Buckle up, folks! Today’s episode is a wild ride through the messiest, juiciest conversations about church, politics, and global trade, served with a side of satire and a sprinkle of smirk. Former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to the Vatican Joe Donnelly dropping truth bombs about the Catholic Church’s dance with politics.

But there’s more! Washington Post financial journalist David J. Lynch hoins Heidi and Joel to help you navigate the murky waters of AI, tariffs, and global instability with razor-sharp wit. Lynch’s new book, The World’s Worst Bet: How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong (And What Would Make It Right), addresses rise and fall of the greatest engine of prosperity the world has ever known.

Lynch explains why global trade prosperity is failing to benefit Americans and what we can do to change it.

In this episode:

• Joe Donnelly roasts the U.S. President for his AI Jesus and Pope-bashing antics
• The Catholic bishops’ role in American politics, and why their message hits a nerve
• How Trump’s AI-generated image depicting him as Jesus is sparking international outrage, and should make us all uncomfortable
• The domino effect of tariffs, trade wars, and the broken promises to rural America
• The strategic disaster of ignoring Congress in decisions about war, and why even Senate insiders are throwing in the towel
• Why globalized trade isn't a magic potion for economic prosperity
• The urgent need to rethink safety nets as AI and economic inequality threaten to wipe out the middle class

Resources & Links:

• The World’s Worst Bet: How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong
• Washington Post – David Lynch

Connect with David J. Lynch:

• Bluesky

And remember: When it comes to faith, trade, and technology—sometimes the truth is too bizarre for fiction. Thanks for tuning in to the Hot Dish: the political casserole your grandma would be proud of, served up with a side of sass.

The Hot Dish is brought to you by the One Country Project. To learn more, visit OneCountryProject.org, or find us on Substack (Onecountryproject.substack.com), and on YouTube, Bluesky, and Facebook (@onecountryproject).

• (00:00) - Joel and Heidi speak with Joe Donnelly about Trump versus the Pope
• (25:16) - Introduction to Globalization and Its Impact
• (28:14) - The Consequences of NAFTA and Trade Policies
• (30:55) - Political Ramifications of Globalization
• (34:00) - The Effects of Tariffs on American Workers
• (36:52) - Trust and Credibility in International Trade
• (39:58) - The Future of Globalization and AI
• (42:51) - Addressing the Challenges Ahead