Hegseth SPIRITUAL ADVISOR Scandal Explodes After Violent Threats

Attorneys Brian Kabateck and Shant Karnikian take a close look at the extremist spiritual circle surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after his closest spiritual advisor, pastor Brooks Potteiger, said on a Christian nationalist podcast that he wants Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico "crucified with Christ." Podcast host Joshua Haymes went further: "I pray that God kills him" and "stop him by any means necessary." They called Talarico — a 36-year-old Presbyterian seminarian, Sunday school teacher, and state legislator — a "demon," a "wolf," and an "enemy of God." Potteiger later claimed he was speaking figuratively about spiritual conversion, but Brian and Shant walk through why that explanation rings hollow when the language includes "stop him by any means necessary" and when Talarico's own church in Austin has received threats and had to hire security. Talarico's response was pitch-perfect: "Jesus loves. Christian Nationalism kills. You may pray for my death, Pastor, but I still love you." The Pentagon felt compelled to comment, accusing the media of "twisting" the pastor's words. Brian and Shant connect Potteiger to the broader network of Christian nationalist figures in Hegseth's orbit — including Doug Wilson, who has pushed for Christian theocracy and led prayer services inside the Pentagon — and whose church teaches that women must submit to husbands, homosexuality is "unbiblical," and leadership roles are reserved for men. Kabateck LLP: Call 1-844-74-CIVIL for a free case evaluation or visit us at https://www.kbklawyers.com/ We NEED your help! Legal AF and The Intersection podcasts are both FINAL 5 Finalists for the Webby Awards Best Podcasts! Voting is open for only the next 2 weeks. Show your support for our shows by voting for free for the Webby Awards, and gets friends and family to do the same! Vote for Legal AF (Podcasts – News & Politics) https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/shows/news-politics Vote for The Intersection (Best New Podcast) https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/features/best-new-podcast-news-business-society Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@LegalAFMTN?sub_confirmation=1 Become a member of Legal AF YouTube community: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgZJZZbnLFPr5GJdCuIwpA/join Become a member of the Legal AF Substack: https://michaelpopok.substack.com/20off Follow Legal AF on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/legalafmtn.bsky.social Follow Michael Popok on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mspopok.bsky.social Subscribe to the Legal AF podcast feed here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legal-af-by-meidastouch/id1580828595 Subscribe to the Intersection with Michael Popok podcast feed here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-intersection-with-michael-popok/id1818863274 Subscribe to Unprecedented with Michael Popok and Dina Doll podcast feed here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unprecedented-by-legal-af/id1867023089 Subscribe to Court of History with Sidney Blumenthal and Sean Wilentz podcast feed here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-court-of-history/id1867022920