How One City Became an American Flashpoint

How One City Became an American Flashpoint

Author: Institute of Religion Politics and Culture, Amanda Henderson, Iliff School of Theology August 25, 2026 Duration: 27:29
In Springfield, Ohio, a small Rust Belt city where thousands of Haitian immigrants had settled…  America’s fights over work, migration, race, religion and belonging stopped being abstract. The pressures have accumulated for years. Then, on one night in 2024, Springfield became an American flashpoint.   RNS reporter Kathryn Post has followed what happened in Springfield across three reporting trips—from churches transformed by Haitian worship to residents emerging from ICE check-ins wearing ankle monitors. This is the story of how Springfield became a microcosm of 2026 America. RELATED: As ICE closes in, Ohio churches line up families to care for Haitian kids left behind As Supreme Court clears way to deport Haitians and Syrians, faith leaders grieve, prepare for what’s next As Springfield's 15,000 Haitians brace for deportations, local churches train to resist ICE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Complexified is a conversation that starts from a simple, uncomfortable truth: the forces of faith and power are woven into the fabric of our everyday existence, from kitchen tables to courtrooms. Hosted by Amanda Henderson of the Iliff School of Theology and presented by the Institute of Religion Politics and Culture, this podcast deliberately steps into the tangled intersections where belief systems meet policy, cultural norms, and social strife. We move beyond superficial debates to examine how these deep structures actually function, why certain problems feel so immovable, and where the possibilities for genuine movement might lie. Each episode is an effort to untangle a specific, knotty issue, listening for the underlying narratives and historical currents that often go unspoken. The goal isn't to provide easy answers but to foster a more nuanced comprehension, the kind required for meaningful engagement rather than repeated conflict. Tuning into this podcast means joining a rigorous yet accessible exploration of our shared life, acknowledging the complexity so often glossed over in public discourse. It’s an invitation to think more deeply about the roots of our divisions and the potential pathways forward, grounded in the conviction that clearer understanding is a necessary first step toward any durable change.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Complexified
Podcast Episodes
Cease-Fire Isn’t Peace: Inside the Vatican’s Quiet Work on Gaza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
When peacemaking is quiet, stubborn, and deeply human. In this conversation, host Amanda Henderson sits with RNS reporter Claire Giangravè to open the door on Vatican diplomacy during the Gaza cease-fire. We hear about p…
Baptizing the Battlefield: Pete Hegseth’s Holy War at the Pentagon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:51
A Secretary of War leads worship at the Pentagon—how far can faith go before it becomes policy? Pete Hegseth calls it a “warrior ethos.” Critics call it a constitutional crisis. In this episode of Complexified, Amanda He…
Faith, Labor, and a DOJ Reversal: Inside the BAPS Temple Case [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:57
When the DOJ drops a high-profile case, what truths—and tensions—remain? A clash of cultures, a legal saga, and a spiritual community under scrutiny. In this episode of Complexified, Amanda Henderson talks with RNS repor…
Casper ter Kuile on Small Politics, Big Meaning, and the Power of Tea [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:49
What do you do when the systems around you feel like they’re crumbling—and calling your senator doesn’t feel like enough? In this heartening episode of Complexified, author and ritual innovator Casper ter Kuile joins Ama…
Stop Trying to Fix Everything: Simran Jeet Singh on Spiritual Sanity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:18
In overwhelming times, spiritual practice starts small—and stays true. When the world feels too big to fix, it’s tempting to shut down—or spiral. In this intimate conversation, author and scholar Simran Jeet Singh joins…