Fascism is Our New Normal
Brad zooms in on Biden’s trip to Arizona and Trump’s rhetoric about killing General Milley to analyze the normalization of fascist politics in the United States. He draws on work from Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, a scholar of fascism and Nazi Germany, in order to draw together theoretical and historical threads. Dr. Rosenfeld on normalization: https://medium.com/@gavrielrosenfeld/the-new-normalization-aaf184d4cac2 […]
Weekly Roundup: All Their Faith in One Casket
Dan begins this episode with by discussing new polling that reveals how GOP voters see Trump as person of faith. This leads to an investigation into the endlessly growing web of new conspiracies that are now part of conservative religious identity on the American Right. This leads to a discussion of anti-vaxxing getting real funding […]
It’s In the Code Ep. 68: “Speaking the Truth in Love”
What’s going on when someone tells us they need to “speak the truth in love”? How is this similar to someone who assures us they’re being critical because “they’re our friend,” or “because they care for us”? How is the intention of these phrases changed when they take on a religious sense? Dan looks at […]
What is Christian Nationalism? (American Idols Ep. 1)
Brad is attending to the birth of his second child. So, enjoy the first episode of the new Axis Mundi series by Andrew Whitehead. In the opening episode, Andrew defines Christian nationalism, and uses his personal journey as a Christian to understand how it works on the ground in the religious lives of Americans, church […]
Weekly Roundup: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
On the first segment Dan and Brad begrudgingly discuss Lauren Boebrert’s Beetlejuice scandal – and what it reveals about the Christian nationalist persona she’s cultivated. In the second segment, they discuss a myriad of issues – from the firing of a teacher for teaching the Diary of Anne Frank to supposed discrimination against Whites at […]
It’s In the Code Ep. 67: “There’s No Morality Without God”
“There’s no morality without God.” That is a claim made by many Christians. But it’s also a claim with a cultural hold that extends beyond card-carrying Christians. What does it mean? Why do people make this claim? Should we believe it? And why do people make this claim? Is it just a philosophical or theological […]
Abortion Abolitionists (Inform Your Resistance)
A special presentation of Inform Your Resistance: Abortion abolitionists: who are they, what drives them, and how do their tactics overlap with those of other far-right movements? Join host, Koki Mendis, and PRA Senior Research Analyst, Cloee Cooper, as we reveal the chilling facts about this nationwide syndicate of militant anti-abortion Christians. We unravel the […]
Weekly Roundup: How 9/11 Accelerated Christian Nationalism
Brad begins by tracing the extreme Christian nationalism of the 2020s to the years following 9/11. The thesis: the ways that Republican politicians and conservative pastors responded to 9/11 led to a new chapter of American Christian nationalism. Dan then picks up the thread to discuss how Black churches and other groups are teaching Black […]
It’s In the Code Ep. 66: Let Go, and Let God
“Let Go and Let God” Maybe you’ve heard the admonition to “let go and let God.” Maybe it provides some comfort. Maybe it’s frustrating. Maybe it makes you angry. What does it mean, and why can it provoke such a range of responses? Why do people say this? How does it relate to a culture […]
Special Episode: Andrew Whitehead on American Idols and Christian Nationalism
Ahead of the premier of American Idols next week, Brad talks with Dr. Andrew Whitehead about the podcast series, his new book, and why Christian nationalism is such a threat to our democracy. He shares insight from his own life as a kid who grew up in church, only to see many of his fellow […]