations while dating, looking for character and resilience rather than simply checking boxes, staying grounded in reality, and refusing to let the internet define the opposite sex for us. The conversation also considers the importance of fathers, family formation, and God's providence. This is a conversation about women, men, social media, dating, family, politics, and the cultural forces shaping the next generation. #GenZ #Dating #Christianity #Culture #ToxicEmpathy 00:00 — What Happened to Gen Z Women? 01:30 — From Theology to Politics and Media 04:00 — The Lindsay Clancy Case 06:00 — How TikTok Created a Narrative 13:00 — Toxic Empathy and Victimhood 17:00 — Why We Humanize Villains 20:30 — The Radicalization of Young Men and Women 28:30 — The Gen Z Dating Crisis 46:30 — Providence, Marriage, and Finding Reality 52:00 — Fathers, Family, and Raising Resilient Children Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  8. 2 Sept

    The Rise of the Online Right with Scott Greer

    Scott Greer joins Conversations That Matter to explain the rise of the online right and how it transformed American conservatism. Drawing from his new book White Pill: The Online Right and the Making of Trump's America, Greer walks through the history of the alt-right, the rise of Donald Trump, the influence of Tucker Carlson and Charlie Kirk, the political upheavals of 2020, and the growing influence of online-right ideas within mainstream conservatism. We also discuss why young conservatives became dissatisfied with the old conservative establishment, the importance of immigration and demographic change, the evolution from the alt-right to the dissident right, the relationship between Christianity and the online right, and whether this movement ultimately strengthens or undermines the American right. Greer argues that the online right has brought new energy to conservatism and made ideas more appealing to young people, while also warning about the disconnect that can develop between online political culture and ordinary Americans. 00:00 — The Rise of the Online Right 03:25 — How Scott Greer Entered Conservative Politics 05:25 — How Tucker Carlson Changed the Right 08:05 — Charlie Kirk and the Griper War 09:50 — Why 2020 Radicalized Conservatives 12:45 — Where the Alt-Right Came From 18:25 — Alt-Right, Dissident Right, and the Trump Movement 30:25 — How the Online Right Transformed Conservatism 40:00 — Christianity and the Online Right 53:40 — The Negative and Positive Sides of the Online Right Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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Christian, Traditional, Masculine

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