The Common Good Podcast

Trump Has Gone Full Mob Boss

Trump Has Gone Full Mob Boss and  Acts Like a Don

Trump isn’t just bending the rules anymore — he’s desteroying them for his own benefit, and daring anyone to stop him. On this episode of Common Good, Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse dig into what happens when the most powerful office in the world gets treated like a family business and a protection racket rolled into one.

We’re talking about a president who has turned the federal budget into a personal slush fund, steered contracts and influence toward his family and allies, and governed with the kind of impunity that used to be reserved for the untouchable. This isn’t politics as usual. This is something different — and it deserves to be named clearly.

From the deals that benefit Trump Tower to the policy moves that pad the pockets of people closest to him, the pattern is impossible to ignore. The mob boss doesn’t need to break the law if he gets to write it. And right now, he’s writing a lot of it.

Doug and Robb don’t pull punches on this one. If you’ve been feeling the weight of what’s happening and wondering whether anyone is willing to say it out loud — this episode is for you. We believe government should serve people, not enrich the powerful. We believe the common good is worth fighting for. And we believe the first step is telling the truth about what we’re actually dealing with.

Listen. Share. And pass it along to someone who needs to hear it.

The Trump Buffoonery Continues to Damage America

From Iran to Voting, to Ballrooms and Cosplay Religious Dedications, to Dismantling Essential American Promises, this administration's cruelty and buffoonery are devastating America at home and around the world. 

We The People, are the response. 

We talk about it all today on the Common Good Podcast. 

Trump is a Broken Man Breaking a Nation

In this episode of The Common Good, host Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse dive into a difficult but necessary conversation: the profound internal brokenness of Donald Trump and how that personal fracture is manifesting as a national crisis.
For years, we have analyzed the policies, the tweets, and the political maneuvers. But today, we look deeper. We explore the idea that the chaos we see in our streets, our courtrooms, and our communities is a direct reflection of a leader whose own character is defined by a lack of empathy, a disregard for truth, and an insatiable need for self-preservation.
When a leader is unable to model wholeness, the nation they lead begins to splinter.
Inside the Conversation:
• The Anatomy of Brokenness: Why Donald Trump’s personal character isn't just a "private matter," but a public health hazard for our democracy.
• Mirroring the Chaos: How a presidency built on grievance and division trains a citizenry to treat one another with the same hostility.
• The Moral Reckoning: Why people of faith and conscience must move beyond "lesser of two evils" thinking to demand leaders who are fundamentally whole.
• Pathways to Healing: If the nation is breaking because the leadership is broken, how do we begin the work of repair from the ground up?
The "Common Good" isn't just a political goal; it’s a spiritual and social necessity. Join Doug and Robb as they unpack why America’s recovery depends on moving past the era of the broken man and toward a future of shared integrity.

THE ANSWER IS NOT BALLROOM

Common Good Podcast 

Alex Wagner Podcast talks with Doug Pagitt

Doug Pagitt was a guest on Runaway Nation, hosted by Alex Wagner. 

They talked about Trump and faith voters. 

 

America Turn Against Rump's Corruption

Corruption vs. The Common Good The tide is turning. This week, Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse dive into why more Americans are walking away from the Trump administration’s "loyalty over law" culture. It’s not just politics—it’s a moral reckoning. Why the shift? • The "Easter Miracle" Narrative: Calling aggressive military moves "divine acts" is backfiring with voters of faith. • Pay-to-Play Politics: From the DOJ to global trade, the line between public service and personal profit has vanished. • The Resistance Surge: State leaders and former allies are finally saying "enough" to federal overreach. Listen now and join the movement to put the Common Good over corruption.

Trump Called AntiChrist By His Own Followers

So this is how it ends for Trump. 
Robb Ryerse and Doug Pagitt talked about it all. 

Trump's Easter Message Drives Away the Faithful.

On this episode of the Vote Common Good podcast, Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse unpack one of the most jarring Easter messages ever delivered by an American president.

 

Instead of a message of peace, Donald Trump used Easter morning to issue a profanity-laced threat against Iran—warning of attacks on power plants and infrastructure and declaring the country would be “living in Hell” if it didn’t comply with U.S. demands. He even ended the message with the phrase “Praise be to Allah,” adding to the confusion and controversy.  

 

Throughout Easter weekend, Trump and members of his administration framed military actions in explicitly religious terms—calling a rescue mission an “Easter miracle” and invoking faith language to justify war.  

 

Doug and Robb ask the deeper questions:

•What happens when religious language is used to justify violence?

•How are people of faith responding—including some of Trump’s own allies?

•And what does this moment reveal about leadership, morality, and the future of the country?

 

This conversation connects Trump’s Easter message to a broader pattern—escalating threats, blurred lines between faith and nationalism, and a presidency increasingly defined by chaos, contradiction, and crisis

Trump's Worst Week - Iran, No Kings, Pastor Wanted Talarico Crucified

Trump's Worst Week - Iran, No Kings, Pastor Wanted Talarico Crucified 

Missiles flying. Markets shaking. Corruption rising - Trump's America

Missiles flying.
Markets shaking.
Corruption rising.
Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse connect the dots on Trump’s Iran war, the economy, and the cost of it all.

Monday Special - Common Good Podcast

Due to schedule issues, we recorded on Monday this week.

Trump's disastrous policies and decisions are moving record numbers of people away from him and the Republican Party.
Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse take a Common Good look at the terrible, awful, no good last week in Trump's America.   

Listening To Those Who Left MAGA

One Betrayal Too Many is the title of Rich Logis autobiography of being a MAGA star and then leaving. It is also the experience of millions of people in the United States today.

We hear Rich's story and about his book today. 

www.LeavingMAGA.org

Trump's Biggest Lies Are To Himself

Trump’s biggest lies are to himself.
These lies then come out of his mouth and the country has to respond. 
From claims about the economy and the war in Iram, to Gaza and Israel; to the 2020 election and the Epstein files, Donald Trump’s repeated lies and self-deception continue to shape public life in the United States.

In this episode, Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse talk about how these self-reinforcing claims impact our politics, our shared understanding of truth, and the health of our democracy. When leaders repeat a narrative often enough, it can become its own reality—with consequences for the entire country.

But this conversation is not only about critique. It’s about responsibility. Together they ask what people of faith and conscience are called to do in a moment when truth is contested and grievance dominates the public square.

Join Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse as they name the moment we’re in—and call us again toward the Common Good.

Trump's Crazy Armageddon War

Trump attacks Iran to "spark the return of Jesus," according to Military Generals.
This Ill-fated military action damages all involved. 
The complete dangerous clown show of this administration puts us all at risk.  

Olympic Level Disastrous Administration

On this week’s podcast, we dive into what can only be described as an Olympic-level disaster for the Trump administration. We’ll unpack how his officials embarrassed themselves on the global stage at the Olympics, with behavior that raised eyebrows worldwide. Meanwhile, his immigration policy decisions stirred outrage at home, leaving families in limbo and tensions high. And we can’t ignore the economic front—jobs are lagging, markets are unsteady, and confidence is slipping. We’ll break down this perfect storm and what it means moving forward.

Good Bunny, Bad President, Immoral ICE and the Common Good Call

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 

A Christian Response to ICE in Minneapolis

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

Live from Mpls, Dems win in Texas, ICE & Epstein Files Update

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 itself.
We also unpack the latest developments around the Epstein files and the growing questions about accountability, transparency, and power in America.
Hosted by Doug Pagitt and Robb Ryerse, this live conversation connects the headlines to deeper moral questions about justice, truth, and the common good.
Live, timely, and unfiltered—join us.

Joined by an Eye Witness of Alex Pretti just before he was killed

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 leading up to the shooting, and how her footage has been part of the public record challenging official narratives. 
In addition, we’ll dig into the broader context of what’s happening in Minneapolis with ICE and Border Patrol deployments, including the local political and social backlash, community responses, and ongoing protests against aggressive federal immigration enforcement — especially in light of multiple fatal encounters in recent weeks. 
🚨 Whether you’re tuning in on podcast platforms or joining the livestream, this conversation is about accountability, community safety, and the urgent need for public awareness around what’s unfolding in Minnesota and across the country.
Don’t miss it — live engagement welcomed.

Trump's Dangerous, Ineptitude Hurts Us All

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 local communities, the pattern is hard to ignore: reckless actions with real-world consequences.
Doug and Robb talk about how foreign policy bravado turns into global instability, how prosecutions and military power are being dangerously blurred, and why states are now pushing back against federal overreach. But this conversation doesn’t stop at diagnosis.
A central focus of the episode is what Democrats, people of faith, and values-driven citizens can actually do right now — how moral leadership matters in moments like this, how faith communities can organize, speak clearly, and resist fear, and why civic engagement rooted in compassion and courage is essential when institutions are being tested.
This isn’t partisan outrage or performative anger. It’s a grounded, faith-informed conversation about responsibility, resistance, and the work required to protect democracy and the common good.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the chaos — or wondering where your voice fits — this episode is for you.
👉 Like, subscribe, and share — because the common good only survives when people of conscience show up.