Is ‘Toxic Empathy’ Pulling Christians to the Left?
Podcast:Interesting Times with Ross Douthat Published On: Thu Jul 17 2025 Description: The conservative Christian podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey joins Ross on “Interesting Times” this week to explain why “toxic empathy” has a stranglehold on politics, whether evangelical Christians have a red line President Trump could cross and why her commentary has echoes of Phyllis Schlafly.01:26 “The New Phyllis Schlafly”9:46 Untangling the web of Evangelical Protestants15:50 Female authority in the church22:12 What is “toxic empathy”?30:55 Toxic empathy and cruelty in American politics40:19 Do conservative christians have a red line?57:24 “The mushy middle”(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.