On The Posner Show, Sarah talks with Christian ethicist David Gushee about the Louie Giglio inauguration controversy. Giglio’s primary issue has been activism against human trafficking, which David calls “the ultimate consensus issue.” But the religious right’s litmus test for evangelicals forces them to choose between inclusion in their evangelical community and speaking their mind. Sarah and David discuss why the right’s persecution narratives are toxic, and David describes how conservative evangelicals have been “dethroned from cultural hegemony.” Should we even be having a public prayer at the inauguration? Will the Giglio incident make it harder for Democrats to reach out to white evangelicals? Plus: David’s challenge to his fellow evangelicals.

On The DMZ, Bill makes the case that banning assault weapons isn’t the best way to stop gun violence. Matt approves of expanded background checks. But is it even possible to pass any kind of gun control bill through Congress? Matt looks at mental health and America’s culture of violence—and argues that we should be shaming Quentin Tarantino.

On Critic Proof, Alyssa and Swin start off with the new TV season: Alyssa explains why she’s fascinated by The Americans, starring Keri Russell as a KGB spy, and why Ray Donovan isn’t actually about what Showtime wants you to think it’s about. Swin makes the case against 1600 Penn. Is there a backlash brewing against graphic on-screen violence? Turning to the Oscar race, Swin thinks Killer Joe was woefully overlooked, and they debate the controversy over the depiction of torture in Zero Dark Thirty. Laying Best Picture odds, Swin explains why he hated Lincoln. They close with predictions for the acting categories.

On Foreign Entanglements, Rob and Justin discuss Justin’s article on the US pivot to East Asia. What is the foundational American interest in the Pacific Rim? Rob asks whether Justin is selling international institutions short. Can China make the international system work in its interest? What are the implications of retrenchment for defense spending? Finally, Rob and Justin discuss the importance of navies to the global balance of power.

On Friedersdorf, James and Conor kick things off by discussing Chuck Hagel’s nomination. James ponders the fairness of calling his foreign policy views un-American, and Conor argues such views have a long history in this country. On domestic matters, Conor asks how pessimistic James is about the future of conservatism. Is Glenn Beck, rather than Fox News, pointing toward a viable future? Conor looks at California to explain why he isn’t a Democrat. James examines the intersection of guns, fear, and politics, and they focus on personal improvements in local communities as an alternative to national legislation.

On The DMZ: What does RG3’s knee have to do politics? Do journalists just not get what it means to be a professional athlete? Matt and Bill remember Richard Ben Cramer and the legacy of What It Takes, and recommend some other great books about politics. Has George Will become a libertarian? Plus: Dick Armey gets hilariously confused.

On The Glenn Show, John describes the book he’s writing on how language does and doesn’t shape our view of the world. Glenn reports on the economists’ annual conference, including a caucus of African-American scholars who gathered there. John and Glenn reminisce about being declared “outcasts” by their black professional peers. Glenn remembers the work of the great and recently deceased social scientist Albert Hirschman, and they speculate on what “true loyalty” to one’s group, nation or culture might mean. Has the era of the towering public intellectual passed? They conclude by expressing their very different views about the affirmative action case pending before the Supreme Court.