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Axis Daily Brief

A short, focused analysis of the most important developments in religion and politics.

Not just what happened—but what it means, and what to watch next. That’s part of our expansion into a daily platform—and it’s made possible by members.

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Listen To The Latest Episode:

Episode 9: Inside Ron DeSantis’ Plan to Rewrite U.S. History for the Next Generation

Episode 8

From Political Prosecutions to the “Enemy Within”: What Recent ICE Resistance Cases Reveal

Episode 7

Tucker Carlson's Surprising Reappropriation of the Historic 'Appeal to Heaven' Flag

Episode 6

JD Vance Wants More Than a Christian Nation: He Wants a Christian Civilization

Episode 5

A Bishop Named Roof: Why Dylan Roof's Legacy Is Fueling a New Church Controversy

Episode 4

Doug Wilson Thinks the Nazis Went Too Far. The Problem Is That Their Ideas Already Won

Episode 3

After Iran: A Test for MAGA Christianity

Episode 2

The Women's Conference Where Some Speakers Want Women to Lose the Vote

Episode 1

The White House UFC Fight That Revealed Christian Trumpism

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Additional Show Information

About the Hosts

Matthew D. Taylor is a visiting scholar at the Center on Faith and Justice at Georgetown University and the author of Scripture People, The Violent Take It by Force, and the forthcoming Defying Tyrants (October). A theologian and religious studies scholar specializing in American Islam, Christian nationalism, and Christian extremism, he is also the creator of the podcast series American Unexceptionalism and Charismatic Revival Fury. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Politico, and Religion News Service, among others. He holds a PhD from Georgetown University and an MA from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Thomas Lecaque is an Associate Professor of History at Grand View University. His work examines the rhetoric of holy war in the wars of empire between England, France, and Native polities in the northeastern United States, as well as expressions of those sentiments in contemporary America. He has written for The Washington Post, Foreign Policy, The Bulwark, and Religious Dispatches, among others. He holds a PhD in Pre-Modern European History from the University of Tennessee.

Holly Berkley Fletcher is a historian, essayist, and former intelligence analyst. She was raised in Kenya by missionary parents. She earned a PhD in American history and taught in universities for several years before being hired as an Africa analyst by the Central Intelligence Agency, where she worked for nineteen years.

Dan Miller served as a Southern Baptist minister, counseling evangelical families and preaching denominational theology before leaving the faith. He pursued graduate studies at Oxford University and earned his PhD from Syracuse University, becoming a scholar of religion with expertise in biblical studies, philosophy of religion, and social theory.

Brad Onishi was a megachurch pastor before a deeper reevaluation of his faith led him to academic study. He earned graduate degrees from Azusa Pacific University, Oxford University, and L'institut catholique de Paris, completing his PhD in religious studies at UC Santa Barbara. His work focuses on the intersection of religion and politics in America, particularly how White Christian supremacy has shaped American history. He regularly appears on MSNBC and national radio, including "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross, and has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, CNN, and many other major outlets.

Hosts

headshot of Matthew D. Taylor

Matthew D. Taylor

headshot of Dr. Thomas Lecaque

Dr. Thomas Lecaque

headshot of Holly Berkley Fletcher

Holly Berkley Fletcher

headshot of Brad Onishi

Brad Onishi

headshot of Dan Miller

Dan Miller


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