Celebrating Transvisibility and Tackling Trump's Religiosity Riddle

Could the savvy businessman Donald Trump also be a modern-day prophet selling salvation? Tune in as we peel back the layers of Trump's $60 Bible sales during Holy Week, and explore the enigma that surrounds his persona, teetering between a divine figure and a clever entrepreneur. I'll also share a slice of my life with you, from dodging Facebook stalkers to the peculiar world of celebrity impersonators in my DMs. Drawing inspiration from Marc Maron's podcasting prowess, I'm here to celebrate a personal milestone—38.38 years of sobriety—and extend a supportive hand to those walking the road to recovery. Amidst this, I reflect on recent articles questioning Trump's juxtaposition of religious merchandising and his legal challenges, inviting you to ponder the multifaceted nature of his public image.

Leadership is about bridging divides, not widening them. This truth resonates in the chapter where I address the divisive nature of politics and the role of religious texts in bringing us together. I speak from the heart, sharing the tough choice to let go of luxury items in difficult times, and emphasize the true value that lies in human connections and appreciating oneself. Join us as we honor Transvisibility Day, sending out waves of love and support to the trans community. Wrapping up, I express my gratitude for you, my listeners, who've made this podcasting journey so rewarding, and look forward to our continued exploration of the complexities and triumphs of life.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:06

morning bitches and dolls. If no one told you they love you today, then I love you because you're you. Well, it's april fools day and I haven't been on here since march 9th. I guess I had nothing important to say to all of my TikTok bubby listeners on Spotify my morning bitches. So, whatever April Fool's Day is, I don't know, but today is an interesting thing that happened to me on Facebook because I've got, you know, I had one Facebook account that I gave up because I had a stalker, shall we say. She's no longer in this state, so bye-bye.

Speaker 1: 0:50

But I often, on Facebook Messenger, get messages from supposed famous people. Well, I keep hitting my forehead where I got Botox. The nerve right there is killing me. I got to tell her that. Anyway.

Speaker 1: 1:08

So Mark Maron, who you know is a comedian, has an amazing, amazing thing like me and indeed is sending me after school cooking. Anyway, he's got a great podcast. He's got the most amazing transitions where he goes from his podcast after he talks about himself, about being sober, like me Well, not like me, but I'm sober and then he goes into his like spiel with his advertisers. The transition mark is amazing. Well, I never believe anybody who's coming into Messenger because they always pretend to be somebody else. I've had messages from movie stars, oh my God. Tv stars, everything and everybody.

Speaker 1: 2:01

However, mark Maron, today, oh, and they always ask for my WhatsApp number. Always, you ain't getting my WhatsApp number. Okay, because it's the same phony who's been reaching out to me for the last year since I changed my Facebook account. My old one's still up, but I can't get into it. It had a lot of followers, a lot of friends, and I never use it anymore. So if you get a friend request, it's the new one and it's really me. But thank you, mark Maron. Whoever you are the phony, mark Maron, oh, I'm just too busy to talk on this, so give me your WhatsApp number, baloney. Okay, mark, nice to meet you. Have a great day. I do love you. I do love your podcast. I do listen to it.

Speaker 1: 2:49

So I'm just saying the real Mark Maron stands up and, yes, I'm sober as well. Let's see how many days have I got sober? All right, let's see. Is it show? Okay, I'll tell you. I've got 38.38 years, that's 460.63 months. 14,021 days Wow, 336,488 hours. That's pretty amazing. I guess All I have is today, one day at a time. So if you're struggling with sobriety.

Speaker 1: 3:28

Tiktok, bobby understands I go to a meeting every single day, just so you know, ok, anyway, so let's talk about something in the paper I thought was very interesting, written in the Times, of course, by Jackie Combs, cames. Combs, I like to say, combs, would you buy a $60 Bible from Trump? Let me just get, let me close my phone because I keep getting these Indeed jobs that you know, by the way, sidebar, I've applied for like 150 jobs on Indeed and they just never respond. Because I am sure my age is what does it right? I've aged out. That ageism is a thing I'll just tell you. My mother used to say to me, sandra, back in the old days you could get any job you want, and that used to be true, but it ain't anymore. So if you're an older person looking for a job, good luck.

Speaker 1: 4:39

Anyway, would you buy a $60 Bible from Trump after his Holy Week hustle? Do you see him as a shameless grifter or anointed by God? Okay, holy Huxter. Just in time for Easter, the hottest day of the Christian calendar, donald Trump started hawking Bibles in the same month that he paid a bond after recently being found liable for sexually assaulting and defaming writer E Jean Carroll and ahead of his next trial, for allegedly paying pre-election hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels. Nothing could better illustrate Trump's shamelessness in or about in and in America's reaction to his latest hustle, the range of views about him, from that of the grifter, my take, obviously. Thank you, jackie, to God's anointed one, his most worshipful supporters.

Speaker 1: 5:44

Americans haven't seen a Bible scheme quite like Trump's in half a century. And that earlier one was was land. Make believe Ryan and Tatum O'Neill paying, playing a father and daughter, tag team coming, ag team coming. I'm coughing and laughing because it's so funny. A farmer's widow in the 1973 film Paper Moon. That same, the Nixon Justice Department sued Trump and his father for very un-Christlike racial discrimination renting apartments in Coney Island, by the way, because I remember that Spawning a long legal battle that ended in the Trump signing a consent degree against the practice.

Speaker 1: 6:42

Then, as now, trump ignored Matthew 5, 25. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Happy Holy Week. Let's make America pray again, trump wrote in a post on social media Tuesday. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless the US Bible Yours for just $59.99. Is that Ron Popeil from the grave. Ron Popeil $9.99. Look it up. Plus shipping and handling, my Bible didn't cost that much. But mine doesn't include such non-biblical bonuses as the lyrics to the song that opens Trump's rallies God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood, his partner in his enterprise.

Speaker 1: 7:29

There's also the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Constitution, which I'm fighting for every single day, very hard to keep America's protected, he claims In a three-minute sales video. Thou shalt not bear false witness, says the ninth commandment book of Exodus. Trump, the self-professed warrior for the Constitution. Someone called for the Constitution's once called for the Constitution's termination. The Bible pitch video is gold for anti-Trump memes and mockery, the kind of material that's tailor-made for a Saturday night live without its writers changing a single word. You have to have it for your heart, for your soul.

Speaker 1: 8:18

Trump says, clutching the good book to his gut. If he could fit it in there. His pose calls to mind that bizarro phone op outside St John's Episcopal, across from the White House, in 2020. Trump had rarely gone inside St John's, the so-called church of the presidents, during his four years in office, or any other church for that matter. Yet Trump sermonizes in the Bible video.

Speaker 1: 8:46

Religion and Christianity are the biggest things missing from this country. That's why our country is going haywire. All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many. It's my favorite book, right. Speaking of favorites, when it comes to the many reactions to Trump's Bible blabber, mine was Liz Cheney's reply on site once known as Twitter Happy Holy Week, donald. Instead of selling Bibles, you should probably buy one and read it, including Exodus 2014. Note to Trump that's another of the Ten Commandments, the one that reads you shall not commit adultery. In the new King James version, you're selling. Reporters famously challenged then-candidate Trump early in 26th campaign to cite his most favored Bible verse. Given the claims he made then about his love of scripture, he refused including that's very personal.

Speaker 1: 9:50

At about this time four years ago, then-president Trump also tried to underscore his reverence for Christianity and Holy Week, with potentially fatal consequences. It was the spring of 2020. Covid-19 was spreading. Nearly 800 Americans had died, hundreds of thousands had become ill and much of the nation was shut down. He suddenly suggested that everything should reopen by Easter. Easter, a very special day for me, he said. Wouldn't it be great to have all the churches full? Most stayed close to the relief of public health experts. By that Easter, more than 22,000 Americans had died, nearly a 30-fold increase in the three weeks after Trump called for the nation's reopening.

Speaker 1: 10:41

If anything, trump's shows of religiosity well, whatever. Out of his most zealous disenighted polls lately has become more pronounced, even messianic, as he campaigns again for president. What are people thinking? Where some Christians see blasphemy, many of Trump's followers see more evidence that he is God's chosen one here. This is the voiceover from some supporters video he plays at his rallies On June 14th 1946, god looked down on his planned paradise and said I need a caretaker. So God gave us Trump. He goes on and on like that.

Speaker 1: 11:28

Last October, at the start of the New York trial that ended with the former president being found liable for financial fraud, trump posted a sketch of himself and Jesus side by side. We know what Jesus looks like anyway. Hollywood's version of genius. What, oh my God. Side by side at the witness table, the believers lap it up. That is really a battle between God and evil. One evangelical TV preacher said of the criminal charges against Trump there's something on President Trump that the enemy fears. It's called the anointing Sure.

Speaker 1: 12:09

Granted, not all Trump supporters are so fervent. Some even allow that. He's a bit of a con man. You think I had a father who was a con man. Not that they'll change their vote. Yet most of us, whatever our political or religious leaning, should be able to agree that anyone aspiring to lead this diverse nation shouldn't use the Bible to divide us, let alone to make money. What would Jesus do? We know this much. He threw them that sold and bought out of the temple. Matthew 21, 12, 13. Thank you, jackie. It was a great article.

Speaker 1: 12:48

Will I buy a Trump Bible, just like I wouldn't buy Trump's gold sneakers? You know, ed and me we were suffering the last three months because of what's happened in our life. So I sold most of my stuff who needed it anyway? My clothes, my Louis Vuitton stuff I haven't used some of that stuff in 10 years my Gucci wallet Whoever got those things on eBay? Thank you for buying those from your TikTok puppy. It's just things. Things don't make anything. People make everything and you know your TikTok puppy loves you. So if nobody told you they love you today, I love you because you you Be yourself. Who else you gonna be? Yesterday was Transvisibility Day. You all know how I feel about that. I'm going. I love you, have a great day and I hope I'll come out on more more on this if I have any ideas. I love you all so much. Maybe someone will advertise on my on this podcast again. I hope so. If not, I'll just keep it going because I love this podcast and I love all of you.