Evangelicals' MAGA Jesus has risen

And, outrage as TN GOP expels 2 Black Dems from state legislature [VIEW IN BROWSER]( MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news [VIEW IN BROWSER]( MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news Friday, Apr. 07, 2023 THE LATEST [Alternate text] [The evangelical right's martyrdom of Trump is an insult to Christianity — and Jesus]( By Anthea Butler Holy Week has been hijacked by the spectacle of white evangelicals crying over their savior Donald Trump. The former president was charged by a Manhattan grand jury this week with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. While the indictments are related to hush money Trump allegedly paid to cover up affairs and improperly recorded as business expenses, some supporters see this as Trump's passion play. That is, they see his prosecution as a persecution, as a punishment Democrats are inflicting on him because he was their chosen one, the messiah who gave them power. Trump's arrest may be a first in American history, but for evangelicals who support him, it is the fulfillment of their prophecy of persecution for Trump, for whom many of them have shoved aside Jesus to praise. But this new passion play, which is centered around alleged adultery and payoffs, isn't anything like the story of Jesus. This is a preview of Anthea Butler's latest article. [Read the full column here](.     TOP STORIES [Alternate text] [JORDAN RUBIN]( [Samuel Alito dissents, with Clarence Thomas, against a transgender girl]( The case involving West Virginia's trans sports ban might not be the last word on the issue. [Read more.]( [LISA RUBIN]( [Idaho hits rock bottom of its war on women with new abortion law]( Idaho's newest abortion law could end up in the Supreme Court. [Read more.]( [ZEESHAN ALEEM]( [A new indictment poll won't make Trump happy — but it might make him say 'I told you so']( A poll reveals something surprising about Democrats' views on Trump's indictment. [Read more.]( EMMA GRAY]( [Why the new 'Barbie' trailer-Trump arrest crossover event broke the internet]( The 'Barbie' movie is nostalgic, campy joy. And we've never needed it more. [Read more.]( TOP VIDEOS [Alternate text] [THE LAST WORD]( [Lawrence: Historic ousting of two Black Tennessee Democrats demands the nation's full attention]( [THE REIDOUT]( [Expelled TN lawmaker Justin Jones: This is a predominantly white supermajority undoing democracy]( ALL IN]( [Justin Pearson after expulsion from TN House: We'll fight for our lives like GOP fights for the NRA]( [ALEX WAGNER TONIGHT]( [Clarence Thomas has accepted unreported gifts from GOP billionaire for decades: report]( [MORE FROM MSNBC]( [Alternate text] On Monday, esteemed journalist Ana Cabrera joins the MSNBC Reports lineup with the premiere of Ana Cabrera Reports at 10 a.m. ET. Every weekday, Ana will kick off coverage at 10 a.m., followed by José Díaz-Balart, Andrea Mitchell, Chris Jansing, and Katy Tur. Watch MSNBC Reports, weekdays beginning at 10 a.m. ET.   MSNBC legal contributors Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord, two of the most well-respected prosecutors in the country, are teaming up to share their expertise on MSNBC's newest podcast series "Prosecuting Donald Trump." How do you build a legal case when the defendant is… a former president? The legal duo will tell us how a prosecutor – from Alvin Bragg to Fani Willis to Jack Smith – might think about this process. [Listen now.](   [Image] [Image] 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_daily) [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_daily)