Alastair Campbell

Number eight.

Religion and government are intertwined.

Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion.

Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed.

to the government's policies or actions.

And maybe that's where you can pick up on the just war, because that's what has taken this to the next stage of this route.

And also, bear in mind that Pete Hexeth has said, I think this is what must have provoked, in part, provoked the Pope into feeling he had to speak out, when he said this is a war for Jesus.

And that goes back to what we talked about in a previous episode about George Bush, I think, genuinely made a mistake when he said, you know, about the crusade, this is a crusade.

You have to be very, very careful with the language.

And I think the MAGA people, the Hexers, the Vances, the Trumps, they are being careful with their language in that they're being very, very deliberate about this.

And I do think it relates to basically saying there is only one power in this country and it is Donald Trump and it is those who follow Donald Trump.

I don't think the Jesus thing was a mistake.

I think it was, you know, when he posted the picture of himself as Jesus.

It's all part of the same kind of crazy stuff.

And on the just war, where you said that they're just wrong, I looked it up and found this explanation in one of the old books of the Catholic Church.

And it says, a constant tenet of the thousand-year tradition is

of just war theory is a nation can only legitimately take up the sword in self-defense once all peace efforts have failed.

That is, to be a just war, it must be a defense against another who actively wages war.

And that's why Pope Leo said he, God, does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.

Now, I can see why that would rile up Trump,