The Madness of Power and Prophecy: A Chat with Denver Riggleman

Buckle up, folks! Today’s episode is a wild ride through the chaos that’s unraveling in U.S. politics and global diplomacy, with the ever-brave Denver Riggleman—former Congressman, Air Force vet, NSA contractor, and fearless truth-teller. Prepare for some truth bombs about the insanity, the threats, and the grift that’s turning this country into a giant episode of “How Did We Get Here?”

Riggleman drops truth bombs, connecting the dots between prophecy, power, and national security, all while lamenting the state of American leadership; Joel asks the hard questions and teases out a path back to sanity—maybe, just maybe, saving the damn country.

Main Topics Covered:

• The bizarre and dangerous world of Christian nationalism and prophecy that is fueling political decisions
• The potential and peril of military actions against Iran
• The influence of greed, grift, and the military-industrial complex on U.S. foreign policy
• The decline of trust in American institutions and the urgent need for courageous leadership

Connect with Denver Riggleman:

• X / Twitter
• Substack
• The Breach Media (YouTube)

Hold onto your hats, folks. It’s a wild ride—truth, grift, and the fate of democracy all tangled up in one bold conversation. Would we dare to fix it? Denver says, “Full stop, fire everyone, and rebuild from zero.” Sounds about right. Tune in, laugh, cry, and maybe get inspired to demand real leadership again.

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) - Introduction to the Conversation
• (01:48) - The Insanity of Current Politics
• (06:02) - The State of the Republican Party
• (10:16) - Trump's Mental State and Threats
• (12:00) - Iran: An Imminent Threat?
• (14:41) - The Price of War and Accountability
• (17:53) - The Future of American Politics
• (21:41) - A Call for Leadership and Change

Justin Wolfers returns to the Hot Dish to unpack the economic and political impacts of the Iran war with Heidi and Joel. This episode offers a clear-eyed view of how markets, government decisions, and public sentiment intertwine during times of crisis.

Justin explains the historic lows in consumer sentiment and approval ratings for political leaders, and addresses the real economic costs of the war, including market declines and wealth destruction. He also addresses:

• How the increased costs of energy and input supplies are impacting rural farmers and urban consumers (10:57)
• The political implications of leadership styles, democracy, and the "king" mentality in the White House (3:07, 5:01)
• The demonstration of market correction and its long-term significance, emphasizing the importance of resistance to overconfidence (14:02)
• The critical role of fiscal policy, debt, and deficits, with insights from Reagan, Clinton, Obama, and Trump eras (36:32)
• The human toll of war, including displacement and emotional trauma, versus the cold numbers of market losses (27:15, 34:27)
• How public perception and demonization affect policy, especially in the context of gas prices and military engagement (24:45, 28:19)
• The importance of connecting economic policy to human stories and moral considerations (33:13)

Resources & Links:

Justin Wolfers - University of Michigan

Connect with Justin Wolfers:

• Twitter
• Bluesky

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) - Introduction
• (01:24) - Consumer Sentiment and Presidential Approval
• (05:32) - The Impact of War on the Economy
• (10:33) - Rural Economy and Input Costs
• (13:24) - Market Corrections and War Effects
• (17:19) - Economic Implications of Wealth Loss
• (18:43) - The Cost of Conflict: Economic Impacts on Households
• (21:45) - Understanding Wealth Disparities: Who Really Loses?
• (24:36) - Market Reactions: Short-Term Pain vs. Long-Term Gains
• (27:15) - Empathy in Economics: The Human Cost of War
• (30:53) - The Disconnect: Military Engagement and Public Perception
• (35:43) - Debt and Responsibility: A Political Perspective

In this episode, Heidi and Joel delve into the pivotal roles religion and community resilience play in rural America, featuring insightful conversations with Reverend Jane Field of Maine and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture hopeful, Chris Jones. Both guests emphasize the importance of faith-based activism, ecological sustainability, and the urgent need for structural reform in rural systems.

Insights:

• Reverend Jane Field discusses the current state of Christian unity amid rising white Christian nationalism, emphasizing ecumenical cooperation and social justice priorities.
• She highlights the importance of faith communities' involvement in resisting ICE policies and supporting immigrant and marginalized populations in Maine.
• Reverend Field advocates for reimagining the role of organized religion as a force for justice and compassion, especially amid declining church attendance.
• She underscores the diversity within rural communities, including Indigenous peoples, and the importance of non-churchgoers engaging in faith-inspired service.
• Chris Jones shares his environmental platform, focusing on water quality issues in Iowa, particularly nitrate contamination linked to agriculture.
• Jones stresses the need for crop diversification, pasture grazing, and systemic reforms in farming practices to address environmental and health crises.
• He discusses the political landscape, emphasizing bipartisan support for water reforms and the connection between ecological sustainability and rural economic vitality.
• Both guests reflect on the transformative power of faith and community mobilization in addressing social and environmental challenges.

Reverend Jane Field:

• Maine Council of Churches - Website

Chris Jones:

• The Swine Republic by Chris Jones
• Chris Jones for Iowa
• Riverraccoon Substack

Final Takeaway:

This episode reminds us that faith, social justice, and environmental sustainability are intertwined forces capable of transforming rural communities. Whether through ecumenical unity or systemic policy changes in agriculture, dedicated leaders are reimagining a future rooted in compassion, resilience, and justice.

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) - The intersection of faith, politics, and community in rural America
• (03:50) - Unity among diverse religious denominations and the departure of Catholic members over LGBTQ justice issues
• (11:42) - Faith leaders' pivotal role in Maine's ICE resistance efforts
• (22:36) - The toll on detainees and the tragic ICE deportations
• (30:04) - Chris Jones on addressing Iowa's nitrate water contamination crisis
• (36:17) - How to transition farmers toward diverse, resilient crop rotations with public support
• (41:24) - Electing non-traditional candidates like Chris Jones for systemic change