665: Can Democrats Win Back Religious Voters? with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

It’s Holy Week, and an article in the New York Times argues that Palm Sunday wasn’t a worship procession; it was a protest march. With that theme in mind, Christians held peaceful rallies over the weekend in Philadelphia and San Diego to protest inhumane immigration enforcement policies, including the order allowing government agents into churches during worship gatherings to arrest people. Skye talks to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) about how her faith informs her politics, what lessons the Democrats have learned from their losses in 2024, and why more religious Americans view her party’s brand as “toxic.” Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn then debrief the interview and discuss whether the Democrats’ struggle is just messaging or something deeper. Also this week: the problem with purple.

Holy Post Plus:

Ad-Free Version of this Episode:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/126742149/

 

0:00 - Show Starts

 

3:35 - Theme Song

 

3:55 - Sponsor - AG1 - Heavily researched, thoroughly purity-tested, and filled with stuff you need. Go to https://www.drinkag1.com/HOLYPOST

 

5:15 - Sponsor - Sundays Dog Food - Get 40% off your first order of Sundays. Go to https://www.SundaysForDogs.com/HOLYPOST or use code HOLYPOST at checkout.

 

7:15 - Purple Isn't Real?

 

17:40 - Christians Protesting ICE

 

25:05 - Was Palm Sunday a Protest?

 

34:50 - Why’re We Interviewing a Senator?

 

36:00 - Sponsor - Public Good Generation - One week immersive program for high school students to https://www.ccpubliclife.org/high-school

 

37:00 - Sponsor - World Relief: The Path - Join a monthly giving community to help people all around the world! Go to https://www.worldrelief.org/stand

 

38:05 - Interview

 

43:50 - Is the Republican Party Faith-Driven?

 

53:05 - Is the Democratic Brand Toxic?

 

1:10:30 - Debrief

 

1:16:20 - Trump Administration Holy Week Statement

 

1:28:45 - End Credits

 

Links from News Segment:

World Relief:

https://www.worldrelief.com/advocate

 

Purple Isn’t Real!

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a64393667/purple-is-fake/

 

Faith Groups Protest Ice:

https://religionnews.com/2025/04/07/pennsylvania-faith-groups-build-altar-at-ice-office-in-protest-of-immigration-arrests/?utm_medium=social

 

Palm Sunday was a Protest, Not a Procession:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/opinion/palm-sunday-protest.html?searchResultPosition=5