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Providence's Editor-in-Chief Mark Tooley is joined by Paul D. Miller, professor of the practice of international affairs at Georgetown University and Providence's new Managing Editor, to reflect on the history of Providence, including why Providence was founded and the intellectual forebears of the Christian realism Providence seeks to promote.  Companion pieces:  1. Paul D. Miller, "Providence's Next Chapter," Providence, September 21, 2026, https://providencemag.com/2026/09/providences-next-chapter/. 2. Paul D. Miller, "Ten Years Without Conservative Internationalism," Providence, October 26, 2026, https://providencemag.com/2026/10/ten-years-without-conservative-internationalism/

Providence Managing Editor James Diddams is joined by James Baird, a pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Naples, Florida, to discuss Baird's new book, King of Kings: A Reformed Guide to Christian Government. The central argument of King of Kings is built around a simple syllogism:  First Premise: Government must promote the public good. Second Premise: As the only true religion, Christianity is part of the public good. Conclusion: Government must promote Christianity as the only true religion. Baird and Diddams explore the nuances of what it means for the government to promote the public good, as understood today and at the founding, and how Christianity informs our conception of the public good. What is the "postwar consensus" about religion and public life and how has it shaped the idea of a neutral public square? If it is true that the government should promote Christianity, and if so what does that look like? And what about the rights of religious minorities?  Jameses Baird and Diddams explore all of these questions and more on the latest Provcast.  Articles referenced:  *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:e11e052c-8e59-457a-9061-7930d0b5b33d-6" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:e11e052c-8e59-457a-9061-7930d0b5b33d-6" data-testid= "conversation-turn-14" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> Abbotoy, Josh. "Is a Protestant Franco Inevitable?" First Things, October 6, 2023. https://firstthings.com/is-a-protestant-franco-inevitable/. Crutchley, Jesse. "King David and the Magistrate's Role in Promoting True Religion." Providence, December 12, 2025. https://providencemag.com/2025/12/king-david-and-the-magistrates-role-in-promoting-true-religion-1/ Diddams, James. "Bari Weiss or Protestant Franco: Which Way, Western Man?" First Things, September 23, 2025. https://firstthings.com/bari-weiss-or-protestant-franco-which-way-western-man/

In 2026, the phrase "integralism" as shorthand for Roman Catholics who do not believe in classical liberalism as understood through figures like John Locke, Adam Smith, and the American Founders is no longer a novelty. But over the last five or so years, another group of Christians, this time Protestants, have been expressing consternation over classical liberalism as well, instead arguing for a return to the political theology of early modern Protestant political theologians whose views, while certainly not "integralist" are also not exactly in-line with classical liberalism as commonly understood. Providence Managing Editor James Diddams and Editor-in-Chief Mark Tooley are joined by Hillsdale College history professor Daryl Hart to discuss the phenomenon of postliberal Protestantism in the USA. Articles referenced: Hart, Darryl. "Why Christian Nationalism, and Why Now?" Providence, February 3, 2026. Hart, Darryl. "Catholics Are Debating Liberalism – Are Protestants Now Too?" Providence, January 9, 2023.

Providence Managing Editor James Diddams is joined by Japan Society President & CEO Joshua Walker to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent electoral victory and what it signals for Japan's emergence as a more proactive actor in international affairs. While many Americans date U.S.-Japan relations to December 7, 1941, the relationship in fact stretches back to the 19th century, beginning with Commodore Matthew Perry's opening of Japan in 1853. Over nearly two centuries, the U.S.-Japan relationship has reflected the shifting forces of globalization, imperialism, liberalism, and democracy. As one of the most consequential bilateral relationships in the modern world, the evolution of U.S.-Japan bears examining as reflective of broader geopolitical trends heading into the middle of the 21st century. Joshua Walker's new book: Japan, Beyond the Genkan - An Insider's Guide to the Soft Power, Strong Market, and Social Harmony of America's Asian Partner Joshua Walker's newsletter: U.S.-Japan Perspectives - Exploring U.S.-Japan relations, geopolitics and culture

Why is it important for Christians to read—from the great classics to contemporary works? What does it mean to embrace a broad, liberal arts education from a Christian perspective? Providence Managing Editor James Diddams is joined by Nadya Williams—Contributing Editor at Providence, Books Editor at Mere Orthodoxy, and Interim Director of the MFA in Creative Writing at Ashland University—to explore these questions and to consider why, in an age of AI and increasingly dehumanizing technologies, reading texts that illuminate the human condition as a reflection of God may be more important than ever. Articles referenced: Nadya Williams. "A People Without Culture: What the End of Reading Truly Means." Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy, June 6, 2024. https://providencemag.com/2024/06/a-people-without-culture-what-the-end-of-reading-truly-means/. Nadya Williams. "Christopher Lasch, Plain Writing, and Democracy." Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy, July 2, 2025. https://providencemag.com/2025/07/christopher-lasch-plain-writing-and-democracy/. Nadya Williams. "To Read Is Human." Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy, September 8, 2025. https://providencemag.com/2025/09/to-read-is-human/. Nadya Williams. "The Conservative Christian Literary Ecosystem." Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy, February 17, 2026. https://providencemag.com/2026/02/the-conservative-christian-literary-ecosystem/. Nadya Williams. "'Like a Western Suit that Doesn't Fit': Shūsaku Endō, Christianity, and Japan." Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy, March 31, 2025. https://providencemag.com/2025/03/like-a-western-suit-that-doesnt-fit-shusaku-endo-christianity-and-japan/. James Diddams. "The Real Problem at Wheaton College." First Things, November 30, 2022. https://firstthings.com/the-real-problem-at-wheaton-college/

Providence editors Marc LiVecche, Mark Tooley, and Robert Nicholson are joined by Redeemer Universitry's Robert Joustra to discuss the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, nearly three weeks since the start of Operation Epic Fury on February 28th.   While there may be just cause in striking Iran, is this a prudent usage of American political capital for President Trump and for future American leaders? If the U.S. fails at regime change or significantly weakening Iran for years to come, will the U.S-Israeli campaign be counted as a failure a generation from now? Mark, Marc, Robert, and Robert discuss.

When Christians attempt to derive political principles from the New Testament absent the context of the Old Testament, the result is sloppy political theology. But why is that? Providence Magazine Managing Editor James Diddams is joined by Tim Milosch, lecturer in politics at Biola University and Providence Contributing Editor, to discuss how the moral framework of the Old Testament can help Christians better understand the teachings of Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament. In particular, Milosch and Diddams examine three major excesses in contemporary evangelical political theology: propheticism, pacifism, and cosmopolitanism. Each represents a legitimate category of political reflection that can serve an important role, but which can also become distorted when detached from the interpretive lens of the Old Testament. Milosch and Diddams also discuss how the Vietnam War contributed to a significant shift in how the Bible's message was interpreted. Articles referenced: Milosch, Tim. "Our Political Theology Shouldn't Start at Romans 13." Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy, November 2023. https://providencemag.com/2023/11/our-political-theology-shouldnt-start-at-romans-13/ Milosch, Tim. "'Jesus Christ: Refugee' and Other Fallacies in the Immigration Debate." Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy, February 2025. https://providencemag.com/2025/02/jesus-christ-refugeetm-and-other-fallacies-in-the-immigration-debate/ Milosch, Tim. "Solomon: The Archetype of a Just Ruler." Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy, May 2025. https://providencemag.com/2025/05/solomon-the-archetype-of-a-just-ruler-1/

On April 12, Viktor Orbán, Hungary's prime minister since 2010, lost his bid for reelection. To many in the United States, Orbán had become known for corruption and his pro-Putin stance within the European Union, often complicating efforts to deliver unified support to Ukraine. But beyond Hungary's role in European politics, a curious phenomenon unfolded over the past several years: the country came to be seen by some as a bastion of conservative thought in Europe, hosting American journalists and academics eager to study the "Hungarian model." How did a small Central European state, with an economy roughly the size of Oklahoma's, come to symbolize a broader conservative movement in the West? And why did so many American conservatives make pilgrimages to a place most Americans could not locate on a map? Providence Managing Editor James Diddams is joined by James Patterson, associate professor of public affairs at the Institute for American Civics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to discuss the rise and fall of Hungary as a model for the postliberal Christian right. James Patterson. "The Grand Budapest Cartel." Providence Magazine, April 15, 2026. "Is There a Catholic Plot to Overthrow the American Founding?" The Jeremy Boreing Show. April 10, 2026.

Providence Managing Editor James Diddams and Executive Editor Marc LiVecche are joined by Redeemer University Professor of Politics and International Robert Joustra to discuss Operation Epic Fury in its ethical and strategic dimensions. Can we expect to see a flowering of democracy in Iran soon as a result of President Trump's attacks on Iran's theocratic regime? Are these attacks in accordance with the tenets of Just War Theory? How will Trump cast the results of the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, both in the best and worst case scenarios? Articles referenced: Joustra, Robert. "Which Is More Durable: Iran's Regime or Trump's Commitment to Regime Change?" Providence. March 2, 2026. https://providencemag.com/2026/03/which-is-more-durable-irans-regime-or-trumps-commitment-to-regime-change/. Kosc, Jozef Andrew. "Iran's Enduring Apocalyptic Political Mythology." Providence. September 17, 2024. https://providencemag.com/2024/09/irans-enduring-apocalyptic-political-mythology/. Kosc, Jozef Andrew. "Thousands of Paper Cuts, Then a Nuclear Bomb: Georges Sorel, French Anarchism, and Iran's Revolutionary Warfighting Doctrine." Providence. October 21, 2024. https://providencemag.com/2024/10/thousands-of-paper-cuts-then-a-nuclear-bomb-georges-sorel-french-anarchism-and-irans-revolutionary-warfighting-doctrine/. Diddams, James. "Striking Iran Will Not Change the Long-term Strategic Picture—America Should Still Do It." Providence. June 19, 2025. https://providencemag.com/2025/06/striking-iran-will-not-change-the-long-term-strategic-picture-america-should-still-do-it/.

On the second anniversary of the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, the Provcrew sits down to review Donald Trump's proposal for ending the war. Although it's a good plan with significant support, many ambiguities and questions remain. Will the Arab states step up? Will the Israeli far-right bring down the Netanyahu government? And will Hamas fighters really put down their weapons? Turning closer to home, the crew then takes up the Trump Pentagon's new national defense strategy which centers on "hemispheric security" in North and South America. Is this just rhetoric for domestic politics? What does it mean for our competition with China?

(…actually, Wesley was a teetotaler so not possible.) Ladies and gentlemen, the Provcrew is at war. "Can you be a Wesleyan Protestant and a Christian realist?" The battle lines are drawn. Providence editor Mark Tooley, a Methodist Christian realist, says yes; editor at large Robert Nicholson, a non-Methodist who knows about John Wesley's optimistic theology, is skeptical. To break the deadlock, they hosted Methodist theologian and Reinhold Niebuhr scholar Robin Lovin to set the record straight. Sin, grace, anthropology, eschatology, nationalism, fascism—they got to all of it. And the outcome was surprising.

The shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk is a wakeup call for Americans of every stripe. What is happening to our society? How can we fix it—and where do we start? In a fascinating conversation with Wilfred McClay and Stuart Halpern, authors of a new book entitled The Jewish Roots of American Liberty: The Impact of Hebraic Ideas on the American Story, the Provcrew discusses the pivotal place of the Judeo-Christian heritage in US history and how we can reclaim it in troubled times. Here's the link to their book: https://www.encounterbooks.com/books/jewish-roots-american-liberty/

In a weird twist of history, the United States has spent the bulk of its diplomatic energy everywhere but its own backyard: the Western Hemisphere. President Trump has vowed to change that, wisely re-prioritizing Latin America after years of neglect, but may be undermining his chances of success with a counterproductive tariff policy that (ironically) resembles those of many failing/failed Latin American countries—at least, that's what Providence contributor Eric Farnsworth argues in his recent essay, "Is America Becoming Latin America?" In today's episode, Mr. Farnsworth defends and explains his argument, fielding questions like: Is America really becoming like Latin America, and if so how? What is the backstory of US-Latin America relations until now? What are the similarities and differences between our two cultural blocs? And why does Latin America matter to the US beyond issues of illegal migration, crime, and area denial (historically, to European empires, the USSR, and now to the Chinese Communist Party)? But Farnsworth goes further, extrapolating from the Latin America case to the world at large, showing how US trade policy can either be the backbone of a successful grand strategy or its soft underbelly, and makes some fascinating proposals for grounding an "Americas first" foreign policy in more than just domestic politics. Articles: "Is America Becoming Latin America?" by Eric Farnsworth in Providence Magazine, published August 9, 2025 - https://providencemag.com/2025/08/is-america-becoming-latin-america/ "An Americas First Foreign Policy" by Marco Rubio in The Wall Street Journal, published January 30, 2025 - https://www.wsj.com/opinion/an-americas-first-foreign-policy-secretary-of-state-rubio-writes-western-hemisphere-too-long-neglected-a81707b0?st=3nswYm&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink "In an Insecure World, Americans Should Look South" by Eric Farnsworth in Barron's, published June 18, 2024 - https://www.barrons.com/articles/latin-trade-brazil-costa-rica-chips-tech-manufacturing-trade-8769a40f "The U.S. has more in common with South America than Europe" by Sam Goldman, published published September 22, 2021 in The Week - https://theweek.com/politics/1005146/the-us-has-more-in-common-with-south-america-than-europe

In an essay commemorating the end of World War II, Providence editor Dr. Paul Miller argues that increased global anarchy and democratic decline are pushing US towards another global war. "The question is not whether there will be conflict," Miller writes, "but when, what kind, and how large." In this episode of the Provcast, editor at large Robert Nicholson asks Miller to unpack his argument and respond to those who might see him as "Chicken Little"—or the Trojan priestess Cassandra, as he describes it in the essay—who warns of disasters that never come. Is the US really doing that badly? Are we really facing the possibility of World War III? Moving from Russia and China to our own backyard, Miller explains his reasoning in light of the last five years with typical verve. He touches on the Afghanistan withdrawal, the Alaska summit, the problem with "spheres of influence" thinking, and the (few) times he feels Trump got it right. Admitting that his warnings may strike some as hollow, he adds: "Don't forget what happens at the end of the Boy Who Cried Wolf. There is a wolf in that story."

On August 6, 1945 at 8:15 AM, US forces dropped a new kind of bomb—one which harnessed the very power of the sun—on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The devastation was total and unprecedented: some 70,000 Japanese died in the blast and tens of thousands more by year's end. The event marked the start of new era in international politics and of a long-running public debate that continues today. Did President Truman make the right decision? Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (and later Nagasaki) moral or immoral? In this episode, Robert Nicholson sits down with McDonald Scholar of Ethics, War, and Public Life Marc LiVecche to talk through these questions in light of the historical record. Decades of study have led LiVecche to rule Truman's decision the best moral choice in light of the alternatives—but this conclusion seems more controversial than ever. Walking through arguments and counter-arguments, LiVecche responds to some of the more common objections and makes the case—carefully but confidently—that the use of atomic weapons in 1945 was indeed necessary and just. Stick around for the end for scattered musings on what it all means for American foreign policy today. Send comments and questions to [email protected] or snipe directly at: [email protected]